Flight of the Outcast Read Free Page B

town, sir, and not out in the country. 'Many eyes make good behavior,' so say the gods."
       "So say the gods," the group chanted, without missing a beat.
       The man continued. "In our family, we could always keep a close watch—"
       "Sirs," said Nels, standing beside Asteria. "Masters, please. This is a matter for a full council meeting. May we not defer this until the next session? Is it not enough today to decide that Asteria Locke is to become a ward of the Bourse, to be molded into a suitable wife and companion for a Bourse son, and to allot her a portion of the income from her father's farm for her temporary support?"
       "The young man has a good point," said the chairman. "'Haste spills the water,' as it is written."
       "As it is written," the group chanted.
       "Are all in agreement?" the chairman asked. "Then it is thus decreed: the girl will continue to live in the Hospitality Hall, and her food, clothing, and other necessities are to be paid for from the proceeds of the farm."
       Asteria leaped to her feet. "What about the Raiders?" she yelled.
       It was as if she were a ghost. No one even reacted to her. Nels pulled her back down into her chair, not harshly but firmly. He said, "My masters, the girl would like to know if any steps are being taken to punish the Raiders."
       "Tell her," said the chairman gravely, "that such events are manifestations of Balzius, the god of fate."
       Asteria said fiercely, "Then are my father's murderers to escape without punishment?"
       Finally, the chairman took notice of her. He sternly said, "Punishment and reward are not for human wills or hands to disperse. The Empyrion maintains protection over our world; it is up to the Empyrion to pursue those who have killed her family. They mind the worldly business, and the Bourse mind the more important business of the soul. Is there anything else?"
       Fiercely, Asteria whispered into Nels's ear. He straightened and said, "My masters, the girl would like the personal possessions and the legal documents taken by the Cybots from the ruins of her home. Is that permitted?"
       More murmuring consultation among the men on the bench. Then the chairman said firmly, "She must learn that mere material things of this world are no longer of any importance. However, for the time being, recognizing the tragedy of her experience, we will permit her to select six items to retain. The rest will be kept safely for the man who will eventually marry her." He stood. "It is so decided. May our decision please the Six Great Gods."
       The others droned, "All glory to the gods—"
       But Asteria was no longer even listening.

    * * *
    Six things to represent her whole life. Because the Bourse believed that the gods ordained six as the perfect number, she could choose only six.
       A picture of her father and her cousin, Andre—dark-haired like her, blue-eyed like her, laughing in the image. She cried a little. She and Andre had been such a handful, always practicing martial arts when they should have been working. Andre, always boasting of his appointment to the Royal Military Academy in Corona, the capital of the Empyrion. She, always envious that he was to be released from the dull world of Theron, from the boring farm.
       She would give anything to be back on that farm now.
       Another picture, her mother, whom she barely remembered. Felice Locke had been a willowy thing, a sixth-generation inhabitant of a low-gravity planet. She had been a supervising technician during her husband's many operations and slow recuperation. She had married Carlson Locke before he had received his pension and land grant, before he had become prosperous. Her mother had known that her health was fragile, that childbirth would weaken her, and yet she had given birth to Asteria. She had been ill in Sanctal the last time Raiders had attacked, and when their bombs collapsed part of the hospital, she had