Page 13

Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat

Chattykaffi: Good morning, crew and cruisers!

Despite the fact that our fallow phase continues, I am here to remind you that there is still plenty to do on board.

Don’t forget to check your events schedule to see what’s going on today.

One thing that’s not listed is there will be space available for prayer and meditation in the library every day starting today.

Anyone wishing to join our Ohuli guests in this time of inner reflection is welcome.

Please dress comfortably and bring your mindfulness!

Ms.Cruiser: Do we have to be extra quiet in the library now?

I glared at the Morning News Report anchors as they shifted topics from a new star cluster available for viewing to the Ohuli, my feelings about sharing my workspace with the visitors reaching new levels of annoyance.

Kent Murakami smiled at Claire Weatherall. “Will you be joining our guests for some prayer and meditation, Claire?”

“I don’t know, Kent, but I just might. The fallow phase is all about slowing down and taking time to relax. Seems like it could be the right thing at the right time. How about you?”

He nodded. “I might give it a try. If nothing else, so I can tell our viewers all about it.” He went back to looking into the camera. “What about you out there? Will you be joining the Ohuli for some introspection?”

“In other news,” Claire started, “the agriculture department has announced the kiwi harvest begins today. By tonight, they should be available in all dining halls. Look for them on the salad bar.”

I loved kiwi, but I was too cranky to get excited about a new fruit on the menu right now. I turned the screen off.

“Great,” I muttered to myself. “The library is going to be overrun.”

“At least they’ll be quiet,” Harry said from his spot on the couch.

“I hope so.” I sipped my coffee. I thought about making myself some lunch to take to work with me, then remembered the new Instachef had been installed and there was no need. I could get anything I wanted.

For some reason, that didn’t make me any happier. I showered and got ready for work, opting for a power red cardigan with my jumpsuit, along with red flats and a red scarf in my hair. I also decided to wear my nebulite pendant.

I didn’t get it out of the safe very often, but some urge drove me to it this morning.

Maybe I wanted to show the Ohuli that I’d dealt with foreign visitors before and come out on top.

Not that they’d have any idea about what had gone down with the Loessaians.

But I knew, and maybe that was all that mattered.

I paired the pendant with my standard diamond stud earrings, did my makeup, then took a final look in the mirror. I was dreading today, but I was as ready as I could be.

Should I bring my knitting? Yesterday, I’d wished I had. Today, I had a feeling there wouldn’t be the same kind of downtime. Not with all that meditation going on.

Maybe the citizens of the Athos would be too busy for that nonsense.

I stared at my knitting bag and decided to bring it anyway. If I didn’t get to it, that was fine, but if no one was interested in whatever rubbish the Ohuli were up to and they ended up just sitting in that classroom all alone, there could be time for knitting after all.

I finished my coffee and put my cup in the sterilizer. “Come, Harry. Time to go.”

He hopped off the couch. “You want me to record anything interesting the Ohuli do or say, right?”

I glanced at him. “Yes, I do. Whatever you think. Especially if it’s about something that seems secret. Or is about their ship. Well, like you said, anything interesting.”

“You got it, Mum.”

He trotted alongside me as we headed down the corridor. At the library, I unlocked the doors, got the lights on, and made my usual sweep of the premises. Everything looked good.

I stopped at the door to one of the larger classrooms. It was the closest to the front of the library and the one I decided to give to the Ohuli. There’d be less foot traffic coming and going through the library’s main space that way.

If anyone showed up.

“Good morning, keeper of the books. And friend.”

Well, that was fast. I turned to see Nostromo and his daughters. They had their satchels with them, and each one also carried a rolled rug. They wore the same robes I’d first seen them in.

I gave them a quick smile, not sure if the friend bit was referring to me or Harry, who stood near me. “Good morning.” I left the classroom door open and stepped aside. “This is the room that’s available for your use.”

He bowed his head. “So gracious of you.”

“Had nothing to do with me. The request came from the vice-admiral.” Maybe not the politest thing to say, but it was the truth.

“Ah, yes. Your daughter. A lovely woman. Will you be joining us, Ellis? You are certainly welcome to, as is anyone aboard this fine craft.”

I was surprised he’d remembered my name, but I tried not to show it. “No. I’m working today.”

“Of course. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Be blessed.”

“You, too.” Whatever that meant. I left them to it, heading straight for the breakroom. Harry followed. I didn’t need another coffee, but with the new Instachef installed, why not? I ordered a cinnamon latte, half-caf, with whip.

Indulgent, but the mood I was in needed something soothing. As I waited on my drink, Harry hopped up onto the small counter. If anyone else had been at work with me, I would have shooed him off. Compdroid or not, I liked to set a good example.

Today, I didn’t care. I scratched his cheeks, making him close his eyes and purr.

The Instachef chimed. I got my drink out.

“Mum?” The word came out as soft as a whisper.

“What, baby?”

“Are those the bad people?”

I took a breath, inhaling the delicious aroma of the coffee. “I don’t really know if they’re bad, Harry, but I don’t think they’ve been honest with us.”

“I see.” He nodded sagely.

“Come on. I have work to do.” I went back out to the desk and immersed myself in the books that were being translated. I uploaded a new batch, then got to work checking the ones that had already been done to make sure they had the correct covers.

It was impossible not to look up occasionally to check on the Ohuli. They had draped the windows of the classroom, one in the wall and one in the door, with scarves, and it appeared they’d turned off the lights that I’d turned on earlier.

Despite that, there was a soft glow coming from inside the room, diffused through the scarves.

I turned to face Harry in his bed and kept my voice down. “Give it a minute or two after I’m done talking to you, but then I want you to wander in there and see what they’re up to. Take some video, too. Send it to me and Frank.”

He didn’t even open his eyes. “Righto,” he whispered back.

I returned to my work, sipped my drink, and kept busy.

After a bit, Harry jumped down and meandered toward the classroom. In typical cat fashion, he lay down in the open door and began to clean himself. I almost laughed, but I was trying to act like I didn’t notice him, so I kept my eyes on my screen.

I ran a sync to make sure any overdue materials were erased from the cards they’d been taken out on, went through and approved all requests for extended borrows, then sent out a few notices for newly available books and one game that had been requested.

By then, Harry was sauntering back in my direction.

He hopped onto the counter and acted like something there interested him, batting at nothing.

“They’ve got battery-operated candles in there, Mum.

Rugs on the floor, too. And they’re sitting cross-legged while listening to music coming out of a box. ”

I couldn’t hear anything, so the volume had obviously been kept very low. I appreciated that, but I was still cranky about their presence. Not much I could do about it, though. “Thanks,” I said softly. “You can go back to sleep.”

Without another word, he returned to his bed.

I sighed. I didn’t know what I’d expected him to find, but I guessed I’d been hoping for something worthy of kicking them out. What that might have been, I really didn’t know.

I was just going to have to suck it up and get over myself. I’d be nice to the Ohuli. I’d been nice to people I hadn’t liked before.

But that didn’t mean I was about to forget their weird ship. I still wanted an explanation for that.

Movement caught my eye, a patron coming through the doors. I looked up, ready to welcome them, and saw Sten.

My smile came easily. “Good morning. How’s your hand?”

He held it up. The bandage was off, and there was barely a scratch on it. “Much better, thanks.”

“If you’re here to check on the Instachef, I can tell you it’s working just fine.” I tapped my coffee cup. “Working better than fine, really.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m here for the meditation.”

I blinked. “Really?”

“Yep. It felt like something I needed to try.”

You could have knocked me over with a feather. I pointed toward the first classroom. “They’re in there.”

“Thanks.” With a smile and a wave, he changed direction and disappeared into the other room.

I’d have never guessed Sten for a meditation guy, but then, I didn’t really know him that well.

Not like Frank did.