Theo blinked. "I don't think I – "
Father raised a hand, the twisted silver ring glinting on the smallest finger of his right hand. "The rules of society exist to make it possible for individuals to work together in harmony. There is, however, a tension between the rules imposed by society and the necessities accepted by individuals. When that tension fails, society declines and the individuals become at risk."
She thought about that, while Father finished his tea and put the empty cup on the side table. Mandrin jumped into his lap and he stroked her, waking loud purrs.
"I consider you to be one of my... trusted advisers." she said slowly, silently adding, no matter what Marjene says.
He inclined his head. "You honor me," he said gravely.
She eyed him, suspecting sarcasm, or at least irony. "That doesn't mean you're not annoying."
He laughed. "Entirely the opposite, in my experience!" He shook his head at her. "Please, I am serious. You honor me with your trust and I will strive to be worthy of it."
"All right." She tasted her tea, which was cold, and put the cup on the table. "I intend to do my own searches, but – based on what I've read so far, I..." She took a breath and met his eyes, which was both easier and harder than keeping Marjene's gaze.
"My preliminary finding is that... accepting even the therapy the Safety Office lists as 'mildest' is... not a good idea." She paused.
Father tipped his head, waiting for her to go on.
"What I want to ask, is what you think I should do," Theo said, suddenly plaintive. "Roni's mother wants me in Remedial, the Safeties think I'm a menace, and so does Marjene. I've got to stop hurting people, or the Safety Office is going to call Kamele up for harboring an unsafe condition, and that's just not – I can't do that!"
"Ah. I see that you have indeed been doing your research. You are correct; additional pressure can be brought to bear upon you, through your mother. I believe you are wise to think proactively in this case." Father sighed and rubbed Mandrin's ears, staring off into some distance visible only to himself.
Recognizing the signs of deep thought, Theo folded her hands on her lap and tried to be patient.
"My suggestion," Father said, just as she had decided that it wouldn't be... too rude to go look in the anything drawer for the extra needle and spool she kept there, "is that you take up dance."
Theo blinked. "Dance?"
"It may, for the moment at least, answer the call for rehabilitation," he said slowly. "Certainly, it will demonstrate that you are taking the concerns of the Safety Office to heart." He looked up and met her eyes. "In a word, it will buy time, giving you and your mother the opportunity to plan a strategy. It would seem that simply holding line until you are considered old enough to speak on your own behalf may no longer be possible."
"Why?"
He looked up and gave her a brief smile. "Because you have achieved enemies – people who actively wish you harm, as distinct from those who would cause you harm out of a sincere, if misguided, concern for your safety."
"Roni?" Theo asked, thinking that enemy sounded so... grown up. "But Roni's only a kid."
"True. However, Roni's mother – is not."
Theo stared.
Father bent forward to place Mandrin on the floor. He stood, in one of his flowing, effortless moves, and smiled down at her.
"Be easy, child. You have your own corps of defenders. And yours, may I say, are somewhat more able than the honored Professor Mason."
The mechanical clock in his study called ninebells, its chimes echoing through the house like a familiar, comfortable voice. Theo's eyes filled.
"I wish I could stay," she said, knowing she couldn't.
"I wish you could stay, too," he answered softly.
He held a hand down to her. "I'm afraid I've kept you late," he said suddenly brisk. "Come along."
Theo let him pull her to her feet, like she had when she'd been a little kid. She went in search of Mandrin, finding her sprawled on the table among the dinner dishes.
"You are so bad," she said, and skritched the black-and-white chin. "I'll see you soon." Mandrin sighed and squeezed her eyes shut wearily. Theo grinned and followed Father out to the yard.
"I hope you don't mind a ride in the dark," he said, as he strapped in.
"Oh, no!" she assured him. "It'll be much more comfortable than the late bus!"
She felt his glance on the side of her face.
"Have you taken the late bus recently, Theo?" he asked politely.
Nidj! she scolded herself; but there was nothing for it but to tell him, now.
"I went to Nonactown to buy a rug," she said, trying to sound like it was perfectly reasonable, "and took the bus back."
"How exciting your life has become, to be sure!" he said lightly, guiding the car out into the dark street. "I'd be interested in your impressions of the long route, if you would honor me."
Kamele's already grounded you, Theo thought; he really can't do anything else.
Except give her one of his quiet, incisive lectures that were always, somehow, much worse than Kamele's.
And it's not, she admitted, like he didn't have cause.
So, she took a deep breath as the car swept 'round the corner of Leafydale Place and told him about the bus ride.
Chapter Thirteen
History of Education Department
Oriel College of Humanities
University of Delgado
"Thank you, Professor Waitley," Sindy Clemens said, soft-voiced and grave, as always. "I appreciate your time."
"It's my pleasure," Kamele said sincerely. "That's an interesting line of inquiry you're pursuing. I'd very much like to see the completed project."
Sindy smiled and ducked her head; she was a gifted researcher with a knack for slicing through airy euphemism and into the bone of the matter. Unfortunately, her social skills were not as well-honed as her intellect. And she would soon, Kamele thought unhappily, watching the best student she'd been privileged to guide walk out of the classroom, have to acquire the means to defend herself, or academic politics would destroy her before she'd properly begun her work.
Of course, Kamele acknowledged, as she packed up her 'book, Sindy might choose to go elsewhere to pursue her researches. Many did. Delgado University sent dozens of brilliant students out into the wide galaxy every year.
On the other hand, the letters she had from her own mother, who had removed to Serpentine to take up the directorship of a moribund diaspora studies program shortly after Theo was born, didn't encourage her to believe that a talent for pure scholarship was by itself enough to prosper in a community of scholars.
She put her hand against the door to sign out and stepped into the hall, leaving the room to shut itself down. Kamele yawned as she walked toward the main hallway and the belt station. The senior seminar was in the last class block of the day, and her consultation with Sindy Clemens had kept her another four eights beyond that. At least Theo would have spent most of the evening with Jen Sar.
Kamele sighed, wishing she could have done the same. It would have helped, just to talk over the recent rash of... mess... as Theo styled it, with him. Not only did he know how to listen, but he brought what was very nearly a woman's understanding to certain matters. Talking with him, she had thought more than once, was like talking with a sister.
However, as Jen Sar was demonstrably and delightfully not her sister, spending time with him was a luxury that she certainly couldn't afford, not with Hafley just looking for a reason to bring all of the decisions made by her new and unwelcome sub-chair under review. Ella had reported that the Forensic Committee was moving with unprecedented haste. In fact, she was supposed to meet with Ella to –