Earthbound by DM Arnold (read book .TXT) 📕

“Can I get you a fork?” Yasuko asked.

“No, thanks. I'm determined to master these.”

Suki wiped the sauce from his clothes with her napkin. “No harm done -- it'll wash out.”

George sipped from a bowl. “Sukiko, have you done any more to find a real job?”

“Daddy, I'm happy with what I'm doing.”

“For what you're making, you'd be better off somewhere flipping burgers,” George replied. “At least you'd have some benefits.”

“I'm using my degree. I worked hard for it and I want to use it.”

“A hell of a lot of good that thing is,” George continued. “Do you know what those initials stand for? 'Piled hip deep,' that's what. You should treat it for what it is -- a sunk cost.”

“Does everything have a bottom line to you?” Suki asked. “Is Wall Street the only place someone can make a living? There are plenty of opportunities for someone with my credentials.”

“I've seen those opportunities. I walk past park-bench professors daily on my way to and from my office.” George lifted a porcelain kettle from a chafing stand and poured some clear fluid into a small bowl.

“Daddy, don't you think you've had enough sake already?” Her father's eyes narrowed. He lifted the bowl in a mock salute, drained and refilled it.

“Your father and I are concerned for your ability to support the child,” Yasuko added. “You might not live upstairs forever.”

Suki flashed a look at Nyk. “Are you threatening to throw us out?” she asked.

“Would you like me to pay rent,” Nyk asked, “room and board?”

“No, no, Nick,” Yasuko replied. “I didn't mean it that way.” She reached across the table and took Suki's hand. “We're just concerned...” She looked at her daughter. “Whether or not you use your degree, wouldn't you rather have a secure job?”

“What's secure these days?” She stirred the contents of her bowl with her chopsticks. “At least I have a degree.”

George glowered at her. “Is that a remark directed toward me, your mother or both of us? I think you owe us an apology.” Suki picked up her tea bowl, swirled it and took a sip. “Apologize, dammit!”

She looked down. “I'm sorry.”

“While you're there, you should sign up for some business courses at that university -- start a real career where you can make some real money.” George emptied his bowl of sake.

“Like I said,” Suki replied, “I'm happy with what I'm doing. Besides, who would hire someone who's three months pregnant?”

“Don't get me started on that topic, young lady.” George eyed Nyk. “Yasuko tells me she suspects you've been encouraging this lunatic line of thinking.”

“Suki is an adult with her own free will. If this is what she wants to do, I will support her and give her encouragement -- and love.”

“What about your so-called career?” George asked. “Will NYU hold your position for you while you're on maternity leave?”

“It'll probably be open for me,” she replied. “They can't give me any guarantees.”

George poured another bowl. “No guarantees...” He shook his head. “You're nuts,” he said and looked at Nyk. “You're both nuts.” He sipped from the bowl. “I'll say this about your ... degree. I wouldn't trade where you are today with that piece of paper for where I was at your age without it. The three years you spent on it were a waste, if this is all you can show for it.”

“Daddy, the reason I haven't been able to use my degree is because of the time I spent married to that idiot son of your idiot business associate. That was the waste -- not graduate school.”

“That does it!” George shouted. “Leave the table.” Suki picked up a piece of chicken, popped it into her mouth and stared at her father as she chewed. George stood and pointed toward the kitchen. “I said, leave the table!”

Suki stood. “With pleasure.” She sprinted up the stairs to the apartment.

“If you'll excuse me,” Nyk said and picked up his and Suki's bowls. He carried them to the kitchen, set them on the counter and headed up the stairs.

Suki knelt on the sofa in the apartment, her arms draped across the back. Tears streamed down her face. Nyk sat beside her. “I'm sorry you had to witness that,” she said. “I'm twenty-seven and he treats me like I'm fifteen. Do you see why I can't handle this alone? I can't believe you want to stick around me and them.”

“I had similar exchanges with my father,” Nyk replied. “If you can't argue with your own family, whom can you argue with?”

“I'm not proud of how I handled myself tonight -- I let him goad me. I hope you realize the sort of family you're getting yourself mixed up with.”

“It's a family that's done all right.”

She looked at him and giggled. “I keep forgetting.” He slipped his arm around her. “Oh, Nykkyo -- when you're with me the pain goes away.”

A knock came on the apartment door. “It's unlocked,” Nyk yelled.

Yasuko opened the door, stepped in and faced Suki. “I'm sorry for your father's behavior.”

“I'd rather Daddy was sorry for himself.”

“He did consume a bit too much sake, I'm afraid.”

“No, Mom. He had just enough.”

“I should've warned you -- the stock market was down big today and you know that never does his mood any good.”

“We'll both get over it,” she replied. “We always do. Just watch -- tomorrow he'll treat me like a princess.”

Nyk sat on the sofa in the apartment. Suki leaned against him as he stroked her hair. “Suki, there's something I must tell you. I'm returning to the homeworld in a few days.”

“No!” Suki said and pulled from him. “I won't let you go.” She brushed tears from her eyes. “I won't let you. You promised me. You know I can't do this alone,” she sobbed. “Nykkyo, you promised me!”

“I'll keep my promise. I'll be back.”

“Why must you go? How do I know you'll come back?”

“Seymor told me he'll authorize my return. Suki, I have a duty to my people. Zander's up to something -- something no good -- and I may have the key to stopping it. I must do this.”

“What if something happens to you? What about your duty to me?”

“This is part of the path Destiny's tracing for me.”

“Destiny! Don't you think it's possible we're responsible for our own destinies?” Nyk stood and reached for her. She jerked away from him.

“I will do everything in my power to return to you. And when I do, I'll be here to stay.” He took her hand. “I wish I could take you with me.”

She walked to a cabinet, opened a drawer and removed an object. “How long will you be gone?” she asked as she returned to the sofa and sat beside him.

“I don't know. Tomorrow I make another run to Oklahoma City. Then, I'm sure I'll be asked to make a transit from Wisconsin. I'll return to the homeworld after that. I don't know how long I'll be there -- a few weeks -- I can't imagine longer than a couple of months.”

“Two months!”

“At least it's not two lifetimes.”

“But still -- two months. I've gotten used to having you around. What'll I tell Mom and Daddy?”

“Tell them I'll be back after I complete this assignment. Seymor has given me his assurances.”

“Do you trust him?” she asked.

“He's a Floran, and a Floran's word is his bond. Do you trust me?”

“Yes -- but I don't know if I trust Seymor.” He slipped his arm around her and she cuddled against him. “I suppose a couple of weeks wouldn't be so bad. I wish you didn't have to.”

“So do I.”

She handed him the object she had been holding. It was the silver Kyhana crest pin she had worn at the university. “Take this with you -- to remind you of me.”

“I don't need this to remind me. You haven't left my thoughts since the day I laid eyes on you.”

“Please take it.” He took the pin from her. “Now, you're obligated to me. You must come back, so you can return the pin. Who knows -- maybe it'll bring you luck.”

He slipped the pin into his pocket. “I'm sorry I have nothing to give you. Floran culture isn't materialistic -- I have no possessions. All I can give is my word that I love you and I will return -- or die trying.”

“That's what I'm afraid of. You'll be careful?”

“Of course.” He kissed her cheek. “Let's get ready for bed.”

Nyk slipped under the covers. Suki slipped off her robe and slid into the bed beside him. He switched off the light. “I love you, Suki.”

“I know you do. I love you, too.” She ran her hand along his shoulder and arm. She leaned to him and kissed his lips. “I want you, Nykkyo. Family line or no, I want you. Incest or no, I want you!” She began kissing and caressing his body.

“No, Suki, no!” He switched the light on.

“Why not? It's not incest to you, and I don't care if it is or isn't. Why can't we have each other? I don't think of you as family. You don't even look like family. No one would guess we're related. What if something happens -- what if you don't come back? At least let's have this.”

“You once said you wanted me for me, not for you. Now I must say no to you for you. I know how ingrained this taboo is to your culture. I want this as much as you do, Suki. We mustn't do something you'll wake up some morning and regret. I love you too much to allow us to do that.”

“You love me too much to make love to me. I never expected to hear anything like that.”

“I don't want to say no to you. I want you -- I want desperately to share the gift of pleasure and intimacy. But we mustn't take the risk of poisoning our love with an act either of us might regret.” Nyk switched off the light. He coaxed her beside him, slipped his arm around her and stroked her hair until he felt her drowse. He closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.

Nyk stepped from the taxi upon returning from Oklahoma City. He placed a vidphone call. “Zander, I must return to Floran. I'm needed there on a family matter.”

“Is it anything serious?”

“No, Senta wants me there to help plan a celebration. Her stepdad's fiftieth anniversary with the Service is coming up.”

“Fifty years! That's quite an achievement. You're in luck. Exo 327's making a pickup in a few days. I was planning on handling this one personally, but if you're headed this way, you could save me the trouble.”

“What day?” Nyk asked.

“Let's see ... This Thursday.”

“That'll work fine,” Nyk replied. “I'm happy to help.”

“Will you need transit back to Earth?”

“No. Going native's not what I thought it'd be.”

“No, it's not. I didn't think you had it in you, Nyk. Stop by once you're on the homeworld.”

“I'll plan on it.”

“Before I forget -- if you want to get on the good side of the boys on the scout, bring along a couple bottles of whiskey.”

Nyk sat in the house in Wisconsin, fingering the photoimager. The panel van pulled into the driveway. He photographed the van, then he directed the driver to put the crates on the porch. The van departed and he watched it head down the street.

He took pictures of the stack of crates. With a screwdriver he pried up the lid on the first box, then folded back heavy paper and removed some cushioning material. The sight of the contents made his jaw drop.

Inside were firearms and ammunition. The first crate contained assault rifles -- about a dozen. He photographed them and opened the other boxes. The second one contained handguns. Inside the third was what looked like a mortar and rounds. A fourth contained hand grenades. Nyk closed up the crates.

Nightfall came and he backed the shuttlecar from the garage and loaded the boxes into it. These were smaller than the first set but just as heavy. He loaded all of them into the shuttle, piling the smaller ones onto the passenger seat. He stuffed his travel case into the cockpit and pulled his door shut.

He headed out of town to his launching site and began preparation for transit. Nyk pressed the launch sequencer. The shuttle nosed up and settled back to the ground. A power overload indicator flashed on the control panel.

Nyk restarted the prelaunch program. The overload indicator cleared. He pressed the launch sequencer and again the shuttlecar nosed up and settled back. A touch of the control panel initiated low-level diagnostics.

The car's vidisplay signaled an