J. X. Lee.
Dear old Dad, after all these years farming with a weather-maker on a
drydust planet I want to see his face the first time he sees real
rain.
Hell's fires and shades of darkness, I shan't be there!
M'Clare says, "Your father wrote to me saying that he will be arriving
on Earth on 24th August. I take it your letter says the same. I came
on a dispatch boat; you can go back on it."
_Now_ what is he talking about? Then I get the drift.
I say, "Look. So Dad will be on Earth before we get back. What
difference does that make?"
"You can't let him arrive and find you missing."
Well I admit to a qualm at the thought of Dad let loose on Earth
without me, but after all Uncle Charlie is a born Terrie and can keep
him in line; Hell he is old enough to look after himself anyway.
"You met my Dad," I point out. "You think J. X. Lee would want any
daughter of his backing out on a job so as to hold his hand? I can
send him a letter saying I am off on a job or a Test or whatever I
please and hold everything till I get back; what are you doing about
people's families on Earth already?"
M'Clare says we were all selected as having families not on Earth at
present, and I must go back.