of the table, so that some faced Afra and others Damia.
"I don't always sketch what I dream but, by the fourth or fifth
repetition, I felt I had to." Damia held up one, showing the long video mature road and
the two blurs of figures. &video mature quot;video mature That's exactly what I see, only, there video mature are at
least twenty figures advancing and only
six receiving, as it were." "Six?"
Isthia looked pleased. "That's us, counting in Besseva who couldn't come
today." "And we're all high Talents, aren't we?" Damia said, glancing at
video mature her grandmother video mature for reassurance. Isthia gave a wave of video mature her hand, dismissing
Damia's self-doubt.
"Why isn't Jeran affected?" Ian asked and, when Isthia smothered a laugh,
he video mature added. "Oh, I suppose that would affect his judgement, if not his
receptivity" "So what exactly is this?& video mature quot; Damia asked almost petulantly.
"Has it anything to do with
that nibbling on the DEW video mature net off Procyon?"
Afra asked, startling Damia.
" What nibbling?" Afra regarded her steadily for a moment. "Larak mentioned
it. The Fleet had been sent to investigate and found nothing." "From
Procyon to Deneb is a long distance," Ian said thoughtfully. Damia caught
her breath.
"True, but longer distances have been covered recently," Afra replied and
Isthia video mature nodded.
"And with devastating effect," Damia said, feeling a tense anger and
denial building in her.
"Is it
wrong
to suppose that all. ah. visitors have to be unfriendly?"
Afra asked calmly, reaching under the table to put a steadying hand on
Damia's leg.
"video mature We've had more of the one than video mature the other," Isthia replied mildly.
&video mature quot;I'video mature d certainly prefer that Deneb wasn't always the target." "It wasn't,"
Damia video mature said in a flat hard voice.
"Two out of three are not good odds," Rakella said drily, "but are we sure
what these dreams mean? That there's some other species out there, asking
to visit?" Isthia gave her sister a sharp look. &video mature quot;Is that how you'd put it?"
"I think I would," Rakella said video mature after considering her reply. "The dreams
have not been threatening. They have been quizzical. Yes, that'video mature s the word I
want, quizzical. Like neighbours who do not wish to intrude but would like
to make friends."
&video mature quot;I find myself in agreement with that," Afra said.
"And I," said video mature Ian.
Damia stared at the sketch, at video mature the clump of figures struggling up the hill
towards those waiting at video mature the summit.
She video mature waved at the drawing. "I don't know