Read Beyond Heaven's River for Free Online

USC. “I’d like to speak to Anna Nestor.”
“And you’re” — the alter consulted a tapas —“Loytnant Elvox, correct?”
He nodded. The alter stepped back into the lock, leaving Elvox to rub his hands at the base of the ramp.
“Loytnant Elvox,” Nestor’s voice ran out from the outside speaker. “Come aboard, and be welcome.”
“Thank you,” he murmured.
The alter took him to the lander’s bridge. Nestor and several others were giving Kawashita rudimentary instruction on the state of modern technology. He referred to a tapas frequently. Elvox made a mental note to subpoena that tapas in any legal dispute, to see if it was biased.
The Japanese seemed at ease. He was listening studiously to everything said, though he couldn’t possibly understand a tenth of it, Elvox thought.
Anna took Elvox aside and welcomed him aboard the ship. “What can we do for you, Loytnant?”
“I’m here to speak with Kawashita, find out how he came to be here, offer him our congratulations …” He trailed off and smiled nervously. Kiril Kondrashef, Nestor’s shuttle pilot, was explaining the craft’s power system. Anna turned away to explain a detail more simply. She then turned back to Elvox and motioned him to take a seat.
“We’re very interested in your welfare, Yoshio,” Elvox said during a lull. “As … uh … Anna Nestor is. And we want you to understand how important your position is now.” Nestor smiled enigmatically. Elvox suddenly felt like a clumsy child.
“I begin to see,” Kawashita said. “Things are being explained well.”
“I hope you see that there are a great many things that will be very difficult for you to understand … right away.” He smiled ingratiatingly at Nestor, by way of experiment. Her smile shifted slightly and seemed to mirror his own. “Our technology is too complex for even a modern individual to absorb quickly. Some of the concepts will probably take years to sink in.”
“Probably,” Kawashita admitted. “I am not unfamiliar with some, however. Was talked about for a long time, this warper ability.”
Elvox was taken aback. “In your time, they … uh … knew about higher and lower spaces, how to use them?”
Kawashita shook his head. “Not in my time. After. I was let to read.”
Elvox itched to ask what he had been allowed to read, but a glance at Nestor told him the Japanese wasn’t willing to divulge such things yet. She shook her head and pursed her lips.
“Yoshio is up on quite a few things we wouldn’t expect him to be,” she said. “He’s learning very quickly.”
The lander shuddered slightly, and a mournful hum vibrated through the bulkheads. The pilot cleared the direct-view plates. Dark thunderheads were piling up all around the dome and landing area. Elvox saw Ruysmal and Dean walking toward the dome, leaning into a stiff breeze.
“Looks like the Waunters are settling in for a blow,” the pilot said.
Stabilizers were spreading out and bolts were being driven into the concrete. Nestor chuckled. “Until we’re sure about all this, let’s prepare to stay.” She looked at Elvox again. “Loytnant, unless you wish to risk life and limb, I suggest you remain here as our guest. I hope that won’t be too inconvenient.”
The winds outside were already rising above a hundred kilometers an hour. He shook his head in resignation. “I’ll have to send a message to my lander.”
“Feel free,” Nestor said, pointing out the communications panel.
Within the hour all three ships were firmly rooted into the concrete. The winds began to show their true faces. By early evening the cloud cover was clear and stars twinkled in the oncoming night. Minutes later a vast wet front swept over and dropped a flood on the plains of concrete.
Most of Nestor’s entourage were preparing to sleep in the cargo bay. Spare sleeping pads and blankets were being brought out, and hot drinks were served. Two women came up to the bridge to talk with Nestor, carrying