Read The Settlers for Free Online Page A

rock and stomped up the corridor.  
    Tasneem caught up to David and said, I'm sorry she's like that.  
    David smiled. It's okay, he said. As long as she is free to be like that, and I am free to be like this, we will always both be happy.  
    That doesn't sound like it works out well for her, Tasneem said. Works out pretty good for you, though.
    It only doesn't work for her because she requires another person to achieve happiness, David said. She'll either grow out of that or she won't. If she does, she'll be happy.  
    Sometimes I don't think you're twelve years old, Tasneem said.  
    David smiled again. Sometimes, he whispered, I think I'm twelve thousand.
    Tas neem , Audra complained.  
    Audra stomped her foot in indignation.
    Gotta go, Tasneem said.  
    I really meant those questions, David said. See if you can determine why they're the best band in the world. It presents some interesting logical conflicts that must be winnowed through.
    They're the best band because Audra wants you to go with her, Tasneem said. We probably won't even go now. She just wants to be with you.
    But I'm going to University now, David said.
    I know. She just wants to feel like she's more important than what you're doing.
    But she isn't, David said.  
    Tasneem whispered, I wouldn't tell her that part.  
    She skipped ahead and joined Audra.  
    How can a band be the best band in the world if you live on a space colony, and not on a planet? David said to himself, walking along. Do they mean the word world literally? Or is it a loose term that can be applied to any social construct in which you reside? If that's the case, then our space colony is a world. By the same logic, a community of spacedivers who float together through the cosmos without anything but each other could also be a world.  
    The girls vanished ahead, and David continued to walk to the station line, talking to himself.  

    Audra had still wanted to go to the show, and so Tasneem had gone along. The band was certainly not the best band on any world, Tasneem thought, and she knew she would have a fun conversation with David later about what really would constitute the best band, and whether you could even truly identify such a thing.  
    David liked objective conversations about subjective things.  
    He's so difficult, Audra complained.
    They were on the station line from the venue in Galileo City. The cylindrical transport moved slowly through the center of the Galilean arm, only slightly faster than the walking speed of the few people outside. The entire car was a crystal lit from the inside. Tasneem felt exposed on the station line, but she never noticed anybody outside watching her.  
    He never wants to do anything , Audra continued.  
    Tasneem had had enough. That's not true.  
    Oh, no? When is the last time he agreed to come to anything with me?  
    You said he never wants to do anything, Tasneem pointed out. But really, David always wants to do something. You just don't like the things he does. Maybe if you really wanted to spend time with him, you would join him for the things he's interested in.
    Audra folded her arms. Yeah, but those things are really boring. And anyway, he should show me that I'm more important than that.  
    Whatever, Tasneem said.  
    Audra grabbed Tasneem's knees and leaned forward. Neemy, she said. He should. I'm really special. I know I am. And he should make me feel that way.  
    If you already know you are, then why is that his job? Tasneem asked.
    Now it was Audra's turn. Whatever, she said.
    Tasneem enjoyed a measure of silence.
    Then Audra caved again, and turned back to her. Look, she insisted. David's just so smart.
    So?  
    So I want to know that he's smart enough to know what he's got, Audra said.
    I don't even know what that means, Tasneem replied. David doesn't have you. He doesn't own you.  
    I'm his girlfriend.  
    So?  
    Stop saying so! Audra exclaimed. Look, I'm his girlfriend, and he should treat me more like -- like