Read Valhai (The Ammonite Galaxy) for Free Online

that would be! Something to really look forward to! He gave a deep, heartfelt sigh.
    And the old misery was still there, invigilating away. It was impossible to get a moment’s peace away from the man. Six couldn’t even be sure that he wasn’t being watched when he went to the bathroom.
    It appeared however, that his physical level pleased his mentor. Atheron was transmitting pleasure to the best of his ability.
    “Most commendable,” the teacher nodded, “I think . . . yes . . . I think I will award you commontime today, even though the progress on the music squares has not been . . . well, let’s just say it could have been better.”
    “Commontime?” Six echoed. It was the first he had heard about it. Was something good about to happen?
    “Yes. You will be allowed some short time to have a conversation with one of your fellow apprentices. It has been long noted that occasional peer exchanges are beneficial in the life of an apprentice.” Atheron lifted an admonitory finger. “Though if you want to enjoy this occasional privilege I shall expect a little more effort on the musical side of things. I can see that you are unused to so much schooling, but it really is absolutely necessary if we are to attain our objectives for you. You should know that this is all being done to improve you as a person. You will gain enormously from the experience.”
    Six pounded away at the running belt, wishing a certain someone’s head was down there. For a moment he enjoyed fantasizing that every step was bludgeoning that head into pulp.
    Finally the moment he had been waiting for came. He was expecting the appearance of another door by this time, since he had seen the exercise room door appear and disappear as needed. He moved warily through the paper thin door that appeared, unsure of what or who to expect on the other side.
    “It would have to be you!”
    “Ah, the long lost greeting ritual of the Coriolan meritocracy!” he said. “I might have known. I’m just as happy to see you as you are to see me!”
    “I don’t know how you survived so long on Kwaide!” Diva said. “I’m surprised nobody killed you off at an early age.”
    “Not for want of trying, I assure you,” Six said, “but if you are thrown out of the birth shelter into the badlands when you are four you develop a pretty sharp sense of survival.”
    Diva raised her eyebrows. “Thrown out to fend for yourself at four? You must have done something terrible!”
    He nodded. “Exist.”
    “You’re kidding! Even barbarians like the Kwaidians wouldn’t throw an innocent child out into the badlands!”
    “I wasn’t innocent. I was born guilty. That is what a no-name is.”
    “Well that wouldn’t happen on Coriolis!”
    “No. I suppose you come from the land of fairness and justice?”
    She nodded categorically. “Of course I do. We would never treat orphans like that. I thought no-names had done something terrible to lose the right to a name.”
    “You are right. We exist. That is the sin.”
    “I don’t believe you, Kwaidian. You must have done something!”
    “Or what? Your stupid prejudices would be wrong?”
    “I am not prejudiced. How could you even suggest a thing like that? What do you know about anything? You’re just an uncivilized little nomus!”
    “Whatever,” Six replied. “How many of us are there here, do you know?”
    “Twelve, I think. Six from Kwaide and six from Coriolis. Except,” Diva looked sad, “except for the one who died.”
    “Died?”
    Diva explained what had happened on the spaceship. “The Sellite, Xenon, only seemed worried that it would set his dumb ‘program’ back.”
    “They don’t seem very concerned about us. I’m just waiting for my bed to eat me!”
    Diva held back a giggle. “ It does feel like that, doesn’t it? But I guess they won’t want to lose any more of us. He was very put out by what happened.” Tears came to her eyes. “I can’t seem to forget that poor boy’s