“Dessie is six-almost seven.”
Kimber grinned. “Bright little trick, too, isn’t she? Took to Carlee right away-after we had persuaded her you were going to recover. Last I heard she’d taken command in the nursery quarters. Carlee was surprised at how sensible she was.
“Dessie’s a pretty big person,” Dard said slowly. “She’s old for her years. And she has a gift, too. She makes friends with animals-not just tame ones-hut the wild ’things. I’ve seen them come right up to her. She insists that they talk.”
Had he said too much? Had he labeled Dessie as one so far outside the pattern that she would not “fit” into a ship’s company where a farmer was considered important? But surely, a child’s future was worth more than an adult’s! Dessie must be considered-she must be!
“Carlee thinks she is quite a person, too.” That was certainly noncommittal enough. But, although he did not know Carlee, her approbation was comforting to Dard. A woman, a woman with a little girl of her own, would see that another little girl would get a fair break. As for him-self-resolutely he refused to think ahead for himself. Instead he began to watch the twilight-cloaked road and think of the problem immediately before them.
“The ’copter park is at the back of the Temple. And you can’t fly over the building-nothing crosses the sacred roof.”
“Then we circle. No use taking chances. Park well guarded?”
“I don’t know. Only Peacemen get inside. But I’d think that in the dark, and with this machine—”
“We could brazen it out? Let us hope they don’t ask for any recognition signals. I’m going to try to land as close to the edge as I can and in the darkest part-unless they have floodlights—”
“Town lights!” Dard interrupted, intent on the sparks of yellow. “The Temple is on that rise to the south. See!!”