" Furry nodded." Furry nodded. "I hope so." As the first flash of approaching night swept over them, voices from behind them told Furry that Kiza, Skii and Garth had returned from their sailing trip. "Hi, kids!" Ken shouted. "We're over here!" The three, like sunburnt musketeers, triapsed around the corner arm-in-arm. "Well," Ken said, "I see you three are becoming friendlier. "It's works," Skii said. "Admittedly sometimes sailing with these two can be an adventure." "It would have been less of an adventure if our sailmaster here had told us that five hours of sailing in the driving rain was his idea of fun!" Kiza said. "Grumbling would not have gotten us home any faster," Skii replied. "In any event, it's good that you guys are home tonight. Garth, I have to tell you something. Terra has demanded that all Terrans currently on Pendor for the duration of the quote 'current emergency' endquote return to Terra immediately. It's your call; I can definitely get you on an outbound vessel for Terra in less than an hour, or you can wait your remaining twenty-six days and see if the emergency has ended by then. If it has, we can get you home as just another tourist and nobody will be the wiser." "Are a lot of people staying?" "More then half," Ken nodded. "It seems Terrans are not so interested in the politics as in making sure they get their money's worth out of their vacation stay on Pendor. |