" "Wedding's not for two weeks, son." "Wedding's not for two weeks, son. We need time to prepare. Consider it downtime. I'll see that your ship is tended too." "Dad..." "Not another word, David. Damn your Elohim pride, son, and let your old man at least give you a vacation." David swallowed. "Sure thing, Dad." "Besides, I'll just take the money out of 2687." "Dad!" David said, shocked. "How dare you access my Swiss bank account." "Son, it's my money anyway." Samuel smiled a secret smile. "I'm only joking with you son. You wouldn't let me buy you The Asking, and I've never told you this, but I'm damn proud of what you managed without me. And I won't touch your nest capsule." "I appreciate it, Dad. Thanks." "It's what children are for, David. Jeeves! Show these guests to their rooms. They will be here for fifteen days. And see to it that they are well tended to." "Of course, sir." "Your mother doesn't like me," Denni said for the fifth time that day. "Mom doesn't like anybody," David replied. "She exists to impress people, to prove to them that even though she's a Rat, she's as important as they are. She measures success strictly by social status." "Madame will look lovely," the shopkeeper standing to Denni's left said as he adjusted the bow at the front of her dress. |