Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #109: Where's the Beef? (2/3/99)
Riyyh is walking through one of the greenhouses, on a completely unannounced (except by gossip of course) inspection.
Racknie is so entranced by his newest finding that he wasn't paying attention to the gossip.
Racknie: ~~ scientific rapture ~~
Riyyh pauses to study a rack of hydroponic tomatoes.
Riyyh picks up the chart next to the rack and reads how the experiment is going.
Riyyh has learned that is more edifying than speaking to the persons in charge, especially on the less successful experiments.
Riyyh's brows raise in appreciation and he puts the tablet back down.
Racknie is standing in the door to the next unit, looking out over a mostly wilted bench of artichokes.
Riyyh continues on.
Riyyh: Hello, Racknie. [kindly]
Racknie: ~~ startled ~~
Racknie whirls.
Racknie: Oh! Sectuib!
Riyyh smiles at Racknie.
Racknie vaguely remembers overhearing something about a visit over breakfast.
Racknie: I though you weren't coming until after lunch.
Racknie: ~~ apology ~~
Riyyh: I hope I'm not interrupting anything.
Racknie has, of course, forgotten to eat in his excitement.
Riyyh in fact wouldn't ordinarily have arrived until after lunch, except that he skipped a few steps of his inspection in order to get home to Rapol sooner.
Racknie: No, I was just about to come by your office, actually.
Racknie: Look there!
Riyyh follows Racknie's gaze.
Racknie points at the pretty-much-wilted artichokes.
Riyyh: Tell me about these... artichokes?
Riyyh has learned never to assume anything in this particular lab.
Riyyh will never forget the time what he thought was a huge tomato turned out to be a rindless watermelon.
Racknie: This is a breeding program for hardier artichokes. Mostly, Naros is too warm, and we miss half the growing season.
Riyyh: They look... rather unhappy at the moment. [confesses]
Riyyh: Perhaps only to the layman's eyes...?
Racknie looks at Riyyh to make sure Sectuib is following, having learned not to make assumptions himself.
Racknie: Yes!
Riyyh: Oh?
Riyyh isn't quite following, unfortunately.
Racknie: You see, the heating system in this greenhouse failed two days ago, right as the storm began.
Racknie: We started a coal brazier, but it didn't do a very good job, and the plants got a good dose of frost.
Riyyh is still a little unclear as to how that could have happened, since there are several people assigned to make sure that is impossible.
Riyyh nods. "I see."
Racknie: Most of the plants were badly damaged, as you see. But look there!
Racknie points at a less-droopy overgrown thistle.
Riyyh in fact is beginning to believe he knows how the elaborate safeguards against heating system failure broke down.
Riyyh looks at the plant in question.
Racknie smiles in triumph, under the mistaken apprehension that he's communicated his discovery.
Riyyh studies the thistle.
Riyyh: This one was more well-protected?
Riyyh: You've discovered a new method for crop sheltering?
Riyyh has never been good at scientific shell games.
Racknie: Not at all. As you see, it's actually farther away from the brazier than many of the damaged plants.
Racknie: ~~ pride ~~
Racknie: No, this plant survived on its own.
Riyyh: I see. Very good.
Racknie: If the trait breeds true, we'll have an artichoke that's truly frost hearty.
Riyyh reaches for the specimen in question, then hesitates.
Riyyh: May I?
Racknie: Certainly. Just don't damage it.
Racknie is hovering like a channel two days from transfer whose Companion has the flu.
Riyyh picks it up and examines it, judging it by the ordinary standards for artichoke plants.
Riyyh has always tended to judge new strains by old standards, much to the annoyance of the development staff.
Riyyh: It looks healthy enough.
Riyyh: Have you any adults of this variety?
Racknie: Well, it isn't as happy as it was a few days ago, but it's much happier than the others.
Racknie: We don't know. We were breeding for drought tolerance, not frost resistance.
Racknie: The parents of this cross were raised in the greenhouse.
Racknie: So they've never been tested.
Racknie looks at the little plant like a proud parent.
Riyyh: I do hope that any future testing will be done in a little more controlled fashion, with advance warning for all.
Riyyh meets Racknie's eyes sincerely as he returns the artichoke to him.
Racknie takes the pot and sets it gently back on the bench.
Racknie: Believe me, I will make sure that the maintenance staff makes the greenhouse heating system a top priority next time.
Riyyh sighs as the blame is placed elsewhere.
Riyyh: Very well, then.
Racknie: This disaster gave an unexpected finding, but look here.
Racknie leads the way over to the next bench, on which several pots of sprouting peas are placed around a kerosene lantern.
Racknie: This is Durif's pea experiment--he's trying to develop a dwarf strain which won't fall over in the mud.
Racknie: However, the new shoots are rather tender, so he lit that lantern to provide some extra heat.
Racknie seems to think that the problem has been explained.
Riyyh listens attentively.
Riyyh tries to look more interested and encouraging as the silence lengthens.
Racknie: This is a cross between our best-tasting full-sized pea and a dwarf strain that isn't as good.
Riyyh: Oh... yes?
Riyyh looks at the pea plants.
Riyyh: How interesting.
Racknie: About half of these plants should be short, and the others tall. But look, they're all the same size.
Riyyh: Surely that isn't as important as how they taste?
Racknie: Well, we've already got a normal-sized pea that tastes just fine.
Riyyh: Yes...?
Riyyh looks at the half-sized plants.
Racknie: But look at those hooks. They're not straightening out now that the peas are above the soil--and so we may not be able to evaluate them for dwarfism.
Riyyh: But do they fall in the mud?
Riyyh thinks they look fairly sturdy to him.
Racknie: We don't know how they'll act. That's the problem.
Racknie: You see, our dwarf parent was dwarf because it couldn't make ethylene.
Racknie waits for the light to dawn.
Riyyh looks fairly clueless, if patient and attentive.
Riyyh: Is that bad?
Riyyh does wish these scientific types would present things in a matter that was a little more down-to-earth... so to speak.
Racknie: The lantern. Burning kerosene gives off ethylene, so we can't tell the dwarf plants from the normal ones now.
Racknie looks sad.
Riyyh: I see.
Riyyh looks at the plants again.
Riyyh: How unfortunate.
Racknie: We'll have to wait for the next generation.
Riyyh places a sympathetic hand on Racknie's shoulder.
Riyyh: I am sorry to hear that.
Riyyh: Perhaps you will have better luck next time?
Racknie: Durif was quite upset.
Riyyh tries to be patient.
Riyyh: Yes, I can imagine.
Racknie: Although at least he understands now why we use coal for the emergency heating.
Riyyh: A learning experience, then.
Racknie tries to take what consolation he can from this.
Racknie: At least peas are relatively easy to breed, and he didn't use all the seed from this cross.
Colleen comes blundering her way into the hot house looking bewildered.
Riyyh: Oh, that's fortunate... Colleen!
Riyyh: ~~intense relief~~
Racknie: Don't damage the artichoke!
Racknie: ~~ concern ~~
Colleen turns.
Colleen: Ah, Sectuib Riyyh, I seem to be lost again.
Riyyh: Have you two met?
Riyyh ordinarily wouldn't bother asking this of Narosians, but Racknie is not always entirely up on the gossip.
Colleen: No, I don't think so.
Racknie looks at Colleen.
Racknie thinks "Not related!!!!!"
Racknie: I'm very honored to make your acquaintance.
Riyyh zlins Racknie's reaction and smiles.
Racknie: My name is Racknie, and I'm in charge of the plant breeding program here at Naros.
Colleen: The pleasure is all mine.
Riyyh: This is Colleen. She is visiting from Gen Territory.
Riyyh thinks that is more charitable than "got lost going 600 miles in the wrong direction"... besides, Racknie can learn that for himself easily enough.
Riyyh thinks, perhaps sooner than later.
Racknie: From Gen Territory?
Racknie tries to remember if Riyyh was ever stationed in Gen Territory.
Colleen: Yes I was on my way to Gulf Territory when I was hopelessly lost.
Racknie: Well, I hope you will consider yourself "found", here at Naros.
Colleen: I am most impressed with Naros.
Racknie thinks any new blood is a find.
Colleen: I was attempting to get to a university in Gulf Territory.
Riyyh beams at the compliment to the House.
Colleen: Before the spring semester, but I do believe that I botched that up rather royally.
Racknie: Really? What were you intending to study?
Colleen: Oh, I was not going to study. I am part of an exchange program. I was going to teach advanced Mathematics.
Riyyh winces at the mention of advanced mathematics.
Colleen: One of my doctorates is in Mathematics.
Riyyh's acquaintance with advanced mathematics has been limited mainly to nodding and smiling his way through parties while others discuss it.
Racknie: Did you know that there's a great deal of mathematics in plant breeding?
Racknie tries to look knowledgeable, interested, and available.
Racknie isn't half as good at doing that as Riyyh, unfortunately for him.
Colleen: No, I don't work with the botanists at all.
Racknie: Let me show you.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh looks around for some graceful way to escape the situation.
Colleen turns to Riyyh. "Well, the Sectuib was going to help me with these letters. I do need to get them to my colleagues before they send out an armed search party."
Riyyh: Oh... have you written them already?
Racknie: Ah, I can see that you are busy.
Racknie: ~~ wistful ~~
Colleen: Perhaps I could come back for the tour later. Would that be acceptable?
Racknie smiles in a dazzling fashion.
Racknie: Of course. I would be delighted to show you around.
Racknie: In the mean time....
Racknie ducks out to the other greenhouse.
Racknie returns a moment later with a ripe hydroponic tomato.
Colleen looks ate Riyyh questioningly.
Racknie: For you.
Colleen takes the tomato in her free hand.
Racknie blushes charmingly as he hands the berry to Colleen.
Colleen: Why thank you you are very sweet.
Racknie: A reminder that spring will come, no matter how much snow there is outside.
Riyyh smiles, always pleased by romanticism.
Racknie hopes that Colleen hasn't heard the tales about tomatoes being aphrodisiacs.
Racknie doesn't know how much credence he gives them, himself, but figures that every little bit helps.
Riyyh is glad Colleen can see Racknie's romanticism but can't zlin what else he's feeling.
Colleen: Well, I'll be sure to enjoy this at lunch today. Thank you very much.
Colleen: Now I really must get these letters in the afternoons mail, If you will excuse us please.
Racknie: Sectuib, I can see that you have important business with our guest, so I won't keep you any longer.
Racknie: I'll be sure to write you a full report on the new artichoke strain.
Riyyh: Thank you.
Riyyh: I look forward to reading it. [smiles]
Racknie hopes that Colleen will be impressed with his plant breeding prowess.
Colleen: [turning to Riyyh] Sectuib, would you be so kind as to help me get these letters Out-Territory?
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Riyyh leads the way out of the hothouse.
Colleen follows close behind lest she lose her way again.
Racknie stares after Colleen wistfully.
Riyyh: Have you already written them, then?
Colleen: Oh, yes. Right after my bath.
Riyyh wends a path between the buildings, in the direction of the administrative building.
Riyyh: We can drop these off with Wolfa for the outgoing courier.
Riyyh: In fact, I could just drop them off myself, unless...
Riyyh: Would you like to have lunch?
Colleen: I would be delighted to have lunch.
Riyyh smiles.
Colleen: Does Racknie spend all his time in the hot house?
Riyyh: Racknie? I'm afraid so. [confesses]
Riyyh: He is very involved in his work.
Riyyh: Very focused.
Riyyh: Oh, there's Teepet, she can take the letters to Wolfa for you, I'm sure.
Teepet: Sectuib!
Teepet: And you must be Colleen!
Riyyh: But then, the hothouse is not the worst place to spend... hello, Teepet. [smiles]
Colleen: Yes, have we met?
Teepet: I'm selfishly pleased that your long journey has brought you to us.
Teepet: Teepet, at your service.
Teepet bows extravagantly.
Colleen: Thank you. Tell me are all the people in this house so gracious?
Riyyh: Yes, of course.
Teepet's cape flourishes dramatically as he does so.
Riyyh: It is our greatest pleasure to serve others.
Riyyh must be related to Teepet, they look quite a bit alike.
Riyyh: [so did Racknie, for that matter]
Teepet: I hope you will let me know if there is anything you desire to make your stay here more enjoyable.
Riyyh: Teepet, would you possibly be able to bring these letters of Colleen's to Wolfa for her?
Riyyh: It would be ever so convenient.
Colleen wonders why everyone looks so much alike.
Teepet: I would be delighted.
Teepet reaches out with a tentacle to snag the letters.
Riyyh smiles, showing his ~sincere gratitude~
Riyyh: Thank you.
Teepet: ~~ delight ~~
Colleen hands the letters to Teepet
Teepet: I will not rest until they are in Wolfa's tentacles.
Teepet just got up and is not the least tired, which he figures will give him plenty of time to zlin the letters' contents before passing them on. 1
Teepet can't believe the gossip points he's going to earn from this errand.
Colleen: We need more like you in Chicago.
Teepet: Ah, it is your presence which honors us.
Teepet bows again and hurries off.
Colleen wonders how many young ladies that one has wrapped around his tentacles.
Riyyh: Now then, shall we to the Dining Hall? [to Colleen]
Colleen: Yes indeed.
Riyyh turns and heads in a new direction, going between some lumps in the snow (which happen to be cut down rose bushes, under piles of leaves, but you can't tell that by looking at them).
Riyyh: A charming fellow. [smiles]
Riyyh: Both he and Racknie are a pleasure to be near.
Colleen: All the men I've met in this Household so far seem to have gone to charm school.
Riyyh smiles sheepishly.
Colleen: Do you send them to a finishing school like we do in Gen Territory?
Riyyh: No, no, I'm afraid it is nothing so formal.
Riyyh thinks that genetics and upbringing have always been a formidable combination.
Riyyh: Naros has been very isolated, and much of what you perceive as finishing is simply the way of Narosian society.
Colleen: So you have a culture all to yourselves?
Riyyh: Yes, I suppose you could say that... yes.
Riyyh leads her through a small orchard placed incongruously (although all the Narosians are used to it) between a pair of barns.
Colleen: I haven't seen as many women as men here, or is it just me?
Riyyh: Oh dear, well, [tentacles waving]
Riyyh: It probably is you, [confesses]
Riyyh: The younger ones will be very interested.
Colleen looks for what caused him to wave his tentacles
Riyyh: [the cause for Riyyh's consternation is nowhere in sight]
Colleen: In me? I'm quite a bit past Establishment.
Colleen: Would they not be interested in someone their own age??
Riyyh: Well yes, of course, but you must understand that the mystique, the newness, of an outsider is alluring to them.
Riyyh thinks, that and her pristine genes.
Riyyh: However, if their attentions begin to weary you, please tell me.
Riyyh: I can arrange for you to be given more space to yourself.
Riyyh hopes not, since this would not be easy to arrange at all.
Colleen mulls over what he said.
Colleen: No it's just that I'm not used to people young enough to be my students to be interested in me in that way.
Riyyh smiles.
Colleen: I assumed the gray streaks in my hair were a good indication of a "Seasoned" Gen. [smiles]
Riyyh: You are a beautiful, talented stranger. They will adore you.
Riyyh: If it does not bother you, then enjoy it. Naros is a harmless place.
Riyyh: [kindly]
Colleen: No, it's not a bother, I can't take it seriously.
Riyyh leads her into the Dining Hall.
Colleen: Everyone is so young.
Teepet and Racknie would both be devastated if they heard this last statement.
Riyyh: Most of the others are married.
Riyyh: While those, too, find you fascinating, they aren't as... shall we say... motivated in their curiosity?
Vissera is just refreshing the tea.
Colleen: Haven't they ever seen a Gen with grey streaks before?
Riyyh: Of course.
Colleen considers changing her hair color
Riyyh wonders what kind of a question that is.
Colleen: What are they curious about?
Colleen is clueless.
Riyyh: Hello, Vissera. [smiles]
Vissera spots the new arrivals.
Vissera: Sectuib!
Vissera: Would you and our guest like some tea? It's fresh.
Riyyh: Oh yes, that sounds delightful. Doesn't it? [to Colleen]
Colleen: I would love some.
Vissera pours three cups.
Colleen wonders if she will ever see a steak again.
Vissera: Sugar?
Colleen: Please.
Vissera adulterates the tea as requested and passes it to Colleen.
Colleen: Thank you.
Vissera already knows Riyyh's preferences, of course.
Vissera: There are some apple turnovers just out of the oven, if you're hungry.
Vissera passes Riyyh his tea.
Riyyh smiles at Vissera, his tentacles lingering flirtatiously as he accepts the cup.
Riyyh: Thank you, Vissera.
Colleen: That sounds great.
Vissera bustles off to fetch the treat.
Riyyh looks after her wistfully.
Riyyh: Shall we sit? [to Colleen]
Colleen: If you like her, you should tell her.
Riyyh: Pardon me? [surprised]
Colleen: I don't need to zlin to see it.
Colleen: Life is short, if you like her you should let her know.
Colleen sits down.
Riyyh leads the way to a table, looking somewhat bewildered.
Riyyh: I will consider it, thank you. [his stock response to advice]
Vissera returns with the pastries.
Vissera: Careful. They're still a bit hot.
Riyyh sits down also.
Riyyh: Will you join us?
Riyyh notices the place is not busy at the moment.
Vissera: I would be delighted.
Colleen will try to imagine the pastries are pork chops.
Vissera sits, rather close to Riyyh.
Riyyh enjoys sitting between two lovely women.
Riyyh not only enjoys how good it feels, but how good he must look there.
Colleen: These are rather good pastries.
Riyyh: ~~purr of pleasure~~
Vissera: Why, thank you.
Vissera: ~~ pleasure ~~
Riyyh: We searched far and wide for a chef of Vissera's caliber.
Riyyh tries a pastry himself, his hunger stimulated by the two Gens.
Vissera: It was an honor to be offered the position.
Colleen: So you are the head cook?
Vissera: Yes. It's quite a challenge, finding the best way to use all the interesting offerings from the fields and greenhouses.
Vissera wouldn't want to dismay Riyyh's guest by mentioning the rutabagas by name.
Riyyh zlins the qualification in Vissera's nager and his pleasant mood is somewhat disrupted.
Riyyh wonders what it is that makes the challenge less than a good one for Vissera.
Riyyh frets over the question privately.
Vissera takes a certain pride in the way she has managed to design rutabaga dishes that get eagerly consumed.
Colleen thinks a few weeks of this and she will be sprouting long ears and a fuzzy tail.
Vissera: So, Colleen, are you planning to stay at Naros for a while?
Vissera knows by now that she will be grilled for an answer to this important question by the next dozen Narosians to come by.
Colleen: Since I'm told the passes are snowed in, I guess you are stuck with me for a bit.
Vissera: There will be many who will be delighted at the prospect of a guest.
Colleen: You don't get many visitors?
Vissera: I hope, though, that your plans aren't fatally disrupted by the delay.
Vissera: ~~ concern ~~
Colleen: We shall see. I assume my replacement colleague arrived in Chicago. I am the one to get in trouble for not getting to Gulf Territory in time.
Riyyh thinks Colleen is certainly very brave to keep announcing the travel mistake to all who will hear it.
Riyyh thinks he never could have done it himself, and is impressed.
Colleen: I assume they will cancel the courses I was supposed to teach.
Vissera: I hope that you will enjoy your stay here, in spite of its being unplanned.
Colleen: I am so far.
Riyyh is starting to wonder, though, if the frequent reference to both the mistake and the consequences is a sign that Colleen is maybe flagellating herself a bit too much over the incident.
Colleen: It's nice to be away from university politics.
Vissera: I have heard that academic wrangling can be very fierce.
Vissera wouldn't know from personal experience, however.
Colleen: That's because there's so little to lose [smiles]
Riyyh nibbles on his turnover pensively.
Vissera: Ah. It doesn't sound much like my position.
Vissera: If I get into an argument and burn dinner, why, that's a very big thing to lose, indeed.
Riyyh wonders if he should have a private talk with Colleen about her situation and how much she should blame herself for it.
Riyyh would hate for her to go uncomforted.
Vissera imagines all Naros's Gens down with simultaneous stomach aches and shudders.
Riyyh looks at Vissera in astonishment.
Riyyh had not been following their conversation and was surprised by the turn in her nager.
Riyyh: Vissera, whatever is the matter?
Vissera: No, there is a great deal to lose if food isn't properly cooked.
Vissera looks at Riyyh in surprise.
Vissera: We were just comparing our professions.
Riyyh: ... Oh.
Colleen wonders about the exchange that just took place between these two.
Colleen decides not to ask.
Vissera: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
Vissera: ~~ contrition ~~
Riyyh: It's all right, I just thought... your nager... well. If it is nothing, then it is nothing. [smiles]
Riyyh looks to Colleen. "I do apologize for interrupting. Go on."
Colleen: What were we talking about?
Riyyh: Your work?
Riyyh: You are a teacher?
Colleen: Oh, yes I teach at the University of Chicago.
Riyyh: How nice.
Vissera: What do you teach there?
Colleen: Advanced mathematics, like calculus. I also teach physics.
Vissera is just a bit ~~ intimidated ~~ by this resume.
Riyyh isn't intimidated so much as completely left out to dry.
Colleen will clam up about the rest.
Colleen bites the last of her danish
Riyyh drinks his tea, and prepares to do a lot of nodding and smiling if Colleen starts waxing enthusiastic about math.
Colleen wants to go out and shoot something to eat.
Colleen wonders if they have rabbit in these parts.
Colleen: So tell me about your wildlife.
Vissera thinks that Riyyh won't look at her again, with such an intelligent (and less stout) and equally unrelated alternative.
Vissera sighs wistfully.
Vissera: Wildlife?
Colleen: You know, the animals that live in these parts.
Riyyh looks up again, pleased by the availability of an alternative topic.
Riyyh: Well, we do not have much inside the walls here, of course.
Riyyh: Outside, there are many different species... deer, antelope, emu....
Colleen: Any rabbits?
Riyyh: Although here in Naros there are many delightful varieties of songbirds, and of course charming small squirrels and....
Riyyh winces at the word "rabbit" since he usually hears it in the context of an insult.
Riyyh: Oh yes... of course, they are everywhere.
Riyyh: The children keep them as pets, there is even a hutch.
Colleen: How about beaver?
Riyyh: Beaver... in the woods to the west, there have been some in years past. I don't know about now.
Colleen makes a mental note of this information.
Colleen: Perhaps tomorrow I'll take a ride.
Riyyh: The snow cover is a bit heavy for wildlife observation, and I'm afraid most of the songbirds have gone south for the winter.
Riyyh: But it might be pleasant enough, scenery wise.
Riyyh personally thinks that riding is hardly a pleasure activity.
Riyyh: [too physical, and dirty]
Vissera: Be careful, though. I've heard that a cougar was spotted not too long ago.
Colleen: Cougar's are real scared of people.
Colleen is confident of this.
Vissera: If you say so. Myself, I'd rather not take a chance.
Colleen: Last time I saw a cougar it too off so fast. They are more scared of us than we are of them.
Riyyh: Most incidences of cougars taking humans have been accidental, at least in this area [assures Vissera]
Riyyh: And usually not adults on horseback.
Riyyh smiles reassuringly.
Colleen: Don't worry, I'll be careful.
Vissera is ~~ relieved ~~
Vissera: I admit, I prefer to stay in my nice warm kitchen, when there's snow outside.
Colleen: Well, I really do have to be running along. I have a few things I need to get done. Thank you very much for such pleasant company and a most enjoyable lunch. I do enjoy talking to you.
Riyyh: Thank you for joining us. [smiles]
Riyyh: Enjoy your ride.
Colleen gets up to leave.
Colleen: Thank you.
Riyyh looks after her thoughtfully.
Notes:
1) The contents of Colleen's two letters are as follows:
To: President Franklin VonRyan
Presidential Residency
201 Regency Road
University of Chicago
Chicago Ill. 14627
From: Dr. Colleen VonRyan
Householding Naros
[Address would be inserted here]
Dear Father,
I have not made it into Gulf Territory as anticipated. I am currently staying in Householding Naros (see address above). I purchased a map that was far from accurate, and that is how I had gotten so far off course. I would have continued on my journey, but the passes are snowed in. I am also told that traveling in Sime Territory by train at this time of year would probably get me further lost, and they do not run well in the winter. I could get stranded anywhere.
I am quite safe and warm here. There is no need for you to worry. Please do not contact anyone in the Sime government. There is nothing that can be done now but wait until the passes are freed.
I will contact Aunt Mirabel in Gulf Territory and explain the situation to her. I'm sure at this point she will send an escort. Please do not rant and rave at her.
This has not changed the exchange program, it has merely changed the scheduling. I feel better about starting something like this in the Summer or Fall semester anyway. Please explain this to the board at the next meeting. I know you were against this from the start but it is too late to pull the plug on this now.
I'm sorry for all this.
Love
Colleen
To: Dr. Mirabel McClellin
Gulf State University
[Address would be inserted here]
From: Dr. Colleen VonRyan
Householding Naros
[Address would be inserted here]
Dear Aunt Mirabel,
As you can tell I did not make it to your university in Gulf Territory. I am currently staying in Householding Naros (see address above). I had gotten lost and the passes are snowed in. I assume you know how traveling by train is "In-Territory" in the winter. I have been advised by the Sectuib that it would be best to stay here until the passes are clear.
I will repeat to you what I had said to Father, this has not changed the exchange program, it has merely changed the scheduling. I feel better about starting something like this in the Summer or Fall semester anyway. Be prepared for a letter from him ranting and raving. I am sure you will have to send an escort after this. Make sure they are Sime, so that I know they are from you and not Father. I would not put it past him to send an escort to bring me back to Chicago.
In the mean time I am thoroughly enjoying my stay here. All of the people are very sweet and kind. I feel safer here than I do at home. These people are all quite handsome, and they seem to share a great deal of the same handsome features, I assume it's a Sime thing? It also feels very refreshing not to be pulled into all that academic politicking. I feel guilty for enjoying myself while you and Father were frantic. I hope I can make it up to you.
In the meantime if you want to send me a copy of those schematics that your engineering department were working on, I will check it and send it back while I am here. I have my slide rule. I assume the books I sent ahead arrived, so please send the Science Calculus 3 book, along with the structural theorem book. That should give me enough to go over the schematics.
I'm really terribly sorry about all this. I will be seeing you soon!
Love
Colleen