kulak1983

@@@@@Unless one has lived on that world, it's impossible to truly understand the ?? ?But you never lived on Fire World,? he interrupted me?You must have felt the same way Unless you had some other reason for skipping that planet? You've been almost everywhere else ?Choosing a planet is a very personal and private decision, Robert, as you may someday experience My tone closed the subject absolutely Why not tell them? Youdothink it's barbaric?and cruel and wrongWhich is pretty ironic if you ask me?not that you ever doWhat's the problem? Are you ashamed that you agree with Robert? Because he's more human than the others? Melanie, having found her voice, was becoming downright unbearableHow was I supposed to concentrate on my work with her opinions sounding off in my head all the time? In the seat behind Robert, a dark shadow moved The Seeker, clad in her usual black, leaned forward, intent for the first time on the subject of discussion I resisted the urge to scowl at herI didn't want Robert, already looking embarrassed, to mistake the expression as meant for himhe wished I wouldn't resist Having the Seeker stalk our every footstep had been educational for Melanie; she used to think she couldn't hate anything or anyone more than she hated me ?Our time is almost up,? I announced with relief?I'm pleased to inform you that we will have a guest speaker next Tuesday who will be able to make up for my ignorance on this topicFlame Tender, a recent addition to our planet, will be here to give us a more personal account of the settling of Fire WorldI know that you will give him all the courtesy you accord me, and be respectful of the very young age of his hostThank you for your time The class filed out slowly, many of the students taking a minute to chat with one another as they gathered their thingsWhat Kathy had said about friendships ran through my head, but I felt no desire to join any of them Was that the way I felt? Or the way Melanie felt? It was hard to tellMaybe I was naturally antisocialMy personal history supported that theory, I supposedI'd never formed an attachment strong enough to keep me on any planet for more than one l