9
said it like it was a bad thing, but it held a certain appeal for him. Nancy had such smooth skin and nice curves. It was pleasant to imagine being only with her on this world forever. He wouldn't have to worry about school anymore, or their classmates who would ridicule him endlessly for getting stuck when the demo program ran out. Best of all, if they never left, he would never have to face his father and get a lecture about responsibility.
Screw it. Learning was not going to happen at this moment. A break would do him good.
He made for the outside hatch. As he passed the piloting bay he noticed Old Bob, still hooked up to the main console, running computations. He paused, furtively looking both ways for Nancy. It really was hopeless, trying to solve the Fold equations on their own, so why not use Old Bob for something more practical? He disconnected the interface cable and instructed the robot to get the tent and hammock and bring them outside.
[Illustration]
Old Bob strung the hammock between two trees. Jim settled into it and idly watched the robot begin to assemble the tent. He imagined a pleasant little dinner scene here tonight for him and Nancy: Old Bob cooking filet equivalents over an open fire, red wine, the moons. Nancy would swoon over his thoughtfulness. Maybe they would play "harem" in the tent...
The ship's hatch swung open and Nancy stepped out. She spotted Jim lying in the shade.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
At first he wondered what she could be so upset about, but then he remembered that she had been running numbers on Old Bob. He had forgotten that she might be peeved about it; he had already accepted their situation as hopeless.
He sat up on the hammock. "I was just taking--"
"I know what you're doing. And not doing."
Her eyes bore through him. He sat uncomfortably. It felt just like a lecture from his father. He might as well be back home.
Then he could see her anger fade, to be replaced by