“I think we should celebrate, Syp,” Eiske announced after they had transported back to his house.

“What kind of celebration are you thinking of?”

“I think dinner in town would be an excellent idea.”

“I think you don’t like to cook,” Syp retorted. Eiske smiled broadly.

Eiske followed Syp into Syp’s sleeping room. “I put some things in here for you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind? It’s your home.”

“It’s yours now, too. The Honorable Bahansir has been in contact with me. He suggested these things.”

“People don’t waste time, do they?”

“They’re all very excited about you. Apparently there hasn’t been a young Stafriez in this area for a long time. Here are places to put clothing and your other belongings. A place to set up the school connection. And a bed.”

“A bed,” Syp sighed. “I love being an adult.” Eiske looked at Syp oddly but didn’t say anything.

Syp followed Eiske out the door. “What are these?” Two small buildings had been placed a small distance from the house.

They climbed into the hovercraft. “One is for chickens and the other is for some goats. The goats will give us milk and cheese, and the chickens will keep our stomachs full.”

Syp saw how pleased Eiske was as they zipped down the road. “Will you put up mobile fences?”

“Yes. I have that. And a covered chicken run.”

“Neat! How did you do all that so fast?”

“I had a carpenter with two apprentices come in.”

“Expensive.”

“No. It would be horrible if I tried to do it myself. I'm going to get chicks this week.”

Seated in a booth at Limke’s, Eiske pointed at the menu. “Let’s try stuff from this section.” They placed orders for pork cutlets and began to talk about what Syp’s experience had been like. As they ate, the place slowly filled with customers. “Oh boy,” Eiske muttered.

“What?”

“Haerm, Geldou and their boys just walked in.”

“What?” Syp exclaimed. “We never ate out, in all the time I lived there!” It glanced back at them. “There’s no space for them.”

“They’ll have to be seated in the back section. It works out so there won’t be a problem.” The two continued their meal.

“I wish there were more vegetables and less meat, Eiske..”

He waved at a server and asked for more greens. As the server returned with the food, the large group at the table next to them began to get up. They pulled on their coats and said their goodbyes. Eiske saw a second server lead Haerm and Geldou’s family to the large empty table. The boys stood, talking loudly and gawking at the people in the room, while the table was cleared and wiped off.

“Hi, Eiske!” Nel came to say hello. Eiske had taken a big bite of his cutlet and waved his hand as he chewed. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. You need to go back to your family, Nel.”

Nel looked at Syp. He didn't recognize Syp, whose skin was now a light blue, and its hair was in two long, neat, braids. "Who's this, Eiske?"

“You need to go back to your family, Nel.”

“Okay. I’ll see you around.” Haerm noticed Eiske when Nel walked back to the group. The family was seated as Haerm came across the room toward them.

“Don’t say a word, Syp,” Eiske reminded it. Syp nodded.

“Why are you here?” Haerm stood at their table. Eiske took another bite and chewed. “I asked you, why are you here?” Eiske and Syp continued to eat. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

“I was ordered not to.”

“No one ordered me not to. How are you, Eiske?” Eiske touched a button on his shirt and shoved another bite of food into his mouth with the other hand. He chewed and swallowed. “Why are you being rude, Eiske?”

“I was told not to engage with you, Haerm. I was told that if I was in a public place that you and your family would not enter.”

“My family has the right to eat wherever we want.”

“I’m following the directions given by the Mediator. Go ahead with your meal. Leave me alone.”

“I don’t want to. Because of you, I was detained for five days!”

“Haerm, please go ahead with your meal. Leave me alone.” Eiske signaled the server. “We’d each like a dish of your apple strudel.”

“No, they wouldn’t,” Haerm told the server. “What they’d like to do, is leave.” The server waited uncertainly.

“I’m in charge of my order,” Eiske said, “unless you’re going to pick up our tab, Haerm.” Haerm stood unmoving. “Please get us two dishes of apple strudel.” The server went off to the kitchen.

“Dad, Mom said to come sit down and look at the menu,” Kleis pulled on Haerm’s sleeve.

“This isn’t over, Eiske.” Haerm sauntered over to his table.

The server brought the apple strudel to the table. “Take your time, Bahansir,” Eiske told it.

Gylbert Westra and his family had just finished their meal and saw Eiske. They came over to say hello and crowded around the end of the table. “Look at Sibe, Dr. Bonnema! He’s doing so well.”

“Very good!” Eiske responded. “Keep resting.”

The family started out the door. Trina Westra lingered at Eiske’s table. “Thank you for saving my son, Doctor. Will you see Syp soon? Tell her that I said thank you for preventing my husband from being gored by that big brute of a bull we have. I’ve been walking around with this for her” She reached into her pocket and handed Eiske a stone and a small piece of paper. “I know she's been loosed and don’t know what’s ahead. This is a charm. My grandma gave it to me. If she follows the directions and rub it, it will create a protective dome over her to protect het when she sleeps.". She went on her way.

Syp took a bite of strudel and looked at Eiske. “Why this particular stone?”

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You’ve never had a charm?” Syp shook its head It as they looked at the rock. It was a very light yellow with bright yellow stripes. “Various charms can be used to add certain qualities to a certain person or thing. Some give a person power, healing energy, or strength. Others provide protection, cause things to levitate, or change.”

“Do you use charms?”

“No, I’ve had no need to.”

“Do you know them, just in case you might need one?”

“I know a few,” he admitted. “But it’s easier for me to recall my medical training than it is to use a charm.”

“Would it be good for me to have one or to know this stuff?”

“I have no idea. That might be a good question to ask Sage Elvan.” They ate the last bits of their strudel. “I wish I had a charm that would increase my crop yields.”

“That would be handy, wouldn’t it? Maybe I’ll do some research on that tonight.”

“I think you should try to find information about the materials covered at the Stafriez Academy.”

“I was also thinking about details of costs for a geodesic-domed greenhouse, and how it’s put together.”

“Why are you thinking about that?”

“Solrio says that if I do well in my studies, she will request funds so that I can have a research laboratory for plants.” Eiske’s eyes showed his surprise and approval. “It will need a water source,". Syp said.

“We’ll run a water pipe out to it.”

“From where?”

“From the spring that’s by the forest. I have one that runs to the house.”

A couple slid into the booth behind them. “I know who that is!” the woman whispered. “It’s that woman who’s been working with Sibolt Mulder. The Iragos Legal Office has stated charges against her for conspiracy and fraud. He’s been charged with embezzlement and misuse of public funds.”

“I thought that case hadn’t been heard yet.”

“It hasn’t been. I think the case is on the docket for next week. This is the couple that everyone’s talking about. The housing authorities have declared that their home isn’t fit for human habitation.”

“You know, a lot of things can be repaired very easily to meet the requirements.”

“I think that it’s more than simple repairs.”

“Like what? Who is this couple and where do they live?”

“It’s the Brons. They live in the single-level dome on the west edge of the valley.”

“That dome’s in good shape. It’s only been there about ten years. I can’t imagine them having to move. I’ll bet it’s just some wiring that needs to be replaced.”

Syp switched its glasses for the outdoor ones. “I’m finished, Eiske. Thank you for a good dinner. Did I tell you about the meals at the Protector’s Enclave?”

“No." The members of the Bron family watched as Syp and Eiske stood up and pulled their coats on.

“They looked like real food, but they were made from some sort of nutritional material. Tasted awful, even with salt.”

Eiske laughed. “You got them at the replicator.”

“Yes. Yuck. I ate it anyway. I didn’t complain. It was food and it was filling.”

“That’s the attitude to have.” Eiske paid the bill and followed Syp outside. “Should we go to the Community Information Center?”

“Could we? Solrio gave me an electronic pad, and I wrote down some things I’d like to research.”

“I haven’t checked for medical updates this week. Yes, let’s do that.”

Once inside, Eiske sat down at one of the computers and searched for updates. Syp searched its documents for the list of books that Meera Pachar, and Dr. Vallino had given it. Glen Timarek had suggested some reading too. Syp found most of the things on the list, then went to the access page to the Stafriez Academy. Syp felt a presence behind it and turned.

It was Geldou Bron. “You’ll never get in there,” she growled. Syp turned back to the screen. It typed in “Bahansir the Younger” and a password. “You’re not Bahansir the Younger!” Syp ignored her.

“Welcome, new student!” the screen said. “Please read the following pages before plugging in an electronic pad.”

“You’re going to fail. I don’t know why you’re bothering! Hurry up!” Syp studied the agendas and lessons for the first two weeks of classes. “I said hurry up! Thys has been waiting for a computer for twenty minutes.”

Syp knew that wasn't true. It took its time as it made the list of the larger downloads it needed, then connected its tablet to download the written parts of the lessons. As Syp rose to its feet, Thys rammed the chair against the back of Syp’s legs. Syp ignored it and went to the front desk.

As Syp waited in line, Kryn came to stand behind it. “You are chickenshit,” he whispered.

"Your name, young man?"

"Bahansir the Younger.”

"Hm. Bahansir the Younger. You have two sta-tocs in your account.”

“Here is a list of downloads that I require for my lessons,” Syp stated.

“It will take some time to locate them,” she said.

“I’ve provided the links in this assignment chart. Hopefully that will make things easier.”

“It will. Stafriez Academy. I’ve never heard of that.” She began the first download. She looked up the site for the academy while she waited. “This school is for specific students.”

“Yes, it is,” Syp responded. "I’d like to read a book from the archives, please.” Syp gave her a slip of paper.

“I’ll be right back.” She left and returned. “We don’t have a copy of The Teachings of the Honorable Bahansir.”

“Would you please obtain it through the inter-resource loan process?”

“I will. Who is this man?”

“It is a judge who lives in Kop.”

“You’re using his name. Does he know it?” Syp thanked her for her assistance, picked up the device and went to stand by Eiske.

Eiske was downloading short articles onto his device. “It will be some time before I’m finished, Bahansir."

“That’s fine. I’ll do schoolwork.” It pulled a headset from a pocket on its tunic. Syp watched as a teacher went through a math lesson. It opened the program that was intended for classroom work. In only a few minutes, it finished the problems. The program scored the answers. “Ninety-seven percent!” flashed onto the screen. Syp went on to biology, history, and writing. After it finished these lessons, the scores were listed. It went to Eiske. “Look at this!”

“Good job!”

“I have a question. I’m supposed to make a choice. Here are the options for more classes. What do you suggest?”

He looked over the list. “I suggest Entrepreneurship and Nutrition. They’ll both help you develop your career path.”

“A career path?" Kryn came to stand by Eiske.

“Go to your parents, Kryn. Have they been hassling you, Bahansir?”

Syp looked at Eiske but didn't answer his question. “I’ll go do the nutrition lesson.” It went back to the chair it had been in. As Syp read, Haerm Bron walked past and pretended to stumble.

“You intentionally tripped me!” he accused Syp loudly. Eiske tapped the button on his shirt. He stood up and put his cord and tablet into the case.

“You tripped me!" Ha?term accused Syp.

Eiske looked at Syp. “Bahansir, did you move your feet?”

Syp fought to keep its face expressionless. "No. I’ve been doing my schoolwork.”

“Liar!” Haerm bellowed. His deep voice rang through the quiet building.

“Let’s check the security tapes,” Eiske proposed.

“No, let’s just go outside. I’ll simply beat the shit out of you in the street.”

Eiske hesitated at this threat. “Are you ready to leave, Bahansir?”

“Yes.” Syp put the stylus in the case and zipped it closed.

As they went out the door, Haerm followed. The seven boys, suddenly interested in what was happening, left their electronic pads and trailed after him. Once outside Haerm gave Eiske a push and Eiske stumbled. “There’s no need for that, Haerm.”

“There is a need for it, Eiske. Because of you, I was detained for five days. I was held in a tiny cell by the Protectors. All they gave me was some awful tasting food and water. I’m now five days behind with farmwork.” The boys circled around their father. Geldou came out of the community center.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Haerm. Let’s go our separate ways.”

“I need to borrow your equipment.”

“No, Haerm. I’ve been told not to share any equipment. I’m going home. Excuse me.” Eiske and Syp walked toward the hovercraft.

“Come on, Dad. Let’s go home,” Melle urged him.

“We’ll go when I’m good and ready. Back up!” He pushed Melle and several of the boys away. “First, I have some business to take care of.” He ran up behind Eiske, grabbed him and spun him around. Eiske tapped the button on his shirt twice.

Three of the younger boys jumped on Syp and knocked it to the ground. “You should stay away from Eiske.” Syp pushed them back and managed to get to its feet. The three surrounded Syp and pummeled its head, back and chest.

Just as Haerm swung and connected with Eiske’s chin, four Protector guards appeared. "Stop!” One of the protectors raised his voice. “Haerm Bron, stop fighting. This is your first warning. Failure to comply will result in detainment.” Haerm swung again, and this time hit Eiske in the stomach. The guards separated them. “Second warning.” Haerm hesitated, then slugged Eiske in the face. One guard grabbed Haerm. Another stepped in front of Eiske. “Bahansir, come along.” They stepped away from the family members.

Three of the younger boys ran and wrapped their arms around Haerm, “You can’t take our dad!”

The entire group was transported to the enclave. The boys looked around. “Where are we?”

***

As they disappeared, Geldou said to the older boys, “Get in the car. I’ll bet that’s what happened last time. Haerm tried to start a fight, ignored Eiske's warnings, and the Protectorate security guards stepped in.”

“Mom, Uncle Eiske told Dad that he wouldn’t share farm equipment with him!”

“You’re right; he did. Eiske said that he’d been told not to share. Eiske tried to avoid the situation. Your father has got to learn to control his temper.”

“It’s Syp’s fault that all this happened.”

“Yes, it is!" Obbe agreed. “It’s Syp’s fault that we have to build a new house.”

Geldou didn’t respond. “That child has got to leave the peninsula,” she thought. “I’m going to get rid of her one way or another!”

“You are?” Obbe said, shocked. “Are you going to kill her?”