Except for the one who looked like Kiddain Ohawr, the star of stage and screen. You can’t imagine the trouble that caused with her family.”
She laughed, then sobered. “You’re saying that this Gift could be something totally useless.”
Doc nodded. “Yes. That would be a waste. You have so much of it. But you should prepare yourself for that possibility. Hedda, I’m sorry. I’ve taken up your whole afternoon.”
“But not wasted. You are always good company. And the young lady likes my pastries.”
On one Neckerdam broadcast channel, the talk-box showed square dancing. Not too different from similar stuff he’d seen on the grim world. On the other channel, it was the game they called crackbat—part baseball, part jai alai. Harris settled on it and concentrated on trying to figure out the rules.
The little talk-box, the one that acted as his telephone, rang. He picked up the handset without taking his attention off the screen. The runner in his padded suit, still holding the flat bat with the net at the end, charged the base and whacked the ball out of the net of its defender. He crashed into the defender and both landed on the base. “Hello.”
“Goodsir Greene?”
“Yes.”
“This is Brannach the Seamer. Three days ago, you brought in an order for demasalle trousers.”
“Oh, right. Hi. Grace