On Rustum:
Jan Svoboda, who had assaulted his son's teacher back on Earth, flies the school bus;
other children bully Danny Coffin because he is the first exogene pupil;
most native life is inedible and the ecology to support Terrestrial crops is not yet firmly established so most colonists are isolated farmers, needing air transport provided by people like Svoboda who have other professions;
Danny's foster mother, Teresa, also has four natural children of pre-school age and is pregnant again;
Svoboda's daughter, Jocelyn, will soon marry Colin Lochaber;
Jan and Judith Svoboda have Jocelyn and David, both born on Earth, and Anton born on Rustum and have adopted the exogene Gail and have lost one child;
there has been high infant mortality, for example during the Year of Sickness;
Teresa will bring cookies for the wedding.
Life continues on Rustum.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
At least the Rustum colonists started with the advantage of having a much deeper knowledge/technological base than did the colonists who settled Jamestown (Virginia, 1607) or Plymouth (Massachusetts). The mortality rates were very bad there during the first years. Jamestown was nearly abandoned.
Ad astra! Sean
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