Eros Descending: Book 3 of Tales of the Velvet Comet by Mike Resnick Page B

that it won't be at the hands of Fiona Bradley and her underlings.”
    “I hope you're right.”
    “I know I am.” he paused. “By the way, where's your mother?”
    “In the kitchen, getting up her courage,” said Christina.
    “Why?”
    “While you were at the zoo with Jeremy, I spent the afternoon styling her hair, and now she's afraid you won't like it.”
    “What difference does it make?” asked Gold. “Like it or not, I gather I'm stuck with it.”
    “It matters to her .”
    “Well, bring her in here and let's get it over with,” said Gold.
    “Tell her you like it,” said Christina.
    “If I do, I will.”
    Christina seemed about to say something else, changed her mind, and walked down a short corridor to the kitchen. She returned a moment later with her mother in tow.
    Corinne Gold was fifty-four years old, and the gravity that her husband had complained about was more apparent on her. Gold thought of her as sturdy, but in truth she was fat. A number of crooked teeth which had gone uncorrected during her youth gave her lips a pursed, thoughtful look.
    She wore no jewelry, as befitted the wife of the leader of the Jesus Pures, and no attempt had been made to fight back the rush of gray that had spread through her hair. But she was friendly, and pious, and devoted to her husband and his work. And, for the moment, she was very nervous.
    Gold stared at her for a long moment, trying to get used to the wave in the front.
    “Well?” said Corinne anxiously. “What do you think?”
    “It's very becoming,” he lied.
    “Then you're not upset?”
    “Of course not. But it will take me a while to get used to seeing you like this.”
    “That's because you're conservative,” said Corinne, visibly relieved.
    “Of course I am,” replied Gold. “The whole purpose of my life has been to conserve what is good and eradicate what isn't.”
    “Well, that's one definition,” said Corinne. She turned to her daughter. “You know, he still gets upset whenever I rearrange the furniture. I can't even move the holos on the walls.”
    “And is everybody still forbidden to straighten up the mess on his desk?” asked Christina.
    “Absolutely,” answered Corinne. She smiled at Gold. “That's conservatism for you.”
    Gold's grandson, freshly scrubbed, entered the room and held out his hands for Christina to inspect them.
    “When's dinner?” he asked.
    “As soon as your Uncle Simon arrives,” replied Corinne.
    “How about Daddy?” asked Jeremy.
    “He's working tonight,” said Christina.
    “Again?” said Gold. “I do believe he's going to make it through the entire two weeks of your visit without once seeing Simon.”
    “Just talented, I guess,” said Christina.
    “It really is for the best, Thomas,” added Corinne.
    “You know they'd just spend the night arguing.”
    “One of these days I'm going to have to get the pair of them together and shake them each by the scruff of the neck until they agree to behave like reasonable adults.”
    “The time to shake Simon by the scruff of the neck was twenty-five years ago,” said Christina dryly. “I think you might find it a bit difficult these days.”
    “I think I'll go set the table,” said Corinne, who had long since realized that her children didn't like each other, but still didn't care to hear them talk about it. “Would you like to help me, Jeremy? You can tell me all about the zoo.”
    The boy shook his head.
    “I really think your grandmother needs your help,” suggested Gold gently.
    “I'm tired,” said Jeremy, forcing himself to yawn and stretch.
    “Well, if you're that tired, maybe we'd better stay home tomorrow instead of going to the aquarium...”
    He watched while Jeremy considered this statement, and then walked over to stand beside his grandmother.
    “I guess you're not as tired as you thought.”
    “I guess not,” agreed Jeremy, following Corinne into the dining room.
    “Last night his leg was too sore, if I recall correctly,”