Ammonite Planets (Omnibus): Ammonite Galaxy #1-3 Read Online Free Page A

it?
    “Divina Senate Magmus of Coriolis,”
    “Excellent. I am Atheron, and I am to be your tutor for the next few years.” His eyes were expectant. He, at least, appeared to be looking forward to the experience.
    Diva slumped into the chair. She was a prisoner! In some sort of a bubble that might collapse around her at any moment, engulfing her forever in this weird substance. She felt as if the air was already running out and found herself taking big hasty gulps of it.
    The face was unimpressed by her problems. “There is no need to breathe so fast,” It informed her severely. “You will end up hyperventilating and that would be most prejudicial.”
    “And then what?” she shouted back. “Would you come and get me out of this … this … trap?”
    “That would not be possible. It is part of the indentures which you signed that you agreed to participate proactively in all tasks. Anything less than full cooperation will be taken as a breach of contract, with the corresponding forfeiture of counterpayment on Coriolis. You will therefore do as I ask you, because it is my job to keep you healthy and to help you attain the academic and physical level you need to become a Valhai .”
    Gradually the meaning of his words worked their way inside Diva’s head and she started to acknowledge their truth. She had signed the articles, she was obliged to do her best. She lifted a resigned face towards the column.“What do I have to do?”
    Atheron acknowledged her submission with a satisfied nod of his head, which was all she could see of him. If, that is, he was real and not a computer program. Not that it mattered to Diva. He was the only other thing that spoke in this bubble so he was real enough to her.
    “It is not so difficult as all that. You will be spending about half the day working at your academic training, just over a fifth on your physical training, and the rest sleeping and eating. If both you and your neighbour have made satisfactory progress, you may be allowed to visit for up to half an hour, once a month.”
    “And I’m supposed to be grateful for that?” asked Diva. “I get to see one person for thirty minutes each month?”
    “Only if you meet my criteria for that month,” the head warned her. “And I shall only accept your very best. It will not be enough to sit in that chair and listen. I need your concentration, I need you to actively try to understand everything I explain to you.”
    “How many hours a day?” she asked
    He raised an eyebrow. “Hours on Coriolis or hours here?” he asked her, then went on to answer his own question. “Your day on Coriolis was twenty-four hours, wasn’t it?”
    She nodded.
    “Well, we spend twelve hours studying, five on physical training, and you will sleep for seven hours. You will need three brief breaks in that time to eat, one to bathe and you will be allowed about forty minutes of your time to relax.”
    Diva’s eyes widened. Twelve hours study?“E … everyday?” she stuttered.
    The Sellite inclined his head. “Naturally.”
    “Without any days off?” Perhaps she had misunderstood him.
    “On Sell it is not the custom to take days off.”
    “Oh.”
    “You will be amazed at how quickly you progress with this way of learning. In a short time you will become most proficient at all sorts of things that even your so-called Elders are ignorant of. You are very lucky to have been selected.”
    Diva nodded without conviction. Being dropped into a lake of gel was not high on the list of things which made her happy.
    “Anyway, since it is late today, we will allow you to sleep a little more than usual and begin with our routine tomorrow morning. You may eat something and then take a shower and go to bed. It will enable you to approach tomorrow with a positive frame of mind.”
    You wish! Diva had the distinct feeling that a positive frame of mind wasn’t going to form any part of her life for the next few years. Which made her ask another question,