Starclimber Read Online Free Page B

What makes you think Dr. Ganev’s any different from me?”
    “Well, for starters, you never tried to eat a banana through your ear.”
    She blinked. “Did he really do that?”
    “No, but that’s the kind of thing that gets you tossed into a lunatic asylum.”
    Her nostrils narrowed, a unique skill of hers when she was deeply annoyed. It tended to have a withering effect on the person at the receiving end. “Considering all you’ve seen, Mr. Cruse, you’re not very open-minded about life beyond Earth.”
    “I’m sure you’re right,” I said apologetically. “You’ve never disappointed me yet. Twice I’ve nearly been eaten by new creatures you’ve discovered.”
    She looked back into the telescope. “We really don’t know anything at all about outer space. I suppose the French will be the first to find out next year, when they finish the tower. It’s quite something, isn’t it? A stairway to heaven.”
    “I think heaven’s just a bit higher up,” I said, “but I’m sure they’re already thinking ahead.”
    “Draco, the dragon constellation. So where’s the tail?”
    “Look for the big stars, slanting across the sky.”
    “Yes, I think I see it now!”
    “Now,” I said, “there’s something else I want to show you. Just off the dragon’s tail, on the lower right, there’s one star that has a blue twinkle to it.”
    “I see it! Which star is that?”
    “That,” I said, “is Kate de Vries.”
    She looked over, confused. “What do you mean?”
    I pulled the piece of paper from my pocket and showed her. “This is a document from the International Astronomical Union, verifying that this star will hereafter bear the name Kate de Vries.”
    “You did this for me?” she said in astonishment.
    “Happy birthday,” I said.
    Her few seconds of delighted silence were wonderful, I must admit. Then her arms were around me in a tight hug.
    “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had,” she said decisively. “How did you know? How did you know I’d like this better than a visit to the opera, or a silly bit of jewelry?”
    “I know you pretty well.”
    “Better than anyone, I think.”
    I smiled. Her compliment was like a gift in itself, only more precious than anything that could be bought.
    She gazed in satisfaction at her star. “Mine’s the twinkliest.”
    “Well, I spared no expense.”
    She looked at me, concerned. “Was it awfully expensive?”
    “Surprisingly affordable. Apparently there’re billions of them.”
    She laughed, then frowned, her mind already busy again. “What if tonight had been cloudy? How would you have shown me?”
    “I suppose I’d have had to entertain you some other way,” I said, and kissed her.
    “What a perfect birthday,” she murmured happily against my lips, and pressed herself closer.
    By nature I was restless, but as I kissed her, there was nothing more I wanted, nowhere else I wanted to be. The world evaporated entirely; it was a bit of a surprise afterward to find it was still there, going on without me. I would have traded it all away for another kiss.
    “We lead a charmed life, you and I,” Kate said after a few minutes. “We both get to chase down our dreams. Me at the university, you at the Airship Academy. And thanks to Marjorie, we get to see each other all the time.”
    She was referring to Miss Marjorie Simpkins, her chaperone. Miss Simpkins didn’t really approve of Kate spending her time with a former cabin boy, but she and Kate had a little agreement. Marjorie had a new beau, and Kate let her see him whenever she wanted—as long as Marjorie let Kate see me whenever she wanted. Marjorie would never tell Mr. and Mrs. de Vries about me, and Kate would never tell her parents what a negligent chaperone Marjorie was.
    “I wish we could just stay in Paris forever,” Kate said.
    I nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Back home in Lionsgate City we wouldn’t have had this kind of freedom. Kate’s family was extremely