A Pearl of Great Price

Chapter Thirty-seven - New Vulcan - Career Opportunities

New Vulcan

Late December 2263

Durra

She puttered about in the kitchen, cleaning up the small amount of mess from breakfast. Selek had had a meeting which could not be postponed, and had reluctantly left her here. She had assured him that she would be fine, and he had said he would return by noon. She sat down at the table with the small PADD she called her shopping list, and began to make notes. And then she took the mesh bag from the hook by the back door and left the house, headed for the farmer's market.

She wandered up and down the rows of small booths, looking at the fresh produce, until she found the items she had put on her list. She selected several different types of tubers and held out the chit Selek had given her, but the merchant did not take it. Instead he asked her a question.

"You are the language professor from Earth, is this not correct?"

"Yes, indeed I am."

"Might I ask a question?"

She was slightly confused, but saw no harm in his request. "Certainly."

"Do you offer classes in Standard?"

"On Earth? No, I don't. I teach languages spoken on other planets."

"But here, on New Vulcan, will you be offering instruction in Standard?"

She had not considered this. She cocked her head and looked at him. "Why do you ask this?"

The merchant looked about him, and then looked back to her, hanging his head slightly. "No one in my family can speak Standard. Off-worlders come to shop, and I cannot communicate with them. If I and my wife and sons could speak Standard, we could sell more produce."

Durra nodded at him. Yes, this was true. She had seen some of the newcomers to New Vulcan, who did not speak Vulcan, trying to bargain with the merchants. "Here, on New Vulcan, I believe that I will offer instruction in Standard. You have a very good reason to learn. Would you like a small class, just for your family members?"

"That would be most acceptable. Would you be willing to accept fresh produce in payment?"

"Yes, indeed. Your produce is quite excellent. But please understand that I cannot start these classes until I return from Earth next month."

"Will you be staying here permanently after that?"

"Yes, I will. I am returning to Earth to pack up my belongings to ship to New Vulcan. When I return, it will be to stay. I can start your lessons then."

"We will look forward to them, Osavensu. In the meantime, I will tally your purchases. Please inform me of the charge for the lessons when it is convenient." He handed her the tubers she had selected, wrapped in a sheet of soft plastic, and she put them in the mesh bag, nodding her thanks.

She headed on down the pathway, going to pick up the new sandals she had ordered, thinking about the exchange with the farmer. She had not gone very far when she became aware of someone beside her, clearing her throat. She looked to the side and saw a Vulcan woman standing there, trying to catch her attention. "Yes, can I help you with something?"

The woman looked about and then opened her mouth, a torrent of words spilling out. "Oh, please, osavensu, listen to my plea. My bondmate and I have a small business in woven items. And many of the off-worlders come and look and wish to buy, but we cannot communicate with them. Please offer us one of your classes in Standard so that we may increase our business so that we can provide for our children."

"How many children do you have?" Durra was interested in spite of herself.

"We have three daughters already, and I will bear a son in the new year."

Durra smiled. "And what sort of woven items do you sell?"

"Small hangings for the walls. Heavy mats to protect the tables from hot dishes. Small flat mats for the table, under the plates. Many such items for the home."

"Just the sort of things that I want! You must tell me where your shop is."

In no time at all, the woman had shown Durra where the small shop was and Durra was looking through what they had to offer. When she found exactly the place mats that she had imagined, she was delighted, and offered her chip immediately. But the woman pushed her hand away and asked for the same type of arrangement she had made with the produce merchant. Durra left the shop with the place mats and a second contract for lessons in Standard.

She hurried now, to pick up her sandals and get home in time to cook. Unfortunately, the sandal maker had somehow heard of the Standard lessons and wanted his family to participate as well. She had difficulties in getting away from him, finally stating clearly that she must have time to cook the noon meal. He then apologized profusely and allowed her to leave his shop, her new sandals on her feet.

***

When Selek entered the house, he was greeted with the spicy scent of the dish she had prepared from the fresh tubers. He followed the scent into the kitchen and noticed the new mats on the table. "You have been shopping, I see. Do you need more credit on the chip?"

"I have not spent a single credit." Durra grinned at him as he cocked one eyebrow at her. "All the things I brought home with me today were given to me in exchange for future lessons in Standard." She laughed at Selek's astonished expression. "Come, sit down and eat and I will explain."

When he had heard the whole story, he shook his head. "I see that there will be no need to introduce you to the people I had intended to. You will not need their assistance in finding an occupation here. You have already done so for yourself. I am quite pleased with what has happened, Durra."

Durra nodded at him and smiled. "I am pleased as well. I have found a way to continue with teaching, which I enjoy very much, and at the same time, to do something to help the Vulcan people to recover. By teaching them Standard, they will be able to expand their businesses and also to expand the profit margin of New Vulcan. Their children will have better lives. There are so many pluses to this that it all just seems wonderful." She grinned at him. "And I already have three contracts, so we will have fresh vegetables and woven items and sandals for some time, without spending a single credit."

"By the time you have accepted all the contracts that you feel you have time for, all of our household needs will have been taken care of." His lips quirked up at the corners. "And now, since I do not need to take you to meet with the career counselors, we have a full afternoon available to us." His eyes were dark now, deep pools that pulled her in.

"A whole afternoon alone? No calls, no errands?"

"Exactly. I will even shut off the com link if you desire."

"Oh, I desire. I definitely desire."

And he could tell, by the scent of her, that that was true on many levels. It only took a moment to lock the doors and shut down the com link. And then he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, placing her on the center of the bed and lowering himself down, to press her down gently into the mattress, spreading his heat over her to her enthusiastic response. The first time he sheathed himself in her, he was on top. The second time, she was on top. And then they lay there, and talked softly to one another, and she took his hands, and stroked, and teased, and sucked his fingers into her mouth until he growled at her and shook with the sensations she generated and pulled her to him before he lost complete control, his mouth upon her sending her into exquisite convulsions of heat and joy before he plunged deeply within her and filled her up with his heat. They slept then, wrapped around one another, full of each other, sated and spent.