Sacrifice

Chapter 29 - The Stories of Science

"I saw you at the Bisson Games," Miriam said as Kalli entered her office. "You seem to have a hopeless attraction for lost causes."

"I did correctly predict more than one winner," Kalli protested.

"Ah yes," Miriam continued straight faced. "I was particularly impressed by your choice of a female guard, there's nothing like flying in the face of convention for a bit of fun."

"Laya could beat most male guards blindfolded," Kalli retorted, as loftily as she could manage.

Miriam just gave a little smile and pulled up that day's lessons. "I want you to take a look at this problem," she said. "It's for the Princely Project."

"Did you find a mistake somewhere?"

Miriam just nodded at the numbers on the screen. "See what you can find," she challenged.

Kalli immediately recognized the specifications for the communications array of the colony ships. As Miriam started grading papers Kalli applied herself to the problem. Kalli knew that Miriam was waiting for her to ask for help, but she was determined to succeed by herself. With a bare five minutes left in her lesson, she managed to isolate the problem caused by solar flares but was unsure how to correct it.

"Here are my proposed corrections for the array. You can analyse the alterations for next week," Miriam said handing Kalli a datapad with the left side dark. "I'm impressed."

Kalli felt a thrill go through her; she was so happy that she decided she could risk asking a non-school, non-research-related question. "Do the scientists on the Princely Project frequently send you work to look over?"

Miriam had gone back to her datapad. "Never," she answered. "I only saw this portion because the Prince opened it up to suggestions and is offering an award for the most improved design."

"Why aren't you on the Prince's Project?" Kalli blurted out.

Miriam looked up in surprise. "I'm suitably employed in the theoretical field."

Kalli shook her head in disbelief. "Haven't you ever wanted to go out there and touch it? To stroll among the stars and see up close what you've only ever seen through the lens of a telescope or as a picture in a book?"

"I feel that I can make a greater contribution to the tomes of science by studying theory. And adding to it," Miriam answered both her body and her tone stiff as a board.

"I don't believe that for a second," Kalli said. "You're one of the brightest minds on the planet. There's no one better to be out on the frontier solving problems and making new discoveries."

Miriam pursed her lips for a second. "Do you remember when I asked you who had hit you and you told me that it didn't matter?"

Kalli faltered.

"I'm the daughter of a mildly prosperous shop owner," Miriam continued. "Because I'm one of the most driven and brilliant people on this planet, I managed to get a professorship at the Capital University. I even became head of the department against all odds. But this is still a male-dominated field; I'm filling a "man's role" and there's no way in hell that the men in charge of this university or the Princely Project would put a woman in a position of power on what will be a historical mission. As long as there is a single breathing even mildly competent male, they will be the one to fill the role, because that will reinforce to the world that science is a man's job and we are simply intruders."

"I'm sorry," Kalli finally whispered.

Miriam shook her head. "Don't be," she answered. "I'm making waves in the world of theory with my brains, and thanks to your friend the Crown Prince, I'll have solved a major problem for the Princely Project. History won't be able to completely ignore me even if I'm not the opening act. Now," Miriam straightened up, "you should get going, and I need to prep for a class."