"How long?" Amos ben Sierra Nueva said desperately
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clutching histrionically at her throat. "They poison him, you see," and then she flung her arms wide, "and he sings! They stab him," she mimed a thrust to the bosom, before flinging her arms wide again, "and he sings! They drown him," she flapped her arms as though splashing frantically, then placed both hands on her heart, "and he sings! They shoot him," she staggered to Simeon's column and leaned her back against it.
She slid down the column into a graceful art-deco posi- tion, "And he dies." Her head flopped forward and her hands dangled loosely from her wrists. The com chimed and the screen cleared, allowing communications specialist Keri Holen an unob- structed view of Channa slumped at the base of Simeon's column. "Oh! What's hap ... I mean, Ms. Hap! Simeon, is she all right?"
ing gesture. "I'm fine," she said, serenely adjusting her tunic blouse. "What is it?"
from a Ms. Dorgan. If it's convenient, she's scheduled a conference call for 1600 today."
broke the connection. "I thank the powers that be that wasn't Ms. Dorgan herself," Channa said nervously. "I like that 'if it's convenient,'" Simeon said, musingly. "Channa, have you ever replied, 'No, it's damned inconvenient' ?"
branch of the service, it shouldn't ever be!" Simeon studied Joat nervously, wondering if they should have dressed her differently. All the other children her age wore the same shapeless clothes, dis- gusting and often raucous color combinations, but not necessarily what the prudent guardian would recom- mend for this kind of interview. The com chimed. Too late, he thought. Channa seemed calm, but then Channa always seemed calm. Odd when she can exude such depths of hostility.... Still, she always did them with a controlled and icy demeanor. Yeah, Channa was fine. Joat's hands were clasped in her lap. Poor fad, her knuck- les are white. But otherwise she seemed composed. Tm fme, too, he thought Tm not calm, but fin fme.
assessing a class of delinquents, then smiled, a tight supe- rior little smile. Her hair was gray, cut short, combed in a simple disciplined style. She wore a severe dark blue suit with a prim white blouse and no jewelry. The view ofback- ground behind her was official and equally unsofiened by anythingeven remotely unofficial
remembered Patsy Sue using that expression: entirely appropriate right now.
cold litde eyes on Joat. "Hello, dear," she said in syrupy tones. "I'm Ms. Dorgan, your case-worker."
body going rigid. Simeon wondered how his nutrient fluid had suddenly gone so cold, but he didn't dare divert an erg of his attention away from these proceed- ings. He didn't even dare reassure Joat. She mumbled a barely audible "hello" in response. "Well, dear, you made some very impressive scores on the tests. Did you know that?" 66 Anne McCaffrey &? SM. Stirling A nearly inaudible "no" answered her. Ms. Dorgan glanced down at something below the screen's range, and then her right hand became visible, probably pressing the button to scroll her file forward.
group in a good many subjects, with the exception of mathematics and mechanicals, where you positively excel." That much was said with some genuine enthusiasm. "You've no idea the excitement you've generated in some quarters. I think you may now anticipate a much brighter future than your past may have led you to expect, dear." Simeon spoke for the first time, keeping his promise to his prote"ge\ Joat wants to study engineering. You obviously concur that she has a unique talent in that field."
on her neck stood out with the strain of not obviously peering around the room. "You are the ... shellper- son?" She seemed to hold her thin lips away from the word as though it might soil them. Her eyes roved between Channa and Joat as though hoping one of them might be ventriloquising the male voice.
adopt Joat as a full daughter and full relation." Ms. Dorgan's hand delicately brushed a strand of hair back into place. "Yes, well, as to that," she raised her brows as though surprised that he had spoken at all, "you real- ize that other prospective parents have put in applications for children with Joat's potential. We usually give preference to couples." There was a feint emphasis on the final word. She fingered her collar nervously. "In Joan's case..."
engineer, who is a professor of my acquaintance, and he immediately expressed an interest in her. He'sextremely
He's married, too, on a life-contract with a poet Such a situation would have many advantages for die child."
manager, I am intimately acquainted with a variety of sciences, including regular updates on state-of-the-art, so 1 am quite capable of tutoring her, on the practical level she prefers, in any specialty that interests her. Relax, Joat Ms. Gorgon'smerelymentioningoptionsand possibilities.' The case-worker loudly cleared her throat" My name, Station Manager Simeon, is Dorgan, with a D. Which reminds me, Joat, somewhere on the application, ah, here it is, it says diat your name is an acronym for 'jack-of- all-trades.' Where Jack was a gender-inappropriate first name, Jill was substituted. How would you feel about being called Jill?"
Joat replied, every inch the belligerent corridor-kid now, scornful and angry; no trace of her earlier diffidence remaining. "And I wouldn't answer to it 'cause it's not my name."
blue eyes sparkling with contempt "This is all a joke! This ol'Ms. Organ..."
ing our time and credit talkiri to her for?" "Calm down, Joat," Simeon said. "Let's not jump to conclusions yet. Ms. Dorgan, although I have unlimited communication links, my time is heavily scheduled, and I was assured by the authorities that this was merely a formality. Shall we move to settling the details now?" Slightly pink in the cheeks, Ms. Dorgan took a deep breath and released it in a small huff. "I can'tbelieve that you would persistin thisapplication, 68 Anne McGffiey & S.M. Stnimg knowing that a human couple is interested in the child It would be one thing if no one wanted her, but that is not the case. In the first place, since she's at a very sensitive stage of development, there is no way that someone like you could appreciate what she's going through."
professional brawn, you are surely well-acquainted with the peculiarities of these persons. Why deny that they are practically a different species? With no real understanding of what it's like to be independently mobile? How could he possibly raise an active, growing child?" The slight emphasis on the two adjectives made Channa clench her teeth in disgust Dorgan's question was also rhetorical.
ing from Patsy Sue again, "I guess you were right. Ms. Gorgon had made up her mind before she saw us."
heavily on the "d." "Toldja," Joat said, "ol Ms. Organ's already decided." "Dorgan. Dorgan. DORGANI" "Stop it! All three of you." Channa cast her glare over Simeon's column, Joat's flushed face, and finally settled it on the Child Welfare representative. "You have some very strange ideas about shellpeople, Ms. Dorgan, with a D. My advice would be to consider care- fully before you make any more bigoted remarks. I particularly resent your denying Simeon his intrinsic humanity. I've never met a shellperson who wasn't at hist as able and responsible as a softperson. And indis- putably more ethical! In fact, your remarks indicate active prejudice on your part. Prejudice which is, I might remind you, legally actionable.'' Ms. Dorgan raised her chin. "There's no need, no need at all, Ms. Hap, to make threats. No doubt it is due THE CITY WHO FOUGHT 69 to your long association with such persons that you no longer consider them... abnormal." Before Channa could get over sputtering at that, the case-worker smiled smugly. "In the child's best interests, I'm afraid that I shall have to deny this petition. I shall make arrangements for her transport to Central, where, after a short stay at our orphan facility, she will no doubt be adopted by aproper family." Still smiling she broke the connection.
silence. "You're not going to let her have the last word on this, are you?"
cerned?" Joat demanded bitterly. "I knew this'd happen. I told myself this'd happen. But you two trained brains were both so damned sure" She sneered as she counted off her points. "You knew just where to go and just who to talk to and just what to do. But you know what? You don't know ANYTHING! But after all, how could you?" she asked her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "Everything's always gone your way. Every- thing's always just been handed to you." She started to sob. "Shells, education, food, a living place. Well, they don't get handed out, lemme tell ya. And look what you've done to me\ Now they know I exist and where I am, and they're coming to get me! For all I know, that lattice engineer wants to play diddly on my lattice work. Only he's human and a professor and's got an 'in with her. You got me into this, but I'm sure not waiting for you to get me out. I'm not goin' anywhere with nobody \ don't want to!" Her voice had reached scream level before she pivoted and ran from the lounge. Joat!" Channa moved to follow her, but Simeon closed the door in her face. "Simeon!" she said in disbelief.
her in her room until they come for her?" Channa 70 Anne McCaffrty &? SM. Stating looked as though he'd struck her. "She needs time and privacy. She needs to feel in control again. Let her alone." "There are things we can do, Simeon. I'm not going to let that woman win. We can go over her head in Child Welfere. We can appeal to SPRIM and Double M for help. You taped that interview, didn't you?" He laughed, for once pleased to see her so combative. "Yes, I did, and won't the Mutant Minorities and the Society for the Preservation of the Rights of Intelligent Minorities dump on La Gorgon for her attitudes! Good thinking, Channa. I'm this very moment apprising them of this incident Y'know, this could even be fun." Late that night, Simeon noticed that a light came on in Channa's quarters. He had assiduously kept to his promise, but the faint glow under the door was plainly visible. Well, to anyone with photonscanners like mine, he amended. Still, he was observing the principle of the thing.
surprised pause, called out "Hello?" Simeon's voice, carefully adjusted to low audibility, answered from the lounge, "May I come in?" She smiled and laid aside the reader she'd picked up. "Yes, you may." She lay in bed, looking tousled and sleepy. Simeon thought that she looked little more than a kid herself, "Can't sleep?" he asked.
down there in the dark." "Joat's been asleep for hours," "How do you know that? She might still be crying her heart out for all we know." "I know because I can hear little, Joat-sized snores issuing from one of her favorite haunts." "She didn't turn on her sound-scrubber?" "Nope. She was upset!" "No, she was thoughtful. She is becoming more THE CITY WHO FOUGHT 71 civilized if she didn't want us to worry." And Channa laughed in relief, then sobered. "She's such a good kid. She really didn't deserve Gorgon on her case. Look, Simeon, B & B's are considered couples by Central Worlds. Our contracts tend to last a lot longer than mere marriages. If I stayed on for say, ten years and applied for joint custody with you, most of Gorgon's objections would be invalid." "Joint custody, huh? Well, Gorgon can't say a female brawn isn't a good role model. I've got comlines hotting up, but what I don't know is how many others at Child Welfare suffer from Dorgan's prejudice. I'd hate to see you make such a 'supreme sacrifice' for nothing. Fighting Ms. Gorgon through the bureaucracy won't turn us to stone, but it could bore our brains into oatmeal."
got anywhere else to go." "I know, I heard about Senalgal. Sorry, Channa. I know what it's like to lose an assignment you'd sell your soul to get"
for you, if you don't mind my asking N a planet-based city, a scout ship? Or maybe you looked as high as a whole planet?" "I've got a city, more or less. Definitely not a scout ship. The brain/brawn scout ship is too claustrophobic and limited. Ilike dealing withalot of people. lenjoy the give and take of various personalities and situations. More challenge on a station this size. Hove being challenged."
planet's too sedentary. But a ship, definitely, so I could get around a lot."
leisure interests and the only ship assignment that applied, "a Space Navy command-ship." She cocked her head. "Are you in line for one?" 72 Anne McCaffrey fcf SM. Stating "Theoretically, yes. I've applied and what do I get? "You're too important where you are,' " he began in a singsong monotone, " 'You're too perfect where you are, there's no one else as well-trained as you are for such a highly specialized situation.' I've always," he added wryly, "considered SSS-900-C to be a temporary assignment.''
She paused a moment, then in a flippant tone added, "With Joat to sweeten the deal, I don't think I would regard staying here as a 'supreme sacrifice.' Ugh! Orphan facility, indeed! Pick her up? Like some sort of a package?" She peered out of her room towards his column. "Do you think we stand a chance of reversing Dorgan's decision?" Simeon wouldn't have taken bets, but he had barely tackled the task. On the up side, he felt something deep inside him beginning to uncoil. "With a B & B partner- ship, we have a chance. 1 appreciate your willingness to consider one very much, Channa. Right now though, dear lady, why don't you sleep on it?" She sighed. "Mm, but I'm restless, and," she played with an edge of the reader, "there's nothing I really want to read."
recite a bedtime poem for you. Settle in." He waited until she had scooted down and adjusted covers and pillows, smiling as she did so. He began, "We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage ..." Her eyes dosed, and gradually she drifted off to sleep as Simeon recited. "... softly through the silence beat the bells, Along the golden road to Samarkand." CHAPTERFIVE Channa emerged into the lounge, heading for the table and her morning coffee. A wave of sound struck her N very much a wave, like plunging into a curling jade-green wall that seized her and bore her back towards the beach.
umphal March" from The Empress of Ganymede by User. She paused with a slight frown when she realized that she had unconsciously altered her stride to suit the march tempo. She stopped, and her pause was the length of a measure. She laughed when she realized it. "Does this mean I get to be queen today?"
thing upbeat would suit." "Well, I sure got off on the right foot, then," she said with a sound approximating a giggle. Simeon was pleased. Last night their relationship really had turned a corner. They were going to be all right.
an impish smile. "And a good morning right back atcha, as Patsy Sue would say." Channa's appreciative smile faded slowly into a frown. "I'd consider it a real good morning if I could see and speak to Joat as soon as possible. I'm very worried that she might jump ship on us, and that would ruin every step of progress we've made with her."
fc? SM. Stirling "Wish I could oblige you on that, Charm a, but I don't know where she is now. She turned on her sound-scrubber early this morning and effectively vanished." He hurried on when Channa's face showed her disappointment clearly. "I don't think she'd leave on two counts. One, she knows her way intimately between the skins of this station, and it's certainly big enough for her to change hidey-holes on an hourly basis if necessary. And two, none of the ships undocking today are the type she could stow away on or hire out on. I've got every sensor tuned to her registered patterns, and I've discreetly alerted key personnel."
notescreen towards her. "Then we had better get to work. SPRIM ought to be moving on that dispatch you sent off last night." Her anxiety lifted at Simeon's knowing chuckle. She ran her fingers in a tattoo on the console. "And I suspect Child Welfare won't like being on their hit list."
that way inclined?" He didn't wish Ms. Dorgan any pkysicalharm.
chauvinism is enough to turn even a tolerant person into a xenophobe. They've got money and they're tire- less in ensuring protection. That slur she made on shellpeople, well.,. And the MM make SPRIM look like a quilting party." "Quilting party?" Simeon searched his lexicon for the term. "Old-fashioned way to spend a productive and socializing evening," she explained absently, "Oh. Not much we can do until they get back to us, I suppose." Simeon sounded unhappy. Channa quirked a corner of her mouth. THE CTTY WHO FOUGHT 75 "We can't go in with lasers blazing and slag Child Welfare Central, if that's what you mean. If the station had full self-government, they wouldn't be able to mess with us N so let's concentrate on station business for now, shall we?" She cleared her throat. "I've been going over your accounts, Simeon, and I've got to say that you have some weird entries. For example, tucked away in the fourth quarter is the notation 'stuff.' You'll have to be more specific than 'stuff.'"
said in a facetious tone. "I'm not an accountant. I'm supposed to be your partner. Would you explain 'stuff'?" "It's like this, Channa, I buy things that interest me. Me, Simeon, not the station master brain." Never mind that that also accounted for why he hadn't paid off his natal debt to Central Worlds. So Tm a packrat. Is that her business now?
ring of sensors that warned of incoming traffic, began to transmit information that suggested a very large object was headed their way. From the ripples it caused in subspace, it was very large or very fast or both. He split his attention between her and the alert, and sent a communicator pulse in the direction of the distur- bance. There were strict rules on how to approach a station. Approaching unheralded broke half a dozen regs and invariably caused stiff credit penalties. Respond to hailing, he transmitted. Respond immediately. "Well, we've got this inspection and audit coming up in two weeks," he heard Channa saying in a firm let's- not-beat-about-the-bush tone. "We have get to have everything shipshape and Bristol fashion, partner." He did appreciate that she subtly reminded him of her promise to help with Joat, but this was no time for petty details.
his distraction, "but I do have something very unusual out there, approaching me without due protocol."
out of interstellar transit and approaching at... Great Ghu> .17 c! A large vessel whose profile did not fit any known human ship. The basic hufl-fonn was spherical, but car- ried a web of crazy-quilt additions, constructions of girder and latticework. Some of them looked as if they had been Yüklə 2,81 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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