PRISONER’S HOPE 
DAVID FEINTUCH 


PART 1 

April, in the Year
Of our Lord 2200 


CHAPTER 1 

Admiral Tremaine drew himself up, jowls pursed in indignation. "Who would youbelieve—this young scoundrel or me?" Ignored for the moment, I held the at-easeposition. 

That's not the issue." Fleet Admiral De Marnay gestured at the holovid chip I'dbrought on U.N.S. Hibernta across sixty-nine light-years of void. "CaptainSeafort is but a messenger. Your recall was ordered by Admiralty at home." 

Through the Admiral's unshuttered window, the late afternoon sun of Hope Nationilluminated his Centraltown office with dazzling brightness. A muted roarsignaled yet another shuttle lifting off to Orbit Station from the spaceportbehind Admiralty House, 

I sighed; I'd docked Htberma at the Station just hours before, and my tripgroundside was proving no respite from the tensions of the bridge. Pd had noidea Geoffrey Tremaine would be in the office when Admiral DC Marnay received myreport. 

"Messenger, my arse,** Tremaine swung toward me, glowering. "You arranged it!" 

I decided it was a question, so I could respond without fear of contradicting mysuperior. "No, sir, Admiral Brentley made the decision jmd I wasn't consulted,rt 

"A patent lie." Tremaine dismissed me with an airy wave and turned back to theAdmiral Commanding. "Georges, be reasonable—" 

"It is no lie!** The savagery of my snarl startled even me. The two Admiralsglared, astounded at such an interruption from a mere Captain, the youngest inthe U.N. Navy. I rushed on, abandoning the shreds of my discipline, "Mr.
Tremaine, Lord God knows that if anyone should be removed from command, it isyou. But I'say again, I had no part in it. Admiral De Marnay, as my verity hasbeen questioned, I demand truth testing!" Drags and polygraph would quicklyconfirm my statement or expose my lie. 

Georges De Marnay got slowly to his feet. "You demand, Captain?" His tone wasglacial. 

"Sir, I have never lied to a superior officer!" It was the one remnant of honorI'd retained in my slide to damnation. "Three times he's accused—" 

"Seafort, get hold of yourself. Be silentf" 

"Aye aye, sir." Midshipman or Captain, there was no other possible reply to adirect order. 


Admiral Tremaine's choleric face shook with wrath. "You see the insolence I had 
to put up with, when he had Portia! He—" 

"Before you stole her from him." De Mamay's acid reply sliced through Tremaine'sdiatribe. 

"Stole her? What are you saying?" Before DC Marnay could answer, Tremaine rushedon. "The facts are clear from Portia's Log, which you reviewed when I docked. Ihad to threaten to hang him before he'd transfer to Challenged' 

Better had he done so. Many would live who now were lost. 

De Maraay said nothing. 

Tremaine's voice took on a wheedling tone, "Recall or no, you're the Admiral intheater. Those bloody aliens of Seafort's may strike at any time. You need acommander groundside as well as aloft, and Admiralty didn't appoint myreplacement. As Admiral Commanding, you could reconfirm me until my tour's up.
Or try me yourself, for that matter," 

"Yes, I could well do that." De Marnay swung his chair, fingers tapping at theedge of his desk, 

I closed my eyes, my jaw throbbing with the effort to hold it shut. My commanderhad ordered me to be silent, and silent I would be. In any event, nothing I saidcould prevent Admiral De Marnay from reinstating Tremaine, the man who'd takenmy Portia. His own U.N.S, Challenger had been disabled by the huge goldfish-
shaped aliens that I'd discovered three years before on my first interstellarvoyage. Tremaine transferred his flag, leaving me, as well as the aged andinfirm passengers and the young transpops he loathed, drifting on Challenger^
deep in interstellar space, unable to Fuse. 

After he fled, the fish had come again. We'd been testing the fusion drive, andthey seemed to sense the N-waves on which our ships traveled the void betweenstars. Over and again, they'd Defused alongside Challenger to hurl their acidtentacles at our hull. 

I took a sharp breath, realized I was clammy under my stiff jacket. 

"After all, Admiralty is far from the scene, eh, Georges? They don't know—w 

Admiral De Marnay said, "I could reinstate you, Mr. Tremaine. But I won't." 

Tremaine said slowly, "You'd believe that**—he spat out the words—"that trannieCaptain over me?" 

"I believe the evidence in the Log, and in your conduct, sir." De Mamay's tonewas icy. "Admiral Tremaine, you are relieved. Mr. Seafort, you may go," 

"Aye aye, sir." I saluted and quickly made my escape. 

1 trudged the back yard of Admiralty House to the spaceport perimeter and theterminal building seventy yards beyond. Other than the hum of a distant engine,
all was silent. 


At the far end of the tarmac, freight was piled high. My Hibernia's cargo wouldsoon be to the supplies and equipment stockpiled here for the U.N. defendingour colony from the aliens. 

When last I'd seen Hope Nation I'd been so young, and innocent of the shatteredoath that damned me. 

Though I was fully recuperated from my physical ordeal on Challenger, myappalling misdeeds left me subject to fits of black despair. On our long journeyto Hope Nation my companion and lover, Annie Wells, had done her best to allaythem in the solitude of our cabin. , 

I wondered if Annie knew how I relied on her ministrations. Now even she would 
soon be gone. I'd come to know Annie on Challenger; she'd been among thetransients from the slums of Lower New York bound for faraway Detour aspart of a foolish social welfare program. After Challenger's ill-fated voyage,
we'd sailed again on Hibernia. 

We'd made the sixteen-month cruise in one interminable Fuse, with a tinycorrective jump at the end. I'd docked at massive Orbit Station, taken theshuttle groundside, reported to the now bustling Admiralty House, AdmiralTremaine's recall orders among the packet of chips in my case. 

Now I looked around, wondered what to do with my day before going back aloft toAnnie. 

I wished I could talk over the morning's encounter with a friend like MidshipmanDerek Can, one of the officers I'd forced to stay behind when I was transferredto Challenger. But Derek was stationed on U.N.S. Catalonia en route to Detour,
and not expected home for months. So I was alone, on my mandatory long-leave,
free of responsibilities. I had time to look up Vax Holser and the others. 

As I crossed the terminal a whoop split the air; I turned to see LieutenantAlexi Tamarov bounding after me. "You're here! Thank Lord God, you made it!" Hesnapped a crisp salute, grinning with pleasure. Then he saw my face andblanched. "My God, what happened, sir?" 

My scar had that effect. 

I offered him my hand, relieved beyond words to see him safe and well, "A laser,
on board Challenger, It's healed,** 

"You look—" He remembered his manners and bit it off. Friend or no friend, I wasCaptain, 

"Awful. Yes, I know." I deserved a ruined face. Lord God in his time would doworse. An oath is sacred. 

"Well, er, different, sir." He quickly changed the subject While he chattered Ireflected on all that had passed since/ our days as midshipmen in Hibernia'swardroom, when" Alexi was a young fifteen and I, at seventeen, struggled towardmanhood. 

After Hibernia's officers had been killed and I was catapulted to Captain, I'dleft Alexi in the wardroom. We'd shipped together afterward on Portia, but sincethen we'd gone our separate ways for two long years. He was—what? twenty-one?—
and I was tired and numbed at twenty-three. 


"God, I'm glad I ran into you, sir. I'm off duty today, but tomorrow it's backto Admiralty House." He shrugged and 

smiled wryly. "They have me working in Tactics." Like any lieutenant, Alexiwanted ship time, which would give him a leg up toward promotion. His grinfaded; his eyes drifted from mine. "About what I did on Portia, sir, I'm so—I'mashamed." 

"Did?" I tried to remember what he might be ashamed of. 

"I wanted to volunteer for transfer, sir. I meant to ask the Admiral, but Icouldn't. I sat in my cabin for hours before I gave up pretending. Now I knowhow cowardly 1 am." 

"Stop that!" My anger thrust him back a step. "I told you then I wouldn't acceptyou on Challenger under any circumstances. You're no coward." 

"I should have volunteered." He turned away. "Whether you took me or not. Youhad the courage to go." 

"You fool!" I spoke so savagely he winced with the hurt. "If Amanda and Natehadn't died, perhaps I'd have wanted to live, I wasn't brave, I was runningaway!" His look of dismay only goaded me further, "If I'd died I wouldn't havebecome what I am now.** 

Alexi's eyes met mine, troubled, What he saw there made him shrug and try atentative smile, "Whatever our motives, sir, we've done what was in m* I won'tJet you down spin," 

"I absolve you, for what it's worth." To distract him I said, "They've relievedTremaine," 

"Thank Lord God, sir. But what about your challenge?*' 

"You heard about that?" Livid with rage when Geoffrey Tremaine had off-loadedPortia's transient children before fleeing to safety, I'd sworn an oath to callchallenge upon him, to fight a duel that would destroy one of us. Now that hewas relieved it was legal for me to do so. But what did that oath matter? I'dalready forsworn myself. 

"Yes, we knew," Alexi said. "The Admiral wasn't alone on the bridge when youradioed. And Danny recorded. He'd have told us if we hadn't already heard."
Portia's puter liked to gossip, no doubt to ease his loneliness. What a joy itwould be to visit with Danny again, as on so many deadened days on the bridgeafter my wife's death. We'd become friends, if such a thing was possible betweenman and machine. But I didn't even know where in the galaxy my old ship had beensent. 

"I suppose I have to call the challenge, Alexi." At the time I'd yearned to castmy life against Tremaine's. Yet, Philip Tyre and the rest were dead, and nothingwould bring them back. With an effort I thrust recriminations aside. "Whathappened to Vax?" 

Alexi bit his lip. "He's here, sir. They have him running back and forth betweenAdmiralty House and the Station." 


Lieutenant Holser was alive and well. My old rival, once my enemy, now myfriend. Twice he'd saved my life. "It will be good to see him," 

After a moment Alexi spoke of other things. Restless, I invited him to wanderCentraltown with me. He accepted with delight, and proudly led me to theelectricar he'd managed to acquire. They were in short supply thanks to thepopulation increase. I stared out the window as he drove downtown alongSpaceport Road. 

Centraltown had grown since my last visit, but the town had no sights 1 hadn'tseen before, and what I saw reminded me of Amanda. For Alexi's sake I fought mydepression, and eventually settled with him in a downtown restaurant. Herespected my lapses into glum silence, and the evening provided morecompanionship than I'd had in many months. When finally we left. Minor was fulloverhead, and Major, Hope Nation's second moon, was just over the horizon, Ilooked up, imagining I could see Orbit Station passing above. 

"Have you a place to stay, sir?" 

I shook my head. "I'll bunk on the ship for a few days, I suppose." 

"I meant tonight. Would you—" He hesitated. "Sir, would you, ah, care to staywith me this evening?" I understood his unease; the gulf between a lieutenantand a Captain was normally unbridgeable. 

"Annie is waiting on Hibernia" Still, it was late, and 1 had no idea whetheranother shuttle would lift tonight; if not, I'd find myself sleeping at theterminal or in Naval barracks. "Well... for the night. I'd like that." I wasrewarded with a shy grin of pleasure. 

Alexi's flat was in one of the dozen or so prefabs that had sprung up alongSpaceport Road since my last visit. Sparse, tiny, and clean, it reminded me ofthe middies' wardroom I'd once occupied on Hibernia, though it was far larger. 

He said, "The bedroom's in there, sir. I'll take the couch." 

How could I have not realized he'd have but one bedroom? "I prefer the couch."
My tone was gruff. 

"You can't!" He was scandalized. 

"I won't take your bed, Alexi." Rank or no rank, I wouldn't put him out of hishome. 

"Please, sir." He patted the couch. "It's comfortable; I'll be fine. Anyway"—herushed on before I could object—"I won't sleep at all if you're bunked herewhile I've got the only bed. Please." 

Grumbling, I let him persuade me, wondering if his respect was for my rank orfor myself. Then I marveled at my foolishness, I was Captain, and he was butlieutenant; what else could he do? 

In the morning Alexi dropped me off at the spaceport and I handed the agent avoucher for the early shuttle. Two hours later I was back on Hibernia, I debatedwhether to check the bridge. 


By naval rep, all crew members entitled to thirty days long-leave after aten-month cruise or longer, and during that leave only a nominal, rotating watchwas kept, in which no one was made to spend more than four days aboard. 

Nonetheless, my footsteps carried me along the Level 1 circumference corridor,
past my cabin to the bridge beyond. The hatch was open; normally, under weigh,
it would have been sealed. Lieutenant Connor, to the watch officer's chair, wasleaning back, boots on the console. Her eyes widened in alarm as I strode in.
She scrambled to her feet, 

"As you were, Ms. Connor." Had I found her lollygaggmg on watch while underweigh I'd have been outraged. Moored, it didn't matter, 

I glanced at the darkened simulscreens on the curved front bulkhead. Normally,
they provided a breathtaking view from the nose of the ship. And under our puterDarla's control, they could simulate any conditions known. My black leatherarmchair was bolted behind the left console, at the center of the compartment.
Lieutenant Connor, of course, was in her own seat. No one dared sit in theCaptain's place. 

"All quiet, Ms. Connor?" 

"Yes, sir. The remaining passengers went down on last night's shuttle, exceptfor Miss Wells." 

There was nothing I need do. "I'll be in my cabin." 

"Yes, sir. Miss Wells, ah, seems to miss the other passengers, sir." She lookedaway quickly, as if she'd gone too far in speaking of my personal affairs. Shehad, but I let it pass. 

As I slapped open my cabin hatch a lithe form flew at me, knocking my breathaway. I hugged Annie with heartfelt warmth, grinning until I realized she wassobbing softly into my shoulder. "What's wrong, hon?" 

Annie clung. "All'em gone. Dey be downdere, alFem joeys. No one up here 'ceptme." Only under stress did her hard-won grammar and diction lapse into herformer trannie dialect. 

I squeezed her tighter. She'd known that all the transpops awaitingtransshipment to Detour would be leaving, including herself, and had chosen tostay with me a few extra days. I thought better of reminding her. "Sorry Icouldn't get back last night, hon." 

She sighed, disengaging herself from my damp shoulder. "I unner—understand," shesaid carefully. "Did yo' Admiral say where they sending you next?" 

"No." I hung my jacket in the bulkhead closet. A third of the entire Naval fleetwas now protecting Hope Nation system. There was little chance Hibernia would bethe next ship to Detour colony. 

Annie and I would have to part, and we both knew it. The only way we could staytogether was to marry, if she'd have me, and that would almost certainly cost memy career. Admiralty was notoriously conservative; my disregard for regulationsand my youth already worked against me. Were I to marry a former transpop—one ofthe ignorant and despised hordes who roamed most of Earth's sprawling cities—I'd 


be blackballed. Though I'd never be told the reason, I'd be unlikely to seecommand again. 

"I met Alexi," I said. Both he and Annie had shipped on Portia, but she'd knownhim then only as a distant, hand


some young figure occasionally glimpsed in the corridors of Level 1. 

"Nicky, I been thinking." As she calmed, her diction returned, and despitemyself, I smiled. "This staying on ship, it be no good," she said. "I ain—I'mnot ever going to see Hope Nation again, and you need time on real land. Wouldyou show me dis place?" 

"It's full of memories." My tone was gentle. How could I take her where I'd gonewith Amanda? The comparison could only be cruel. 

"I wantin'—I want to know your memories." I frowned and she rushed on, "Nicky,
yo' wife is dead. She ain' never coming back. You got to live. I won' be 'round,
but you got to go on." 

That she was right didn't make it easier, but I owed much to her. "If that'swhat you'd like," I said. "We'll rent a room groundside and I'll show you thesights." The Ventures, perhaps; the breathtaking mountains of Western Continent,
where Amanda and Derek and I—no, this would be a different trip. 

We could visit the plantations. Emmett Branstead, a passenger I'd impressed intothe Service on Challenger, had returned to Hope Nation while I was recuperatingat Lunapolis from my injuries. Despite his condescending and irritable mannerbefore enlisting, Emmett had proven a loyal and conscientious sailor once he'dtaken the oath. He'd left word at Admiralty House that I was invited to hisfamily's plantation whenever I could come. 

His invitation rather surprised me; I'd have thought he'd be anxious to put hisinvoluntary servitude behind him. I'd met his brother Harmon, three yearsbefore, on my long-leave with Derek Carr. 

I put aside the throb of memories. "When would you like to go?" 

"Today?" 

I groaned; my chest still hurt from the morning's liftoff. Still, diving intoHope Nation's gravity well wouldn't be half as bad as clawing out of it. "Verywell." I reached for the caller, set it down again. "No, let's walk to Dispatch;
I'll show you Orbit Station." 

"I don' want to go to dat place." 

"The Station is just like a ship, only bigger." 

"There ain't no air around it. I don' like it." Groundsiders. 

"It's as safe as Hibernia, and I'll be with you. Come, I'll show you around."
Protesting, she let me take her through the locks. 

Imagine an old-fashioned pencil stood on end, with two or three half-inch-thickdisks slid halfway down and pressed together. That's a rough model of aninterstellar ship. Forward of the disks is the hold, in which cargoes for our 


settlements are crammed, along with the supplies consumed during the ship's long


voyage. 
The passengers and crew live and work on the disks. Each disk is a Level,
girdled by a circumference corridor, connected to the other disks by east and
west ladders. The bridge is always on Level 1. Hydroponics and recycling are
below. Aft of the disks sits the engine room, whose great Fusion motors
terminate at the drive shaft comprising the stern of the ship. 


Orbit Station was like a stack of these disks, only without the pencil. And more
and larger disks. The Station had five levels, enough to get lost in, which to
my embarrassment I soon did, 


"You tin' no better than a groundsider," Annie scoffed when we passed the
commissary again, "Jus* ask someone." 
"Dispatching should be down this corridor." 


"It wasn't the last time." 
She could be maddening. "Come on,** We passed a sign pointing to Naval HQ but I
ignored it; though they could arrange shuttle seats for us, I could have done as
much from the caller in my cabin. My goal was to find Dispatching, somewhere on
Level 4. 


Annie seemed as relieved as I when we finally arrived at the dispatcher's
office. A shuttle was leaving in two hours; time enough for us to pack. I let
the dispatcher provide us detailed instructions back to Hibernia's bay. 


I came on a young officer lounging in the entryway of Naval HQ, and I stopped.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant, are you assigned here?" 
He stiffened. "Yes, sir." 


"Do you know Mr. Holser?" 
"Holser? Oh, yes, Vax. The big joey." He grinned. "He's posted to tactics. I
believe he's at Admiralty House this rotation, sir." 


"Please check." 


A few moments later the man returned, another lieutenant a few steps behind. "As
I thought, sir. He'll be groundside another week." 
"Very well. Thank you." 
"Uh, Captain Seafort?" The lanky officer who'd followed. 
I returned the lieutenant's salute. "Yes?" 
"I thought it was you, sir, from the holozine pics. Second Lieutenant Jeffrey


Kahn." 
"What do you want?" My voice was sharper than I'd intended. 
"I—nothing, sir, except to speak with you. I wondered if—what it was like to see


the aliens, sir. For the first time." Those damned holozines. Just as the 



notoriety of my discovering the aliens had begun to fade, my return withChallenger had fanned the flames. 

Annie gasped, wrenching her hand free. My face was hot, my throbbed, "Where areyou assigned, sir?" 

"I was on Valencia, sir. Sorry if I—" 

"If you under my command you'd be sorrier, Lieu-tenant. Dismissed!" 

"Aye aye, sir. I apologize." 

I stalked down the corridor, pulling Annie with me until she protested, "Nicky,
you hurtin' me," 

I let go of her arm. "The damn—blessed insolence! Interrupting a Captain!" Shescurried to keep up. "Just so he could say he'd met me!" 

Annie spoke with dignified care. "There no harm being famous. You're lucky." 

"/$ no harm," I corrected, my pace slowing. During our year on Hibernia I'dlabored, at Annie's request, to teach her Uppie speech and civilized ways. Sheapproached the English language as the study of a foreign tongue, which in a wayfor her it was, 

"Anyway, that's not the point," I said. "If one of my lieutenants felt free toannoy a Captain I'd—" 

I'd what? I didn't know. I recalled Alexi offering me the use of his apartment,
though it was a blatant breach of protocol. But we were friends, weren't we?
Shipmates. 

No, that shouldn't matter. I sighed. Perhaps I'd been a touch hard on Mr. Kahn. 

I browsed through listings in a spaceport caller booth and arranged apartmentshowings. The furnished flats were expensive, especially on a lease of weeks,
but on a ship in Fusion my pay gathered unspent, so I could afford it. As ithappened, the second apartment we saw was but two blocks from Alexi's and forsome reason I liked it enough to take it without looking further. 

We unpacked our few belongings and sauntered around our block. Annie devouredthe texture of Hope Nation with eager eyes. I promised her a tour of downtown,
we bought a few groceries for the micro, and Sun still setting, we went home tobed. As we snuggled under the covers she made it clear that I'd get little sleepthat night. 

In the morning, surprisingly rested, I strolled downtown with Annie, pointingout buildings I knew. We passed Circuit Court, where years before I'd confrontedJudge Chesley in defense of my authority to enlist cadets. Near downtown,
several blocks had been set aside for an open park; we wandered amid itsgreenery. 

She caught her breath. "What's that, Nicky?" A Gothic spire lanced upwardthrough the genera trees ahead. 

"The Cathedral, hon." 


"It's beautiful." 


So it was. On my previous landfall, I'd visited Reunification Cathedral, to pray
that the burden of command be lifted. "Shall we go in?" I took her hand. 
The Cathedral's spires soared from thick buttresses of cut stone, each


testifying to the dedication and fervor in which the Cathedral had been born
over a century before. When Hope Nation was founded, the Reunification Church
had already become our official state religion. Though we tolerated splinter
sects, our U.N. Government was founded in the authority of the One True God, and
1, as Captain, was his representative aboard ship. 


Annie and I knelt before the altar. I gave silent prayer, sad at the knowledge
that it must go unheard. 


Annie waited behind me, in a pew. When I stood she whispered, "Look up." 
I gazed upward at the ornate gilt-edged craftsmanship of the buttresses. "Yes.
Beautiful." I squeezed her hand. 


"Place is so strong. I feel... safe. Don't wanna go." 
Yes, she'd feel secure in Lord God's house, if anywhere. I stopped myself from


saying it aloud, "Detour has its own churches, hon." But none as beautiful as
this. Detour was too young, too raw. 
"Let me stay here awhile." She ran her finger along the sturdy, burnished wood


of the pew. 
"All right." I sat, took a missal, idly thumbed through it. Annie wandered. 
"Sir? Is that you?" A plump youngish man. 
I peered. "Mr. Forbee!" An old acquaintance. We shook hands. "I'd have thought


they'd let you retire again." 
Three years ago, when I first arrived with Hibernia, For-bee was floundering as
Commandant of the tiny Naval station, eager to be relieved. "I suppose I could
if I wanted to," he said. His eye flicked to m^ scar, and away. "But with the


invasion, and all... as long as there are senior officers so Pin not left in
charge again ..." 
"Of course." 
He paused. "I'm with the tactical group now. Enjoy the work." 
"Isn't that where Vax Holser's posted?** 
"Yes, sir. He's at Admiralty House this rotation." For a moment his clouded.


"What are your plans, sir?** 


"Miss Wells and I are taking in the sights," I beckoned to Annie, introduced
her, "We're lunching with Lieutenant Tamarov, then Til stop at Admiralty House," 
He hesitated. "Sir, about Vax .,." 
"Is he well?" 



"Oh, yes, fine. Couldn't be better," 
I said, "He's a good man, very good, but I'll admit he takes some getting used


to," I glanced at my watch and stood "Annie, we'd better get going; Alexi's
waiting. Nice to see you again, Mr. Forbee." I extended my hand. 
We met Alexi at a restaurant I recalled from my previous visit, and afterward he


drove us back to our apartment. At Annie's urging I accompanied Alexi back toAdmiralty House; she wanted our dinner to be her own accomplishment. I wenteagerly. 

Alexi said little during the short drive, as if preoccupied. After he parked, weclimbed the steps to the double doors, past the winged-anchor Naval emblem andthe "Admiralty House" brass plaque I'd known from my first cruise. 

The lanky duty lieutenant stood from his console to salute. "You're here for
Admiral De Marnay?" 
"No, Vax Holser." 
"He's upstairs in the tactics office, sir. Shall I call him down?" 
I grinned. "I'll run up. We're shipmates." 
Alexi followed me up the ladder. "Sir, I think I should tell you—" 
"Later, Alexi. Let me say hello to Vax." 
"But—" 


"Vax? Are you there?" 
"STAND TO!" Vax Holser's bellow made me flinch. The roomful of lieutenants and 
midshipmen snapped to attention. 


Eyes locked front, the brawny lieutenant stood ramrod stiff. 


"As you were." I hurried forward, my hand out. "Vax, how are you? Good to—" I
stumbled to a halt. 
Vax Holser, his face an icy mask, had swung into the at-ease position, hands


clasped behind him. His eyes were riveted on the bulkhead past my shoulder. He
pointedly ignored my hand. 
I gaped. "What's wrong?" 
"Nothing, sir." His gaze remained fixed on the wall. He said no more. 
"I'm so glad to see you, Vax!" 


"Thank you, Captain." His voice was remote. 
Alexi cleared his throat. "Mr. Holser, Captain Seafort's been through hell. He
came to see you as soon as he—" 



"Be silent, Mr. Tamarov," I snarled. I wouldn't have Alexi beg on my behalf.


"Leave at once!" 
"Aye aye, sir." Alexi wouldn't argue with a direct order, even if I wasn't his
commanding officer. 


I approached my former first lieutenant with trepidation. "Are you speaking to
me, Vax?" 
Vax Holser said slowly and distinctly, "Yes, sir. We're on duty." 
His reply told me what I needed to know. I turned on my heel and left. 
Alexi waited below in the anteroom. "I tried to warn you, sir, before—" 


"Why?" I demanded. "What's he so angry about?" 
"When you were to be left behind on Challenger, you wouldn't let him relieve
Tremaine or transfer to join you." 


I was stunned. "He won't forgive my saving him from harm?" 
"No, sir." 
Numbly I went out into the heat of the day. 
We paused on the steps. "I tried talking to him," Alexi offered. "He wouldn't


listen. He said you had no right to refuse our help, to face that nightmarealone." 

"Lord God damn it!" 
Alexi drew back, shocked, knowing it was blasphemy. For the moment I didn't
care. I hated the Navy that had cost me my wife, my son, my friends. 


"So, you young whelp, I suppose you're smirking over your revenge." 
I spun. Admiral Tremaine glared from the foot of the steps. 
Alexi echoed, "Revenge?" 
"Thanks to him I've been relieved, as I'm sure you know." Tremaine's expression


was sour. "Despite your sniveling, Seafort, you made it home and back again. So


your whining about Challenger was for nothing." 
I was in a foul temper. "Admiral Geoffrey Tremaine, you are on inactive duty;
before witness I do call challenge on you to defend your honor!" 


The Admiral's eyes narrowed. "You'd go through with it, then? Very well. You're


aware the choice of weapons is mine?" 
"Of course." I'd practiced with the dueling pistols Admiral Brentley had given
me, but not nearly enough. 


"Very well, then. If you find someone to act as your second, have him call on meto arrange the details. I'll be at—" 


"With your permission, sir, I will be your second." 

"Thank you, Alexi." I saluted the Admiral. "Please make your arrangements,
gentlemen." I stalked off. 

They had tried to stop me. Annie begged, and when that failed, used all herwiles to divert me. "But what good it do, you be killed? Dey bury you here, anddat Admiral goin' home free?" 

I made my voice gentle, for her sake. "Hon, I have to." 

"But why? You know he shoot better than you!" Antique powder weapons were theAdmiral's particular hobby. 

She couldn't understand, of course. In some things, the striving is important,
not the achieving. And I'd sworn my vengeance to Lord God. Though I'd alreadyforsworn myself in other things, my misery made me anxious not to do it again. 

Four days after my challenge, we met on a grassy meadow outside the town, Alexistiff and formal at my side, a staff lieutenant an unhappy second to theAdmiral, Other officers waited in hushed groups a distance away; news of ourduel had spread. 

I hadn't allowed Annie to attend. 

While our seconds conducted the preliminary ritual I stood sweating in dresswhites, conscious of every quivering leaf of the great genera tree in whoseshadow we stood, aware of every tremulous beat of my heart, 

I hadn't prayed Lord God's help; my soul was forfeit and my prayers must gounanswered, I was afraid, though. Not of death, but of what was to comeafterward. 

I had much to account for. 

The Admiral's second stepped forward. "Gentlemen, I appeal to you to forsakeyour quarrel and declare that honor is satisfied, that this matter may be put torest." 

Admiral Tremaine's smile was almost a sneer. "You will recall that Mr. Seafort 
initiated this quarrel, I do but respond." At his lieutenant's frown he added,
as if reluctant. 

"However, I declare that honor is satisfied, if the Captain is so minded." 

The Admiral's second turned to me. "Captain Seafort?" 

The sun beat down on the stillness of the meadow. Alexi, young and handsome,
spoke softly. "What shall you do, sir?" I hesitated. He blurted, "Sir, he'sordered home for trial. You told me how Admiral Brentley spoke of him. He'sfinished." 

I felt my legs tremble and spoke loudly as if to stop him from noticing. "Youcare that much if I live?" 

Alexi looked down, but with an effort returned his gaze to mine. "Very much,
sir," 


My legs steadied. Alexi cared, as did Annie. If they truly understood me they
wouldn't have such feelings, but I was glad nonetheless. As Alexi said, Tremaine
was done for. Honor didn't require me to sacrifice my life to accomplish what
the law itself would achieve, 


Admiral De Marnay would also be pleased if I called it off, A day before, he had
summoned me to his office to demand that I withdraw my challenge. 


"Is that an order, sir?" 
He waved it away, "You know perfectly well I can't jpve such an order. You're on
leave and he's inactive." His fin-gers drummed the at his mahogany desk. 


"Then, sir, I — " 
"There's no point to fighting him, Seafort. You're needed 
"Yes, sir. On the other hand, I gave my oath,** 
"That bloody dueling code should be amended, A Captain fighting an Admiral , .


it looks bad." He at me, said quickly, "Oh, I know in your caw it has nothing to


do with promotion or advancement But people won't understand." 
"Captain Von Walther fought i duel with Governor Ibn Saud, sir," Generations
ago, but Captain Von Walther was the idol of every officer in the Navy, I'd once
stood in his very footsteps. 


"The Governor wasn't his superior officer. And you're not Von Walther," His tone


was acid. 
"No, sir." It was presumptuous to compare myself to the legendary Hugo Von
Walther, who'd discovered the derelict Celestina, become Admiral of the Fleet,
and twice been elected Secretary-General. "Still, there's the matter of my
oath." 


"I could put you back on active duty." It would effectively bar me from a duel. 
"Yes, sir. But I'm entitled to long-leave." 
De Mamay's stare was cold. "I know that. But Tremaine isn't. I can recall him." 
I swallowed, glad of the reprieve. "If that's what you wish, sir." 
His fingers drummed. "No, I won't, even to save you. I wasn't free to beach him


myself, but now that he's recalled, I'll let it stand. I still want you to
withdraw your challenge." 


"Yes, sir, I understand." 
His tone softened. "Seafort, you've been through a lot. You're coiled tight as a
spring. If you were thinking clearly, you'd find a way to let this go." 


"I understand, sir," I repeated. By giving no more, it was a refusal. 
"Very well." He studied me. "That's all." As I left, I could feel his eyes
pierce my back. 



"Sir?" 
I blinked, back on the dueling field. Alexi awaited my answer. 
Again I swallowed, For Annie, and for Alexi, For Admiral De Mamay. 'Tell him—


tell him I agree—" 
Father's stem voice, as I sat over my lessons at the creaky kitchen table, "Your


oath is your bond, Nicholas, WithouUt, you are nothing," Yes, Father. But I am
already damned. For some sins, there can be no forgiveness. 
Father faded to distant disapproval. 
The young voice had a catch in it, "I'm glad to have served with you, sir.


Godspeed." 
Blanching, I whirled. "What did you say?" 
Alexi stepped back. "Nothing, sir. I didn't speak." 
"Not you. Philip Ty—" I snapped my mouth shut. Was I out of my mind? Philip Tyre


was dead, thanks to the cruelty of the man I faced. A troubled boy who'd striven


to do his duty. 
I spoke to the Admiral's second. "Sir, tell your principal that upon his humble
apology to the memory of Lieutenant 


Philip Tyre and the passengers and crew of Challenger, I will consider my oath


fulfilled. And on no other terms." 
Tremaine didn't wait for his lieutenant to repeat my speech. "Get on with it,
then." 


I picked up the round-barreled pistol, its grip vaguely familiar in my hand.
Admiral Brentley's parting gift. I turned to Alexi. "Thank you for your
assistance, sir. I'm most grateful to you." 


Alexi's formality matched my own. "And I to you, sir." He saluted. 
We paced and turned. I saw the savage glint in Admiral Tremaine's eye as we
raised to fire. 


CHAPTER 2 

"Honor is satisfied. For God's sake, get them to a doctor!" 

"The Captain, yes." The lieutenant looked up from Tremaine's inert body. "It'stoo late for the Admiral." 

I stood swaying, glad of the shade of the red maple. My chest was numb, I put myhand to my side. It came away wet. 

"It'll be too late for Captain Seafort as well, unless you hurry." One of DeMarnay's staff; I didn't remember his name. 


"I'll help you into the heli, sir," said a solicitous voice, 
«Tm all right, Alexi." 
"You aren't, sir. Let me help you," 
Numb, I let Alexi lead me to the waiting heli. Bending to get in jarred


something in me; a wave of pain carried me off to a far place. I coughed and it
blossomed to fiery agony, 


"Christ, get moving!" someone shouted. 
I thought to rebuke the blasphemy, but choked and couldn't find my breath. I
spat salty red liquid. The whap of the heli blades merged with my ragged breath
in a red crescendo that slowly faded to blessed black silence. 


The bridge was white, too white, "Have we Defused? Plot a course to Orbit
Station." 


"It's all right, sir," 
The middy knew he was required to say, "Aye aye, sk," It was the only
permissible response to his Captain. Well, he'd learn after a caning; the barrel
was a quick teacher. 


But weren't we still Fused? "I didn't order a Defuse!" It emerged a feeble
whisper instead of the bark I'd intended And what was draped over me? A tent? 
"We're groundside, sir. You're in hospital." 
Why was Alexi here? He'd gone on to Hope Nation with Admiral Tremaine. 
"When did we dock?" I whispered, groggy. "We just Defused for nav check." 
"That was weeks ago, sir." 


God, how my chest hurt. I slept. 
Shadowy figures kept me company. Walter Dakko, mas-ter-at-arms on Challenger and
on Hibernia. Eddie Boss, the transpop who'd responded to my call for enlistment.
Annie Wells, her face worried. Even Philip Tyre came to sit with me for a while,
before I recalled that he was dead, 


I drifted in and out of consciousness as the sedation eased. Doctors and nurses 


loomed, disappeared, reappeared. The fires of hell burned. 
"The infection's spread," someone said crisply. "Yank the lung, replace it, and
be done with it." Two doctors conferred as I gazed passively through the
vapormask. 


A medipulse pressed against my arm. Solicitous aides lifted me from my bed to a


gurney. The celling slid smoothly past, and I struggled to stay awake. I failed. 
The officer across the desk quickly looked away from my face, but I was used to
that by now, "Do you know where you are?" 



The tube had been in my throat too long; it still hurt when I spoke,
"Centraltown General HospitaL" I read the name-plate on his desk. "And you'rethe psych officer, Dr., uh, Tendres." I flinching as a lance of pain stabbed, 

He smiled briefly, "This interview is to see how you're orienting yourself. Yourname1** 

"Nicholas Ewing Seafort, Captain, U.N.N.S, I'm twenty-three. Six yearsseniority," 

"What else do you remember, before your cruise?" 

I said grimly, "I sailed on Portia, part of Admiral Tremaine's relief squadronto Hope Nation. My baby son died in an alien attack and my wife Amanda followedsoon after." Then we'd encountered the Admiral's flagship, disabled by the fish.
"Tremaine off-loaded the elderly passengers and the young transpops. I swore Iwould call challenge on him. You know the rest." 

'Tell me." 

My throat was sore and I wanted to get it over with. "The fish attacked again."
My tone was dull. "Our remaining lasers were knocked out. I used the last of ourpropellant to ram the biggest fish just as it tried to Fuse. We were Fused withit, and starved for several weeks in a derelict ship. The fish Defused outsideJupiter's orbit." But before the stricken fish had brought us home, I'd brokenmy solemn oath. 

"Your memory seems intact, Seafort. You know how long you've been here?" 

"Three weeks, they tell me." Enough for Hibernia to sail without me. I'd losther, and what little home I had. 

"Much of the time you were delirious or under sedation." 

"They gave me a new lung." 

"Which your body is accepting well, so far. You're loaded with antirejectiondrugs, of course. You're familiar with anti-rejection therapy?" 

I nodded. "The time-release meds last a month or so. The second treatment will 
pretty well cut out any chance of rejection." 

"That's right. Routine replacement, a lung." 

I fingered the skintape covering my healing incision, wondering when I'd bereleased. And more important, when I'd be fit for active duty. Before I couldget a ship, I would need clearance from the man I confronted. 

As if reading my thoughts Dr. Tendres said, "You've faced a lot for a joey yourage, Seafort," 

I didn't reply. 

He read from my chart in his holovid. "You still have the nightmares?" 

"Which ones?" I asked despite myself. Well, my medical records would indicatethe recurrent dream I'd had for years. Father and I were walking from the train 


station to Academy, where I was to begin my first term; I'd never left Cardiffbefore, except for day trips. When we arrived, Father turned my shoulders andpushed me toward the gates. Inside, I turned to wave good-bye, but he strodeaway without looking back. 1 was thirteen. 

It was as it had happened. It was Father's way. 

Perhaps my records also mentioned the dream in which Tuak and Rogoff, men I'd
hanged for mutiny, shambled into my cabin, dead. 
I doubted he knew about the others. 
He raised his eyebrow. "Tell me your nightmares." 
"I dream sometimes," I said uneasily. "I'm all right." 
"You've seen a lot of death." His flat statement gave me no clue to read his


thoughts. 
"Yes." I'd caused a lot of death. 
He suddenly asked, "How do you feel about what you've done?" 
"The killing?" 
"Everything," 
I hesitated a long moment. "I betrayed my oath, you know." 
"That bothers you." 
"Bothers me?" I half rose from my wheelchair, subsided when the pain stabbed.


The man must be a freethinker. How else could he not understand my desolation? 
"Your oath is what you are," Father had taught me. It was my covenant with Lord
God Himself. I'd deliberately broken my sworn pledge. In doing so, I'd damned my
soul to everlasting hell; no act of contrition or penance could save me. Now the


thread of my life was all that stood between me and the eternal torment of Lord
God's displeasure, 
Yes, it bothered me. 
And even if I should somehow be granted the miracle of Lord God's forgiveness, I


must live with the knowledge that I was a man without honor, a man whose word


could never be trusted, a man of expediency, 
I waved my hand irritably, "I've learned to live with it,* I said. Surely he
must understand. If not, there was no point In laboring to explain. 


"Lookidaman be sleepindere!" 


The familiar voice recalled me from my doze, "Hi, Annie," I said. Automatically
I added, "Don't talk that way," though I knew she did so only to tease me. 
"Feeling better today?" She was beautiful in a new sky-blue jumpsuit, perhaps


one size snugger than absolutely necessary. Annie had adapted with enthusiasm tothe latest fashions and hairstyles. 


"Yes, hon," I said dutifully. I felt a pang of regret that she would soon begone to Detour. 

"Good." I was rewarded by a chaste kiss on the forehead. Annie was restrainingherself, lest undue excitement cause me breathing problems. She curled into thechair alongside the bed. "I been shopping." 

"Oh?" My throat hurt hardly at all today. 

"Mira!" She emptied the shopping bag on my stomach. Frilly garments tumbled out.
Gauzy, gossamer, weightless ones. Chemiwear. The material responded to changesin skin chemistry. Certain changes caused them to become translucent. 

"I don't wear silk underwear," I said, pretending crossness, which had theeffect I intended. 

"I c'n see you on your bridge in these, sure,** she snorted. 

I raised myself carefully, aching; this morning they'd made me promenade thecorridors for an hour. I took Annie's hand in mine and lay back, wondering if myrevenge against Tremaine was worth the cost: my health, my ship, Admiral DeMarnay's goodwill. 

Ashamed, I recalled the misery my crew and passengers had endured after ourabandonment. I thought of Philip Tyre, sailing bravely to his death aboardChallenger's fragile launch. Yes, it was worth it. 

My reverie was interrupted by Annie's soft voice. "Where are you, Nicky?" 

I smiled. "Just dreaming, hon. Nothing important." 

I glowered at the young lieutenant until I was rewarded by a look of nervousanxiety, I turned away; it wasn't his fault I swung my legs out of bed. Annie,
sitting quietly in the corner, shot me a worried glance, 

"Very well," I growled. "Where do they want me to stay?" 

"Shoreside, in the Centraltown area, sir. That's all Admiral De Mamay said." 

I glowered at the orders in the holovid before snapping it off. "Inactive dutyuntil certified as fully recovered .. .** Well, that was fair; it had been myown doing. If I hadn't 

chosen revenge, I wouldn't have spent weeks in a hosp trying to avoid a coughthat might dislodge my lung. 

I didn't like at all the phrase that followed. "... from i abling physicalinjury and continuing emotional stress."' orders were signed by Georges DeMarnay himself. 

"Very well, Lieutenant. Thank you." The young offi saluted and left with obviousrelief. 

I'd killed De Marnay's fellow Admiral; was that why was beaching me? He had areputation as a fair man, but, 


No, my careless answers to Dr. Tendres's probing qi tions had caused mygrounding, I should have pretende relaxation I didn't feel, and denied mynightmares. 

Still, I'd come this far without having lied to a superior fleer. I had littleelse to be proud of; I would keep that st of honor, even if it cost me myposting, 

I smiled at Annie. "They gave us more time together, fc Would you like that?" 

Her grin of delight was answer enough. I wondered w she'd be called for Detour.
Ey unspoken agreement we nc mentioned our parting. ,£ 

The door swung open, "Why all the smiles, sir? Oh» g afternoon. Miss Wells," 

"We have a vacation, Alexi," I reached for my shirt, 

"For how long, sir?" 

"Awhile," I dressed myself slowly, "Until they say I'm covered. I'll need aplace to stay. At least they haven't ta my pay billet; could you two find me ahome?" Annie closed our apartment when it was clear I'd be a long whil 

"Of course, sir," Alexi said automatically. "We'll look afternoon, if Miss Wellsis ready." 

"You knowin' my name be Annie,** she said disdainfti "All that Miss Wellsgoofjuice be for records an' all," tossed her sweater over her shoulder. "I beready now, M Tamarov," At the door she turned regally, "Good afternc Nick," Nowher diction was flawless. "I'll be back to see after dinner." With a scornful 
toss of her head she was goi 

Alexi, at the doorway, shrugged ruefully, "Sorry, sir.** followed. Alone, Iwondered what strings Alexi had pulled to be assigned as my aide during myrecovery. Well, it was a soft shoreside billet... 

On the other hand, perhaps he hadn't even volunteered. After all, why would hewant to be posted with me? 

"Do you know how many capital ships we have in system? Thirty-eight! And we'veseen not a single fish." Captain Derghinski stared morosely into the settingsun. 

I turned away, my hand tightening on the rough-sawn balcony railing. But for myself-indulgence in challenging Tremaine, I would have a vessel of my own.
Absently I fingered the scar on my cheek. 

"Is that bad?" Annie asked. 

Hiskiisage softened. "I realize you've met the aliens, ma'am, add it wasn'tpleasant. But we can't beach the fleet in Hope Nation forever, waiting forfish." 

I sipped at a cold drink, feeling the welcome sting of the alcohol. Beinggrounded had advantages; alcohol, like most drugs, was contraband aboard ship. 


"I'm surprised at how much of the fleet Admiralty committed here," I admitted.
In addition to Tremaine's squadron, two others had arrived while I was inhospital. They provided Admiral De Marnay with more fircpower than had beenmassed anywhere for many decades. 

Derghinski nodded. "Eventually we'll have to go home. What if the fish show upnear Terra or the Lunar bases? And while we've diverted squadrons to HopeNation, our interstellar commerce has gone to hell." Naval vessels carried mostof our cargo and all passenger traffic between the stars. Schedules had beensparse enough before the alien invasion. Now, they were almost nonexistent. 

That was one reason Annie was still with me. In the past, the lone supply shipthat visited Hope Nation would have continued to Detour, taking her to her newhome. 

The apartment Alexi and Annie had found was in a row of connected town houses onthe outskirts of Centraltown. From our balcony I could just glimpse FarreachOcean in the distance. It wasn't far from where my wife Amanda had once roomed,
in another time, another life. 

"A fine party, Mr. Seafort." 

I smiled back at Captain De Vroux. "Thank you, ma'am." 

To my surprise, my home was becoming a shoreside refuge for off-duty officers.
The constant replenishment of drinks and food ate into my savings, but I didn'tmind. At least it helped keep me informed. The lieutenants and Captains, fortheir part, liked to unwind without guarding their speech as they'd have toamong civilians. They probably enjoyed Annie's good looks and careless charm aswell. 

I breathed deep, glad to be free of pain at last. I turned back to CaptainDerghinski. "We can't hit them until we find them," I said. "So far we've neverfound a fish... they've always found us," 

A confident young lieutenant from Resolute spoke up, "Well, sir, if your theoryis right that the fish hear us Fuse, they should be swarming over us by now. Allour ships dropping into normal space as they arrive ,.." 

"It was only a suggestion," I muttered, "And anyway— what's your name, again?" 

uTer Horst, Ravan O., Lieutenant, sirf" the young said cautiously, I couldunderstand his anxiety. Though I'd never been a lieutenant I remembered the thata Captain—any Captain—inspired in me as a midshipman. For all this follow knew,
I consorted with Admirals, if not Lord God Himself, and a word from me could dohim inestimable harm. 

"Well, Mr. Ter Horst, we have no idea how long it takes the fish to respond oncethey us. Or where they come from," I shivered despite the afternoon warmth.
"They might be on their way even now," 

"Yes, sir," 

"You needn't be afraid of me," I snapped, "I don't bite, at least off duty." 


He attempted a grin, "Sorry, sir. Anyway, we're ready for them this time.
Thirty-eight ships, all armed to the teeth with laser cannon, I'd like to seethe fish that can run that blockade," 

"Not a blockade, Ter Horst.*' Captain Derghinski was gruff. "We're scattered allover the system; we have to protect miners' ships and local commercial craft aswell, you know. And ten of our ships are posted near Orbit Station; we can'tafford to lose the Station under any circumstances." 

No, we certainly couldn't. Our huge interstellar vessels, assembled in space,
couldn't heave themselves out of a planet's gravity well. The ships werefloating cities and warehouses that carried passengers, crew, and cargo acrossthe immense reaches of interstellar space, on voyages that took months or yearsto complete. Hope Nation's cargo and passengers were off-loaded at the huge,
bustling Orbit Station, where they transferred to shuttles for reshipmentgroundside. 

If Orbit Station and its shuttles were destroyed, only the starships' fraillaunches would serve as lifelines to the colony. Hope Nation's trade would becrippled. 

"Still, sir," said the lieutenant, "we've got more than enough force to handleany imaginable attack." 

"I hope so," I said. Though I wished I were aloft, part of me silently thankedLord God I was ashore; the thought of the fish appearing to hurl their acidglobs at my ship sent chills down my spine. I turned away, ashamed of mycowardice. 

Captain Derghinski stared bleakly at the lieutenant. "U.N.S. Resolute, hmm? Idon't remember that she encountered any fish on the way out." 

"No, sir," Ter Horst agreed. 

**I remind you, sir, that you speak to Captain Nicholas Seafort of Hibernia,
Portia, and Challenger, He discovered the aliens and fought them three times. Hehardly requires your advice." 

Lieutenant Ter Horst wilted under Derghinski's rebuke, "Please forgive me,
Captain Seafort," he said quickly. "1 spoke without thinking." 

I tried not to show annoyance at Captain Derghinski; after all, he was my guestand my senior as well. "No matter, Lieutenant. I'm glad you're eager to dobattle for us." I turned to Derghinski as Ter Horst gratefully made his escape.
"Thanks for your concern, sir, I'm really all right, though." 

"Hope so," Derghinski said bluntly as we drifted toward the buffet, "Notaccording to rumors I've heard." 

"Oh?" 

He sized me up with a glance. "They say you're at the end of your tether. Notjust your wound, but the word is the psych report blew you off the bridge." 

"Dinner, Nick. Gentlemen?" Annie's blessed appearance at the door saved me fromthe need to answer. 


"Wouldn't hurt you to get a word in at Admiralty House," Derghinski muttered, aswe drifted inside. 

No, it wouldn't, if I could get through to Admiral De Mar-nay. I'd already triedtwice for an appointment. 

I suppose dinner was delicious. I didn't notice. 

I pointed to the prefab going up across the street. "Last time 1 was here, allthat was open land." 

Annie shrugged, "It better havin' somethin' on it." I nuzzled her hand as westrolled toward the spaceport, and Admiralty House beyond. She'd survived thestreets in Lower New York, where every lot held either a decaying building orrubble; to Annie, open spaces were dangerous jungles to be crossed to the safetyof abandoned tenements. She added, "What's so special about a piece of land,
anyways?" 

In those thickets Alexi Tarnarov had hidden two dirty and disheveled cadets,
waiting while a loyal sailor lured me to their hideaway, unable to reveal hissecret. "Nothing, hon." Once I'd passed Judge Chesley in the street. If herecognized me, he gave no sign. I content to leave it so. Another voyage,
another time. 

I would Annie, when the transpops were shipped onward. I suspected, though, thatthe Centraltown authorities would be glad to see the last of them. Freed fromshipboard discipline, the rash young streeters had been involved in more than afew incidents. Now, most of them were gathered in a temporary camp on the edgeof town. 

The iron gate to Admiralty House creaked as I opened it Two lieutenants on theirway out saluted; I returned their salutes automatically, my mind on theinterview 1 sought. I brushed back my hair, 

"Yes, sir?" The lieutenant paused at his console. 

"I'd like to see Admiral De Marnay." 

"Have you an appointment, sir?" 

"No." I couldn't get one. 

He looked dubious. "I don't know if I can get you in, sir. The Admiral shuttlesback and forth to Orbit Station. When he's groundside the quartermasters, supplyofficers and tacticians line up waiting." His eyes darted to my cheek. "You'reCaptain Seafort, sir?" 

"Yes." My scar was ample identification. 

"I'm Lieutenant Eiferts. Glad to meet you. If you'll have a seat I'll pass theword you're here." 

"Thank you. Let's sit, Annie." Though I wouldn't admit it, the long hike fromCentraltown had winded me, I picked up a holozine and flicked through it. 

"Mr. Seafort?" It was Captain Forbee. "Here for a meeting?" 


"Not exactly. We—Miss Wells and I—took a long walk today, and I thought perhaps
Admiral De Marnay could see me." 
"Did Eiferts say you haven't a chance?" 


"The Admiral's that busy?" 
"Well, I might be able to get you a word with him. Depends on his mood at the
moment. Come upstairs." He touched his cap to Annie. "Nice to have met you,
Miss, uh, Wells." Was there a second's hesitation before he acknowledged the
name? He led me up the red-carpeted stairs and along the paneled hall. 


Forbee's office was bigger than the one I remembered from my first visit to Hope


Nation. He parked me in a comfortable chair and disappeared. 
I was looking for something to read when a head appeared in the doorway. "Excuse
me, sir. Midshipman Bezrel. The Admiral will see you now," 


"Very well." I followed the very young middy down the hall, through a waiting
room filled with officers, some of whom I recognized. I saw speculation in their
faces; was I summoned back to active duty? If not, how had I managed to slip
past them? 


The midshipman knocked and opened the door. He snapped to attention, as did I.
"Captain Seafort, sir," he said, His voice hadn't quite settled into the lower
registers. 


"As you were, Bezrel. That's all." Admiral De Marnay stood from behind his desk.
"Hello, Seafort. Stand easy." He put out his hand. 


"Thank you for seeing me, sir." 
"You're supposed to make an appointment for this sort of thing," he said
irritably. 


"Yes, sir. I've tried several times." 
"Did it occur to you that I wasn't ready to see you?" 
"I hoped it wasn't the case." 
"Well, it was," The Admiral's scrutiny was neither friendly nor hostile. "Sit


down. What do you want?" 
"A ship, sir." 
"No." 
"Return to active duty, then. In any capacity." 
"No." 
"May I ask why, sir?" 
"No." 



"Aye aye, sir.** I was finished. I wondered what I was suited for, other than


the Navy, 
He relented, "You're not recovered from your ordeals, Seafort, You were near
death for § long while." That was one, I'd been around death for longer than he
knew. Much of it I'd caused by my ineptitude. 


"We walked here today, sir. From downtown," 
"We?" 
"A friend and I, sir.** 
"Well, that's good. But physical recovery is only the half of it. You're


overstressed, Seafort, You've had more tragedies—catastrophes—than most Captains
sec in their entire career. You're not fit," 
I tried to my voice calm, "In what way, sir?** 
"Emotionally, Seafort. You're a bundle of nerves," 


"That's goofjuiee," I said, regretting it almost instantly. 
He ignored the impertinence, "You're wound so tight you wouldn't even answer the
psych officer's questions. What if you cracked under the strain of command? You
could lose a ship, or even suicide, as your wife did," 


"That's not fair!" I cried. "Amanda was distraught. Her baby—" 
"You're distraught too, whether or not you know it" 
"No, I'm not! I—" 
He came to his feet in one supple motion. "Look at yourself!" he bellowed. "Why


do your eyes glisten? Your fists are clenched, did you know that? Do you realize
how you've been talking to me?" 


I was shocked into silence. 
"You've done more than anyone could ask," he said more gently. "You've proven
yourself over and over again. I'm not going to let you drive yourself into a
hormone-rebalancing ward. You've earned a rest, Seafort. Take it." 


I sat in abject misery, not daring to speak further. Finally I whispered, "I


can't lie about and do nothing, sir. Please give me a job. Anything." 
"If you can get clearance from Dr. Tendres in psych, I'll find you a shoreside
billet. Later we'll see about a ship. That's all." 


I opened my mouth to protest but realized I would only work against myself. I


saluted and slunk out. 
It was a long walk back to the apartment; past the spaceport, past the prefabs
alongside the road, past bars and restaurants, offices and homes. Annie tried to
chat at first, but my grim and uncivil replies reduced her to silence. 



"I'm sorry," I muttered, pressing my thumb to the door lock. "It's not your
fault." 
"Damn ri' it ain't," she responded. "So why you acting like it be?" 
I smiled despite myself. "Because there's no one else to take it out on." 
"He said he'd put you back to work, didn't he?" 
"When I get clearance from the psych officer." 


"You'll go see him?" 
See him, and face his probing questions. I could lie to rescue my career, or
hold to the truth and stay beached. So grounded I would remain. "Sure, hon. I'll
call tomorrow." 


She busied herself rummaging through the freezer for a dinner we'd like. "Yo*
problem is you afraid of seein* him," she announced. "My Nicky, he be'ent—isn't—
as brave as we thought." She put the dinners in the micro. "Two minutes on high,
then broil for a minute," she told it, then turned to me, wrapping her armsaround me as I slumped exhausted in an easy chair. 

"I never was brave," I said, pushing away her caress. 
She regarded me thoughtfully. "You really be unzark, huh? Do this my way, then." 
"Do what?" 
"Promise you won't call oF doctor man for a few days." 
"Huh? What are you talking about?" 
"That psych man, promise you won't call." 
"I've got to—" 
She fell into my lap. Her lips pressed against mine, while her hands wandered


down to my waist. 
"Hey, you have dinner on. Maybe later, after we—" 
"Promise." 


CHAPTER 3 

The walk to the hospital was farther than to the spaceport four days earlier,
yet I was hardly winded. I squinted in the bright sunlight, forcing my pace toslow, A full hour before my appointment, and I was striding like an anxiousmiddy at Academy. I grinned. 

At the hospital I put a zine in the holovid while I waited. Two years old now,
the holozine had reached Hope Nation no more than eight months before. Almosttoo recent for a doctor's waiting room. 1 flipped through the pages on myscreen. 

"You're the first article, Mr. Seafort." 


Startled, I looked up at the nurse. "I—what?" 
"The lead story, right after the ads. See it?" 
I flipped to the first few pages. Aghast, I saw my haggard face staring back. "I


wasn't looking for—I mean—" 


"At first you were in all the zines. The hero of Mining-camp, savior of
Hibernia, all that. Then it kind of died down." She smiled. 
"Yes." I snapped off the holo. 
"But they started again when you rescued Challenger and fought off all those


fish," she said without remorse. "Holoweek calls you the Navy's most eligible


bachelor, even with that silly scar." 
"God in heaven," I stumbled to my feet, dropping the holovid on the coffee
table. 


"If you're collecting clippings, Mr. Seafort, I'm sure we could help—** 
"No!" 
"Hello, Seafort, you're looking fit." 
I turned to see Dr. Tendres waiting in the doorway. "Thank you, Miss, er, um,


Miss. Thank you for asking. Offering." I fled to his office. 
PRISONER'S HOPE m 37 
"So, then, how do you feel?" His office lights were off. Though the blinds were


open, his desk was in shadows. 


"Better." I sat in a straight chair in front of the desk, cap on my lap, knees
tight. 
"Still having the dreams?" 
"None lately." For the past few days, at any rate. I'd been too busy at night


for dreams. 
"What were your nightmares about?" 
I recognized his test: a few weeks ago, I'd refused to talk about them. I took a


deep breath, "The one about Father bringing me to Academy, you've seen in myrecord, I also dream about men I've killed—Tuak, Rogoff, and others—coming totake revenge on me. And about how brutal I was to Philip Tyre, a lieutenant 1shipped with." 

"How do you feel about that?" 
"Mr. Tyre? I regret I wasn't kinder. 1 wish I could apologize to him. The other


men?" I considered. "I don't know. I had little choice but to execute them." How 
glibly the words rolled off my tongue. 
"How badly do you want a ship, Nick?" 



"Badly," The word slipped out before I could stop it, 
"Enough to tell me what I want to hear?" 
"What I've said is the truth," 
"Yes, but do you feel it true?" He went to the window, clasped his hands behind


him. "Tell me how you feel about yourself." 
It was my turn to stand. "Sir, must 1 do this?" I twisted my cap in my hands. 
He turned, "You find it painful?" 
"Excruciating," I forced myself to his eye. 
He regarded me. "You may choose whether to or not, I only ask that you tell


me the truth or nothing." 
Slowly I sat. "Very well," It was a moment before I was able to summon the
words, "I feel myself a failure, in that I've been unable to carry out my duties


without terrible cost to those around me and to myself. 1 know the Navy doesn't
see it that way, sir, but I do." 
"What cost?" 
"Pain, death, and damnation." 
After a long silence I realized he wouldn't speak, and went on. "I've hurt many


people, and caused the death of people I wasn't alert enough to save. And I'vedishonored and damned myself." 

"Your oath?" 
"My oath." I willed my irritation away. If he didn't understand, it was my taskto make it clear to him. "I shot a woman whom I'd sworn I wouldn't harm. I gaveher my oath so that I could get close enough to shoot her. I knew when I gave mypledge that I intended to break it." 

"Your purpose doesn't matter, then?" 
"My motive was to save my ship, yes. You people—Admiral Brentley, back home, and


others at Admiralty—seem to think my duty to protect Challenger was an excuse. I
do not." And surely Lord God does not. 
"Our Government is founded on the Reunification Church and we all serve the One 


True God," he said carefully. "But there's more than one interpretation of His
will in the matter." 
My fury welled forth, "I don't engage in sophistry." 
"That's not—" 
"Or heresy!" 
That silenced him, as well it might. 



After a long moment he said coldly, "I won't argue theology with you, Captain


Seafort. It is not germane to our purpose." 
I scowled back at him, knowing I'd destroyed any chance that he'd give me
clearance. 


The silence dragged out. At length I said with more calm, "I'm sorry, sir, I


know you view my outburst as more evidence that I'm unfit." 
"I view it as evidence that you have strong religious convictions." He sat
again, "How will your supposed damnation affect the way you function?" 


"My soul is forfeit; duty is all I have left." Whatever satisfaction this life
gave me would soon be ended; what was to come did not bear thinking about, 
"Can you ever be happy?" 
I considered it. "I was once. For a brief time," 
"When?" 
"On Portia with my wife and baby son. Before they died," 


"And now?" 
"Now I have duty. Perhaps with Lord God's grace see contentment again, but I
doubt that." 


"So, again, how do you feel?" 
I closed my eyes to seek an honest answer. What I surprised me. "Not happiness,


exactly, but... a s* peace. I know the worst that will happen to me, and all
dangers pale before it. I have a—a companion now, enjoy her company." 
"Miss, ah, Wells." 
"Yes, sir." Just how much Pd enjoyed her company c the past three days, I didn't


intend to tell him. Hour hour of bedplay, soft caresses interspersed with diz
bouts of passionate love at odd and frequent i vals.., Omelettes at the kitchen
table, a quick trip head, Annie's hand pulling me insistently back to tin her
lips and hands exploring, her feverish thighs pressi tightly, until at last I
begged her only half in jest to let r in peace. It just made her smile, and lay
her head agair chest, and ... 


I blinked, back again in Dr, Tendres's office, "Son My mind was wandering." 
MFrom the look of it, a pleasant memory." 
I smiled, "Yes," 
He snapped on his holovid. "Well, whatever the i you're relaxed than when I 


last saw you." Rel That was one word for it. "I'll recommend limited she duty,
Mr, Seafort, Three months, and then we'll 
"Three months?" Had my honesty cost me this? * hoping to be assigned a ship—" 



He wived impatiently. "No, Mr. Seafort, you* nowhere by pushing me. Threemonths." 

"Liaison, sir?" I repeated, "Surely you can't mean it. 

"Why not?" Admiral De Marnay glowered, "The p! respect your accomplishments;
you've been here b you've even visited their plantations," 

I stared glumly at the carpet. "I've met some of then but as for theirrespecting me—" 

"Hannon Branstead, and his brother Emmett from lenger. They've been singing yourpraises to the other families. You're well regarded." 

I said doggedly, "Whatever talents I have, sir, public relations isn't amongthem." 

"There's not much public relations involved. The planters are agitating forself-government. We want someone to listen sympathetically without committinghimself. With a war on, it's important to keep communications open." The Admiralchecked his watch. "Anyway, that's your assignment. Feel free to travel." 

"Isn't there any other duty, sir, that I could—" 

De Marnay roared, "Damn it, Seafort, why won't you let me be diplomatic aboutfinding you makework? You'd stay beached for the rest of the year if 1 hadn'tpromised you something!" His fingers drummed his holovid. "You talked Tendresinto a clearance, so Til keep my word, but don't ask for more." 

Shocked, I could say nothing. 

A knock at the door. The same young middy I'd seen earlier said urgently, "Sir,
excuse me. Resolute reports ambig-ambiguous contact at edge of radar range. Itmay be a fish." 

"Very well, Bezrel, I'll be right there. Look, Seafort. I have nothing againstyou." He got to his feet. "You'll get a ship in good time. But first you needrest," He accompanied me to the door, clearly in a hurry, "I've got to run. Ifthat's one of the aliens..." As I left he called after me, *'Take an aide and adriver to help out," 

I spent several days nursing my resentment in the isolation of my apartment;
even Annie's wiles couldn't lure me out of my sulk. It was only when Alexi askedpermission to put in for a transfer that I was shaken into awareness, 

"Apply whenever it suits you," I said, trying to make my voice toneless, 

"Yes, sir, thank you." He bit his lip, troubled. "It's just that, now you'rerecovered and inactive, there's nothing for me to do." 

"I know that," I said, relenting. "You know about the glorified vacation they'veforced on me. Do you want to be part of it or to go back to ship duty?" 

"I want ship duty, of course." 

"Very well." 


He blushed up to the roots of his hair. "But, ah, I was hoping ..." 

"Spit it out." 

"Aye aye, sir. I hoped you'd ask me along, when they give you a ship." 

"Oh, Alexi." I wandered to the balcony doors. "I'm sorry. Of course I'll haveyou. Shall we wait it out together?" 

He grinned. "Whatever you say, sir." 

"Admiralty House is even busier than before since that false alarm with thefish, so we'd better organize our own jaunt. Admiral De Marnay said somethingabout a driver. I don't suppose we really need one." 

Alexi said, "Pardon, sir, but the larger your detail, the more you'll impressthe planters," 

"Urn." I thought it over and sighed, "Very well, put in for a driver." 

The following morning I was ready to leave, I'd vetoed putting in for a heli; wehad little enough to do as it was, and I wanted to keep our mission low-key. Anelectricar was ample. Alexi loaded our luggage, along with maps, callers, and,
just in case, camping gear, while I said my good-byes to Annie. Her idea offarewell was different from mine; as I changed clothes afterward I said, "We'llonly be a few days, hon. Sure you can manage without me?H 

She rewarded me with an impish pin. "You be surprised how well I can managewithout you, Cap'n." 

"Belay that," I growled with mock severity, and bestowed a final 

Outside, I hurried to the electricar, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's get—" Istumbled to a halt. The driver came to attention, pinning, I managed, "What areyew doing here?" Eddie Boss, like Annie, had been one of the transpops setadrift in Challenger, He'd chosen to enlist, and remained in the Navy after wewere rescued. 

"I be assigned to drivin' you, sir." The huge petty officer's smile was widerthan usual. 

"But how—why—" 

"Dunno, sir. I was on Kitty Hawk and I got orders. Come on down and drive forthe Cap'n, they say." 

"I put in for him, sir," said Alexi. "As a surprise." He regarded me withmisgiving. "Maybe it wasn't a good idea." 

"You surprised me, all right." I felt myself smiling. "As you were, sailor."
Eddie relaxed. "Do you drive?" I asked. In Lower New York, the only cars seenwere gutted hulks. 

"Hibernia's joes taught me on long-leave, sir." 

I settled into the front seat. "Well, let's see what you learned. Mr. Tamarov,
brace yourself." I made a show of gripping the dash. 


"Aye aye, sir!" We were off. 

I didn't need to study the map; only one road led west out of Centraltown to theplantation zone, and I'd driven it before. Bulldozed through the rich red earth,
Plantation Road ran more or less parallel to the seacoast. An hour or so out oftown, it narrowed and the smooth pavement gave way to gravel. 

"You went this way with Derek Carr?" asked Alexi from the back seat. 

"To visit his family holdings. As I remember, we had lunch at Hauler's Rest. Themeals are big enough to fill even Mr. Boss." Eddie grinned his gap-toothedsmile. 

Derek and Alexi had served together as midshipmen on Hibernia and were friends.
Now Derek was on a run to Detour, eleven weeks away. Even if he returned safely,
I might not see him again if I gained a ship first. 

After a time Alexi took the wheel. With three drivers we could continue until 
well after dark. Along the road grew thickets of unfamiliar ropy foliage throughwhich an occasional massive genera tree thrust its mighty snout. On my last tripI'd enjoyed the drive. Today, the woods projected an ominous silence thatdisturbed me. What was different, other than myself? 

By midafternoon we were still long hours from the plantation zone. I took thewheel. As evening fell Minor rose first, followed by Major. I had to concentrateon my driving; their twin shadows made me dizzy. I glanced occasionally at themap to see how far we were from the vast estates that supplied so much ofTerra's foodstuffs. Alexi said, "The Bransteads aren't expecting us until tomorrow, 
sir. We can stop at any plantation for the night; we'd be welcome in aguest house." 

"I know." All plantations offered food and lodging without charge to travelers;
it was the local custom and they could well afford it. 

We drove another hour before we came on the marker for Mantiet, the first of themany plantations that justified Hope Nation's existence. I slowed, biting mylip. "I hate to ask hospitality at this hour of the night." 

"We be campin', then?" asked Eddie, 

Alexi snapped, "Speak when you're spoken to." 

His manner helped me decide. "Why struggle with a tent when we're tired andirritable? Let's find the guest house.** 

I turned down the long dirt drive, past fields of corn and wheat radiant in thesoft moonlight. Eventually we came to a circular drive that curved around thefront lawn of a sprawling mansion, 

A dog barked, A light went on; a moment later the door swung open. The man whostrode toward us had obviously dressed with hurry. He peered into the car, 

"Sorry," I said, MI didn't mean to wake you.** 

"Then why drive past my home at midnight?" 


"I was hoping to find the guest house,** 
"You don't think it's a bit late to be calling?" Without waiting for an answer


he pointed to the drive, "Behind the manse. You're welcome to breakfast in the
morning, then be on your way," Hejurned on his heel and strode to the door, 
Alexi called, "This is Cap—" 
"Quiet," I slammed the vehicle into gear, 
"Cap'n, the house be over—" 
"I heard him, Mr, Boss!" The car lurched over the rutted drive toward the main


road. 
Alexi asked mildly, "I take it we're not staying?" 
I growled, "The temperature isn't right," 
"Sir?" 
"Hell hasn't frozen over," I spun the electricar onto the highway, muttering


under my breath. Alexi and Eddie Boss knew me well enough to remain silent. 
I drove at a fast clip until my adrenaline faded, leaving me 
44 » David Feintuch 
tired and shaky. "Look for a good place to pull over," I said. "We'll camp the


night." 
A half hour later we were parked alongside the road pulling out our duffels. I'd
forgotten just how easy our pair of poly-mil tents were to assemble, or I'd have
been less reluctant to use them. After we pounded in the stakes, Alexi, Eddie,
and I quickly spread the tough plastic over the poles and staked it. Alexi


rummaged in the cooler and came up with softies for all of us; I swigged mine
greedily. 
Alexi asked, "Shall I bunk with Mr. Boss, sir?" 
I hesitated. A lieutenant didn't share quarters with a seaman; it wasn't done.


But he wouldn't share quarters with his Captain, either. We should have brought
three tents. 
I felt a wistful longing for times past. "If you had your choice?" 


He shifted uncomfortably, "I—urn, as you wish, sir." 
I raised my eyebrow, realized he couldn't see the gesture in the dark. "If you'd
like to bunk with me, I don't mind," My tone was gruff. 


"If you're sure—I mean, thank you, sir." He tossed his duffel into the tent.


"Take the other, Mr. Boss." 
"Aye aye, sir." Eddie stared up at the unfamiliar constellations. "Never slept
in no outside place before." 



"Not even in New York?" 1 asked. 
He shrugged. "On roofs, sometimes. But didn't see no stars from there." 
"They won't hurt you, Mr. Boss." 
"I know." He sounded scornful. I left Eddie contemplating the majesty of the


heavens. 


Alexi had unrolled our self-inflating mattresses and was getting ready for bed.
"Almost like old times, sir," he said softly as I undressed. 
How many years had it been since Hibernia's wardroom? "I was thinking the same,"


I said. 


Huddled in our beds we recalled old shipmates: Vax Holser, Derek Carr, and poor
Sandy Wilsky, long dead. 
"I'll never know how you had the guts to stand up to Vax, sir. He could have


broken you in half." 


It had been a memorable fight. But it was the Navy way; wardroom matters were to


be settled between the middies. "I had a secret weapon, Alexi." 


"What was that, sir?" 


"I didn't care." 


"I felt that way after Philip Tyre was put in charge." 


"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you." 


A long pause. That's what makes you different, sir. Other Captains would have no


regrets." 
"It's worse, then. I knew better, but still did wrong." 
"He was senior." Alexi turned onto his other side. "After Tremaine off-loaded 


you and the others onto Challenger, it was.,. odd." 
"Oh?" 
"Captain Hasselbrad was in charge. A ship has but one Captain," 
"Of course," 
"But the Admiral wouldn't leave him alone. He'd stay on the bridge for hours at


a time. The Captain would give an order and Tremaine would countermand it in
front of us all. I almost felt sorry for Hasselbrad." 
"Almost?" 
"He assented to what Tremaine did to you," 
«You all did, Alexi, You had tor 
He said fiercely, "No, we chose to!" 



"It's over and done with." 

His voice wavered. "It isn't. It never can be. We lei you down.** He struggledfor words, "When you , , . Some wrongs cannot be righted. We only learn to livewith them." 

I mused, "Derek Can's gone, in Lord God's hands, Vax hates me. You're my onlyfriend. Please don't do this to yourself." 

A long quiet. Alexi said with a catch in his voice, "God, sir, I've missed you,"
?? 

CHAPTER 4 

We got up late, washed as best we could in an icy chuckling stream, and sippedsteaming coffee while we repacked the electricar. I drove; after an hour we cameto a dirt road that wound away into a heavy woods, under a homebuih gate whosesign read BRANSTEAD PLANTATION. 

When we pulled up to the house a youngster lounging on the porch got up to greetus. "I'm Jerence," He sounded sullen. "Pa told me to say hello if he was stillout back." 

"You've grown, boy." 

"Yeah, I guess. I'm thirteen now. I was ten last time you came," He opened mydoor and gestured toward the house, "Go on in. I'll call him," 

"Thank you." 

He kicked disconsolately at the red earth. "You're welcome." He loped away,
disappearing behind the house. 

Sarah Branstead was at her door before we reached the steps. "Welcome back,
Captain Seafort, To Hope Nation and Branstead Plantation." Her smile was warmand genuine, 

"Thank you, ma'am." 

"No, you must call me Sarah. It's good to see you again, Captain. I've heardyou've had ... difficult times." 

"Yes." I cast about for a way to change the subject. "Who'll be here today?" 

"Tomas Palabee, old Zack Hopcwell, Laura Triforth. The Vo/ksfeaders, do you knowthem? I know you met Plum well, the manager of Can Plantation. Some others; I'mnot sure just who Harmon invited. And Mantiet, of course." A momentary annoyancepassed across her features. "Mustn't leave him out." 

We strolled into the manse. Moments later Harmon Branstead hurried in to greetus, two youngsters trotting alongside. 

"Sorry, Captain. I was working on the new silo." We shook hands, and Iintroduced Alexi. 


When he heard we'd camped out for the night, Branstead was appalled. "Afterpassing half a dozen plantations? Hospitality was all around you!" 

I grunted, catching Alexi's eye before he could speak. "I camped on my lasttrip," I said. "I was looking forward to it." 

I'd have waited until dinner hour to eat, but Eddie Boss, ottered refreshments,
accepted with alacrity despite my scowl. The housekeeper, Doting Eddie'senthusiasm, disappeared into his kitchen. The tray he brought us a few minuteslater—savory sliced meats and steaming fresh vegetables— was more a meal than asnack, and I ate with gusto. 

I was just mopping the last of my gravy when the whap of heli blades sounded inthe distance. As a lightweight private craft settled on the front lawn theBranstead family moved outside to greet their guests. A burly, unsmiling manjumped out before the blades stopped whirling. 

He gave Harmon Branstead a perfunctory handshake and scrutinized us as heapproached the manse. "You're Seatbrt, the imperial envoy? I'm Palabee," His wasfirm, "Did they instruct you to keep us pacified at any cost, or to tell us togo to hell?" 

"Tomas, don't harass him. He's just arrived from a night in the woods. Imperialenvoy, indeed!" 

"Isn't that what you are?" Palabee was blunt 

Harmon Branstead said firmly, "No. He is my guest** Palabee had the to 
blush, The of his mouth turned up. "Very well, sorry. But the soonerwe get to business, the better." "What business is that?" I asked. He shot me anappraising glance, "Didn't they tell you?" "They told me I got along well withthe planters," I said coolly. "Apparently they were mistaken,** 

He ignored my tone. "Just why are you here?" "As liaison between the Governmentand the plantation owners.** I glowered. "Why are you here?" 

To negotiate, of course. If they haven't prepared you for that, we're wastingour time." 

"What's to negotiate?" 

His reply was forestalled by the throb of another heli. We went outside, where Iwas introduced to Seth Morsten: flabby, middle-aged, affable. Awaiting the restof the guests, we retired to the parlor and drinks. 

The Volksteaders farmed the next plantation west; they arrived by land. So didLawrence Plumwell, manager of Can* Plantation. He eyed me with disfavor. "Itseems we've met before, Captain." 

"Yes, sir. Three years ago." 

**You traveled with your retarded cousin, I recall." His tone was acid. 

I flushed. We'd thought the deception necessary to get Derek Carr safely in andout of the plantation he owned but did not control. "I'm sorry, sir." 

"As am I. It would have been good to speak candidly with Mr. Carr." 


"If I see him I'll tell him so." 
With a sardonic smile Plumwell moved on. 
Zack Hopewell looked old enough to be Harmon Branstead's grandfather. Given the


intermingling of the old Hope Nation families, perhaps he was. He nodded shortlyto Palabee, shook hands warmly with Branstead, and turned to me. "So this is thehero of Mraingcamp." 

I flushed. 

"Seriously, Captain Seafort. My granddaughter instructed me not to return
without your autograph. Your exploits are well known here. And admired," 
"An honor I'd be happier without." 
The old man's tone was severe. "Lord God chooses your destiny. You do not" 
He sounded so much like Father that I glanced up, half expecting to meet


Father's stern visage. "Lord God provides choices," I said slowly. "We may turn
toward Him or away from Him." 
Zack HopeweJJ studied my face. "You're troubled," 
I bJuited, "I am forsworn of my oath and have no honor." 
An astounding admission, but he'd sounded so like Father ... 
He blinked. "Well, I asked for it. Teach me to meddle. Sorry I intruded." 
"Better all should know." I didn't bother to hide my bitterness. 


"Is that why you wear the mark of Cain?" 
My hand went to my face. "It was given in a fight. I have no reason to remove
it" 


He frowned. "Get rid of it, lad. Men will judge your soul without need of


external markers." 
I had to turn away: memories of Father's hearth were so strong. Ashamed of my
indiscretion, I wandered the ornate parlor, examining the ancient imported
furniture. At the buffet I helped myself to a glass of wine. Sarah Branstead
said, smiling, "I didn't know you Navy men were allowed alcohol." 


"Aboard ship it's contraband, ma'am. Ashore we're free to partake.** I sipped


from my glass of wine. "I'm not much of a drinker." 
Mrs. Branstead waved away my comment. "Oh, no criticism intended, 1 just wish it
were the in Centraltown," 


I thought of a sailors' bar I'd once patronized, outside the spaceport. "1


wasn't aware of a problem, ma'am." 
''It's getting worse. In part because of the war, partly thanks to the farmhands
we've imported over the years. Downtown gets very nasty at night." 



"My neighborhood seems peaceful enough." 
"You're fortunate," she said primly. "Mrs. Volksteader was accosted on the way


from a restaurant to her car. If another couple hadn't come along at the right
moment, she might have been in peat ttouble." 
I felt a touch of sadness that Hope Nation was going the way of old Earth. "The


civil authorities don't respond?** 
"Oh, they try, but what can they do? Centraltown's just a small town. The men


ran away. Our police don't have fancy tracking tools, like your—" Her face lit
as a couple entered the parlor. "Oh, look, the Mantiets. Excuse me a moment" 
Frederick Mantiet strode into the room, his breathless wife a step behind, Mrs.


Branstead gave him a scant nod but bestowed a warm hug on the woman. The
greeting completed, she brought the Mantiets to the buffet and introduced us. 


"Glad to meet you, sir." 1 held out my hand. 
His stare was hostile and contemptuous. "That was you last night, eh?" He looked
me up and down. "Force us into discourtesy, to put us at a disadvantage? Well,
it won't work." 


I said evenly, "It hardly seems necessary to force you into discourtesy, sir." 
Mrs. Branstead intervened. "Oh, I do so want you to be friends. Frederick, have


you heard Emmett's stories of Captain Seafort on Challenger! He was absolutely
marvelous," 
Mantiet muttered something under his breath. I managed to busy myself with my


glass until the moment passed. After a time Alexi drifted closer and said
quietly, "Do you sense hostility, sir?" 
"From some, yes." 
"But why?" 
"I don't know yet." 
"How many of these joes did you meet three years ago?" 


"Just Branstead and Plumwell." 
"When Ms. Triforth joins us, the planters in this room will account for about
eighty percent of Hope Nation's revenues," 


"So?" 
"If they're hostile, it's something to worry about, sir." 
"Thanks for telling me my business, Lieutenant." 
Alexi gulped. "Sorry, sir." He retreated. 
From time to time I caught contemplative glances from the planters. I tried to


keep my face a mask as I studied them in return. Palabee was skeptical and 



faintly combative, expecting some sort of negotiating session. Mantlet wasthoroughly antagonistic, but I couldn't tell whether that was because I haddriven away from his manse in a rage, or from a deeper cause. Plumwell wasunfriendly, but then, I'd once abused his hospitality with Derek. 

On the other side of the ledger, Arvin Volksteader seemed eager to get alongwith everybody; and old Zack Hopewell seemed friendly enough, in his stern,
righteous way. 

Only Laura Triforth was absent. 

Sarah Branstead conferred with her housekeeper and called us in to an earlydinner. The long plank table was ample even for a gathering as large as ours. Isat next to Har-mon, who was at the head of his table. Alexi was across from me,
and the other planters and their wives farther down the table. Some guestsseemed disgruntled by their placement; it made me appreciate all the more theround tables at which officers and passengers sat aboard ship. 

Jerence, used to eating with the adults, was directed to the kitchen with hisyounger brothers and Eddie Boss; he obeyed with a disdainful toss of his head. 

While the food was passing I leaned toward Harmon, "I thought this was to be anintroductory meeting, a social occasion." 

'"nut's what I had in mind, Captain Seafort," He looked perturbed, "But some ofthem don't want to wait* they're ready for serious talk." 

"I'm oot quite sure—" 

"Pity I didn't meet you on your last trip, Mr, Seifort,** Tomas Palabee, fromthe other end of the table. "An eighteen-year-old Captain would have been asight to see," 

My smile was perfunctory, "It was, I was lucky to bring Hibernia back home." 

"And skillful,** Sarah Branstead. "Emmett says—" 

"Emmett, Emmett, Emmett." Mantiet sounded sour. "You quote your brother-in-lawas if he were Gospel, Sarah.** 

"Not Gospel, Frederick," she rejoined. "But he's the only one of us who's seenCaptain Seafort in his element," 

"As be never tires of reminding us," Palabee's tone was dry, 

Harmon looked annoyed, "My brother is proud of his—M 

"Don't bother to get up!" The door swung wide as a lanky middle-aged womanstrode in, cape flowing, "Late, Business to attend to." 

Harmon Branstead rose smoothly. "Captain Seafort, may I present Laura Triforth,
of Triforth Plantation." 

I stood. "Glad to meet-—" 

"Yes, and all that. Well, well. The official Naval liaison to the locals." Sheshot me an appraising glance. "So you're the one who discovered the aliens?" 


"Unfortunately." 


"Get on with your dinner. I've eaten, but I'll sit." She unclasped her cape and
tossed it over the back of an empty chair. "Got the damp-rot licked, Palabee?" 
Conversation resumed. 
After the huge dinner we adjourned to the parlor, which had been cleared of the


afternoon's hors d'oeuvres. Alexi arranged our chairs so that he sat alongside
and a bit behind me. 


Arvin Volksteader asked, "Just what do you know of our situation, Captain?" 
I said slowly, "Hope Nation supplies hundreds of millions of tons of foodstuffs
for Earth. Most comes from the plantations represented in this room." 


"That's right. Now, we've tried for years to get proper representation in the


U.N. Several years ago we sent Randolph Carr as a special envoy, but he got
nowhere." 
"Why do you need representation?" 
"Who ships our grain?" demanded Frederick Mantlet, 
"The interstellar liners carry some," I answered carefully, "The barges takemost of it." Larger even than passenger vessels such as Hibernia, manned byskeleton crews, the huge, slow barges carried home grain from Hope Nation andores from Miningcamp, A chain of barges was always in the pipeline, en routebetween the mother world and her colonies. 

"Yes, but who runs the barges?" 
"They're under Naval jurisdiction," 
"Right!" He shook his head angrily, 
"I don't see the problem." 
The rates, man!" Mantiet paced the open area in the center of the parlor.


"You've been systematically gutting us for years. You set the charges for our
pain shipments and for the return shipment of our supplies." 
"The Navy doesn't set—" 
"Not your damned Navy, the U.N. tariff office!" 


Zack Hopewell said quietly, "This was to be a discussion, not a confrontation." 
"We've had discussions, Zack! We've been having discussions since you were a
boy. What good are they?" 


"Then why are you here, Frederick?" Hopewell's voice was mild. 
"Don't patronize me, you old fool!" 


Amid shocked murmurs Zack Hopewell came slowly to his feet. There was nothingmild in his manner when finally he spoke. "Frederick Mantiet, I do hereby callchall—" 

"Wait!" 

Hopewell brushed off Harmon's restraining arm. "No, I choose not to wait.
Mantiet, I—" 

"This is my home!" Branstead's tone made even Hopewell go silent. 

Harmon Branstead appealed to Mantiet. "I've lived on Hope Nation all my life.
It's been a good life, all in all. We were brought up as gentlemen, we taughtour sons the graces, expanded our holdings, did well for ourselves," 

He turned to the rest of the planters, "But something is changing in us. Can'tyou feel it? We're becoming..." He groped for a word. "Imperious, We're losingour civility of speech, as well as our patience. And I..." He broke off,
apologetically wiped his glasses. "I won't have it. In my house there will becivility. There shall be grace. Your remarks are unacceptable, Frederick, thoughI'm sure you couldn't have meant them as they sounded. So I'll have youapologize to Zack, or I'll have no choice but to call challenge on you myself," 

Mantiet looked from one to the other, "Are you both mad? You'd have us wastestrength dueling each other rather than fighting them, the real enemy?" Hegestured at me with contempt. "No, he's not worth that. It's evident 1 can'twork with you, but I'll not waste my blood or yours. Zack, I withdraw my remark.
Good day to you all," 

He stalked out. His wife scurried after. 

"Hotheads." Harmon Branstead shook his head. Late in the evening we sat oversteaming spiced drinks at his plank table. The guests had long since departed;
Alexi and the others of the household had gone to bed, "They don't stop toreason " 

"Not all of them," I said. 

"Enough. Even Zack, when he gets his dander up." 

"They're strong-willed. Especially Ms. Triforth." 

"Laura's one of a kind." Harmon shifted in his chair. "She's the first woman 
who's ever headed a plantation, you know." 

"How did that come about? You have primogeniture here." 

"Yes, of course." He pursed his lips. "Her older brother Armistad was toinherit. A tragedy. A stroke at thirty-two." 

"And she was the heir?" 

"Oh, he didn't die. Not for many years. But he was—well, there wasn't much leftof his mind. He had no sons; there were no younger brothers, so Laura steppedin. She faced down the banks, expanded the acreage ... did a hell of a job.
Armistad finally died, a few years back. It's all hers now," 


"How many of you feel as she does?" 

Harmon looked a touch apologetic. "The grievances she cited are legitimate. Youhave to admit the shipping rates are abominable; our shipping costs are twicewhat you charge your own merchants to send their goods here." 

"Ah." I hadn't known that. 

Tariffs weren't all they'd brought to my attention. After Mantiet's departurethe discussion had ranged far and wide. Some planters were infuriated by thepaternalism of the colonial Government; others worried about the quality ofsettlers arriving from Terra. 

What had disturbed me most of all was Laura Triforth's sardonic description ofthe waste and mismanagement of our war effort. She'd paced the parlor as shespoke, emphasizing her words with sweeping gestures, while the others noddedagreement. 

"Since you were last here, Seafort, they've sent more ships than we've seensince Hope Nation was founded. Ships loaded with unnecessary machinery, uselesssupplies, and foolish men." 

"Be specific, please." I'd made an effort to sound conciliatory. 

"Fine. They've sent thousands of soldiers. Why? The planet hasn't been underattack, and if it were, I doubt we could defend it from the ground. Your troopswere sent to the Ventura Mountains, halfway across the world from oursettlements. And to top it off, the holds of at least three of your ships werefilled with—" Laura paused dramatically for effect. 

I allowed her a moment of theater. "Yes?" 

"Food! Food that we here on Hope Nation grow and send to Earth, they send backas rations! If there's one thing we could provide your armies, it's enoughfood." 

"I agree." 

She smiled without mirth. "A pity you weren't in charge of planning theexpedition. But there's worse. They intend the army to be based here a longwhile, so they sent a huge prefab factory on one of the ships. It was supposedto turn I out modular housing." 

1 sighed. All this was outside my brief and well beyond my competence. "Go on." 

"Unfortunately, they forgot that we have no landing craft specifically designedto bring such heavy machinery down from orbit. So, we've had to divert cargoshuttles we needed to haul our produce, and modify them for you. Your factorywas to crunch genera trees, of which God knows we have an abundant supply, andspit out celuwall." She stopped her pacing to face my chair. 

"Unfortunately, they forgot we have no roads in the Ven-turas to bring raw treesto the factory or carry the modular housing units to their bases." She glared asif it were my fault, 

"I'm sure all that can be—" 


"The factory was cleverly designed; It's powered by any heavy-duty electricpower source, Unfortunately, they forgot we have no generating plants in theVentures," 

I listened with growing uneasiness. 

Laura smiled again, uOh, we didn't let your soldiers Or go homeless, though wehad to divert valuable manpower during our harvest season, I won't mention thelaser installation built in the Ventures, also without a proper power source. Ifwe hadn't sent them an emergency fission generating plant..." She sighed. "Andperhaps you noticed the vast stockpiles of war materiel sitting on the tarmac atCentral-town, with no convenient way to get it to the Venturas and no need forit when it arrives?" She paused for breath. 

"The worst is that our land taxes have more than doubled to pay for it all!" 

"It's only fair for you to help defend—" 

"What defense? Your army sits safe and useless in the Venturas!" From the otherplanters, sounds of agreement. 

I asked, "Have you brought all this to the attention of Unified Command?" 

"Once. They patted me on the head and told me to mind my own business." She ranher fingers through her short, curly hair. "I'll tell you what is OUT business.
It's the loutish, unmannerly sailors and soldiers and greedy civilians who aretaking over Centraltown." 

"Now, Laura—" 

"I didn't mean him, Harmon. Sorry, Captain, if that seemed personal. ButCentraltown was a small town, and we liked it that way. Now, it isn't even safeafter dark," 

"You people are more of a menace than your mysterious aliens!" Plumwell, my oldadversary at Carr Plantation, 

"Be fair," Harmon Branstead interjected, "Centraltown's problems were on therise for years before the military buildup. Ever since we started hiringtemporary workers for harvest rather than keeping resident field hands. Allwinter, they—" 

Laura said wearily, "All right, Harmon, the migrants contribute. But thesoldiers make matters worse." 

I got slowly to my feet. "I can't respond to all you've told me, but I'll takeyour complaints to my superiors. I promise I'll get you answers," 

"When?" Zack Hopewell was blunt. 

"I don't know. I have to go through Admiral De Mamay, and he's a busy man. Assoon—" 

"I told you we're wasting our time!" Laura Triform knot-ted her fists. "Mantietmay get carried away, but essentially he's right. They haven't listened, andthey never will." 


Zack Hopewell said, "Sit down, Laura." His tone brooked no argument. Surprised,
she turned to face him. Their eyes locked, and after a moment the woman gaveway. Muttering, she sat. 

"The lad deserves a chance," Hopewell said gruffly. 

"We've waited so long there's little to be lost by waiting a few days longer." 

"Days?" said Laura with scorn. 

"Or weeks. He knows our grievances, and he knows we want things put right. Letus see how he handles himself." He glowered until he heard murmurs of assent. 

Now, at night, sitting across the plank table from Harmon, I doubted I could beof any help. If only they knew how hard I'd found it to get through to theAdmiral... 

Harmon checked his watch. "I was hoping Emmett would be back this evening, butit doesn't seem likely." 

"Perhaps I'll see him in the morning, before I go." I bade him good night andwent to my room. 

In the morning, Mr. and Mrs. Volksteader drove over to join us for breakfast andsee us off. After an ample meal we strolled along the drive, chatting. Mrs.
Volksteader attached herself to me, chatting with animation about matters of noconsequence, I noticed her husband take Alexi aside and speak urgently, glancingonce in my direction, After, Alexi, his lips compressed, hurried to rejoin us. 

After our stroll we said our good-byes, piled into our elec-tricar. As Eddiedrove down the long, shaded lane toward the main road Alexi said, "Sir, I hadtht oddest conversation with Arvin Volksteader." 

"Go on," Just ahead I spotted a slim figure trudging down the drive, "Who'sthat, walking this far from the manse?" As we approached I recognized Jerence, abulky knapsack strapped to his back, Eddie slowed, and the boy waved us down. Ibade Eddie stop. 

"C'n I have a ride?" 

"Which way?" 

"I'm going east, as you." Jerence seemed far more animated than the previousafternoon, 

I was dubious, "What are you doing on foot?** 

"Thought I'd walk to Gary Mantiet's, since it's a nice day, but since you'reheaded that way anyhow ..." He paused, then said politely, "I'd appreciate alift, if you don't mind," 

"Of course." I made room for him next to me in the back seat. 

"Thanks." He hopped in, unstrapping the knapsack. 

"What are you lugging?" I asked, to make conversation. 


Jerence shot me a suspicious look. "Nothing. Just stuff." 
With a pang of nostalgia I remembered my thirteenth year, running free with my


friend Jason, before the football riots of '90. We had our secrets from the
adult world, as did this joey. 
"Very well." We turned onto the main road. There was no traffic in sight;


outside of Centraltown I expected none. 
Alexi said, "We've time to make it home tonight if we try, sir." 
I thought of Annie, and found the idea appealing. As if reading my mind, Eddie


Boss drove a touch faster. 
Alexi ventured, "About that other matter I mentioned, sir?" 
I glanced at Jerence. "Later, when we're alone." 
"Aye aye, sir." Alexi stared out his window, brooding. "I'm glad to be out of


there," he muttered. "Too much antagonism." 
"They have cause." 
"But some are looking for trouble." 
I grunted, not wanting to discuss the matter in front of the boy. 
"Ms. Triforth and Mantiet are odd ducks. I wouldn't trust them any—" 
I said sharply, "Another time, Lieutenant." 
"Aye aye, sir." AJexi subsided. 
We reached the end of Branstead lands, and as the road curved we came upon the


Mantiet marker that signaled the border of his estate. "Where should we drop


you, boy?" 


"Outside the main gate, please," said Jerence. 
Eddie slowed for the curve, then pumped the brakes hard. Ahead, a grain hauler
was jackknifed across the road, blinkers flashing. "Careful, Mr. Boss," I said. 


We neared the accident. The scene was deserted. 


"Where's the driver?" asked Alexi. 


I snapped, "How should I know?" 


"Odd that no one's here." Jerence. 


"He's probably gone to the manse for—" 


"Get us OUT of here!" Alexi reached across, jammed his foot on the gas, twisted


the wheel. We lurched away from the truck. 
"Alexi! What in hell are—" 



A flash of white light. Stupendous pressure. A giant hand tossed our electricar

into the air. A rending crash. We slammed into the bole of a huge genera tree. 
Pitched from the broken vehicle, I lay dazed, my ribs aching abominably. Icoughed, waiting for the salty taste of blood, but none came. It seemed too mucheffort to sit. Minutes passed. 

The squeal of brakes. A door slammed, then footsteps. 
"Good Christ!" 
"Don't blaspheme," I mumbled. 
Someone poured water from a canteen onto a cloth, and held it to my head. I


struggled to prop myself against the genera. 
"Are you all right, sir?" 
I started at the familiar voice of Emmett Branstead. "Yes, I think so." I leaned


against the trunk. 
"We've called a heli ambulance from Centraltown." 
"I don't need one." 
"Not for you," Branstead's tone was grim. 
Oh, Lord God. "Help me up. Please." 
Clutching his arm I staggered to my feet. Eddie Boss sat dazed, nursing a broken


wrist. Alexi Tamarov's head was cradled in his lap. 
"Alexi?" I fell to my knees. 
No answer. Blood oozed from Alexi's nose and ear. His mouth was half open, and


his breathing was ragged. 


"No!" I eased my arm under his head, felt something soft and wet. My hand came
away red. I closed my eyes. 
"What happened, sir?" Though Emmett Branstead was no longer a seaman, discipline


died hard. 


I blinked. "I don't know." Frowning, I tried to recall. "A hauler had
jackknifed. An explosion ..." 
Branstead snorted. "I'll say." He pointed to the road. "Look at that crater." 
"Never mind that. Look to Alexi." 
"I'm no med tech, sir. Are you?" 
I bit back a vile reply. "No." 
Eddie said, "My ban' all broke up." He sounded plaintive. 
"I know, Mr. Boss." 



"Hadda carry Mist' Tamarov outadere, only one ban'." 
I snarled, "Why did you move him?" 
Eddie shrugged. "Dunno if be fire in dere." 
"Electricars don't blow up, you trannie fool!" 
He stared at me without expression. "Neither do roads," he said with meticulous


enunciation. 


After a long moment I had to look away. "I'm sorry," I muttered. "Mr. Boss, Mr.
Branstead, I beg you both to forgive me." 
Eddie grinned mirthlessly. "Cap'n shook up, all of us be." He pointed to his


lap. "I put my coat unner his head, make him as comf'ble as 1 can." 


"Thank you." It was hard to meet his eye. I cleared my throat. "Where's the
bloody heli?" 
"It'll probably be a good half hour." Emmett Branstead. 
I cursed under my breath. My ribs aching, I paced helplessly until at last we


heard blades beating in the distance. A small heli set down in the center of the


road. 
But it wasn't the ambulance. Harmon Branstead jumped out, ran toward us. "I was
in the granary when you called, Emmett. What in God's grace is going on?" 


Emmett Branstead returned his brother's quick embrace, "I'd say an ambush.
Someone tried to kill Captain Seafort.*' 


My mind reeled. "What?" 
Emmett gave me a strange look, "You think we blow up roads for amusement? What
did you imagine happened?" 


"Some sort of accident. The truck, dangerous cargo.. .** 


"We don't use explosives here. The dirt is soft; we just sculpt it with a
bulldozer. Anyway, look at the hauler." 
The abandoned cargo hauler was twisted by the force of the blast. "What about


it?" 
"It's still there," Emmett replied, impatient. "If the cargo had exploded, there


would be nothing left of the hauler. The explosive must have been buried in the
road. The hauler was there to make you stop." 
"But why—how do you know it was me they were after?" 
Harmon said, "Who else? Your driver?" 
I swallowed, trying to take it all in. "Harmon, can you take us to a hospital?" 



Emmett said, "Wait for the medevac heli, Captain. Don't try to move him." I


looked down at Alexi and nodded with reluctance. 
Harmon's eye roved past Eddie to the genera under which Jerence stood quietly.
Harmon crossed the distance in quick strides. He studied his son without
expression. Abruptly he slapped the boy's face. Jerence recoiled, his hand
rising to his reddened cheek. 


Harmon slapped him again, "Into the heli!*' Jerence bit back a sob, ran to the
open door. Emmett Branstead looked grim. 
"What's going—what was that—" 
Harmon asked, "Why were you taking my son to Central-town?" His eyes were hard. 
"Centraltown? Nonsense; he asked for a ride to the Mantiet place." 
"Why?" 


"To see his friend Gary Mantiet." 
Harmon glared at me until Emmett intervened. "Frederick Mantiet has no children.
Captain. Harmon, he didn't know." 


1 took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in my bruised ribs, "What in Lord God'sown hell is this about?" 

Harmon's shoulders sagged, He shook his head, walked back to the waiting heli. 
Emmett said softly, "My nephew was running away, Captain, He's done it twicebefore." I gaped; he shrugged, as if in apology, "I he asked for a ride to 
Mantlet's because he figured you wouldn't take him to the city. He probablymeant to hop a pain hauler the rest of the way." 

"But why?" 
Emmett said quietly, "For the family's sake, keep this to yourself," 
I nodded. 
"He can't buy goofjuice out here. Only in Centraltown." 
I said bleakly, "His life wasted, at thirteen." 
Emmett stared at the open heli door, "Lord God knows why. Or how he gets it.


He's on the edge: habituated, but not yet fully addicted." 
Goofjuice. I'd seen the results of its use, years ago on Hi-bernia, when crewmen
had smuggled some aboard. The user is quite happy while he's sailing high. He


may, with perfectly good cheer, slaughter his best friend. Perhaps afterward he
might feel remorse. 
"Haven't they tried ... I mean, doctors—" 
"Everything short of having him committed." 



Harmon emerged from the heli and hurried toward us. "Sorry about that. Personalproblems. I called Centraltown; the ambulance will be here in five minutes." 

Emmett crouched next to Alexi. "He's still breathing, sir. He may have a chance.
It's amazing what modern surg—" 

I grated, "Who did this?" 

Harmon shook his head. "We're crossing Mantiet land. Frederick left yesterday inanger, but I can't believe—" 

"Why isn't he here? Didn't he hear the explosion?" 

"I don't know. I called the house, but he's out. His wife didn't know where, orhow long." 

Emmett asked, "Whose hauler is that, Harmon?" 

"I don't recognize it. We can trace it by the transponder number or the engineserial number, if it comes to that." 

The welcome thump of a heli grew audible. "Make sure it's done." My voice wastight. 

If the hauler was his, Frederick Mantiet could be seized for questioning underpolygraph and truth drugs. Thank Lord God that the Truth in Testimony Act of2026 abolished the ridiculous right to silence that had hampered criminalinvestigations for centuries. These days, once we had a suspect, we got answers. 

If Mantiet was guilty, the sophisticated drugs would force him to admit it, andof course we could then use his confession as evidence in his trial. If he was 
innocent, he'd suffer only a headache and nausea. After I'd returned home withHibernia, reporting the death of her officers, I'd submitted to extensivequestioning with the drugs and poly. It wasn't pleasant, but it cleared me ofsuspicion. 

Harmon was grim. "Oh, yes, we'll find whose hauler that is. My son was in yourcar too." 

The heli landed; med techs scrambled out and hovered over Alexi. His headbandaged and supported, they eased him onto a stretcher and bundled him into theheli. Eddie Boss and I climbed aboard. 

"Find out," I shouted as we lifted off. From Harmon, a grim nod. 

CHAPTER 5 

"Sorry, the Admiral isn't here." 

I scowled at Lieutenant Eiferts as if it were his fault. Then I sighed. "Whenwill he be back?" 

"Probably not for a while, sir. He went up to Orbit Station, and from there hemay take a ship to review the squadron positions." 

"Why bother? They're in the puter." I regretted it almost instantly, but it wastoo late. 


The lieutenant said carefully, "I wouldn't know, sir," I wondered if he'd repeat
my disparaging remark to De Mar-nay. 
"I've been trying to reach him for three days, Mr, Eiferts." 
"Yes, sir." 


"Very we!!,** I left Admiralty House with as much dignity as I could muster. 
Outside, Annie crouched at the flower beds, gently fingering the geraniums. She
straightened. "Will he see you?" 


"He's not here," I slipped my hand into hers as we walked to our rented
electricar, 
"Oh, Nicky." 


"Can't be helped." 
Annie had met us at the hospital, showered my face with kisses amid sobs of
relief. She'd waited outside the operating room, pressing against my side, while
they'd worked to save Alexi. During the five days since, she had followed me
wherever possible, unwilling to let me out of her sight even for a trip to the
grocer's. "Where to?" she asked now, 


"The hospital." 
**I called this morning. He no better." 
I knew. I had called too. Nonetheless, I could sit at Alexi's side. Tubes in his


nose and throat, waste lines attached below the sheets, his monitors maintainedtheir vigil. His brain waves weren't flat; there was hope. I gathered not muchhope, though the doctors, as all doctors, were reticent. 

At Centraltown Hospital we signed in at the nurses' station and hurried to
Alexi's room. He lay unmoving. In the corner Eddie Boss stirred. 
"Eddie? What are you doing here?" 
"Wanted to wait wid him." The seaman was gruff. 


"There's nothing you can do," I said gently. 
"Nothin' you can do, neither." Insolence, from a sailor to a Captain. And yet...
His eyes met mine until I broke contact. 


"Very well, Mr. Boss." We sat together, and waited, hoping. 
Annie sat next to the hulking sailor. Her hand strayed to Eddie's cast. I'd


watched a med tech apply the bone-growth stimulator; Eddie wouldn't have to bear
the cast long. 
After a silent hour in Alexi's sterile room we left, Eddie followed us to our


car, "How often have you been to see him, Mr. Boss?" 
"Every day." His look challenged me to object. 



"I didn't think you knew Alexi that well." 

"Back on Challenger, When dem—those Uppies were makin' fun of us. He them away,
sometimes," 

"Ah.M More I hadn't known. 

Annie opened the car door, "You gonna go see the planters, Nicky?" 

It was foolish to visit until I had news to report, but soon they'd decide I wasignoring them. "I suppose I ought to." 

"In a heli this time." It was more a demand than a question. 

I sighed. "Yes, Annie, in a heli,H I looked at Eddie Boss. "I'd like you to lookafter Annie while I'm gone." 

The huge seaman broke into a slow smile. "Aye aye, sir. No joe be messin' widAnnie. I see to dat." 

They'd taught me piloting at Academy, and I'd flown a civilian craft on my lastvisit to Hope Nation, Now, on duty, I rated a military heli. It took me a whileto acquaint myself with the heavier machine and its unfamiliar equipment. Aminiputer chattered bearings and weather information until I flipped a switch tosilence it; I preferred to fly by dumb instruments. 

I had no anxiety as I raised the nimble craft off the tarmac and headed for ZackHopewelPs plantation. None about flying, that is. I had no idea how the planterswould react when I admitted Admiral De Marnay had made no time for them. Iworked out diplomatic phrases in my head: Investigating the allegations.
Reviewing their information. Deciding how best to alleviate their grievances. 

Zack Hopewell had set on a radar beacon for me, and I let the autopilot home onit. Hopewell and Harmon Branstead were waiting on the lawn when I set themachine down. Hopewell Plantation was similar to the others I'd visited, thoughthere was a sternness, a lack of frivolity about the place that reflected itsproprietor. 

I followed Zack Hopewell into his manse. Unlike Branstead, he offered no horsd'oeuvres, no liquors, but mugs of hot, steaming coffee and good soft pastries.
I chewed on a roll and sipped my coffee gratefully. 

They waited. 

I addressed Zack Hopewell. "Since I spoke to you last," I began. If only hedidn't look so much like Father... "I haven't accomplished a thing," I blurted,
"I've made several tries but I can't get in to see the Admiral," 

Hopewell snorted. "Well, at least he doesn't offer the usual bullshit." 

"I'm sorry." 

"Your candor is refreshing." He shrugged. "We haven't been able to do much,
either. No one knows where Frederick is. With Dora's permission we even searchedhis house, and I can verify he wasn't there. We traced the hauler; it belongs tohim and was supposed to be in Centraltown." 


"What could Mantiet gain by killing me?" 

Harmon's face darkened. "He called you the real enemy, remember? Said weshouldn't waste our blood fighting among ourselves instead of you." 

"Still, how does he benefit?" 

"If he wants to disrupt the Government, eliminating a reasonable voice would bein his interest." 

"That's treason!" I could conceive of murder for personal gain. But rebellionagainst the lawfully ordained Government of Lord God Himself? On Terra, we'd hadno revolution since the Rebellious Ages ended, over a century ago. I tastedbile. 

Harmon said carefully, "I didn't say treason. I said disruption." 

A distinction without a difference. I was about to say as much when ZackHopewell intervened. "In any event, Mantiet will confirm the truth when he'scaught." 

"Yes," I sat again, slowly. "I wish I could tell you Admiralty was anxious tocorrect its mistakes. Perhaps they will be, when I manage to inform them." 

"You didn't submit a written report?" 

"Of course. I dropped off my chip the day after I returned. But still..." Idoubted De Marnay would take action unless I personally warned him of theplanters' vehemence. Perhaps not even then. 

"I don't know what Mantiet thinks, but Laura wants to revise the PlanetaryCharter," Harmon said. "Eliminate the Governorship, elect a council from amongthe planters." 

"She needs to take that up with the U.N. at home," I said stiffly. "It's not myprovince," 

"No," said Harmon, "But you should be aware of it," 

We broke for a light lunch, and afterward I stopped at the Palabees for a briefvisit before returning home, I was revving the throttle when a call came fromHopewell, 

"A Miss Wells called. Captain. She wanted urgently to speak with you." 

I muttered under my breath, It was folly to allow my personal life to mix withduty, I thought of returning her call, but I was leaving anyway, and would behome in an hour or so. I relayed a message to that effect and started my engine. 

Annie met me at the door, her eyes red. "Dey call here coupla hours back, sayin' Concord be leavin' in morning. I gotta be ready go, ten o'clock," 

"Oh, Annie," I took her into my arms, I'd known it was to come, yet... 

She sniffled. "I be all ri' on Detour, Nicky. Be wid tran-nies, 'n all." 


"With, not wid," I said automatically. We'd struggled so hard. 
"With," she said dutifully. 
We wandered into the bedroom. Her bag was on the bed, half packed. My voice was


dull. "I wish you could stay." 
"I know, Nicky." 
"They'll give me a ship soon, and you couldn't go with me." 
"I know." She smiled through tears. "How I get all my fancy clothes in? Gonna


need 'nother case." 


"We'll get one. The best that money can buy," I grabbed her hand. "And that ruby
necklace you liked, at the jewelers." 
Her eyes widened. "Really? Oh, Nick, you don* have ta do that." 
I was already regretting my impetuosity; the bauble would cost me almost two


months pay. But what would I spend it on, alone? "I don't mind," I said


manfully. I led her to the door and the waiting car. 
Hours later, necklace shining against the pale satin of her dress, we came back
to the apartment, my pleasure already dampened by her impending departure. I
keyed the lock. "Just a minute," she said, and went to the bedroom. 


I sat disconsoJateJy, knowing I wouJd soon hate this place, Perhaps I would move
into Naval barracks. 


She called, "C'n you help me with this, Nicky?" 
"Can't close the case, hon? Should we have bought the bigger one?" I went into
the bedroom. 


Nude, she stood outlined against the window, ruby necklace sparkling in the soft
evening light, hands cupping her breasts. Slowly she raised her hands to the
clasp. "Show me how this works, Nicky." 


I came behind her, touched the clasp. She turned, slid into my arms, soft,
vulnerable, irresistible. Our Hps met, then our tongues. I clawed my way out of
my jacket and we fell onto the bed. 


Later, in the darkened room, I roused myself to pick up the buzzing caller. 


"Captain Seafort? Lieutenant Eiferts. I got you a few minutes with Admiral De
Marnay in the morning, at ten." 
"Very well." I rang off. 
"Who was it?" Annie sounded heavy with sleep. 
"The Admiral will finally see me tomorrow. I'll drop you off at the spaceport


and walk to Admiralty House." 
"That's good, you gettin' talk wid him." 


"Yes." I lay back. 
A moment later, a sob. 
My arms provided what comfort I could. I knew that after tomorrow, I'd never see


her again. She'd settle into her new life in one of Detour's many new factories,
producing goods $0 urgently needed by the new-settled colony. We'd write, or at
least I would, for a while. Then we would forget each other. 


With Lord God's help, I might forget. 


In the morning I called the hospital. Alexi remained in coma. His chances of
recovery dimmed each day it lasted. 
I dressed, inhaled hot coffee at the kitchen table, stared moodily at a holovid


copy of the report I'd left for the Admiral. Annie put the last of her gear in


her fancy new case. 
Somewhere above waited Concord, moored at Orbjt Station. I puttered about the
apartment until it was late enough to justify leaving. We drove the spaceport,
parked in front of Admiralty House, got out of our eleetriear. The brass plaque
gleamed in the bright morning sunlight. Beyond, on the tarmac, the shuttle was
already loading. An hour and a half from now, it would dock at Orbit Station. 


"Annie, I don't—" 
Her smile was radiant, "No, Nick, No good-byes, otherwise I'll cry again." 
Til miss you so much," My voice was hoarse, 
"We was good fo' each other," Despite her resolve her eyes glistened as she


hefted her two cases. "Bye, Nicky. Take care a yo'self," Without looking back,
she hurried across the tarmac. I watched until she reached the shuttle and 
disappeared from sight. 

I climbed the steps, opened the door. Lieutenant Eiferts said, Til tell theAdmiral you're here, sir. He'll be a few minutes." 

I checked my watch. Five minutes to ten. I sat, stared listlessly at a hoiozine. 
Lieutenant Eiferts said something. I grunted a reply. I had no idea what either
of us had said. I stood abruptly. 


"Pardon, sir?" 
"My apologies to the Admiral. I've been unavoidably detained." 
His jaw dropped. "Been what?" 
"Detained." Out the double doors, down the steps three at a time. I sprinted


across the yard to the tarmac. 
The shuttle hatch was closing; I waved frantically as I ran. It reopened. One of


the larger shuttles, with row upon row of seats. The pilot raised her eyebrow.
"You're too late; our weight is already in the puter." 
I climbed aboard. "I'm not going." 



She looked at me quizzically, "Then you'll have to dis—" 
I peered past rows of heads. "Annie?" 
"Captain, we leave in two minutes." 
"This won't take two minutes." 
"I have to seal my hatches!" 
"Yes, ma'am." Where was she? "Annie!" 
Slowly she stood, several rows back. Her eyes widened in fear." 'Bout Alexi?


What happened?" 
The pilot's protests faded. 
I cleared my throat, fumbling for words. As Annie's fingers darted to her


necklace, I blurted, "Marry me." 
"1—what?" 
"Please. Stay with me." 
She bit her lip, turned away to hide the tears. "You sure, Nicky? I be'ent righ'


kinda joeygirl fo' Cap'n." 
I said huskily, "You be joe fo' Cap'n. I sho'," 
"Oh, God, Nicky!" She flew into my arms. 
I said to the Pilot, "Is there time to off-load her luggage?" 
She grinned. "The lady is disembarking?" 
My tone was firm. "Yes." 
"Then there's plenty of time. I have to recalculate the weight." I gathered she


didn't mind. 
Annie clung to me, sobbing. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry; I did both. 
It took some doing, waiving the banns and all, but we were married the next


afternoon in a hastily arranged ceremony in a chapel of the Reunification


Cathedral. Eddie Boss 

PRISONER'S HOPE m 71 
was best man. Annie stood radiant in a traditional white-fringed jumpsuit; Iwore my dress whites. From time to time during the service my glance strayedupward to the majesty of the domed roof. My only sadness was that though ourmarriage was in the name of Lord God, my damnation meant He would not bless ourunion. 

Over the caller, Admiral De Mamay listened to my apology without comment.
Afterward, Lieutenant Eiferts called to reschedule my appointment for two days 


later. I'd been forgiven my unthinkable rudeness. Perhaps even my unthinkable


marriage, to a despised transpop. 
My escapade became known throughout Centraltown, and beyond. Cards of
congratulations came from the nurses at the hospital, from Harmon Branstead,
from Captain Derghinski on Kitty Hawk, 


Alexi Tamarov stirred, his eyes vacant, and sank back into deep, unending sleep. 


Lieutenant Eiferts was apologetic. "He had to run up to the Station, sir. I'll
have to arrange something when he gets back." 
Well, it was my own fault; I'd missed my best chance for a meeting, "When will


that be?" 
"I have no idea, sir," 
I hung up, brooding. More days wasted, if not weeks. Pd have to explain the


delay to Harmon and Zack Hopewell, a matter I'd rather not dwell on, "Come on,
hon, let's go see Alexi." 

Annie proudly put her hand in mine, her gold ring glittering. 
We found Alexi still unconscious. The floor nurse assured us his brain waves 
were steady. As usual, Eddie Boss sat glumly in the comer. I realized I'd have
to put him to work soon, or transfer him back to regular duty. The silence
lengthened. 


"I'll get us all some coffee. Be right back." At the other end of the hall, 1
strove to balance three cups of coffee for the long trip down the corridor. 
"Captain Seafort?" 
I turned. "Hmm? Oh, Mr. Forbee." 
"Here, let me help with that." He held a cup for me. 


"Thanks. What are you doing here?" 
"Antiviral booster. It was time again." Forbee gestured toward the door. "Seeing
your lieutenant, sir?" 


"Yes." I was brusque. Forbee could have no idea how I yearned for Alexi's


reassuring presence. 
"Admiral De Marnay was livid when he heard about the attack on your party. Said
to give whatever help you need to investigate." 


"We have to find Mantiet." The planter had disappeared with clothing, cash,
papers, and supplies. Dora Mantiet seemed panicked, and professed completeignorance. The Centraltown police had circulated Frederick's picture, hardlynecessary in so small a town. 

"What are they up to?" Forbee gestured vaguely toward the plantation zone. 
"There's going to be trouble. The Admiral should be briefed, but I blew theappointment he gave me." 


"I heard." Forbee's eyes twinkled. "He's a busy man. Why don't you meet him atOrbit Station?" 

I stopped dead in the corridor. I hadn't thought of that. "Thank you, Forbee. Ithink I will." 

Annie wrapped herself around me tearfully. "You be careful, Nicky. Don' gogettin' yourself hurt." 

"I'll be safe, Annie. It's just Orbit Station. You were there yourself." 4 

"Safe!" She sniffed. "Way out in space ..." 

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Visit Alexi tomorrow for me." I swallowed a 
lump, trying to convince myself I wasn't abandoning him. If anything happenedwhile I was gone ... 

"Eddie will take me," she said. I nodded. She'd be as safe with him as with aplatoon of Unie troops, notwithstanding his injured arm. 

"I have to run." I gave her a last squeeze, nodded to Eddie Boss, and lopedacross the field to the waiting shuttle. A few technicians returning from shoreleave were the only other passengers. The pilot nodded briefly and returned tohis instruments. 

Moments later we hurtled down the runway and were airborne. At five thousandfeet the pilot raised the nose into a stall and fired the rockets. Pressed intomy seat, I gritted my teeth, willing my body to relax as the shuttle roaredtoward the Station. 

As often as I had endured the boost, still I tensed rather than riding with thepressure as my instructors had tried to teach me. I could hear Sarge now. "Easeup, Seafort! Relax your chest muscles. Feel it press you. Just like a woman layatop you, but I guess you wouldn't know about that." I could feel the blush thatheated my face, neck, arms. Sarge's chuckle echoed still. 

And then we were free, floating weightless, thrusters silent. Nothing to do butwait. I planned my long-delayed presentation to the Admiral. 

As we neared the Station I glanced out the porthole. Most of the bays wereclosed and empty. Well, we hadn't sent a third of our ships to Hope Nation tokeep them moored at Orbit Station; they'd be out patrolling. I noticed a fewvessels undergoing repair in the drydock bays. We were too far away to seeanyone working. 

Strapped in my seat in zero gravity, I leaned into the aisle to watch the pilot,
his entire attention on the meticulous docking procedure. When at last ourairlock seals were mated with the Station's, the cabin lights brightened and Igot gratefully to my feet, flexing my muscles. 

Technicians bustled past in the bright station lights. I knew my way to theCommandant's office; I'd been there several times before. I assumed that's whereI'd find Admiral De Marnay. 

In the reception area for the Commandant's office a sergeant looked me over,
unimpressed. He was U.N.A.F., not Navy. 


"Your Admiral? No, if he's on station he'd be in the Naval corridor." 

"And General Tho?" 

"In a meeting," the sergeant said. "May last awhile. I could page you when he'sfree." 

"Don't bother him. I'll find the Admiral." 

He grinned without humor. "Don't get lost, Navy." 

"No problem," I said immediately. "I like it groundside." I slipped out beforehe could reply. Interservice rivalry didn't bring out the best in me. Not muchdid, these days. 

Despite my bravado it took me over an hour to locate the Naval corridor, and Ihad to backtrack at least once. I'm not sure about the second time. 

A lieutenant I'd seen before greeted me at the entrance-way. "You had anappointment, sir?" 

"No, but I need to see the Admiral anyway." I spoke with a confidence I didn'tfeel. 

"Yes, sir. Sorry, but he went with Vestra. They're somewhere outside the orbitof Planet Four," 

"I see." Any idiot would have known to call ahead; why didn't I? 

"He's not due back until tomorrow." Vestra could Fuse here in minutes, in anemergency, so De Marnay wasn't really out of touch. But why did he keep takingthese jaunts? Was he hungry for ship time, like me? The lieutenant chewed at hislip. "Sir, would you like me to signal him you're here?" 

"No thanks," I said quickly. Such presumption would not go over well, especiallyafter I'd broken my last appointment, 

"You're welcome to stay in Naval barracks overnight, sir. I'm sure the Admiralwould authorize it." 

"Thank you." I tried to lift my flagging spirits. "It'd give me time to lookaround." 

"The Level 4 restaurant isn't bad, or you could try the officers' mess. And ifyou'd care to listen to traffic, you could vir.lt the comm room," 

^'as it an invitation to leave? I couldn't tell, but in any even* there was nopoint in hanging around the Admiral's of-f - .,' r jge me if Vestra docks," Isaid. Of course, sir," 

wouldn't go to the comm room, not immediately. I wan-d along the circumferencecorridor until 1 found Naval ' • * id signed myself in. They gave me a privateroom, ,. i-." , large as a Captain's cabin aboard ship. 


Jered through Naval territory, stopped at the mess !<v ick supper, then trampedback to General Tho's wing •.:... station. He would remember me, if 1 couldarrange an 

appointment. These days I was having trouble getting to see anybody. 

"Mr. Seafort, is that you?" He stood in the entryway to the Commandant's wing,
chatting with an officer. 

I gawked. "Uh, yes. Yes, sir." I shook hands with the short, elegantly groomedman. "How are you, General Tho?" 

"Fine, fine. How long have you been on station?" 

"A couple of hours. I was hoping to see the Admiral." 

"He's on Vestra:' 

"So I learned." 

"Come in," He led the way to his comfortable, spacious office. We passed throughthe reception area. His arm on my shoulder, the General ushered me past theastounded receptionist. 

"I missed you when Hibernia came in, Mr. Seafort. And then you, ah, wereinjured." 

Nearly killed in my foolish duel, he meant. "Yes," Politeness demanded somethingmore than that. "I'm recovered, and on shore duty now," 

"With our beloved planters," 

"Yes, sir." 

"They think the planet revolves around them," He sighed, **Well, I suppose itdoes. Hope Nation's agribusiness Is the reason we're here. It's why we canafford a station as huge as this," He waved me to a chair. '*The planters are aNaval problem, thank Lord God, Not mine." 

I gazed at the simulscreen filling one wall of his office. It offered a view ofHope Nation system, from the periphery of the Station. 

"Basically, they stuck with your plan, you know." 

I said, "Pardon?" 

"When you left here three ago, you told Forbee to accept my orders so we'dhave a unified command. They kept the unified command, but Navy has more pullthan U.N.A.F., so your Admiral's in charge. He ranks even over the civilianGovernor." He fished in his desk drawer, brought out glasses and a bottle.
"Drink? Good. I don't mind about the command, actually. I've got my hands fullrunning the Station, with the traffic your squadron brings. Don't need Navaljurisdiction or civilian oversight to keep me busy," 

76 m David Feintuch 


I said, meaning it, "Not many men could turn away power with as few regrets,


General." 
He smiled, handing me a glass of Scotch. "Oh, I won't say I didn't have some
choice words for William when the news came, before I had a chance to reflect on
it." 


"For whom?" 


"I'm William, sir." A confident baritone voice from all around me. I jumped,
spilling my Scotch. 
"Sorry, Captain." General Tho grinned. "Multiple speakers. They're rather


startling, at first." 


"Permit me to introduce myself," said the baritone. "W-30304, at your service.
Colloquially known as William." 
"Your, ah, ship's puter?" I brushed beads of liquid from my knee. 
A short silence. William's tone was frosty. "I am to a ship's puter what your


puter is to an Arcvid." 
"Uh, pardon me." 
A microsecond's pause before he relented. "I understand your confusion, sir.


You're Navy, and according to your personnel file you've never spent extended
time on a station. No offense taken. You're aware of all the functions your
puter monitors aboard ship? Hydroponics, recycling, and so on?" 


"Of course." I felt foolish. General Tho listened with a grin. 
"Well, I do all that for the Station on a much larger scale, but I also record
and evaluate all tightbeam transmissions from the puters in each of your ships,


as they arrive. In addition, I monitor all Station traffic and cargo selection,
storage, and loading." 
"I see." He would have stupendous data banks, and a RAM that was breathtaking. 
"Before I leave you to your conversation, may I say I've heard a lot about you,


Captain Seafort." 
"Oh?" Did they program the holozines into him? 
"From Darla." 
"I see." 
He chuckled. "Darla is quite opinionated, but I take her conclusions with a


grain of salt." 
I thought of asking what data from my old ship's puter 


William viewed skeptically, but decided against it. "Uh, thank you." 
William said nothing. 



I turned back to General Tho. I might as well make use of my visit. "Sir, haveyou heard much about the groundside base?" 

"In the Venturas? Never actually been there. I gather U.N. Command wanted toland a force capable of defending the planet itself, in case of invasion." Heshook his head. "Can't see it, myself. Groundside could only be invaded if thefleet were destroyed, and then the aliens would have air superiority to wipe outa ground force." 

"Lord God forbid." I repressed a shudder. 

"And why put our forces halfway across the planet from Centraltown?" Hegrimaced. "See what happens when you try to run a war from a distance? Theyshould have left it in local hands." 

"What kind of invasion is the base designed to counter?" 

He sipped moodily at his drink. "They're equipped with all sorts of antiviralsynthesizers and pandemic vaccines. But mainly they're a laser installation. Gota hell of a battery of cannon, if they finish setting it up. Could knock outjust about anything." 

"Lasers don't seem to do much good," I reflected. "The fish Fuse as soon as weget then* range." 

"Well, what else should we use?" he snorted. "Atomics?" 

Lord God forbid. General Tho skated on thin ice even joking about it. Not onlythe use of atomic weapons but any proposal to employ them carried a mandatorydeath penalty. Ever since the Last War, the national governments at home wereunited in enforcing the ban. A hundred forty years after the last horrid bomblit Terran skies, frightful scars remained. 

We finished our drinks. When he glanced at his watch I knew it was time to go.
We shook hands again; I went directly to the barracks and to bed. 

I slept surprisingly well. In the morning I downed powdered eggs and burnt toastwhile I sipped at my coffee. My breakfast was interrupted by a midshipmanbringing me a chip faxed from Centraltown. With sudden anxiety I snapped openthe case and slipped it into a holovid. 

"Your Lieutenant Tamarov is out of coma. Dazed but apparently lucid, accordingto initial reports. 1 thought you'd like to know immediately. Forbee." Thankyou, Lord God. 

"Any reply, sir?" 

I looked up. The boy was waiting. "No. Dismissed." Gratefully he hurried away. 

My breakfast was delicious. 

After leaving the mess I couldn't help myself; I checked with Naval HQ in casethe duty lieutenant had forgotten to page me, but Admiral De Marnay hadn'treturned. I paced the sterile corridors until I remembered the lieutenant'ssuggestion of the previous day. The comm room was halfway around the disk. On alarge station, a good distance. I set out, my step jaunty. Alexi was healing. 


In the comm room the Navy techs gave me an informal salute but stayed at theirplaces, as was proper when the Station was at a high degree of alert, I pulledup a chair. "Anything doing?" 

"No, sir. A few puters on tightbeam with each other, but nothing for us." Hehesitated, "Sir, you're, ah, Captain Seafort?" 

"Yes." 

"Do you think,.." He fumbled in his pocket. "Sorry if I'm out of line, sir, butcould I have your autograph?" 

I bridled. What was Naval discipline coming to? At my frown he quickly thrustthe paper back into his jacket and bent to his console, "Sorry, sir." 

I sighed. "Never mind. Give it here," They had few enough diversions, onextended station duty. I scribbled my name. Shamefacedly, the others crowdedround, scraps of paper materializing from pockets and consoles. 

"I saw you in the zines, sir. Did you know you made the cover of Newsworldl" 

Another tech gave the speaker a nudge in the ribs. "Of course he knows, youidiot." I smiled politely. I hadn't. We sat in uncomfortable silence for severalminutes. 

A console light flashed. The voice on the speaker soundedweary. "Station, we're about to test the airlock again. Disregard signals,
please." 

"Very well,Portia" 

"Portia's here?" My heart beat faster. 

"Yes, sir. In the repair bay." 

I stood. "I'd like to see her. Which way?" 

I followed their directions to the repair bays. Portia had been my firstassigned command. I'd sailed with such high hopes, with my unborn son, my wifeAmanda, with Vax Holser, with Alexi, 

I found the bay, cycled through the Station's lock to Portia's, and pressed theentry pad. A moment later the lock slid open and a young middy came quickly toattention. "Good afternoon, sir," 

"As you were," I said gruffly. "I'm Captain Seafort. May I enter?" 

"Captain Akers isn't aboard, sir. No one is, except my lieutenant, and he'ssleeping, And the Chief, doing repairs." 

"I didn't want Captain Akers." 1 felt foolish, "Portia was my ship once, I justwanted to ,,," My voice trailed off. How could I explain the whim that hadovertaken me, without seeming an idiot? "I wanted to see her again," I saidfirmly. "Visit her bridge." 


The boy swallowed, nervous in the presence of such exalted rank. Well, that wasas it should be. A word from me could have him caned without a moment's pause,
"I don't think they'd mind, sir, while we're moored. The bridge ii this way.** 

I suppressed a smile, "I know," 

He colored. "Yes, of course, sir. Sorry. If you care to go ahead, I'll informthe duty lieutenant,*' 
"Very well." He scurried off while I made my way to the bridge. My chest

tightened as I passed my old cabin. Within its confines, tiny Nate had died. Icould almost feel Amanda's presence. I hurried past the first lieutenant'scabin, once Vax Holser's. I had spurned his help, at the cost of his friendship.
Past the wardroom, where Philip Tyre had struggled manfully to redeem himself.
The second lieutenant's cabin, where Alexi savored revenge against Philip untilits taste soured in his mouth. Oh, Alexi, what have we done to you? 

The bridge hatch was open; docked and under repair, Portia was virtually

decommissioned. 
I glanced at the simulscreens that dominated the bridge. They were blank, of
course. On the console, an airlock light blinked. 


I cleared my throat, suddenly shy. "Danny?" At one time the eager young puter
had been my only confidant. No answer. "Puter, respond by voice, please." 


A dull, machinelike voice said, "D 20471 responding. Please identify yourself." 
"Captain Nicholas Seafort, U.N.N.S. Uh, reactivate conversational overlays." How
could they have locked him inside for so long? 


A warm contralto issued from the speaker, "Thank you. Captain. How may I help
you?" 
I blinked. "Danny? You sound different." 


"I'm Diane, sir. Ship's puter." 
Unthinking, I dropped into the Captain's seat, no longer mine to occupy.
"Where's Danny?" 1 asked. 


Diane hesitated a microsecond. "I have all Danny's memory and data banks, sir," 
My hand tightened on the chair, "Where's Danny?" 
An irate voice, in the corridor. "Middy, let anyone board without permission


again and I'll have you over the barrel so fast you'll—" 
I turned to the hatch. 
"Lieutenant Tolliver repor—" We gaped in mutual astonishment. 
Edgar Tolliver. A year older than I, senior by one class. My persistent


tormentor at Academy, where he'd been nominated cadet corporal and put in charge
of our dormitory. Sour memories welled. 
His eyes flickered to my insignia. He came to attention. 



"As you were," I grated. "What happened to Danny?" 


Tolliver said carefully, "Diane has been the puter since I've been aboard, sir.
I understand Admiral Tremaine ordered complete powerdown after he took Portia" 
"Why?" My voice was hoarse. 


He started to shrug, remembered he was in a Captain's presence. "I believe he
was making sure you hadn't sabotaged the puter, sir." 
I swung to the speaker. "Diane, what happened to Danny? His personality?" 
"It's gone, disassembled with powerdown." 
"Is he retrievable?" But I already knew the answer. 


Her tone held a note of finality. "No, sir. He is not." 
I sank back, dazed. My friend Danny, who'd pondered whether he had a soul. Who'd
comforted me after the death of Amanda, Gone. 


Derek, Danny, Vax, all lost 
I began to cry. 
From the hatch Tolliver watched impassively. I fought to control myself.


"Sorry," I mumbled. "It was a shock," 
"Quite all right, sir." 
"Thank you for having me aboard." Humiliated, I stumbled off the bridge, drying


my eyes as I fled down the corridor. Tolliver and the young midshipman saw me


off at the airlock, 
I trudged back to the eornm room. Was it blasphemy to pray for nanny's soul? I
decided that of the risk, I would. If Lord Ood could listen to one such as


I. 
At the comm room the tech waved me to my seat, his ear to his headphones.
"Confirm, Freiheit, two sighting* quadrant seventeen,*1 

"What's afoot?" I asked. 

The speaker crackled, "Station, Calumet en route to four, quadrant sixteen asper orders." 

The tech's voice shook with excitement. "Fish! Confirmed, no false alarm.
Freiheitfs engaging, with Valencia coming on. The rest of the fleet's movinginto position," 

I sat listening as the great ships reported their locations. Orders flowed andwere instantly confirmed and obeyed. The speakers crackled with a flood of data. 


"Freiheit reporting. Two fish, alongside! We're under attack. They're launchingthose, uh, outriders. Permission to Fuse!" Captain Tenere sounded anxious, aswell he might. 

De Mamay. "Where's ValenciaT 

"Valencia, here, sir. Coordinates eighteen, one thirty-five, sixty-two. About

half an hour from Freiheit." 
"Very well, Freiheit. Set coordinates and Fuse to safety, minimum distance, then
report immediately." 


"Aye aye, sir. Engine Room, Fuse!" Tenere's radio went dead. 
"Valencia reporting. Where do you want us, sir?" 
"Mr. Groves, wait for Freiheit to reappear. If she's close enough, go to her on


thrusters, else Fuse to her." 


"I'll need an hour to reach Fusion clearance, sir— Whoops!" The voice tightened.
"Three more fish, two ahead, one alongside, matched velocities! Engaging!" 
"Kitty Hawk here. I've got three sightings." Derghinski read his coordinates. 
Admiral De Marnay. "All ships, execute Maneuver B!" 
Fists knotted, I watched the screens while the armada moved ponderously, our


ships expending prodigious amounts of propellant to-reach their new stations,


hours distant. 
"Freiheit Defused and reporting. New position quadrant eleven, grid coordinates
eighteen, two oh three, fifteen." 


"Very well, Mr. Tenere." 
"Where do you want us to—Good Christ!" 
"Freiheit?" 
"Four, five, half a dozen fish! They're all over us! We're taking hits.


Decompression. Sealing—" 
The caller went dead. 
"Valencia under fire. Two fish. We're firing back. There goes one of them, by


Christ. Spewing his guts!" 
My throat dry, I listened to snatches of disaster and success. 
Behind me, in the Station, an alarm wailed. "NOW HEAR THIS! Battle Stations! All


off-duty personnel and all visitors disembark Orbit Station at once! Shuttles


departing in three minutes!" 
I jumped to my feet and ran to Naval HQ. The outer office was empty; I opened
the inner hatch and found myself in the plotting room. "Can I be of help?" 



A harried Captain shot me an annoyed look. "Stay out of the way. You're off
duty." 


"Can I plot—" 
"You'd better get groundside, Mr., ah, Seafort. If we come under attack there's
nothing you can do here." 


Reluctantly I said, "Aye aye, sir." It wasn't time to argue. 


I reached the shuttle bay just as the safety hatches began to close. On the
shuttle I dropped into a seat, struggling to catch my breath. 
"Passengers, prepare for launch, please. Departure Control, Shuttle Charlie Fox


four oh six ready to launch." 
The reply was almost immediate. "Cleared to launch, Four oh six." 
The huge shuttle bay hatch slid open. Gently at first, our thrusters drummed


propellant against the launch bay's protective shields, ejecting us from the
Station. I peered through the porthole. Behind us, the bright-lit Station sailed
placidly through empty space. 


A moment after flipabout our pilot kicked in the jet engines and we became a
jet-powered aircraft. As the runway slid into view, the shuttle's stubby wings
shifted into VTOL mode. We bled off speed and dropped to the tarmac, the
shuttle's underbelly jets cushioning our fall. 


I scrambled out of my seat the moment the engines died. When the hatch opened I
jumped out to dash across the field. I galloped across the Admiralty House yard
and took the front steps two at a time. 


Lieutenant Eiferts looked up from his desk. 
I gasped, "You have a comm link with Orbit Station?" 
"Yes, sir, in the tactics office." 
"What Captains are here now?" 
"None, sir, other than yourself." For a moment I imagined a reproach. 
"Very well. I'm going up." There was none to stop me. I hurried upstairs,


bracing myself for an unpleasant encounter with Vax Holser. 
"Attention!" A voice rang out in the enclosed space. 
Lieutenants and midshipmen came out of their chairs. "As you were." I saw with


relief that Vax was not among them. I found an empty seat. "Brief me, someone." 


A familiar face. "Lieutenant Anton, sir. We're under attack. Hostiles, Fusing in
at random intervals." 
I already knew that. "Go on." 
"The fleet's deployed, sir, as per Maneuver B. You're familiar with the plan, of


course." 



"No, you bloody—" I bit back the rest. It wasn't his fault I so desperately

wanted a ship. "I was on shoreside duty when the plan was issued." 
"Yes, sir. The fleet was divided, lightly patroling all sectors to maximize ourchance of making contact. When the fish appeared, the Admiral ordered our shipsto regroup into flotillas at preassigned locations within each sector. That'sManeuver B. Any ship under attack automatically became the locus for theflotilla in that sector." 

"Very well." 
"We count about thirty fish in all, sir." 
"But that's—" Lord God. More than we'd ever seen before. 
"Yes, sir." 
"What are your standing orders, Lieutenant?" 
"The Admiral's running the show from Vestra, sir. He communicates with Orbit


Station by tightbeam. If he'd been here, it would be our office sending outfleet signals. While De Marnay's in orbit, his commands are relayed from theStation. Our job is to record them and serve as a backup, should—should ..." Hefaltered. 

"Yes?" 
"Should the Station be damaged, sir." 
"Lord God grant that it is not." I stared at the screen, trying to make sense of


the blips. "What else do we know, Lieutenant?" 
"Freiheit reported decompression. Kitty Hawk caught a transponder beam from her


launch but hasn't had time to home on it. Valencia's snuffed two fish, and
Hibernians taken out four." 
"Good." 
The speaker crackled. "This is Resolute. We're engaging two fish. I—damn, make


that three! Am firing." 


The Admiral responded, "Very well, Resolute. Kitty Hawk is your closest
support." 
PRISONER'S HOPE m 85 
"Yes, sir. Derghinski, I'll ring if I need you." Gallows humor. I knew the


impulse. 
"Belay that!" The Adr, 1. 
"Aye aye, sir." Resolute's, Captain, chastened. 
"Kitty Hawk here. The bastards keep Fusing when we line up a shot." Derghinski


swore. "Here come two more!" 



I stared at the screen. Was I watching a coordinated attack or a feeding frenzy?


Perhaps I'd never know. 
"Admiral, Kitty Hawk reporting. We've taken a hit. Lost our portside thruster
but otherwise undamaged. Got the fish." Without port thrusters Derghinski's
maneuvering would be infinitely more complicated, and far slower. 


"Very well." 


"Resolute, here. We've got four beasties Fused in. Two amidshi—Oh, Jesus,
they're—" Silence. 
Lord God, save our people. 
Lieutenant Anton pounded the console. "Where the hell are they coming from?" He


glanced, saw my disapproval. "Sorry, sir." 
I grunted. I too would like to know. More important, why did they come? 
De Marnay's voice, calm. "Station, Vestra is under attack. Only one fish at


present. Taking evasive—He's let a tentacle fly. Think he's going to miss." Along pause. "If I fail to respond for ten minutes, assume I'm out of commission.
Captain Vorhees is senior, on Electro. Station, do you acknowledge?" 

General Tho himself answered. I could sense the small, dark man pacing hisoffice, fingers smoothing his neat little mustache. "Yes, Admiral, we do. It'sin your standing orders." 

"Admiralty House, do you copy?" 
Lieutenant Anton keyed the caller. "Yes, sir." 
"Who's on duty?" 
"I am, sir: Anton. With Mr. Zalla and the techs. And three middies. Mr. Eiferts


is below." 
"You're senior, aren't you?" 
"Uh, yes, sir. But Captain Seafort's with us." 
"Seafort? What's he—Put him on." 
I scrambled for the caller. "Yes, sir?" 
86 » David Feintuch 
"They know the drill, Seafort. Don't interfere." 
"Yes, sir." My cheeks burned. 
He hesitated. "Still, it's good you're there. If anything happens to me, you're


in charge at Admiralty House until the chain of command is reestablished." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
He broke the connection. 



We sat through the interminable afternoon, long dull periods of inaction,
punctuated by terse reports of fish sighted, ships engaged, positions reached. 

The fish kept coming. 

We'd lost Resolute and Freiheit. Kitty Hawk broke off and limped back to OrbitStation, emergency patches on her hull. 

We lost Valencia. 

As inconclusively as the attack had begun, it dwindled. Finally, hours hadpassed with no further reports of attack. The surviving ships searched grimlyfor enemies, without success, but their sailors couldn't be kept at BattleStations indefinitely. Our armada stood down. 

It was late into the night before I left Admiralty House, drained and exhausted.
We'd done nothing but listen and record, yet I felt as if I'd been in the thickof battle. My nerves tingled with the rush of adrenaline and fear. 

Disoriented, I looked for my electricar, realized that Annie had dropped me atthe spaceport the day before for my trip aloft. Without qualms I ordered amidshipman to drive me home in an Admiralty car. After all, I was acting Head ofStation. 

I brooded while we rode in silence through deserted streets. No one knew fromwhere the fish came. Our xenobi-ologists suggested a large, low-density planetnear a hot sun, but that was merely guesswork. We had no idea whether the fishthemselves, or their outriders, were the dominant species. Perhaps they weresymbiotes. They might even be different elements within one species. Both fishand outriders appeared to be unicellular organisms on a hitherto unimaginablescale. Were either species intelligent, or did they attack instinctively,
without reason? 

The middy cleared his throat. "Pardon, is that your building, sir?" 

I nodded, realized he couldn't see in the dark. "Yes. Let me out in front." 

"Aye aye, sir." 

At the curb I got out, waved him off. In the distance boisterous shouts echoed.
Some drunken melee, downtown. 

So, what were we to do about the invaders? The U.N. had seventeen major colonieson hospitable worlds, and more planned. We mined a number of less-livable worldsfor ores and fissionable elements. Our Navy couldn't possibly defend all ourcolonies at once; it would require ten times the ships we had, and eachrepresented a colossal investment. 

I trudged slowly up the walk, absently noting the twin shadows cast by Major andMinor. Could we abandon our colonies, withdraw to home system? Even retreatwouldn't free us from peril, unless our fleet stopped Fusing. Perhaps even thatwas too late; at least one fish had appeared in home system, mortally wounded,
speared by Challenger's prow in our last desperate attack. 

I touched my thumb to the lock and let myself in quietly so as not to wakeAnnie. 


Until we learned how many fish existed, we couldn't know if our fleet had thestrength to protect Hope Nation, or if we'd be overwhelmed and annihilated.
Today we'd lost three ships, and on them men I'd entertained in this veryapartment. Captain Tenere of Freiheit, missing and presumed dead. Lieutenant TerHorst of Resolute. 

I groped my way to my favorite living-room chair, slipped off my shoes. Well,
Mr. Ter Horst had met his aliens, and his optimism hadn't been justified. In thebedroom Annie stirred, moaned; a bad dream. Would she have been safer on Detour?
For that matter, would Concord ever reach port there, or would the fish ravageher en route? Had I saved Annie's life, or held her back in greater peril? 

Annie moaned again. I stood, my limbs weary. I was the one accustomed tonightmares; if my wife began having them too ... 

I padded to the bedroom door. Morning would be soon enough to worry about thefish. I heard Annie thrash against the sheets. I'd wake her, comfort her. 

I opened the door. "Hon, are you all—" 

A bare back, broad hips thrusting against upturned thighs, flesh gleaming in thelight of two moons, frozen in a petrified moment of silence. As one they turnedin shock, stared at the door. 

Annie. Eddie Boss. 

For an endless moment the tableau held. 

I spun, slammed the door, bolted through the darkened living room, fumbled formy shoes. The sound of a window sliding, in the bedroom. I felt along the floor,
pawed under the chair. 

Eddie. Annie. I barked my shin on the coffee table. Where were the God-cursedshoes? 

A shaft of light; the bedroom door opened. My shoes were near the couch whereI'd left them. 

Annie, a robe thrown over her nakedness. "Nicky?" 

I tugged the laces tight on the left shoe, thrust my foot into the right. 

"Nick.. ." 

I stumbled to the door, opened it, lurched outside, righting not to retch. Themoonlight blinded me after the dark of the house. Mechanically I set one foot infront of the other. The walkway stretched to eternity, I reached our car. Icouldn't trust myself to drive, not yet. The sidewalk, then. I strode, fasterand faster, until my breath rasped and the darkened houses began to give way tothe offices and stores of downtown. 

I tried to think of nothing. Images intruded. My footsteps echoed, surprisinglyloud. 


I walked with head down, hands in my pockets. I heard a rasping sob, realized itwas my own, cut it off. 1 crossed a street, then another, I passed an alley.
Again 1 heard the foot-steps, understood they weren't mine. 

"Well, looka we have here!" A hand spun me around. 

"What do you want?" I spat out the words. 

"How 'bouta little loan? Few unibucks, 'til payday?" A brutish face leered inreflected moonlight. 

Behind him, two broad-shouldered hoodlums snickered. "Skip the bilge, just dohim!" 

I slapped the hand from my shoulder. The other two joeys circled, their mirthvanished. A knife glinted. 

"Hey, for an Uppie, you're kinda—whuf!" 

I'd put everything I had into the uppercut. He reeled backward, slammed into thebrick wall. His eyes rolled up as he slid to the ground. 

"Get the motherfuc—" 

The voice sounded like Eddie's. With a howl I hurled myself under the knife,
wrenched the joey's arm, butted him in the stomach. He doubled over, I kneed hisface with all the strength 1 could muster. A bone snapped. The third man backedaway, hands extended, waving me off. He fled as I charged. 

We sprinted through an alley, across an empty lot. Gradually he pulled ahead.
Despite my frenzied efforts I fell back, until at last I lost him in the distantshadows. I fell to my knees, chest heaving, heart slamming against my ribs.
Slowly the mists cleared. 

When I could breathe again, I walked, until the first rays of daylight creptover downtown. I found a restaurant that opened early, sat at the countersipping at steaming coffee, all I could afford. I'd left my jacket with my IDand money in my living room. 

I couldn't abandon all my clothes; I had to go home, I would have to see her, Ifonly for a moment. Where would 1 stay? Another apartment, perhaps. Or Navalbarracks; they were open to me. I dropped a bill on the counter and plodded tothe door. 

Our apartment was many blocks to the west. Filthy and exhausted, I stumbledalong the road, willing the streets to pass. My feet ached. 

Ages later I trod the walkway, under a balcony whose view I'd once relished, Ipressed my thumb to the lock, took a deep breath, walked in. 

Annie lay curled on the couch, eyes red. "Nicky?" 

My jacket first. I thrust in my arms. Now I had my papers, my pay, my insignia.
An officer again, I felt a shade more secure. 

"I'm sorry, Nicky." She sat hunched over, eyes wary. "I din' wan' hurt you." 


I would need clothes. I went to the bedroom, opened the closet, slung my duffelon the bed. She'd put on fresh sheets, blanket folded down from the pillow, Navycomers. As if clean sheets could—I forced down the thought. Underwear, shirts,
socks. I traded my grimy shirt for a fresh one. 

She came to the bedroom door, sagged against it. "Talk to me, Nicky. Please." 
I zipped the duffel. 
Defiantly she stood in the open doorway, blocking my exit. "You got to


unnerstan' one thing," she said. "I din' mean hurt you." Her beseeching eyes metmine. "Eddie an' I, we tribe. We knowed each other since N'Yawk! Tribe alia timedoin' it, doncha unnerstan'? Even onna ship. Eddie wasn' only one." 

I focused on the closet, desperate not to hear her words. What else would I need

in barracks? 
She fell into a chair by the door. "If you won' talk, listena me, then. I don'
wan' you to go. You be my husban'." 


"Until the Church grants an annulment." 
She flinched as if struck. "Nicky, there anything I can do, make it up?" 
"No." 
She cried, "But I love you! Din' mean nothin', what we was doin'!" 
My slap knocked her sideways out of the chair, onto her knees. Her fingers crept


to her reddened face. I strode to the door, and beyond. 


CHAPTER 6 

I drove through downtown looking for the barracks. I'd never had occasion tovisit them but I knew they were behind Centraltown Hospital. 

After a few twists and turns I was hopelessly lost. Finally I managed toreorient myself, but seeing the hospital reminded me two days had passed sinceI'd heard Alexi had wakened from his coma. 

I parked, signed into barracks. The bored petty officer at the desk assigned mea room; I saw it had a bed, dumped my duffel on it, closed the door behind me asI left. 

At the hospital I trudged wearily to Alexi's room. I opened the door cautiously,
lest he be asleep. Alexi, bundled in a robe, sat by the window, hands crossed inhis lap. 

My heart leapt. "Oh, Alexi! How are you?" 

"Not too bad, today." His eyes were on mine, as if awaiting my tidings. 

"Thank heaven. We were so worried." Awkwardly I sat on the bed. "You wereunconscious for so long..." 

"Eleven days, they say." 


"Does your head hurt?" 
"No, but I'm weak as a baby." 
I smiled. "We'll take care of that." Annie and I could fatten—My smile vanished.


"You'll get your strength back." I stared at the floor. "There's something I


need to tell you." 
"Yes?" He watched me warily, as if he already knew. Had Annie been here first?
She couldn't have. Eddie Boss, then? 


"Things aren't going well, Alexi." I stared through the window. "The planters
are disgusted that I haven't done any-"hing for them, and at home—" 


"I think you'd better—" 
"No, let me finish," I said urgently. It was hard to speak, but I knew I must,
before I burst. "Annie and I... while you were in coma, she and Eddie Boss and I
sat with you almost every day. They called her for embarkation on Concord, and I
married her. I wanted you there, but we didn't know when you'd recover." Or if.
My eyes stung. 


"Uh, I—" 
I blurted, "Alexi, she's been with Eddie. I found them coupling in the bedroom.


I took a room in barracks, but I don't know what to do." My voice was unsteady.
"Help me. Please." 
A moment's silence. 
Alexi said, "Could you perhaps tell me who you are?" 
An hour later we sat across from each other, Alexi on tht 
bed, me in the chair. "You can't remember Academy either?" "I'm trying. Don't


you know how much I want to remem 
ber?" 
"I'm not criticizing," I said gently. "Help me understand." "J've been over it


aJJ with the doctors." 
"Wouldyou tell me too?" 
"Why?" 
"For old times' sake. For our friendship." 
"I don't have any old times," he said bitterly, "Don't you realize?" 
"No!" I flared. "And unless you help me, I never will!" 
He recoiled from my wrath. Then, a sardonic smile. "Well, perhaps I deserved


that; I wouldn't know. All right. When I woke up, I couldn't figure out where Iwas. A hospital, obviously, but where?" He shook his head. "They told me HopeNation. It was... I'd heard of it, someplace, like a book I'd read years ago.
When they called me 'Alexi,' I knew it was my name. At least I have that." 


I ached for him. "Go on." 
"They told me I'm a lieutenant in the Navy. It's not that it feels wrong. I can


accept being a lieutenant. I just don't remember becoming one. You have to be a
midshipman first, don't you?" 
I nodded. 
"I remember my mother, she lives in Kiev. Before I left


for school in the morning she'd thaw my lunch." His eyes showed alarm. "Is she
still alive?" 
"I don't know, Alexi." 
"You said you were my closest friend." 
"We were apart a year and a half. And we're a long way from home." 
"If anything's happened to her..." His eyes filled. 


"I'm sure she's all right," I said. 
"The snow crunched under my feet on the way to school... you had to jiggle the
switch to make our classroom holo work. I'm not a boy any longer, but those are
my memories!" 


The others will come back." 
"How do you know?" 
I sighed. "I don't. Not for certain," 
"I'd rather die than live like this!" He turned his face. 
"Oh, Alexi." I squeezed his shoulder, "You'll be all right," 
Alexi turned. Coldly he said, "Take your frazzmg hand off me!" 
I trudged back to the barracks, reeling from exhaustion. Above me loomed the


spire of Reunificatton Cathedral, where Annie and I were married. I tried tobJock out her radiant smile, the sparkling ruby necklace, my answering pin ofpleasure as we knelt at the altar to take our vows. 

Until death do us part. Unless, of course, the marriage was annulled. Igrimaced. Even if the elders permitted it, annulment made a travesty of ourvows. The Church granted divorce for adultery, though several constituent sectsconsented to the rite with utmost reluctance, I would have to apply through thediocese and wait for approval. I headed up the barracks steps, What choice hadI? I couldn't live with what she'd done, 

For better or worse, until death do us part, I paused, my hand on the door. 
Not adultery, Lord. That was too much to ask. Even the Church doesn't expect it. 
"Ann, Nicholas..." Father, his eyes bleak and disapproving. 



In sickness and health, far better or worse ... The barracks door swung open;


two enlisted men came out, laughing until they spotted my insignia. 
Regardless of the Church's toleration of divorce, I still knew right from wrong;
Father had taught me well. I couldn't leave Annie without again betraying an
oath. Yet, why did that matter, now that I was damned? 


I cursed long and fluently. Then I went to my room, grabbed my duffel, got in my


car, drove home. 
She sat in the kitchen, sitting over a cup of tea. Her eyes raised slowly, hope
dawning. "Nicky?" 


My voice was like gritty sandpaper. "I won't divorce you. I swore to stay until
death, and I'll fulfill ray oath. You may divorce me, if you wish. I won't stop
you." 


"That's not what I wan'." 
"Then we'll live together. What happened in the bedroom, we will not speak of.


Not ever. That's all I have to say." I turned to put my duffel back in the
bedroom. 
"That's not all you swore." Tremulously she came to her feet. I stared at her,


"Love, honor, and protect. You promised that part too." 
The words caught in my throat. "I don't love you now. I— can't help that." 
Her eyes brimmed. "What's marriage for?" 
"I swore to it." Would that I hadn't. 
"About Eddie—" 
"Don't speak of him. I warn you." 
"Will we sleep together? Share a bed? Talk?" 
I sat heavily. "I don't know. It's all too much," 
"You can't live here, hating me." 
I rested my head on the table. "I don't hate you," Lord God, burn what I saw


from my memory. Let me take Alexi's place, blessed with his forgetfulness,
"Alexi has amnesia," 1 said. "He doesn't know me." 
"Oh, Nicky." 
I tried to speak, failed. 
Her hand went to my neck, stroked me. "Nicky." 


Jezebel, don't touch my flesh! 
She gathered my head into her arms. Despite my resolve, I clung to her, buried
my head in her soft breasts, clutched her as to a liferaft while my shoulders
heaved with sobs. 



PART 2 

May, in the yearof our Lord 2200 

CHAPTER 7 


My outburst resolved nothing; after an hour I pulled myself together and wentabout my business. I could not put aside Annie's unfaithfulness even if I wasgrateful for her comfort. I realized I should have stayed in barracks; life inour apartment would be unbearably tense. 

I roomed alone in the tiny spare bedroom, and I slept badly. 

Daily, I visited AJexi. Sometimes Annie came along. Though Alexi seemed to likeher, he had no memory of her. 

A few days after the attack on our fleet, Admiral De Mar-nay returned toAdmiralty House; we held our conference at last. He heard my account of theplanters* grievances without interruption. 

"And your conclusion?" He leaned back in his chair. 

I pondered. "The planters* anger is one issue. The other is how the war efforthas been handled." 

"I told you to deal with the planters, not the war," His fin-gers drummed thedesk irritably. 

"Yes, sir. But I don't know whether their complaints are valid. If they are, andwe seem to be ignoring them ,,," 

"With any military buildup there's inefficiency, you taow mat." He glowered.
"Especially when they insist on running the show from home, and informing me byholovid chip." 

"I understand, sir." 

"Don't you think I know it's madness to put our major base in the Venturis?" Hisfist rattled the table. 

"Yes, sir. The complaints aren't mine." 

After a moment the Admiral's glare faded. "I know." He sighed. We waited throughthe roar of a departing shuttle. "I could appoint you inspector-general," hemused. 

"What?" I blushed. "Sorry, sir. There's no such post as inspector-general." 

"Unless I create one." He tapped the papers on his desk. "Son, we've lost fourships. The enemy may strike again at any moment. The last thing we need isdiscontent on the home front; we have to keep the planters happy." 


Again his fingers drummed. "Laura Triforth is right: without their help we'dnever have been able to activate the Ven-turas Base, and we may need their aidagain. Tell them you're appointed to check into their complaints so we can putthem right." 

"What authority would 1 have?" 

"Authority to report to me. Don't scowl; it's a public relations title. If Idecide anything needs doing, we'll take care of it," 

I shook my head. "Those joeys trust me. Some are my friends, I won't pretend tobe something I'm not, to mollify them." 

De Marnay leaned forward, his warmth vanished. "They told me you had aninsubordinate streak," 

I was too tired to be diplomatic. "Yes, sir, I think 1 do. I'm sorry about it." 

For the first time a hint of amusement flickered at his mouth. "Well, weunderstand each other. Take the job, and keep the planters off my back." 

I stared at the floor, unready for the sudden crisis. After a time I said, "I'drather resign, if you'll allow me." 

"Resign what? Your liaison post?" 

"No, sir. My commission.1* I met his eye. 

He growled, "Don't threaten me; Til take you up on it," 

I took a deep breath. "Very well, sir," 

He studied me intently, then sighed, "A lot that would do for morale. All right,
Seafort, you've been demanding a real job, and I haven't obliged. Have it yourway. I'll appoint you inspector-general. You have authority to inspect allinstallations and remedy any inefficiency or incompetence you find, subject tomy veto. Your theater is the Venturas Base, our accommodations and arrangementsin Centraltown, and Orbit Station. The fleet is off-limits; that's mybailiwick," He hesitated. "Are you aware I'm making you one of the most powerfulmen on the planet?" 

"I'd prefer a ship." 

"I told you, you'll have one. You still have two months of shore duty." 

I capitulated. "Very well, sir. Where should I start?" 

He stood. "How in hell would I know? That's your worry." He indicated the door.
"My waiting room is packed. I need to get on with my appointments." 

I said, "Pardon, sir, but why do you call me insubordinate, then hand me suchpower?" 

"I have to work with the material at hand, Seafort. My other Captains are allshipboard, and I suppose the job really needs doing if the plantation zone is insuch turmoil. Put in for a lieutenant or two as staff. And middies, if you wantthem," He sighed, then stuck out his hand. "Good luck." 


I smiled, amazed at his largesse. "Thank you, sir." 


In the outer office I asked the ubiquitous Lieutenant Eiferts where to apply for
personnel. He directed me upstairs. 
The lieutenant in BuPers didn't bother to rise from his console, "Captain, you


already have an enlisted man and a lieutenant." 
"Lieutenant Tamarov is on sicklist. The enlisted man is... not available." 
"Unfortunately, sir, the Admiral gave your liaison duty low priority. There's no


way I can augment your staff. Sorry." With a perfunctory nod, he turned to his


files. 
I glowered. If he refused to give me staff I'd have to go over his head, and De
Marnay would know I couldn't even put together a work detail, "I see," 


His fingers tapped at the keyboard. After a time he looked up. "Is there


anything else, Captain?" 
"Yes. Pd like a lieutenant—no, make that two—assigned to my department
forthwith," 


"I've already told you why—'* 
"Stand at attention." 
He complied, though slowly, "Pm on Admiral De Mar-nay's personal staff, sir. Pm


not subject to outside orders." 
"Be silent until I tell you to speak." 
His position was awkward, As he'd said, he was on De Marnay's personal staff.


Yet I was a Captain and he a mere lieutenant. And a Captain is obeyed, always. 
I sat, leafing through a holozine. Several minutes passed, during which the


lieutenant became more and more uneasy. I could see him readying himself to
object to my high-handedness. 
I asked abruptly, "Have you ever been to Miningcamp, Lieutenant?" 
He looked confused. "No, sir."' 
"You've heard of it?" 
"Of course." 
"Think you'll like it there?" 
He said cautiously, "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." 
"U.N.A.F. runs the miners' station, you know, not the Navy. They don't have much


in the way of amenities. The Station is more pleasant than the asteroid, though.
At least Miningcamp Station is aired." 


I browsed through the holozine. A glance told me I had his full attention.
"Unless I get my staff in the next two minutes, you'll find yourself the newNaval liaison to Miningcamp, and you'll spend years wondering how you weretransferred and shipped off-planet on less than an hour's notice." I switchedoff my holozine. "Do I make myself clear?" 

"Quite, sir." He was sweating. "If I may, sir? I think I can make some changes."
I nodded. With relief he dropped into his seat. His fingers flew over thekeyboard. "I'll post the assignments immediately, sir. Have you any specificpersonnel in mind?" 

I remembered the time I'd requisitioned staff at Hope Nation, years ago. "Nobehavioral problems. Top-rated fitness reports only." 

"Aye aye, sir. They'll report to you tomorrow. Is that soon enough?" 

"It will do." 

"Shall I put your Mr. Tamarov on disability leave?" On general disability, Alexiwould languish in the hospital, among uncaring strangers. 

"No, leave him with me." Perhaps I could find a way to keep him busy. Some wayto summon his memories. 

I stood, strode to the door. "One more thing." 

"Yes, sir?" The lieutenant was all ears. 

"The enlisted man on my staff, Eddie Boss. He's in barracks now. Transfer him tothe first ship going outsystem." 

"Aye aye, sir." He saluted as I left. 

On my way to the car, I tried to imagine Admiral De Mar-nay's response had theBuPers officer complained I was reassigning him to Miningcamp. Foolish joey, thelieutenant. After all, it was he who posted the assignments. 

While waiting in my apartment for my two new staffers I reviewed my notes. Trueto his word, Admiral De Marnay had cut orders authorizing me to "investigate andcorrect abuses and inefficiency of whatever nature with respect to the state ofreadiness of U.N. Forces in the Hope Nation theater." With surprise, I realizedthat my writ ran to U.N. Armed Forces as well as Navy; De Marnay was in chargeof the whole show and he'd chosen to give me a free hand. 

My first need was office space. I couldn't very well be inspector-general frommy living room. 

I paced. I had promised Alexi I'd visit at noon. Annie, anxious to please, hadleft the apartment for the morning so I'd be free to meet with my lieutenants. 

Should I start with the Ventures? A quick trip would give me a picture of what Ifaced. Hopefully, Laura Triforth had exaggerated the problems there. In anyevent, I'd like to glimpse the Ventures once more, though Amanda was long deadand Derek was light-years distant. 

The doorbell chimed. I answered it, and recoiled. 


"Lieutenant Tolliver reporting for duty, sir." He saluted. 


"I know your name," I snarled. "Did you request this posting?" Disgusted, I
turned away. 
He followed me inside. "No, sir. Orders came in transferring me off Portia.


That's all I know." 


Was the BuPers lieutenant exacting his revenge? No, he had no way to know of my
resentment of Tolliver. 
"I'll get someone else," 1 muttered. "This must be as awkward for you as for


me." 
He looked surprised. "Awkward, sir? Why?" 
"Don't tell me you can't remember." 
"When we were cadets, sir?" 
I nodded. 
"I was a class ahead of you." 
"Yes." You made life so much more miserable than need be. 
"I'm sorry you're uncomfortable with me, sir. I certainly have no objection to


working with you." 
I peered suspiciously. Apparently he meant it. "You don't recall Academy?" 
He stared, uncomprehending. "The hazing, you mean?" He shrugged. "Part of the


drill, as far as I was concerned." 
"I hated you." And still do. 
He shrugged again. "I'm sorry, sir. I was hazed too, my first year." 
My angry reply was forestalled by the chime. Lieutenant Eiferts. 1 let him in.


"A message from the Admiral?" 
"No, sir. I've been assigned to your operation," 
"What?" 
"I'm to join your staff." 
"But you work directly for the Admiral." 
"I did until today." 
I hadn't known De Marnay was so devious. Whom could he trust to keep an eye on


me, if not his personal aide? 
"I see. I suppose if I asked for another lieutenant, they'd all be unavailable?" 
The comers of his mouth turned up, "Perhaps, sir, I'm not in BuPers," 



I could work with him, even if he was a spy for the Admiral, but I had to know.


"Mr. Tolliver, outside." 
"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver's obedience was automatic; he'd just come from a ship.
Eiferts, on the other hand, had served in a soft shoreside berth. We would see. 


"Well now." I paced, as if on a bridge. "Who engineered this, you or the
Admiral?" 


"Engineered what, sir?" Eiferts was the soul of innocence. 
I said nothing. After a time, he shifted uncomfortably. I let the silence drag
on. 


"I'm to help however you see fit," he ventured. 
"To whom is your loyalty, Lieutenant? Me or the Admiral?" 
He looked puzzled, "Is there a conflict, sir?" Good question. What did I have to


hide? 
I smiled grimly. "Will you report to him?" 
"I presume you'll expect me to do your staff work, sir. That would include


processing your reports." 
I roared, "Tell the truth, you insolent sea lawyer! All of it! At once!" 
He flushed. "Yes, sir!" He thrust out a palm, as if to ward off my fury. "I'm to


be of whatever assistance I can, sir. I'm also to report to the Admiral at my
own discretion. Anything I think he should know," 
I resumed my pacing. "Were your orders to report to him in secret, Lieutenant?" 


He hesitated. "Not specifically, sir. I think that was understood," 
"Very well. Report to the Admiral as ordered, and inform me each time you report
to him. Acknowledge." 


"Aye aye, sir. I will inform you each time I report to Admiral De Marnay. Orders
received and understood, sir." His forehead glistened. 
"Very well, then. Welcome to my staff, Lieutenant Eiferts," 


"Thank you, sir." He smiled weakly. 
"I'm going to the hospital to visit Mr, Tamarov, You know the ropes; how long
will it take to get office space?" 


"Do you want rooms in Admiralty House, sir?" 
"Urn, no. Downtown, I should think." 
"Perhaps near Naval barracks ... I could make a couple of calls, sir," He


brightened at the thought of dealing with matters he understood. 



"Very well. In the morning we leave for the Ventures. I want office space by the


time we're home." 1 ushered him out. 
Tolliver, hands clasped behind his back, was examining the flowers along the
walk. I growled to him, "We'll need a couple of holovids, a day's rations, and a
heli for the Ven-turas in the morning. See to it." 


"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver cleared his throat. "Does that mean I'm to stay on your


staff, sir?" 
"It means you have your orders." I strode away. Driving to Centraltown Hospital
I sighed with exasperation. I'd thoroughly alienated both my new staffers, to
say nothing of the BuPers lieutenant at Admiralty House. A fine start. 


"What are the Ventures?" Alexi frowned. 


"The mountain range of Western Continent," I repeated patiently. Awesome peaks
they were, which towered over vast tracts of unspoiled wilderness. 
"And we—your Navy—have a base there?" 
"Yes, Alexi." 
"Am I required to go?" 
"No." 
"Then I'd rather not." He stared down at the manicured lawn below his window. 
"Very well." 1 tried not to feel hurt. "I'll see you when I m back." 
"If you wish," 
As I headed for the door he blurted, "What will they do 
with me?" 
"You're on sick leave until you get well. 
"The doctors say I may never get my memory back ... if I don't, am I still in


the Navy? Do I have to follow orders?" 


"You haven't been discharged, Alexi. But if you don't recover, I'm sure they'll
allow you a medical release." 
"And then?" He turned, with a bitter smile. "I have nowhere to go and haven't


the faintest idea what I should 
do." It was as close to an appeal as I'd heard, "I'll look after 
you, Alexi." He turned back to the window. "I don't want to be looked 
after." "I'm sorry." I thought to touch his shoulder, refrained. 
"Good-bye, then." "Good-bye, Mr. Seafort." He hesitated. "Am I supposed to 
call you 'sirT . "Of course. But I won't hold you to it until you remember” 



"Thank you." When I left he was staring out the window. 

CHAPTER 8 

The flight west to the Ventures was as I remembered it: uneventful hours droningover the shallows of Farreach Ocean. Lush submarine vegetation sent tentaclesgroping for the surface, where they contested for sunlight with water liliesthat rose and fell gently with the swells. Hope Nation had no animal life, sothe ocean was a vast soup of competing herbage. 

I piloted the military machine with relaxed enjoyment. One hand on thecollective, the other on the cyclic, the puter switched to passive mode, I hadample time to recall which switches operated the various missiles andantimissile gear with which the heli could be armed. About two hours fromWestern Continent our radar homed on the Ventures Base beacon. I switched on the 
autopilot and leaned back, glad of the rest. I'd been flying for six hours. 

In the rear seat, Tolliver dozed. Next to me, Lieutenant Eiferts studied hisholovid. "Sir?" 

"What?" 

"I've been looking over the material and supplies we poured into that base, sir.
In theory the plan made sense, but I don't think it worked out too well." 

"Pity you weren't in charge of strategic planning," I said acidly. He fellsilent, until I relented. "I gather the idea was to be able to defend bothhemispheres." 

"When Orbit Station is over Eastern Continent, Western Continent has a clearshot at any invaders above it. But that meant we had to split our resources. Weshould have put the base where we could support it." 

"That's what we're here to leam," I reminded him. 

"Anyway, ships make better laser platforms than land installations." 

"But ships are so vulnerable to attack. Look how many we've lost." MyChallenger, among them. "And fish don't operate groundside." 

"Unless it was they who brought the Hope Nation virus." "They probably did." Ishivered, despite the afternoon warmth. "There was a fellow, years ago, whoclaimed he saw them spraying." 

"Captain Grone." 

I looked up in surprise. "You knew about him?" 

He nodded. "Used to live near the Great Falls area." 

"What happened to him?" 

"Nobody knows, sir." 

Poor, demented Captain Grone. When I'd met him, his wife Janna was due to have achild. I wondered if the baby had survived. I thought of Nate, who would bethree now. My throat tightened. 


The speaker crackled. "Incoming heli, course two oh nine, identify yourself." 


Lieutenant Eiferts reached for the caller. "Ventura, this is Naval heli two four
nine Alpha, ETA your base forty minutes." 
"We don't show a flight plan filed, two four nine Alpha. Who are you?" 
"Captain Nicholas Seafort and staff. We're here to insp—" 
I switched off the caller. 
"Sir?" Eiferts gaped. 
"Aboard ship my lieutenants knew their place," I growled. I pried the caller


from his hand, keyed it on. "Ventura Base, this is Captain Seafort, U.N.N.S.
We're on a sightseeing trip through the Ventures." 


"Unauthorized visitors aren't allowed, sir." 
I recalled our carefree flight to the falls, Derek, Amanda, and I. No flight
plan, no authorizations. 


The voice hesitated. "You're, uh, Captain Seafort? The Captain Seafort?" 
"Yes." Again, my cursed notoriety. 
"I'm sure the General—I'll have to confirm, sir, but I'm certain it will be all


right. Do you have our beacon?" 
"Affirmative." 
"Please stay on your present course. I'll be back to you," The line went dead. 
Eiferts looked abashed. "Sorry, sir. I thought it was customary to check in with


Base Command." 


I'd learn more from an unannounced trip, even if it meant we'd travel under
false colors. But still... I sighed. "I'm on edge, Mr. Eiferts. Pardon me." 
He looked startled. Captains did not apologize to lieutenants, even when wrong.


"Yes, sir, of course. Sorry I interfered." 
We flew in silence, a knot forming in my stomach. The speaker crackled. "Captain


Seafort, General Khartouf welcomes you to Ventures Base. Would you join him this
evening for dinner?" 
I keyed the caller. "I'd be happy to accept." Eiferts shot me a glance, but was


silent. 
"Very well, sir, we'll expect you." 
We were coming over the coastline. Great hills swept down from the highlands to


plunge into the sea. Behind them the sun was drifting toward the horizon. 
"Wake Tolliver." 



"I'm up, sir." He leaned forward from the rear seat. 


"Listen, both of you. When we land I'll go with the top brass. You two get a
look around. We'll meet later and compare notes." 
Eiferts said, "Aye jiye, sir. What are we looking for?" 
"Anything odd. Evidence that the base isn't well run. Sloppy security or lack of


readiness." 
"We already know their security is sloppy," Tolliver said. 
I scowled. "How so?" 
"They're letting us land, though we're unexpected and have no flight plan


filed," 
"I'm a U.N.N.S. Captain," I snapped. 
"They only know you said you are," he replied coolly, 
I bit back an irate reply. He was right. 
When we were a few miles from the airfield I took over from the autopilot. I


followed the beacon until the base was in sight, and set down on their parade


ground, as instructed. 
The field was a parade ground in name only. Around it, red earthen roads gouged
from the plain were a mass of ruts; after a hard downpour the base must be a
morass. Prefab barracks and stark operations buildings lined the perimeter road. 


I straightened my jacket, tugged at my tie as a handful of officers approached,


ducking under the slowing blades. 
"Captain Seafort? General Khartouf." I shook the proffered hand. "My adjutant,
Major Rinehart." He introduced me to the rest of his staff. 


I took a deep breath; time for work. "Impressive place you have, General." 


"A bit rough, still." He grinned through even white teeth. "But we manage." His
eyes flickered to my scar. "We've heard a lot about you, Captain." 
I grunted. I wasn't here to talk about myself. "How many men do you have, sir?


Last time I was in Western Continent I saw nothing but wilderness." 


"Three thousand. And they're hardly enough." We strolled toward the main
building. "Join me for a drink, Captain. And your officers too, if you wish." 
"My lieutenants can look after themselves," I said offhandedly. "Eiferts,


Tolliver, you're off duty until the morning." 
"Aye aye, sir." My two aides watched me saunter off with the Base C.O. 
Dinner was served by an enlisted steward. Though I'd dismissed my lieutenants in


cavalier fashion, the General's dining hall was crowded with his own officers.
It was only after the soup, while we were engaged in animated conversation, that 


I realized they'd all come for a glimpse of me. Dismayed, I forced my attentionback to General Khartouf s comment. 

"They'd be easier to fight if we had weapons designed specifically for them." 

"Pardon? The fish, you mean?" I toyed with my second course. It happened to befish, imported frozen from home, and I felt my appetite subside. "Unfortunately,
we don't know what weapons would work best," 

"That's what I was saying." The General eyed me askance. 

A middle-aged colonel cleared his throat. "Pardon me, sir, but what was mosteffective in your own encounters with the fish?" 

His neighbor turned his head, so as not to miss a word. I stopped, fork halfwayto mouth, realizing the entire table was hanging on my answer. Did they expect ablow-by-blow account of my battles? Was that the price of my dinner? Nauseabattled with disgust. I wouldn't have it. Not for all the fine Terran wines onthe starched white tablecloth. 

No, it wasn't the price of my dinner. It was the price of my two lieutenantshaving the run of the base, free to ask innocent questions. I forced a smile.
"Well, on Challenger, they attacked three times..." 

Unnoticed, the forkful offish returned to my plate. 

"So?" 

My two lieutenants exchanged looks. Eiferts gave a small nod, and Tolliverbegan. "Venturas Base has been in operation over a year, sir. They've had theprefab factory set up for half that time, but the enlisted men are still livingfive to a two-man unit." 

I thought of the transients, shipped to Hope Nation six to a cabin, packed likesardines. "Go on," 

"The prefab factory was run by civilians brought from Terra on six-monthcontracts. They agreed to an extension, but demanded and got return passageafter nine months, By then the Army was supposed to have men trained to replacethem. Because it took so long to get the factory operating, the workers weren'twell trained. Apparently production is minimal at best. No one's seen anyceluwall leave the plant in months. I couldn't ask too much more without makingthe sergeant suspicious," 

I waited, but that was all Tolliver had to say. I turned to Eiferts. "And you?" 

"I took a long walk, sir. None of the roads are paved. Someone told me in winterthey're virtually impassable.** 

"That's all you learned?" My tone was scathing, 

"No, my stroll took me to the laser control building. I was enthralled, so thelieutenant on duty showed me through," Wearily, he made as if to sit, realizedhe was in my presence. "The base has four huge puter-aimed laser cannon poweredby the emergency fission station the planters hauled from Centraltown. Theactual cannon are on that rise south of the base. Their combined firepower wouldbe staggering. Unfortunately, they can't be fired together." 


"Why?" I gestured to the seat. 
Gratefully he eased himself into a chair. He must have had a long hike. "Thanks,


sir. Because the power step-down lines haven't been hooked properly. Only one
laser can be fired at a time." 
"Christ!" Tolliver, with feeling. 
I glared. "I don't condone blasphemy." 
"Your pardon, sir." 
"Though I share the sentiment. The only real purpose of this base is to man


those laser emplacements." I brooded, "We need to know if Khartouf mentioned
these shortfalls to Admiral De Marnay. I'll call in the morning." 
"He didn't, sir," said Eiferts. 


"Oh?" 
"Khartouf s progress reports passed over my desk, sir. 1 brought everything of
importance to the Admiral's attention." 


"That smug bastard!" 
Eiferts's jaw dropped. 
"Khartouf," I growled, "not Mr. De Marnay," ! paced the length of our tiny


cubicle, my chest tight. "What do we do?" 


Eiferts said, "How do your orders read? 'Investigate and correct abuses and
inefficiency'?" 
"You saw them?" 
"I posted them." He smiled apologetically. 
"Call their office and get me an appointment with General Khartouf for the


morning," 
"Aye aye, sir." 
I went into my adjoining bedroom and took off my jacket, A moment later, a


knock. Lieutenant Eiferts, his mouth set in a grim line. "There's no answer at
Base HQ, sir." 
"What?" 
"I can't get through." 


I swore fluently. Lieutenant Tolliver raised an eyebrow. 
Eiferts said, "I ought to mention, sir, that I'll be reporting this to Admiral
De Marnay." 


"Never mind that." I thrust my feet back into my shoes. "Let's go." 



"Where, sir?" 
"Out." I stalked down the corridor, the two lieutenants dogging my heels. 
"HQ building, sir?" panted Eiferts. 
"No. The laser control station first." 
He winced at the prospect of another long hike. "Aye aye, sir." He pointed down


the perimeter road. "It's that way.** 
It took several minutes at fast pace to reach the laser installation. The night


air was chill, and though the exercise warmed me I felt the tickle of a cold
coming on. 
We approached the darkened building. It seemed deserted but as we neared I saw a


dim light in a side window. "What's in there?" 


"I don't know," said Eiferts. "I used the front gate, and the sergeant took me
directly to the control room," 
I stopped beneath the window. From that vantage point all I could see was a


ceiling. "Boost me up." 
Tolliver gaped. 
"Boost me. How else am I supposed to see?** 
"Aye aye, sir." He made a cup with his hands and braced himself. 
I hoisted myself up to cling from the window frame. After a moment I dropped


down again. 
"What did you see, sir?" Eiferts whispered. 
I shook my head, unable to speak. 
"What, sir?"' 
"They're playing cards," I snarled. "Two men in the comm room, sitting over a


deck of cards," 
"On duty?" Tolliver was scandalized. On ship, such conduct would bring down the
Captain's almighty wrath. With a twinge of guilt I recalled my chess games on


the bridge, during the long dreary hours of watch. But we were Fused then,
Wasn't that different? 
"Freeze!" 
I looked up. The sentry's gun pointed directly at me. 
"Easy, soldier," said Tolliver. "This man's—" 
"What are you joeys doing?" 
A face appeared at the window, "Sarge, what's—** 



The sentry snapped, "Call HQ, stat. We've got intruders.** «t_» 
112 » David Feintudi 
"Move it, Varney!" 
The face disappeared. "Stay put, all of you," the guard ordered. He waved his


laser rifle at me. "Well?" 
"I'm Captain Nicholas Seafort." 
"1 know who you are. I asked what you were doing." 
I approached him, ignoring the weapon he brandished. As I neared, I could see


the stereoplug in his ear. 
"What's that?" Without warning I snatched it from him. 
"Hey, give it—" 
"A stereoplug? On sentry duty?" Slap music emanated faintly from the plug. 
"You've got no right—" 
With my heel, I ground the plug into the dirt. Over seventy unibucks, in


Centraltown, and that a continent away. 
The sentry, wary now, looked back and forth among us. "Just what's up, here?" 
"I'm acting with the authority of Admiral Georges De Mamay, head of Unified


Command. Where is your CO,?" 


"General Khartouf?" He pointed up the road we'd just followed. "Officers'


barracks." 


"Very well. Take us there." 


He shook his head. "I can't leave my post." 


"You may now. You're relieved." 


"What's your authority to give me orders?" 


My opinion of him went up a notch. "Mr. Tolliver, your holovid." Tolliver pulled


a portable from his pocket, switched it on, snapped in a chip. "Read this," I


said to the guard. 
By moonlight, on the laser building steps, the sentry read carefully through my
orders. At length he said, "Well, sir, I guess they put you in charge, I'm
Sergeant Trabao. If you'll follow me to officers' barracks..." 


The officers' dormitory was a hundred yards from the HQ building, not far from
our own rooms. Outside, a lone sentry slouched in the shadows, At the sight of
us he thrust something in his pocket. "Hey, what are you—" 



"It's all right, Portillo, they're with me." Uncertain, the second sentry stood
aside. 


Trabao said, "The General's—" 
“Right here." Khartouf stood on the top step, hands on hips. "What in bloody
hell are you up to?" 


I said, "You'll want to discuss it privately, General." 


"Nonsense. Why are you skulking around my base in the middle of the night? Your
answer better be good, or you'll find yourselves in the guardhouse." 
"I'm here by order of Georges De Marnay, Admiral Commanding." Not quite true; De


Marnay had authorized my jaunt but he certainly hadn't ordered it. I pressed on.
"I'm inspecting your readiness." 
"By standing on your flunky's hands peering into windows?" 
I felt an idiot "My conduct is not at issue," 
"It bloody well is, Captain!" 
"Tolliver, show him the chip," 


Lieutenant Tolliver proffered his holovid. "Here, sir," 
Khartouf took the bolo, let it fall to the dirt "You men, escort them to the
guardhouse. By force, if necessary. We'll deal with them in the morning," 


The second sentry reached for his pistol. Sergeant Trabao shook his head, "No,
sir, I think you'd better read the hole," 
"Portillo, put Sergeant Trabao under arrest with the rest" 


I protested, "If you'll just read my orders—** 
"Prong your orders. I give you the hospitality of my table, and you sneak around
betraying us in the night. I won't have—** 


Something snapped within, I snarled, "What you'll have no longer matters. You're


relieved of command," 
Tolliver, Eiferts, and even Trabao gaped, but I was past caring. "Eiferts, take
Sergeant Trabao *s pistol. Move when I give an order! Now, cover Mr. Khartouf.
Mr. Trabao, we'll adjourn to the Commandant's office. Lead the way," 


A few moments later General Khartouf slammed the holovid down on his table. "All 
right, Seafort, I've read the bloody thing! You have authority to relieve no
one.** 


"You're wrong." I turned to the Sergeant "Mr, Trabao, we'll be leaving first
thing ID the morning. Make sure my heli is ready." 
"We'll see who ends up relieved," the General jeered. 
"The moment you're gone I'll be on the caller to Admiralty House." 



"No, you won't. I'm taking you along." 


Eiferts stirred, his uneasiness apparent. "Who'll run the base, sir? Someone has
to be in charge." 
"True." 
"Who, sir? I ought to put it in my report." 
"You." 
«I_WHAT?" 
"You're acting Base Commandant, as of now." 
He spluttered, protocol abandoned. "But—me, sir? Why?" 
"You know the problems; you've seen the reports General Khartouf sent. And 1


don't know who else to trust. So it's you." 


"I'd need the Admiral's approval for that, sir," he said slowly. "I don't know
if—" 
"Have you heard of a chain of command?" My tone was savage. "Does a Captain


outrank a lieutenant?" 


He stared until he comprehended, then his eyes fell. "Aye aye, sir. I'm sorry.
Orders received and understood, sir." 
"Very well." I paced the office. "We're too keyed up to sleep. Turn on the


office holo. Find the files on the prefab plant. You'll need what help theGeneral will give you. I think you'll have your hands full cleaning up thisfiasco." 

"The only fiasco here is attempted kidnapping," the General shouted. "You think

I'll help you rifle my files? I'll watch your hanging, Seafort! This is mutiny!" 
I turned. Something in my eyes gave him pause. "Hanging?" My voice was odd,
"Don't bring up the subject, General. I could stretch my authority evenfurther." 

"You wouldn't da—" 

"Try me," I held my gaze until he looked away, "Mr, Eiferts, the General will
show you his files now. 1*11 be outside. Mr. Trabao, come along," 
In the hallway, I confronted the guard. "I don't think much of a stereochip on


sentry duty." 
He reddened. "Things have been sort of slack around here." 
"You like it that way?" 
He studied me. "The truth? No. I was a drill sergeant back 
PRISONER'S HOPE * 115 



»n Rio. But when no one backs you up, it's hard. You end by doing what the
others do. I wasn't always like that." 
"You don't have to be, any longer." 


"Sir?" 
"Mr. Eiferts will need an aide who knows his way around. Can we trust you,
Trabao?" 


He let out a long, slow breath. "Yes." 
"I will, then. Show Mr. Eiferts the ropes." 
"Yes, sir." 
"I'll be outside." Shivering, I coughed. The room seemed chill. 
"Stand at attention!" 
I complied at once. Admiral De Marnay, red-faced, planted himself Inches from my


nose. "What in Lord God's own hell are you up to, Seafort? Are you power-mad?" 
"No, sir." At least, I didn't think so. I felt exhausted. It had been a long,


sullen trip back. Lieutenant Eiferts must have radioed ahead; after we landed I
had no trouble getting an appointment with the Admiral, Not this time. 
He bellowed, "The hell you aren't!" 
"Sir, I—" 
"Quiet, you presumptuous young—you upstart! You lunatic! You—** He spluttered to


a halt. 
Spine rigid, hands pressed to my sides, I stared at the wall behind his desk. 
"Who gave you authority to remove a commander in the field, you insolent pup?" 
"You did, sir." 
"Be silent, I said!" That was unfair; when he asked a question I was obligated


to answer. He growled, "Khartouf was appointed by the U,N,A,F, Chief of Staff!
Am I supposed to tell Staff a baby-faced Captain, acting without orders, removed
his man from office?" 


I assumed the question was rhetorical. 
"Answer!" 
I'd assumed wrong. "No, sir." 
"Oh? You're suggesting I lie to him?" 
Wearily I said, "No, sir." 



Admiral De Marnay flung himself into his seat. "I ought to court-martial you,


Seafort!" 
I knew there'd be trouble, but I hadn't expected quite so much. Well, I'd often
considered resigning; now the Navy would save me the trouble. "On what charges,
sir?" 


"Insubordination, incitement to rebellion, mutiny .. .Don't worry, we'll find
ones that fit!" 
"Very well, sir." 
He roared, "Is that all you have to say for yourself?" 
"No, sir." 


"Then say it, before I throw you out of here!" His jaw jutted. 
I said, "Khartouf's base is a shambles. His lasers sit unready, his barracks
unbuilt, while he dines in luxury with his officers. He's a fool." 


"That's not your judgment to make." 
"He's also a corrupt fool," 
"I told you—eh?" 
"Lieutenant Eiferts spent the night going through Khartouf's puter accounts.


According to Mr, Trabao, the men have had nothing but Q-retions for the last six
months," 


"Well, it's a war zone. What of it?" 
"There were indents for tons of supplemental foodstuffs purchased in Centraltown
and supposedly flown to the base, No one knows where it went." 


He was observing me closely. "Go on." 
"The food may have been imaginary, or it may actually have been sent to the


Ventures and resold from there. I have no idea; we didn't have time to trace
it." 
He shifted in his seat. "All right, assume Khartouf had his hand in the till.


Perhaps he should have been removed and tried. But not by you, Seafort, Not by
you." 
"I understand that now, sir. I made a bad mistake," 
"In removing him?" 


"No, sir. In taking your orders literally." 
It brought him out of his chair, hands closing into fists. I was still
imprisoned at attention, my back aching, and I felt dizzy. I shouldn't have
taken that long walk in the cold Ventures night. 


"BY God, Seafort, you're an arrogant one!r 



I no longer cared. "That may be so. You knew what I was when you appointed me!"
It was breathtaking insolence, for which I would have instantly broken asubordinate. I ignored his stunned amazement and rushed on. "You ordered me toinvestigate and correct abuses and inefficiency. Tell me how Khartouf's abusescould have been corrected without removing him!" 

"You could report to me. I'd have removed him." 
"You didn't order me to report abuses! You said to correct them!" 
"Don't be a sea lawyer," he growled. "I had no idea that meant stripping a Base


Commander of his post." 
"Neither did I, sir," I said truthfully. We lapsed into silence while I fought


to remain at proper attention, His anger abating, the Admiral sank back into his
chair. At length I said, "Will you court-martial me?" 
"Eh? No, of course not. You knew I was just letting off steam." 
I'd known no such thing, "Very well, sir," I hesitated, "It's clear you don't


want me to continue as inspector-general." 
"I'm the Admiral here, Seafort! I'll tell you what's clear," 
"Yes, sir." 
"Stand easy," 
I sagged with relief. "May I sit?" At his nod I dropped into a chair. "Sorry,


sir. I don't feel well," 
He tapped his desk, lost in thought, "Khartouf s brother is Assistant Deputy


SecGen, as you no doubt knew," He shook his head, "Have you any idea of the
trouble you've made?" 
"You can always veto my acts, sir," 
"You know I have to stand behind you. Reinstating him now would be a license to


steal. And the Navy has to look after its own," 
"I see." It was the wrong reason to back me. 
His annoyance flared again. "And you've taken my chief aide as well." 
"Mr. Eiferts? I needed someone immediately, and uh» I had to work with the


material at hand," 
"Don't be insolent!" 
"Aye aye, sir. Eiferts knew the problems, and he had your confidence. He was


ideal," 
"I know. You were right. I can't see who else to put in charge, so now I'm
without his services." 



"Sorry." He couldn't have it both ways. 


"Don't get in a huff, Seafort. It's all my fault; I wrote your blessed orders
myself." For the first time his eyes held a glint of humor. 
"What should I do now, sir?" 
He tapped his desk. After a time he sighed and said, "Go on with your business." 
"As inspector-general?" I sounded incredulous. 
"That's your post," he snapped. "While you're at it, check the shipping records


on Orbit Station. See if you can figure out why we have such a pileup of
supplies at Centraltown." 


"Aye aye, sir." 
The Admiral's thoughts were elsewhere. "We won't try him here, of course. Send
him to Earth with a full account-ing." 


"Yes, sir." The hot potato would be handed on. 
"You'll have made enemies at home, Seafort. That's out of my hands." 
"Yes, sir." 
"Very well, dismissed." As I headed for the door he added, "You relieved


Khartouf before you found he was stealing." 
"Yes, sir." 
His eye met mine. "Someday you'll go too far." 
I held his gaze for a long moment. 
"Dismissed." 


CHAPTER 9 

Early in the morning I drooped over my kitchen table inhaling coffee, strugglingto wakefulness, still bothered by my cold. Tolliver was due at our new officenear the barracks in an hour; I needed something to keep him busy. Arrange aninspection trip to Orbit Station? No, if I alerted the Station I wouldn't seeregular operations, I'd find a station made ready for inspection. Though Idetested it, I would have to keep skulking about. 

I tied my shoes, Annie had gone out to shop, giving me the distance I obviouslywanted. Why, then, did I feel miserable? I left for work. 

We'd been assifpied a three-room suite; my office, a room for my twolieutenants, and a waiting room for visitors. Plush, by naval standards.
Tolliver was waiting. 

Inside, I sat drumming my desk, I had a report to prepare, but nothing else todo. 

"Fm going to the hospital for an hour or so." 


"Yes, sir. Do you have an assignment for me?" 
I thought of piling him with drudgery, in revenge for the hazing which he'd once
inflicted. Abstract the quartermasters' reports for the last eighteen months.


Detail the labor that the planters supplied to Ventures Base, Count the bricks
in the top thirty feet of the building. 
"Nothing for now." I added reluctantly, "Would you care to visit Mr. Tamarov?" I


knew I'd prefer to see Alexi alone. 
"I'd like to meet him, sir." 
"Very well." I sighed. 
At the hospital, Alexi's glance flirted between us as if as-our relationship.


Our conversation was stilted. After a while Tolliver wandered to the coffee 


shop, to give us time alone. 
Absently, Alexi rubbed at the stubble covering his scalp where his bandage had
been, while I told him about my escapade in the Venturas. When I was done he
ventured, "Relieving him won't hurt your career?" 


I shrugged. "I already have enemies. I make them wherever I go." 


"Really?" 


"Does that surprise you?" 


He studied me. "Well, yes." 


I shook my head. "I have no talent at dealing with people." 


"But you're kind." 


I snorted with derision. "You can't be serious." 


"I am, Mr. Seafort." 


"How little you remember." I was immediately sorry, but it was too late. 


He reddened, but said, "You've certainly been kind since I woke. Was it once


different?" 
"Yes." I wished the subject hadn't come up. "When you were a midshipman," 
"I seem to have survived." 
I grunted, looking to change the topic. "You're gaining your strength." 
"Yes." He stood, walked to the window. "What do I do now?" 
"You're on sick leave. Wait for your memory to return.** 
"It won't, you know." He spoke as if certain. "The doctors tell me that after so


long a coma, there's only a small chance." 



I groped for a way to help him, found none. "I'm sorry." 


"They've room here. They're in no hurry to eject me." He slumped back on his
bed. 
Tolliver returned. I shivered, reminding myself to find some meds for my cold.


"I'll see you again in a day or so." 
"Nice of you." 
Something in Alexi's voice gave me pause. "Don't you want me to visit?" 
He was silent a long while. "You don't understand. You come, and talk about


people I should know and places I ought to remember. It's excruciating." 
I said stiffly, "I won't bother you, if that's what you'd prefer." 
He spoke as if Tolliver weren't present. "You still don't see. I sit in this


damned room day after day, listening for your step. If it wasn't for you, I'd


have nobody who cared. I'm dependent on you, and it's terrifying!" 
"Oh, Alexi." I squeezed his shoulder. This time, he didn't pull free. "I'm so
sorry. I'll visit every day until you're better." 


"Until they give you a ship, you mean. Then I'll be alone." 


True. A warship was no place for a confused and injured officer. "That won't be
for a while," I said. "You'll be well by then." 
"Will I?" He stared at the window. 
The silence stretched. Tolliver said, "Mr. Tamarov, these things take time, I


had an uncle once—" 
"I don't give Christ's damn about your uncle!" 
Tolliver and I exchanged glances. I said, "We'd best go. We're upsetting you," 
"As you wish." Alexi still hadn't moved, 
"Come, Mr, Tolliver," I drifted to the doorway, motioned for Tolliver to pass.


Alexi turned. In two strides he was at the door, clutching my wrist. "Mr.
Seafort, I—" 
Tolliver thrust himself between us, sent Alexi sprawling onto the bed. 
I caught his arm. "Tolliver, no!" 
"He handled you!" 
Alexi Jeaped to his feet. ToJJiver raised his fists. 


"BELAY THAT. BOTH OF YOU!" My bellow tore at my throat, but it halted the melee. 
**Aye aye, sir," Tolliver said at once. He trembled slightly as he brushed the
neatly creased pants of his uniform. 



"Tolliver, by the door! Alexi, sit!" 
Alexi made as if to object, sank onto the bed, "He shoved me!" 
"Yes. You touched me," 
**So? You touch me at times." "I'm a Captain." "What does that have—" 
Tolliver's tone was harsh. "It is a capital offense to touch the Captain," "I


wasn't fighting, just—* 
122 * David Feintuch 
"He's right, Alexi. Tolliver, he didn't know." 
"He's a Naval officer." 
"Who suffers from amnesia. You will make allowances." 
Tolliver swallowed. "Aye aye, sir." 
Alexi sat, his knees shaky. "Will I be executed?" 
"Alexi, for God's sake!" 
He flung himself across the bed. "I don't understand your world! I can get


killed doing what seems perfectly innocent!" 


My voice was husky. "Sit up." I waited for him to comply. "What were you saying
when Mr. Tolliver interrupted?" 
Alexi blinked. "It's hardly ... I didn't want you to go. I knew I'd been taking


out my frustration on you," 


"Neither of you meant any harm." I held Tolliver's eye, then Alexi's. "I want an
end to this." 
Tolliver was the first to respond. "Mr. Tamarov, I bear you no ill will." 
Alexi stood shakily. "I'm sorry I touched your Captain; I understand you were


protecting him." They shook. After a few awkward moments, we left. 
"You were correct." I coughed. 
"About what?" Laura Triforth asked. Her voice was distorted over the caller. 
"The Ventures Base was a mess. We're reorganizing it now." I peered through my


office window at the streets below. 
"Where else have you been?" 
"Nowhere, yet." 
"I see." Her silence spoke volumes. 
"I've been trying to shake off a cold." It sounded a lame excuse. 



"What will you do about our shipping charges?" 
"I have no authority over rates." 
"I'd have thought you had no authority over General Khartouf." 
"I'm not sure I did." The less said about that episode, the better. "What about


Mantiet?" 
"Frederick's disappeared. No one knows where." 
I tried to keep my frustration in check. "You all know each other, Ms. Triforth.


Surely there aren't so many places to hide." 
"There's Centraltown, the plantations, the whole continent." 
I said, "Most of it undeveloped wilderness." 
"Which has thousands of glades where a heli could be hidden, its transponder


turned off." 


My chest was tight. "Mantiet nearly killed Lieutenant Tamarov. We've got to
bring him to justice." 
Laura's voice softened. "He nearly killed you too. We want to find him just as


much as you, Mr. Seafort." 
I doubted that was possible, "Very well." We rung off. I glowered at Tolliver. 
"Are they pacified, sir?" 
"When I want your questions, I'll tell you." My head throbbed; all I wanted was


to lie down. 
"Sorry." He didn't seem perturbed. How could a man such as Tolliver feel abouthis assignment? He claimed to have nothing against me, yet I hated every momentof his company. I knew I wasn't being fair; he was performing his duties

conscientiously and showed no resentment at my curt manner. But seeing him
constantly recalled my misery at Academy. 
I muttered, "Ms. Triforth insists I do something about shipping rates." I


gathered my holochips to take home. 
"Yes, sir." 
"Is that all you have to say?" 
In a patient tone, as with a child, he answered, "Yes, sir. I'm sorry if I


offend you," 
I slammed the door on the way out. 
I decided I might as well deliver my report chip in person, in case the Admiral


wanted to confer with me. 
He didn't. I presented my chip to Lieutenant Eiferts's replacement and wandered
to the spaceport terminal the tarmac. The gift shop displayed low-priced 



tourist goods made on Hope Nation, and expensive ones shipped from home. Ilunched at the spaceport restaurant. After, 1 dawdled, not wanting to go back tomy office and cope with Tolliver. 

I was glancing at the holozines in the rack when a lieutenant peered over myshoulder. "Hello, Captain." He seemed vaguely familiar. "Lieutenant Kahn, sir. Imet you on the Station." 

"Ah." 
"Have you heard the news?" 
I felt a stab of alarm. "Another attack?" 
"Nothing like that, sir. A ship docked this morning." 
"Oh." I shrugged. Once, the arrival of a vessel such as Hi-bernia was major


news, but now ships came and went almost unnoticed. "I'll bet they're looking
forward to long-lea—" 
"She left Lunapolis nine months ago." 


"What?" 
Kahn grinned at my astonishment. "Nine months. One Fuse straight from home
system." 


"But—why—I mean, how—?" 


"Something to do with how the fish Fuse. Our engineers went to work on it. I
don't know the details, but they're calling it Augmented Fusion." 
"Good Lord." What a change. No longer would we endure interminable journeys to


the stars. Nine months was a—an instant. 
"Victoria, they call her. She's small, but God, she's fast." 
I frowned at his blasphemy. "How small?" 
"Twenty-four crew, forty-two passengers. Not much more than a sloop. No one


knows what class to name her." 
I smiled. "Call her a fastship." 
"Yes, sir." He grinned, sharing my delight in the extraordinary news. "She


docked this morning with dispatches for the Admiral." 
"Should you be gossiping about that, Lieutenant?" 
For a moment he looked worried. "Well, sir, you're inspector-general. If I can't


tell you, who's to trust?" His face brightened. "I heard they stripped her bare
to reduce mass. Only two laser emplacements, one fore, one aft." 
I said, "She'd better be fast, then. You can't fight fish with only two lasers." 
"I'd love to see her. In fact, I'm putting in for transfer this afternoon." 



I thought of the long slow days. Sixteen months from Lunapolis to Hope Nation;
now we would cut that time almost in half. How would it affect a Captain'sauthority? What if the scientists shortened the journey even more? Would aCaptain eventually be made to defer all important decisions to Admiralty? Whatif I'd been forced to brig my mutineers, to prosecute them when we reached port?
Could I have maintained discipline had I not hanged them? I paid my bill, wentback to the office. 

"I'm going to Orbit Station." 
"Do you have a program in mind, sir?" Tolliver. 
"To look around." Perhaps I'd get a glimpse of Victoria. Perhaps not. 
"That's all?" 
"Mostly." And to see what trouble I could stir up. I tried to imagine the


Admiral's reaction if he heard I'd relieved General Tho as well as Khartouf. 
"When will you meet with the planters?" 
"After I get back." I made a note to ask BuPers to replace Tolliver; his very


voice drove me to distraction. "Book us on a shuttle." 


"Aye aye, sir. There's one at nine this evening." Time enough to go to the
apartment, pack my duffel for overnight. 
"Do we have the quartermaster's report yet?" 
"No, sir." 
"Go to the spaceport and get it." 
"Aye aye, sir. If the quartermaster says it isn't ready?" 
"Have him give you what he's got. We want to know what supplies are sitting on


the runway and how long they've been there. I'll meet you at nine." 


The apartment was silent and dark; at first I thought Annie was gone. I found
her lying facedown on the bed, fully dressed. 
"I'll be at the Station tonight." 
"I see." Her voice was muffled. 
I threw a couple of shirts and my toilet articles into my duffel. "I'm not sure


when I'll be back. Probably tomorrow." 
" 'Kay." 
"Good-bye, then." For some reason, my chest ached. 
"Good-bye." 
I stood at the door a moment, decided to say no more. I left. I drove our


electricar to the spaceport; Annie hated to drive and wouldn't need it. 



I negotiated the streets with care. Though I was in the outskirts of the city Ididn't feel as comfortable as I would on Plantation Road; too many vehicles wereabout. I kept a wary eye for haulers or buses that might lunge at me. 

Few people walked along the roadway; I eyed each pedestrian with suspicion, halfexpecting him to dash across my path. I passed a sailor waiting to cross thestreet. A lady and her dog. A youth with a knapsack. 

I jammed on the brakes. The boy, startled, stared at me. 

I rolled down the window. "Jerence? What are you doing here?" 

He backed away. I put the car into reverse to follow, glancing nervously at themirror. "Does your father know you're—" 

He sprinted down the sidewalk, away from the spaceport. 

I watched as he disappeared around a bend. Snaking my head, I drove on. The boywasn't my problem. As a courtesy, I would radio Harmon and tell him I'd seen hisson. He could heli to Centraltown and search. By that time, of course, it wouldbe dark and the boy would have vanished, 

I parked at the spaceport. I'd made it with a half hour to spare. The field wasonly a few steps distant. 

I coughed. Jerence wasn't my concern. As inspector-general my task was to checkour military readiness. On the other hand my posting as liaison to the plantershadn't been canceled. But that didn't mean ... 

Damn. I restarted the car, wheeled out of the lot. Unmindful of traffic Ihurtled down the road toward Centraltown, watching both sides of the street. 

Something moved. 1 slowed, peering between houses. Nothing. I drove anothermile. Jerence couldn't have run so far yet; I stopped, turned around. When Ireached the house where I'd seen movement I got out, walked up the drive. Allwas quiet. 

The house seemed empty, unlit in the twilight. The side yard was overgrown withweeds. No sign of the boy, and I didn't want to trespass. I started back to mycar, hesitated, turned again. Cursing my foolishness, I loped to the rear ofthe house, praying an enraged homeowner wouldn't charge at me with a stunner. 

The boy bolted from the back porch, tore across the yard. 

I lunged and missed. He dashed out the drive, raced toward downtown, knapsackthumping his back. 

I galloped after. 

Jerence was the swifter runner. My jacket pulled at my chest. I fumbled atbuttons. The boy glanced back, spotted me, ran faster. I pulled one arm free,
then the other, and tossed the jacket aside. At Academy we'd run the four-forty,
the six-sixty, the mile. I was never the fastest in my squad, but I'd usuallymanaged to keep ahead of the instructor who brought up the rear. If he taggedyou with his baton, it meant the barrel. 


My vision narrowed to the sidewalk ahead, I strove to maintain rhythm. Anotherblock. At least I was keeping pace. It was all I could do to keep my legspumping. My breath came in racking sobs; my heart pounded. 

Slowly the gap began to narrow. 
A woman weeding her yard gaped as I raced past. I hoped she'd call the police,


thought of telling her but knew I was too winded to speak. I couldn't keep this
up much longer. 
Ahead, Jerence stumbled. He rolled to his feet, raced on his way, but I'd gained


precious yards. Now, he too was slowing. I pictured my drill instructor,
summoned the dreaded baton, managed to pull within feet of the fleeing boy.
Abruptly he veered to the left. I lunged, caught his waist, held tight as werolled in unmown grass. 

Jerence kicked desperately in an effort to break free. My chest heaving, lungson fire, I rolled on top of him to sit on his back. Sweat poured from my facewhile I panted. Below me, the boy was firmly pinned. 

At length I felt able to speak, "Get up!" I kept a tight grip on his arm. 
"Lemme go! You don't have a right—" 
I hauled him to his feet. "Walk." My legs trembled; I hoped he wouldn't notice. 
"Why?" A sullen voice, a look of hate. 
"You were running away." It wasn't a question, 
"Mind your own business!" 
"It's not my affair." I sucked in more air, thrust him toward my car, blocks


away. "But I know your father." 
"So?" 
"I saw his face when he found you at the car wreck." Jer-ence stopped, braced


himself against my pushing. I shoved violently with both hands; he staggered and
fell. "Up, boy. And don't try running, or ..." 
"Or?" It was a sneer. 


"When I catch you I'll break your arm." 
He eyed me, sizing me up as I approached. Reluctantly he nodded, fell into step
beside me. "Yeah, you're big enough to beat me up. I suppose you would, too;
you're just like the rest of them." 


I still hadn't caught my breath, "Rest of whom?" 


"Pa, and the others. 'Do what you're told. Be a farmer. Live out on a
plantation, in the middle of nowhere,' '* 
I snorted. "You have so much to feel sorry about." Eventually he would inherit


more than I'd earn in a lifetime. 



"You don't understand." He trudged ahead, "No one does." 
After what seemed like hours we reached my car. I opened the passenger door,
shoved him in. "Touch the doorknob and see what you get," I said, striving for


confidence I didn't feel. I tottered to the driver's side. Jerence slumped in
his seat while I drove back to the spaceport, 
"What you gonna do?" 
"Call your father," 
"Thanks a lot." 
"You're welcome." That ended the conversation. 
I parked, got out, opened his door. Jerence came out, shivering. He buttoned his


jacket against the night air. I steered him to the terminal, 


"This way, sir." Tolliver hurried toward me, "The shuttle's about ready to—are
you all right?" 
"I'm fine," I spotted a public caller and headed toward it, a firm grip on


Jerence, 
I let go of the boy and settled in the booth, grateful for a chance to sit. I


punched Harmon Branstead's code. I'd have an airport official hang on to the boy
until he arrived. Outside, Jerence watched in sullen silence. 
Tolliver rapped on the transplex. "We only have a minute. Shall I ask them to


hold the shuttle?" 
"No, I'll just be—" 
Jerence bolted. 
Tolliver stared. I surged to my feet. "Get him!" I shoved him toward the fleeing


youngster. "Move!" 
He blinked, slow to understand, then wheeled and charged after Jerence. 
Tolliver always ran ahead of me in Academy drills. 
He caught the boy in the parking lot, grappled with him, twisted his arm behind


his back, frog-marched him inside. Jerence lashed out in vain. 


Tolliver snarled, "The Captain wants you now, joey!** He hurled the boy forward,
almost into my lap, 
I glanced at my watch. No time to call Harmon, no time to arrange a baby-sitter.


"God"=I caught myself—"bless it! We'll miss the shuttle!" 
"What's this about, sir?" 
"He's Branstead's son. A runaway,'' 
"Should I stay with him and join you in the morning?** 



"No, I need you along," I made up my mind. "Bring him. We'll call Harmon from
the Station," 
Jerence looked sulky. "Kidnap me and Pa will throw you in jail!** 
Tolliver wheeled on him. "You'll do what the Captain says." 
"I'll scream!" 


"Hang on to this ruffian," I hurried to the gate. 
Tolliver's tone was as savage as I'd ever heard at Academy. "I'll give you a
reason to scream! Move, while you're able!" 


Jerence scurried alongside Tolliver, his defiance gone, "Don't make me go off-


planet," he begged. "I've never been in one of those buses. They're dangerous." 
I saved my breath for walking. At the hatch the steward waited, "Have room for
an extra?" I asked. Jerence tried to twist loose, Tolliver collared him, 


"We have seats, sir. The boy too?" 


"Yes," From Jerence, a yelp of protest, I controlled an impulse to look back,
"Naval business. He's my guest." 
The steward glanced at my pass, nodded. "Have him stand with you on the scales."


Jerence complied, rubbing his arm, a reproachful eye on Tolliver. Our weight
computed, we took our seats. I set Jerence between us and strapped in, settling
myself for acceleration. 


Jerence twisted and squirmed, peering down the aisles, out the portholes. "What
will happen? Does it hurt?" 


"Yes," Tolliver growled. 
I lowered my seat. "Don't do that to him." The joey would be frightened enough.
"Jerence, lie back. A few moments after takeoff you'll feel a great pressure.
Ease up. Relax your chest muscles. Let it press down on you without fighting
back." 


Tolliver's lips twitched. "You sound like Sarge, sir." 
I smiled despite myself. One learns from one's betters. 
We lifted off, the shuttle's stubby wings biting the air. At a few thousand feet


the wings shifted backward, the nose flipped up and the thrusters caught.
Jerence whimpered. Before the acceleration became too great I reached over andsqueezed his hand. Then, I gripped my armrests and tensed my chest. 

"Are you all right, sir?" 
I thrust away Tolliver's hand. "I'm fine." 
He leaned over me, worry in his eyes. "You passed out." 
"Where are we?" 



"Falling toward the Station." 
My chest ached. Running after Jerence had done me no good. Blinking, I looked


about. Jerence was green. He swallowed over and over, clutching the armrests as
if to keep himself in his seat. 
Tolliver followed my gaze. "Puke on me, boy, and I'll wrench you inside out and


stuff the pieces in the recycler." Jerence moaned. 
I snarled, "Don't brutalize him." 
"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver seemed puzzled. 
I closed my eyes, heart thumping. When we docked, I would face endless walking,


through and about the Station. I would also face the certain hostility ofGeneral Tho when he discovered the purpose of my visit. I'd have to tell Hannon 

PRISONER'S HOPE m 131 
Branstead I'd shanghaied his son off-planet. And I'd have to find a place to
park the boy while I did my work. 


If only I hadn't spotted Jerence and his bloody knapsack. 
I dozed, wishing I felt better. Eons later the airlocks mated and the hatches
hissed open. I got cautiously to my feet, waited for dizziness to pass. "Come


along," I muttered. Under the influence of the Station's gravitrons, Jerence's
color slowly began to return. 
"Where, Mr. Seafort?" In the unfamiliar environment, the boy hovered close. 
"To tell your father what we've done." 
"Must you?" Docile, he trudged along the corridor to the ladder. 
"Yes," 
His protest died when he saw my expression, 
We plodded through endless corridors, descended to Level 5. From there, it was a


long way to the comm room. Though it was nearly midnight, occasional lieutenantsand middies still trod the corridors on their errands. As we passed, I returnedtheir salutes absently, hardly aware of their curious looks. Civilians were rarein these precincts; children unknown, 

I made Jerence wait outside with Tolliver while the comm room tech patched me

through to Branstead Plantation. In a moment Harmon came on the line. 
I hadn't thought to ask for a private line; our conversation crackled from thespeakers while the two techs listened. Now the station staff would learn of myfolly in kidnapping a planter's child. "Captain Seafort? I really don't havelong; I was on my way to Centraltown, Family business." 

"To look for Jerence, by any chance?" 
A pause. "How did you know?" 


"I have him." 
"With you?" He seemed astounded, "Why would he follow jrou?" 
"That's not quite how it happened,'* I explained, 
"So he's on Orbit Station now?" 
"Yes," I waited for the explosion. 
"If you'd left him in Centraltown I could have come for him," 
"There wasn't time, and he was in a mood to run." 
He sighed. "I suppose he's better off there than roaming downtown. Ever since he


got the notion he didn't want to be a planter, he's been impossible." A pause.
"Let me know when you'll be down; I'll meet your shuttle." 


"Very well. In the meantime, have you a message for Jer-ence?" 
His tone was grim. "Yes. Tell him when I'm done with him he'll regret he was
born." The line went dead. 


Jerence waited anxiously under Tolliver's vigilant eye. "What did he say?" 
I gave him the message. 
He grimaced. "That's how I usually feel." He said no more. 
At General Tho's office the duty sergeant shook his head. "He's gone to his


apartment for the night, sir. Shall I ring him?" 
"No." I would serve the General ill enough, nosing in his affairs. "Let it wait


to morning." I led my flock to the Naval barracks and signed us in for the
night. 
Exhausted, I tossed and turned for hours. Finally, giving up on sleep, I


wrestled into my clothes and went out. 
The mess was closed, as were most offices. Naturally the comm room was manned,
as was Naval HQ, but I had no business in either office. I wandered the


corridors, hoping to make myself tired enough to sleep, paying little attention
to where I went. 
"May I help you, sir?" 
Disconcerted, I stared at the U,N,A,F, sentry, "Urn, where am I? What's in


there?" * 
"This is Victoria's bay, sir. You're on Level 3." 
My breath caught. "Victoria. Could I get a peak?" 
He gestured to a nearby porthole, 



"Thanks." I peered through the transplex hatch into the docking bay beyond, but
couldn't see much of the fastship moored alongside. From what I saw of her disks
she looked like any other vessel. 


The bell chimed. A light flashed red as Victoria's inner lock cycled; someone
was coming through from the fastship to the Station. Though the seal between
ship and station was tight, inner and outer locks were never left open at the
same time. 


The station lock cycled. A young middy in crisp, fresh uniform stepped through.
He saw my uniform, saluted, and stiffened to attention. 


"As you—Ricky!" 
Ricardo Fuentes, Hibernia's ship's boy during my first voyage, struggled to
maintain a solemn expression. He broke into a pleased grin. 


"As you were, Mr. Fuentes." I hesitated, held out my hand. 


"They told me you were somewhere in Hope System, sir,** He gripped my hand with
obvious pleasure. 
"Groundside, unfortunately. You've grown, boy." Ricky Fuentes had been thirteen


when I'd last seen him, just promoted from cadet to middy, and off to Academy
for a year of coursework. 
"I'm almost sixteen, sir,** 


"Good Lord.'* 
"Vicky's my first posting. Isn't she zarky? Commandant Kearsey got me the berth
as a reward for first in nav class." 


"Wonderfuir 


"Thank you, sir." He paused. "What are you here for, sir?** Though it was none
of a middy's business, Ricky seemed unaware of any breach of protocol. 
My smile faded. "I'm on business for the Admiral." 
"Yes, sir. I meant here outside our lock." 
I smiled, Ricky had lost none of his youthful exuberance. "Getting a look at the


new marvel," 
We fell silent. I said reluctantly, "I'll be on my way, then." 
"Yes, sir. It's good to see you again." As I turned he blurted, "Would you like


to see her? Inside, I mean?** 


Would I? I'd give a few fingers, if not a whole arm. I pointed to a corridor
notice. "She's restricted, Ricky. Authorized personnel only." 
"Let me ask Lieutenant Steiner, sir. He has the night watch. After I deliver


these reports to HQ." He waved his chipcase. 
"Don't bother him. It's not that important." I tried to sound nonchalant. 



"Aye aye, sir. But Mr. Steiner is a good joe, sir, and he'll probably let meshow you around." 

"Well..." 

"Let me drop these off, sir. I'll be back as quick as I can." 

I surrendered. "Very well, Mr. Fuentes." 

"Right, sir. I'll try to hurry, but if I get any more demerits for running I'min big trouble." He saluted again, scurried off. His pace ... well, it wasn'tquite a run. 

Half an hour later I was shaking hands with Victoria's officers. "I'm sorry,
Captain Martes, I had no idea Mr. Steiner would wake you." As a full Captain Iwas senior to him, but I had no rights aboard his ship. 

The young Commander grinned, waved away my apology. "He had to, sir. I'm theonly one authorized to allow visitors." 

"I'm sorry." 

"Well, sir, you've had three ships of your own. What would you think of aCaptain who minded being awakened 

in the night?" 

"Good point." I relaxed somewhat. From midshipman on, we learned to catch oursleep when opportunity came, and never to expect a full night undisturbed. 

"Besides, it's a great honor to meet you, Mr. Seafort. We've heard all aboutyou. I'll show you the bridge first, if you like. That will be all, Mr,
Fuentes." 

Ricky's face fell. "Aye aye, sir," He saluted, spun on his heel, and left. VaxHolser, once his senior, had taught him well. 

The bridge was much like Challenger's, I stood behind Captain Martes's chair topeer at the instruments while he and Lieutenant Steiner stood by. Only thefusion drive screen was different from ones I knew. Where I'd traced my fingerdown the screen from OFF to ON, the controls now read OFF, PRIMED, and ON. Iraised an eyebrow. 

"It's Augmented Fusion, Mr. Seafort. We begin by priming the drives, firing thembut holding their output just short of Fusion, Then we mesh the Augmentationwave with the fusion drive's N-wave, and let her go." 

My head spun. I had never fully grasped the technical aspects of Fusion, nomatter how hard I tried. "Holding short... that sounds dangerous." 

He grinned. "Very. You're heating the drive shaft walls while you prime, soyou've only got about twenty seconds to synchronize the waves, or you'd bettershut down." 

"I would turn it off automatically," said a cold female voice from the speaker. 


"Yes, of course." He made a rueful gesture. "Captain Seafort, our puter,
Rosetta." 


"Hello," I said awkwardly. 
"Good evening, Captain." A fractional pause. "Or good night, as it were. Isn't
it rather late for social contacts?" 


"Rosetta!" Martes was scandalized. "Mr. Seafort is a U.N.N.S. Captain!" 


"I'm aware. William tightbeamed me his dossier. My question was for
informational purposes only. No disrespect was implied or should be inferred," 
"Enough, Rosetta, put the aft view on the simulscreen, please." 
"Aye aye, sir," she said primly. Almost instantly a camera view from aft of


Level 2 flashed on the huge simulscreen that filled the front bulkhead of the


bridge. 
Large ships, such as Hibernia, had three Levels. Smaller vessels like Challenger
had only two. The Navy had a few cutters with but one Level, but they were
obsolete; it was more economical to build vessels that could transship the
volumes of cargo the larger ships supported, Victoria was a two-decker. 


At the moment the simulscreen pictured the wave-emission chamber astern of the
engine room. Where a normal ship's stern tapered outward in a graceful curve,
Victoria's was thick and stubby. Nor did her drive shaft extend as far aft as I
expected, 


"Looks odd, doesn't it?" 
"Yes, Mr, Martes," 
"She's not much for looks, but she goes like a bat out of hell." 
I frowned at the phrase, but ignored it for politeness' sake. "What other


changes did they make?" 


"Other than reducing us to minimal hold capacity, none. Of course, we're sadly
lacking in lasers." 
"Why?" 
"To conserve mass, sir," said Steiner. "With the added mass of the laser


mountings we wouldn't be able to put her into Fusion." 
"I see." Fusion was a mystery whose depths I'd never be able to plumb. 
"Bram is our Augmentation expert," said the Captain. "Anything happens to him


and the Chief, it's back to the manuals. Anyway, they've made us into a sitting
duck. Or rather, a sprinting duck. We can run, but we can't fight. That's the
only reason I'll be glad to leave her." 


I looked up. "Oh?" 
"Transferred as of next week." His eyes sparkled. "To a fighting ship, I hope." 



"Who's your replacement?" 


"Don't know." He pointed vaguely beyond the hull. "I haven't been groundside
yet. What's it like?" 
I had to force my mind to my reply. "Hope Nation? It's lovely. Don't you have


long-leave coming?" 
"Deferred 'til our next run, sir. We've only been out nine months," 
I let them walk me through the rest of the ship. The only time I pulled rank was


when I insisted that Martes not wake the off-duty crew or officers. At length I
found myself at the airlock, saying my good-byes, 


"Your hospitality is appreciated, Captain. And yours, Lieutenant." 
The young Commander grinned. "It's worth an hour of sleep to be able to say I
met Captain Seafort." 


I cleared my throat. "Yes. Well." I paused at the airlock hatch. "Your Mr.
Fuentes, I commend him to you. An exemplary officer." 
"Ricky? He's a good joey. And he's told us all about you," 
"Ah." I saluted and made my escape. 


CHAPTER 10 

"Inspect my shipment records?" 


"Yes, sir." I tried to meet General Tho's eye. He had greeted me effusively when
I'd entered. Now his manner was something else entirely. 
"But—why?" He stood abruptly. "Never mind. You have the Admiral's authority. Why


is none of my concern." 
"I just want—" 
"William has all our records on file. You may study them here, if you wish." 
"I don't need to take up your office, I can—" 
"It may not be my office when you're through,w 
I gaped, trying to get his meaning, I ventured, "You mean General Khartouf? He—" 
"That too is not my concern. Review the records at your leisure," It was a


dismissal. Cheeks flaming, I left. 


In the outer office, Tolliver and Jerence waited while I stopped at the
sergeant's desk, "Where can I find a console?** 
"If you need to be private, use the quartermaster's office, two hatches to the


east," 
"Thank you, Come along," I snapped. My lieutenant and his charge followed as I
stalked down the corridor. Under my breath, I cursed the ambition that had 



saddled me with this meddlesome job. I was short of sleep, ill-tempered, and
still not recovered from my mad dash through Cenfraltown, 
Jerence sullenly scuffed the deck. "Where are you taking me?" 
"Tolliver, keep him out of my hair." 


"Aye aye, sir.11 Tolliver smiled. "Sty something, boy. Anything." 
Jerence swallowed. In silence we marched to the quartermaster's office. The
corporal in the outer office came to his feet. I growled, "General Tho sent me.
Where's your console?" 


"Mr. Cary's office, in there. But I don't think you should—" I was alreadyslapping open the hatch. The console rested under a large screen that resembledthe simulscreen on a bridge. 

As I sat I realized I had no idea how to activate the Station's puter. On ship I
would enter my ID code, of course. I tried it. 
"May I be of service, Captain?" I jumped at the hidden voice. 
"Uh, yes, William. How do I enter a request for data?" 


"You might try asking me," I'd have sworn he smiled. 
"Right." I glanced at Tolliver. Whatever humor he saw, he knew to keep to
himself, "William, put the incoming cargo manifests for the last year on the
screen, please." 


"Certainly, sir." The screen was full before he finished speaking. 
I tried to take in the overwhelming mass of data. "Um, show me arrival dates." 
"Here you are, Mr. Seafort." He highlighted them. 
I hadn't realized how much cargo flowed from home system to the Hope Nation


colony. The screen was crammed with data, and had space to show only the first


two months. 
I remembered that I didn't have to examine it all. "Only military cargoes,
please." 


The screen shifted. Now, with less data, I could scan four months at a time.
William's display ran across many columns, hundreds of lines deep. Each linerepresented a consignment ferried sixty-nine light-years from Earth to supportour vast military buildup. Our strength here was second only to home system. 

"Show the consignee of each cargo, please, and the intended destination." 
"Right, Captain." 
1 puzzled through the data. "Now, where delivered and when." 
"You've got it. What did you do to irk the Commandant?" 
"Now add—I beg your pardon?" 



PRISONER'S HOPE m 139 
"General Tho seemed put out after you left his office. I wondered why." 
"You were there. Didn't you hear our conversation?" 
He sounded offended. "No, of course not. I can't listen in unless I'm invited." 
"I see." 
"After you left Mr. Tho delivered a few remarks. He didn't order me to erase


them." 


"Don't repeat his private conversations," I said quickly. "Show two more
months." 
"Right." It sounded like a sigh. 
I studied the shipping data. Many consignments had been dropped at Centraltown.


A few had gone directly to Venturas Base, but most of the Venturas cargo had— 
"I have to go to the bathroom." 
Tolliver was already out of his seat. In one swift motion he snatched Jerence's


arm and swept him toward the hatch. "Sorry, sir." They were gone. 
Most of the Venturas cargo had been set down at Central-town, where much of it
still waited. Well, the Venturas Base didn't even have a proper landing strip;


only the smallest of the Station's shuttles could drop cargo directly there. Mr,
Eiferts would soon remedy that. 
"William, show supply requisition dates and actual delivery dates." I studied


the chart he generated. It looked as if General Tho had met his delivery
schedules; cargo was offloaded from incoming ships and barges and brought down
to Centraltown when expected. 


The hatch opened; Jerence and Tolliver went to their The boy sat hugging
himself, crying softly. I raised an eyebrow, Tolliver stared back impassively. I
decided to let it pass unobserved, as with a middy, 


"No problems here," I said to Tolliver. He crossed the room to read the screen
from behind my seat, 
"How far back did you check, sir?" 
"A year," 
"And how recently?" 


His questions annoyed mt. "To the present." 
The speaker crackled. "Until Victoria, Cordoba was the last ship to dock,
Captain. Four weeks ago," 



"Thank you, William." I studied the chart; Cordoba's cargo was listed as
delivered to Centraltown as requested. "Well, that wraps it up. We could have
done all this from groundside." I stood and snapped off the screen. 


"It's good that General Tho's records aren't as confused as the


quartermaster's," Tolliver said. 
"True." My head ached, and I didn't want to be sidetracked. "Tho stays on top of
his paperwork." I grimaced at Tolliver. "We could visit the cargo bays, I
suppose. Just a formality. Get up, Jerence, we're done here." 


The boy leapt to his feet, with an anxious glance at Tolliver. I opened the
hatch, recalling the endless frustration of paperwork on a ship such as
Hibernia, "William, how often are deliveries updated?" 


"Actual delivery. Captain, or the request dates?" 


"Actual, of course. The request dates wouldn't be updated." 


"I post actual delivery dates immediately after the shuttles land with their


cargo." 


"Who posts the dates on which the quartermaster requests his supplies be


delivered?" 1 crossed back to the console. 


An infinitesimal pause, "Which time, Mr. Seafort?" 


I held my annoyance in check. "You said they're only posted once." 


"No, Captain," William sounded prim. "You said that." 


It was like pulling teeth. "When else is the requested delivery schedule


updated?" 
"Approximately monthly, Captain." 
Tolliver whistled under his breath. 
I frowned. "But why?" 
"To conform to actual deliveries," said William. 
I blinked. 
Tolliver said with awe, "The son of a bitch rewrites his delivery requests to


match what he actually delivers!" 
"That's approximately correct," agreed William. "Minus the expletives." 
I grated, "What fool orders that?" 
"I do." A voice came from the hatchway. 
I whirled. "General? But..." I sank into my seat "Who told you what we were


reviewing?" 



"William mentioned it." The diminutive, neatly dressed man fingered his razormustache. 

"Mr. Tolliver, take Jerence outside." The moment the hatch was closed Idemanded, "Why fudge your delivery dates?" 

"To make the reports I send home look better." General Tho held my gaze until Ihad to look away. 

I said bitterly, "For that, you made a shambles of our supply operation?" 

"No. Supply was already a shambles. I move my cargoes groundside as fast aspossible. Changing the schedules retroactively did no harm," 

"Except to your integrity." 

"Except that," He looked about uncertainly, chose a chair across from theconsole. "You're an innocent. If you knew politics, you'd understand." 

My chest ached. I coughed, wishing I hadn't chased after Jerence. "I know whatsigning my name to a lie means." 

He nodded. "Yes. I'll resign, if you like. Save you the trouble of dismissingme." 

I tasted bile. "I have no authority to dismiss you," 

"Odd, your dismissing General Khartouf, then," His stare was unflinching, 

I gestured toward the screen. "Why was this charade necessary?" 

"Necessary? I don't know that it was." He left his seat, stared moodily at theconsole, "Advisable, perhaps. Expected." 

"By whom?** 

"Seafort, you*re Navy, You're the senior service. Naval appropriations sailthrough the General Assembly, and your Academy is deluged with applications. Yousteep your cadets in honor and tradition." He focused on something deep withinthe screen, perhaps light-years distant, "The Army's... different. U.N.A.F. hasto fight for scraps after Navy's done feeding. So, we have to do a better job.
Appear to do a better job." 

"Who cares about delivery schedules at a colony sixty-nine light-years fromhome?" 

**The General Staff cares." His tone was fierce. "They present thousands offigures like those I send, when they go hat in hand to the U.N. appropriationscommittees. What you see as falsifying records, personal dishonor, is a way oflife for us. As long as no one is hurt..." 

His hand flicked in a gesture of helplessness. "How did I come to this? When Ibicycled across the hills to Vientiane to drop off my application at therecruiting station ... I don't know." With a shrug he drew himself up to hisfull meager height, eyed me bleakly. "Do as you will. I'll be in my office." 

"General, wait—" He was gone. 


I sat motionless in the silent room. After a time I got to my feet, opened the
hatch. Tolliver and Jerence waited in the corridor. "Let's go." 
"What will you do, sir?" Tolliver fell in step beside me, 


"Visit the cargo bays," 
"I meant about General Tho, Now we have to go through all his records with a
fine-tooth comb." He shook his head. "Lord God knows what corruption we'll find.
Where do we start?" 


1 stopped short. "Do we make decisions now?" 


Tolliver looked startled. "No, sir. I just thought—you obviously have to do
something about him," Jerence glanced back and forth between us. 
"Is that your order?" 
Tolliver gulped. "No, sir, not at all. Excuse me." 
My tone was savage. "I don't excuse you, Lieutenant. In future when I want your


opinion I'll ask for it. Is that clear?" 
"Yes, sir. Aye aye, sir." 
Jerence shot him a vengeful look. I wheeled on him. "Behave!" 
"Me?" He was indignant. "I didn't do anything." 
"Yes, you did. If I see that look again, I'll set you in a cabin alone with Mr.


Tolliver." That silenced him. It was handy having a bogeyman on staff. In mutual


outrage we all trudged down the corridor to the cargo bays. 
Hours later I sat in the officers' mess with Tolliver comparing notes. We'd
found several cargo booking procedures that would benefit from change, but we'd
uncovered no serious problems. A memo to the quartermaster would be the end of
it. 


"What about supplies to the fleet?" Tolliver asked. 


"The fleet is out of my jurisdiction. The Admiral made that quite clear." I
picked at my food. Across the table, Jerence wolfed his sandwich. 
"Yes, sir." Tolliver cleared his throat. "And the General?" 
"Is out of your jurisdiction, Lieutenant. As the fleet is beyond mine." 
"Aye aye, sir." His eyes fell to his coffee, and remained there. 
"Anyway, we still have to—" I fell silent. 
Tolliver looked up, "What, sir?" He followed my gaze. Lieutenant Vax Holser


carried a tray from the line, searching for a table. 
I stood. "Wait with Jerence," I crossed the room. "Vax?" 



The burly lieutenant looked up, startled. Emotions flitted across his face,
quickly suppressed, "I didn't expect you here." He added as if an afterthought,
"Sir,** 

1 ignored his manner, "I'd like to talk with you," 
"I wouldn't like that." 
I closed my eyes, willing away the pain. "Please.** 
His lips compressed. "Whatever the Captain orders.'* 
"It's not an order, Mr, Holser," I looked around. Most of the tables were


occupied; I saw no private place to talk. "I'll wait in the corridor, Mr.
Holser. Come if you wish. If not, I'll accept your decision," Without waitingfor a reply I strode out. 

Naval personnel of all ranks walked the corridor, going about their business. I

paced, 
Vax wouldn't come. I'd begun years ago by brutalizing him, and ended by spurninghis friendship. He would never forgive me; it was painful for him even to speakto me. Anyway, what could I say to him? That I was sorry? That I'd meant only tosave him? I thrust my hands in jny pockets, paced with head down. 

"I'm here." It was a challenge, 

I whirled. "Don't sneak up on me! Whit's wrong with you?" Thoughts of
conciliation were forgotten. 
Vax eyed me steadily. "Nothing. What's wrong with you, other than the mess


you've made of your face?" 
I bit back an angry retort. "Vax, why won't you speak to me?" 
His glare could have melted an alumalloy hull. "You know God damned well why." 
"Don't blaspheme!" My fury matched his own. 
"That's no longer your concern, Captain Seafort. I'm on the Admiral's staff


now." 
"Vax," I said hoarsely. 'Tell me what you won't forgive." 
He was silent for a long time. When his eyes finally met mine, they were cold.


"You bastard." 


I gaped. Even in informal conversation, a lieutenant couldn't—1 thrust down my
indignation. "What did I do?" 
"You saved me," he said simply. 
"But I—" 
"On Portia, whenever Alexi sent Philip Tyre up to be caned, I beat him with


especial relish, because he was what I might have become without you. He wascruel and sadistic, and unappeasable. You saved me from that" 


"I'm glad." 
"We were friends." 
"Yes," 
"And then you discarded me." The words slashed. 
"Challenger' 
"Yes, Challenger" He glanced around, saw that nobody was looking, shoved me


against the bulkhead. "I could kill you, Seafort." 
"Vax," I said in anguish, "I wanted you to live. No more than that." 
He bellowed, "I wanted to be loyal! No more than that!" Stunned, I could say


nothing, "I wanted to follow you, even if it cost my life. What right had you to


make that decision for me? Who appointed you God?" 
"I was Captain." I knew that wasn't enough. "Vax, I didn't care any longer. I'd
lost Nate, and—and—" I found it hard to speak. "And I'd lost Amanda, I was going
to my death, I didn't want you swept up in that." 


"You had no right to make the choice for me." 


"AsCapt—" 


"Not if we were friends." 


The words hung heavy in the silence. I forced myself to meet his eye. "Forgive


me, Vax." 
"No, not ever." The finality shook me. 
"I've been through—you don't know what I had to endure on that cruise. I'm


damned, and have no one but myself to blame. Please, Vax. Be with me." 


"No. You made your choice." His eyes burned like lasers. "And I've made mine."
He strode away. 
I walked the corridor until I was composed enough to face Tolliver and the boy.


At length I took a deep breath, went back into the mess. Vax Holser was nowhere


in sight. 


Tolliver, book us seats on the next shuttle groundside." 
"Aye aye, sir." He spotted a caller, went to it. I sat heavily at the table,
across from Jerence, 


"Is something wrong, Mr. Seafort?" 


"Yes." 


"Can I help?" 



I was enraged at his sarcasm, until I realized he meant it "There's nothing you
can do." 
"What happened?" 
"An old friend I betrayed. He ... told me what he thinks of me." 
"You didn't betray him." 
I smiled without mirth. "How would you know?" 
"I've seen you with Pa and I've heard Uncle Emmett. I know." 
I cleared my throat, "Thank you." 
There's always goofjuice," His tone was bitter, 


I raised my from the table. "Why do you use it, Jerence?" 
"What else is there for me on a frazzing plantation? The world is different when
you're juiced. You'd have to try it to understand." 


I didn't tell him that I had, once. On Lunapolis, many leaves ago, as a green
and stupid midshipman. I never touched the juice again. Not because I didn't
like how it made me feel, but because I knew that given another taste of
euphoria I might never give it up. 


He stared at his empty plate. "Anyway, it's better than having to face farming
all my life." 


I smiled despite myself. "That's not written in stone, Jer-ence." 
"There's Pa." He looked sullen. "I'm firstborn, so Branstead Plantation goes to
me. I've told him I don't want it, but he won't listen. I don't think he even
hears." 


"A shuttle leaves in about an hour, sir." Tolliver. 
"Very well." I stood. "We might as well head toward the bay." 
We left the mess and wandered the endless corridors. To pass the time I showed


Jerence the comm room. Some of the techs I'd met previously were on duty. Theboy perused the rows of consoles, most of them silent now. After a while we leftfor the shuttle bay. 

I would be glad to depart the Station, happier never to return. 

We passed the cutoff for U.N.A.F, Command, I slowed, hesitated. "In here,
first." 
"The shuttle is past—" 
"I know where the shuttle bay is." I stalked to the General's office, Tolliver


and Jerence hurrying to keep up, I slapped open the hatch. 
The desk sergeant eyed me uncertainly. "General Tho's in conference, sir." 



"Get him out," 
"What?" 
"You heard me!" 
A moment later General Due Twan Tho stood in his outer office, hands on hips.


His stare was icy. "Well?" 
"This is private, sir." 
He pursed his lips. "Very well. In my office." He turned on his heel. 
I thought it better not to sit. "I'm leaving for Central-town." 
"So I understand." 
"I don't expect to be back." 
"Very well," 
"We've made a few recommendations about cargo storage. Mr. Tolliver will prepare


a memo to your quartermaster." 
"Very well." 
I turned to leave. "Another matter. You needn't update your delivery paperwork


so often; it's inefficient" His eyee bored into me. Reddening, I mumbled, "I'll


write you a memo when I have the chance." I fled. 
"Thank you." His soft voice pursued me into the corridor. "Thank you, Mr.
Seafort." 


Harmon Branstead struggled with his disapproval. "I wouldn't have chosen to
reward him with a tour of Orbit Station." 


My cold had settled into my chest "I'm sorry I interfered. Mr, Branstead,* 
"No, Pm glad you caught him, I already told you that." He stared at the heli
parked on the tarmac, in which Jerence waited, slumped in the passenger seat. He
sighed. "Forgive my manners. This whole business—I don't know what to do." 


"I understand,** 


He brooded, then snapped his fingers. "By the way, Em-mett says one of our hands


saw Frederick Mantiet in Central-town." 


My fist clenched, "Where?" 


"Downtown, near the sailors' district." 


"Did you alert the authorities?" 


"Governor Saskrit? On Hope Nation, we handle these affairs ourselves, Laura


Triforth and I took a few men and searched. We couldn't find him." 
"I see," 


He gestured to the cargo stacked at the far end of the runway, "What did youlearn about that situation?" 

"Orbit Station downloads cargo as fast as it can. They have little contact withthe quartermaster groundside. Loads end up here whether they're needed or not." 

"As Laura said, then." 

"Yes." 

"What will you do about it?'* 

I said stiffly, "We're working on it." My glance flickered to the heli. "Whatabout Jerence?" 

Harmon shook his head in exasperation. "I've no idea what to try next. Betweenthe goofjuice and his nonsense about ceding the plantation to his youngerbrother ..." 

"He's a bright little joey." If it weren't for the goofjuice, a tour in the Navymight do him wonders. 

"I'm considering an abuse program at the hospital. I'd hoped it wouldn't come tothat." 

"It'll come to worse if the authorities catch him first." Society wasn't lenientwith substance violators, and hadn't been since the end of the Rebellious Ages.
Rightly, the law made no distinctions for age; even at thirteen Jerence couldland in a penal colony for possession of the contraband drug. 

After Branstead's heli receded into the late-afternoon sun I checked in at 
Admiralty House to drop off my reports. Then I dismissed Tolliver and headedhome. 

Annie was waiting in the living room, dressed, her coat across her lap. WearilyI stripped off my jacket. "Going out?" 

"I don't know." I looked at her, my eyebrow raised. "It depends. Nicky, we haveto talk." 

"About what?" 

"What happened with—about me and Eddie." 

"We've spoken about it." I wanted only to lie down. 

"No, we haven't." Her vehemence surprised me, yet seemed oddly familiar. Irealized it reminded me of Amanda, 

"Talk, then." I sat. 

"Nick, I did a wrong thing. I know I did, and I can't take it back. You don'understand tribe, an' I hurt you." She paused, marshaling her diction. "Butwe're married. You say it's for the rest of our lives. I want you to care forme, to love me. If not—" She mumbled something into her hands. 


"I didn't hear the last." My voice was wooden. 
"I said if you can't, I'll move out." 
"Where would you go?" 
She shook her head. "I'd find someplace. Or live on the streets, if it came to


that. I'm a trannie, remember?" 
"Not anymore." 
Her eyes filled with tears. "What are we to do, Nicky?" 
"I don't know." Images overlapped on the canvas of my mind: Annie sitting in my


cabin, struggling to become more than she was. Annie crying in my arms. The pairof us coupling with unending passion, before she sent me back to the hospitalfor my interview with Dr. Tendres. Annie clutching the broad white back of EddieBoss. 

We sat miserably in the darkening room. At length she stirred. "I'll be leavin',
den," she said with forlorn dignity. "My things be packed." 
I said hoarsely, "Don't." I didn't know why. 
Her mouth twisted into a sad smile. "Why, you gonna say you lovin' me?" 
I thought a long time, "I don't know," 


"I be leavin'," she repeated. 
There was an unbearable tightness in my chest. "You stay, Let me go away for a
while, to think things through," 


That brought a flash of anger, "An' how long you hav'n me wait?" 


"As long as you want to," I forced myself to meet her eye. "I'm unfair to you, I
know. But I need time." 
She nodded and began to weep. I yearned to go to her, hold her. Images of Eddie


Boss came unbidden, and I did not. 


I crossed to the bedroom, threw clothes into my duffel. "I'll be in Naval
barracks. We'll talk in a few days. AH right?" She nodded again, I left my home. 
Tolliver showed no reaction when I told him I'd moved, That was understandable;


a Captain's personal life was none of a lieutenant's business, and I'd alreadymade my animosity to him clear. I thought again of having him transferred.
Though I abhorred his company, I took no action. Perhaps I deserved him. 

When I was leaving to visit Alexi, Tolliver asked to come along. 

We found Alexi scrolling through a holo in the patients* lounge. I told him
about our trip, 
"Orbit Station? Have I been there?" 
"Portia docked at the Station when she came in." 



150 » David Feintuch 
"I wouldn't remember." He sounded especially bitter. 
"All incoming ships moor at the Station, Mr. Tamarov." Tolliver was trying to be


helpful. I shot him a look of annoyance, but he appeared not to notice. 
Alexi got up to stare out the window. "What do you do next?" he asked. 
"I'm leaving this afternoon to see Zack Hopewell and the planters." I hesitated.


"I wish I could bring them better news. We can clean up the supply mess, but I
can't do a thing about shipping rates, or the influx of sailors and soldiers in
Centraltown, or the structure of their government." 


Alexi's gaze was fixed on the walkway below. "While you were gone I spent a
whole evening sitting in the chair you're in now, just trying to remember." 


I got up, went to stand at his side. "And?" 
"Nothing." He turned, and his smile was bitter. "I tried to remember you, before
I was injured. I can recall your sitting here, that first visit, telling me
things you expected me to know. But nothing before." 


"I'm sorry." 
He rounded on me. "You're always sorry, but you don't have to live with it!" 
«i»m sor—» i floundered. "Alexi, I don't know what to 
say." 
"Then say nothing! Save your pity for someone else!" 
Wounded, I said stiffly, "I wish I could give what you want." From the corner of


my eye I saw Tolliver's disapproval, whether of Alexi's behavior or mine I


couldn't tell. 
"How can you—Christ, I'm doing it again!" Dejected, Alexi slumped on his bed.
"Forgive me." 


"Alexi, staying in the hospital does you no good." 
"What else is there?" 
"You can come with me. You were part of my staff. I want you back." 
"On active duty?" 
I smiled, shaking my head. Even I couldn't arrange that, "On therapeutic leave." 
Tolliver inquired, "What's that, sir?" 
"I'm not sure. I'll pull strings to make it happen. Alexi, would you like to go


to the plantation zone with us?" 
PRISONER'S HOPE m 151 



His eyes were eager. "Very much." "Then you shall." 
I checked Alexi out of the hospital and drove to the spaceport, where Tolliver
had secured a heli. During our preparations Alexi stayed pathetically close to
my side, though he looked just like the confident young lieutenant with whom I'd


sailed on Portia. I wished I could allay his fears; all I could do was squeeze
his arm in reassurance. We boarded the heli. 
"You know how to fly, Mr. Seafort?" 
"Yes, Mr. Tamarov. I learned at Academy." 
"Did I?" 
"As I recall, you were heli-rated. It's been some time since I saw your


personnel file," 
Alexi lapsed into moody silence. I finished my safety check and we lifted off
toward the plantation zone. The heli's puter displayed our flight plan. Our ETA


was approximately an hour and a half, Alexi craned to see the terrain below.
After a time he asked, "Do you like Hope Nation, Mr. Seafort?" 
I pondered, unsure of the truth. At length I said, "I've spent most of my career


traveling to or from Hope Nation." 
"But do you like it?" 
I grimaced, 
"Leave the Captain be," TolHver. 
"No, I don't mind. Hope Nation has a lot of memories. Some are painful," 
Alexi said only, "It's hard to imagine memories being painful.'* 
"They can be." The day I'd leamed that Captain Forbee had no Captain to replace


me, which meant I'd command Hi* bfrnia for another cruise. The evening I'd goneto Amanda's house to say good-bye, but instead persuaded her to join my vacationto the unspoiled Venruras, 

"Amanda lived here, Alexi." Before she'd returned to home system with me, tosail to her death on Portia, It was she who'd turned Alexi from his bittercourse of vengeance against Philip Tyre. 

Alexi asked, "Who was Amanda?** 

1 said shortly, "My wife." The mother of my only son. Now she drifted with himin the endless gulf of interstellar 
space. 
"You loved her a great deal." "You remember?" I asked hopefully. "It's in your

face," he said. I cast about for another topic. "Do you remember Hauler'* 
Rest?" 


"No. Should 1?" 

"Last month we thought of stopping there, on our trip to Branstead Plantation.
You and I and..." I trailed off, wishing 1 hadn't summoned memories of Eddie, 

"And Mr. Boss?" 

"You remember him?** 

"He was in my room when I woke." Alexi studied me, 

"You were friends?" 

"1 don't care to speak of him," I concentrated on navigation until 1 could besure of calm, "What is Hauler's Rest?" Alexi. 

"A sort of inn, the only one on Plantation Road, I've eaten there more thanonce." "On your first cruise?" 

"Yes.** With Derek Carr. More memories stabbed. Innocent days: Derek forced tomasquerade as my retarded cousin so he could safely visit Carr Plantation; heretaliated by calling me "Nicky" every chance he got. If only I could be thatyoungster again, and blot out what had come after. "Would you like to lunchthere?" I asked. "Sure." His face fell. "I have no money, Mr. Seafort." "Haven'tyou been drawing your pay?" "I couldn't even tell you how much I'm paid, muchlesb how to get it." He grimaced, "What should I do?" 

"I'll sign for lunch," I checked the maps and turned to a new heading,
"Tolliver, make a note to retrieve Mr Tamarov's back wages when we get home,"
"Aye aye, sir." 

I homed in on the Hauler's Rest transponder and brought us down at the edge ofthe strip bulldozed through the lush vegetation. Half a dozen cargo haulers werescattered about. Inside, we ordered from the ample menu, I explained thatHauler's Rest was all but self-sufficient; it grew its own meat and vegetablesand was powered by an atomic pile buried in the back lot. 

"Not an automated fusion reactor, like Orbit Station's?" 

I smiled with surprise and pleasure. "How did you remember, Alexi?" 

"I don't know." He concentrated. "I learned it somewhere; I've no idea where." 

"Second year physics at Academy," said Tolliver impatiently. 

Alexi's brow furrowed. "These automated fission piles are safe, but the fusionreactors our ships use are even safer," 

"That's right," I said. "But even the fission reactors can't be made tomalfunction without a series of deliberate mis-steps. They have intricatesafeguards," 

Alexi looked around. "If this pile ever did blow, it would make quite a hole inthe ground." 


"Vaporize everything for about a mile," Tolliver agreed with relish. "But that'snothing to the mess you'd make if you made a fusion engine blow. You wouldn'twant to be anywhere near." 

"Change the subject, please,*1 

"Why?" Alexi. 

We were skirting dangerous pound; if someone overheard us we might even besubject to a capital charge, U.N, Security Council Resolution 8645, passed backin 2037, had provided ... I closed my eyes and concentrated. 

"The threat of nuclear annihilation having for generations terrorized mankind,
it is enacted that use, attempted use, conspiracy to use, proposal to use, ordiscussion of use, by any persons in any forum and for whatever purpose, ofnuclear energy far the purpose of destruction of land, goods, or persons, shallbe punishable by death and by no sentence, and that the sentence of death maynot be suspended or mitigated by any court, tribunal, or offlcial," They'd madeus memorize it, as cadets, and no other discussion of the topic was permitted. 

"You can't even discuss it?" 

"No!" 

Our food arrived and we fell to. Between mouthfuls Tol


154 m David Feintuch 

liver said soberly, "Before I left home system, there was talk in the Assemblyof amending the resolution." 

"It'll never happen." 

"God forbid they change it. But—" 

"Even those dolts in the Rotunda wouldn't be so stupid! Two nuke wars wereenough; the people wouldn't risk another, even for a minute. Don't even speak ofsuch abominations!" I stabbed savagely at my meat. 

Alexi gestured across the room. "Are all those joeys haulers? I didn't see thatmany cargo vehicles in the lot." 

I tried to take the edge from my voice. "Some must be la-borers." I regarded thetables crowded with rough-looking workers. "Harvest is near." 

"Aren't the plantations largely automated?" asked Tol-liver. 

"They are, but they're so huge it takes a lot of men to run the machinery." Ouruniforms seemed to be attracting the haulers' attention. One burly fellow staredat us for a while, then got up and left the hall. 

The meal was huge, and though I still wasn't recovered from my cold I tookadvantage of a hearty appetite. It was nearly an hour before we crossed the lotto our heli, I slipped behind the controls; Alexi got in back. Tolliver, moody,
stared out the window from the seat next to mine. I lifted off and headed west. 
As I pulled back on the collective and gave her more throttle, Hauler's Restshrank below. 


It was a beautiful day. Flying high, we'd have a better view. At the controls ofa heli I felt none of the trepidation I knew driving an electricar. Airborne, Iwouldn't have to contend with other vehicles careening alongside; perhaps thatmade a difference, 

"Mr. Tolliver, advise Hopeweil Plantation of our ETA, please." 

"Aye aye, sir." He keyed the caller. A red light on the control panel began to
blink. He froze. 
The puter came alive. "Enemy radar lock! Commencing evasive action!" 
"What—?" I gaped, 
"Reset the puter," Tolliver said. "It caught a radar from one of the


plantations," 
"Yes," I said doubtfully. The heli was military transport, programmed to be wary
of hostile attack. If we'd entered Hope well's radar field the heli would assume


enemy sensors had locked on us. "Disregard radar signal," I told the puter,
switching off the warning light. "Do we have Hopeweil's ransponder yet?" 
"We should pick it up any—" 
The heli lurched. "Missile launched! Automated evasive action sequenced!


Transponder off!" 
I said, "Listen, puter, there's no missile out—** 
"What's that flash, sir?" 
I peered. "Lord God! It can't be!" 
"Contact estimated fourteen seconds!" The puter*§ tone was calm, 
"Jesus." Tolliver. 
Should I let the heli do the evasives or take manual control? The puter could


run evasive maneuvers faster than I could and more accurately. But its reactions


were programmed, and the missile's attack program might anticipate them. 
What was after us? A heat seeker? Laser lock? I tried desperately to recall our
lessons at Academy, 


In the back seat Alexi clutched the safety bar as the heli swooped. Theattacking missile was a dim speck, a dot, a stubby black slash hurtling towardus. 

"Take over!" Tolliver shouted. "Don't wait for the puter!" 

"Contact eight seconds," The puter, "Evasive program C12!" The jet engines
whined as the puter put us to full power in a shallow climb. 
"Four seconds," 
Tolliver shouted, "Seafort, do something!** 



I stabbed at the manual override. Before I touched it the engine noise fell; wedropped like a stone. The missile flashed past the cockpit. The engine roared. Itwisted around. Behind us, the missile was executing a long, slow turn while itclimbed. 

This time it would come at us from above. The speaker blared, "Radar lockreacquired!" The missile had found us inew, 

I switched off the automatics, holding us in a tight turn to 
the left. I couldn't find the missile. My eyes darted between the screen and thehorizon. Was there time to set us down? 

"Contact sixteen seconds." 
No time. Where had the missile come from? Who fired it? Never mind that. I 


jammed my foot on the tail rudder yanked back on the collective. We veered
suddenly to the right and climbed. 
"Radar lock. Contact eleven seconds." 
"Christ, Seafort, let me take it!" Tolliver leaned across the, seat. 
1 throttled down, slammed the stick forward. We dropped The missile made a


slight correction to follow us. 
"Contact eight seconds! " 
"You'll get us killed! Give me the frazzing controls!" 
I shook my head. "No time." 
Tolliver unhooked my seat belt, hauled me out of my seat with manic strength.


"Mover He threw me aside, swung into the pilot's seat. At full throttle, he spun
us a hundred eighty degrees to face the missile. 
I screamed, "Are you crazy?" Flung against Alexi, i clawed at the handholds. 
"Shut up!" Tolliver's every muscle was tensed. 
"Contact four seconds. Three." 
I braced for the inevitable. 


"Two." 
My heart shot through my throat as we dropped. I coulo hear the throb of the
missile's engine past the roar of oui own. It missed us by scant inches. 


"We have a few seconds to put down," Tolliver shouted. "Jump the instant we
hit!" 
I peered out. "It's all forest!" 
"There's got to be someplace flat!" 



"Radar lock!" 
"Christ damn it." Tolliver banked to get a better view 01 the terrain. "Look


ahead, about half a mile." A small clearing, light green against the dark of the
trees. 
"We don't have time!" 
"It'll be close," Tolliver acknowledged. 
"Contact twelve seconds." 
"Seafort, get on the horn, tell Centraltown!" 
I cursed; I should have thought of that myself. I reached over the seat, grabbed


the caller, trying to remember Naval frequency. No, idiot, use the emergencychannel. I thumbed the caller. "Centraltown Control, this is Naval heli eightsix oh Alpha, Captain Seafort, we're under missile attack from unknown source,
location approximately one hundred twenty miles west of Hauler's Rest. Mayday!
Mayday!" No answer. 

"Contact nine seconds." 

We were a few hundred yards from the field, closing with dreamlike slowness.
"Hurry, Tolliver!" 
"If I don't bleed off speed we'll crash." 
"Contact six seconds!" 
"Crash, then!" Better that than dissolve in a ball of fire. 
"Hang on!" We swooped toward the field. A hundred yards. 
"Contact three seconds! Two!" 
Tolliver hauled back on the collective. We shot into the air. Through the rear


transplex I saw the missile turn upward to correct course. Tolliver slammed down


the stick and we fell toward the edge of the field. 
The missile had no time to correct again. It shot over the cab of the heli. A
thud, a burst of light. Fire. The engine screamed. The heli lurched, spun,
dropped. Tolliver slapped off the switches. "Brace yourselves!" 


We slammed into the ground on our landing gear, bounced, struck again. Flames
soared from the mast above the cab. 


"Out! Get out!" 
I flung open the door, stumbled out, rolled away from the blazing heli. Tolliver
pushed Alexi out, leaped to follow. He dropped on top of Alexi, jumped to his
feet, thrust Alexi clear of the flames. 


We ran. 
Sixty feet away, we turned to look at the fiery wreckage. 



"Jesus, Lord Christ!" I gasped for breath. 
"Amen." Tolliver was grim. 
"Keep moving, there may be more coming!" 
"Radar showed only one missile, Mr. Seafort." 
"But who in hell was shooting?" 
Tolliver shrugged. "Mantiet?" 
158 m David Feintuch 
"But we're the Government!" I realized how fatuous I sounded. "You're probably


right. He tried to kill us before." 
Alexi stared at the debris. 
Tolliver asked, "How could he get hold of a missile?" 
"The planters helped move supplies to the Venturas Base." I kicked at a smoking


piece of rotor blade. "Someday I'll settle with him." 
"Mantiet may come looking. Let's get out of here, sir." 
"He'll have heard my Mayday. He'll expect U.N.A.F. to send a heli, fast. I doubt


he'll risk showing himself." 


Alexi fell to his knees, retching. Tolliver put his hands on Alexi's shoulders.


"Easy, Mr. Tamarov," he said gently. "We're safe." 


I stared, realizing, as I calmed, what Tolliver had done. 


Alexi coughed, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Sorry. God, I'm so sorry." 


Tolliver released him. He glanced up, saw my expression. He faced me and sighed.


Slowly he unholstered the laser pistol at his belt, handed it to me, bun first. 
"Follow me." I turned, strode to the edge of the field without looking back.


When we were out of Alexi's earshot I stopped. My voice grated. "What charges
should I file, Lieutenant?" That's for you to decide, sir." He was pale. 
"Answer." 
"Mutiny. Insubordination. Striking a superior officer. Uninvited physical


contact with the commanding officer. Three of them are capital. Does it matter


if there are more?" 


I snarled, "If I say so, it matters!" 
"Aye aye, sir!" His eyes held mine. "Disrespectful speech and conduct. Unlawful
usurpation of authority, I can't think of others, sir." 


"Your excuse?" 


"I have none, sir." 



"Belay that! Answer!" 


His smile was bitter. "You were always a lousy pilot. You had the lowest ratings
in our barracks." And I'd spent many hours working off demerits as a result. 
"So?" 
"My taking over was our only chance." 
"You were so sure I couldn't outmaneuver that missile?" 
"Yes. Weren't you?" 
I was silent, then sighed. "I should have handed over to you immediately." I


bunched my fists. "But I didn't." 


He shook his head. "No, sir. I made a split-second decision. I know the
consequences." 
"Do you?" 
"You'll have me tried for mutiny or the other capital charges. I have no


defense. I'm dead." 
"Yes." He winced, but didn't look away. I turned my back, thrust my hands in my
pockets, paced with head down. I wanted so to hurt him, to revenge the
humiliations he'd inflicted on me as a cadet. He'd given me an unparalleled


opportunity. I could have him put to death, and no one would question my motive.
None would know how much my hatred moved me. 
The temptation was unbearable. 
I whirled. "Do you demand court-martial, or will you accept summary punishment?" 
"Summary—?" He gaped, hardly daring to believe his fortune. "Yes, sir. Thank


you, sir." Had he chosen court-martial his execution was a foregone conclusion.
On the other hand, a commanding officer might issue summary punishment without a
trial, but the penalties were far less severe. 


"Very well." I faced him, hands clasped behind my back, "When were you
commissioned lieutenant, Tolliver?" 
"On the way out to Hope Nation, about a year ago. Captain Hawkins—" 


"You're back to middy, as of today," My voice was harsh, 
"I'm twenty-five, sir," Midshipmen who hadn*t yet made lieutenant by that age
rarely did so after, and we both knew promotion to lieutenant was the ambition
of every midshipman's life, 


"You heard me," I said. He'd unceremoniously hauled me from my seat. That
couldn't be borne. 
His jaw clenched. **Aye aye, sir.** 



"You're docked two months pay, and I reprimand you for insolence. You'll have to

sign acknowledgment, of course. If you prefer, you go to court-martial,** 
"Aye aye, sir," He stared at the ground. "Thank you,1* he muttered at last. Iunderstood. Though the reprimand and loss of rank would blight his career, hewas fortunate to escape with his life. 

I blurted, "God, I despise you!" 
A momentary look of dismay flitted across his features, but he said only, "Yes,


sir." I held his eye a moment longer, then stalked back to the clearing.
Tolliver followed. 
Alexi waited, pale but composed, near the wreckage of our heli. "What do we do


now, Mr. Seafort?" 
"We—" I looked around. "Anyone know where we are?" 
"About thirty miles south of Hopewell Plantation," said Tolliver. I marveled


that while jinking the aircraft to avoid an incoming missile he still kept track
of his position, 
'Too far to walk," I said. 


"Did you hear an answer to your Mayday, sir?" 
"No." I found my legs trembling; I squatted against a tree. "We should wait, I
suppose." As soon as I spoke I realized it was foolish. As my Mayday hadn't been
acknowledged, help lay elsewhere. "Which way to Plantation Road?" 


"It should be north, sir." 
"How far?" 
Tolliver looked at me strangely. "About thirty miles, sir." Of course. The road


ran directly in front of Hopewell Plantation, and he'd just told me the


distance. 
I got to my feet. My chest ached, "If they didn't catch our signal we'll need to
hike out. The sooner we start, the better our chances." 


Tolliver ventured, "But if they did hear us, we'll lose them in the woods." 
"It's my decision, Midshipman." My tone was curt. 
Tolliver's look was sullen, but he said at once, "Aye aye, sir." 
"We have no food or water," Alexi said. 
'TVfc/. " We Aatfa "f czu77<?d azt/cb /# Jtoe way of SVjyftteSr and the heli's


emergency kits were lost in the fiery wreckage. We would probably run across astream, but we'd have to do without food. Two days walk. Surely we could managethat, "Let's go, then." 

Tolliver looked back at the smoldering heli. "We should leave a signal." 


He was right. "An arrow, scratched into the turf?" "There's scrap metal from therotor housing. We could use pieces to make a sign." 

"Very well" He gathered the scraps and arranged them in an unmistakable arrow,
pointing north. When he was done we trudged across the clearing. I stopped atthe far edge to stare back at the wreckage. If it weren't for Tolliver we'd becremated in what was left of the heli, yet I'd savaged him for 

We hiked into the silent woods. 

CHAPTER 11 

I set the pace, doing my best to hide my weariness. It was late afternoon; wekept the sun on our left. If we headed north, eventually we'd cross PlantationRoad. 

Alexi said, "Mr. Seafort, why does Mantiet want you dead?" 
"I don't know. Leave me be." I tried to ignore his hurt expression. 
For two hours we pushed through dense brush. In the hilly terrain the vegetation


was fiercely competitive. Above, vines drooped from thick ropy limbs of toweringtrees. We had to duck under, climb through, brush aside undergrowth with eachstep. 

"What's that?" Tolliver. 
I stopped to listen. It might have been rotor blades, far in the distance. 
"Should we go back?" Alexi asked. 
"We'd lose two hours, if no one's there. Let's go on." 
The sun was noticeably lower; I wondered how much farther we'd get before


nightfall. And how long my stamina would last. 
As I flagged, Tolliver took the lead and began holding vines aside so I wouldn't


have to stoop. We made better progress. My breath rasping, I did my best to keep
up. 
A distant sound became a rumble, then the unmistakable whap of heli blades


overhead. We stopped, listened. I squinted at the canopy above but could see
nothing through the dense foliage. Above, the heli circled. 


"Find a clearing." 
Tolliver peered in all directions, then pointed. "Perhaps that way, sir. The
light seems a little brighter." 


"Hurry." We stumbled through the silent vegetation. 
The heli blades receded, returned. Finally we reached the spot we sought, but


the canopy there was only slightly thinner. We couldn't be seen from above.
"Isn't there another place—" 
Tolliver waved us silent. "Listen!" 



A woman's voice was almost lost in the engine's drone. "Captain Seafort! Returnto your heli! We can't find you in the trees!" 

I cursed. We'd come too far to retrace our steps by nightfall. 

Tolliver said, "U.N.A.F. would have gear to locate us, wouldn't they? Infrasensors and the like." 

As if in reply the voice from the heli resumed. "Captain Seafort, can you showyourself? This is Laura Triforth, We heard your Mayday. Return to your heli orshow yourself. Signal with a flare or fire." The message repeated, sometimesalmost directly above us, sometimes distant as the heli roved above us. 

"We don't have a flare or fire,** Alexi muttered. 

"I know. Head north, and hope we find a clearing." We resumed our trek. After atime, the growl of the heli faded. 

I struggled to keep up. It was darkening fast, and still we groped through thickvegetation. "I need to go slower,** I panted. The admission came unwilling frommy lips. 

Obediently Tolliver slowed. 

Eons later, engine sounds overhead. A heli. I peered at the darkening sky. 

A speaker crackled. "Captain Seafort, this is U.N.A.F. rescue heli three oh two.
We are above you and tracking. Proceed northeast about half a mile; we should beable to see you." 

Thank Lord God. With renewed strength we veered to the east in the fading light.
After half an hour the disembodied voice guided us again, toward a clearingvisible from the air, Dizzy and sweating, I staggered into the welcome glade. Anoutcrop of rock formed a steep hill, where the tall trees couldn't root. It wasfully dark. 

Two helis circled overhead. One swooped low, its floodlight searching. We waveduntil it fastened on us. The heli dropped lower, and the speaker boomed.
"Captain, we can't hear you from here. Is anyone injured? Hold your armsstraight out for yes, up for no." I swung my arms up. "We read a negative. Doyou have food or water?" Again I raised my arms. "No food or water. We can'tland here, Captain; there's no level ground. It would be safer to wait untildaylight and lower you a rope. Can you wait until morning?" I held my armsstraight out. 

"Don't worry, Captain, we won't abandon you. I'll remain overhead for now. Thesecond heli is returning for emergency supplies. We'll drop you what you needfor the night. Remain in the clearing." I signaled affirmatively to show Iunderstood, then let my arms sag. Trembling, I let myself down. The ground wascold and damp. 

"You all right, sir?" Tolliver. 

"Yes." 

"You look ill." 


I waved him away. He squatted, waiting. 

My teeth chattered. I sat hunched against the cold while the pilot circledendlessly overhead. From time to time he aimed his searchlight; one of us waved.
It seemed forever before the second heli returned. 

I stared upward at the two searchlights circling in the darkness overhead. Oneof the helis began a cautious descent. The speaker blared. "Captain, we'll loweryour supplies. Stand clear; we'll cut the line when the pack is near theground." I gripped Alexi's arm, pulled myself to my feet. From the heli bay alarge bundle began to emerge, swinging with the motion of the airship. 

With practiced skill the pilot countered its sway, lowering the line until thepack was within a few feet of the ground. Then it dropped with a thud. I stood,
dizzy. 

Alexi bounded forward, pulled at the straps. "A tent, Mr. Seafort." I grunted.
He pawed through the bundle, "Mattresses, self-inflating." 

"I'll help with those." TolHver's tone was cold. With a brusque motion he sweptAlexi's arm aside. 

"I can open—" 

"I know how. You don't." 

I tapped him on the shoulder. "Give Alexi the respect due his rank, or answer tome for it." He swallowed at my wrath. With savage satisfaction I stalked back tomy seat. 

"Stand clear below for a second load!" I looked up as a bundle emerged from thebay overhead. 

When the package hit the ground Tolliver opened the straps, stood aside withcareful courtesy while Alexi bent over to look. 

"Dinner!" Alexi's grin was joyous. "A portamicro, steaks, drinks, coffee ...
even extra Q-rations." 

"And this." Tolliver held up a military radio pack. I beckoned; he brought it.
With icy fingers I fumbled with the transmitter. "Rescue heli, do you read me?" 

"Loud and clear, Captain. That gear should make you more comfortable." 

"Very much so." Behind me, on the only meager patch of level ground, Alexi andTolliver were already setting up the tent. 

"Do you know who shot at you?*' 

"I have no idea." 

"Orbit Station tracked the missile from half a minute after launch. They thinkit originated about a hundred miles south. You should be safe for now; I doubtanyone can travel through that underbrush by night." 

"Right." We'd barely managed during daylight. 


"Orbit Station is in position to keep a radar lock on the area tonight. Anysuspicious blips and we'll be back in a flash. Anyway, you can reach Centraltownwith that caller. You might even get through to the Station. We'll pick you upat first light. Sweet dreams." 

"Thank you," I watched the heli lights recede toward Centraltown. 
The micro and the radio were powered by the same Valdez Permabatteries that ran
our electricars. We had power to spare, and the techs had even included a couple
of ground lights. An hour later I gnawed gratefully on my steak, an open
sleeping bag wrapped around my shoulders. I stared moodily into the fire,


coughing occasionally from the cold that had settled into my chest. The radio
crackled at my feet, a reassuring contact with civilization. 
Alexi crouched at my side. "I suppose Earth was once like this, Mr. Seafort." 
"Earth could never have been so quiet." Though I knew Hope Nation had no animal


life except what man had brought, still my ears strained for absent nightsounds. Other than the logs spitting in our campfire, we heard nothing but therustle of the trees. "At home when I went to bed I could hear the supersonicstake off." 

"In Kiev?" 

"Yes.** He sat looking into the flames, hypnotized. 1 should be grateful to be
alive, but Lord God, I want to be whole again." 
"I pray you will." 
Across from us, Tolliver threw another chunk of wood onto the fire. We watched


the sparks fly. 
"What was it like when we were midshipmen, Mr. Seafort?" 
"You were fifteen when 1 met you. I was first middy, you 
were junior." 
"Were we friends?" 
"From the start," Until I'd become Captain, when I'd allowed him to be so


brutalized he'd begged to resign from the Service. 
"Tell me about the wardroom." 
I sought words to describe the complexity of feelings, of interactions among the


youths in that crowded space. "There were conflicts. Vax Holser and 1. He was a
bully, at first." 
"He treated you badly?" 
"No, I was first middy; he couldn't. It was you he abused. You and Sandy." 
Tolliver said, "Like all wardrooms, everywhere." 
"When you're young you can handle that sort of thing," I said. 



"I'm not young." Tolliver's voice was bitter. 
I flared, "You made your bed, Middy, now sleep in it," My chest ached. 
Tolliver stood, stared into the fire. "I think I'll do just that." He spun on


his heel and stalked to the tent. He paused. "Good night, sir. And you,


Lieutenant." His tone held the precise courtesy expected of a midshipman. 
I grunted. Alexi, perhaps unaware of the byplay, bade him
good night, eyes locked to the fire. After a time he asked, "Mr. Seafort, what
was I like as a boy?" 


I hesitated. "Cheerful. Good-hearted. Willing." Until I'd forced him into a
vendetta with Philip Tyre that nearly swallowed his soul. "As you are now." 
"I'm hardly cheerful." His smile was wan. 
I yawned. Despite the steak I still felt unwell. "Shall we turn in?" 


"May I sit and listen to the radio?" 
"Of course, but there won't be much traffic at this hour. Do you know how to
spread the dish?" 


He nodded. "I'll come to bed in a while, Mr, Seafort, I won't wake you." 
I stood slowly. "I doubt you could." In the tent I undressed and huddled on my
mattress, A few feet away Tolliver breathed slowly, steadily. Was he awake,
feigning sleep? Well, I'd provided him a miserable day. I wondered if I could
stand being broken to midshipman as I'd done to him. Certainly my own behavior


to Admiralty had warranted it, more than once. I shivered from cold, then, as
the mattress warmed, drifted into blessed sleep. 
"Mr. Seafort?" 
I groaned, forcing my eyes open. It couldn't be morning yet. 
It wasn't. "Yes, Alexi?" I stifled a groan, 
"You'd better come listen." 
*To what?" 
"The radio," 
"Bring it in—no, let him sleep." Coughing, I threw on my chilled clothes, swept


the flap aside. "This better be imp—" 


Static distorted a constant stream of urgent messages. "Maneuver C in effect!
Two off the port bow! Tarsus, where are you?" 
"Oh, God, Alexi." My voice was a whisper. 
"Hibernia to Fleet, we're under attack! Three, five-—Lord God, seven fish.


Engine Room, prepare to Fuse! Forward lasers gone! Fusing!" 



Alexi clutched my wrist, then snatched his hand away as if it had been burned.
"Sorry! Please, I didn't mean to touch—H 
"Belay that. Listen." 
"Mr. Seafort, they threw something.** 


"What do you mean?" My head spun. I blinked. 
"The radio said they dropped a missile, or whatever. At
Centraltown." 


I snatched up the caller and changed frequencies. "Admiralty House, Captain
Seafort reporting." I waited. "Captain Seafort reporting to Admiralty House." 
The wait was maddening. Finally the answer came. "For-bee here, Mr. Seafort." 


"What's going on?" 
"Full-scale attack. The Admiral left for Orbit Station the moment he heard the 
first reports. He'll be there in an hour. Eight ships are under assault, a
couple of dozen fish at least. Are you still in emergency camp?" 


"Yes. You heard about that?" 
"We all did. Are you all right?" 
"Yes." Dizzy and feverish, and it hurt to talk. But... "What's this about a


missile?" 


"A wild rumor. By coincidence, a meteorite hit near Centraltown tonight. Just a
small one," 
"Thank heavens." 
"Sit tight, Mr. Seafort, and we'll have you out of there by morning," 
"Right. IJh, Forbee ... you remember when I was here three years ago? I met


someone who said be was Captain Grone," 
"1 heard the story, sir. Things are a bit busy at the moment." 
"He told me a wild tale about meteorites spraying something. The epidemic began


shortly after." 


"It was never confirmed, as I recall. But I'll alert the hospital just in case,"
I heard urgent words in the background, then Forbee's cry of dismay. "Oh, no!" 
"What?" 
"Bolivar's gone.1* 
Sickened, I closed my eyes. After a moment I said, "Godspeed, Mr, Forbee.** 
"And you, sir." We rung off. 



While we huddled over the flickering fire, scattered reports of losses swelled


into a disaster of major proportions. 
Fish roamed Hope Nation system, Defusing without warning alongside our ships.
Alexi threw on wood until the fire blazed. I shivered nonetheless. 


The tent flap moved; Tolliver emerged, buttoning his jacket against the evening
cold. "What's going on, sir?" 
"Attack." 
"Where?" 
"The fleet is engaged." My voice was hoarse. 
He pulled a log next to the radio and sat. "Lord God help our men." 


"Amen.** 
Long minutes passed. "Hibernia reporting; Defused in sector twelve; no fish in
sight." Thank Lord God, Hibernia was intact. 


"Acknowledged, Hibernia" The Station. 
"Gibraltar reporting, sector three about twenty thousand kilometers above Hope


Nation. Two fish, five hundred kilometers abaft. Make that three fish, Five!
Station, they're— Good Lord!" 
Admiral D§ Marnay, calmly, "Gibraltar, report your sighting." 
"A swarm of fish! Maybe two dozen, and more Defusing in. Our radars show them


clustered around a large object, not a fish, something else, much bigger. It


wasn't there a minute ago. It could be—three fish, alongside! Enga^ng!" 
We huddled around the portable dish, sleep forgotten. The speaker crackled with
reports from ship announcing course changes. 


"Gibraltar here. Forward out of we're Fusing!" 


"Intrepid reporting. We've taken out two fish, engaging a third. Damn it, the
bastard Fused clear!" 
I shook my head, cursing the dizziness that resulted, "They're winning," 
Tolliver said, "Maybe not. We're getting them too,** 
*8But how many are there?" Our losses, horrid as they were, might be supportable


if we took out a high enough proportion of the fish, 
"And where do they come from?" Tolliver, 
"And why are they here?" The cold air burned my throat. 
"Obviously they hear us Fuse. But we've been in Hope Nation for ninety years.


Did they just begin hearing us, or— Good Christ!" I stumbled to my feet. 
The sky to the east, toward Centraltown, lit a brilliant orange. 



I stared into the night, my heart pounding. A moment later the distant treesrustled, and then the shock wave hit, an overpowering thump on my chest. Istaggered, but remained on my feet. "What was that?" 

Tolliver's voice was hushed, "They got Centraltown.** 

"How—you can't—" 

"What else is east a hundred miles or so?" 

I croaked, "Annie!" 

"Didn't I hear something about a meteorite?" 

Alexi hugged the radio. "You're just guessing, Mr. Tolliver." 

"Yes." Tolliver looked at him with hatred. "So call Admiralty House, Lieutenant


Tamarov, sir. Ask them who lit up the sky." 
I spun around. "Tolliver! Another word out of you and—** 
He looked at me without expression. "And what, sir?" 
I strode across the clearing, shoved him back toward the tent. I pushed him


until his back bumped the tent poles. "Not a word, Middy! Do I make myself


clear?" 
For a moment he held my gaze. Then he swallowed. "Aye aye, sir." The venom was
gone from his tone, 


I sat. "Call them, Alexi." 


"I don't remember how," Alexi said miserably. 


I snatched the caller from his hands. 


I couldn't raise Admiralty House. 


I couldn't raise anything. 


"What will we do, Mr. Seafort?" Alexi's eyes begged for comfort. 


Blindly I thrust the radio into his lap. Each breath of cold air pierced like a


lance. I unearthed a series of great hacking coughs, tottered into the tent.


Deep in my throat a sound escaped. I fell onto the bed and passed out. 
"Mr. Seafort?" The voice summoned me from a great distance. I groaned. "Mr
Seafort, please!" 


I opened an eye, squinting at Alexi silhouetted against the daylight. I croaked,
"What?" 
"It's midafternoon. You've slept ten hours." 
I tried to sit up, fell back dizzy. "Lord, it's cold today." 



Alexi looked at me oddly. "It's rather warm, actually." 
"Is it?" I tried to think. "I must be feverish." 
Alexi shot out his hand, withdrew it suddenly, waited for my nod. He held his


wrist to my forehead. "You're burning." 
"I was dreaming..." I clutched his arm, struggled to sit, "Centraltown?" 
"No dream. They've been hit. We don't know how bad.** 
"The heli... it was supposed to pick us up at dawn." 
"It never showed, Mr, Seafort." 
"Can you raise Centraltown?" 
"No. I get static, an occasional word, but they don't answer." 
"I thought you didn't know how to use the caller." 
"Mr. Tolliver showed me." Alexi hesitated. "He's very angry." 
"About what?" 
"Everything, it seems," 
I grimaced. "Help me, would you?" 
Alexi held out his arm; I pulled myself up and sagged against him until the


dizziness passed. 


Outside, the fire was long dead. Tolliver, sitting on the log, watched me
without expression. I asked, "Nothing on the radio?" 
He shook his head. 
I sat by the fireside, blinking in the sunlight. "Try Orbit Station." 
"I did. If we got through, they're not responding," 
"We'll wait until morning. Try to raise Centraltown and the Station every hour," 
Tolliver nodded. I waited, and he added reluctantly, "Aye aye, sir." 
I stumbled back to the tent and slept. 
I woke at dawn, burning with thirst. I crawled across the tent to the water


bottle, drank greedily while Alexi and Tolliver slept. 
Cautiously I dressed myself, waiting for the accustomed dizziness, but I seemed
stronger than last evening. I opened the tent flap, plunged into the cold mist,
searched for firewood. I coughed, doubling over from the pain it brought. When
finally I was able to stop, I tottered to the pile of branches they'd stacked
near the firesite. I laid a few in the firepit. The effort left me panting. 



I found a firestarter in the bundle of supplies, set it to the kindling. In
moments my blaze was fierce enough to provide warmth. I sat as close as I dared.
After a time 1 thought of coffee, and made my way to the micro. I foraged in the
bundle of supplies, found coffee, set it heating. 


"I'd have helped, Mr. Seafort." Alexi, tousled, shirt over his arm, looked out
from the tent. I smiled, steaming cup in hand. "I'm not an invalid, Mr. 


Tamarov." "1 hope not." He hurried to the fire, huddled near while he 
dressed "You're feeling better?" "Much." As long as I sat quietly. "What did you
hear last 


night on the caller?" Alexi poured coffee and rejoined me, "Static, faint
voices. 
No answer." 


"Try again." 
Obediently he went to the tent, returned with the radio. He called Admiralty,
the spaceport. Orbit Station. 


Still no reply. 
1 brooded. After a time I said, "Wake Tolliver," 
"That's not necessary." Tolliver stood by the tent flap, 
fully dressed. "We won't wait," I said. "Get the supplies together, we'll 
walk to Plantation Road," "Lugging all this?" Tolliver waved his hand at the


tent, the 
micro, the foodstuffs. "Everything came down in two bundles. We'll take turns 
carrying them." 
Tolliver's look was cool. "I doubt it. We'll end up carrying you." 
I tried to stand, decided against it. "Tolliver, I've about—'* i's tone was icy,


"Mr, Tolliver, gather the supplies." 


Tolliver glanced at him with surprise. "Have you returned to active duty, Mr.
Tamarov?" 
"No." Alexi leaned on the tent pole. "But do as the Captain said." 
"You can't—" 
"Be silent!" Alexi stood nose to nose with the older, taller man. "You're a


midshipman. Act like one." 


They glared at each other. Tolliver's smile was cruel. "Do you remember how a
middy acts?" 
Alexi met his gaze. "No. Show me." 



After a time Tolliver lowered his eyes. "All right." His voice had lost its


truculence. "Help me collect our gear, would you?" 
As soon as Tolliver was out of earshot Alexi whispered, "Sorry I interfered. I
know I have no right—" 


"You did fine, AJexL It was how I remember you," 
**He seemed so—** 
"You did well." 
In a few minutes our bundles were wrapped and tied, Alexi and Tolliver each


shouldered one; there was no discussion of my helping, I managed to get to my
feet without assistance. I checked the compass and pointed. "North.*4 I followed
them from the glade. 


We'd gone no more man a few steps before I was gasping for breath, but I said
nothing and did my best to keep pace. I grasped at vines and low-hanging
branches, pulling myself Onward through the dense brush. 


Alexi looked over his shoulder. "Mr. Tolliver, slow down," He watted while I
caught up to him, "Lean on me, if you like,** 
"I don't need—" 


"Please." 
"All right." An arm draped around his shoulder, I let some of my weight rest on
Alexi. With his free hand he held branches aside. I found the going easier. 


After a time I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist. Alexi shifted his


load to his other shoulder. I struggled on, sweating profusely. 
Endless hours later we came upon an opening where a great genera tree had
crushed a swath through the forest as it fell. Alexi called, "Let's rest here,
Mr. Tolliver." 


Tolliver checked his watch. "It's only been an hour and a half." 
"I don't care," Alexi said. "I'm tired." 
"You mean the Captain's tired." 
Alexi helped me to the fallen log, where I dropped with a sigh. "Enough


bickering! Ten minutes." 
Alexi eyed me dubiously. 
The rest of the morning was lost in a haze of misery. We halted again, twice at


Alexi's suggestion and once, reluctantly, at my own. At length we reached a
rocky terrain, open land that burst from the vast sea of vegetation stretching
from Plantation Road south to the sea. Walking was easier here, though now we
had to traverse hills that only looked gentle from afar. 


A mile ahead the forest resumed. 



"Let's stop for lunch," I said. 

"We haven't gone five miles,*' Tolliver objected. "Even if we walk another fivebefore dark, at this rate we'll be three days reaching the road." 

I grunted. "We'll do better this afternoon. Break out the Q-rations." The speechleft me panting. 

He dropped his bundle, untied it. "I could set up the tent, sir. Would you waithere with Mr. Tamarov and the radio while 1 go for help?" 

I was tempted. "No," I said at last. "Better we stick together." 

"You're not able—" 

"Until we know what's happened at Centraltown we won't split up." I downed thecup of water Alexi gave me. 

A few moments later Tolliver popped the lid of a Q-ration and set it on the login front of me. I waited while air seeped into the slow-release chemicals packedbetween the inner and outer wrap. Two minutes later the meal was heated; Ipeeled off the lid and fell to. 

Alexi squatted beside me with a troubled mien. "Mr Seafort, are you sure aboutgoing on?" 

I nodded. "I have to get back, find what they want me tc do." 

He whispered, "Mr. Tolliver—I don't know how to... I <vish he'd leave youalone." 

"Don't worry about it." The day a Captain couldn't handlemiddy he'd better look to retirement. 

A few minutes later I struggled to my feet We started out slowly, Alexi andTolliver carrying the supply packs as before. When I'd bent to take one, Alexisnatched it from under my hand and turned away without a word, adjusting itaround his shoulder, I let it be. 

When dark finally came I was close to collapse, sweat streaming down my face. Ioverrode their suggestions—by now even Tolliver was anxious for me to rest—andinsisted that we go a bit farther by flashlight. We did so, ducking under thepersistent boughs. We finally came upon a glade with enough open space to set upthe tent, where only tall grasses impeded our efforte. I tried to help; Tolliverasked me curtly to get out of the way and let them finish. After, I forced downa tin of rations and fell on my bed. 

In the dim light of morning Tolliver did his best to dress quietly, but I wokeanyway. I sat, fumbled with my shirt, and got to my knees. I waited untilTolliver left the tent before I tried to stand. 

I hung on to the tent pole until I was sure my legs had stopped trembling, thenthrust aside the flap and went outside. A heavy mist lay about; the ground wascold and damp. 

"Coffee, sir?" Tolliver's tone was civil. 


"Please." I sat on a rock that protruded through the grasses. I inhaled thearoma of the steaming cup. 

"Shall I wake Mr. Tamarov?" 
The thought of another day's walk curdled my stomach. "Yes, you'd better." I
sipped at my coffee, marshaling my reserves for the day's ordeal. 


A few moments later Alexi crouched beside me, cup in hand. He studied my face.
"Are you feverish?" 
"I'm fine." The claim sounded absurd, even to me. 
"You can't make it through another day like yesterday." 
"I'll be all right." I watched Tolliver dismantle the tent. 
"It took you two minutes to stand up this mor—" 
"Alexi, don't argue!" 
He blanched, "I—I'm sorry." He hurried to help Tolliver. 


* * * 
I labored for two hours, leaning on Alexi, then on Tolliver, wretched in thedrizzle that had begun soon after we left the clearing. When I stopped to catchmy breath I was beset by a fit of coughing that swelled until it tore at mychest and throat. When the mists cleared I found myself on my knees, hanging onto a low branch. 

"We'll have to carry him." Tolliver's voice was flat. 
"Can we rig a stretcher?" 
"I'll see what I can find in our gear." 
I hadn't the breath to object. I slumped against the bough while Tolliver pulled


tent poles from his bundles and tied the poly-mil tent fabric across them. 
"Help him onto it, Mr. Tamarov." 
"I'm all—" 
"You'd better get in, Mr. Seafort." Alexi held my eye until I nodded


reluctantly. Arm across his shoulder, I tottered to the makeshift litter. I layon my back, cold and wet; Alexi folded my jacket under my head as a pillow. Igrabbed his arm. "I'm sorry." 

He smiled hesitantly. "We can carry you." 
"About barking at you this morning." 
He shrugged. I searched his face for rebuke, found only worry. 
"Alexi, walk out with Tolliver. Leave me and get help." 



"No." He nodded to Tolliver, picked up his end of the stretcher. I turned away,


ashamed. 
Eventually I slept; when I woke I was lying on the ground. Alexi sat nearby. I
swallowed; my throat was raw. "Where's Tolliver?" 


Alexi looked up, studied my face. "We found a stream. He's refilling our water
bottles." 
"Help me sit." He did so. "I can walk." 
"Please don't try, Mr. Seafort." 


"You can't go on carrying me." 
"It's not so hard." He looked at his hands. "A few blisters, but I can live with
those." He shook his head to still my objection. "It's easier, now that we've
dumped most of the supplies. All we've got is the radio, another night's Q-
rations, and the water." 


I stirred angrily. "Who decided that?" 


"Mr. Tolliver suggested it, and I agreed." He chewed his lip. "I don't know
who's in charge. You're sick, I can't remember a thing, and he's just a middy." 
I smiled weakly. "A mess. I'm in charge, unless he tries to relieve me." 
The voice came from behind my head. "I've considered it." I turned. Tolliver


stared down, a water bottle in each arm. 
"I wouldn't try, Midshipman." My tone was cold. 
A twisted smile. "I will, if you become incoherent. Not before." I wondered if


it was a threat. 


Alexi cleared his throat. "Please stop, both of you." His glance appealed from
one to the other. "We're wasting daylight." 
Tolliver grunted, handed Alexi one of the water bottles. He stooped to his end


of the litter. "Come on, then." 
Gripping the sides of the litter, I watched the leafy canopy drift overhead. I


closed my eyes; when next I opened them the gray sky had begun to darken. Half
dreaming, I tried to focus on the trees and shrubs floating past my head. 
"We'd better quit soon," Alexi panted. 
"Not yet." Tolliver, at the front of the litter, trudged on, eyes down. 
"Then I've got to rewrap my hand." 
Tolliver swore under his breath as he lowered the litter. "Hurry up." He waited


impatiently while Alexi retied the handkerchief around his palm. Tolliver's eyesdrifted down to mine. "We've got only an hour of daylight left, and I don'tthink we made our ten miles. If we can't reach the road tomorrow, we may nothave strength to carry you." 


"Tomorrow I'll walk awhile." 
"Don't make me laugh." He turned away in disgust. 
When next I woke, a fire crackled nearby. Alexi lay on his air mattress, jacket


thrown over his shoulders. His breathing was slow and regular. Tolliver, in
shirtsleeves, huddled on the far side of the firepit, hands thrust between his
legs for warmth. I adjusted my jacket, lay for a while, slept again. 


Alexi shook me gently. "Would you like some coffee before we start?" 
I nodded, blinking in the early light, watching Alexi busy himself with the pot.
The night chill was still on us; I pulled my jacket over my shoulders and


adjusted it across my feet. A moment later I struggled to sit, aware that my
jacket couldn't possibly cover both my feet and arms. I sorted out my covers. 
"It's mine." Tolliver stared down at me. 
"How did it—who—?" 
"You needed warmth." 
The image of Edgar Tolliver huddling next to the fire, bare-shirted in the cold


night air, caused me to redden in mortification. "Thank you," I said gruffly, 
He smiled briefly. "At Academy I learned to give my all, not my clothes." 
"I'm surprised you care if I live." 
His tone was sardonic. "I'd be called before a Board of Inquiry if you didn't," 
While they sorted the gear I managed to get to my feet unaided, and went into


the brush to relieve myself. When I got back to the clearing I had no objection
to using the litter. As they readied themselves I keyed the radio. Orbit Station
didn't answer. Neither did Centraltown. 


I clutched the stretcher while they swung me into position. "How much farther,


do you think?" 
Tolliver shrugged. "Who knows? The road is somewhere ahead. Five miles?
Fifteen?" 


Alexi said, "We've had no dinner, no breakfast. Our next meal will see the last
of our Q-rations." 


"Then hope we find the road." Tolliver. 
When we finally stopped to rest Alexi sat, rocking, hand clutched between his
knees. 


"Let me see." 
"I'm all right." 



"Do as I say." My tone brooked no argument. Reluctantly he extended his hand,
unwrapping the cloth. Red and swollen, his fingers oozed where the blisters hadbroken. 

"Lord God." I rolled myself off the litter. 
Tolliver tossed aside his empty Q-ration. "What do you think you're doing?" 
"I'll walk." 
"You're weak as a kitten." 
"It's just bronchitis. I'll manage." 
He stood. "Seafort, sometimes you're an idiot." 
I rolled to my knees, tried not to stagger as I got to my reel. "Three


demerits!" 
"Shove your demerits up your arse!" He faced me, hands on hips. "You can't walk!
If you try, none of us will make it. And if we do, what will we find? Maybe the


Navy's gone with the rest of Centraltown. Do you think I give a damn about your
frazzing demerits?" 
I moved toward him, legs unsteady. "And duty?" I panted, "Your oath? Honor?" 
His fists clenched. "I'm trying to get you out of here alive! If that isn't


duty, what is?" His words hissed, "You destroyed me, Seafort! I should have letyou execute me. I have no career, no future, and I'm still trying to save you!"
His voice caught, and he spun away. "Let me be, damn you!" 

After a moment I said softly, "Leave the Utter behind. Our jackets too, andeverything but the water and the radio. I'll lean against each of you In turn.
We'll walk until we reach the road. If I can't make it, I'll have you go onahead," 

Tolliver nodded, unable to speak. 
"My hand's not that—" 
"I'll lean on you, Alexi. Don't argue, save your strength." 
To my shame, I hadn't strength to walk, even leaning heavily on Alexi. So, arms


draped across their shoulders, I let them half carry, half drag me through thebrush, forcing my feet to cooperate, working to their load. My lungs labored butI was determined not to stop. In any event, I wasn't sure I had the breath tocall for a rest. 

The sun moved inexorably to the horizon. Our stops became more frequent. AfraidI couldn't stand again if I sat, I sagged against a tree, my legs stiffened tokeep from falling, 

Alexi was disconsolate. "It'll be dark soon," 
I managed to speak. "Keep going." 
"We can't walk all—" 



"There'll be moonlight. We'll keep on until we get to the road or..." I left the


thought unfinished. 
My bravura faded with the light. As darkness came I stumbled more frequently,
supported only by the determination of my comrades. At length I signaled a halt.
"Water." It came out a croak. Greedily I poured the life-giving liquid down my
throat until I drained the bottle. "Where's the other canteen? Alexi, aren't you
thirsty?" 


Tolliver's face glistened in the light of Hope Nation's two moons. "We finished
it a long time ago." 


"Christ, I'm sorry." I hadn't thought to offer them a drop. 
"Maybe there'll be another stream," he said. And maybe not. I balled my fists,
cursing my selfishness. Their strength, not mine, was our hope. 


"We'd better get going." Alexi's voice was strained. 


For the next hour we struggled through unrelenting brush. Hacking coughs reduced
me to helplessness. I began to watch for an open space for them to leave me, 
By now, they carried most of my weight; I clung to their shoulders with failing


strength. Giving up any effort to walk restored a modicum of energy, and with it
clarity of thought, I said carefully, "I'll rest when we find a clearing/' I
winced as thorns raked my side. 


"I'll stay with you." 
"No. Go with Tolliver. Bring help." 
Alexi shook his head. 
"You will. Tolliver, this is an order," I stopped to suck for air. "When we find


a clearing you go on with Alexi. Try to mark the trail. Get help. Acknowledge." 
Tolliver was breathing hard. "Aye aye, sir, acknowledged." 
"I won't leave you!" Alexi's voice held a note of desperation. 
"Alexi... my father. He's in Cardiff. Wales, I want you to give him a message." 
"He's delirious." 
"Shut up, Tolliver." I panted. "Tell him—" 
"I won't be seeing your father, Mr. Seafort. Not until you take me there." 
I fought to remain calm. "I want you to tell Father,.." 
Finally Alexi's voice came, hesitant. "What?" 
I thought for a long time, fighting exhaustion. At length I said, "Tell him ...


I tried." 



Alexi bit off a moan, I swallowed, seeking a peace that eluded me. No matter. Ihad to reach a clearing, force him to leave before he changed his mind. It wasthe last gift I could offer. 

I swallowed, and was overcome by a fit of coughing. Alexi and Tolliver waitedfor me to recover. By great effort I brought my breathing under control. Westaggered on. Our eyes were accustomed to the pale reflections of Major andMinor; we thrust through remorseless tangles of undergrowth. Beyond, the lightseemed brighter. I lunged at it, my heart jumping. Yes, definitely moremoonlight ahead. A clearing, or what would suffice. An excuse to send them ontheir way. 

I gasped, "I'll sit there, where it's light," 

"Let me stay," Alexi said plaintively, 

"No." A croak. 

"I'm nothing without you, don't you understand? You have my memories!" 

My hand clutched at his arm, exacting his submission. "Get to Cardiff for me.
You must," The low branches gave way to heavy brush and shoulder-high pass. Wewere in the clearing. A hundred feet ahead dark trees loomed again in themoonlight. "Set me down." 

Tolliver said, "We'll lean you against that tree." 

A few more steps. Surely I could manage that, "All right," I let them carry metoward the trees. The passes parted, and the terrain plunged into a culvert. 

Beyond was Plantation Road. 

CHAPTER 12 

I lay shivering in the night air, my head in Alexi's lap. We talked, voices low,
while Tolliver crouched by the roadside near his flimsy barricade of deadbranches and brush. My breathing consumed more and more effort. Alexi wiped myhead with his bandaged hand; Annie brought me a cool compress. I shoved heraway; she held my arm down, wiped my brow. "You real sick now, Nicky. We betak'n care of you." 

"I deserted you." 

"It don' matter. We work it out nudder time. You be still." She bent over,
kissed my cheek. Alexi squeezed my hand, 

Dark. Dreams. The endless shadow of Lord God's disfavor. Chest heaving, Idrifted from my friends, toward night. 

"/ don't know. Sleeping, maybe. Christ, why doesn't 

"Don 7 blaspheme, " I whispered, 

A moment's pause. "I'm sorry, Mr. Seafort." 

"Very well." 


I slept. 


Sometime later I woke to a bright light shining in my face, I twisted away, but
the roadside skewed dizzily and I lay still. 
"There's room for him behind the cab." 
"Pick him up, he's in no condition to help." 
"Of course I am," I mumbled, but got no answer. After a time I found myself


stretched out behind the driver's seat of the hauler. It resembled a middy's


bunk. I giggled. 
I woke to full daylight, on clean sheets, in a soft bed, and breathing through a
mask that blocked my vision. Sarah Branstead looked up from a holo. "You're
back." 


I considered it. "You're a hallucination." My voice was muffled. 
She smiled. "I don't think so." 
I reached for the mask. She caught my hand. "Don't. Dr. A very has you on


vapormeds and you need every drop." 
I studied her. "This is real?" 
She laughed. "Yes. Your young friend told me you were talking with someone else


at times." 
"Annie." "Your wife?" 
"She's in Centraltown." With horror I struggled to sit up, fell back against the


pillows. "What happened? Is she all right?" 


"A great meteor hit near Centraltown. Horrid casualties. They think the fish
dropped it." 
Lord God, no. 
I felt my pulse pounding. "What's the matter with me?" 
"Pneumonia, We almost lost you last night." 
Father. Cardiff. I looked away. "My lieu—Alexi, How is he?" 
"He's in the kitchen with Elena, eating for both of you. He'll be back shortly," 
Thank you, Lord. 
"And your Mr. Tolliver is asleep upstairs." A soft knock at the door; she


beckoned someone in. 
The boy sounded shy. "Hello, Captain Seafort." He approached the bed, 
"jerence." 



"May I sit for a while?" His mother and I both nodded. He pulled a chair closer
to me. "I came down from bed when Mr. Volksteader's hauler brought you." 
"I think I remember," 
He leaned forward, as if imparting a secret. "I'm glad you're all right." 


After a moment I inquired, "Am I?" 
No one answered directly. Jerence said, "We've all been worried for you. Ms.
Triforth called three times, and Mrs. Palabee sent soup." 


Sarah Branstead added, "Well fly you into Centraltown as soon as your
infection's down. To the clinic." 


1 nodded, growing sleepy. The room faded. 
Dr. Avery packed away his diagnostic puter. He was a small man, graying, with a
crisp air of authority. "Yesterday I started you on antibiotics, Mr. Seafort.
They'll help, but we need to get you to Centraltown. They have better equipment
than I carry." 


"When?" 
"Tomorrow, if your fever stays down." 
"I need to report." I looked around for a caller. "Is the Admiral groundside?" 
"Worry about that when you recover, Mr. Seafort." 
My tone was churlish. "I have to report to Admiralty. That can't wait." 
He shrugged. "Using the caller won't hurt, I suppose. If you can get through.


Harmon?" 


Harmon Branstead said, "We can use low-power radio from here to Zack HopewelFs,
That's where the old landline runs." 
"Landline?" 
"Before we licked the sunspot problem, they buried an old-fashioned fiber-optic


line along the road. We're using it again, now that we've gone to radio
silence." 


I sat up straighter. "What are you talking about?" 
Harmon pulled a chair alongside my bed. "I forgot you were stranded in south
forest. Your Navy ordered a complete radio blackout after the fish dropped the
asteroid on Central-town. They don't know if fish can hear radio waves but
they're not taking a chance until we know more." 


Centraltown. Images of Belfast after the IRA nuke. I wondered what was left. "Is


Admiralty House standing?" 
"It seemed all right when I flew in yesterday. The blast knocked over their
dish, but they had that fixed." 



I looked around eagerly. "Where's your caller?" 
"The main set is in my study. If you'd—" 
I swung my legs out of the bed. "Now?" 
"Just a minute," Dr. Avery said testily. "Bring along your mask." 
"It's only for a few—" 


Hands on hips, he glowered. "Or I'll put you down with a sedative. Your choice." 


I glared back. Unimpressed, he held my eye until I was forced to surrender.
"Alexi, Mr. Tolliver, help with my gear, would you?" 
A few moments later I was seated at Harmon Branstead's desk, blanket thrown over


my knees, fuming with impatience for the connection. 
At last Forbee's voice came on the line. "Mr. Seafort, you're all right!


Wonderful. Sorry we couldn't send a hell for you, but the relief work at
Centraltown came—" 
"Of course." I had to stop until I had my breath. "Can I speak with the


Admiral?" 
"He's on Vestra, We're moving the tactical group to Orbit Station. I leave in


about an hour. He's authorized a tight-beam relay to his ship, so I might be
able to get you through." 
"What's happened since the last attack?" 
"It never ended, I'm afraid. Since Tuesday we've lost nine ships," 
"Oh, Lord God," 
"About half our remaining warships are deployed to protect the Station, The rest


of the fleet is in position to intercept an attack on Centraltown. Meanwhile,
the fish Fuse in and out at odd intervals. They've learned, Mr. Seafort. They gofor our shipboard lasers the moment they Defuse. We're still taking out a few ofthem, though." 

"Lord God help us," 
"Amen. Would you like me to try to gat you through to the Admiral?" 
"Please," I waited in the silent, somber study, with Harmon Branstead, Dr.


Avery, and my two officers. Nine ships. Hundreds of souls. How long could we


stand against the aliens? 
A crisp voice interrupted my reverie, "Admiral De Mamay is on the line/* I
clutched the caller, 


"Hello, Seafort?" 
"Yes, sir," 



"Who the hell shot you down?" 
"I don't know, sir." 
"No way to investigate now. All our people are working with emergency rescue.


Hell of a mess. You all right?" 
"Yes, sir. I'll be in Centraltown tomorrow." I ignored Dr. Avery's rebuke. 
"Don't know when I'll be down. The attack may be tapering off, but it's too


early to tell." 
"Right, sir." 
"Did you hear they found Tenere alive in Freiheit's launch?" 
"Thank heaven!" 
"He's on the station, recovering. Every ship we've got is on patrol. Except for


Forbee, you're the only Captain on the ground." 
"Yes, sir, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." 
"Eh, speak up. You sound muffled." 
I tore off the vapormask. "Sir, Victoria, Captain Martes was to be transferred."


I panted for breath. 
"He has Prince of Wales now." De Marnay seemed distracted, 
"Can I have Victoria, sir?" 
"Hmm? No, I gave her to Holser. He was a lieutenant." 
Bile flooded my throat. "Yes, I knew him," I coughed, 
"Overdue for promotion. Commander, now. He took Victoria to Detour and Kail's


Planet on a special errand." 
"I see." With irritation, I waved away the vapormask Dr. Avery thrust at me. 
Admiral De Marnay's voice changed. "Seafort, I have contingency orders for you.


We're on tightbeam?" 
"Only the link from Admiralty House to you," 
"Then I'd better send a middy down. He'll have a chip coded for your eyes only." 
"Can I meet you at Orbit Station? If there's any ship I could take—" 
"No, stay there. Don't worry about the delay, your orders may never go into


effect. I'll be in touch. Out." The line went dead. 


1 sagged. Even in extremis, Georges De Marnay would not call on me. I barely
heard Dr. Avery's insistent demands. 
Alexi knelt. "Mr. Seafort, you'd better put this on." He held the vapormask. 



Dully, I fastened it around my face. I essayed a smile. "Help me back to bed,


then. Harmon, would you fly me to Centraltown later?" 
"As soon as Dr. Avery allows. In the morning, I imagine." He hesitated. "The war
isn't going well?" 


"We're losing ships." I stood, hanging on to Harmon's arm, surprised at how


dizzy I felt. I let them help me back to my room. 
I dozed for several hours, waking in late afternoon. Jer-ence was sitting by my
bedside. He left as soon as I woke and appeared a few moments later with his
father. 


"Are you well enough for company?" 
"You're always welcome, Harmon." 
"Thank you, but I meant Zack Hopewell and some of the others. They've heard


you're with us." 
"No, I—" The last thing I needed was to let them see me smothered in a
vapormask. Still, my purpose in taking the heli jaunt had been to confer with


them. The attack on Centraltown made their grievances less urgent, but... "Yes,
I mean. Just give me time to dress." 
"This evening, then, after dinner." I nodded agreement. 
Zack Hopewell shook his head, his grim. "A missile." We sat in Harmon's study,


much the same group that had met on my earlier visit. 


"Thank heaven they only fired one. We couldn't have escaped two." I avoided
Edgar Tolliver's eye. 
Laura Triforth growled, ''Mantiet, of course," 
"We don't know that." Hopewell, 
"Who else? He already tried once." Laura grimaced, "What's the world coming to?


Bombs in the roadway, missile attacks,.." 
I said, "Yes, I've been lucky. Why Frederick Mantiet want me dead?" 
Tornas Palabee glanced at Laura, shook his head. Arvin Volksteader looked


uncomfortable. For a moment, silence, 


"Maybe he thinks it will hasten the Republic." Plumwell, manager of Carr
Plantation. His tone was defiant. 
"Nonsense," said Hopewell, "He—" 
"That's just wild talk!" Laura. 
188 » David Feintuch 



"Republic?" I demanded. Harmon said, "He's just speculating, Captain." "Whatrepublic?" I gripped the chair arms and pushed myself to my feet. The roomseemed overly warm. 

"Let me—" 

"I'll tell him." Zack Hopewell's tone was firm. The others lapsed silent. "We'velong had a party, Mr. Seafort, who've argued—theoretically, mind you—that HopeNation would be better off as an independent republic." 

I was shocked into silence, 

"It will happen sooner or later," he said, almost apologetically. "The sheerdistance—" 

"How could you survive on your own? Where would you sell your grain?" 1 found myface growing hot. "Can you manufacture the implements of a high-tech society younow import? Is your—" 

"Technology isn't everything. We—" 

"Have you no gratitude? Men devote their lives to bringing you supplies!" 

Laura rasped, "Is that what you expect from your minions? Gratitude?" 

It brought me to my senses, "No, of course not. I was out of line. Forgive me.
But..." I paused to regroup. "Regardless of the merits, that's not a decision wecan make." Only the U.N. Security Council, or its plenipotentiary, could grantindependence to a colony. 

Hopewell was a trifle less frosty, "I didn't say it was. You know we sentrepresentatives to Terra years ago, but nothing came of it, I'm not sayinganyone in this room—or any planter—would rebel against lawful authority, butvoices have grown stronger over the years. Now that Centraltown's devastated,
some feel that the time has come." 

"Don't you need the Navy now more than ever?" 

Laura's lip curled, "What's your Navy done for us? Did it stop the fish frombombing Centraltown?" 

My face was white. "Do you know how many died trying?" 

"Many," said Hopewell. "God rest their souls. Sit down, Laura, I'm not doneyet." He waited. "It's becoming clear that a change is overdue, even if it fallsshort of independence. Our complaints about shipping rates are ignored, and—" 

"With independence, you'd be utterly at the mercy of the Tariff Board. Who elsewould buy your grain, other than home system?" 

He went on as if I hadn't spoken. "We're stifled by authoritarian governmentimposed from afar. Do you think a local administration would order a militarybase hidden in the Ventures?" 

"Obviously not. But now is no time to—" 


"I agree. This is not the time. But perhaps Mr. Plumwell's sneering reference toa republic is now clear," 

"I didn't sneer about—" 

Laura's tone was cold. "Stuff it, Plumwell; as a manager you're here only bysufferance." She stared him down, "In any event, Mr. Seafort, what have youaccomplished for us?" 

I sat, trying to conceal the trembling of my legs, "The Ventures Base was afiasco. We've begun to remedy that.** 

"You canned General Khartouf, yes," 

"And put a competent man in his place. We'll get the generator completedshortly, and the supplies moved from Centraltown." 

"Ah, yes, the supplies." Laura's voice was acid. 

"The Station's been downloading cargo faster than the Venturas Base can receiveit. Hopefully that will untangle itself with the change of command." 

Tomas Palabee stirred. "Appointing a new commander doesn't address the basicissue. We need control of our own affairs." 

"You have a legislature ..." 

Laura snorted. "Your constitution gives veto power to the Governor, And in anyevent, the riffraff at Centraltown can outvote us. Idle hands! Whoever heard ofgiving unemployed field hands a controlling vote?" A general murmur ofagreement. 

"I can't rewrite the constitution. But 1*11 ask Admiral De Marnay whatconcessions are possible." 

Plumwell smiled tightly, "Take your time. Meanwhile, men like Mantiet willhandle things their own way." 

I slammed my fist on my chair. "Why haven't you caught him?" My anger gave thempause. "You've had .. . how long, four weeks? He's your countryman. You know hishabits, you know the terrain! Find him!" 

"We've tried." HopewelFs ire matched my own. "We almost took him in Centraltown.
He's gone, Lord God knows where. Maybe the meteor got him!" 

Laura sighed. "If Frederick's alive, we'll find him; give us time." 

"I will." I was stopped by a spell of coughing. Finally I added, "Just as you IIgive me time to resolve your problems." 

"A fair trade." Zack Hopewell stood. "We've had our say. Let the Captain recoverfrom his ordeal. We've tired him." 

Over my protests, they bade good night and took their leave. With profoundrelief I let Alexi and Tolliver help me to bed. In moments I was asleep. 


In the morning I walked with careful step to Branstead's heli. To my surprise,
Laura Triforth was waiting to see me off. She took me aside. "About lastnight..." She ran a hand through curly auburn hair flecked with gray. 

"Yes, ma'am?" 

"For heaven's sake, call me Laura. We've all,.," She hesitated, seemed to pullherself together. "Our emotions run strong," she said abruptly. "Harmon wasright, that day he said we'd grown imperious. Fm afraid in my case the passionof our cause overcame my manners." Hazel eyes met mine. "Captain, I'm trulysorry for the injury to your Lieutenant Tamarov. I don't think I've made clearhow distressed I am. And the missile—it's unheard of. Ghastly." Her voicecaught. 

"Thank you." I tried to make my voice more gentle. 

"You fight a frightful war with the fish. In that, we're your allies. Youmustn't think we're enemies massing on a second front." Her hand darted to myarm. "Please," 

"At times I wondered." I smiled, to take the sting from my words. I turned tothe heli and settled into the front seat. My two officers crammed behind. Theystrapped the vapormask securely about my face, its canister on my lap covered by 

Sarah's warm coverlet. At the last moment Jerence trotted out to the lawn. His 
tone was urgent. "Pa, let me come." 

"To Centraltown? Not a chance." 

"Please." He hesitated. "It's not what you think. I won't run away. I just want—
" 

"Yes?" Harmon was impatient. 

"To help with Captain Seafort." 

"Don't be ridiculous." Harmon's hand reached for the starter, but the boy caughthis eye in mute appeal. After a long moment he relented. "Get in." 

We lifted off. Tolliver scanned the skies uneasily, as if expecting anothermissile. I lay back and closed my eyes. Tolliver's anxiety affected all butJerence, who chattered to Alexi. 

Harmon flew low and fast. To break the tension I asked through the mask, "
Where's Emmett?'* 

"Helping in Centraltown. I'll bring him home with me." * 

"Your brother lives in town, doesn't he?" 

"He has a cottage there, but he spends about half of his time with us. We'veagreed it's safer on the estate for awhile." 

"Safer?" 

"Things have—changed." 


I brooded on that, while we flew past the edge of the plantation zone, pastHauler's Rest. At last, the outskirts of Centraltown were in sight. It was aclear, sunny day, and 1 could see no damage. 

"Will you land at the spaceport?" My car was there, 
"No, south of downtown." 
"Why?" 
"That's where they've set up the clinic," 
"Isn't it at the hospital?" 
Harmon compressed his lips, shook his head. A few moments later I spotted the


spaceport, but our angle didn't permit a glimpse of Admiralty House, Still, I


knew It had survived; I'd talked to Forbee the day before. 
Our small talk abated as we neared downtown. I peered down at uprooted trees.
Wreckage littering the streets; debris had been shoved aside to clear paths for
rescue vehicles. 


I sucked in my breath, heedless of the ache in my lungs. 


Below, crumpled wood-frame houses sagged to the west, away from downtown, as if
too tired to remain standing. My stomach slowly knotted as we flew closer. 
Near downtown, brick buildings were smashed to rubble, and streets had


disappeared into ruins. I moaned. "Annie..." 
Harmon asked, "Did she live near the reservoir?" 
"We were across town, about twenty blocks from the barracks. Why?" 
"Armstrong Reservoir was ground zero." 
"What did they hit us with? A nuke?" 
He shook his head. "Thank Lord God, no. A rock, but from the energy it


dispersed, it might as well have been a fission bomb." 


"We shouldn't—" I bit off the thought, not daring to involve them in talk of
nuclear weapons. 
By the time we dipped toward the grassy meadow that had become an emergency


field, I wanted to see no more of the appalling devastation. I sat until the
blades stopped whistling. Harmon turned to his son. "I trust you not to run
away, boy. But if you do, remember that there's worse danger than a whipping
from me." He pointed at what was left of downtown. 


Jerence nodded. "I know, Pa. I heard Uncle Emmett. I won't." 


I unlatched the door as a U.N.A.F. soldier came alongside. He eyed my vapormask.
"This one's for the clinic?" 
Tolliver spoke up from the back, his voice cold. "This one's Captain Nicholas


Seafort, U.N.N.S." 



The sentry glanced at my face. His eyes widened in recognition. "Yes, sir. Rightup the street, about half a block." He pointed. "I'll call the ambulance, if youlike." 

I eased myself out of the heli. "I'm much better, actually." To my surprise, itwas true. "I can walk." Alexi and Tolliver hovered at my sides. 

"Can I carry the vapormeds?" 

I snapped, "I'm not helpless, Jerence." The boy's face fell. I took a couple ofsteps and hesitated. "Perhaps you'd better, after all." Eagerly he took thecanister from my hands. 

We proceeded slowly to the school in which the emergency clinic was operating.
Electricars, some battered, lined the roadway. We passed a family helping aheavily bandaged man into a car. Though I had to stop more than once for breath,
I felt little of the dizziness that had plagued me; Dr. Avery's vapormeds werehaving their effect. In any event, Alexi and Tolliver were ludicrously close,
waiting to catch me if I sagged. Ribald jokes came to mind; with an effort Isuppressed them. 

On the stoop two women sat consoling each other, oblivious to passersby. Alexiheld the door. 

In the hall they'd set up an admitting office near the gymnasium that served asthe main clinic. The hall was crowded with patients, some bandaged, someuninjured, many slumped despondently. I found a place on a bench. 

Tolliver leaned over the admitting desk, spoke to the weary civilian behind it.
The man ran his hands through his hair, pushed himself up from his desk. 

"Captain Seafort? An honor to meet you, sir." I nodded through my mask. "I'llhave a med tech look you over while you wait for the doctor." 

"Wait?" Tolliver's tone was hostile. 

"Yes, wait." The man showed signs of irritation. "WeVv only three surgeons, andthey've worked without sleep the past four days. We finally sent two of them torest, and the third's trying to hang on to a joey who was trapped under acollapsed wall since the blast." 

I forestalled Tolliver's reply. "How long before the doctor has time?" 

"Hours, probably. We take life-threatening cases first." 

"Of course." We shouldn't have come. Pneumonia was nothing compared to theinjuries they battled. My vapormeds seemed to be holding their own against it. 

"You can wait in the lobby or in a classroom." 

"Could I come back later?" 

"I can't guarantee we won't get another emergency, but that's less likely witheach passing hour. All we're finding now is the dead. A doctor should be able tosee you after seven tonight." 


"Thank you. Does anyone have a survivors' list?" 
"It's on the puter at emergency HQ but I can tie in from here. What name?" 
"Miss Wells. Annie Wells." My heart thumped. He bent over the console,


straightened. "She's not listed as a survivor." 
1 turned away, unable to speak. 
"But she's not among the known dead," he added. "The list isn't complete. It


only has those who've been treated or have reported to a relief center." 
Annie would know to put her name on the list, of course. So she was lost. I
sagged against the wall. After a time a wave of contempt washed away my self-


pity. So easy to dismiss her as dead, yet I'd hadn't even searched for her.
Perhaps she was hurt, wandering, desperate for help. 
I beckoned to Harmon Branstead. "Would you take me back to the spaceport?" 
"No." 
Stunned, I could only gape. "What? ... I'm sorry." My


tone was stiff. "I didn't mean to impose." 
"Imposing has nothing to do with it. 1 won't be party to your suicide." 
I snorted. "Don't be silly. I won't be able to see a doctor for hours. I need to


look for Annie, and I should check in at Admiralty House/' 
"That's not wise. Dr. Avery—" 
"Damn your Dr. Avery!" My vehemence drove him back a step. After a tense moment


I cleared my throat. "Forgive me, 
Harmon." "Of course." He sighed, unclenched his fists. "Well, let's 
get you back to the heli, if you must." 
"Thank you." On the way to the makeshift airstrip I allowed Alexi and Tolliver


to support some of my weight, more winded than I cared to let on. 
Strapped securely into my seat, I fell into a doze while Harmon lifted off and
headed west. When I woke, the heli was settling on the tarmac behind Admiralty
House. I opened the door and swung out my legs, debating whether to report first


to Admiralty or to search for Annie. Annie was more important, but Admiralty
House was but a few steps away. 
"Tolliver, remember where we parked our car?" 
"Yes, sir." 
"Bring it round the front of Admiralty House. Alexi, you might give me a hand."


I paused. "Harmon, thanks for everything." 
"You'll go back to the clinic?" 
"I think I'm getting better. I'm sure my fever's down." 



"Give me your word you'll be there at seven." 
My eyebrow raised. "I beg your pardon?" 
"You heard me." 
Jerence looked anxiously from his father to me. Despite myself, I smiled. "Very


well, Harmon. My word." My smile vanished. My word was worth less than he knew. 


"No, sir, no one's come groundside since yesterday." Willem Anton, the duty
lieutenant. Admiralty House seemed nearly deserted. 
"The Admiral didn't send a middy?" 
"Nothing's landed except the shuttle that took Captain Forbee aloft, sir. Would


you like to call Naval HQ at the Station?" 
I grimaced. "The Admiral has enough on his mind. Who's in charge here?" 
"Lieutenant Trapp, upstairs." 
"I'll go see him." I got to my feet. 
Alexi blurted, "Mr. Anton, could you ask Lieutenant Trapp to come down instead?" 
I wheeled. "Remember your own duty before you intrude on mine!" I panted for


breath. 
Alexi blushed crimson, but held his ground. "I thought— you've been so—" 
But Anton was already on the caller, he'd observed the va-pormask and canister


Alexi held. I glared. Alexi looked only mildly contrite. While we waited I asked
Anton, "Have you heard from my wife?" 
The lieutenant looked up, face grim. "Was she downtown?" 
"I don't know. We lived near downtown." 
He started to speak, shook his head. "Sorry. I've heard nothing, sir." 
Lieutenant Trapp saluted as he trotted down the steps. 
196 * David Feintuch 
"Admiral De Marnay told me you'd be along, sir. Good to see you again." 
"Again?" 
"Yes, sir, I was in the tactics room the day you came to, ah, visit Mr. Holser." 


"Yes." I didn't want reminding of that. "What's our status?" 
"We're monitoring reports. They're on screen in the tactics room, if you'd like
..." 



"Very well." I ignored Alexi's reproach and followed Trapp up the stairs.


Halfway, I paused, my strength fading. 
In the tactics room, Trapp's pointer tapped the screen. "The Admiral's here on
Vestra, in orbit about thirty degrees west of the Station." 


"Foolish of him to chase about on a ship.'VPlacing himself at risk served no
purpose; better that he commanded from the safety of the Station or Centraltown,
In a moment I realized what I'd said. Mortified, I added hastily, "He—uh— Of
course, he has his reasons. Please disregard my comment," 


"Aye aye, sir." 
Still, if Vestra was destroyed, our chain of command would be sundered. With


Forbee on the Station I was the only Captain groundside; I had best stay close
to Admiralty House until the danger was past. 
Lieutenant Trapp pointed. "The fleet is divided into two squadrons, to protect


both Centraltown and the Station." 
"Any sightings?" 
"Not for a couple of days, sir." He cleared his throat. "Sir, are we, ah,


losing?" 
"I don't know." 
He swallowed. "If the fish take out our fleet, what will happen to Centraltown?


To Hope Nation?" 
"Enough, Lieutenant." My voice was sharp. "We'll do our duty." I sat, waiting
out a passing weakness. "How many Captains are on the Station?" If Admiral De


Marnay were killed, the senior Captain there would be in charge. The only other
Admiral sent to Hope system, Geoffrey Tremaine, had died by my own hand. 
"Mr. Tenere is recovering on Orbit Station, sir." 
"That's all? Everyone else is on ship?" 
He swallowed. "Or lost." 
"Very well." I had to remain at Admiralty House. No, I had to find Annie. I


cursed; I couldn't do both. Anyway, did it make sense to stagger about
Centraltown, dependent on a vapormask? Others could search more competently than
I, and my duty was here. 


No. Annie was my wife. "Mr. Trapp." 
"Sir?" 
"I'll set my caller to standby channel. Reach me by it if there's any action.


I'm going to search for my wife." 


By the time I reached the foot of the stairs I was sweating. Nonetheless I made
an effort to walk casually to the main door, Alexi at my heels. 
"The car's right here, sir." 



I took several breaths, negotiated the stoop. Perhaps I'd better wear the
vapormask after all. I took it from Alexi's hand, thrust it over my face. 


I leaned on him the rest of the way. 
I sank into the back seat, inhaling from the vapormask as deeply as I could.
Each breath came as a stab. 


It took Tolliver over an hour to negotiate the debris-filled streets to my
neighborhood. Alexi dozed in front, head cradled on his bandaged hand. While we
drove I stared at rows of blasted, windowless buildings with sagging roofs,
hoping against hope that my apartment was spared, 


We turned south, away from the worst of the devastation. Soon Tolliver pulled up
on the street where I lived. Our building was less damaged than many we'd
passed, though splintered siding boards hung askew, smashed by the force of the
blast. Underlayment peeked through roof shingles. A few windows were torn from
their mountings. 


Yet, the building stood. 
"I'll check for you, sir." Tolliver was subdued. 
"No." I struggled with the door, 
"You can barely—-" 
"Shut your mouth." I let Alexi help me from the car. 
Breathing carefully through the confining mask, I negotiated the walkway and put


my thumb to the apartment lock. No click. Well, power was off, and the
building's backup batteries might have run down. I banged on the door, waited. I
knocked again, my eyes shut against a salt sting. 


No answer. 


Tolliver, carrying the caller, had gone around the side of the building. "A
window's smashed." 
"Can you get in?" 
"Anyone could, now." 
I bit back a savage retort. "Climb in and open the door." 
The radio crackled. "Captain Seafort?" 
Tolliver handed me the caller. "Yes?" 
"Lieutenant Trapp, Admiralty House. You said to call if anything ... We've just


heard from Orbit Station. A shuttle's on the way down with a messenger for you." 
"Messenger?" 1 couldn't think. 
"A midshipman, sir." 



"Oh, yes. I'll be back shortly." 
A moment later Tolliver opened the door. Annie must have packed in a hurry, I
thought, observing the bureau doors thrown open, dressers emptied on the floor,


papers and clothes tossed in an untidy mess. It took me a while to comprehend
someone had been searching. 
No. Looting. 
No sign of Annie. No message. 
Unutterably weary, I fell on the couch, watching the last of day darken to dusk. 
"Shall we go back to the clinic, sir?" 
I stirred, "Admiralty House." 
Alexi said, "But, the doctor—you promised—** 
"Admiralty House." I let them help me to the car. When I sat again, I couldn't


stop panting. 
Alexi was hesitant. "Could you drop me at the hospital?" 
"It's not in operation, Alexi." 
"But I could get my clothes, my things ... maybe rest." 
"All right," I nodded to Tolliver, 
Within a few blocks we had passed into a zone of appalling devastation. Tolliver


maneuvered past fallen trees, wrecked cars flung about like pebbles, broken and
tumbled houses. A few crumpled bodies strewn amid the wreckage gave scale and
perspective to the rendition of a demented architect. 


We detoured to avoid impassable streets; eventually I lost my sense of


direction, and sat passively while Tolliver swore at the blockages. 
The road ended at a broad avenue; on the far side was a row of smashed houses
fencing a rolling meadow. Tolliver gunned the engine. 


"Hey, where are you—" We careened across the side yard of a house, into the
meadow beyond. 
"This is Churchill Park. If I cross—" 
"Cars aren't allowed in the park." 
He hit the brakes, twisted around in his seat. "What, sir?" Even Alexi stared. 
"Never mind." I felt a fool. 
Tolliver's eyes bored into me. "Would you care to drive, sir?" 
"Never mind, I said!" 
He restarted the engine, shaking his head with unconcealed contempt. 



We made better progress across the open fields than through the rubble-filledstreets. The grass beneath us was shriveled and burned, and trees were downeverywhere, 

I strove to orient myself; we must be approaching downtown. The hospital wouldbe a few blocks beyond the of the park. Only weeks before, Annie and ! hadstrolled here before visiting the Cathedral. 

We reached the crest of a small hill. Beyond was the boundary of the park,
Tolliver found a gap in the row of shrubbery lining the park and plungedthrough. 

Around us was devastation. 

We turned the corner, Alexi pointed eagerly, MThe hospital is over ... past
that..." His voice trailed off. 
Centraltown Hospital was gone. 
A pile of unrecognizable rubble covered two blocks, Beyond the ruins of hospital


stretched the ruins of downtown. The commercial district, the governmentbuildings, were obliterated. Thank heaven I'd taken Alexi to the plantationzone. 

Tolliver switched off the engine. "Christ Jesus, even the walls," 
Alexi slumped in his seat. "If I'd been there..." 
Tolliver's voice was surprisingly gentle. "You'd be dead." 
Alexi said forlornly, "My things. My clothes." He sat huddled, arms crossed as


if warming himself. 
"People died here." Tolliver's tone was sharp. "Clothes are nothing." 
"They're all I had. That and my room." 
I said gruffly, "You'll stay with me." 
"Where?" 
I didn't know. My chest ached. "Tolliver, back to Admiralty House." 
"You're supposed to see a doctor," Tolliver said. 
"Middy, shut up!" Blessedly, he did. 


CHAPTER 13 

The roar of the descending shuttle subsided. In the Admiralty House anteroom Iimpatiently drummed my fingers on Lieutenant Anton's console. "What's keepinghim?" 

"Shall I go look, Mr. Seafort?" Alexi got to his feet. 


"No." I concentrated on breathing. Some minutes later the front door swung open.


I came awake. 
A voice piped, "Midshipman Avar Bezrel reporting, sir." A youngster in
immaculate uniform brought himself to attention with an Academy salute. 


I scowled. "Don't I know you?" 


"I'm on Admiral De Marnay's staff, sir. I took you into his office when—" 


"Very well. As you were." He relaxed, said nothing further. I prompted, "You


have a message?" 
"Yes, sir, but the Admiral said it's for your eyes only." 
"Let's have it." 
He took a deep breath. "I was told, only when we're alone. I'm sorry, sir, no


disrespect intended." 
I tore off the vapormask. "Who ordered this charade?" 
"Admiral De Marnay, sir." His innocent gray eyes met mine. 
"Anton, Tolliver, Mr. Tamarov, leave the room." I waited until they'd trooped


upstairs. My voice was ice. "Is that satisfactory, Mr. Bezrel?" 
The boy fished in his jacket pocket, came out with a chip-case. 
I opened it. "You leave too, Mr. Bezrel." 
"But, sir, I have the—" 
"At once." 
"Aye aye, sir." He wheeled, marched to the stairwell, and trotted upstairs. 
I inserted the chip into Lieutenant Anton's holovid, flipped it on, entered my


passcode. 
Gibberish. 
I spun the dial, searching through the images. All unreadable. My fist slammed


onto the console. "Bezrel, get down here!" My breath stabbed. 
The boy trotted downstairs. "Aye aye, sir." 
"What is this nonsense?" 
Bezrel said, "You need a code to unlock it, sir." 
"Give it!" I held out my hand. 
"He made me memorize it, sir!" He wrinkled his brow, then spouted figures. I


tapped them into the holovid and punched the readout, grumbling under my breath. 
Random characters filled the screen. 



"Look at that garbage!" The boy peered at the console. "Try again." 
"3J2, uh, 49GHZ... 1425, sir." 
"You told me 1245!" 
"I'm sorry, I—" 
I punched in the new figures. "Two demerits, you silly young—" 
Still gibberish, I drew breath to speak, 
"I think it was 1542!" the boy said desperately. 
The screen was full of random symbols. I lurched to my feet. "Think? You don't


remember?" 


To my astonishment, the boy began to sob, standing at attention, tears running
down his cheeks, "I'm not sure, 1—I mean..." 
"Oh, for God's—" I raised my voice to a bellow. "Tol-liver!" I paced to the


wall, returned panting to my seat. 
Edgar Tolliver raced downstairs, took in the scene. 
"Take this—this puppy out of here! Have him back in five minutes acting like a


middy. Move!" 
"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver snatched Bezrel's arm and propelled him to the door. I


sat behind the desk, muttering imprecations. Eventually I calmed, but my chest
throbbed. 
In a few minutes the door opened, Bezrel crept in, hugging himself, head down.


Tolliver followed. He touched the boy's shoulder and guided him gently to my


desk. Bezrel came to attention. "I'm sorry, sir," he quavered. "I should have—" 
"Belay that. I was wrong to yell. Stand easy." I forced the impatience from my
tone. "Do you think you have it now, Mr. Bezrel?" 


"Try 1524, sir. I mean, please, sir. I'm sure I got the rest of it right. That's


the only—" 
I punched in the code. The holoscreen cleared. Words flashed onto the screen.
"Top Secret: Captain Nicholas E. Seafort, Eyes Only." Readable words. Bezrel
craned around the console. His face lit up. "Oh, thank Lord God!" 


My relief left me shaky. "Leave, both of you. Mr. Bezrel, my compliments to the


duty officer, and he's to cane you for incompetence." 
He swallowed. "I— Aye aye, sir." With a forlorn look he turned to the stairs,
Halfway, a muffled sob escaped him. 


Tolliver paused at the banister. "Of course that will help him remember in
future." His tone was sardonic. 



I fought to keep my voice level, "You're a midshipman. Mr. Tolliver. You couldbe caned likewise." 

He paused, then said simply, "Do that and I'll kill you," He turned to thestairs. 

"Get back here!" 

"Aye aye, sir," He approached my desk. 

"I could charge you with mutiny!" 

"Oh, no, sir, it wasn't mutiny." His manner was casual, though his look wasanything but, "I'll obey orders; I'm simply making clear my breaking point.
Granted, I shouldn't have snatched the heli controls from you; I have to pay forthat. So at twenty-five years of age I have the rank of a teener. I'll put upwith it. I suppose you were generous to offer me summary punishment. But Icouldn't tolerate your striking me. I'll try my best to kill you if you do." 

I gaped, astounded. He continued, "So, Captain, you have your revenge forwhatever hazing you suffered. I'm at your mercy. You know how far you can pushme, and afterward, if I fail, you'll have me executed." He held my eye. "Am Idismissed?" 

I'd have him arrested; what he'd said was insufferable. My fists bunched. Andyet... 

He was right. To threaten a grown man with a middy's caning was obscene; evenpoor Bezrel hadn't deserved it 

"Get out!" The moment Tolliver was out of sight I turned to the holovid andentered my ID. The screen responded; I read my message at last. 

Seafort: 

These are contingency orders, which I've entrusted to a staff midshipman. LordGod grant that they never be put into effect. U.N.S. Victoria brought dispatchesfrom Admiralty, at home. They've decreed that regardless of the cost here, thefleet must survive to defend home system. Therefore I am required, should welose a third of our ships, to Fuse home with all remaining vessels. 

Until now that possibility seemed remote, but given the events of this week I'vebegun planning for the worst case. Accordingly, we've begun evacuating U.N.
forces from the Venturas, where they were doing little good. We're restationingthem on our warships, and on Orbit Station. 

If the fleet is forced to withdraw, it will carry Governor Saskrit and hiscivilian staff as well as the entire Army and Naval establishment. Hope Nationwill be on its own until the fleet returns. 

I sagged, head in my arms. Once the fleet left, it was unlikely ever to return.
We would have abandoned our Hope Nation colonists to their fate. 

I believe that likelihood is remote. To lose so many ships would mean attacks bymore fish than we've yet seen. But if word of our contingency plan leaks, ourrelations with the planters would be devastated. Therefore, we must maintain apresence at Admiralty House until the last possible moment, or until the threat 


recedes. I've quietly withdrawn all other Captains and many of our lieutenantsto the Station. You are the last Captain groundside. 

For the moment, I'm placing you in command of Admiralty House. Your orders are:

(1) to remain at hand and in a state of readiness to depart should it be necessary; 
and
(2) to otherwise carry on as if under normal circumstances. 
Catalonia is due b- :k from Detour in ten days or so. I sent Victoria tointercept her with new orders, but the ships may not make contact. Victoria willgo on to Kail's Planet to retrieve their Governor, and will return here. If onher return she fails to establish contact with the fleet, Victoria will Fuse atonce for home. 

For now, we've suspended shuttle flights to and from the Station, on the chancethey may somehow attract the aliens. But I'll see to it that a shuttle is sentfor you if we're required to depart. If you receive the code word, shut downAdmiralty House, encrypt the puters, bring all remaining Naval personnel to thespaceport, and board the shuttle forthwith. 

You must at all costs prevent any citizens of Hope Nation from learning of theseorders. I hope and expect to return to Admiralty House shortly, to reassumecommand. 

The code word is Destiny. 

Georges T. De Marnay, Admiral Commanding. 

I laid my head in my hands. Minutes passed. 

At length Alexi called, "Mr. Seafort, are you all right? May I come down?" 

1 snapped off the holovid. "Yes." 

He hurried into the anteroom. "You were silent for so—" He gaped. "Were youcrying?" 

"Don't be ridiculous." I wiped my sleeve across my face. "Call LieutenantAnton." 

A moment later the duty lieutenant stood at ease in front of his own desk. Isuppressed a shiver; the room was freezing. "I need a list of all Navalpersonnel currently ground-side." 

"That's all in the puters, sir. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Hehesitated. "Shall I find another console to work from?" 

I blinked, recalled that it was his desk I'd appropriated. "That won't benecessary." I stood, debating the wisdom of trudging upstairs. 1 probably hadstrength for it, but coming back down might be a problem. "Is there anotheroffice on this level?" 

"Just the conference room, sir." I let him lead the way. I spotted an easy chairbehind the polished genera table. My heart pounded as I sat. 

Tolliver appeared in the doorway. "It's six fifty-five, sir." With an effort Ifocused on him. "I have my watch." The one phrase left me breathless. 


"You're to see the doctor at seven." "It will wait." 

"You gave your word to Branstead." I fought for breath. When I could speak Isaid, "Why do you hound me?" 

He smiled bitterly, "Duty, of course," "What does it matter if I live?" "As Isaid, there'd be a Board of Inqu—" "Belay that!" 

His smile vanished. "I'm fit only for the Navy, and thanks to you, no one wouldhave me in their command. While you live I have a posting. After that I'mbeached." He leaned against the doorway, eyes closed. After a moment he added,
"Sony, I won't do that again. I don't want your pity. Let's go to your doctor." 

"I'm on standby for special orders. I can't leave." The words left me gasping. 

He crossed to my chair. "Bring your bloody caller along!" A gasp ofastonishment. I looked to the entrance way. "It's all right, Mr. Anton, Comein." He looked doubtfully at Tolliver before presenting me his notepad. "Twelveofficers? That's all?" 

"It seems odd, sir, but everyone else is aloft at the moment." 

I checked his list. Trapp, upstairs. Mr. Anton. Alexi. Two midshipmen in theplotting room. Three middies and a lieutenant working with the relief ofCentraltown. Tolliver, and young Bezrel. Of our entire Naval garrison, onlythese officers and I were left. Orbit Station must be swarming. "How manyenlisted men?" 

"After Naval barracks was destroyed we shipped most survivors to the Station.
There may be a couple of dozen helping around town." He hesitated. "May I askwhy you're inquiring?" 

"You may not." I took refuge in propriety. "Remember you're speaking to aCaptain." I began to cough. 

"Aye aye, sir." His glance strayed again to Edgar Tolliver. "Is that all,
Captain?" 

"Carry on." 

When he'd left, Tolliver said, "It's seven o'clock, sir. You gave your word," 

The room was quite hot. I unbuttoned my jacket, "I've already broken it," 

"Then redeem it." He held my gaze. 

It wasn't worth the effort to resist, "Very well. See if you can get a heli." 

I waited; a moment later he was back. "The Navy has five, Two are out forrepairs; the other three are patrolling down-town. Anton says the looting hasgotten worse." He studied my face. "Recall one of the helis, sir." 

"Damn jt." Seeing his shocked expression, I repeated, "Damn it. To hell." I felta moment of panic at the near blasphemy, then suppressed It. I would pay forworse, in His time. Still, I made a quick, silent prayer of contrition. Isighed, "All right, get the car," 


Knees trembling, I sat silent in the back seat, breathing deeply from myvapormask. It wasn't much help. Alexi climbed in the front with Tolliver. Ileaned back. 

"We're here, sir." 

I opened my eyes. Surely no more than a moment had passed. The car was
excruciatingly hot, and it was dark. "Where?" It was almost inaudible. 
"The emergency clinic." Alexi watched anxiously. 
I tried to stand, but coughs racked my frame. "Help me." Sagging against Alexi I


made my way up the stairs and into the school. 
Tolliver, sullenness cast aside, ran to the admitting desk. He spoke quietly,


waited for an answer, shook his head urgently. The civilian gestured at the
benches of waiting injured, 
"Now!" Tolliver barked. On a bench, I huddled against Alexi. Tolliver undipped


his holster. "Now! By Lord God, I mean it!" His hand went to his pistol. 
"Belay that!" My voice was a hoarse rasp. 
Tolliver ignored me. "Call your frazzing doctor!" His tone was savage. 
The civilian made a placating gesture, spoke urgently into his caller. A moment


later a white-clad medic came out of the gym. "I'm Dr. Abood." Tolliver pointed.


The doctor took 
[lay on the examining table, oxygen mask pressed to my mouth. The shot they'd
given made breathing less painful. "What's wrong with me?" 


"What isn't?" He turned off the analyzer. "Pneumonia, certainly. It should have
killed you by now." A young man, in his thirties. Impatient. 


"Dr. Avery started . . . antibiotics." I had to stop for breath. 
"Yes. You may die before they gain hold." The medic ran his hand through
thinning hair. 


"Die." A stab of fear, not of death itself, but of what would come after. 


"I've increased the dose. If you're quiet, and stay on the oxygen, it may knock
the pneumonia down." 
I spoke through the mask. "I have to get back to Admiralty House." 
"Impossible." 
Fighting dizziness, I struggled to a sitting position. 
"I must." I fumbled at buttoning my shirt. "I'll lie down there." 
"On your deathbed." 
A chill caressed my neck. "But I was getting better. Really." 



"Dr. Avery's meds helped the pneumonia, but you're losing your lung. Rejection.
Blood tests leave no doubt." I gaped. He raised an eyebrow. "Avery didn't tellyou?" 

I shook my head, stifling a cough. "The antirejection drugs. I thought they . .
." 
"You had only the first dose. You were about due for the second." I lay stunned. 
"Maybe exposure brought it on. Normally, it wouldn't be 


PRISONER'S HOPE m 209 
a problem; we'd yank the bad lung and give you another. Now, replacement is
impossible. We haven't the equipment, and the growth tanks are gone with the
hospital." 


Even my body had abandoned me. Had Lord God's vengeance begun? "Can you halt the


rejection?" 
"There's not much chance the drugs would work. Your best bet is for us to pull
the lung. They'll give you another when you get home." ^ 


"No." 
"If we yank the lung you'd be back on your feet in a week." 
"I can't be disabled now. Give me the antirejection drug." 
"Damn you people!" His vehemence shook me. "I watch joeys gasp their lives out


on these tables, fighting to live a few extra minutes, and I can't save them! I
can hold on to you, but you want to kill yourself! Why? For a fresh posting? A
promotion?" 


"No." I fought to breathe. "How soon would we know if the antirejection meds


worked?" 
"Your lung is inflamed and full of fluid. The drugs might have some temporary
effect. But if your immune system rejects the lung again, it will go fast. You'd
be lucky to reach the operating table." 


"If I kept a heli standing by?" 
He pursed his lips. "Your duty is so pressing?" 
"I have ... orders. I might have to take quick action." 
His indignation eased. "Well, it's your life, joey. Will you stay on the


vapormeds and on oxygen?" I nodded. "If your fever climbs, or you have more
trouble breathing, get in a heli fast and radio ahead." 
"All right." 
He followed up his advantage. "And see me every day." 
I smiled. "If possible, Dr. Abood." 



He left the room. I dressed slowly, working around the va-pormask. After a few
moments the doctor returned, "I gave your men the replacement canisters." 
"Very well." 


"I explained your condition, so they'll be—" 
"Leave my officers out of it!" The last thing I needed was Alexi and Tolliver
mothering me. 


210 m David Feintuch 


He raised an eyebrow. "They had to know. When you go bad, you may not have time
to tell them." I noticed he'd said "when," not "if." 
"That's my affair." I slipped off the table, clung to it until the dizziness


passed. 
He said only, "Good luck. You'll need it." 
When I emerged from the gymnasium Alexi took the canister from my hands. "Do you


want to lean on me?" 
"No." I took a few steps, tried to make my pace as normal as possible. 
Tolliver held the outer door. "What did he tell you?" 
"Not to let you treat me like an invalid." I brushed past into the back seat of


the electricar, drained. Outside, all was dark. 
"Where to, sir?" 
"Admiralty House, of course." 
Tolliver started the car. "Of course." I closed my eyes. He said, "You realize


we've been on duty since early this morning?" 
I wanted only to sleep. "After you take me back you're free to go." 
"Where, may I ask?" 
The question snapped me awake. Naval barracks was demolished; neither Tolliver


nor Alexi had a home. Nor did I, for that matter, though I could stay at
Admiralty House, on a couch if necessary. I wondered if Admiralty House had
showers. I tried to think. 


Eons later a persistent voice nagged me into wakefulness. "Captain, you can't


sleep in the car. Please, sir." 
I blinked. We were parked at Admiralty House. Behind Tolliver, on the sidewalk,
Lieutenants Anton and Trapp watched with obvious concern. I thrust away
Tolliver's offered hand. 


I stood, but the effort left me trembling and my weakness enraged me. "Middy,
help me up the stairs." I leaned on Tolliver's shoulder. Alexi looked at
Lieutenant Anton. "The Captain needs a bed, flank." 



"We have air mattresses, in reserve stores. Shall I get a couple for you andLieuten—Midshipman Tolliver?" 

"Yes, please." As we passed through the doors I heard Alexi's quiet sigh ofrelief. 

I slept fitfully in the conference room that had become my home. When morningcame I needed Alexi's help to get to my feet, but I managed to wash and dressmyself around the cumbersome vapormask. I didn't dare remove it. 

Steaming tea soothed my chest as I sat at the gleaming table. In the rationallight of morning I considered going immediately to the clinic to let Dr. Aboodpull my rotting lung. With luck I'd be back at Admiralty House within a fewdays, and Admiral De Marnay might never get around to replacing me. 

However, my orders were to keep our contingency plans secret until the Admiralsent the code word. If I told no one, and a signal came while I was under theanesthetic ... 

Alexi appeared at the door. "May I come in?" 

I grunted. He sat at my side, unbidden. 

"I feel—I shouldn't bother you with my problems." His hands fluttered in his laplike wounded birds. He rushed on. "But what am I to do? What is my status? Do Ihave duties?" 

"You're on sick leave. You can't go back to the hospital, so you have to staywith me." It sounded more brusque than I'd intended. "Help me get around, Alexi.
We'll find a place for you when they get things back in order." 

"It's not just where I'm to stay. I feel—lost. Should I wear the uniform? Whatdo I do when Tolliver speaks to you the way he does? What would any lieutenantdo, hearing that?" 

"Have a fit." My smile was bleak. "I shouldn't have demoted him. It was cruel,
and we both know it. Mr. Tolliver is a situation I don't know how to handle." 

"You could restore his rank." 

"That would be worse; I can't go about rescinding discipline." I paused, thenadded carefully, "Or explaining my acts to lieutenants." 

He colored. "I'm sorry. I wish ... I knew better how to behave." 

"You will, when your memory returns. In the meantime, study the regs; you knewthem once. Perhaps they'll jog your memories." 

He shook his head. "I will, but we both know better, Mr. Seafort." He stood.
'Tell me when you'd like to go out. I'll be glad to help." 

After he left I brooded about Tolliver, but found no answer. I rang forLieutenant Anton. 

"Yes, sir?" 


"Have we heard from the fleet?" 


"No contacts, sir. Mr. Trapp is in the plotting room; shall I have him come
down?" 
"I'll go up." Whatever protest he was about to offer was stilled by the look in


my eye. 
I took my time on the stairs. In the plotting room Lieutenant Trapp came out of
his chair to stand at attention, as did a middy I didn't recognize. "As you


were." I flopped in an empty seat. "Our status?" After my climb I thought it
best to speak in short phrases. 
Trapp flicked a key and the screen came to life. "Our main units are stationed


here." De Marnay had pulled in our outer defenses, concentrating them around
Hope Nation and Orbit Station. 
I studied the positions. "Any sightings?" 


"No, sir." 
Footsteps pounded up the stairs. Midshipman Bezrel skidded into the room, came
quickly to attention. "A call for you, sir. Mr. Anton sent me. It's—" 


"Is that how they taught you to report?" 
"No, sir, but I—" 
"Go back down then! Report properly!" 
He gulped. "Aye aye, sir." He saluted, turned, and left. Lieutenant Trapp and


the other middy exchanged glances, said nothing. A moment later BezreFs step
sounded more sedately. He knocked at the door, entered at my nod. He stood at
attention, shoulders stiff. "Midshipman Avar Bezrel reporting, sir!" 


"Better. Stand at ease." 
"Mr. Anton's compliments, sir. You have a call." 
"Very well. How old are you, Mr. Bezrel?" 
"Thirteen, sir." Young for a middy to be sent interstellar; his voice hadn't


even broken. "Sir, I thought you'd want—" 
I reached for the caller. "Is it the Admiral?" If I'd kept him waiting... 
"No, sir. It's—" 
"Nicky?" The voice tore at my soul. 
I tore off the vapormask. "Annie? ANNIE?" 
"Oh, Nicky! You be'ent dead!" 
"Lord God. Where are you?" 
"Dat refugee place, by the park." 



"Annie, I..." I had to pause. "We looked for you ..." Trapp turned away from my
anguish. 
"Our 'partment, you see'd it? Someone got in, mess wid our things." 


"Where are you?" 
"When the boom hit, I din' know what to do. I wen' back our place, nothin'
workin', no lights or caller. I took food and hid 'til I figure it was safe.
Empty places; I found lots of 'em. You din' come back; I thinkin' you was dead." 


"Oh, Annie." I stopped, swallowed several times. Trapp and Bezrel were in the


room; I managed to control my voice. "Stay where you are. I'll come for you." 
Her tone had a note of alarm. "Oh, no, Nicky, you don' wan' see how I be lookin'
now. Wait 'til I go back to the 'partment, get nice clothes. I meet you." 


"Clothes don't matter; I've got to see you." 
"I wan' look good fo' you, firs'. You come..." 
"Meet me at the apartment." 
"Naw, dat bad place now, people broke window an' trash our stuff. Meet me—" She


paused. "Outside the Cathedral we be married in." 
"Annie, it's bombed out. Nothing left but—" 
"Safe place. Good place. Seeya in an hour." 
"Don't—" 
"Ten o'clock." A click. 
"Annie!" I pounded the caller, but she'd rung off. I sighed. Not the best place


to meet, surrounded by rubble, but what did that matter? My wife was alive. 


After a time Lieutenant Trapp cleared his throat. I looked up, wiped my eyes.
"Sorry." 
"I'm glad for you, sir." 
"Thank you." I rounded on Bezrel. "Why didn't you tell me who was calling? I


made her wait while I sent you back down!" 
"I tried, sir, but—" 
"All you had to do was say her name!" 
"Yes, sir, but you—" 
"Two demerits. Out!" 
"Aye aye, sir." He saluted and fled. 



I let my fury ebb. Annie was alive; nothing else mattered. My illness didn'tcount. Our apartment was nothing. Even ... I faced it: even Eddie Boss didn'tmatter any longer. 

Trapp was tactfully silent. I stared at the board, willing the fish to showtheir whereabouts, explain their intentions. The middy on duty fidgeted, butquieted at my frown. "Well, the fish won't be dropping any rocks," I said. "Notwithout Defusing into the middle of the fleet." 

"Yes, sir," Trapp agreed. "But our ships are tied down patrolling. To coverCentraltown while the Station is over the Venturas, we've committed here, andhere." He gestured. "What does that leave us in reserve?" 

"Enough, I hope." Footsteps pounding on the stairs. 1 swiveled. 
"Midshipman Avar—" 
"Another call, Mr. Bezrel?" 
"No, sir." He was stiff at attention. "Lieutenant Anton's compliments. Ms.


Triforth and Mr. Hopewell are below, demanding to speak to the officer in
charge." 
"I beg your pardon? Demanding?" 
"That's the way Mr. Anton said it, sir. I don't mean any disre—" 
"What in hell—er, what do they want?" 
Bezrel said anxiously, "Mr. Anton didn't tell me, sir." 
"Dismissed." 


"Aye aye, sir." He seemed grateful to escape. 
I'd have to go down, of course. The planters should have called for an
appointment, but nonetheless they were too important to snub. I had half an hour
to get rid of them before I was to meet Annie. I turned to Trapp. "Have Mr.
Anton show them to the conference room." 


"Aye aye, sir." 


I hoisted myself out of my chair, headed for the door. I paused, my face
reddening. "Mr. Trapp, when you see Mr. Bezrel..." I reached for my vapormask. 
"Yes, sir?" 
I mumbled, "Tell him his demerits are canceled." 
His face was impassive. "Aye aye, sir." 
Laura Triforth, sprawled in an easy chair, came to her feet when I entered. Old


Zack Hopewell faced the wall with hands clasped behind him. He turned, gave a
formal nod. His manner was more somber than hostile, but I sensed that something
had changed. 



I shifted the canister awkwardly to shake hands, and sat as soon as I decently
could. My heart pounded; perhaps climbing upstairs had been less wise than I'd
thought. 


Laura spoke first. "It's good to see you, Mr. Seafort, but we'd hoped to meet
with Admiral De Marnay." 
"He's aloft." 


"So we heard." Hopewell was blunt. "Why is that, Captain Seafort?" 
I was astounded. Civilians questioning Naval dispositions? I ducked the issue.
"Perhaps I can help you. I'm still Naval liaison to the planters." 


"So you're in charge?" 


"The Admiral ordered me to run Admiralty House for the time being." I clasped my
hands on the table, waiting. 
Hopewell said only, "What's afoot, Captain?" 
My mind spun. "Why, not a thing. Admiral De Mamay can't spend all his time—" 
Hopewell's tone was icy. "I'd prefer," he said, "that you tell me the truth, or


nothing." 
I was silent a long moment. "I think you'd better explain your visit." De Marnay


should have stayed groundside to handle this. I'd warned him I had no knack for
public relations. 
Hopewell's look was definitely unfriendly. "We may be provincials, Mr. Seafort,


but we're not stupid. We notice things." 
"Such as?" 
"More and more of your personnel are being sent aloft." 
"Since the bombing, housing has been a problem.** 
"No, it began a week before they hurled the rock at us." 
"Normal crew rotation." 
"You're fencing, Mr. Seafort. I thought better of you. How many Captains are


groundside at the moment?" 
"Just—that's classified information. I shouldn't—" 
"The fish are your enemy. We aren't!" He was relentless. 
"Nevertheless, I can't—" 
"Are you the only one left?" 
1 shook my head; how did 1 get into this mess? "I can't discuss that, Mr.


Hopewell," 



Laura said, "Do your orders forbid it?" 

I hesitated. "Not specifically." 

"Then level with us." 

I took a deep breath. If I was wrong, then so be it, *Tm theonly one." 

Hopewell sagged, as if defeated. "You were right, Laura, 

This had gone on long enough. "About what?" 

The two exchanged glances. It was Ms, Triforth who answered. "About ten days agoyou began stripping men from Centraltown, We noticed it first in the restaurantsand bars. Some of us have a financial stake downtown, you know. Fewer seamenseemed to be on leave. Then even the officers began to disappear." 

Admiral De Mamay should have known better than to try to hoodwink theseplanters. They ran everything. It was their town, their colony. 

"Odd, that this occurred just after a fastship arrived from home." Laura caughtmy look of surprise. **Oh, yes, we heard about her as well. Victoria, I believe.
Anyway, we began keeping tabs on your personnel even before the explosion. Thebomb threw us off for a while, because we were all busy offering help, but I'dsay right now there aren't more than fifteen officers in all of Centraltown,
including midshipmen." Close, Twelve. "And a handful of sailors, helping withcleanup operations." 

I said, "Go on, Ms. Triforth," 

"You've stopped delivering supplies to the Ventures Base. For that matter,
you've stopped bringing cargo down to Centraltown as well." 

"That could-—" 

"Your Lieutenant Eiferts won't let us visit the Venturas, but food purchases forthe base have virtually ceased. Either your men are living on rations, or you'vebeen evacuating Western Continent too." 

The Admiral's orders were clear. I could tell no one of our contingency plans. Itemporized. "If this is true, what do you make of it?" 

"Tell us what to make of it. Captain." Laura's voice was cool, 

"You're worried," I said, hoping to appear reasonable. *What do you think ishappening?" I held my breath, afraid of the response. 

Ms, Triforth stirred. Zack Hopewell waved her silent, "You intend to abandonus," the old man said. The blunt charge lingered in the silence of the room, 

I stared at the mahogany table. To follow orders I must deny everything, elseour good relations with the planters would be destroyed. But my visitors wouldsee through my denial, and I'd lose the trust I'd striven to build. Wasn't thatas much a breach of my orders as revealing the truth? 


In any event, I'd only confirm what they'd guessed, though Admiral De Mamaywouldn't see it that way. He'd more likely view it as pounds for court-martial, 

A hesitant knock. Midshipman Bezrel drew himself to attention. 

"Get out!" I snarled. 

The middy fled, 

I slammed my fist on the table. At length I looked up. Neither alternative wouldsuffice; I had to find my own way. 

"Mr. Hopewell, kindly shut the door," I waited. When he sat I said carefully,
"What you have described could be coincidence," He stirred restlessly, but Ioverrode him, "If the Navy were planning a maneuver, there might be reasons Icouldn't tell you. Orders to that effect," 

Laura said, "That explains nothing." 

With an effort I got to my feet. Thinking came easier when I paced. "I couldn'tpossibly confirm your suspicions.'* I tucked the canister under my arm. If Ipaced slowly, I could still speak, "But it would be interesting to imagine whatAdmiralty might arrange, given substantial losses in the Hope Nation fleet.
Remember, even though the fish attacked here first, they could attack anywhere." 

"Imaginings aren't what we're here to—" 

"Shut up, Laura. Listen." 

Ms. Triforth glowered at her companion. 

"We sent thirty-eight capital ships to Hope Nation. That's a third of the entire

U.N. fleet. The loss of that many ships, or a substantial number of them, wouldseriously impede the defense of home waters, should the fish invade there." 
Laura said to Hopewell, "They're abandoning us." 

"Listen." 

I took several deep breaths, disregarding the pain they caused. What I was aboutto say could hang me. "If Hope Nation weren't an important colony, so much ofthe fleet wouldn't have been risked to defend it. Consider Admiralty'spredicament. If they leave the fleet here, it might be lost. If they bring ithome, they might lose Hope Nation," "We already knew that." 

I regarded Laura Triforth with distaste. I was risking my commission, if not mylife, to inform her, and the woman wouldn't shut up. "I'm not Admiralty, Ms,
Triforth, but I imagine what they might do is try to hedge their bets," Puzzled,
she shook her head. "How do you mean?" That was more what I wanted. Like aninstructor at Academy, I drew her on, "The Hope Nation fleet has to be strong tobe effective. Admiralty doesn't want to see it whittled down to nothing. Perhapsthey might set a limit on losses. They might tell the Admiral Commanding thatthe fleet could operate as long as losses were acceptable, but when they becametoo great, the fleet was to return home," 

Ms. Triforth demanded, "You've already lost nine ships that we know of. What isthe decision point?" 


I looked at her with surprise, "We're just speculating, Laura. It's allhypothetical." 

With an effort she restrained her irritation. "Hypotheti-caUy, Captain, whatwould that point be?" 

"One that might never be reached. Certainly, a substantial number of ships," 1held up a hand to stop her objection, "But if it were approached, it would meanthe fleet was under heavy attack. Obviously there would be no time to beginferrying men up to Orbit Station. So Admiralty might, hypothetically, order aprecautionary evacuation ahead of time." 

This time the silence continued for a full minute. Finally, Zack Hopewell asked,
"How long would these contingency plans remain in effect?" 

I shrugged, suddenly weary, and made for my chair. "I don't know. Perhaps untilthe battle was won." I sat. 

"Or lost." 

"Yes." 

Zack Hopewell cleared his throat, waited until I raised my eyes to his. He saidsimply, "Thank you." 

For some reason when I spoke my voice was gruff, "If these plans were known—H 

"They won't be," 

"If Admiral De Marnay learns of this conversation, my career is finished.
Naturally, if he asks, 1*11 tell him. But he may not ask." 

Hopewell said, "I don't see how our knowing would lead us to do anything wewouldn't otherwise. Do you agree, Laura?" 

"What is there to do?" Laura Triforth folded her arms. "You'll be back,
eventually. You'll have to. We supply too much food for you to abandon us. Whenyou return, we'll sell to you on our terms, not yours," 

"That's not my bailiwtek,H 

Ms. Triforth shrugged, "Actually, sending the fleet home may be in our bestinterest. The fish seem to be space dwellers; they've shown little in our 
planet. Once you leave we can reorganize the government—" 

My tone was sharp, "That's treason, I won't any conversation, Hope Nationis a U.N. colony until the Government decides otherwise," 

Zack Hopewell cleared his throat, "Laura, it's uncivil to aggravate the Captainwith our political debates. He's a great deal for us,** 

"Very well," She stood, "We've taken enough of your time, Mr. Seafort, You haveour assurance that what we've spoken of will go no further," We shook hands. 

Hopewell asked, "How is your pneumonia?" 


I gestured at the vapormask. "Not good, as you can see. But it will pass." Imyself might pass. 

"You're under treatment?" 

"I went to the clinic yesterday. The doctor wants me to return every day or so." 

Ms. Triforth paused at the door. "The clinic is a long way. Do you go by heli?" 

"The Naval helis have been busy downtown. Today, we drove." 

"Mine is at your disposal. I'll call here every day. Have your man tell me whattime to pick you up." 

"I couldn't—" 

"No, I insist. You've been a true friend to all of us, Mr. Seafort, as I'm justbeginning to realize." 

I came out of my chair. "Thank you. Pray that Admiralty's fears never come topass. We'll work out our problems together," 

On that note they took their leave. 

I sat gathering my strength before 1 rang for Alexi. A few minutes later,
leaning on his shoulder, I passed through the anteroom, on my way to ourelectricar. I halted by the desk, "What are you sniveling at, Middy?" 

Midshipman Bezrel wiped his tears with his sleeve. "Sorry, sir." 

"Answer my question!" 

His face puckered. "I can't get anything right for you. No matter how hard I try... I'm sorry. Please .,," He lapsed into miserable silence. 

"Why did you come to my door?" 

"Mr, Trapp told me to ask if your guests wanted refreshments." 

"Very well." My rebuke wasn't worth bawling over. What were middies coming to? Itried to imagine myself wailing over a reprimand from a Captain, but even as afirst-year cadet, it would have been unthinkable. I sighed. "Carry on." 

Settled in the car at last, I leaned back while Tolliver headed toward downtownand the ruins of the Cathedral. It was fitting that Annie and I reunite there, Idecided. In that place Pd promised to love and honor Annie Wells, untildeath did us part. I'd been hurt by her infidelity, more wounded than I'd beenable to say, but it was past, and Eddie was gone. Transpop ways were not ourways, and Annie was of the transient culture, not mine. I would heal ourmarriage. I'd do whatever I must. 

A street was blocked, and Tolliver braked sharply. "Careful," I muttered,
breathing deeply from the vapormask. The interview with the planters had left meuneasy; their knowledge of our operations was much greater than I'd realized. IfHopewell and Ms. Triforth knew all we were doing, then so did Mantiet and hiscohorts. I would have to be especially careful. Outside the car, ruined housesglided by, 


We were crossing the park when the speaker crackled, "Trapp reporting, sir. Atightbeam from Naval HQ on Orbit Station. U.N.S, Wellington engaged a fish," 

My fingers tightened on the caller. "When?" 

"A few minutes ago, apparently. The fish fused^alonpide. Wellington's crew wasalready at Battle Stations. They skewered it with a midships laser," 

"Good." A thought struck. "She was already at Battle Stations?1* 

"Yes, sir. Captain Steers hasn't stood down since the attack on Centraltown," 

MGood Lord," His crew must be at the ragged edge of exhaustion, snatchingminutes of at No ship could maintain Battle Stations for long. Still, he'dsaved his ship; they'd been ready when the fish appeared, "Any more sightinp?" 

"Just the one, so far. I thought you'd want to know." 

"Quite right," I rang off. 

"We're almost there, sir." Alexi pointed to the broken spire ahead. 

Only one lane of the broad avenue that had fronted the Reunification Cathedralhad been cleared of rubble, Tolliver maneuvered us to within a dozen yards ofthe shattered entrance, I looked to both sides of the street; Annie was nowherein sight, I checked my watch: eleven-thirty. We were early yet. 

I opened my door. "You two wait here." I wouldn't have their solicitousinterference. Not at our reunion. 

"Sure you can make it?" 

I turned to Tolliver with an angry rejoinder, but his question had been civiland without truculence. "Yes." I wished I could leave the vapormask behind, butreluctantly bundled the canister under my arm as I heaved myself out of the car. 

I scrambled over rubble to the sidewalk. The blast had collapsed the ruins ofthe Cathedral's twin spires onto its domed roof, which had fallen into thebuilding. Checking my watch every few moments, I stood against the stone outerwall. 

A few yards away Alexi and Edgar Tolliver waited patiently in the car. Could Ido anything to alter Tolliver's behavior? Doubtful. Though Naval discipline wasvirtually ingrained in us, his demotion was more than a vicissitude of Navallife to be borne with equanimity. 

I picked at a small chunk of concrete, regretting that I'd treated him soseverely. But what could I have done, after he'd hurled me out of my seat? Ipaced the sidewalk, wishing Annie would hurry, peering at the ruins. 

The iron-strapped door hung askew on one hinge. Beyond, smashed blocks from thedome littered the nave amid crushed and splintered pews. The wreckage gleamed inthe bright morning sunlight. We'd been married in the north transept. I wasdisoriented, but knew it would be to my left. I pushed through the shattereddoor. 


Though rubble blocked my view of the altar, I suppressed an urge to genuflect. Iwandered toward the transept, wondering how close I could get to it, aware thatI was in no condition to clamber over debris. 

Roof beams blocked the aisle, but in falling, one beam had swept other rubbleclear of the nave, and 1 was able to make my way across the shattered stonefloor. So much effort, so much faith, so much veneration had been poured intothis edifice. When the fish were conquered, we would have to rebuild; Lord Godhad been well served here. Perhaps I could volunteer to help with therebuilding. 

No, I'd be long recalled to Terra by the time resources were marshaled torebuild the Cathedral, and in any event my help would be a desecration. I'ddamned myself, and Lord God would want no contribution from me to His Church. 

Rubble from caved-in walls filled the transept. I turned back, but detouredtoward the altar. Blasted or not, this was a holy place, and I wanted to makeobeisance. I picked my way across the debris, canister clutched in my hand. 

"You shouldn'a come." 

I whirled. Annie crouched on a great block of stone that had fallen from somehigh place. 

"I wan'd ta look all pretty." Her tone was plaintive. She picked at the remnantsof her dress. "Mira, it tore now." 

I scrambled across the nibble, tearing off my vapormask. "Annie." A boardtwisted under my foot. I fell, the air knocked out of me by the impact. 

"I wen' back ta apart men' an' did my face, the way Amanda useta. Not a lot ofpaintin', jus' HI bit." Her hands twisted like frantic birds at her raggeddress. "I put on my necklace, Nicky. I kept it safe alia time, 'cause I knewyou'd wanna see me innit." 

I staggered to my feet, unable to breathe, not caring. "Annie, what did they doto you?" 

She fingered her throat. "Rubies gone." Her lipstick was smeared with dirt andgrime. 

Dust motes floated in the bright glare of afternoon. I lurched across the litterof the nave. "Annie!" 

"Mira my dress!" Her eyes teared. "Was nice threads, Nicky." A great red bruiseblotched half her face, as if she'd been clubbed. "I tried ta tell 'em; how c'nI get 'notha dress now, alia stores broke?" 

I cradled her head on my shoulder, but she pulled free. 

"Tried so hard ta look pretty fo' you." A whimper. 

I coaxed her toward the door. My foot caught. I glanced down. A hand. An arm.
The remains of a man, his head smashed by a rock. A pool of blood soaked thesurrounding rubble. Lord God. 


My breath caught until the jagged walls began to swim in red mist. 1 clawed atmy vapormask, got it over my face. 

"You be hurt, Nicky!" She raised a begrimed hand, traced the outline of my mask. 

"It's no matter." I tried to lift her, wanting not to see the angry scrapes onher legs. "Come, Annie. I'll take you to the clinic." 

"Don' wanna." She uncrossed her legs, smoothed the ragged dress with an attemptat modesty. 

"You have to see a doctor." I tugged at her, but she wouldn't move. 

"I be all righ'." She tittered. "Buncha big men. Whatcha doin' here, girl? Whobe witcha?" Her hands brushed at the lacerated dress. "Don' run now, joeygal."
Her voice dropped. "Come here, girl, we have zarky time." Her voice rose again.
"Scratchin'. Beard scratch my face!" 

I had to stop her, before she shattered the remnants of my soul. "Please! Comewith me." 

"Don' yank onna necklace, please, mista. I goin' witcha. No, leave me Nicky'sjewels!" She rubbed the red welt on her throat. "Aw, don'!" 

"Annie." I drew my breath. "I can't walk to the car. Help me!" I pulled at herarm, and her vacant stare fixed on me. Comprehension came slowly. "You got amask, Nicky. Means ya be sick. I din' take care of you." She slid off the block.
"Come lean on Annie. Three joeys ran away, afta. Safe now." 

"Help me. Please." Wanting to support her, afraid to try, 1 pretended to lean onher as we hobbled to the door. She limped, one shoe gone. Lord God damn themeternally. Please, Lord. Nothing for myself. Just damn them for her. 

We tottered to the street. In the car, Alexi and Tolliver were deep inconversation. I couldn't summon breath to shout. Annie blinked in the shadowless 
light, hands flitting over the tatters of her dress. 

"Just a few steps, hon." She held back. Cursing, I staggered across the rubbleto the curb, and pounded on the window. "Open the door! Get out!" My handsclawed at the latch. 

Alexi, startled, stared at me, then, with horror, past me. He jumped from thecar, put a protective arm around Annie. 

She screamed. 

"Never mind me. What about Annie?" 

"You're in worse shape than she." He met my glare, relenting. "We've sedatedher, Captain. Cuts and bruises, but no serious injuries." 

"But she's been ..." 

"Raped, yes. Repeatedly. She'll be quite tender for a time." 

I clutched my canister, as if for comfort. "Her mind ..." 


"She's in shock. Warmth, fluids, rest. That's all we can do at this stage." 

"God knows what she stumbled into. I found her standing over a corpse." 

"She's lucky they didn't murder her too." 

"I'll kill them when I find them." My voice was hoarse. 

"Of course. Anyone would." His gentle hand pushed me back down on the gurney.
"But you're in no shape to go looking." 

I recoiled from his touch. After a time I said, "You heard her. Will she be ableto identify them?" 

"Perhaps. The mind defends itself against the unbearable, Captain. She may blockit out." 

It was my fault. I'd known she needed looking after, yet I'd sent Eddie Bossaway and hadn't replaced him. It would have taken more than three assailants tosubdue Eddie, had they attacked Annie. 

My fists tightened on the mattress. "Leave me alone. Please." After he'd gone Ilay gripping the bed, fighting for self-control, nearly gaining it, in the end,
losing. 

Annie... 

What have they done to you? 

Dr. Abood snapped off the ultrasound. "Your pneumonia is down, and you'refighting the rejection." 

July. in the yearof our Lord 2200 

CHAPTER 14 

Days passed, one upon another. My pneumonia cleared to the point where I coulddispense with the vapormask for hours at a time, until even Dr, Abood expressedcautious optimism that I might retain my damaged lung, I no longer objected tovisiting the clinic daily; Annie was there} and I'd have spent all my time withher if I could. 

The few Admiralty House staff tiptoed about their duties, anxious to avoid mywrath. At times my manner reduced the unfortunate Bezrel to helpless tears,
which infuriated me to the point I nearly sent him for another caning, I barkedat the lieutenants who came to report, criticized Tolliver's manner, drove evenAJexi into pale and subdued silence. 

At the clinic Annie lay passive, legs drawn up, sheet clutched under her chin,
allowing me to hold her hand. Sometimes I found her face with She seldom 
spoke, and never of the Cathedral, 

The first time Admiral De Marnay called, I was with her. After, I screamed atLieutenant Anton until my throat was raw for his failure to forward the call,
though the Admiral had told him not to bother. 


The Admiral's second call, two later, found me 
in my room, I awake, took the caller, raved out. 
4You*re recovering, Seafort?** 
"Yes, sir," From the pneumonia, at any rate. 
"Tilings seem to be quieting. I suppose I could send someone down to take over." 
If he did, I could spend my days with Annie, "As you wish, sir." 
"Still, Hibernia had a possible contact last night," 
"Possible, sir?" 
"At the edge of her sensor range. She investigated, but found nothing." 
"I see." Why was he telling me? 
"Perhaps 1 should send my staff groundside. We can't maintain this mode


indefinitely. Sooner or later, your people will notice something odd." 
"Yes, sir." I held my breath. 
"Have you had any questions?" 
"From a couple of the planters, sir." 
He sounded preoccupied. "Eventually they'll stop believing your explanations.


I'll give it another week or so. If we don't encounter more fish by then, I'll


transfer my command to Admiralty House. In the meantime we'll keep the shuttles


inactive. The fish probably hear us Fuse, but we don't know what else they


hear." 

"Yes, sir." What else was there to say? 

"Well, no point relieving you, if it's only another week. Carry on." 

"Aye, aye, sir." 

"How's young Bezrel?" 

"Uh, fine, sir." It was stretching a point. 

"Take care of him. I took him as a special favor to his father. We were


shipmates for years." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"Send him up on the first shuttle. I wouldn't have let him go, but he could be


trusted not to reveal the codes." 
"Aye aye, sir." For my cruelty to the boy, a day of reckoning loomed. 
"Very well." We signed off. 



Dr. Abood clasped his arms behind his neck, stretched his back. "Nothing's fithere. The tables are too low." I bit back an impatient reply. "The truth is,
Seafort, we can't do much more for her. She needs counseling, love, time toheal. She'd do as well at home as here. Perhaps better." 

"I'll find a place for us." 

"Your home was destroyed?" I nodded. "There's a housing directory, at temporaryCity Hall. Perhaps they can help." 

Thank you." I gestured at the vapormask. "Can I leave it off?" 

"Certainly not. Wear it when you sleep, and as often as you can while you'reawake. You might make it." 

I said sourly, 'Thanks for the encouragement." 

"I warned you a week ago: the lung should come out. When you get back home theycan pop in a new one." 

"I'll decide in a week or so." 

"Why, what happens then?" 

I tensed. "I didn't say anything would happen. I'll decide when I'm ready." 

He stood to go. "Stay near a heli, Captain." 

Easier said than done. I'd imagined that when the rescue efforts eased, ourNaval helis would be more available, but they were pressed into service asmakeshift public transportation. In the meantime Tolliver found a passableground route through the ruins to the clinic. 

When we left Dr. Abood I had Tolliver drive me to the housing office, where Iput my name on the list for accommodations. They promised to call. 

"Back to Admiralty House." I climbed into the car. 

Tolliver shut my door. "Aye aye, sir." 

The temporary City Hall, on the far edge of town, was in a building shieldedfrom the worst of the blast by a high hill. But to reach Admiralty House wewould have to skirt the ruined area. I sighed, wishing I had access to a heli.
Well, I did have access to Laura Triforth's, if I chose to accept her offer. Ifound her manner intriguing; in discussing colonial affairs she was flinty, evenacid. But in personal matters, such as Alexi's health or mine, an obvious warmthgleamed through her prickly veneer. 

I settled back in my seat for the ride. Few other vehicles were on the road, butblockages made driving difficult, and I was never at ease in an electricar.
Tolliver, sensing my impatience, came up behind a slow-moving vehicle, waitedfor an opportunity to pass. It made me nervous; I sat forward, hanging on to myhand strap. 

Seeing his chance Tolliver swerved around the offending car. As he wrenched thewheel I glanced aside. The other driver stared back, then turned his head 


sharply. Something about him bothered me. 1 puzzled for a moment, then cursed
and pounded Tolliver's shoulder. "Stop!" 


He jammed on the brake. "What's wrong, sir?" 
The other car had turned onto a cross street. "That was Mantiet! I'm sure of 
it!" 


"Mantiet? The planter?" He gaped. 


"Don't sit there, follow him!" As he swung around I stamped the floorboard in
frustration. 
We squealed around the corner. The car was two blocks ahead and accelerating.


Tolliver gunned the engine. 
"Can we catch him?" 
His eyes were riveted on the road. "I'll try, sir." After a moment, he cleared


his throat and said, "Can you reach the caller?" 
"The caller? Of course I—damn!" I keyed Naval frequency. "Admiralty House,


Seafort here!" An eternal moment later the speaker crackled. "Midshipman Wilson
here, sir." 
"Get Anton, flank!" 
"Aye aye, sir." The line went dead. 
Mantiet's car swerved around a corner. "Don't lose him!" 
"I won't." His tone was calm. 
"Anton, sir." The man sounded out of breath. 
"We're chasing Mantiet!" 
"Chasing?" 
"In our car!" I shouted. "He's a couple of blocks ahead. Call in all Navy helis,


flank! Get any other support the authorities can give us. We're—where the hell


are we, Tolliver?" 


"North on Churchill Street." 
"—moving north on Churchill, about a mile past whatsis, the road the new town
hall is on." 


"Aye aye, sir. Understood. What do you want the helis to do?" 


I was beside myself. "Stop him! Catch him!" 


"Aye aye, sir. Hang on." The line went dead. 


I cursed into the mute caller while we careened through debris-filled streets.


"Stay left! Don't lose him!" 



Tolliver seemed to be enjoying himself. "Would you care to drive, sir?" 
"Are you joking?" 
"You're in the back seat, sir." 
"What of it?" 
"Oh, nothing." 
What on earth was he babbling about? In a few moments my irritation eased as I


saw he was keeping pace with the fleeing vehicle. 


The speaker came to life. "Anton reporting, sir. Two helis are on their way.
Where are you now?" 
I thrust the caller at Tolliver. "Tell him." Tolliver gave our location, thrust


the caller down as he spun us around a corner. "Look out—" 
"Damn!" We skidded into an overturned truck. A crunch. I was hurled against the


front seat. Tolliver spun the wheel, jammed down the pedal, slamming me back
into my seat. "Sorry, sir." He loosened his tie. 
The lunatic was humming. 
A moment later he broke off, pointed. "There! Look!" 
I craned my neck. A heli swooped over Mantiet's vehicle. Please, Lord, let me


get my hands on him. Please. 
"How will they stop him?" As soon as I asked, my question seemed foolish. 
"All helis go armed now, sir. Not like the one we flew." 
I snatched the caller. "Anton, patch me through to the helis." 
"Aye aye, sir. Just a... go ahead." 
"This is Captain Seafort." 
"Lieutenant Hass reporting, sir. I'm over his car." 
An excited young voice. "Midshipman Kell, sir. I'm right behind. I've got him in


my sights." 
"Listen, both of you! I want him captured, not dead." Mantiet couldn't have
stolen the missile and hidden for all these subsequent weeks on his own. He'd


have had confederates. "If you can flatten his tires, do so. If you kill him,
I'll have your—" I lapsed silent. 
"Stripes?" Tolliver offered. "Balls?" 
"Shut up and drive." 
"Aye aye, sir." He hummed under his breath. 
"I'll angle back for a disabling shot." Lieutenant Hass. 



"Please, sir, let me! I've got the angle. I can do it; I was first in gunnery
last year." 
"You sure, boy?" Mass sounded anxious. 
"I won't shoot 'til I'm positive. Honest!" 


"Go for it, Middy." 
Tolliver eased the accelerator. We fell back. The second heli swooped away from
the car in a wide arc. 


1 cursed. "What's that idiot doing?" 


"Lining up a midships shot." Tolliver pointed. "If he comes in low from the side
he can target both wheels with the tracer. Then all he has to—" 
"Show-off," 1 growled. He opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. 
I didn't hear shots, but I could see tracers arc across the road. Mantiet's car


lurched, spun out of control. It jumped the curb and slammed into the porch of awood-frame house. In the heli, the excited middy crowed into his mike. Deafened,
I spunjlown the caller volume. 

I beat on Tolliver's shoulder. "Hurry, before he runs!" 

We skidded to a halt in front of the damaged house, Mantiet's car door swungopen. He dashed with surprising speed down the road. 
"Get him!" Tolliver bolted from the car in pursuit. I hauled myself out, furious

that I couldn't join the chase, but the outcome was never in doubt. Tolliver hadalways been a fine runner, as he'd shown in catching Jerence. He overtookMantiet at the comer and whirled him around. His fist flew. Mantiet stumbled. 

I let go of the car and walked down the street, trying to make my legs steady,
Mantiet sprang to his feet. It seemed to enrage Tolliver, who flailed wildly atthe man's stomach and face. When I finally reached them Tolliver was holdingMantiet against a tree, pounding him with his free hand. 

"Enough." 
"Remember Mr. Tamarov?" Tolliver's face was hard, bitter, "And our heli?" 
I hesitated. Tolliver drove his fist into Mantiet's ribs, knocking him to the


ground. 1 caught his hand. "That's enough!" 
He subsided, fuming. A heli settled into the road, blades spinning lazily. 
A blond middy jumped out, loped toward us. "Midshipman Harvey Kell reporting,


sir!" He came to attention, his stance marred by an ecstatic grin. "I knew I'dget the grode!" 

"Stand easy, Mr. Kell." But I owed him something more. "Well done, Midshipman." 
The boy gawked at Mantiet, semiconscious in the dirt. "This is the one, sir? Whoshot you down?" 


"Yes." I felt a savage triumph, "Tolliver, you and Kell take him by heli to
Admiralty House. I'll drive our car," 
"You, sir? But—" 


"The response to an order is?" 
"Aye aye, sir! Sorry," Tolliver snapped a salute, hauled Mantiet to his feet.
Kell hurried to help. Between them they bundled the planter into the heli, A
moment later they were aloft. 


"Where is he?" I flung open the door to the anteroom, 


Lieutenant Anton came to his feet. "In the dayroom, sir, I» uh, didn't know
where else to put him," 
"Can he get out?" 
"He's under guard, sir. Midshipman Tolliver seemed quite for the duty," 
Alexi came out of the conference room, "Are you all right Mr. Seafort?" 
"Me? Of course." I put on my vapormask, 
"Have you anything for me today?" 
"Don't bother me now, Mr, Tamarov," Hii face fell. "On second thought, come with


me," 
He followed as I strode down the corridor, "Where are we going?" 
"To the man who stole your memory," I opened the door, 
Frederick Mantiet slumped in a straight chair in the center of the windowless


room. Tolliver stood in front of him, fists bunched. Mantiet's face was puffy. 
Through the vapormask my voice was a rasp, "What have you been up to?" 
"Guarding the prisoner." Tolliver was savage. "Waiting for him to twitch." 
"Leave us, Mr. Tolliver." 
"But—aye aye, sir." He left with unconcealed reluctance. Mantiet's tone was


sardonic. "A pleasure to see you, Captain. Last time, we were both in better
health." 1 shrugged. "It was your choice to run." "Oh, is that why he worked me
over? I've been wondering." 


The man's cool demeanor enraged me. "You'll feel worse after interrogation, I'm
sure." Drugs and poly often left a subject nauseous, and with a splitting
headache. 


Despite his bruises, Mantiet managed to raise an eyebrow. "Interrogation?


Whatever for?" 
"Attempted murder, treason. Destruction of Naval property." And of Alexi's soul,
you bastard. "I'll look forward to the details of your confession. And 



afterward, to your hanging." I smiled, savoring my revenge. "You can't escapeinterrogation, Mantiet. There's more than enough evidence to send you to poly." 

"What a pity to disappoint you, then. I confess." I blurted, "You what?" 

"I confess, to all of it. The missile, the explosives in the hauler,
everything." "You'll be hanged, you know." "I assumed as much the moment youspotted me." I sagged into a chair. Why did I feel cheated? I wanted him toundergo the polygraph and drugs, to experience the maddening inevitability ofconfession. At my own interrogation, I'd made no effort to conceal anything fromAdmiralty, but I recalled the irresistible compulsion to tell my questionerswhatever they asked. 

But if Mantiet confessed, he couldn't be interrogated. The drugs and poly weremeans to determine the truth, not instruments of torture. 

1 said reluctantly, "Alexi, call Lieutenant Trapp." A moment later thelieutenant appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Trapp, interrogate Mantiet. I want afull confession about the hauler, the missile fired on our heli, and whateverconspiracy he engaged in. Names of his associates, dates, details. If he failsto cooperate, break off immediately and inform me." 

"Aye aye, sir." 

"Get on with it." I stalked off to my conference room, Alexi trailing behind. Isat at the table, breathed a sigh of relief. "It's over, Alexi." 

"Is it?" His voice was bleak. 

I flushed with shame. "Not for you. I'm sorry. But we've got him at last." 

"He'll be executed." 

"Yes." Without a doubt. 

"I suppose that's good." He paused, looked at his hands. "Mr. Seafort, I followyou around, hold doors, help you into your car. Is that all I'm fit for?" 

I thought of telling the truth, then relented. "No, of course not." I hesitated.
"There's not much to do, actually, with all our personnel aloft." 

"Isn't there anything?" He searched my face in appeal. "I feel useless, waitingfor memories that are gone forever." 

Alexi's problems were the last thing on my mind; my adrenaline still coursedfrom the chase. I searched for a way to appease him. "Would you like to helpwith the relief work?" He wouldn't need to remember his duties for that. 

"Could I?" Then his face clouded. "I don't really know my way aroundCentraltown." 

"You could learn. And you know how to drive; you offered several times." 

"Did I?" A smile lit his face. "Yes, how could anyone forget how to drive?" Hejumped up, nearly knocking over my coffee. "When could I start? Today?" 


Why did I feel abandoned? I forced down the ungenerous impulse. "I'll have Mr.
Anton call the relief agencies." I took the caller, spoke as if joking. "You'llvisit me sometimes, still?" 

He grinned. "Every day, Mr. Seafort." 

Later that evening, beside himself with excitement, Alexi left Admiralty Housefor the transport center, where he was to work as a volunteer. Normally hisstatus would have been a problem; Alexi's injuries put him on the Navy inactivelist, but he couldn't work as a civilian employee while in the Service. In theemergency, such niceties were ignored. 

* * * 

Later that evening I sat in my conference room reading Frederick Mantlet'sconfession. Trapp had been thorough. He'd gone over every detail of the plot,
starting with the hauler explosion on Plantation Road. 

To my surprise, Mantiet hadn't objected to naming his co-conspirators. That wasodd. Was he lying? I slammed down the transcript. Of course he was lying; whybetray his countrymen? True, a man who could contemplate treason woulddo anything. 

Staring at the polished genera table, I recalled my clash with Judge Chesleyover my enlistment of Paula Treadwell years before. In my hubris, I hadthreatened to put the colony under martial law and suspend civil administration.
I wished I could do so now; I ached to put a rope around Mantlet's neck for whathe had done to Alexi. Unfortunately, all I could do was turn him over to thecivilian authorities who would conduct the trial. 

But I hadn't relinquished him yet, I stalked down the corridor. Lieutenant Kellsaluted as I approached the dayroom. "Any trouble?" 

"No, sir, he's been quiet. Mr. Anton ordered him fed an hour ago." 

I grunted, begrudging him even that decency. 

Mantiet looked up. Bruises were darkening where Tolliver had beaten him. Hepushed aside the remains of his tray, A cool smile played across his features.
"What can I do for you, Captain?" "I'm sending you for drug and polyinterrogation." 

"Why?" 

I tossed the transcript onto his tray. "This is garbage. Forall I know you made it up." He frowned. "Why would I?" "To protect your fellowtraitors. Why would you exposethem? 

"You think I've accused innocent men?" His voice held a 
note of reproach. "Who knows what you've done? That's why I'm sendingyou to P and D." "You can't.** 

I raised an eyebrow. "You propose to stop me?" 

"Yes." 


Despite myself I tertsed visibly, then reddened. The man wasn't about to launchhimself at my throat, and if he did, help was just outside the door. "How?" 

"Are we under martial law?" 
"No. Governor Saskrit's administration is still running Centraltown, And all of
Hope Nation." 


"Then you're bound to follow the law, unless you're as evil as I am." He smiled
politely, I had an urp to strangle him. 
"Make your point, Mantiet." 
"I just did. Under the law you can't send me for interrogation,** 


"Why not? Your confession is incomplete." 
"I've confessed to every charge you've made. Make others and I'll confess to
them as well," 


"We need to verify the truth about your conspiracy." 
"Ah, but that's not permitted, P and D interrogation may only be used to


determine my guilt. Not to force me to betray others. It's a well-settled point
of lew—even our provincial courts have heard of it." 
"I don't know that to be true," 
"But you're duty-bound to check, now that I've informed you," 
I growled, "If we were aboard ship—" 
"That's the point, Captain, We are not," 
I slammed the door behind me. Moments later I paced the anteroom in mounting


fury while Lieutenant Anton waited for a connection, 
"I've got Judge Ches—" 
I snatched up the caller. "Judge? Captain Seafort, here.** 
"This is Judge Chesley," 
"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, I need an immediate answer to a legal question," 
He chuckled. "Well, I owe you a favor, Seafort, Explain." 
What he owed me was hardly a favor; I'd humiliated him in his own courtroom.


Still, much had passed in the interim. I explained the situation. 
He was silent a long while. Then, "There was a time it


would have given me great satisfaction to tell you that Mantlet's right. His
confession bars his interrogation." 
I said desperately, "But if I don't believe his confession is true—" 
"Do you doubt his guilt?" 



I thought a moment. "No," I conceded. 

"Neither would I, or any impartial judge. So we're forced to accept hisconfession as valid." As if sensing the frustration in my silence he added, "Itmakes the Truth in Testimony Act humane, Seafort. Otherwise it could be used tomake people turn on their friends, even their family. The exception was writteninto the law from the start." 

"I see." 

"At least you'll have the satisfaction of seeing him hang." 

"Yes." 

"Well, if that's all... by the way, Seafort, that young lady. The cadet.
Whatever happened to her?" 

"She was posted to Academy for advanced math." 

"Out of harm's way, then. Just as well." 

"Sir, I'm sorry." He said nothing. I rushed on, "For what happened back then. Iwas young and foolish. I wouldn't do the same, now." 

Another long silence, then a sigh. "It's long past, Seafort. All the people, thedestruction ... even my sister and her husband, Reeves. You must have knownthem, they came out on your ship. They were killed in the explosion." 

"Oh, Lord God." 

"Your courtroom hijinks ... they don't seem to matteranymore." "I understand. Good night, sir." I rang off. 

CHAPTER 15 

I issued orders to have Mantiet transferred to the civilian jail the followingday, and to have the authorities pick up the men Mantiet had named. 

That night the fish attacked. 

They took out Prince of Wales. Captain Martes of Victoria had transferred toher. I wondered if he'd taken Ricky Fuentes along. 

I spent the morning huddled in the tactics room with Tol-liver, Bezrel, andevery other officer who could find an excuse to join us. The fish appeared bytwos and threes, Defusing near our ships, lobbing their acid from close range,
abruptly disappearing. The speakers crackled with commands as our fleetdeployed. Again, we succeeded in knocking out fish. Again, we had no idea howmany constituted the aliens' armada. 

Lieutenant Anton kept us supplied with sandwiches and coffee. Conversation wassparse, our mood tense. All of us had served aloft, and knew the perils our menfaced. 

Around noon Anton stirred. "Mr. Trapp, Mr. Tolliver, take Mantiet downtown tothe civilian jail." 


"Not now," I said. 
He looked at me in surprise. 
"Keep everyone here." 
"Yes, but—aye aye, sir." 
By day's end two more ships were disabled, though not destroyed. By positioning


the fleet closer to Hope Nation, Admiral De Marney allowed our ships to come to


each other's assistance more quickly, and this tactic seemed to help. 
I spent a sleepless night on my conference-room cot. In the morning Alexi wanted
to go to work at the transport center; when I forbade it he was so crestfallen
that I relented. "Stay in touch, Mr. Tamarov. Call in every three hours." 


"Whatever you say, Mr. Seafort. Are they still attacking?" 
"Four fish sighted during the night. We killed one." 
"Great!" 
I grunted. Not for Prince of Wales. 
The day passed uneventfully. That evening I realized I was keeping Frederick


Mantiet in our makeshift jail for no purpose. I'd have him transferred in the


morning, as I'd originally intended. Perhaps I could make time to visit Annie. 
During the night we lost two ships. Captain Derghinski had brought Kitty Hawk to
Brasilia's aid when a fresh flotilla of fish appeared alongside, and both
vessels were breached, A number of men got off in lifepods. We listened to
confused reports relayed through our speakers. As day lengthened, I paced the
tactics room with increasing anxiety, wishing I hadn't let AJexi leave. 


I was on my way to the head when Midshipman Bezrel rushed after me. "Lieutenant
Anton's compliments, sir. You have a call." 
"The Admiral?" 


"No, sir. Ms. Triforth," 
My heart pounding from the false alarm, I went to my conference room to take the
call, "Seafort here," 


"Laura Triforth, I'll be in Centraltown this afternoon, I thought perhaps we


might have a talk," 
"It's rather a busy time," I realized how ungracious it sounded and added
hastily, "The fleet's seen more action." 


"I know." 
I paused. "Communications are restricted to a tight beam relay. Just how did you
hear?" 



"I told you," she said, "This is our city, Not much goes on that we don'tlearn." As if sensing that didn't suffice, she added, "You've placed all yourpeople on twenty-four-hour call; none of them goes near a restaurant or bar.
Your Mr, Tamarov reports in every couple of hours." 

I cursed under my breath. As a secret agent I was notably incompetent. 

"Has Mantiet been sent for interrogation under drop yet?" 

"You knew we have him?" 

"Half of Centraltown saw your sky chase, Mr. Seafort. It's hardly a secret." 

The woman knew far too much. Best to stay away from her. No, better let hervisit and learn what she wanted. "I'll see you this afternoon, Ms. Triforth." 

She chuckled. "Why, thank you. I look forward to our meeting." 

In the tactics room the speakers were quiet. Our remaining ships were huddledclose, about thirty degrees past Orbit Station. I tried to see past the blips onthe screen, to the men and metal beyond. 

So few ships. 

I sat and watched in the tense silence. After a time I could no longer stand theinaction, I went downstairs. "Mr, Anton," He looked up from his console. "Workup a report on all Naval personnel, including sailors. Assignments, work hours,
current location." 

"You mean where they're housed, sir?" 

"I said current location. Where they are at this moment." 

"But why—aye aye, sir," He took up the caller, his perplexity evident. I trudgedback upstairs. 

Today fewer of us held vigil, as a consequence of days of sporadic, desultoryaction. Lieutenant Trapp, Midshipman Kell and young Bezrel were the only onespresent. The two middies fidgeted and whispered until I fixed them with a sttrethat allowed no misinterpretation. A few momenta later Bezrel excused himselfand left. Kell, on duty, had no but to remain. 

I fought to keep myself from dozing. I wts just failing when the speakercrackled. "Hibernia reporting. Two fish alongside, one abaft! They're throwing!
Fusing!** 

"Churchill reporting, three—no, five! They came out of nowhere, together! Lasersengaging! We've got one! Another Fusing out." 

"All ships to Battle Stations!" Admiral De Marnay, 

"QH, JESUS!" 

I came to my feet at the fear in the unknown voice. It went on in a whisper, "Adozen of them! More. They're all around us. One is nuzzling our fusion tubes.
Preparing to Fuse. Jordan, get me coordinates!" 


"Fuse immediately, you fool!" My voice was tight, though I spoke only to myself. 
"Our tubes are melting!" I could smell his fright. "We'll try a Fuse!" 
"No!" Admiral De Marnay's tone was sharp. "Churchill, don't Fuse with—" 
"Christ, we're overheating! Quick, shut it do—" The speaker went dead. 
Trapp spun to meet my eye, as if in appeal. 
"They're gone," I said. 
He shook his head, denying. 
'They blew themselves up." 
Trapp swallowed. Midshipman Bezrel rushed in from the hall. "Ms. Triforth is


here for her appointment, sir." 


"Who? Tell her to come back—" 1 got to my feet. "No, I'll see her. Trapp, keep
me informed of our losses." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"Mr. Bezrel, escort Ms. Triforth to the conference room." Vapormask under my


arm, I hurried down the stairs. 


Laura took her place across from me at the gleaming table. "You're looking
better than when last we met." 
I waved the niceties aside. "This is a bad time, Ms. Triforth." 
A knock at the door. Anton. "Excuse me, sir. That report you wanted." 
"Keep it on your desk. Update it every two hours." 
"Aye aye, sir." He made no move to leave. 
"Well?" 
"Could you tell me why you need it, sir?" 
I made my voice icy. "Dismissed, Lieutenant Anton." He left. "What's on your


mind, Ms. Triforth?" 
"Do call me Laura; I hate it when you're so formal." She waited for a response,


got none. "The, um, hypothetical circumstance we discussed. Is it any closer to
reality?" 
"I can't discuss that." 
"I appreciate your position, Seafort. But if anything should leave us on our


own, we have to be prepared." 
I was firm. "I won't discuss that with you." 
"Has the Ventures Base been attacked?" 



I was startled. "Not that I know of. Why?" 
She waved. "Just taking stock, as it were." 
I ached to get back to the tactics room. "Ms.—er, Laura, what is it you want?" 
'To know what's up. To help, if possible." 
"You can't fight the aliens." 
"I can help root out Mantlet's men. I can help you maintain control." 
I raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to do that?" 
She smiled grimly. "I've made no secret of my feelings, Mr. Seafort. But you


must understand: we want anarchy no more than you. We have hundreds of field
workers roaming Centraltown. If authority breaks down ..." 


"The Government is in place and functioning. Looters have been shot." 
"As well they should be!" She spat the words. A pause. "Captain, this is our
home, our society. Let us help." 


True, we were badly understaffed. I thumbed through my papers, found a list of
supporters Mantiet had named. "Can you help us find these men?" 
She studied the list. "Some of them, I think we—" 


The caller chimed. I snatched at it. "Yes?" 
"Trapp reporting, sir. You said to keep you informed. Fish swarming all over the
patrol area! Two ships down, everyone's Fusing like—" 


A knock on the door; it swung open. Bezrel saluted. "Lieutenant Anton said to


give this to you forthwith, sir." 
"Orbit Station beat off an attack too, sir. That's the first time they've
attacked—" 


I opened the note. Anton's handwriting. "Message from Admiral De Marnay, for


immediate delivery to Captain Seafort. 1800 hours local time. Destiny." 
I crumpled the note, half hearing Lieutenant Trapp's rush of words. "Hibernia
Fused twice, sir, and they keep following. No sign of Churchill. The fleet is to
regroup around Orbit Station. They—" 


"Enough." It was 3:00 P.M. We'd have three hours. 


Laura Triforth came to her feet, eyes locked on mine. "Seafort, you've gone
white. What's happened?" 
"Wait here." I strode out the corridor, closing the door. "Anton!" 
He stood from his console. "Yes, sir?" 



"Your list." He fumbled, handed it to me. After a glance I thrust it back. "How
many of our helis are on loan to the transport grid?" 


"Three, sir." 
"Pull them out of service, flank. Emergency priority. Contact all officers and
sailors, arrange assembly points. I want helis to pick up all Naval personnel
and bring them to the spaceport in one hour. Everyone, without exception." 


"An hour? That's not possi—" 
I thrust my face at his. "Make it possible, God damn you!" He recoiled. "You


have a list. Find them all. Stay on it. You have permission to stay at your
console one additional hour. Then go to the terminal yourself." 
"But—for God's sake, why?" 
I snarled, "Because I gave the order!" Even now, it was best no one know the


truth. 
"Aye aye, sir!" He snatched up his caller. 
"Where the hell is Tolliver?" 
"Sleeping, sir." 
"Get him up. I need him.** I started toward the conference room, swung back.


"Let me see that list," I scrutinized it. "Alexi Tamarov. He's not on it." 
"He's not active, sir, I thought you meant—** 
"Where is he?" 
"The transport center would know," 
"Get started. Til find Alexi," 1 strode back to the conference room. 
Laura Triforth stood as! entered. "What in blazes is going


on, Seafort?" 
If I told her, she might argue, and nothing must interfere with the evacuation.
"Problems." I had to get rid of her, find Alexi. We had less than three hours-


Annie! Lord God, I'd forgotten. Shame sickened me, I'd take a heli—no, they were
all in use, I had to drive downtown, get my wife, pick up Alexi— 
I looked up to Laura. "You offered your heli. May 1 have it?" 
"I—of course. I can take you myself, wherever you want to go." 
"Just a moment." I picked up the caller, dialed Alexi. "Mr. Tamarov, report." I


waited; no answer. I tried again. "Alexi Tamarov, respond to Admiralty House!"
Silence. 

Another knock at the door. Edgar Tolliver, bleary from lack of sleep, 
"Stand by, Tolliver." Muttering under my breath I thumbed the caller again.
"Patch me through to the transport center." 


I pulled rank and got to the director in moments. "A volunteer, Alexi Tamarov. I


need him at once," 
"Tamarov ... the Naval Officer? The young one? He's directing a road crew in the
west sector, I don't know what street they'd be on at the moment, but they're
somewhere between Churchill and Washington." 


"Very well." 


I rang off, "Laura, I have to pick up Annie at the clinic, and Lieutenant
Tamarov is downtown. I could drive, but your help would ,.." 
"Of course. When?" 
"Right now," 
Lieutenant Anton appeared in the doorway. "Regarding your orders, sir?" 
1 glanced at Lauri Triforth, "Yes?" I was wary, 
"What about Mr, Mantlet, sir?" 
I cursed under my breath. Why hadn't 1 had him sent downtown when I'd had the


chance? "Ms. Triforth and I will take him. Tolliver, I want you along. And
Bezrel, as an extra hand," As soon as I said it I realized Kell would be a
better choice, but decided not to contradict myself. Bezrel would do, 


"We're taking Frederick?" Laura sounded tense. 
"Yes, if you don't mind. After I pick up Annie we'll drop him off." What good
would it do to turn him over to the civilians, if our fleet took Governor


Saskrit home? Should I bring Mantiet along for military trial or simply hang him
myself? No, I hadn't the right. 
Laura asked, "Will you interrogate him?" 
She'd asked too many questions about matters that were confidential. "Perhaps."


My tone was cool. 
She shrugged. "He deserves it. When do you want to go?" 
"Right now. Tolliver, get Mantiet. Cuff his hands, but don't rough him up. Gag


him too, Mr. Tolliver." If Mantiet spoke, Laura Triform would learn what Mantiet
knew. 
"Wouldn't it be better to wait for a Naval heli, sir?" 


"I'm in a hurry." 
"Aye aye, sir." I picked up my vapormask, wondering how long Tolliver's docility
would last. 


I peered down the unfamiliar streets, while Annie pressed my hand. It had beenonly minutes since we'd swept into the clinic and bundled her out. 


"Between Washington and Churchill, they said." Where the devil was Alexi? I'd


told him to stand by, and ... 
"They'll have men and trucks; we'll spot them." Laura glided across town, barely
above treetop level. 


Yes, but when? I tried to restrain my impatience, glancing surreptitiously at my
watch. We'd been searching the indicated area for several minutes. Repeated
calls on the radio failed to raise Alexi. 


Annie crooned to herself. 
"There, to the west!" Tolliver, from the back seat. We swooped across a block of


ruined houses. A crew of ten was hauling debris from the blocked street into a
truck. 
I muttered, "That's got to be them. Land, would you?" 
"Anyone see wires?" Laura checked the landing spot. 
"Here we go." 
A moment later I was beckoning from under the blades. "Alexi, get over here!" He


was near the truck, gesturing at piles of crumpled roofing. 
The whap of the blades was too loud; Alexi waved happily and turned back to the


crew. Enraged, I ran to him, ignoring warning pangs in my chest. I grabbed his
shoulder, spun him around. "Get yourself into the heli!" 
"What-" 
"Didn't I tell you to report regularly? Where's vour


caller?" "In the truck, Mr. Sea—" 
"Move!" I shoved him toward the heli. Crestfallen, he obeyed. I faced him at the


heli door. "Even a cadet wouldn't pull a stunt like this, and you're supposed to
be a lieutenant! Can't you obey a simple order?" 
He blanched. "I'm sorry." 
"If you were on active duty, I'd—" I caught myself, finally comprehending what


his eyes revealed. "All right, get in." 


"I got involved in the work ..." He looked at the private heli. "What's up, Mr.
Seafort?" 
"In, I told you." He climbed into the back with Tolliver, Mantiet, and Bezrel. I


should have explained outside, where Laura couldn't hear. Now, it would have to
wait. "Special duty." 


Laura throttled. Over the engine's roar she asked, "Where now, Mr. Seafort?" 
I looked again at my watch. "We'll drop off Mantiet, then head back, if you
don't mind." 



"Not at all." She pulled back on the collective, lifting us straight up. Thistime she didn't skim the treetops; she brought us to a great height. I stareddown at the stricken city. Would Centraltown ever recover? 

Laura continued to throttle up. Casually, she reached for her oxygen mask andslipped it on. Tolliver leaned forward. "We don't need canned air this low, dowe?" 

I growled. "Tend to your prisoner, Middy." 

"Not really." Laura idly flicked a switch on the dash. A dull hiss emitted fromthe air vents. 

"Then why are you—what's going—" Tolliver slumped. My head spun. I grabbed forthe vapormask in my lap. Laura Triforth's hand pinned my arm. "Wait a moment,
Seafort. You won't need it." 

She was right. In a moment I needed nothing. 

CHAPTER 16 

The room was stuffy and dark. I groaned, trying to clear my head. I was lying on
a cold, damp floor. 
"He's awake." Alexi, 


I blinked. Annie sat slackly, her eyes straight ahead. Her hand clasped Alexi's. 
Tolliver's tone held a note of impatience. "About time," He perched on a wooden
desk, legs dangling. It was the only furniture in the room. 


"Where am I?" 
"Wherever your friend Laura put us," Tolliver's voice was acid. 
My anger gave me strength to scramble to my feet. I tottered to Tolliver,


grabbed his jacket. "Tell me what's happened!" 
"I passed out in the hell I presume you did too. When 1 woke, we were here.** He
gestured to the sparse chamber. What little light we had came from a narrow,
barred transom over the door. "1 found Bezrel sniveling in the corner." He waved
with contempt at the young middy, who, to my disgust, surreptitiously wiped his


nose with his sleeve. "Alexi and Annie—Mrs, Seafort—woke a few minutes after.
We've been waiting for you," 
"Why are we here?" 
"We hoped you'd tell us, sir," 
"The door?" 
"No knob on this side, I finally stopped bruising my shoulder on it." 
I reached for my pistol, found an empty holster, "No one's 
come in?" "No, sir." 



"How long have we been here?" Tolliver made a show of checking his watch. "It's
going on five-thirty now. I'd say about two hours. What would you say, Mr.
Tamarov?" 


"Damn your insolence!" 


"Yes, sir. You'll remember I suggested we wait for a proper Naval heli. If we
had ..." 


I snarled, "Enough!" 


Alexi intervened. "Why would Ms. Triforth kidnap us? And where were we headed in
the heli?" 


Legs weak, I pushed myself onto the desk and sat. Why did Laura waylay us, to
tree Mantiet? No, she'd helped us search for him. To stop us from leaving? She
didn't know I'd received the "Destiny" signal, and she would probably be glad to
see the last of us, given her feelinp about colonial rule, 


I realized what Tolliver had said about the time. "Five-thirty? We've got to get
out!" I jumped off the desk, 


"Why, Mr. Seafort?" Alexi, 


"Because—" I tensed. No way to know if the room was miked. "Never mind why," I
banged on the door. "Lsural Ms, Triforth!" 


No answer. In the corner stifled a sob. 


I shouted again and again, without result. Finally I sagged back onto the desk.
But nervous energy pulsed, and I couldn't sit more than a moment, I paced,
squatted on the floor, got up to pace again. 


Ail too soon, it was six. Was it my imagination or did I hear the distant roar
of a shuttle? 


I slumped to the floor. Whether I heard it or not, the shuttle was gone, and
with it our chance of rescue. We were marooned, with nothing to do but await the
final assault of the fish. I had no doubt it would come. By careening off in
Laura Triforth's heli I had doomed not Onjy myself, but Alexi, Tolliver, even
poor bewildered Bezrel. And, worst of all, Annie, It was almost a blessing that
she was barely aware of her surroundings. 


I withdrew into my misery. 


Hours later, footsteps sounded, I stood, fists clenched. A key scraped in the
lock. The door swung open. 


Three armed men. I charged forward, but stumbled to a
halt when a laser pistol swung toward me. "Where's Ms. Triforth?" 


Ignoring me, the burly farmhand shoved a bound figure past his companion into
the room, slammed the door. Hands lashed behind him, the man stumbled to his
knees. I gaped. 


"1 don't suppose you'd, ah, consider releasing me?" Frederick Mantiet motioned
with his bound wrists. "They're starting to hurt." 



"I hope they fall off!" Tolliver's tone was savage. I'd been thinking the same,
but instead I said perversely, "Untie him." Tolliver had tortured him enough; weweren't barbarians, though Ms. Triform was that and worse. "But—" 

"You heard me!" 

"Aye aye, sir." With a curse Tolliver yanked at the thongs holding Mantiet. Thecuffs I'd had placed on him were gone. While picking at the knots Tollivergrated, "Has it occurred to the Captain that Mantiet is no more a prisoner thanMs. Triforth? That he's obviously a plant?" "Yes." It hadn't. "I'm not, youknow." Mantiet. 

"Right." My feet hurt; I went to slouch in the corner, decided to preserve mydignity and leaned on the table instead. "Why were we kidnapped?" "You'll haveto ask Laura." "I'm asking you!" 

"I could guess." Mantiet winced as Tolliver yanked at a resisting cord. "Sheprobably didn't want me interrogated." "Was she involved in your murder plots?"
"You might say that." Mantiet hesitated. "More than you can imagine." 

"Don't believe a thing he tells you!" "Tolliver, be silent. Why are youadmitting it now?" Mantiet shrugged. "It no longer matters." "Why not?" 

"Because Laura will proclaim the Republic at midnight." "The Re—" I shook myhead. Too much, too fast. "Why are you detained?" Tolliver undid the last knot;
stifling a groan, Mantiet nibbed his wrists. "I'm apparently not, ah, radicalenough for her taste." 

I couldn't suppress a sneer. "A man capable of shooting down a Naval heli andkilling his countrymen with a bomb isn't radical enough?" 

Mantiet was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "I didn't do those things." 

"You tried!" 

He made as if to speak, sighed instead. "So it would seem." 

Alexi spoke from his forgotten corner. "If Mr. Seafort leaves us alone, I'llkill you." His tone was so casual it brought a chill to my spine. 

Mantiet raised an eyebrow. "An elegant solution. It would amuse Laura." 

I intervened before Alexi could reply. "Never mind him, Mr. Tamarov. He's scum,
and all he says is a lie." 

The Republic. I stared at the door, yearning for a weapon, some means of escape.
An entire planet was sliding into eternal damnation, and I could do nothing. Imuttered, "The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth thepower, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they shall receive to themselvesdamnation." 

Tolliver gave me a strange look, but said nothing. 

I sat next to Annie. 


Dully, her eyes met mine, strayed back to the floor. Two hours passed in near-
absolute silence. I greeted the next approach of footsteps with relief; ourhostility wore on the nerves. It recalled the wardroom in Helsinki, my firstposting, before our senior midshipman had taken us in hand. 

The door swung open. Armed men clustered in the corridor; among them was Laura
Triforth. My lip curled. "You!" 
"In the flesh." 
"Let us go." 
"I'm afraid that's not possible." She smiled regretfully. 


"Then why are you here?" 
Laura hesitated. "I suppose I'm cursed with a sense of style, Captain. It seems
only fair that the last representative of the old order witness the birth of the
new." She glanced at her watch. "But we'll have to hurry." 


"Prong yourself." 1 wished I didn't sound like a peeved middy. "I'll stay here." 
"I'm afraid you misunderstood. It's a summons, not an invitation." She gestured.


Two of her minions advanced, guns drawn. Tolliver came off the desk, placed
himself between us. 
"You'll have to go through me first." 
"Very well." She gestured at one of her men. "Kill him." 
"Wait!" I jumped in front of him. "Tolliver, back to the wall. Move!" 
He hesitated only a second. "Aye aye, sir." He stalked to the far wall, shoving


Mantiet out of his way. 
"Think of it, Captain, as a box seat in the theater of history." 
"I'll think of it as kidnapping," 
"You go in these." She held up a pair of handcuffs. 
"Over my dead—" 
"No, over his." She gestured at Tolliver with her pistol. He raised his eyebrow,


waiting. 


1 sighed. Saying nothing, 1 raised my wrists, Ms, Triforth cuffed my hands in
front of me, "Your young friends will wait here," 
"I want them along." 
"Now, now." She patted my shoulder, I threw off her 
hand. "What about me?" Mantlet's quiet voice penetrated the tension. 
"You'll wait with the children, Frederick," 



He shook his head, "Think about it, Laura. 1 deserve a seat in the theater. I'veearned it," 

Ms, Triforth met his eye for a long moment. "Yes, I'll admit that. You'll manageto be silent?" 

"Oh, 1 won't speak. 1 just want to observe." He added, "You have my word." 

Laura Triforth beckoned Mantiet forward. "Unfortunately, I only brought the oneset of cuffs. You'll have to bear the thongs again." 

"Looser this time. They cut off the circulation," 

Ms, Triforth laughed easily and bound Mantiet's wrists with the cord. She turnedon her heel. "Bring them both." 

Shoved from behind, I had time for a quick glance at Annie before they had me inthe narrow hall. I followed Ms. Triforth outside. A welcome gust of fresh airgreeted me as we emerged from a low prefab building, in a clearing surrounded bytrees. We seemed to be on the edge of town; lights glowed in the near distance. 

A Naval heli stood waiting, doors open, pilot in his seat. Laura beckoned to thedoor, helped me climb in. "Your colleagues were kind enough to leave this," shesaid, indicating the craft, 

"Not for you. For the authorities,** My arms hurt. 

"We've become the authorities." She spoke with calm assurance. 

The last of her men crowded aboard; the pilot snapped the switches and theblades began to rum, 

"Where are we going?" 

"You'll see." We lifted off. After a moment she added in a reasonable tone, "Youbrought it all on yourself, Seafort, I'd have been happy to let you go with therest of your Navy," 

"Why didn't you?" I stared out the window, able to orient myself at last. Wewere in the northwest end of town. Our prison was a few hundred feet off themain road. Occasional cars moved below. 

"You didn't tell me your signal to leave Hope Nation had arrived. You left meguessing, and you were taking Frederick downtown for interrogation, I couldn'trisk that." 

"He wasn't going to be interrogated," 

"No?" Ms, Triforth chuckled grimly. "You should have told me when I asked. As Isaid, you brought it on yourself," 

To my surprise, we flew south toward the spaceport and Admiralty House, We werealmost there when the speaker crackled, "Admiralty calling Captain SeafortAdmiralty to Captain Seafort. Please respond," 

Triforth froze. After a moment she said, "Why not?" She reached for the caller.
"Talk to them," 


"No," 
"It's your chance to say good-bye," 
I made no answer. She twisted around in her seat. "Do as I say, or you'll never


see your friends again," 
"Kill me, then." I had failed in everything; it would be fitting. 
"Not you. Your silly sniveling wife." She uncuffed my hands, thrust the caller


at me. 
My hand shook with suppressed rage. I thumbed the caller. "Seafort reporting!" 
"Just a moment for the Admiral." 
I waited until the familiar voice came on the line. "Seafort? Why in hell


weren't you on the shuttle?" 


Ms. Triforth shook her head, warning me. I said, "1 was trying to find some of
my officers, sir." 
"How many are with you?" 
"Lieutenant Tamarov, sir. And two middies, Tolliver and Bezrel." 
He sighed. "A pity about Bezrel; 1 promised to keep him close. We'll all have


Fused in another hour or so, Seafort. I've no time to send another shuttle
down." 


"I understand, sir." The conversation held an air of unreality. 
"We've evacuated Orbit Station too, though the fish have shown little interest
in it. Maintenance functions are under the control of their puter. It's
programmed to fire on any fish that appear." 


"Yes, sir." 
"Catalonia is due back from Detour anytime now. I'll leave a broadcast beacon
with instructions to pick you up. If she gets here safely, you're to sail home.


There's a shuttle at the Ventures Base; use that to go aloft. In the meantime,
carry on as best you can. You're in charge of what's left." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"Good luck, Seafort." 
"Godspeed, sir." The line went dead. 
"Interesting," said Laura. "You had it planned to the last detail." 
I glowered. She recuffed my hands, this time behind my back. Our heli landed


close to the terminal entrance, in a lot full of cars and helis. Courteously,
Laura helped me out. Just short of the door she pulled me to a stop, fingered
her pistol. "You're here to watch, Seafort, because I think it fitting. But
let's be clear: if you open your mouth to speak, Til burn you on the spot." 



"Prong yourself." I could think of nothing better to say and half expected herto hit me. With a frown she shoved me toward the door. 

Inside, a large number of folding chairs had been brought to supplement theterminal seating. Most were occupied. At one end of the concourse a small daishad been erected. Ms. Triforth guided me toward it, stopping to shake handsalong the way with admirers and well-wishers. 

"Why here?" I asked. 

This is one of the few buildings big enough for a public meeting that wasn'tpulverized by the rock." 

I grunted, too angry to reply. By my presence I was being made a party totreason. But she would have killed Edgar Tolliver otherwise; what choice had I? 

"Sit here. Remember what I warned you." She beckoned a guard. "Tell Norris toget folks seated; it's nearly midnight Then come back and watch this one." 

"Right." Her accomplice took off. Ms. Triforth kept an eye on me until hereturned, then drifted among her audience, shaking hands easily, smiling. Inoticed that Mantiet had not been placed on the dais, but in the front row,
hands still bound. Was Triforth truly jealous of him, or was it a show to makeme relax my guard in his presence? But, to what purpose? The Navy had left,
taking Governor Saskrit and his administration. 

Puzzled, I stared at Mantiet until he became aware of me. He raised an eyebrowand smiled without mirth. I twisted in my chair, my arms aching. 

People began to take their places on the dais. Among them were ArvinVolksteader, Tomas Palabee, and, to my disgust, Harmon Branstead. His sonJerence sat in the front row. I looked for old Zack Hopewell, but he was nowherein sight. Harmon caught my eye, reddened, looked away. Ms. Triforth took herseat at the center of the dais. 

A woman with a holocamera crouched hi front of the seats below the dais. She 
turned the lens toward a man I didn't recognize. He came forward to the smalllectern set at the front of the stage. He pulled a gavel out of his back pocket,
banged for silence. The few people still wandering hurried to the nearest seats. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're here for an occasion we've all awaited. Withoutfurther ado, 1 give you the founder of the Republic of Hope Nation, the leaderof our long-underground movement, Laura Triforth," 

To a roar of approval Laura got to her feet, slowly made her way to the lectern.
A wave of applause washed across the hall. Ms. Triforth waited coolly, smiling,
waving with her right hand. From my seat at the end of the dais, 1 saw her lefthand clenched behind her back. Her fingers rubbed at each other in nervouscontradiction of her apparent ease. 

"Ladies and gentlemen." She waited for the tumult to subside, cleared herthroat. 

"For years we've labored under the misguided benevolence of our colonialGovernment. For years we paid for their errors, financed their bureaucracy, soldour crops at little above cost to feed their starving millions. 


'Tonight, all that is ended. At 1800 hours, a few paces from where we gather, ashuttle lifted with the last U.N. military officers, along with Governor Saskritand his aides." She could get no further until the frenzied cheering subsided.
She added with a smile, "Except for poor Mr, Seafort here, who got left behind."
1 tried to ignore the laughter. 

"1 won't pretend that our Republic was born in ease. Had the aliens not forcedthe great U.N, fleet to withdraw to home waters, ours would still be anunderground movement. Had not the aliens dropped an asteroid on Centraltown,
enough government structure would have remained so that we'd have had to fight acivil war to free ourselves. But today, we gain our independence without war.
Officers of our movement have merely arrested the judges and those few civilservants foolhardy enough to resist." 

She took a deep breath. "However the providence of Lord God manifests itself"—
bile flooded my throat at the heresy—"it is enough for us to know it is with us, 

"The United Nations has withdrawn its protection from Hope Nation." She gesturedtoward downtown. "You can see how much good that protection provided." Her gibebrought scornful laughter as, unseen, her fingers rubbed at her palms. 

Her smiled vanished. "I don't make light of our many deaths. But the loss offriends and family have taught us. We know, now, how vulnerable a large city isto enemy attack, and how useless it is to our own defense. So we will live inour plantation homes. While Centraltown must remain a commercial center, it mustnever again become the administrative nucleus of our civilization, 

"We know also the folly of allowing electoral control to pass out of the handsof responsible plantation families, into the hands of unemployed farmhands andhauler-drivers. So our legislature will consist of two houses, one for theplanters themselves; the other consisting of permanent em-ployees and associatesof the planters, who live on their properties, Never again will city dwellersdisplace the productive plantations as the administrators of our Republic," 

Triforth had to wait for the applause to abate. 1 wondered how many residents ofCentraltown were in the hall. 

She spoke quietly. "There are some who ask why we bother to declare ourRepublic, when satanic aliens roam the system, destroying ships, dropping theirdestruction on our city." 

Yes, one might wonder. 1 strained to catch her soft-spoken answer. 

"We lived here for generations, undisturbed by alien attacks, It was the fusiondrives of our Navy that attracted the fish, and with the Navy gone, the fishwill soon follow. If not, we have learned to combat their viruses, anddispersing our government outside Centraltown will help protect us from thehavoc of any further attacks," 

She paused; when she resumed her voice was sober, "And if we are wrong, andnaught but devastation and death lie in our path, then I ask: what other courseshould we pursue? Could we defeat the fish ourselves, when the vaunted UnitedNations Navy"—she pointed to me—"could not, and has left us to our fate? Shouldwe go to our deaths as peons and wards of the uncaring United Nations, orproudly, as free men and women, as masters of our destiny?" 


I swallowed; something in her speech caught at my own feelings. But my eyecaught the fingers rubbing endlessly at each other, behind her back. 

Therefore, now, at the hour of midnight, on this, the third day of April in theyear of our Lord 2200,1 do declare the Re—" 

"In the name of Lord God, stop!" Laura spun around as the echoes reverberatedaround the hall with the crash of my falling chair. Her pistol flashed. "Youwere warned, Seafort!" 

"Shoot me, Triforth!" Contemptuously I strode to the center of the dais,
twisting my hands behind me in a hopeless effort to free them. I took a deepbreath. "Republic? You deluded fools!" My words were to the assembled crowd,
ignoring Laura entirely. "What bilge!" 

An angry growl answered me from below. Ms. Triforth shoved me, nearly knockingme off balance. I rushed on. "Isn't she a spellbinding orator?" One of her mengrabbed my arm, hauling me back to my seat. I shouted. "You'll never know whatshe chose not to tell you!" "Sit!" Eyes blazing, she propelled me to my chair.
"Let him speak!" Harmon Branstead was on his feet. His voice carried through thehall. "Oh, no. Not now. This is our moment, not his." "Let him speak!" The callwas taken up by someone else in the audience. After a moment, another repeatedit. 

Branstead pressed his advantage. "You wanted him here, Laura. The representativeof the old order, you said. Let him have his say." 

Ms. Triforth studied her audience, measured its mood. She reversed herself withgood grace. "Ladies and gentlemen, before proclaiming the Republic, I give youthe last representative of the now-departed United Nations Navy, CaptainNicholas Seafort." 

"Take off the cuffs." My tone was that of a Captain to a green young middy. Andit carried. She hesitated. "You'll put them back on, after?" "Yes." My armsfreed at last, I turned to the audience. "You had grievances. We understood.
They'd have been addressed, had the aliens not interfered." It was met bysnickers of derision. 

"But that isn't the issue." I searched the audience for a face not hostile, oneto which I might speak. Not finding any, 

I pressed on. "Do you know where you stand? A few dozen miles above me roam themost frightful beings we've ever encountered. They've tried over and again towipe you out. Their virus nearly did the job, but we synthesized a vaccine intime. They dropped a rock onto Centraltown with the kinetic energy of a nuke,
but it failed to obliterate your city." 

They were listening, now. "The fish attacked our ships, and the chilling news isthat they learned from their attacks. Now they Defuse directly alongside and gofor our lasers and tubes. Hundreds, if not thousands, of brave men died tryingto defend you. 

"Ms. Triforth would have you believe the Navy abandoned you." I could hear herstir behind me; I said quickly, "So I'll tell you the truth." I searched theaudience, wishing I were an orator. My task was beyond me. 


"First, your Government hasn't abandoned Hope Nation. I and several officersremain. Second, remember that the United Nations, our Government under Lord God,
is steward not only of Hope Nation, but of seventeen other colonies and of homesystem. The fish have shown no sign of retreating; if anything their numbershave increased. If a colony is attacked, it can be resupplied. If home system isdestroyed, we all die." In the muted light, someone sobbed. 

"Admiralty decreed that when a third of our fleet was destroyed, the remaindermust sail for home, to protect our mother planet. I remind you that all ourinterstellar ships, all our fusion drives, are built at home. With the grace ofLord God, they will return to defeat the fish, stronger than before." 

Voices rose, arguing. I said clearly, "If not, we are all dead." It brought mesilence. "The fish won't leave you alone, despite Ms. Triforth's pious hopes.
Our only chance is to fight the fish as best we can until the Navy returns,
which it surely must." 

Laura Triforth stood, sauntered to the lectern. "Wrap it up, Seafort." 

I nodded, trying to remember her words. "And if I am wrong, and naught butdevastation and death lie in our path?" I caught her eye, held it. "What courseshould we then follow? I call each of you to be true to his oath. Lord God willnot favor—" 

"Enough." She hauled me back, pistol pressed to my side. One of her men grabbedmy other arm, pulled me back to my chair, cuffed my arms to it. 

Ms. Triforth returned to the lectern, shook her head. "You see the arrogancewith which we've had to deal. Very well, he's had his say. Seafort's views nolonger matter, they are made meaningless by the cowardly and secret retreat ofhis associates. With pride, therefore, 1 now proclaim the Republic—" 

I struggled to my feet, chair dangling behind. "As plenipotentiary of the UnitedNations Government, 1 declare martial law through Hope Nation! I order thearrest for treason of Laura Triforth and her—** 

The blow caught me on the back of the head, I crumpled into darkness. 

"You fool* 

I opened an eye and groaned. Frederick Mantlet knelt over me, pressing acompress to my head, "Did you really think you could stop her?" 

1 shook my head, regretting it instantly. "No. I only knew I had to try." 

"She nearly killed you. She may still." 

"Yes." It didn't seem to matter. I looked around, "Where are we?" 

"In the hauling offices. Different room,** Seeing my puzzlement he added, "Ahauling company, owned by Triforth Plantation. It's where they held us before.
Your men are a couple of doors down the hall." 

I blinked, and the room came into focus. I slapped his hand away. "Don't touchme." 

He shrugged. "I was trying to help.** 


"I don't need help from your kind." 


Mantiet retreated. This room had chairs. He took one. "What is my kind,
Seafort?" 
I said flatly, "Garbage." 
He reddened, but held my eye. "Your opinion is based on ... ?" 
"You know bloody well. You tried to murder us twice, to a sense you succeeded,


with Alexi." 
A very long pause. "Seafort, I don't know how to tell you this." 
I wasn't interested. I closed my eyes, rubbing my aching skull. "Let me sleep." 
"I didn't do it." 
I made no answer. After a time he went to the door, spoke to the brittle wood.


"I don't know why it matters, but I want you to know." 
"Let me be." 
"I didn't blow up the hauler in front of your car; I didn't fire a missile at


your heli." 


"I have your confession. In fact, it's in my jacket. You named your
accomplices." 
"Men who were killed when the bomb hit." 
"I assumed as much. As I said, you're garbage." 
"Seafort, look at me." 1 kept my eyes closed. He said, louder, "Look at me, or


I'll kick off your kneecaps," I opened my eyes, Mantiet said simply, "I did not
attack you on any occasion. I so swear upon my immortal soul," 
"And your confession?" 
"Was a lie." 
"To what purpose?" 


"The obvious one." He saw my blank look, "To avoid interrogation," 
I sat up slowly, ignoring the throbbing in my head, "You make no sense.
Interrogation would have exposed your crimes. We'd have found out about the bomb
and the missiles." 


"Yes, you'd have found out." 
"That's why you avoided interrogation," 
"Yes, that's why I confessed." 



I managed to get to my feet. The room was about the length of a bridge. Howcould I think without pacing? "If you're guilty, the interrogation would showit. If you're innocent, the tests would have shown that, and you'd have beenfreed instead of hanged. So avoiding interrogation makes no sense if you'reinnocent. It does if you're guilty." 

He said nothing. 

I paced. What was he up to, another cruel game? Was he so twisted he needed nopurpose? If he was innocent, why 

CHAPTER 17 

The next morning Mantiet and I were moved to another room, one that had acubicle with a toilet. To my relief, Annie and the rest of our party werewaiting. 

When we were brought in, Annie cried out with relief. Thereafter, she seemedperturbed whenever I left her side, even for my restless pacing. 

Like our previous cells, the room had no windows, nothing we could pry loose tofree ourselves. Laura Triforth had apparently constructed her building with aprison in mind. For three maddening days we slept on damp mattresses, ate meagermeals, and walked the confines of our chamber. 

The chill air made my chest ache. With an effort I sat, "Mr. Bezrel," 

"Yes, sir?" He scrambled to his feet. "Get my vapormask, would you?" "I haven'tseen it, sir. Not since we changed rooms." I drew my jacket tight. When theguard next brought our food, I demanded my vapormeds. He ignored me and stompedout, 

Alcxi had lapsed into a moody silence; he slumped on his cot for hours at atime. Mantiet made frequent attempts to converse, most of which I disdained,
However, at one point he inquired, "At the meeting, why did you call yourselfplenipotentiary of the United Nations Government?'* "It doesn't matter," Irolled over on my side, "Still, it interests me. Why?" "Because it was true."
"Do you have authorization or merely delusions of grandeur?" 

Stung, I pulled myself up. "Command of Admiralty House can be likened to commandof a vessel under weigh." 

"So?" 

"The Captain of a Naval vessel has unlimited authority. Moreover he is, in fact,
the United Nations Government in transit. Whatever powers Admiral De Marnay had,
devolved on me when he left, and I'm the senior officer in the Hope Nationsystem." 

"Weren't the Governor's powers separate?" 

"Yes, until the buildup of forces. Then Mr. De Marnay was given a unitedcommand." 

"Still, plenipotentiary of the U.N.—" 


"It's a long-settled law." My tone was irritable. The Captain of a vessel can do
almost anything he wants." 
"And usually does," said Tolliver sourly. 
"Shut up, Middy." 
"Of course, sir." , 
Mantiet gestured. "Is he always like this?" 
"Only on occasion,” 
"Why do you tolerate him?" 
"He's sort of—" I hesitated, 


"A test of your endurance?" 
"More in the nature of a hair shirt." 1 regarded Mantiet sourly. "Are you done
prying?" 


"If it annoys you. How else would you pass the time?" 
"That depends on why we're here." 
Mantiet said, "We're in storage until Laura decides what to do with us. We're


tin embarrassment to her." 
"How so?" 
"As you so eloquently pointed out, you represent the old, defunct government.


And I represent a more moderate wing of her own party. We're alternatives to her
particular brand of republic. While we live, we're a threat,** 
"I don't want to die!" 
I turned toward the childish voice. "Steady, Bezrel,** 
"I didn't do anything! Don't let her kill us!" 


"Easy, Midshipman. You—" 
Til handle it, sir," Tolliver said smoothly. "Let's talk in the head, Avar.
Don't disturb the Captain," He guided the boy's arm toward the toilet cubicle. 


"Don't hurt him." 
Tolliver looked at me, surprised. "I didn't intend to." He shut the door, 
I spoke softly, so Annie couldn't hear. "You think we're to be killed?" 
Mantiet looked pensive. "I'd imagine so." 
"Then what's Laura waiting for?" 



Mantiet shrugged. "Perhaps she'll arrange some kind of accident. She still needsthe support of conservatives like Branstead and Hopewell." He added with asmile, "Remember, my advice isn't worth much." 

"I'm not sure any longer." The admission shamed me. Gruffly I added, "I thoughtshe kidnapped us to rescue you, but it appears your position wasn't muchimproved." 

"So it would seem." He gestured at the bath cubicle. "It's a pity, but if Laura,
ah, eliminates you, she's unlikely to leave the child behind." His voice droppedeven further. "Or your wife," 

I glanced over his shoulder, but Annie was lost in some melancholic reverie. "Iknow." I hesitated, amazed that I was allowing myself to make him an ally.
"There's nothing I can do." Mantiet waved me silent as footsteps approached. 

As always, the men entered with pistols drawn and ready. "Seafort, come withus." "Why?" "Move." 

Wearily I got to my feet. Was this how it would end? An innocent summons,
followed by an unforeseen shot to the head? 

"This way." They marched me along the corridor, one man behind, one on eitherside, a laser pistol in my back. Even if I'd been armed, I could have donenothing. They shoved me into another room, which I recognized as the one inwhich I'd first awakened. 

Wary, I paced the chamber, glancing at the meager furniture, the barred transom.
I swallowed; for some reason, what I wanted most in the world was to hold Anniein my arms. 

The door swung open. I stared at the visitor, turned away. "I've nothing to sayto you." 

"Please." Harmon Branstead looked around, found a chair. "I came to see if youwere well." 

I stared at the wall opposite, determined not to speak. After a moment he camebehind me, "Nicholas, I swear before Lord God: if I'd had any idea you werestill on planet I wouldn't have been on that dais. Laura told me the Navy hadskulked off in the night, leaving us. She said all U.N. authority was gone, andwe were on our own." 

"You were a party to treason." 

"Was it treason, if we were abandoned? You've seen my plantation; if thesepeople are the government I have to get along with them. Who else is there?" 

"You swore an oath, as have we all." 

He put his hand on my shoulder, I thrust it away. He said, "Nick, if theGovernment left us, we were entitled to form another, I thought you'd gone withyour fleet." 

"I would have, if Ms. Triforth hadn't taken me prisoner." 


"She thought you were about to question Mantiet; her whole scheme would have


unraveled at the last moment." He paused. "I had no part in that. Believe me." 
I wanted to, but nobody on Hope Nation was whom he seemed. "It doesn't matter.
You have your Republic, and I my prison." Uncomfortable at my own rudeness, I
faced him, "Why are you here?** 


He closed his eyes, opened them. "Jcrcnce ran away after the meeting, I just
found him today, and had him taken home." 


"I'm sorry. He's .,.?** 
"Completely spaced, I don't know where he found the stuff. Or what he had to do
to get it." 


"I'm sorry." It seemed so inadequate. 
He drew closer. "I don't know if they're listening," he whispered, 
"And if they are?** 
He shook his head to quiet me, and spoke in a normal tone. "They trust me as


much as anyone, but they searched me before they let me in," 
"Those who live by deceit find it everywhere." 
"Perhaps," He sat, toyed with his boot. "I'm sorry for your troubles. There's


nothing I can do to help you," 
"There is," I said. 
He glanced up, surprised. "What?" 
"My wife. Get her out of this," 
He swallowed. "I thought she was at the clinic. They have her too?" 
I couldn't trust myself to speak, nodded instead. 
“I'll do my best. You have my word." He beckoned me closer. Puzzled, 1 came


close. He twisted the heel of his boot, slid it aside. Motioning me silent, he


held it toward me. 
Pressed into a hole in the leather was a razor. He whispered, "This is all I
could chance bringing. Anything else they'd have found. You'll have to make it
do." 


I reached for it. He grasped my wrist, shook his head. "I need your promise." 


"Of what?" Our heads were practically touching. His grip tightened on my arm.
"Take Jerence." 
"What?" 
"Laura told us of the call from your Admiral. When your ship Catalonia comes,


take my son off-planet," 



"Impossible." 
"It's possible if you do it." His whisper was fierce. "You 
must, or I won't help you," 
"Where could 1 take him? We'll be lucky to make it to home system alive. Do you


want to send him to the fish?" 
His hand tightened convulsively, "No, I don't want to risk my firstborn." He
took several steadying breaths before continuing. "You were right. We're in


terrible danger, I don't think Hope Nation can survive the aliens, But you're a
survivor. Somehow, you manage. Take my son with you." 
"Even if I escape, 1 can't take a civilian," 
"You can and you will," He released my wrist, locked hiS gaze to mine. 
"It might mean his death.** 
"He may meet his death here, sooner," He fingered the sharp blade. "It's a


gamble, Seafort, Jerence may be killed. Then my son Roger would inherit. OrJerence may survive while we don't, Then, when it's over, you'll send him back.
Either way the family survives; Branstead Plantation goes on." 

"You'd sacrifice your son for the survival of a plantation?" 

"1 can do nothing to protect my sons, You're the best safeguard I know. And
besides ,,," 
I waited, realized he wouldn't finish. "What, Harmon?" I asked gently. 
His face held anguished appeal. "I have to get him off-planet before he destroys


himself. It may already be too late. All 1 know is that I can't save him." 
How old was Jerence: fourteen? 1 couldn't cope with a sullen, rebellious joeykid
along with my other troubles. Yet there was so little chance I'd be in a
position to honor my promise that it hardly mattered. Harmon's razor was a
pitiful weapon, but without it, Avar Bezrel's nightmare would certainly be


realized. My duty was to try to save the innocents, no matter how hopeless the
effort. "I'll try, Harmon," For Annie, for Alexi. For Bczrel. 
"No, Swear." 
I snorted with contempt. "My word is worthless. Didn't you know?" 
"No, I trust your word more than that of any man 1 know. Give me your oath," 
I regarded him, "Very well. My oath." 
"That you will take Jerence off-planet when you leave, and to Terra with you on


Catalonia, and let him come home when the danger is abated," 
"I so swear," 
"And I'll talk to Laura about Mrs, Seafort, the moment I leave." He handed me


the blade, 



I tore a piece of the lining of my jacket for wrapping, thrust it inside mypants. My grin was feral, "Too bad you couldn't bring a laser," 

He twisted the heel back onto his boot, whispering still, "I had to beg Laurafor this chance to see you, I told her it was to say good-bye," 

"It may well be. Who's in charge, beside her?" I shivered, hugged myself. Ihadn't been warm in days, 

"There are others; Volksteader, Palabee. But she runs the show," Branstead'sface clouded, "It's not what some of us hoped," 

"Revolutions seldom are." I sat, "Harmon, surely you're smart enough to see yourfolly, Hope Nation has hardly more than a quarter million people. If you cut offcommerce with Earth—" 

"Not cut off, recast. Our lives can't be managed from afar." 

Ludicrous, to argue politics with him, his razor warm against my side. "Do youthink for a minute the Church would allow trade with traitors who've set 
themselves against Lord God's own government?" They—" 

1 rushed on. "And without our technology, you'd collapse in a generation. Thedie-cast fabricators, the medical—" 

"Do you suppose we haven't thought of that? Our food is every bit as importantto home system as your manufactured goods are to us. Have you any concept of thenumber of barges in the pipeline at any moment? Randy Can calculated thatwithout us you'll have food riots inside of three years, No politics, no moralstand would outweigh—" 

It was his very soul at stake. "Hannon, you raise your fist against Lord God! Ibeseech you, think what you're doing!" 

"Show me another way." He raised a hand to forestall my reply. "I'm not proud ofLaura, or how she operates. Her attack on your car was despicable, and if I'dknown..." He shook his head. "Zack Hopewell is disgusted and outraged, and so amI." 

For a moment we sat in silence. "When did you decide to visit?" "After themeeting. When I found Jerence today, I was sure. I've talked to ... some of myfriends. We agreed. We'd do more, but Laura controls the arms and the Governor'sManse." Again he touched my shoulder; this time I did not resist. "Godspeed.* Hewent briskly to the door, hammered on it. "Let me out! I'm done with him!" 

A moment later footsteps approached; the door opened. Hannon nodded to theguards, turned to me with contempt. "I misjudged you, Seafort, You're getting nomore than you deserved." 

He might at least have warned me. "Harmon, you're a pompous fool. You alwayswere." It was the best I could do on short notice. 

He snapped to the guard, "Get me out,** 

Laura Triforth appeared at the end of the hall. "Enjoy your visit, Harmon?" 


"He's your responsibility." Branstead stalked down the corridor. "I'll have no


more to do with him," 
Ms. Triforth raised an eyebrow. "Seafort, you seem to have irritated Harmon." "A
pity. He deserves you." 


"I'll take you back to your colleagues." She beckoned me to follow her. 
"Why are you holding us?" 
"You're in protective custody, for your own safety. After all, someone's twice


tried to kill you." 
"Let my wife go," 
She wrinkled her nose. "We don't need trannies roaming Centraltown." 
"May God damn you to His deepest hell!" 
"How diplomatic." She sighed, ran fingers through her hair. "Has it occurred to


you I've a lot on my mind at the moment? A government to organize? A planet to
run?" 


"Let us go. We won't bother you." 
"All in good time," Laura's men opened our door. "Oh, by the way ,,," She held
my vapomiask. "You left this in the meeting hall." I snatched it from her hand,
fuming. 


As they thrust me into our cell Tolliver jumped to his feet. "Where did they
take you, sir?" 
"I had a visitor. Leave it." 
"What did Triforth say to you?" 


"Not much," 
From his corner, Mantlet sighed. "There's a virtue in help-Captain, One has no
decisions to mike," 


"We're never helpless." 
"What would you propose we do?" 
1 sat on my cot, "Wait," It was all I could think of. 
Bezrel approached timidly. His voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Sir, Pm sorry


I acted like a baby this morning." I looked up with alarm; was he about to start
bawling again? No, it seemed not, 
I cleared my throat. "We're all afmid," I said gruffly. 


"But you know better than to show it." * 
"It's all right." I wanted to be rid of him, Ashamed, I patted my mattress,
"Sit." 



"Aye aye, sir." Automatically he straightened hi* tie. 

I smiled. "I never had a chance to review your file, Mr. Bezrel. Tell me aboutyourself." 

"I'm thirteen, sir. I came out on Vestra with Admiral De Marnay; I started asship's boy." "How did you get to be a middy?** "Admiral De Mamay promoted me.
They did it that way so I wouldn't have to go to Academy first. My father wantedme to sail with the Admiral because they know each other." 

So Admiral De Marnay had skirted regs for an old friend. I frowned and changedthe subject. "Who is your father?" 

"Captain Bezrel, sir. Retired now, but he had U.N.S. Constantinople, " "Whereare you from?" "Crete, sir." He hesitated. "It's an island that used to bepart of Greece.** 

"I know where Crete is,** I growled. Father had instilled Terran geography in mewith dogged determination. 

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir." 

Sorry. Always apologizing. I waited for the sniffles, 

"Am I dismissed, sir?" 

I took pity on him. "Yes. I commend you on your manner, Mr, Bezrel. Muchimproved." 

His grateful smile pierced me. "Thank you, sir," He retreated to his cot, 

"They've brought us breakfast, Micky.** I opened my eyes, "Thanks, hon." To mydelight, Annie grinned. "You all right?" "Of course.** I sat up, shivering. 

I gnawed at the bread, sipped at lukewarm coffee. Afterward 1 went back to mybed and dozed, About noon I awoke. With an effort I sat, "Mr. Bezrel,
give me the mask.** "HI get it." Alexi. He helped me slip it on, "How do youfeel?" "Well enough," I took a deep breath through the mask andwrinkled my nose. The air seemed stale, Ever so slowly, the day passed. Then along night, during which I stirred restlessly, coughing. The vapormeds didn'tseem to help. 

When the guards brought our morning meal I demanded to see Ms. Triforth; theydidn't even bother to answer. 1 repeated my demand at dinner. 

Late that evening she appeared, waking me from restless and feverish sleep. "Yourang?" Her tone was sardonic. 

I shivered, drawing my jacket closer. "You've made your revolution. Why holdus?" 

"After your impassioned speech, I decided I don't want a horde of White Russiansstorming through the countryside." 

"What on earth are you talking about?" 


"I thought you knew your history. Never mind." 
"Let us go." 
"In time." She looked at me with concern. "Are you well?" 
Mantiet said quietly, "Don't toy with us, Laura. Do whit you're going to do." 
"Be patient, Frederick. You'll both be freed soon." 
"What might I look forward to? Shot trying to escape?" Mantiet seemed quite


calm. 


"Don't be ridiculous. You're not my prisoner, I haven't seen you since the night
we proclaimed the Republic." She turned on her heel and left. 
"We can't undo her treason," I said petulantly. "Why must she hold us?" 
"She enjoys seeing us helpless," Tolliver, 
Mantiet regarded me with an odd look, lapsed into silence. After several minutes


he stirred. "Alexi, Mr, Tolliver, take Bezrel and Mrs, Seafort into the cubicle,
please. I want to speak to your Captain alone." 


Tolliver said bluntly, "No. I don't trust you," 
I snapped, "Don't be silly. We've been alone before." Reluctantly Tolliver
herded the others to the enclosed cubicle, 


Mantiet took me to the far end of the room and spoke softly. "How do you feel?" 
"Well enough," 1 coughed, "Under the circumstances," 1 was tired and wanted to


lie down, I waited, but Mantiet said no more, "Frederick, if you've something to
say, tell me!" 
"Your face is flushed. You've been coughing." 
"We've been locked in here with bad food, no air..." 
"True, but you're much worse since yesterday." 
I sank into a chair. "Perhaps. I've started the vapormeds again." 
"Precisely. You started them yesterday." I gaped. "Are you saying ... Laura


tampered with my meds?" 
"Why else would she take your vapormask?" 
"She returned it when I asked. If she wanted me dead, she'd just shoot me." 
"Don't you—" 
"Enough nonsense." I went back to my corner. As I sat, the handle of the razor


pressed into my side. 
Mantiet mustn't know I had it; he might be planted to betray us. But each day
that passed made that more unlikely. 



I toyed with the vapormask. Could Mantlet's suggestion be possible, or were hisinsinuations part of some outlandish scheme? What would Laura gain if Isickened? No, she didn't need to toy with me or plant a spy. 

Mantiet approached. "Captain, I ask a favor." 

"There's nothing I can do for you." 

"I won't survive you by long. You're as close as I'm likely to get to a cleric.


Shrive me." 
"Me? You're joking. You need a chaplain.** 
"You are representative of Mother Church." 
"Aboard ship. Here, in civilization .,." 
"If you landed on an unexplored planet, would you not still be chaplain to your


crew?" 
"Yes." 
"We are strangers in a strange land." 
"But—** 
He cried, "I've nowhere else to turn!" 
Was it blasphemy, or did I have authority? I concentrated on ill-remembered


regs. Finally, I sighed. If there were sin, it would be mine, not his. 


I said, "If I'm to be your chaplain, I must tell you: rebellion against lawful


authority is treason against Lord God.** 


"I made no overt act of rebellion," 


"You were part of their conspiracy." 


"I took part in discussions. No more," 


"Money? Other help?" 


He flushed. "Some. I didn't know where it would lead." 


"While I am here, a piece of Government remains. You're still bound by your


oath." 
"What do you want of me?" 
"To adhere to your oath, as long as it is possible." 
A long silence. At last, "All right." 
"Do you repent your sins?" 
"Yes." He sat tense on my cot, eyes boring into mine. 



I made the sign. "In the name of the Father..." 
When it was done he whispered, "Thank you," He turned away. Weary, I lay back on
my cot, When I awoke, I no longer doubted I was sinking into illness. I was
feverish. My chest ached. Alexi and Tolliver tried to tend me; irritably I waved


them off. When the jailers brought our meal Tollivef demanded I be taken to the
clinic. They didn't bother to answer. 
Later, I woke from a doze, coughing. Time was growing short. "Mantiet, Tolliver,


come here." I waited. "Frederick, I have no choice but to trust you. For the
sake of your soul, I hope I'm right." I put my finger to my lips, fished inside
my pants, came out with the razor. Their eyes widened. I whispered to Tolliver.
"If you see a chance ..." He nodded. I handed him the weapon, 


I turned to Mantiet. "I won't be good for much. You might use the chair as a
club, when Tolliver makes his move,,." 


Til find something." 
"Get Annie and the middy out of the way first, I don't want them hurt. Or
Alexi," 


Tolliver said, "If I can. There may not be time," 
I said, "I'll do my best to distract the guards. I'll yell, perhaps. We'll do it


tonight if possible. No later than tomorrow," He studied my feverish face,
nodded again. 
When we were done Alexi came to squat by my side, His look was one of reproach. 
I demanded, "What's bothering you?" 
"You're hiding somethiig.M 
"No." I hated to He, 
"You keep whiipering so I won't hear," 
278 m David Feintuch 
I flared, "If I am, it's my prerogative as Captain. Who are you to question me,


Lieutenant?" After a moment his eyes fell. "I'm sorry." His tone was stiff. 
My heart pounded. I might be gone soon, and this is how it would end between us.
"Alexi, I'm sorry. Bend closer." I whispered into his ear. "There'll be trouble


when the guards bring dinner. Take Annie and Bezrel into the cubicle when you
hear them coming. Keep them there." 
"Why?" 
"I don't want them hurt. They're your responsibility." 
"What will happen to you?" 
"I'll be fine." 



He studied my face, troubled. "All right, Mr. Seafort." 


I grasped for something else to give him. We were reduced to so little. "Mr.
Tamarov." 
"Yes?" 
"You're a good officer. You always were." 
He stood straighter. "Thank you, Mr. Seafort." I smiled. 
Despite my warnings, when dinner came I was sleeping fitfully; the guards were


gone before 1 could rouse myself. I cursed silently; time was running out. By
our next meal it might be too late. 


"Mr. Tamarov, can you stay awake and rouse me before dawn?" 
MYes, Mr. Seafort." "Do so." Tolliver looked hesitant as he approached, "Please
don't misunderstand me. Captain, But—" 


"Yes?" 
"You haven't been well..." He squared his shoulders, said with resolve, "If


anything happens to you ... Are we on our own? Shall we pretend we're still in
the Navy?" 
I snarled, "Pretend? You are in the Navy, until your enlistment expires." 
"What Navy? Look around you! Where is it?" 
"It's here." I coughed. "The U,N. Government hasn't abdicated. You and I embody


its authority." 
He shrugged, "Sometimes I wonder about you," 
"What's that supposed to mean?" 
"Nothing, sir. Excuse my impertinence." I glared, but he held my gaze. "And


while you're at it, sir, who's senior: me or Mr. Tamarov?" 
It was my turn to hesitate. Alexi was on medical leave; technically that left
Tolliver in charge. Preposterous, on the face of it. Yet Alexi's memory was


gone, "You're senior," I said, defeated. "Do as you see fit. For as long as
you're able." 
"Aye aye, sir." Shaking his head, he turned away. 
"It's nearly dawn, sir," 
I groaned, 
Alexi persisted. "You said to wake you." He shook me again. 
"What time is it?" 
"Just after five." The hall bulbs, our only source of light, were turned down.


We could barely see each other. 



Breakfast might be as early as an hour from now, perhaps as long as three hours.
I struggled to sit. Panting, I made my-self breathe as deeply as I could. Itdidn't seem to help. I yearned for the familiar comfort of the vapormask. 

I tried to stand, failed, got cautiously to my knees. Holding on to the wall Ipulled myself up, ignoring Alexi's outstretched hand, "Put a chair there." Ipointed. 

The door was centered on the north wall. Alexi put the chair along the eastwall, near the north corner, 
1 prodded Tolliver with my toe. He turned over; I tapped at his ribs. Heawake, hand darting to his pocket, 

I shook my head. "Not yet" To Alexi, "Wake Frederick," 
Mantiet sat, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He looked around saw us all roused,
"I'm ready," He slipped into his clothes, sat at the side of the table nearest
to the door. His arm draped casually over an unused chair, 


"Wake the boy. Take him into the^cubicle." 


"Right." Alexi prodded Bezrel. The young middy sat up, dazed, and followed
Alexi, I heard what might have been a sob. 
Carefully I knelt by Annie's side. "Get up, hon." I stroked her forehead,


"Please," 
She came awake witn a frightened gasp. 
"It's all right, hon." I paused for breath. "I need you to go with Alexi." 
Her eyes darted back and forth, came to rest on Tolliver's hand. She squealed in


terror, clung to my shoulders. 


"Edgar, get that razor out of sight!" I struggled to free myself. "Annie, let
go." 
She wrapped herself around me. "Fightin', with shiv? Dey gonna kill ya, Micky!" 
"Annie, go in the cubicle!" 
"But—" 
"Now!" 
With a sob, she fled. 
Knees weak, I crossed to the east wall, sat. 
I shivered, struggling to stay awake. From time to time I coughed, deep hacking


coughs that served as ominous warnings. I yearned to sleep. Soon I would have adeep long rest, until Lord God woke me for His vengeance. Half aloud, Iwhispered, "Lord, if I could but undo my offense ... 1 am so *orry 1 offendedThee," Though it was no use, I was comforted. My punishment was inevitable, butHe would know my repentance. 


Endless minutes passed, while I toyed with the vapormask in my lap. 

Tolliver lay unmoving, hand concealed under his blanket, Mantiet sat quietly, asif relaxed. Only my ragged breathing broke the stillness of the night. 

The hallway lights brightened. Footsteps. I managed to 'otter to my feet. Whenthey swung the door open I would shout, catch their attention. With luckTolliver could make «iis move, 

A sound, from the cubicle. "Nicky?" Annie out. 

The door swung open, 

"I can't wait in—" She searched out Tolliver. He lay facing the door, the razorbehind his back. She stared at it, 'Don' get Nicky hurt!" 

I hissed, "Go back!" 

The first guard was halfway into our chamber. He stopped, looked about,
TolHver's muscles tensed. With a sinking feeing I realized my shout wouldn't beenough to distract the ,uard. 

Annie gaped from the corner; she should have been safe in the cubicle. Too late;
the diversion had to be now or never. 

I flung the vapormask at the guard's head, surged out of my chair. 

He whipped out his laser, aimed at me. Tolliver rose in one smooth motion andlunged across the room to crash into the guard's midriff. The impact smashed theman into the door frame. A crunch. A cry, cut short. The gun clattered to thefloor. 

I threw myself on the pistol. 

With an oath the second guard kicked open the door. He fired just as Mantiethurled a chair at his face. The chair splintered in a flash of fire and smoke.
Knife in hand, Tolliver scrambled toward the door on hands and knees, below theline of fire. 

A boot kicked the door wide, I got my hands on the dropped pistol. I lurched tomy feet, but as the guard's trigger finger twitched, my legs buckled. I wentdown like a stone. Sparks and fire flashed over my head. 

"Leav'im 'lone!" Annie's lithe form flew across the room. Fingernails slashed atthe guard's eyes. Her knee slammed into his crotch. He fell with a shriek. Shewhirled, saw the third guard's pistol rising, pounced on his arm an instantbefore he fired, A boll seared the concrete inches from my face. I flinched andkicked myself Someone toppled heavily on me with a curse, I lost my pistol 

Tolliver tried to regain his feet; I'd knocked him down with my reflexive lurch. 

"Nicky I" A shriek of terror as the guard's gun loomed. 

Annie clung desperately to the man's hand and chomped savagely on his fingers.
He howled, and the gun fell. She dived for it. 


The room turned red amid ghastly screams, I lay gasping for air, the warning
empty-charge beep of Annie's pistol fading from my consciousness. Time passed. 
A gentle hand helped prop my head, Annie's wet cheek hugged mine, 
"I didn't get a chance to use the knife," Tolliver sounded peeved. 
1 gasped for breath. "Find them!" 
"There's no one left. The rest of the building's empty." 
"You're sure?" 
"Mantiet says so." 


Frederick appeared, breathing heavily. "We're alone. But we don't have a heli." 
Alexi and Bezrel emerged from the cubicle. The boy's face was buried in Alexi's
jacket. Alexi's arm cradled his shoulder. 


Tolliver said contemptuously, "Middies." I stared at him and he flushed. "Sorry.
I forget." 
Annie's sobs became more frenzied. 
"It's all right, hon." I stroked her head, calming her. "How'd you do that?" 
"Dey was gonna dissya." 


"Where'd you leam ..." 
Her tone held scorn. "Two joeys ain' nothin. Qnna street, girl gotta defen'
herself. Even inna Cathedral I crunched one's head." 


"My God. That was you?" I recalled the bashed-in skull, the thick puddles of


blood. 
"Coulda got othas, if I didn* trip onna rock." A pause, and her face clouded.
"Rubies gone." 


"Annie, about what they did ..." 
"No one did nothin'." Her voice had an edge of finality, 
I cradled her anew. "It's all right, hon." 
"Sir, we'd better leave." Tolliver. 
I tried to wrest Annie's hand from my neck and succumbed to a fit of coughing.


This time, I thought I'd never stop. 
"We've got to get him to the clinic," Tolliver. 
Mantiet said, "Why not just wait for Laura to retake us?" At Tolliver's puzzled


stare he added, "Your Captain's not exactly unknown. If we walk into the clinic,
she'll be told in minutes." 


My voice was thick, "I'm all right. See if you still have friends." 

"In half an hour I can have five men and a heli." 

I nodded. "Get your men. Hurry." After he made the call I had Tolliver move usto the front room, past the charred corpses of our guards. Bezrel retched at thesight. I wanted to do the same. Annie hardly spared them a glance. 

In the front room the daylight seemed overbright. "It's so cold." I huddledshivering in my chair. Mantiet and Tolliver exchanged glances. 

Between us we had two charged pistols. I had Tolliver and Mantiet take them; Iwas past being any help. When the whap of blades beat the air we tensed. Mantietpeered cautiously through the window. "It's our side," he said. "But I'd bettergo first. They might be nervous." 

He went out, A moment later he beckoned to us, I gasped, "Tolliver, draw yourpistol. Be ready for anything." Why hadn't I made Frederick leave his pistolbehind? I wasn't thinking well. Mantlet's men walked toward the building. 

Mantiet entered first. He pulled out his pistol. Instantly Tolliver was down onone knee, gun aimed. Mantiet handed me the weapon, "You need this. I'm armednow." 

"Thank you." I tried to make my voice casual. 

"We'd better get out. Where to?" 

The room drifted from side to side, making it difficult to think, We needed toconfront Laura Triforth, Arrest her, if we could. But she had the power, theguns. 

"Well, sir?" 

"I don't know! Can't you see I'm sick?" 1 was disgusted by the whine in my tone. 

"Into the heli," Mantiet. 

Tolliver's voice was "The last who us a ride was Triform," 

"He's not Laura," I snapped. 1 tried to think, we retreat to the plantationzone, if someone there would help. Bra M stead, or perhaps Zack Hopewell. Butwithin hours our escape would be known, Triforth would have time to mobilize. 

No matter. We had no real choice, I asked, *?Can wt all fit 

in the heli?** It seemed too small. "I doubt it. We'd be way over the weightlimit," My teeth chattered, I drew my jacket tight, "Ring HarmonBransicml for me." Mantiet's men drifted inside. Their 
ence made the room seem crowded. 

'The frequency may be monitored," Mantlet warned as he handed me the caller. 

I thought of calling through Admiralty House, relaying to Orbit Station andback. No, it would waste time, and Admiralty House was probably in enemy hands.
"Branstead." "This is, um, a friend." 


"Thank heavens." His tone held an odd note of relief. "We need help." "Areyou... alone?" 

"For the moment. Bring a large heli, as fast as you can." "Where should we meetyou?" 

We had to get clear of the haulers' building. "Where I brought your son backfrom our trip. In front." "Right. Figure about an hour." He rang off. Alexiasked, "Where is he meeting us?" "At the spaceport terminal." I stared at theheli. "We'll have to fly two loads." 

"We'd better get you in the first one." Mantiet, "If they catch you here ,.." 

"If they catch any of us, we're dead," The room drifted. I tried to take a deepbreath. "Is there a car?" "Nothing," 

"The road's a few hundred feet. Stop one." Mantiet gestured to two of his men.
"Hurry.** "No killing," I said. 

The farmhand spat. "They may not want to stop." "Don't kill civilians." 

The two men loped off. Too much time passed. Finally, the distant hum of anelectrical. Another wait. A car appeared at the end of the winding drive,
lurched along the dirt road, pulled up in front of our building. I wobbled to myfeet. Mantiet's field hand yanked open the car door. Inside, a young mancowered, hands held high. 

I hadn't thought of prisoners, We could lock him in to a room. No, Triforth'smen would find him and no telling what they'd do. Too complicated, "Bring himalong," The farmhand muttered, "You*re crazy." Mantiet spun, his voicedangerous, "Show rum the vou'd show me. More than that." 

"But—" 

"You heard me!" 

The farmhand nodded grudgingly. "Sorry." 

Mantiet shifted impatiently. "Let's get moving." 

"Tolliver, Bezrel, and I will take the car. Send one of yourmen with us, in case there's a fight. Alexi can go with you inthe heli." A long speech, that left me panting. "Shouldn't you be in—" Tolliversaid loudly, "Aye aye, sir." Interrupted, Mantiet reddened. "Right. Let's go."
We piled into the car. I fell into my seat, gasping from theEfort. I said to the civilian, "Put your hands down. No onewill hurt you." 

The young man quavered, "Please. Whatever you say." "Stay quiet. You might evenget your car back," On the edge of town the streets were mostly clear. Littledamage was evident. The heli cruised above and behind us, circling. Despite thetension, I dozed. When I wok§» the intense heat made me try to squirm out of myjacket, but after a moment I gave up, panting. 

We pulled into the terminal lot. It looked deserted. It ought to be; there wasno longer any traffic to the Station. "Check out the building." 


Tolliver got out and approached the terminal with one of Mantiet's men, I keptmy eye on the anxious civilian, hand on my pistol, until they returned. "Locked,
sir." 

We clustered in the parking lot straining for the thump of Harmon's heli. Heartpounding, I rested against the car. I'd needed Alexi and Tolliver to help me tomy feet, 

At last the heli came. As it swooped down I tapped the civilian on the shoulder.
"Drive downtown. Don't stop anywhere near." He jumped into his car, sped tofreedom. 

Before the blades stopped Harmon Branstead jumped down, strode toward me,
stopped. "God almighty, Seafort, what's happened to you?" 

"I'm not well," 

"You're—" He broke off. "What do you want us to do?" 

"Who'd you bring?" One by one six men climbed out, rifles at the ready. Anotherman followed, more slowly, 

"You?" My astonishment was obvious. 

"Me. After all, it's my heli." Old Zack HopewelPs stern face showed no hint ofwarmth. He walked slowly to me, took my shoulders in his hands. He stared intomy face. "Lord God save you, how long have you been like this?" 

I blinked away tears. "Triforth—did something. With my vapormeds." 
He turned to Harmon. "Get him to a doctor. Now." 
"No." I began to cough. As the day faded to mist I hung on to Hopewell. Finally


I caught my breath. "1 can't be seen. None of us can until Laura Triforth is


taken." 
It was as if I hadn't spoken. "Harmon, get him in the heli. Frederick, call Dr.
Avery. Have him meet us at my house." 


I gasped, "Triforth first! Take the Manse." 


Hopewell's tone was brutal. "That's for us to decide." In a moment we were
aloft. I leaned on Alexi's shoulder, wondering where they'd put Annie. 
Mantiet said, "You're wrong, Zack. Without him we're nothing." 
"Look at him. We've got to get him to Avery." 
"Find Triforth. You're wasting—" I began to cough. Some time after, I woke from


a fitful doze, Alexi's shoulder damp from my perspiration. The heli door swung
open. 
"Help him inside." 



I brushed away their hands. "I can walk." It was true, after a fashion. By the
time I reached Zack Hopewell's porch scarce twenty yards away, I was glad of the
hands offering support. 


While we walked, Dr. Avery thrust a fresh vapormask over my head. Inside, he
helped pull off my shirt. He listened. "Christ. Lay back, boy," 
"We have to..." 


"Give my meds a chance." 
I obeyed, Avery examined my old canister, sniffed at the vapor. "That's not
right. Lord God knows what mix she used." 


Old Zack Hopewell raised an eyebrow. "What's been done?" 


"I thought I'd seen everything, Laura's a zealot, that's no surprise. But
this..." He shook his head, "Anticars, most likely. And bacteria." 
"Explain." My words slurred through the mask. 
"Anticarcinomals have been standard cancer treatment for a century. They work,


but they can't be used with transplants. Period." 
"Am I rejecting my lung?" 
"We may have caught it in time. The pneumonia's worse. I've loaded you with


meds. Lie still." To the others, "I can't believe she'd do it." 
"I can," Harmon's voice was hard. "Zack, this settles it. We have to act." 
"On whose behalf?" 
Frederick Mantiet cleared his throat, "His." 
"Nonsense," Hopewell. 
"Zack, I've changed sides. I'm not with Laura, Nor you. I'm with him." 
1 giggled. Perhaps the meds were making me giddy. "A side of two." 
A long silence. 
"Three." Everyone looked to Harmon. He blushed. "The city's been bombed. A few


years ago the fish sprayed a virus. Laura represents a cohesive power, one
that's recognized. The Navy's another. Would you proclaim a third? Under what
au* thority? Shall we risk civil war, with fish overhead?" 


I breathed deeply. The new canister seemed to help, 
Hopewell radiated his disapproval. "We'll discuss it privately, Harmon," 
The door opened. Annie flew to my side, "Don* leive me 'lone again!" 
Tolliver peered in after her. "Is he alive?" 
I growled, "Yes." 



Dr. Avery bared my arm, I felt a mild sting, 


"No surprise. You're too ornery to .. ." He shook his head, "Midshipman Tolliver
reporting for duty, sir." 
"Take Annie and Alexi, And, whatshisname, Bezrel," It was hard to concentrate.


"Get them decent food. And a bath.. .** 
I fell into sleep, 
I sat bolt upright. "What time Is it?" Tolliver leapt half out of his seit,


"Christ, don't do that. It's like a visitation from the dead," 
"Don't blaspheme." The vapormask muffled my voice. 
"It's four in the morning." 
I was in a bed. The lights were low. "What are you doing


here?" "Someone had to keep an eye on you. Everyone else is
asleep." 


"We're at Hopewell's?" 
"Yes, sir. Dr. Avery knocked you out for your own good." I said hopefully, "I
feel better." 


"You don't look it." Tolliver stretched. "Do you need anything?" 
"Bring me up to date." 
"No news of late. Last evening Ms. Triforth's joeys were swarming about


Centraltown like disturbed bees." "What's Hopewell doing?" 
"Sleeping." Tolliver turned down the light. "As you'll be, in another moment." 
Thereafter, he refused to answer my questions. Eventually I dozed, to pleasant


fantasies of his court-martial. 


In the morning I overrode TolHver's objections and got out of bed to find a
bathroom. Once there, I sat clawing for breath. Getting up had been a mistake. 
When I tottered back, my breakfast was waiting, along with the committee of the


whole. I glanced around at the somber faces. Frederick Mantiet. Zack Hopewell
and his wife; Harmon and Sarah Branstead. Dr. Avery, Tolliver and Alexi. Even
poor Bezrel, attempting manfully not to look overwhelmed. 


I forced myself to sit casually, rather than fall panting on the bed. "A
ceremonial occasion, 1 gather?" No one spoke. 1 demanded, "Are you handing me
back?" 


Mantiet snorted, "No, worse. We want you to lead us." He held up his hand to
forestall my reply. "In a ceremonial capacity, of course." "What does that
mean?" 



"Lend us your name." Frederick's gesture included the group. "If we strikesuddenly, we might bring Laura down. We want to do it in the name of alegitimate government. Hopefully, it would reduce the bloodshed," "And then?" 

"Independence, as before. What would change is the morality of the government.

We wouldn't—" 
"Not in my name." I sounded bitter. "But why even ask? Who'd know on whose
behalf you act, with me sick in bed?" 


"I'd know." Zack Hopewell, his voice like flint. "I will not found a regime on a
lie." 
"I'm sorry, then. But, no." 
Frederick glanced at his companions. "I told you." 


Harmon said, "Nick, what will you do if we defeat Laura on our own?" 
"Do? I'm not sure. But revolution isn't the answer. It is an affront to Lord 
God. It's my duty to prevent that." I stopped, panting, "If you succeed you will
be damned, and every soul on your planet will writhe in Lord God's hell. I've
condemned myself, and I know nothing in the universe is worth that." I realized
I spoke through tears. 


Mantiet said carefully, "Suppose we ask you to reestablish the Government. Some
of us need assurance our past acts won't be deemed treason. We've all had some
knowledge of the underground." 


Uncaring of the consequences, I flung aside my vapor-mask. "You'd bargain with
Lord God's covenant? Treason is treason! Don't ask me to condone—" 


Tolliver said, "Sir, don't you see they're trying to submit—" 
I rounded on him, my nails clawing at the sheets. "How dare you! What is your
rank?" 


"1 only—" 
"Answer!** 
"Midshipman, sir." 
I struggled to my feet, "Do middies policy? Do they question their Captains?" My


pulse pounded, "Out of the room!" 
"I'm sorry if—** 
"At once!" I waited until the door closed before sitting shakily. "Where's my


wife?" 
Avery said, "She had a panic attack in the night. She's under sedation." 
"Lord Christ," If it was a plea, it wouldn't be blasphemy. For a moment I closed


my eyes, Back to the business at and. "Knowledge of their plots is not itself
treason. But no deals; that's for politicians. The subject is closed." 



Another silence. Zack Hopewell said to the others, "I told you." 

"Stop that! If you all knew what I'd say, why hound me?" 

"You leave us few choices, boy. Submit to Laura, follow you to Lord knows whatdisgrace, or act on our own with no color of authority." 

1 waited. Casually my hand stole to the vapormask. I slipped it on. Lord God, mychest ached. 

Harmon said, "Tell him what we decided, Zack." 

"He knows." Zack Hopewell sat by my side. "What now, Captain?" His steady eyesmet mine. "We commit to you." 

I swallowed. Yesterday I was a prisoner, and now . .. "Does Triforth have anarmy?" 

"About fifty men, as best I can judge. Far more than we have. Some are atGovernor's Manse, where she's set up command. She has others running errandsaround town. She's set up a governing council; they've commandeered the publicwarehouses and taken over food distribution. Volk-steader and Palabee are with 
her." 

Harmon added, "They're well armed. They found plenty of firearms in the arsenalsyour people left behind." 

I said, "Our best chance would be a direct attack on the Manse. If we take her,
the revolution may collapse." I sat up warily, reached for my clothes. 

Sarah Branstead stirred. "Where do you think you're going? You need quiet, andmeds." 

"To the Manse." 

Dr. Avery shook his head. "Don't leave that bed. Not if you want to live." Iignored him. How could I send these men to do my work? Avery flared, "Damn it,
the meds were just taking hold! Look at your face; I'll bet your temp is upthree points in the last half hour!" 

Frederick said, "In any event we're not all that well armed, and we won't riskyour life." 

I thought of Annie, and Triforth's casual contempt. "I'm going to the Manse, ifI have only Bezrel to drive me. Come if you will, or remain behind." Ignoringthe women's presence, I threw on my clothes. The effort left me weak. 

Hopewell said, "Leave him, Frederick. It's his life to spend." For a moment Isaw Father's dim presence. "We'll take both helis, Captain. There's room for allof us." 

Alexi cleared his throat. "May I go too, Mr. Seafort?" 

I nodded, short of breath. He offered his arm. As he guided me outside to thesmaller heli, Tolliver fell in behind. 


Others piled in around us. I tried to think. She had fifty well-armed men ... Welifted off. If only the Government had destroyed the arsenals, locked themsafely away ... 

I raised my mask. "Change of plans." 
Harmon twisted in his seat. "What's the—" 
"Go to the spaceport." 
"But why—" 
"All those supplies for the Venturas..." 
His face came alight. "By God! Semi-cannons, smart grenades, shoulder missiles


..." 
Surely, Laura Triforth had remembered them too. After all, it was she who'd told


me about them. On the other hand, she'd only had a few days, and a lot to
organize. "They may be gone." 
"Or guarded." 
Grim minutes later both helis were back on the ground in front of the terminal.


Tolliver conferred with Mantiet; he took two men, circled the terminal, and
headed for the airfield. 
In a few minutes he was back. "Guards. I spotted five." 
"Can you take them?" 


"We have a dozen men, not counting yourself. If we had a diversion..." 
I tried to think. Diversion. I could manage one. "Zack, guard your heli.
Tolliver, take everyone else and work your way along the edge of the field. I'll
pilot this machine." 


"What will you do, sir?" 
I frowned at the foolish question. "Land, of course. Talk to them." 
Zack Hopewell spoke first. "They'll kill you." 
"Possibly." I spoke as little as I could. The ride had tired me more than I'd


anticipated. A dull knot in my chest refused to dissipate. "Get going." 


Tolliver looked at me, thought better of speaking. "Aye AYe, sir. I'll need
twenty minutes or so to circle the guards." He saluted. 
Bezrel swallowed. "May I go with them? I'm a good shot. I've practiced." 
I started to chuckle, had to cough instead. Finally I could speak. "When you


were ship's boy?" 
"No, sir. After I was promoted to middy. At Admiralty House. Please let me
help." He gulped, aware of the offense of arguing with a Captain. "I know I've
been no use." 



"I promised to keep you safe." 


"Yes, sir. But am I to sit out of danger while you fight? I'm a midshipman. 1
took the oath like everyone else." 
I said through the window, "Bezrel, wait with the hel—" 1 coughed


uncontrollably. When I stopped, my pants were damp and it took all my
concentration to keep my hands from trembling. I looked at the boy, said weakly,
"Give Mr. Bezrel a gun. Middy, go with the other men." 


He grew three inches. "Aye aye, sir." I couldn't bear the look in his eyes. 


Hopewell waited next to my window, rifle in hand. "I'll watch the minutes for
you." 
"Thank you." I hoped he couldn't see the stain on my pants. I breathed as deeply


as I could, trying to oxygenate. My chest burned with each breath. I closed my
eyes. 
The voice woke me. "It's half an hour." 


I flipped the switches. 
Hopewell's hand came through the window, tightened on mine. "Go in the grace of
our Lord." 


"And thee." I motioned him clear, lifted off. 
Either his benediction or my rest had succored me; the world was no longer
pulsing. I stayed low, swung away toward the road so that I could come in high.


I took altitude, swooped back to the field. Piles of supplies covered with tarps
sat on the far end of the tarmac, much as I'd seen them weeks before. 
I circled the runway on which the shuttles once landed, then headed downfield


toward the guards, who watched with weapons drawn. I tilted the heli so they
could see I was alone. 


I landed about thirty feet from the nearest piles of cargo. 
Two men came forward, their laser rifles aimed at my head. As they approached I
took several slow breaths and slipped off the vapormask. 


I sang out, "I'm Captain Seafort. I was supposed to meet a shuttle here."
Frantically I stifled a bout of coughing. 
"Shuttle? Are you glitched?" 
"The last shuttle, for the Station. They told me to meet it." 


He stared at me, then guffawed. "You're a slow one. It left four days—" 
The buzz of a bolt; he whirled in time to see a companion fall. He spun back to
me, raising the rifle. "You bast—" 



I shot him through the chest. Another guard ducked in reflex and fired. His shot
hit the heli door. Hot rivulets of metal sizzled on my shoulder. I jerked
convulsively. He aimed again. I couldn't turn far enough away to— 


He went down shrieking. Blood poured onto the tarmac from where his leg had
stood. 


Another bolt bubbled the tarmac in front of me. I thumbed the switches, willed
the blades to turn. Were my electronics hit? More ragged firing. Eons later I
had lift. I yanked back on the stick and gunned the throttle. 


I soared above the field, straining to breathe. I fumbled for the vapormask, but
it fell to the floor. 


Aloft, I watched the remaining guards go down. I held on to consciousness,
dropped the heli near a supply pile. I managed to flip the switches before I
passed out. 


I came to on my own, minutes later. My eyes bulged from the effort to breathe.
Desperately I clawed for the vapormask, found it. 


It was little help. I sat as still as I could, chest heaving, while our war
party ran across the field. 


Tolliver glanced at me and cursed. He ran to the door, reached through to the
caller. "Hopewell, respond!" 


A moment later came the reply. "Ready." 


"Get out here, fast." Tolliver didn't wait for an answer. He dashed back to the
supply piles, yanking tarps aside. He beckoned the men. "Take these!" He ran
from pile to pile until he'd found what he wanted. 


Hopewell's heli landed alongside mine; men threw in weapons with frantic haste.
Scant seconds later they climbed
aboard. Tolliver thrust me out of the pilot's seat; this time I had no
objection. Bezrel squeezed alongside me. 


We lifted off. Tolliver said tersely, "We'll have to be fast, if we want him to
see it." 


"I'll last." It came out a croak. I turned to my right. A tear trickled down
Bezrel's cheek. He looked at me, whispered, "I tried. I couldn't do it." 


"Do what?" 


"Shoot a man." His shoulders shook. 


I nodded. For me, it was all in a day's work. 


In Mantiet's small heli rode Tolliver, myself, Bezrel, Mantiet, and one of the
hands. The rest were piled in Hopewell's machine. Tolliver leaned toward me.
"Can you talk?" 


"Yes." A word at a time. 


"What do we do when we get to the Manse?" 



"Set down." Die. 
"Where?" 
"The lawn." It seemed as good a place as any. 
He looked to see if I meant it. "And then?" 
"Go inside." 
"Captain, pay attention. What do you want to do? Should I organize an attack?" 
"Land." I fought for breath. "Get me ... on my feet." If that was still


possible. "I'll go in. If they ..." I trailed off, coughing. "If they fight...
blow the Manse down." 


"You can't just walk in." 
"I'm the Government." And when I fell, the Government would be no more. Perhaps
I should put Alexi next in command. I giggled: a government with amnesia. 


It didn't matter; we were most likely flying to our doom. If even one guard had
gotten off a message during our attack ... 


"Take our men in with you," Tolliver urged. 
Hopewell would need them in the fight that would follow my death. No, it
wouldn't matter; we weren't strong enough to prevail regardless. It was too
confusing. "All right." 


We cruised over downtown, toward the Manse at the southwest edge of town. If the
Governor's house had been near the government buildings, Governor Saskrit would
be dead, and the colony under martial law. 


If I couldn't walk ... How could I make my entrance? They'd never respect me if


I crawled ... 
I slapped my leg, forcing away the mist. I would walk into the Manse. I no
longer had need to husband my strength. 


We crossed downtown. "Come in low." I thought I'd spoken loudly, but had to
repeat it before Tolliver heard. He dropped us lower, called to the other heli
to follow. 


"Mantiet." 
"Yes?" 
"Do you have ... kind of... megaphone?" 
He thought. "Actually, I do. There's a compartment under my seat." 
"I need it." 
"Right." He beckoned to the farmhand. With much swearing and grumbling the two


men managed to squeeze onto the deck while Mantiet fished in the compartment. A 



minute later he handed me a small battery-powered speaker. "The Manse is just
ahead." 
"Come in ... fast. Land ... my door facing the Manse." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"Bezrel, be ready to jump out. Get me on my feet." 
"Aye aye, sir." The boy's voice trembled with excitement. 
In the back Mantiet and his soldier checked their laser rifles. 
"Who has... shoulder missiles?" 
"Harmon." 


I nodded, too exhausted to speak. 
Tolliver dropped the heli like a stone, spinning it so my door faced the Manse.
Two guards standing on the raised porch gaped, but made no move for their arms.
Bezrel leapt out, but Tolliver was already running around the heli, brushing him
aside. He hauled me out of the seat, set me on my feet, steadied my arm. 


I shook myself loose as the larger heli came down about forty feet away. At the


drone of its motor, the guards grabbed their weapons. 
I lurched forward, croaking into the megaphone. "I'm Seafort!" The damned thing
wasn't on. I fumbled for the button. "I'm Captain Seafort, commanding!" My voic*
sounded—I'd never heard the like. "Where's Triforth? I need her." 


"You're what?" The guard hesitated, caught off balance. 
"Get Laura Triforth, you fool." I took two steps, swaying. Bezrel proffered his
shoulder. I clutched it, chest heaving. I raised the megaphone. "Is Triforth


here? I'll... wait inside." I beckoned to Hopewell and Branstead in the second
heli hoping the familiar faces of the planters would help. 
The heli door slammed. Zaek Hopewell and Tolliver toward me. From the heli


Harmon bellowed at the guards. "Don't stand there gawking! Help him! Can't you


see he's hurt?" 
The guards moved to block the door. One leveled his weapon. "Stay right there.
We'll have to call Ms. Triforth.' Reluctantly Hopewell came to a halt. 


"Nonsense!" I thrust Bezrel forward, leaning heavily on his shoulder. I reached
the first stone step. "Where's Triforth. you dolt?" 


"Prong yourself." His rifle swung to me. 
Door and guards disintegrated in an awesome flash. The shock hurled us to the
ground. Bezrel flung himself over me as debris rained. 


Feet pounded. Someone screamed orders. Men dashed past, leapt onto the shattered
porch, through the blasted door, Rifles buzzed; something crashed and
splintered. Dazed, half-deafened, I tried to sit. My chest was caught; I 



couldn't breathe, I gagged. Something salty tilled my mouth and I spit it out, I


wheezed, "Get me up!*' 
I had no strength to help; Bezrel hauled at me until I sat He strained to raise
me. Zack Hopewell took my amii lifted me. "You have no time left, son. To the
clinic." 


"When we... get Triforth," 
"Suicide is a mortal sin." 
I shook my head. "Triforth." I sucked at air. 
Frederick Mantiet dashed out of the Manse. "A dozen men. Half of them 


surrendered. The rest didn't get the chance. Her other forces are off somewhere.
How's Seafort?" 


"He's dying." Hopewell. 
"I'm all right." Fifty men ... we'd taken out three at the hauler office;
another five at the spaceport, a dozen here ... how many did that make? I
couldn't think. 


Hopewell and Mantiet carried me to the porch, set me down. Frederick said, "We
have the Manse. We can declare the Government." 
Why couldn't they understand? "Triforth." "We can—" 


I gripped his arm, "Triforth. Get our people out." "But—" 
"Now!" I tried to scream, hadn't the breath. Hopewell said soberly, "We put him
in charge. It's no time to argue." 


"But—all right." Mantiet ran back into the Manse, 


Minutes later we were crammed into the large heli, "Where?" Tolliver was at the
controls. 
"Try ... warehouses." 
We rose, leaving the shattered Manse behind, empty. 
Harmon raised his voice over the engine's drone, "It's only a mile or so. She


may even have heard the missile we fired." 


I shrugged. It could make no difference, We were locked in a fight to the death.
"Someone .,. give rue a shirt," 
"What?" 
"White, For armbands," 
"Christ, yes." Harrnon ripped at his buttons, A minute later he was ripping his


shirt into strips. "Everyone put one on," 
I gasped, "Shoot anyone ., , without one," It was all I could manage. 



"Look!" Tolliver pounded the dash. Two Naval hells were parked by the warehouse, 
"Down." Mantlet was tense, 
"Hang on.'* Tolliver swooped; my stomach churned. He asked, "Should we take out


their hell's?" 
I shook my head, "We may need .».** 
We hit the ground with a thud, bounced, Tolliver shouted, "Sorry. Move out!


Split into two groups, me and Frederick!" 
In a moment they were gone, leaving me alone and dazed, I sat, chest heaving.
Thoughts drifted to Annie, abandoned in her sedation. To Jerence Branstead, lost


in his hopeless joy of his juice. To Laura Triforth, inside with her men, if she
was indeed here. 
A blast of grenades. The firefight had begun. Should we have disabled the other


helis? If Triforth's men escaped ... 
I cursed. We'd parked near Laura's two Naval craft. If the rebels fled toward


me, they'd have their own helis and ours as well. Our party would be helpless.
Slowly, laboriously, I slid across to the pilot's seat. 
More blasts. I searched for the smoke of a shoulder missile, but saw none. What


was happening? f coughed, hung on grimly, managed not to pass out. The effort


left me feeble. 
Footsteps. I flipped the switches, started the blades turning. The door swung
open. 1 turned. "Did you get her?" 


Laura Triforth's eyes blazed. "Take us up, you son of a bitch!" Her face was
smudged, her blouse torn. 
I gaped. 


"Go, or I shoot!" 
"Right." I twisted the throttle, yanked back on the collective. We lifted
straight up. I labored to stay alive. 


She grinned, breathing hard. "I should have killed you outright." 
"Yes." 
"Well, you don't have long." 
"What did you ... put in me?" We continued to lift. 
"I countered the antirejection drugs. Take me to the Manse!" Her gun was leveled


at my chest. 
"Why ... do it?" Two thousand feet. 
"It would have been so dramatic. In fact it may still be. I'll rush you to the


clinic, just too late. The heroic Captain, last of the old order ..." Threethousand feet. 


"Why not... just shoot?" 


"And be blamed for your death? I don't need to carry that baggage. The Manse!
What are you doing?" 
"Altitude." 
"We're not flying to the Venturas, you idiot." Five thousand. I made no answer.


Her pistol leveled at my stomach. "On the other hand, I can shoot and let you


disappear. Put your damned hand on the cyclic and head for the Manse!" 
"Yes." I rehearsed. It would have to be one smooth motion. I wouldn't have 
another chance. Not her pistol; I didn't have the strength. "Why ... Manse?" 


"My men are there. You have two sec—" 
I tilted the ship, allowing myself to fall forward into the dash. It helped. My


left hand slid across to the key. I turned it, yanked it free. The engine
stopped. I flung my arm out the window. 
If the engine died while the ignition was on, the blades would autorotate. But


Naval designers assumed the pilot knew what he was doing; once the key was
removed the bearings locked, the blades feathered, providing hardly any lift. 
We dropped with sickening speed. 
"I'll kill you!" 
"Yes." 
"Give me the key!" 
I shook my head. "Shoot." 
"You'll die too!" 
I nodded. Thirty-five hundred. We spun as we fell. 
"For Christ's sake, start the engine!" 
"Throw away ... pistol." 
"I'll see you in hell first!" 
Oh, yes. She'd see me there. Two thousand. The sun circled crazily. 
"Seafort!" For the first time her voice held fear. 
I tried to speak, choked. I gasped, "Pistol." 
"We'll be killed!" 


"Pistol!" Fifteen hundred. The world spun. 
With a shriek of rage she flung the pistol past my head. "For Christ's sake, the
key!" 



I pulled my hand in, fumbled at the dash. Dizzy, I closed my eyes, felt for the
keyhole. 
"Hurry!" 


In. I jammed it to the right. I opened my eyes. One thousand. Flip the switches. 
Nothing. Off, on again. With a cough the engine caught. Five hundred. Was the
world spinning past, or was it me? I no longer knew. 


"Level out!" she screamed. Her hands braced against the dash. 
I coughed forever, swallowing salty saliva, fighting to bring the ship under
control. I'd taken us straight up; we shouldn't be far from the warehouses. They


were ... there. I swooped to the north. Next to me Laura clung to the dash,
white-faced. We dropped alongside the warehouse with a crash. 
In the cloud of dust, a feral growl. Laura Triforth's long fingers closed around


my throat. She shook me like a rag doll. 


The world hazed red. As I jounced I saw Mantict and Tol-liver racing toward us.
My hand crept to Laura's, fell away. I waited for the end. 
Abruptly Triforth yanked open the door and bolted. I sucked at air as Tolliver


gave chase. Mantiet leaned against the heli, gasping. "Five dead, on our side.


Your Naval men are alive. So's Zack." Thank Lord God. 
Tolliver tackled Triforth, swarmed atop her. He seized a shock of her hair,
raised her head off the ground. His fist slammed down. 


It was over, 


1 sat exhausted, stinking, shaking helplessly as I labored for breath. "Comm
room.** 
"What?** 
"Radios, Hookup. Where?" 
"I don't know." Mantiet thought, "Trifbrth broadcast from the Governor's Manse,


the first day," 
"Back," 
"Let us take you to the clinic,** 
"After." 
"You lunatic." His look held awe. "I'll get the others,** He ran off. 
Moments later we were again in the air, Tolliver at the controls. Dazed and


cuffed, Triforth sat in the back seat between Mantiet and Hopewell. 
"Arrest.,, Palabee and Volksteader." 
"We'll have to find them first." 



I nodded, 


When we set down they carried me into the Manse, Other
than the main entrance, little damage was visible. A few walls were scorched,
and one room... the sight was not for the squeamish. 


We found the Governor's broadcast center in the basement. I had them put me in
the swivel chair at the desk. Branstead and Mantiet cursed and fumbled with the 
switches. "Video." 


They looked up. I waved at the holocamera. Tolliver muttered, "I'll do it, but
it won't be pretty,** At first I thought he meant the focus. No, he meant me, I
must be a sight. He swung the holocamera to me, turned it on. 


Harmon looked up. "We have a tightbeam linkup with Orbit Station. The station
will beam it back down on all channels," 


"Station... is abandoned," "Their puter responds, though. Say when." Annie would
be pleased. Her Nicky on the holo. She'd hold her head high when she shopped ..,
"Mr. Seafort?*' I drifted back, "Now." The light went green, I spoke. No sound
came. 


I heaved for breath, spoke again, "This is .,, Captain Nicholas Seafort , , .
commanding . . . United Nations forces." I struggled not to cough. "On behalf
of._., lawful United .. Nations Government, 1 hereby ..," The room grayed. I at 
air. Zack Hopewcll's eyes bored into mine, ",.. declare martial law,,.
throughout Hope Nation." I had little time. The room drifted in a slow, alluring
circle, I spoke firmly into the approaching dark. ^The revolutionary... treason
has been... put down.., Triforth under arrest." 


"I do appoint... is military .., Governor of Hope Nation .,. Zachary ,.,
Hopewell, of Hopewell Plantation." I searched, found his astonished eyes. There
was more to say, 1 tried, stopped. I tried again. Chest heaving, airless, I
waved to Branstead. The broadcast lights dimmed. I reached tor a breath, found
none. "Tolliver!" It was a gasp, 


He dashed the room, I coughed endlessly. No relief
came I gagged. A mouthful of bright red liquid cascaded onto my white shirt. I
looked down, horrified, and up again at Tolliver. The room pulsed to red. 


He scooped me in his arms and ran to the waiting neli. 


CHAPTER 18 

A mask was strapped to my face. Bright lights probed, disembodied voices echoed.
"The lung's lost, he's septic as hell. Prep him fast, we operate in fiveminutes." A needle stung my arm. 

Black. 

Drifting. Misery. Lights, faces. 

Pain. 

I couldn't swallow; tubes blocked my throat. I couldn't breathe, but somethingbreathed for me. I slept, awakened, slept. 


Pain. 
Sleep. 
I awoke flat on my back, to the rushing sound of air, silence, air. My chest


inflated to the sound, and it hurt. 
"You have a hell of a constitution or you wouldn't be with us." I squinted,


focused on the floating face. Dr. Abood, of the clinic. I tried to speak,
couldn't make a sound. It frightened me and I tried to cry out. Silence. 
"We yanked what was left of your lung, sewed you up, and pumped you full of


antibiotics." 


I gestured at my mouth. I had to use my right hand; my left arm was full of drip
lines. 
"You've been on a respirator for three days. You need to start breathing on your


own. Can you try?" 
Tentatively I tried a breath. Pain lanced through my chest. 
"Work at it; we have to wean you soon. If you develop pneumonia again, it's all


over." Abruptly he left. I tried to gesture him back, hadn't the strength. My


fingernails clawed at the sheets. 
"I'm here, sir, if you need anything." Tolliver, haggard and disheveled. His
chair was alongside the bed. We were in a small cubicle, surrounded by poles,
machines, monitors. 


1 nodded, drifted off to sleep. 


When I woke Tolliver was standing over me. He'd had a change of clothes, if not


much rest. His eyes were sunken. "Good evening, sir. Try to breathe." I shook my
head. "Please, sir. The doctor says it's urgent." 
I caught the machine's rhythm, breathed ahead of it. Misery. 
"Again." 
Who was he, a middy, to tell me what to do? 1 beckoned him to leave. 
"I don't understand, sir. Write what you're trying to say," He held a pad near


my hand. 
I scrawled, "Go away." 
"Breathe on your own, sir." 
1 rapped the pad, livid with rage. 
He ignored me. 
Wild with fury I hauled at the bedrails, heaved myself into a sitting position,


ignoring the excruciating pain. I grasped his jacket, unable to spit my curses.


In a frenzy I tore at the tubes alongside the rail. The monitors clanged their 


warn* ings. Damn him in hell forever! I'd break him! I'd destroy him utterly.

I'd take us both off duty and call challenge— 
The door flew open. Dr. Abood dashed in, Tolliver stood stolidly, his faceexpressionless, while I pounded his chest, I turned to the doctor. Get the manaway from me! Why didn't he understand? I turned back to Tolliver, who stared atthe silent respirator. 

Only then did I realize I was breathing, 
"Where *s Annie?" My throat was still raw. 
"Here in the clinic, sir. Alexi—Mr. Tamarov has gone to see her. She's, ah, all


right, I guess." 
I didn't like the sound of that, "Does she talk to you?" 
Tolliver said, "Not really, sir. She's sort of dreaming. Awake and dreaming/' 
I turned my head, Annie was beyond my help, Nothing awaited me if I recovered.


Living ... didn't seem worth the bother. 


An endless series of visitors interrupted my reveries. Among them Alexi,
regarding me anxiously, saying little. I dozed. When I woke he was gone. 
Frederick Mantiet came to visit, offering encouraging words. Though we'd become


allies, I was wary in his presence. 
Not long after he left, Zack Hopewell looked in. I bade him sit. 
"The last of Palabee's men surrendered this morning." 
I grunted. Hopewell folded his hands in his lap. "Seafort, I want out of this


job, I'm no military Governor." 
"Neither was Joshua." 
"Joshua led his people to the promised land. If anything. I'm holding them back


from it." 
"Triforth's Republic wasn't the promised land." 
"I know that." His tone was sharp. "Else I wouldn't have joined you." 
"You'd have violated your oath?" 
"I'd have tended my crops!" He waved as if to banish the issue, "I swore no oath


to restore a government that had fallen." 
"Then why did you support us?" 
"Because ... hell and damnation, boy. Because there was no right. Because we're


in chaos. Because you're a just man." 
"Just!" I snorted. "You know me so little," 



He shook his head. "How little you know yourself1* He raised his voice,
overriding my reply. "Palabee and Volk-steader demand to be released. Triforthinsists on a civil trial," 

"Have them all sent for interrogation, Mantiet too," 
"Frederick? He helped you!" 
"He renounced his confession." Could it matter any longer? I brushed away the


thought, "I want to know the truth." 
He answered, "And I want Palabee and Volksteader tried or released." 
"After interrogation. Anyway, 1 should be out of here in a couple of days. We'll


see." For the first time Hopewell smiled. "I'm glad for that," 
"Thank you." I lapsed silent. My convalescence was troubling. The pain meds


helped, but I felt alone, isolated. Dutifully I did my breathing exercises and
walked slowly in the hallway. From time to time I stopped at Annie's room. 
Alexi visited with me, chatted awkwardly. Harmon Branstead brought Jerence to


see me, but kept a stern eye on him throughout. 
Tolliver came. I hadn't seen him for several days. I glowered. 
"I'm sorry if I was, er, unsympathetic when you had the tube in your throat. But


when you lay there as if you were giving up, I wanted to tear out that
respirator, make you breathe." He turned away from my gaze. 
"Damn you, Tolliver, why can't you let me hate you as 1 want?" 


He turned back, startled. "I thought you did, sir." 
"I've yearned for nothing more than an excuse to cashier you." My face reddened
at the admission. 


"Will you?" 
"I can't. There's no one to take your place." 
"Yes, sir." 
I relented. "And I don't want to replace you. Continue as my aide." 
He blurted, "You mean that?" 
Astonished, I could only stare. He stammered, "I'm sorry, sir. Thank you. I


mean—thank you." 


"Find me a place to sleep when I'm well. We'll reopen Admiralty House and work
from there." 
"Aye aye, sir. What will we do?" 
"I don't know yet." I sat back on my bed. "Dismissed, Mr. Tolliver." 
His salute was crisper than his first. "Aye aye, sir." 



"Now do you believe me?" Frederick Mantiet sat in front of the Manse, head in
hands, shielding his eyes from the bright sun. 


I knew what he was feeling. It would pass. "Yes." 
"So ... I worked to establish a republic. Are you going to try me like Palabee
and Volksteader?" 


"No." 
"Why not?" 
A workman mortared a stone into the porch. "With you it was just words. You


didn't take overt action, even if you kept yourself informed of the plot against
us." 


"Words can be treason." 
"Are you baiting me, Frederick? In any event you redeemed yourself." The porch
was nearly complete, though it would be many years before it aged to the patina
of the foundation. I wondered if the Manse would be standing then, or whether
the fish would have dropped another, more destructive rock. 


"If I'm free, I suppose I should go home. I have to set matters right." 
"Or you could stay and help us. Would you care to join the Government?" 
"No." He rubbed his eyes. "Not your Government; I'm opposed to it. And anyway, I


don't have the personality. I'm too abrasive." 
So was I, but I was saddled with the job. The Admiral's words had been, "Carry


on. You're in charge." Soon Catalonia would arrive. It had been—how long?—two
days since I'd left the hospital, Dr. Abood's admonishments ringing in my ears. 
"Captain, when will you hold the trials?" 
"I don't know, Frederick. Mrs. Volksteader is coming to see me in a few minutes,


and Palabee wants to talk also. Then I'll decide." 
"We planters are the foundation of Hope Nation." 
"But treason is treason." I stood, shading my eyes as I peered into the sun. "Is


that her heli?" 
"Looks like it. I'll leave you alone." 
I straightened my tie, smoothed my hair while the Volk-steaders' heli landed. It


felt good to be in uniform again, though my shirt rasped against my sensitive
chest. Thanks to daily bone-growth stimulation my ribs were fast healing, but my
skin was still tender. 


When the blades floated to a stop Mrs. Volksteader climbed out. Sarah Branstead
followed. 1 hadn't expected her. The discussion might be awkward. 



We greeted each other civilly, shook hands, found seats on the rebuilt porch.
Leota Volksteader got to the point. "It's not fair of you to hold Arvin. Let himgo." 

I temporized. "What is your role in this, Mrs. Branstead?" 

She shook her head firmly. "Oh, no. When we last met it was 'Sarah.' Nothing
changes that." 
I smiled. "Thank you. Still, why are you here?" 
"The Volksteaders are good friends. I wanted to come, and Harmon approves." 
"Arvin acted unwisely, Mrs.—er, Sarah. He became involved with treason." 
Leota Volksteader raised her hands. "We've never been political. We're not among


the biggest plantations or the most developed. We can't afford to offend anyonein power. Your Government collapsed, and Laura said she was declaring arepublic. If we'd refused to attend, she'd have remembered and held it againstus. What were we to do?" 

I shook my head. "Arvin took part in their meetings, let the plotters use his
haulers and equipment, gave them aid and comfort." 
"Which is no more than we did for you! How can you be so ungrateful?" 
I said, "What are you talking about?" 
Sarah Branstead said, "I was there, Mr. Seafort, Surely you haven't forgotten." 


"Ladies, I—" I searched the haze of my memories. "You'll have to explain." 
"You visited the Bransteads," Leota said, "With your lieutenant Mr, Tamarov, As
we were leaving, I took you aside so Arvin could talk to him. Don't you recall?" 


I did, vaguely. "Go on." 


"Arvin and I had decided it was best to speak privately with your officer. That
way, the conversation would be unofficial, so you could deny it if need be." 
"What did Arvin tell him?" 
"Don't pretend you don't know. Arvin said to watch out for Laura, that she was


going to move against you. Your man said he'd tell you right away. And then you


left, and—and—" 
"Laura blew up the hauler," Sarah Branstead finished. "And nearly killed our
son." 


My hand tightened on the chair. The explosion. Eddie 


Boss, his arm broken, hauling Alexi out of the shattered car. "He never told
me," I said slowly. 
"For heaven's sake, why not?" 



"Jerence was with us. Alexi wanted to speak but I told him to wait." Alexi'scoma, his amnesia, were my fault, then. I'd prevented him from doing his duty. Ilay back, suddenly weak. Take this burden from me, Lord. Don't let me hurtanyone else. 

"What a fiasco," Sarah said slowly. Her hand squeezed my arm. "How you mustfeel, Captain." 

I looked up to her. "If you knew Ms. Triforth blew up the hauler, what wasHarmon doing on the dais with her?" 

Sarah said fiercely, "Do you think we knew then that it was Laura? I'd havekilled her myself! If you don't believe that, send me to interrogation! Leotaonly told us last week, when she asked our help for Arvin." 

"Still, why was Harmon there? He was committing treason." 

"You can't believe that, or you'd arrest him too. We're like the Volksteaders,
not big enough to fight the government. We had to go along with Triforth, atleast for the time being." 

A young aide brought us lemonade from the Manse; I sipped the cold drink andwaited until he'd left. "Harmon switched sides, though." It was too confusing.
"I'll think it over. There's no point in talking further," 

l4;ota persisted, "Will there be a trial?** 

"There doesn't have to be. Not under martial law," 

"You'd let him go?" 

Sarah took her arm, "That's not what he means," she said gently, "Leave it be.
He'll do right." 

"But—" Protesting, Leota Volksteader let Sarah quiet her. She said her good-byesand left, 

I sipped at lemonade in the hot summer sun and considered whether to slaughterher husband. 

CHAPTER 19 

Tolliver, Bezrel, and I reopened Admiralty House. I decrypted the puters whileTolliver fussed in the mechanical room resetting the climate controls. In thetwo weeks since we'd left, the place had acquired a disused look, a dank andmusty atmosphere. Perhaps I only imagined it. 

We established comm links with Orbit Station. William, in his impersonal manner,
confirmed every few hours that he had nothing new to report. When our shipsFused home, the remaining fish had disappeared within hours. 

Annie languished in the clinic, unable to emerge from her daze. Our name came upfor an apartment, and I had her moved the same day. Emmett Branstead found anurse to stay with her. 

Meanwhile, Zack Hopewell struggled with the details of government. By now thestreets were cleared, and crews were demolishing or shoring weakened buildings. 


As before, looters were shot, but few were found. Hopewell and I met each day,

and faced a similar question: what now? 
At Admiralty House I settled myself in the anteroom where Lieutenant Anton hadpresided, and before him Lieutenant Eiferts. No need now for a formal office.
Bezrel ran errands for Tolliver and me, not the least of which was to bring usour meals. Though we had use of the softie dispenser and micro, I preferredgetting our dinners at the terminal restaurant. For their part, the caf6 wasglad of the business, now that the fleet was gone. 

Tolliver interrupted my reverie. "Captain, will you take a call from the jail?" 
I looked past my feet propped on my desk. "Who, and 
why?" 
"You agreed to see Mr. Palabee today, and they want to know where." 
I sighed. "At the Manse." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"Make it after dinner." 
Tolliver could pilot me, or I could go myself. I'd reserved one Naval heli for


our own use and loaned the others back to the civilian transport grid. Alexi had


returned to his job, but kept his caller with him. I'd made sure of that. 
My console lit; calls that previously would have been taken in our comm roomwent to me now. I flipped on the speaker. "Orbit Station to Admiralty House,
please respond." 

"Yes?" 
"Good afternoon, Captain Seafort." William's solemn voice. 
I blurted, "The fish?" 
"No, Captain. Please stand by for a patch from a U.N.N.S. vessel." 
"A ship? They've all sailed home." 
"Stand by, please. Catalonia, go ahead." 
I swung my chair around, dropping my feet to the floor, wincing at the


unexpected pain. I still wasn't ready for sudden movements. "Seafort here." 
"Catalonia. Captain Herbert Von Tilitz." 
"Nicholas Seafort, sir. I believe you are senior to me." 
"Yes." I remembered him as brisk, humorless, efficient. "You're groundside?" 
"Yes, sir. At Admiralty House." 



"We caught Admiral De Marnay's beacon. He said to pick you up. Do you have a
shuttle, or should I send one down? We've seen no fish but I want to be out of
here as soon as possible." 


"We've no shuttles at Centraltown, but I understand there's one in the Venturas,
sir." 
"How many am I retrieving?" 


"Five, sir." 
"I'll send a shuttle down. I won't moor Catalonia at the Station; that's too
risky. We'll approach near enough to send a gig over. Their puter will open for
us and we'll take one of their smaller craft." 


"Yes, sir. When?" A ship for home. Derek Can. Peace. 
"Figure ..." He hesitated. "We'll get the shuttle tonight,
but I'd rather land in daylight. We don't have an experienced shuttle pilot.


Make it... 0700. That will give you time to pack." Was he joking? No, it
couldn't be. 
"Seven A.M. local time, sir. We'll be at the spaceport." 
"Very well." His tone was dry. "This time don't miss your ride. There won't be


another." 
"I know, sir." We rang off. I bellowed, "Tolliver!" 
He raced in, alarmed. "Yes, sir?" 
I stood. "We're going home." 
He stared, puzzled, until his eyes lit. "Catalonia?" 
"Yes. In the morning." 
"What a zark! Yes!" He slapped the leather chair in an outburst of joy, A side


of him I hadn't known. 
"Where's Bezrel?" 
"I sent him for dinner, sir. He'll be back in a few—" 
"After that, he's not to leave the building. Call the Manse; have them bring


Annie and her nurse here in a heli tonight. Call Alexi. Tell him I order him
back at once." 
"Aye aye, sir. If the shuttle's not landing 'til morning—" 
"At once. We'll spend the night here together." 
"Aye aye, sir. What about Palabee, sir?" 
Let Palabee be dam— No. "Have him brought here instead of the Manse." 
Home. Thank you, Lord God, Though I don't deserve Your mercy, my companions do. 



I sat making notes. I'd turn over civilian control to Hopewell unless CaptainVon THitz ordered otherwise, I'd have to ask his agreement; he was senior now,
Reclose Admiralty House, say good-bye to Harmon, take down the flag— 

Harmon, I'd made him a promise, I sighed. After seeing Palabee, I'd send forJerence, And what if Von THite refused to take a civilian? I'd never consideredthat the decision might not be mine. Well, I'd given my word, I'd bring Jerencewithout telling Von TUitz beforehand. He wouldn't take the time to return theboy, though he'd take his ire out on me afterward. No matter, 

Derek Carr would be aboard. 1 wondered if he had come to hate me as much as Vax. 
That evening I paced my office, wondering when dinner would arrive, until I


recalled that I'd eaten it an hour before. For the life of me I could not 
remember what it had been. "Tolliver, where's Palabee?" 
"They'll be here at eight, sir. As we arranged." 
I bit back an angry reply. Knowing my nerves were taut, Alexi and Bezrel managed


to stay out of my way. 


When the guards arrived, I made sure Tolliver had his pistol, ordered Palabee
released from his fetters. He looked worn and tired, 
"Well?" 
His fingers drummed on the conference table. JI don't know where to begin. Have


you decided on a trial?" 
"I think so," If Hopewell would go through with it, after I was gone. 
"For my life?" 
"Treason is a capital charge," 
"I don't think I committed treason, Captain,*1 
"You rebelled against the Gov—" 
"Was there a government to rebel against?" He eyed me steadily, "As Lord God is


my witness, I didn't think you left us one. Your people vanished without notice,
leaving no—" 
"The civilian administration was intact," 
"Bureaucrats." 


"You're quibbling. In any event—" 
Tolliver skidded into the doorway. "Captain, come now!" He didn't bother to
salute. "Quick!" 


As bizarre as Tolliver was, even he wouldn't summon me in that manner unless it
was vital. "Watch Palabee," I told the guard as I left. 
Tolliver was at the console, "Listen!" 



"We got two of them. Three more aft." Von Tilitz, on Catalonia, his voice taut.
"Plotting Fusion coordinates. Orbit Station, relay to Seafort. We're under heavyattack, we'll have to get out—MIDSHIPS LASERS, FIRE AT WILLr 

"Orbit Station to Admiralty House, please resp—" 
"Seafort, I heard him. How many fish, William?" 
"Three at his stern, two more tmidships. Two more Defused between Catalonia and


the station; I destroyed them,** 
"Catalonia, do you—" 
"We're about to—Christ! Fire at will, all I have six


fish. We're going to—" Alarm bells clanged. Von Tilitz's voice sharpened.
"Partial decompression! They're on our tubes, we can't Fuse. Maxwell, how farare we from the atmosphere? God damn them! Get the lifepods off, then! Abandon—" 

Silence. 
I shouted, "William, relay!" 
"There's nothing to relay, sir." 
"Where'sCflta/oma?" 
"Three point six two kilometers off my east lock, Captain. She has three fish


astern, two at port. I see two ... now three lifepods accelerating from the
ship. Approximate entry to atmosphere twenty-two minutes. No further signals
from Catalonia. Her laser fire has ceased." 


Oh, Derek. Lord God save you, and all others aboard. I cried, "Fire on the
fish!" 
"They're too close; my laser fire would hit the ship. I judge it inadvisable." 


"If they break through her hull—" 
"One lifepod under attack. Veering away. I am firing at fish approaching pod."
William was as calm as if delivering a stores report. "Fish has thrown at pod.
Pod is disintegrating. Fish is hit. Fish is spewing material, presumed
destroyed." 


A faint signal. "Mayday, Mayday! U.N.S. Catalonia escape vessels to anyone! We
are entering atmos ..." The static increased. 


"William, where will they land?" 
"Calculating. Landing likely in Venturas, but fuel capacity of lifepods great
enough to reach Eastern Continent. Actual fuel on board lifepods not known." 


"Relay any signals from the pods." 
"I will do that." 
"Are fish still around Catalonia?" 



"Yes, Captain. Five," 

"Fire at Catalonia and the fish." By now it was unlikely anyone on board wasstill alive. 
"I cannot fire at a U.N.N.S warship, Captain. My prime instructions do not allow

that." 
"There's no one left on Cataloniar 
"She's still a U.N. vessel." 
My mind raced. "William, who is senior officer in Hope Nation system?" 
The reply was immediate. "You are, Captain." 
"Very well. Record. I do hereby decommission U.N.S. Catalonia. I order you to—" 
"Firing at aliens with all lasers that bear. One fish down! Another is Fusing.


Another hit. A third also. Remaining fish Fused." 
Why weren't the lifepods signaling? The heat of the atmosphere would sear off
their antennas, so they couldn't send further signals. If her crew carried


callers, they'd contact us after they set down. Without callers ... And would
they find level ground to land? There wasn't much of it in the Venturas. 
I yelled, "Tolliver!" 
He jumped. "Jesus, I'm right here, sir!" 
"Don't blaspheme. Pull all our helis out of the transport grid. I want them


ready to search for the lifepods at first light." 
"Aye aye, sir. Where?" 
"Along the eastern seacoast for now. The crew will know enough to aim for


Centraltown. If they don't sight survivors, have them fan out over the ocean
toward the Venturas." 
"Aye aye, sir." 
"God damn those fish!" 
Soberly he nodded. "Amen." 
"Get Bezrel!" 


A minute later the boy rushed in, breathless. "Midshipman Bez—" 
"Wake Lieutenant Tamarov. I want you both on watch in the comm room. All
frequencies. Report any signal other than local traffic." 


"Aye aye, sir!" 
I pounded my desk in frustration. I had no men, no equipment. There was little
more I could do. 



I spent the night the comm room with Alexi and the boy, straining to hearnonexistent signals through the static. By dawn I was bleary with exhaustion. Bymidmorning I was drowsing despite vast quantities of coffee. 

We'd heard nothing. Three Naval helis with civilian pilots searched forsurvivors. Tolliver volunteered—begged—to go, but I forbade it. I'd need himwith me if the lifepods were found. 

Noon came and went. I summoned Hopewell. I also rang Harmon Branstead. Then,
deciding I couldn't show favoritism, I called Mrs. Palabee, Mrs. Volksteader,
Lawrence Plumwell, manager of Carr Plantation, and others among the minorplanters. 

We met at Admiralty House, around the conference table I'd grown to loathe. Hadgood news ever reached me at this table? 

I waited impatiently for coffee to make the rounds, opened the meeting. "Asyou've no doubt heard, Catalonia was destroyed last night." Derek was dead.
Later I'd find time to mourn. "Lord God's mercy on them." Sarah Branstead's eyesbrimmed. 

"Amen. It's clear now that the fish are attracted by Fusion. But more important,
they've returned to Hope Nation system. Orbit Station's puter is active and itdestroyed several fish after they attacked Catalonia" 

A moment of silence while they digested the news. "What now?" Plumwell. 

Zack Hopewell stirred. "We're in the hands of Lord God. There's not much we cando. We have no ships, no lasers—" 

"So much for your damned Navy," Plumwell said bitterly. "All your blundering,
your supply fiascos ... when there's trouble, you turn tail and ran." 

"Enough," snapped Hopewell. "Captain Seafort didn't." 

"He would have if he'd been able. He was on his way to—" 

"I said enough!" 

I cleared my throat. "That will get us nowhere. We have two choices. Carry onand hope the fish leave us alone, or send a party to the Venturas Base and seeif their lasers can be reactivated." 

Sitenbough, a plump young settler from west of the Triforth estate. "What goodwill their lasers do us, halfway across the planet?" He sounded peevish. 

"Between Orbit Station and the Venturas Base, we may be able to get a crossfireon any aliens that approach." 

Harmon Branstead said, "Would it help? The fish Defuse above us ready to attack.
How much warning had we of the rock they dropped?" 

"Very little. I said reopening the Venturas Base was an option." I pondered.
"Manning the lasers would take at least a dozen men. We'd need civilianvolunteers," 


A rancorous discussion followed. In the end, the planters' consensus was toleave the fish alone, and hope they would do likewise to us. Hopewell, seeing myrestlessness, brought the meeting to a close. 

Afterward he and I sat in the anteroom, sipping coffee brought to us by theubiquitous Bezrel. 

"It's only a matter of time," I said. "They'll be back." 

He nodded agreement. "There's another option you didn't raise." I cocked aneyebrow, waiting. "Send a couple of men to check the base, to see what it wouldtake to reopen it. That might save some time in an emergency," 

I should have thought of it myself, "Very well. I'll do that." I glanced at mywatch. "There's still time to get there in daylight. I'll lake Tolliver andBezrel," 

"Are you well enough?" 

"Of course," Short of breath from time to time, but on the whole, much improved,
I should have let them yank my lung months ago. 

While Tolliver readied one of the Naval helis, I stopped at our new apartment tosee Annie. The flat was only a few blocks from Admiralty House, yet I'd spent nomore than two nights there since we'd moved in. 

"How are you feeling, love?" I took her hand. She pulled it free. 

"It's sunny," She stared vaguely at the trampled flower beds bordering theapartment. Across the room the nurse sat reading, 

"Would you like to take a walk?" 

She shook her I wondered if she'd herself, or whether the nurse had helped.
At times she roused herself from her lethargy; more often she sat passivelywhile she was groomed. 

I tugged at her arm. "A walk would do us good." No response. "The doctor said Ineed exercise. I hate to walk alone. Should I forget it?" A nerve throbbed in mycheek. 

Slowly, as if in a dream, she got to her feet. "We take a walk now," she toldthe nurse. She went to the door, waited as if expecting it to open by itself. 

Together, we strolled around the block. "I'm going on an overnight trip," I toldher. 

She stopped. "You comin' back?" 

I took her hand, squeezed it. "Of course." 

"It be okay, den." She seemed to lose interest. 

I drowsed in the back seat while Tolliver flew. As a treat for Bezrel, I hadTolliver give him an elementary flying lesson while we crossed Fan-each Ocean.
Flushed with excitement, the middy struggled to keep the heli level at twothousand feet whiJe TolJiver's hand hovered over the cyclic. Long before we 


reached shore I switched places into the copilot's seat. As we neared theVenturas I scanned the distant shoreline, hoping against hope to spotCatalonia'& life-pods. We'd heard no radio signals; either the crew was withoutcallers or they were all dead. Derek Carr's lean, aristocratic face drifted pastthe window. Did it hint of reproach? I wasn't sure. Ghosts do not often speak. 

"Unidentified aircraft, turn back at once! Do not approach!" 
"Lord Jesus!" Tolliver banked the heli at a stomach-wrenching angle and soared


away from the land. He stared at the caller as if at a spirit. "Who was that?
The base is abandoned!" 
"Apparently not." I reached for the caller. "Venturas Base, this is Naval heli


two five seven Alpha." 
"Unidentified aircraft, turn back at once! We have you in range and will fire!" 
Tolliver flipped switches, readied our missile defense. Our heli was well armed,


but countermissiles would do little good against groundside lasers, "Sir, they


have radar con-tart." 
"I see that," I snapped. "Venturas, this is Captain Nicholas E. Seafort,
Commander at Admiralty House. We're here on—" 


"By standing orders of Commandant Eiferts, no ship may approach our airspace!


This is your final warning." 
Were they insane? I tapped my personal code into the heli's puter, set it to
transmit. 


"We will fire in ten sec—" 
I snarled, "Who the hell do you think you are?" 
Tolliver blanched. I ignored him. "Put Eiferts on line and flank, or he'll be


out on his ear like Khartouf! Move!" 
"He's not—he's in another building. I'm sorry, but I have standing—" 
"Countermanded! Call Eiferts or you'll see a drumhead court-martial!" 
No response. We watched the alarm indicators. "Stay on course for the base." 
"But—" Tolliver swallowed. "Aye aye, sir." 
Nothing, for three long minutes. Then the speaker crackled. "Eiferts here.


Identify yourself." 


"Nicholas Ewing Seafort, Captain, U.N.N.S., commanding all forces groundside and
aloft." There were no forces, but it was a grand title. 
"Seafort is gone. It's a good imitation, and you deciphered his code, but—" 
"Damn it, Eiferts, I thought you said you knew how to obey orders. Turn off your


lasers!" 
For the first time he sounded hesitant. "Captain?" 



"Captain. And you're a lieutenant." 

"You went to the station with the others two weeks ago, sir." 

My body began to relax; though he might not know it yet, he'd accepted that Iwas myself. "I missed the shuttle. So did Tolliver; he's here with me." 

A long silence. "Come in high, directly over the field. Don't use radar. We'llkeep our lasers trained on you, and at the first sign of trouble we'll fire." 

I growled, "Acknowledged." What was the matter with the man? Tolliver shot me aworried look, but maintained our course. 

I held my breath as we neared the field. Tolliver brought us directly over thetop at three thousand feet, dropped us down slowly. I peered down to see theadministration building, the thick-walled shuttle hangar, the parade ground. 

We touched down in the center of the field. I opened my door. "Let them see mefirst." I tugged at my jacket, ran my fingers through my hair. I growled atTolliver's amusement, but a glance at the mirror showed me the futility of myefforts. Though my uniform was neat, my eyes were deep sunken in hollow cheeks,
and my scar flamed vividly. 

Two soldiers approached, laser rifles at the ready. As they neared I recognizedone of them. "Good evening, Sergeant, ah, Trabao." 

He lowered his rifle, snapped a quick salute. "It's him," he told his mate.
"Kinda surprised to see you,'* he said. 

"And you. They said you were all to be evacuated." 

"Long story, sir. Your officers may come with us," I chose to view it as aninvitation rather than a command, and beckoned to my two midshipmen. 

We reached the dirt roadway, where Eiferts was waiting. He asked cautiously, "Inwhat capacity are you here, sir?" 

"As senior Naval representative in Hope Nation. As commander of the militarygovernment at Centraltown," 

"And the, er, Republic?" 

"No longer exists." 

He regarded me and slowly came to attention. "Lieutenant Saul Eiferts reporting,
sir. Base Commandant," 

"As you were." I continued past him to the Commandant's office. "Privatesession. Now." 

He no sooner snapped the office lights on than I exploded, "What the hell isgoing on? Why aren't you on your way home?" "Admiral De Marnay sent shuttles totake the men aloft. I volunteered to stay." "Why?" Unbidden, he sat at his desk,
"My fiancee Jeanne—did you ever meet her?" My tone was scathing. "You stayed tobe near your woman?" "In a way." As if ashamed, he stared at the desk. "I—" 


"Your duty was aboard ship with the Admiral, not hanging around like alovesick—" 

His quiet voice sliced through my reproach. "She worked downtown. They neverfound her. The building was vaporized." 

Crimson, I turned to the window. At length I muttered, "I'm a fool. Pleaseforgive me." 

"We were to be married. I hoped my enlistment would expire while we were stillin Hope Nation, otherwise I intended to come back for her. She had a youngerbrother. He wasn't found either." 

"I'm terribly sorry. Say what you'd like; I deserve it." 

"You didn't understand." His voice was quiet, saddened, but not reproachful.
"When the Admiral told me we were pulling out it seemed—I wanted to stay. Withthe fleet gone, the Station's puter and our lasers are the only protection HopeNation had left." 

"Trabao? The others?" 

"I asked for volunteers. He was the first; the rest came after." 

"How many men have you?" 

"Eleven, sir. Not enough, really, but we manage. We maintain laser watch, runthe power grid, and cook meals. Nothing else gets done." 

I sat, decided I could face him if I tried. "Why not tell Centraltown, Mr,
Eiferts? Why threaten to shoot us down?" 

"Hours after the last shuttle lifted we heard Ms. Tri-forth's broadcast 
proclaiming the Republic. It's not—" He hesitated, "It's not that I'm dead setagainst a republic, sir. We deserted them, and if that's what they want, ., Butwe're not here to get into local politics. We're a U.N^A.F. installationdefending the continent, I won't ask them for help, and I won't let them divertour arms for their local fight," 

I nodded, 

"Anyway, Centraltown is outside our defense grid. I'm on the station circuit;
anything it sees, 1 see. Between us we have the planet's only operating lasercannon." 

"I'm surprised the rebels didn't seize them." 

"Triforth sent a heli the second day. We took it down." He bit his lip. "Withoutwarning." 

"Why?" 

"It wasn't a Naval craft, sir. I wasn't taking chances. Today, your ship wastransponding Naval codes." 

I recalled my sneers, my sarcasm of moments before. Again I reddened. "You're agood man, Mr. Eiferts." 


"Thank you." He hesitated "What happened to you, sir? You look, urn—" 

I looked um, all right. Very um. "1 lost a lung. I'm all right now." Just shortof breath. At least now I knew the reason, and it was no longer life-
threatening. 

"Would you like to see the laser control setup?" 

HFve seen—yes." If he wanted to show me, it was the least I could do. 

Outside, Tolliver was waiting. Eiferts took a closer look, "LieutenantTolliver?" 

"Yes, sir. Midshipman Tolliver now," 

"How did that—" He broke off. It was none of his business. 

I expected a long walk as before, but Eiferts summoned a carrier. Perhaps myappearance had something to do with it. I bade Tolliver wait with Bezrel, thenEiferts and 1 careened across the Held to the laser control building. The lasercannon themselves were on a rise far across the base. 

As he'd said, Eiferts hadn't enough men, but they managed. I vowed I'd send himhelp when I got back, if I had to conscript raw recruits. After the laserbuilding, we visited the power plant, where electricity for the lasers wasgenerated. They hadn't enough men to bring power online to the remaining lasers,
as we'd intended. Somehow, we would have it done. Somehow. 

He started back to the administration building. "Will you stay the night, sir?" 

"I really should get—" Well, I didn't like flying by night, especially as we'dhave to put down in the ocean if anything went wrong. "All right. We'll leavefirst thing in the morning." 

I briefed Bezrel and Edgar as we walked to the hall. 

Tolliver's look was grim. "Mr. Eiferts' done a miracle keeping the base going,
but he needs more staff." I nodded. 

Dinner was heated U.N.A.F. rations; they could spare no one for more elaboratefare. We ate in near silence, crowding around two long tables. 

After, they showed me to my room. I undressed, rolled onto my bed, and sleptlike a log. 

CHAPTER 20 

Over breakfast I conferred with Eiferts while Tolliver and Bezrel concentrated 
on their oatmeal and coffee. 

"First priority is getting power to your lasers." 

He nodded. "And perhaps more men would ease the strain. Not too many, though. Wehave no time to train them." 


I agreed, my mind still on the power lines. It would have been so easy, while
Khartouf had a fully manned base. 
"Do you think they'll ever come back?" 
I groped for what I had missed. "You mean the fleet?" 
"Yes, sir." 


I stared into my coffee cup, wondering whether to tell him the truth. 
"They must," he answered himself. "They'll have to bring reinforcements. Hope
Nation is too valuable to lose." 


I swallowed my doubts. "Of course. Our job is to keep things going until then." 


His smile was wan. "1 wonder, lying alone at night. But then I remind myself
that the U.N. couldn't desert its own colony." 
My eyes strayed to the clock. "I'm afraid we should be leaving." 
"Of course, sir. I'll walk you to your heli." 
Bezrel and Tolliver jumped to follow. I paused at the heli door. "I've appointed


Zack Hopewell military Governor. There's no reason your presence shouldn't be
made public." 
"No, sir. Unless ..." 


He lapsed into silence. I prompted, "Yes?" 
"Unless the Government falls. You and these two midshipmen are the only other
Naval personnel on the planet. The only true link with home." 


I debated. "Better we keep it quiet, at least for now." 


"As you say, sir." We shook hands after his salute. I climbed in and we lifted
off. 
Tolliver, perhaps because of his earlier silence, was in a talkative mood.


"Quite a difference from our last visit, Captain." 
"Yes." 
"The base is nearly deserted, but still..." He paused for thought. "It's


something hard to define. They've abandoned their spit and polish, but they're
more ,.. determined." We crossed the shoreline, headed east over the ocean. 


I'd noticed the same, but hadn't thought much about it, 
"I'd volunteer for duty there, if you wish." He was suddenly attentive at the
controls. 


I regarded him. "You, Mr. Tolliver? I never thought of you as an idealist." 
"I'm not, sir. It's just that I=" 



"Venturas to Naval heli two five seven Alpha, come in." 

"You certainly sound like one." I took the caller. "Seafort here." 

"Eiferts. Orbit Station has seven fish! Their puter is firing its lasers." Hisvoice betrayed his tension. 

"William? Put him on." 

"He's alphanumeric, sir, direct to our puter. I can forward—Christ, anotherfive! We're powering up. I'll have a shot for two more hours. Then they horizonout." 

"Turn back!" I shook Tolliver's arm. "Now." 

Eiferts said, "Captain, do you think you should go on? You'd be over the oceanif—" 

"I'm on my way back, ETA seven minutes. We'll come in low and fast. Move it,
Tolliver!" 

I gripped the dash, biting back unnecessary advice. When the field appeared overthe perimeter hill I breathed a sigh of relief. 

I ran from the heli to the administration building, had to stop for breath. Whydidn't I have more wind? 

Tolliver passed me, dashed up the steps and inside, A moment later he was back,
"No one here, sir. They're probably in the laser control building," 

Of course. Where else? I looked around for a carrier, found none. "Let's go!" 

It would have been faster to get in the heli and hop, even for so short adistance. The few hundred yards along the dusty road left me gasping for breath,
though Tolliver and Bezrel had no trouble whatsoever. Jogging; I must take upjogging. 

Red-faced, sweating, I arrived at the laser building, ran past the carrierparked in front. An enlisted man met me inside. "Over there, sir, in the controlroom." He pointed. 

Inside I half expected a huge simulscreen, as on a bridge. Instead, I saw threetechs poring over their consoles. Eiferts leaned over one's shoulder, pointingat the screen. 

"Well?" 

He didn't bother to salute. "We're powered. William's feeding us data for ashot; his long-range sensors are more sensitive than ours." 

One console screen flashed coordinates, which were fed directly to the lasercannon. The other, set to alphanumeric, detailed the situation for us merehumans. 

I scrolled back to read snippets of the dispatches. "ORBIT 


STATION TO U.N.A.F. VENTURAS BASE. CONFIRMED ALIEN SIGHTING, DISTANCE POINT FOURKILOMETERS. LASER FIRE TO COMMENCE. SIX ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS. DISTANCES VARY,
TWENTY-FIVE METERS TO POINT EIGHT KILOMETERS ..." I 
scrolled. "THREE ALIENS CONFIRMED DESTROYED, COORDINATES AS FOLLOWS ..." Iflipped to real-time printout. 

"LEVEL 2, SECTION FOUR LASER DISABLED. ATTACKING FISH WAS DESTROYED." 

"Targeted." Samuels, one of our techs. "Fire!" Eiferts. The lights dimmed. 

"TWO ADDITIONAL FISH DESTROYED, COORDINATES TO FOLLOW. ANOTHER FISH DESTROYED BYGROUNDSIDE FIRE. MORF RSH FUSED INTO NEARBY SPACE, COORDINATES ZERO, NINETEEN,
FIVE ..." 

William was under heavy attack, but why? Hitherto, the fish had virtuallyignored the Station. 

"Change targets, man. Hurry." Eiferts. 

A few days ago the Station had fired on the fish that attacked Catalonia. Somewere destroyed, others had Fused away. Did the fish communicate amongthemselves? they know the Station was now an enemy? 

"Fire!" Eiferts gripped the back of the console chair. I approached him. "Can wehelp?" 

"My radarmen are on the long-distance sensors. Can you take local radar?" 

"Tolliver!" 

"Aye aye, sir. Which console?" 

Eiferts pointed. "There. You know how to operate ground radar?" 

"Of course, sir." It was a foolish question; we all did. Eiferts's nerves wereshowing. 

Tolliver huddled over his screen. Bezrel stood nearby, knuckles in his mouth. Icuffed them away. "Go help Mr. Tolliver, boy. Act like an officer." 

"Yes, si—aye aye, sir." 

Well, my nerves were showing too. It couldn't be helped. I paced from screen toscreen. Our lasers got off careful, laborious shots; each had to be reconfirmedto make sure we didn't hit the Station, as the fish were extremely close to it. 

Tolliver had activated two screens, local and midrange. He sat at the one, hadBezrel watching the other. Between them they covered the approaches to VenturasBase. I gave their consoles an occasional glance and moved on. With the Republicoverthrown, no one from Centraltown was likely to bother us. 

Hours passed in an agony of frustration. From groundside we could do little.
Perhaps if the base had been fully operational, if the fusion generators werefully on-line, if the fleet were here to call our shots ... 


As the day passed William disposed of fish with calm efficiency, but at anygiven time a score of them were Fusing in and out of the Station's range. ShouldI alert Centraltown? Was the risk worth the ensuing panic? 

"Captain, look!" 

I whirled. 

Tolliver fiddled with the magnification, jabbed his finger at a blip.


"Something's descending." 
"A rock?" 
"Too slow." 
"Where?" 
"East. It's just entered the ionosphere." 
"I'll check." I ran to the main console, grabbed the caller. "Captain Seafort to


Station, respond." 
William's imperturbable voice. "Orbit Station. Go ahead, Captain." 
"Can you talk and fire at the same time?" 
"I have ample capacity. How may I help you?" 
"Did you launch a shuttle?" 
"No shuttles launched, Captain."* 
My hackles rose. "We've got a blip in the eastern sky." 
"Confirmed. Those would be the aliens." 
"Lord Jesus! Why didn't you tell us?" 
"I did, Captain. Reference paragraph two eight five, transmitted about forty


sec—" 


1 scrolled frantically. "ALERT: ALIEN VESSELS OBSERVED APPROACHING ATMOSPHERE.


PROBABLE INTENTION: ENTRY." 


I whirled. "Eiferts, we've got to tell Centraltown." 


He glanced over my shoulder. "Use the C circuit. Jame-son, fire!" 


"Seafort to Admiral—to Governor's Manse, respond." 


It took only a moment. "We read you, Captain." 


"Get Hopewell, flank." 


"He's sleeping, sir." 


I screamed, "Wake him!" 



It took three minutes, but finally Hopewell was on the line, breathing hard.
"What is it, Mr. Seafort?" 

"Five aliens entering the atmosphere. No trajectory yet." 

A silence. When he spoke his voice was calm. "It's ending, then. What do youwant us to do?" 

"Nothing's ending," I snarled. "We don't know their purpose. They might throw arock, or—" 

Tolliver said, "They don't need to drop into the atmosphere for that." 

"Be silent, Middy. Or they might be spreading a virus. Zack, do you want toevacuate?" 

"There's no point to it. We'd never notify everyone in time, and where would wego? The plantations can't shelter us all." 

I groped for answers. Naval Rules of Engagement didn't contemplate hostilealiens floating overhead. "Gas masks? Can you prepare for viral attack?" 

"To an extent. We can sound the sirens, warn of possible 

gas attack. But we haven't held gas drills; a lot of joeys 

won't know what to do." "But some will." 

"Yes." A pause. "I'll get started. Godspeed, Mr. Seafort." "And to you." We rangoff, but not before his calm helpedsteady me. "Tolliver, where are they headed?" "I don't know, sir. They'redescending very slowly." I demanded, "How in hell can a fish enter theatmosphere without imploding, if it lives in vacuum?" "They come from somewhere,
sir. Presumably someplace 

with an atmosphere." 

"Won't they heat up from the friction of entry?" He looked cross. "Just howwould you expect me to know, sir?" 

I bit back an angry retort. He was right; I was harassing him. "Track them. Arethey in range?" 

"Extreme range at best, sir. I'll let you know when we have a shot." 

I paced with mounting anxiety. There was nothing I could do here at the base. Ishould be at Centraltown ... But even there, we had no ships, no men. The onelaser cannon here was— 

We had helis. Even my own ship had missiles and shells. I snatched up thecaller. "Seafort to Manse, come in!" This time the reply was immediate. "Yes,
sir?" "The helis you have searching for Catalonia's survivors. Where are they?" 

"Just a moment; I'll ask the Governor." A moment later Hopewell came on. "Wesent the helis out at dawn. They're combing—" 


"You've kept two Naval ships in reserve. Are they fully armed?" 
"As far as I know." 
"Do your pilots know how to use the missiles?" "They're former U.N.A.F.


soldiers. I'm not sure but I ihink—" 
"If the pilots are capable, send them to coordinates—Tolliver, what are they?" I


read them off his screen into the caller. "Have them attack the moment the 
aliens are low enough to hit." 
"I will." 
Again his calm passed to me. Zack Hopewell was old enough to be my father, yet


I'd been ordering him about like a cadet. "Mr. Hopewell, excuse my manners." 
His voice held stem reproof. "No need to apologize for command. Do your duty,
and His will." He rang off. I peered at the main console. Five fish descending,
and nearly thirty attacking the Station. Though William skewered them with

ceaseless efficiency, more appeared as fast as he destroyed them. His kill counthad reached twenty-one. Our ground lasers had taken out seven. 
Day darkened slowly to night. I had no thought of leaving. William's reports

continued unabated. 
Tolliver sang out, "Sir, we have a shot at the fish in the atmosphere." 
Eiferts shook his head. "We have targets aloft. The Station goes over the


horizon soon. Then we'll be of no help to 
William." 
"Yes, but these fish are dropping into—" I hesitated. What was higher priority?


I spoke softly. "Tolliver, feed the coordinates to the third laser cannon. As


soon as there's a free moment..." 
He twisted his head to stare at me. "Free moment? For God's sake, sir, they're
coming down onto Hope Nation!" 


"Easy. We can't shoot both cannon at once. We'd better help William while we


can." 
Tolliver punched in figures, following the fish. He admitted grudgingly, "On
their current trajectory, we have a little time." 


I watched for endless minutes. 
Eiferts called across the room. "You still have a shot?" 
"Yes, sir." Tolliver punched the keys, reconfirmed his figures. 
"The Station's over the horizon. Rawlings, power up number three. Use Tolliver's


coordinates." 
Minutes passed while the capacitors of the third laser cannon reached full
charge. Tolliver said, "Ready, sir." 



"Fire!" 


The lights dimmed again. I stared at the console. One blip oegan to drop, slowly
at first, then faster. In a few seconds it disappeared from the screen. 
"Got him! Acquiring new target!" Tolliver. 
Now the other blips were moving faster. We locked on target, fired again. 
Jameson spun his chair, "Directly overhead, sir! A dozen high above the


atmosphere!" 
The display from Orbit Station sounded an alarm. Now what? I peered at the
screen. "ELEVEN ALIENS OBSERVED OVER WESTERN CONTINENT; ABSENCE OF ORBITING
TAKGET SUGGESTS MANEUVER RELATED TO VENTURAS BASE." Though William


was out of our sight, he still had a view of the sky above us, and relayed his
reports through his comm satellites. 
"Eleven? I count twel—" 
William intoned, "Inanimate object separating from fish. My sensors show high


density, no metal, does not compute as ship." 
I snatched up the caller. "William, what is it?" 
An infinitesimal pause. "Planetary debris, I think. Similar composition to the


mass the aliens released over Central-town, but smaller." 


"Good Christ!" My eyes met Eiferts's as his turned to mine. "Acquire targets
overhead! Crash priority!" 
The large blip fell away from the others. "Tolliver, coordinates!" 
"I need a few seconds for a trajectory." The remaining fish overhead disappeared


from my screen, either from William's fire or by Fusing to safety. 


Agonizing seconds passed. My eyes were riveted to the screen, while the rock
approached velocity of eighty-three miles per second. "Locked in! Fire!" 
The lights flickered as our cannon tracked the rock hurtling from above.


"Where*s it headed?" My hands were tight on the chair. 
"Right here, sir." Tolliver was pale. 
Jameson called, "More blips over Western Continent, about a dozen," 
"Be specific. Lock in tar—" 
"Got it!" Tolliver's whoop echoed In the crowded room. 
The large blip he'd been tracking disintegrated into a spray of tiny dots.


Perhaps they were small enough to burn up in Hope Nation's rich atmosphere. 
Samuels shouted, "Another rock, sir. Twice the size of a fish!" Minuscule
compared to the one that destroyed Central-town, but if it landed on our
heads... 



"Helis from Centraltown report radar contact with fish." 
"More overhead, sir. Looks like two rocks!" 
Bezrel, ignored by all of us, huddled at his console. His shoulders shook. I


raged inwardly at Admiral De Marnay. Why bring a child who should have been at


Academy to— 


"Bezreir 


The boy jumped as if goosed with a prod. "Yes, sir!" 


"Can you find the mess hall?" 


"Yes, sir." 


"We'd like some coffee. Bring it." 


"Aye aye, sir." He ran to the door. 


"One rock gone!" Tolliver. "Seeking other target." 
I would force down the coffee, though my stomach churned with acid. Better the
boy have something to do. Only after the middy was gone did I realize I might
have sent him into greater danger. 


"Sir, one of the Naval helis wants instructions!" 


"What?" I tore my eyes from the console, keyed the caller. "Seafort." 


A pilot's voice crackled. "Radar contact with two fish, Captain. Approximately


fourteen thousand feet." 
"Target acquired!" Tolliver. 
"Rawlings, fire cannon one!" Eiferts. 
"That low?" 
"Yes, sir. Do you want us to engage?" 
"Who are you? Can you fire a missile?" 
"Major Winfred Zahn, retired, sir." He chuckled. "I'm quite sure I can." 
"Stay out of range of anything they throw. Fire immediately." 
"Righto." 
Tolliver raised an eyebrow at the informality. I smiled, surprising him. How


little it mattered. 
In the next half hour we broke up two more rocks. Each one was delivered by at
least ten fish. Did it take their combined efforts to transport a rock across
the void? How did they Fuse an external object? Did they create a shared field? 



As William progressed along the horizon he lost his view of the fish overWestern Continent. Above, fish kept Defusing. We were too occupied taking outrocks to shoot at fish. If we only had all our lasers on-line ... No use cryingover spilt milk. 

"Look, sir." Two clusters of fish, each herding a sizable mass. "They're guiding
more rocks." 
"I see," I snarled. 
"Cannon two's targeted." Tolliver, to Eiferts. "Their rock is a bit lower." 


"Right." 
It took almost eight seconds to knock out the first rock. By the time it
disintegrated, the second was well on its way. As we lined up a shot, a third
appeared, high overhead. 


"Damn them!" 
"Amen." My fingers tore at the chair while Tolliver and Eiferts targeted the


laser cannon. Shots were so much easier from a ship, where radar signals were
clear and immediate, and the range was short. 
I stared at the console. The third rock was launched, while we barely had a lock


on the second. "It'll be close," I muttered. 
"Why in hell won't that rock break up?" Tolliver pounded his console. 
"Denser than the others? Stay on it!" 
"We have a lock, sir. What we need is time." 
Our cannon followed the second rock almost to the ground. It broke up a scant


six thousand feet overhead. "Where's the other—" 
Jameson. "Targeted! Fire!" 
A whomp that shook the concrete deck. Others, in rapid succession. "What in hell


was—" 
"Fragments," said Tolliver. "They've got to fall somewhere." 
The caller. Eiferts answered, swore. "Ignore the bloody bearing, joey! Give us


full power until it burns out." 
"Christ, we're late! Break up, damn you!" 
I held my breath. The mass was streaking downward. What were they throwing,


laserproof rocks? 


I glanced at the screen. No more were being launched. If we could get this one,
we stood a chance. 
"There she goes!" Jameson, with a yell of triumph. A large hunk of the jagged


rock broke off, disintegrated. 



Tolliver cursed. "The puter's following the wrong piece!" 
I shouted, "Go manual! No time!" 
Tolliver twirled up the magnification, twisted the fire control. "Where is— Got


it! Oh, Christ, it's—" 


A groan. I turned to Eiferts. He looked into my eyes, made the sign of the
Cross. I spun my chair to the console, 
Jameson said, "Jesus, another rock, far out!" 
The door swung open. "Sorry it took so long, sir. I had to brew a fresh—" 
The stupendous blast blew Bezrel into my arms. My chair flew backward into the


console. The building screeched. Walls buckled. The room went dark. I sat dazed
and deafened as debris rained from the ceiling. 
Silence. 


Someone coughed, gagged. Dawn's light pierced the shattered wall. 
Eiferts lay on his back, an arm thrust over his face. A jagged piece of wood
protruded from his chest. His shirt was drenched red. 


Bezrel clung to me, whimpering. I rocked, cheek nuzzling the boy's soft hair asI'd sat eons before with my little Nate, It would be all right. I hugged himclose. 

It would be all right. 

CHAPTER 21 

Tolliver groaned. Blood dripped from his forehead; he wiped it clear of hiseyes. The dark red stain sank into the blue sleeve of his jacket. Dust motesdrifted in the intense silence of the splintered morn. 

"Are you hurt, sir?" 

"No. Look to Mr. Eiferts." I rocked the boy, trying to breathe through the thick
choking dust, 
Tolliver staggered to his feet, lurched across the room. He knelt at Eiferts's


side, felt for a pulse, He shook his head, 
MSee who is alive," 
"Aye aye, sir." He knelt over Jameson. "He doesn't seem wounded, sir. Just


knocked cold." Samuels was on his feet, gagging, Tolliver made the rounds. "Is
Mr. Bezrel gone, sir?" 
"Don't say that!" The boy raised his head. "I'm not dead." 
"Thank Lord God," Tolliver. 



Bezrel realized where he lay, thrust himself clear of me, cheeks scarlet, "I'm


sorry, I—honest, sir!" 
"It's all right, boy." My tone was gruff. I looked about. "Let's get out before
the building falls." 


"We'll need to carry Jameson." 


"I can help," I said. If I moved slowly, breathed carefully. The swirling dust
made me cough, and my healed incision ached. I bore it. 
As I bent to lift the tech a great whomp of power pounded my chest. I pitched on


top of the unconscious man. A muffled thud built to a roar. The building swayed.
I scrambled to my knees. "Lord Christ, what was—" 
"The other rock!** Tolliver was grim. 
"Get Jameson out of—** 
A tremendous crash. The roof buckled. 


"What the—" 
A drumbeat of whomps and thuds that seemed as if it would never end. I grabbed
Bezrel, sheltered him against my chest. Tolliver crouched over Jameson. 


The deadly rain built to a crescendo that hammered the wounded building. Finally
it eased, as the debris flung upward by the rock settled back to earth. At
length, all was still. The roof gave an ominous creak. 


I took a shaky breath, wrenched open the door. 
Outside was a landscape of hell. Every tree in the vicinity was in splinters. A


pall of smoke billowed across the parade ground. The field had twisted, as if
wrenched by an earthquake. 
"Sir, the roof may not hold. We have to get the men out." 
"All right." 
We set Jameson on the steps, went back inside. Two of the techs were conscious,


one moaning in pain. 


Of the seven who'd been in the room, only Eiferts was dead. We left him where he
lay; no time for him now. I uttered a short prayer under my breath. 
"Where did it hit?" Samuels. 
"I don't know." I sat unsteadily on the steps. "The first rock took out the


cannon. A direct hit." 
"It couldn't have." Tolliver squinted at the devastation to the south. 
"Why not?" 
"We're still here. If a rock that big struck so close ..." 



I grunted. "It doesn't matter. The lasers are out." 


"Look at the administration building," said Tolliver. Blood dripped down his
face. 
There was nothing to see. Only jagged strumps of wall were left. 
Jameson moaned, began to waken. I said to Rawlings, "Is there a first-aid kit?" 
The tech frowned, nodded. "Inside, sir. In the cupboard." 
"Can you get it?" 
"I won't go back there. The roofs about to fell." 
I pointed to Tolliver. "My midshipman needs a bandage." 
Rawlings said, "Get it yourself." 
I stood abruptly, waited for dizziness to pass. Bezrel said quickly, "I'll go,


sir." 
"Very well." I glared at the obstinate tech. 
"The other rock must have hit farther away." I spoke to distract Tolliver. 
"Much farther." Abruptly he sat. When Bezrel returned with the kit I wrapped


gauze around Tolliver's forehead. Done, I clapped him on the shoulder. "Are you
well enough to get up?" 
"Of course." He stared at the ruins across the field. "Now what?" 
"There's nothing for us here. We have to get back to Central—" Lord God. 
Our heli had been on the parade ground. 
"Do you swim well?" Tolliver's smile was crooked. 
"Let's look around." 


"What happened to the personnel carrier? It would save a hike." 
He got up, went around the side of the building. The carrier lay on its side
atop a shredded clump of bushes. "On the other hand, it might be easier to
walk." 


I let it pass. He was giddy from loss of blood. 
I left the two techs with Jameson, trudged with Tolliver and Bezrel across the
field toward the smoking vegetation beyond. We came on pieces of our heli. The


cab and engine compartment were crumpled as if a giant fist had hurled them
across the field. 
"Not even a radio." Tolliver pawed disgustedly through the rubble. 
"The base has plenty of callers." 



"Where, sir?" 

I frowned at the remains of the admin building. Not there. "There was a dish atthe laser building." 

"It's gone now. And the power is out." Gingerly he touched his head. "What next,
sir?" 

"Let's see where the last rock hit." 

The Venturas Base laser cannon had been mounted on a ridge south of the paradeground to provide a clear field of fire in virtually any direction. As we movedsouth the ground was warmer. Atop the ridge, clumps of grass still burned. Allthat remained of the laser cannon were blasted stumps of metal and plastic,
laced with jagged ropes of conduit like spaghetti. 

Beyond the emplacement the ground had sloped gently for some miles to the sea.
We halted atop the shattered ridge, stunned by the panorama of devastationbelow. 

A pall of smoke obscured much of the crater. For as far as we could see, firesglowed with hellish intensity in the subdued, smoky light. The trees had beenblown down like matchsticks, pointing away from the crater in great concentriccircles. I wondered if flames would spread as far as the groves along the coast.
If so, the forest would take generations to recover. 

Tolliver pointed to the hillock. "If this ridge hadn't sheltered us, we'd bedead." 

I grunted. "That's as may be. Come along." 

"Where, sir?" 

"Back to the others, I suppose." 

Hands in my pockets, I trod across the crumpled parade ground. Tolliver wassilent most of the way, but when we neared the laser control building he said,
"What I'd give for some water..." I tried to hide my shame. He'd been injured,
and I'd just led him on a pointless forced march. 

When we reached the building Jameson had regained consciousness. He huddled withthe other techs, as if for comfort. 

"Did the laser building have water?" I faced Rawlings, thetech who'd refused to go inside. 

"Used to. Dunno about the pipes anymore." 

I held in my annoyance. "Mr. Bezrel, would you volunteer to look?" 

"Of course, sir." He cast a scornful look at the tech. 

"See if the water is on. Fill something. Use your coffeepot, if you can findit." 

"Aye aye, sir." I fidgeted while he was gone. What would possess me to send aboy into a collapsing building? Yes, he was smaller, more agile, but... I tried 


to hide my relief when he emerged carrying the dented pot and some plastic cups.
We had water, at least for the moment. 

"Here, sir." His eyes were troubled. 

I handed the pot to Tolliver. "What happened, Mr. Bezrel?" 

His answer was quick. "Nothing, sir." He hesitated. "The pot was lying nearMr.... Mr...." 

"I understand." Embarrassed, I kicked a tuft of grass, looked around. The longwalk had taken something out of me. If we only had the carrier. It didn't seemdamaged. Could it be made to run? It was balanced precariously on its side;
perhaps if all of us heaved ... 

"You men, come here. See if we can right this machine." 

Jameson stood, a bit unsteadily. Rawlings said, "Why bother? There's no place togo." 

Tolliver put down the water pot, unstrapped his holster. He drew his laserpistol, thumbed off the safety. "Permission to execute him, sir." 

I stared into Tolliver's eyes. Would he know to wait? And if not, did I care?
"Granted." 

Tolliver leveled the pistol. Rawlings leapt to his feet. "No, wait, I'll help!
Jesus!" 

"Very well." We were under wartime regs; I ought to warn them. I shrugged. Now,
they knew. 

After several tries we managed to rock the carrier upright. The door was stuck;
I had to slide in from the passenger side. Keys were still in the ignition. Iturned them and the vehicle came to life. 

We all climbed in. I drove around the base, checking the ruins of the variousbuildings. We found no sign of Sergeant Trabao or the other volunteers. To thesouthwest, the base power plant was in ruins. 

Though the mess hall sagged, it still stood; the admin building had sheltered itfrom the worst of the blast. 

North along the perimeter road sat the shuttle hangar. Its side wall wascracked, and in places the block had crumbled to rubble. Inside, the shuttlelooked undamaged—no, it had been hit. Portholes were shattered by fragments ofrock. The airframe was dented, but seemed unpierced. I walked around to thefront of the building, tried the huge counterbalanced hangar door. It wouldn'tbudge. Looking up I saw the reason: the track on which it rolled was twisted andbowed. 

I walked outside to the carrier and slumped on my seat. 

Now what? We had no heli, no radio, nothing but a carrier and three sullentechs. Without power, how long could we count on fresh water? 


With two huge rocks, the fish had wiped out our western base and with it all ourgroundside firepower. I looked up, knowing I wouldn't see a third rock until itwas right above us. I shuddered. Lord God, if it came, let it be a direct hit.
No pain, no Fire. 

Rawlings followed my thoughts. "Let's get out before they throw another." 

"Why should they bother? We're wiped out." "Do they know that? And would theycare?" His face twisted in fear. "Drive, joey!" 

"Where? Into the forest? A rock has as good a chance—" With a cry of rageRawlings hauled me out of the carrier, reached for the key. He died in agony. 

Tolliver sheathed his pistol. I doubled over and retched. "Sorry, sir."
Tolliver's voice was unsteady. I held on to the carrier door. "You did as youshould." I made my voice sharp as I turned to the techs. "You men are U.N.A.F.,
aren't you? You volunteered for this duty!" 

Swallowing, Jameson turned from the blistered corpse. "He shouldn't have triedto take your carrier, but... what's left to fight for, Captain? It's over." 

Over? We had duty. While life remained—somehow, we had to ... had to ... What? Isank onto the carrier seat, my back to the grisly remains. 

"Sir?" Tolliver waited, but I said nothing, lost in desolation. Tentatively hesaid, "Maybe Rawlings was right about not staying here. Where they could hit uswith rocks, I mean." 

'They can throw rocks anywhere." "But they're aiming them here." He peered atthe sky. "Have you decided what to do?" I shook my head. "Could we go somewhereelse, sir, while you think?" 

My voice was dull. "All right. You and—what's your name? Samuels? Get his ...
body out of there. How far does this road take us?" "To the celuwall factory,
sir. About twenty miles." 

"Bring rations and water." 

I sat in the passenger seat, head down, hugging myself while we bounced pastbroken and uprooted trees toward the forest beyond. 

We set up camp under a leafy canopy near the end of the road. Here, in silentvirgin forest, one could imagine all was well in the Venturas. 

The others huddled near a fire Tolliver had started with his pistol. I sat alonein the carrier. Bezrel brought me coffee; I took occasional sips until it grewcold and stale. 

The day passed. Bezrel came with Q-rations, I left them untouched. When Tollivertried to prod me further I ordered him away. After they'd all settled to sleepby the fire in blankets they'd scrounged from the rubble of the base, I remained 
in the carrier, staring through the windshield into the night. 

It was over. I had done my duty, and had failed. The fish were masters of HopeNation. Sooner or later they'd obliterate Centraltown, and do whatever it wasthey lived for, and goon. 


I would die here. 

Annie would die in Centraltown, where I'd abandoned her. 

We had no way to reach Eastern Continent; our only heli was gone. No way to callfor help; the radios were smashed. No way to fight the fish; the only laseremplacements we had were on Orbit Station, and we had no way to go aloft. Thedented shuttle was locked in the ruined hangar, and even if we could get it out,
it was too damaged to put us into orbit. Even if I reached the Station, Iwouldn't be of use; William fired our lasers with pinpoint accuracy on his own.
The Station had no ship for me to sail, and no crew to help man it. 

It was over. 

The night air grew even cooler. I hunched in the seat of the carrier, jacketwrapped around me, struggling for a way to give meaning to what was left of ourlives. A way to fight on. 

What were the fish, and why did they follow us? What did they want? How could wemake them stop coming? If we couldn't defeat them with ships and lasers, howcould we prevail? Was humankind destined to fall? Were we to be driven from ourhard-won planets back to dark caves, to raise fearful children who never knewbright cities? How could we stop these marauders who lunged at us from the void? 

In my desperation, I clasped hands and prayed to Lord God, though I knew fullwell that His face was forever turned from me, and that my prayer was worse thanuseless. I sat, empty and alone, until the sky lightened with the forlornpromise of morn. I raised my head, left the carrier, walked on unsteady legs tothe embers of the fire. I stooped for twigs and small branches from the pilethey'd made the night before. 

I froze, not daring to breathe. 

After a time, I warmed my hands at the fire in the stillness of the dawn.
Tolliver woke, raised his head: I stared at him, heart pounding. I could notspeak of what I might do. 

But I knew a way. 

PART 4 

September, in the yearof our Lord 2200 

CHAPTER 22 

"Coffee, sir?" Tolliver sat beside me. 

I wrapped my hands around the steaming cup to steal its warmth. "Assemble themen," 

"The me— Aye aye, sir.*' It must have seemed an odd request; Bezrel and the twotechs constituted our entire force, and were all within calling distance. 


A moment later I faced them. "We're going back." Samuels muttered something likean objection; I directed my words to him. "I'm your commanding officer. I saidwe're going back to the base." 

"Why, sir? It's dangerous." It was almost a challenge, but he'd called me "sir";
he hadn't crossed the line to mutiny, 

"It's been fifteen hours and they've thrown no more rocks. We can't stay hereindefinitely, and there's work to do." 

Jameson stirred. "Work? At what? Everything's wrecked; we'd just as well live inthe wild until we're sure it's safe. They say there was a deserter once—M 

"Yes, Captain Grone. I've heard of him." And met him. "You'll go with me fornow. When we're done, I'll give you a chance to come back here to stay." He madeas if to protest. I overrode him, "That's an order." 

His discipline held. "Yes, sir." 

"Into the carrier." 

We rumbled back along the frail. As we neared the base my fingers closed overthe armrest. We maneuvered past rubble and downed trees, pulled up between theshattered admin building and the damaged hangar. "Mr. Tolliver, scout forweapons; there'll be laser rifles somewhere. While you're at it, find us food.
Mattresses and blankets too. And tents or field equipment," 

TolHver looked dubiously at the bombed-out base. "Aye aye, sir," 

I started toward the 

"You other men come with me.1 hangar. 

The side door was locked, but we climbed through gaping holes in the brokenwall. Inside, the hangar was dark and cold. 

The shuttle, one of the U.N.A.F.'s smaller models, sat hi the center of thehangar bay, its stubby wings folded back. My stomach knotted as I approached;
were it too badly damaged my plans would crumble. I circled the craft, stoppingat the starboard side. 

The shuttle had been peppered by debris as if some great shotgun had blasted itwith scraps of shot and broken nails. The pilot's side window was completelygone. Jagged pieces of transplex were all that remained of two portholes. 

On the port side near the bow, the skin of the craft was scraped and dented.
Underneath the shuttle a large chunk of cement lay on the floor in fragments. Ireached up, ran my fingers across the alumalloy panels. Perhaps at that spotcritical wiring ran below the skin. But if not, the damage wasn't fatal. 

I opened the control panel, slapped open the hatch, clambered in. 

The passenger cabin was almost untouched. A few chips of concrete lay where theyhad fallen through the portholes, but they were nothing; the middy could sweepthem up in minutes. I moved on to the cockpit. The chunk of debris that smashedthe pilot's window had fetched up against the dash. The copilot's console was 


smashed; wires dangled onto the yoke. The second throttle ball was snapped cleanoff. 

Would the ship fly? I leaned out of the missing pilot's window and shouted,
"Everyone stand clear!" I opened the ignition keypad. If a password had beenset... 

It hadn't. The shuttle responded to the default code. I flipped on batterypower. In a moment the puter responded with a green light. "Checklist, oral," Itold it. 

A tinny voice. "Checklist begins. Portholes thirty-three and twelve notresponding to sensor check; cabin pressure unachievable. Aerodynamic integrityis compromised. Damage to fuselage, port side. Copilot's fuel gauge isinoperative. 

Copilot's cabin pressure gauge inoperative. Copilot's altimeter inop—" 

"Halt checklist. Bypass copilot's console. Reassign all controls to pilot'sconsole." Why couldn't I talk to a puter without beginning to sound like one?
"Resume checklist." 

A few moments later the puter ground to a halt. "Fuel at capacity. Navaidsprogrammed to anticipated location, orbit station. Craft is inoperable due tochecklist items one, two, three, nine, twelve through fifty-four, and sixtythrough—" 

"Cancel report. Do we have control of jet landing engine, rudder, ailerons, andflaps from pilot's console?" 

"Affirmative." Did the puter sound peevish? 

"Report on rocket engine damage." 

"No known engine damage." 

I glanced out the porthole. Bezrel stood well clear, his mouth agape. Jamesonwas at his side. "Low power jet engine check." 

"Aft, stern, and starboard sensors indicate the craft is inside hangar. Enginecheck not possible within hangar." 

"Yes, it is." Our brakes would hold us. As long as I shut down after a fewseconds, the hangar wouldn't accumulate enough exhaust fumes to roast Jamesonand Bezrel. If we scorched the rear wall, so be it. 

"Safety regulations do not permit jet engine check at any power level withinhangar." 

"Override safety regs." 

The pilot's console switched on. A light turned green; the console beeped threewarning tones; the engines caught with a sudden roar. They muted almostinstantly as the puter throttled down to minimum power. Below, Bezrel and thetech held their hands over their ears. 

"Active control systems check." 


Perhaps the puter had given up on me; at any rate, he made no further protest.
Ailerons, rudder, and flaps moved ponderously as the puter went through a seriesof checks. "Engine off." 

The green lights blinked off; the last echoes of the engine died. "Low powertest indicates response from pilot's console at low power, and no apparentengine damage. Control systems respond normally." 

"Very well. End of test." I reached for the battery switch. 

"Warning: low power engine test does not verify that engine will perform at full
power. Control systems damage may become evident only at suborbital—" 
"End report." I didn't need to hear that; I didn't even want it suggested. I


left the pilot's seat, stopped short. "Contact Orbit Station." 
A silence. Then, "No contact." 
I swallowed a chill of foreboding. The shuttle was under the hangar roof. Surely


that was the reason. "Systems off," 


I climbed down, crossed the hangar floor to the tech and the boy. "This hangar
was equipped for repairs. Find me ladders and welding torches." 
"Can I ask what for, sir?" Jameson. 
"The hangar door is jammed shut. We're going to cut it free." 
"That would take days!** 
1 studied the door. "I don't think so." 
"Look at that shuttle. You expect to fly it?" The tech grimaced at the dented


fuselage. 


My voice sharpened. "I expect you to cut away the hangar door. Get what we
need." I let my hand slide toward my pistol. 
"Yes... sir," He turned away. 
Tolliver poked his head through the broken wall. He climbed through the debris,


loped toward me with a grin, snapped a pro forma salute. "We'll eat today, sir.


And I found weapons. Samuels, bring in the knapsack." 
"Good." 1 studied the hangar door. "Tolliver, you'd better take charge here.
These techs are not... I want the door cut away." I turned back to the shuttle. 


"What for, sir?" 
1 spun around. "You too? I gave an order!" 
"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver seemed unfazed. "I wasn't questioning you. I'd work


better if I understood, though." 



"You would, eh?" I came toward him, my voice menacing. His eyes were bleary. Hisbandage was stained with sweat and dirt. My rage dissolved. "I need to get theshuttle out of the hangar, Mr. Tolliver." 

"You can't launch he sir. With the portholes out she'd break up before you couldget her orbital." 

"I know that. I don't intend to go orbital." 

"But... it isn't a heli, sir. Her thrusters won't handle low-level flight morethan a few minutes without overheating." He looked at me as if wondering if I'dforgotten. 

"I know that too. Mr. Tolliver, I want that doorway cleared." 

His glance was skeptical, but he nodded. 

I peered upward, shielding my eyes against the glare. 

They hadn't found ladders, but they'd brought scaffolding, which was moreuseful. The torches and acetylene tanks had been stowed in the hangar lockers. 

Tolliver had suggested we cut the couplings that anchored the door track to thehangar wall, but 1 vetoed that. The huge door was immensely heavy, and wecouldn't control which direction it would topple. And once the door fell to theground, we'd have to cut it into movable pieces, to cart it out of our way. 

Instead, they were taking the door down a piece at a time. 

The bottommost sections were the easiest. Tolliver and a tech cut them loose; assoon as the scraps cooled, Bezrel, the other tech and I hauled them away. Whenthe cutters showed sips of fatigue I bade them change places, Bezrel kept ussupplied with water and softies he'd pried out of the dispenser. 

I didn't have goggles; we'd only found two pair. After a time, dazzled by thecascade of white heat falling from the torches, I strolled again around theshuttle, looking for damage. Jameson detached himself from the others andwandered after me. I waited, steeling myself for more objections. 

He kicked the pavement. "Sorry about how I've been acting," he said. "It's just—
we knew the risk of staying behind, but when you actually face it... it'sharder." 

I nodded, much relieved. "I know," 

"The fleet's gone, the is gone ,,, the fish wipe out 

whatever we put against them." He shivered. "Is the colony doomed, sir?" 

"It may be," I said. He deserved honesty. "But we're not dead yet." I crossed tothe hangar's side door, found I could open it from the inside. "Let's get someair." 

"I'll have to relieve Samuels in a minute." He followed mt outside. 

"How long have you been in system?" It gave me something to say. 


"Ten years." He kicked at a surviving strand of grass. "1 was in Engineering on
the Station, then in Centraltown. They sent me here a year ago." 
I grunted. "You've seen the place grow—" 


"You were right to relieve General Khartouf." He averted his gaze. 
"I shouldn't discuss that." I realized how fatuous that sounded in the rubble of 
the ruined base. "In any event, he's long gone. Mr. Eiferts would have made the
base ready, if he'd had time." 


"He was a mover." Wearily, Jameson sat on the grass. He chewed at a blade,
squinting at me. "We needed the generator fully on-line. If the Navy had stayed
awhile longer—" The blade of grass dropped from his mouth. 


"They did their best." 
Jameson swallowed, pointing at my shoulder. "Oh, Jesus!" 
I slapped at my jacket. A spider? A snake? No, idiot, Hope Nation has no animal


life. "What are you—" 
His mouth working, Jameson lurched to his feet, fled to the hangar. 
What was wrong with the man? I turned, saw nothing. My glance strayed upward. 
"Lord save us!" I raced to the side door, as if the hangar's pitiful shelter


could protect us from the living dirigible a thousand feet above. 
I slammed the door behind me. "Tolliver! Break out the arms!" 
For a moment he gaped. "What's—Aye aye, sir!" He scrambled off the scaffold. In


the corner, Jameson retched. 
"Laser rifles! Shoulder missiles! Anything!" I was beside myself. Bezrel seemed
confused. "Move, boy! Grab a gun!" I realized I had nothing but my pistol. Did


it even have a charge? My hand fumbled at my holster. The green light glowed
when I pressed the test. Charged or not, a puny pistol wouldn't do much good. 
Tolliver raced back, a laser rifle in hand. "What is it, sir?" 
"Fish!" I crouched to the opening we'd cut in the bottom of the hangar door. I


gestured skyward. 


Tolliver clutched the rifle as if a treasured toy, but shook his head. "Rifles
won't bother anything that big, sir." 
The fish pulsed, its skin changing color briefly. It drifted lower. 
Bezrel raced back with a pair of laser rifles. I grabbed mine, flipped the


safety, and waited for a full charge. When it beeped I knelt at the cut-away
opening under the huge hangar door. I aimed at the underside of the fish. When I
fired, colors swirled. A portion of the fish's body seemed to deflate. Then the
outer skin seemed to flow over itself, and the hole was gone. 


"My God." Tolliver dropped onto one knee. He squeezed off a long burst that put
an angry slash in the side of the fish. 



The fish settled ominously lower. 

I said, "Jameson, where's Samuels?" 

"Running for the woods, last I saw." The tech's voice was acid. 

"Bezrel, come outside with me. Tolliver, you and Jameson cut those bloody trackcouplings off. Let the hangar door fall where it may." 

Tolliver said doubtfully, "If we cut the door loose we'll have no protection,
sir." 

I pointed at the bottom four feet they'd already severed. "What protection doesthis leave?" I didn't wait for an answer. "Hurry." 

I ducked under the door and glanced up. The fish was a mere two hundred feetover the field. 

From inside, Tolliver's voice. "Why are we trying to free the shuttle, sir?" Headded, "I'll do it, but I'd like to know why we're suiciding rather than runningfor safety." 

"We can get away in the shuttle." 

"It's built for orbital flight, not—" 

The fish lurched lower, its stem blowhole working. I growled, "Don't you think Iknow that? Cut, Tolliver! Quick!" I sprinted toward the parade ground. Bezrelfollowed with his rifle. "Fire!" I gasped. 

"Where should I aim, sir?" He dropped to his knee, aiming. 

"Anywhere!" My beam burned a new hole in the descending fish. Above it, a ropymass formed and began to swirl. 

The fish jerked, but drifted ever lower. Its tentacle swung. I warned, "Don'tlet that hit you, boy! Jump clear if it lets fly!" 

"Aye aye, sir!" Our laser fire raked the side of the great beast. Its skin beganto repair the holes; the fish sank lower, tilting aft. Its appendage swungaround, broke loose, sailed toward us. 

Bezrel scampered to safety with the speed of youth, Winded, I could only watchthe protoplasm gyrate through the air. A shrill voice cut through my fog. "Run,
sir!" 

As the mass whirled toward my head I fell to the ground. A rush of warm air. Theappendage struck a few feet pasi me. Grass sizzled. 

Another arm formed. The fish was no more than fifty feet above us. I set therifle for continuous fire, held down the trigger until long after the warningbeep. 

The wounded fish sank to the ground, colors fading to mottled gray, I stumbledto my feet, backed away with my useless rifle. 


The body of the fish appeared to be dissolving. The sfcm became indistinct;
colors swirled. Outriders. "Bezrel, run!" 1 leaped over the smoking mass thefish had flung. 

As I ran I glanced over my shoulder. A shifting shape seemed to grow from theskin of the fish. It swirled, wriggled free, fell from the fish's side. "Bezrel,
back to the hangar!" My legs pumped. 

The outrider skittered even faster than the one I'd onct seen m Telstar's 
corridor. It was only steps behind me. I knew I wouldn't make the haven of thehangar. 

Suddenly Tolliver dropped from the scaffold a meter in front of me, his riflelight glowing. He aimed directly at my face. I blanched; even the fish's acidwas a better death. In desperation I hurled my empty rifle at him, dived to theground. Tolliver fired over my head. Behind me something smoked and sizzled. Hebounded forward, hauled me to my feet. "Move!" 

I scrambled under the door. More shapes swirled on the mottled skin of the dyingfish. Above, on the scaffold, sparks showered from Jameson's torch. 

"Where are the bloody recharge packs?" 

"I have a few." Tolliver ducked outside, retrieved my rifle, handed it to me. Itook it, careful to avoid his eye. I jammed in the charge. "Bezrel, recharge!" 

The boy didn't answer. I looked around. He was nowhere in sight. 

A scream from above. "Look out!" Jameson, 

I whirled. A shape scuttled through the far end of the open hangar door. For asplit second it stood quivering. Then it rolled toward us with frighteningspeed. While I rumbled at my rifle, Tolliver fired. The outrider seemed to flyapart. I flinched. The alien collapsed into an oozing puddle. 

I stared at the foul mess. A near thing. Tolliver knelt at the hangar openingand fired again. Above him, the door groaned and sagged; a coupling had finallyparted. But there were many more to sever. We hadn't the time. 

"Lord God damn them!" My voice was thick. "What do they want? Why won't they letus alone!" I stooped through the opening, fired at a whirling shape, and, beyondcaring, stalked toward the parade ground. Only Tolliver, Jameson, and 1 wereleft. No way to escape, nothing to escape for. I felt a pang of regret for mylife, a deeper pang for the boy's; he'd had more of his life stolen. 

The fish lay where it had fallen, its colors finally still, its mottling fadingeven as I watched. Behind me I heard the snap of Tolliver's rifle. Outriderscontinued to emerge from the motionless mass. Something skittered toward me; Istood my ground, firing until it melted. 

A patch of blue caught my eye about fifty feet to the side: Midshipman's BezreFsbody, pathetically small, I checked my dwindling charge; enough to put him outof his misery, if need be. I couldn't leave him to the aliens. IgnoringTolliver's shout of protest I tramped across the seared grass. 

Better if Admiral De Marnay had left the boy home, to play at balls and kitesand Arcvid. 


An outrider rolled toward us, barely visible against the browned grass. I fired
simultaneously with Tolliver; the creature melted to the ground. 
Bezrel's head moved. 
Heart pounding, I dropped on one knee. "Are you all right?" A hoarse whisper. 


"Yes, sir!" 
"What in God's own name are you doing?" I kept my rifle ready, risked a glance
behind me. 


He crawled toward me, slithering in an effort to stay low. "I ran out of charge,
and those things were coming ... I thought if I stayed down they wouldn't see
me." 


I bit back a snarl of fury. His ploy had worked, while I'd nearly gotten myself
killed running away. "Still have your rifle?" 


"Yes, sir." 
"Hang on to it. Take some breaths, get to your knees, and run to the hangar as
if Satan himself were after you!" 


"He is, sir!" Abruptly the boy swarmed to his feet and sprinted off. He was


fast; I doubted even Tolliver could catch him. 
Two outriders paused, sensed his moving figure. They skittered across the grass.
As if we'd planned it, Tolliver and I waited until one approached our killing
zone, fired together. The outrider lurched and melted. We turned our fire on the
second shape. 


Bezrel flung himself to safety under the hangar door. My rifle beeped; it was


running out of charge. Tolliver waved a fist. My teeth bared in a feral grin. 
Cautiously I backed toward the hangar, keeping to the side to leave Tolliver a
clear field. Only one outrider charged me; I couldn't tell which of us hit it. 


Elated, I stumbled to the hangar, reached the door unharmed. A shadow moved
through the scorched grass of the field. I looked up. 


A second fish floated above. 
Cursing, I stooped under the door. Sparks fell on my shoulders; I slapped them
away. "Tolliver, there's another one!" 


"Christ." Tolliver backed away, squinted at the door. "Jameson, get that track


downl" 
The tech's voice was savage. "You want a miracle, make one yourself!" I shook
Tolliver's shoulder, shushed him. Jameson was doing his best. 


"We're down to four recharges, sir." 
"Two." I stooped, took one, gave another to Bezrel, crossed to the other end of
the door. The boy followed like a puppy. 



I knelt, turned off the safety, aimed. Three outriders were in sight on thefield, too far away to risk a shot. "Mr. Tolliver, help Jameson cut. Bezrel,
take position at the far end of the hangar. Here's your last recharge. Makeevery shot count." 

I peeked under the door. The fish overhead had settled closer. 

Sparks cascaded onto my head. Cursing, I moved aside. By the time I knelt again,
the outriders had crossed half the field. I fired. The closest went down. 
Bezrel, face ashen, held his beam open as he sprayed the parade ground. Iscreamed, "Middy, single fire! Make every electron count!" 

The two remaining outriders flew at us. I fired twice, hit a shape just as itjerked and sagged from Bezrel's hit. The other flowed over its fallen comrade,
veered away from Bezrel and the open door. I fired until it dived around theoutside of the hangar. I whirled to the shattered side wall, waiting. Nothingappeared. 

The hangar door groaned. Pieces of coupling sagged and dripped to the floor. 

Still, the door held. Tolliver cursed, moved to the next brace. Only tworemained, but they held the track. If I ever got out I'd complain to Engineers'Corps. 

"The fish is landing!" Bezrel waved frantically at the field. 

Jameson moved to the last coupling on his side of the scaffold. "Christ, I hopethis thing falls right. If it collapses on us ..." 

"Be ready to jump clear!" If the door fell inward it would knock over thescaffold and crush anyone underneath. 

"Jump, sure." He shook his head in disgust, but his torch was steady. 

"The fish! The fish!" Bezrel's voice was a scream. 

I whirled. The alien had settled to the field, colors swimming. Shapes werealready swirling to the surface. I raised my rifle. "Steady, Mr. Bezrel." Iturned back to the side wall. 

"When should I put in the last charge, sir?" The boy's tone was unsteady. 

"When your current one is empty." I made sure to sound gentle, despite theidiocy of the question. 

Tolliver called down, "Mine still has half a charge, sir." 

"Hang on to it for now. Toss it down if I yell." 

"Right." A shower of sparks. 

"Jesus!" Bezrel clutched his gun. "They're coming!" 

I spun around, peered at the field. Five, at least. If we waited for a closeshot they'd all be on us. I aimed, pretending calm. Behind me Sergeant Swopesstrode the firing line, swagger stick propped on his shoulder, his young charges 


lined up in a row opposite the targets. "Do not jerk the trigger, gentlemen,
squeeze it. Steady ..." 
One down. 
"Single fire, gentlemen ... Don't waste your charge ..," 
Missed the son of a bitch. 
"Sight before you fire." 


Gotcha! Where in hell are the rest? 
Sarge's voice faded. On the Academy firing line a flick of his baton was the
only penalty if you missed target. 


Bezrel shrieked, triggering his empty weapon at the shape hurtling at him. I had
no time to aim. I flicked the switch to automatic and fired past his hip. The
alien dissolved no more than a meter from his feet. 


"Reload, Bezrel!" 


"Yes, sir. I mean, aye aye, sir!" He fumbled at the recharge, dropped it,
scrambled after it as it rolled away. 
I glanced to the side wall, back to the parade ground. Three more outriders


skittered toward us. 
"Watch the door!" Tolliver jumped over the scaffold rail, leaped to the ground. 
The door crashed outward with a earth-shattering thud, blocking my view of the


field. It fell atop the pieces of door that we'd already cut off. The near end


of the door lay propped six inches off the ground. 
Tolliver knelt and aimed. "Come on, you son of bitch!" Coolly, he held his fire
until a shape was almost upon us. His finger twitched and it was down, oozing
under the bright sunlight that flooded the terminal. 


My rifle beeped. I reached for a recharge, found none. The snap of Bezrel's and
Tolliver's rifles cut the silence. 


Bezrel's rifle beeped. 
I glanced back at the shuttle, ahead to the menacing shapes still emerging from
the grounded fish. "Jameson, bring down the torch and tanks!" He gaped. "Move!"
He grabbed the tanks and lowered them down to me, 


They were heavier than I'd thought. I managed not to drop them. Jameson swarmed
down the side of the scaffold, carrying the torch. ! waited in helpless frenzy
while he snapped the connections back into place. 


I thumbed the ignition, turned on the gas. A small flame flickered. "Bezrel,
Jameson, into the shuttle. Tolliver, warm the jet engines. Get everyone into
suits." 


"But—" 



"MOVE!" The bellow tore at my throat. I dragged the hose outside, as far as it
would go, and balanced on top of the huge fallen door in front of the hangar. A
shape quivered, skittered toward me, I waited, my hand on the gas. When the
alien had closed to fifteen feet 1 spun open the knob. Ten feet. A great gout of
fire surged from the hose. Five feet. The shape veered, but too late. It
dissolved in a red glow of hell. 


I spun down the knob. Behind me an engine muttered, then roared. 


Three outriders approached the inferno, rolled to a halt twenty feet away. I
closed down the gas. We waited in stalemate. The nearest one's shape changed as
I watched. 


Behind me the engine abruptly silenced. I whirled. From the shuttle porthole
Tolliver waved frantically at the hangar's side wall. 


An outrider was almost through a ragged hole. Its inner portion bulged as it
flowed through the wall. The shuttle engines coughed, started again. 


"Come to me, you bastard!" I dragged the hose tnwarH thE wall. Behind me, the
three outriders took the ground I'd abandoned. I flicked a wave of fire in their
direction, spun back. 


I was at the end of my hose. I tugged, stopped for fear I'd break the line.
Outside, the three shapes waited, quivering. 


I spun my knob to full. A gout of flame gushed, fell short of the shape emerging
from the shattered wall. Cursing, I ran back toward the door, hurled a blast of
fire at the three waiting outriders. Two moved aside, one wasn't fast enough. I
grabbed a tank, tried to lift the second, couldn't hang on to them both. I
kicked one over, shoved it toward the side wall. I needed only a meter. I
dropped the second tank; it clanged on the concrete floor. 


I strained until the hose went taut. The shape emerged from the wall. As it
skittered toward me 1 spun the knob. It met the flame only five feet distant,
rolled on, burning. I jumped aside, dropping the torch. The shape sizzled,
melted to liquid. I peered outside. The outriders I'd seen there were
gone. 


I turned to the far side of the hangar. Nothing. Tolliver pounded his window,
summoning me with shouts made inaudible by the bellow of the engines. 


I ran to the shuttle hatch, clambered aboard. Tolliver, suited, was in the
pilot's seat. He shouted, "Suit up!" 


I thrust it on. Bezrel, strapped in, clutched the chair ahead. He seemed not to
see me. Jameson, also suited, gripped a laser pistol. I clipped on the helmet. I
asked Tolliver, "See any of them?" 


"Not at the moment, sir." 


"There's no time to move the door aside. Roll over it." 


"We'll snap off the wheel assembly." 


"We might." From the copilot's seat I slid the broken throttle forward. No
response. "Puter, manual override! Disconnect safeties!" 



"Disconnected by pilot order. Disconnect logged." 

"Shut up." I thrust the throttle forward again. The engine's growl rose to aroar. 

We lurched. I throttled back as we rolled toward the door. "Tolliver, can youfly this thing? What's takeoff speed? How much runway do we need?" 

"I've never flown a shuttle. I don't have the slightest idea. We'll shake apartif you try to reach orbital speed, and you'll blow the engines if you use thetake-off jets to fly all the way home!" He hesitated. "As to cruising, I couldprobably handle her. Here's your takeoff speed." He tapped the mark on theairspeed indicator. A hundred ten knots. "She's a short-runway craft, or shewouldn't be here." 

I inched the shuttle to the fallen door until I judged our wheel was about totouch. I throttled down, up again. We glided forward, bumped the door. I jammeddown the throttle. "Take her, Mr. Tolliver. You have a surer hand." I hated theadmission. 

Slowly, infinitesimally, he powered up, pressing our wheel against the edge ofthe door. The ship strained, but didn't move. With a curse Tolliver reversedjets; we glided back a foot or so. 

At the hangar doorway, a shape appeared. It stood quivering, as if measuring thedistance between us. 

Tolliver throttled. The ship inched to the door, bumped. Tentatively, hethrottled higher. He shook his head. "The wheel won't go over. Any harder andwe'll lose it." 

"Try!" 

Face taut, he edged us on. The engines roared. Abruptly he powered down to idle,
"You have any idea how much thrust we're applying? The wheel can't be rated for—
" 

The shape moved. 

I took hold of the yoke, placed my feet on the rudders, The outrider driftedtoward us, as if uncertain. I reversed the engines, throttled as smoothly as Icould. We slid back from the door. "How long is the shuttle, and how big is thedamned hangar?" 

"We have about thirty feet behind us. But if you back the engines to the rearwall—-'* 

"I'll blow the wall out." 

"Or blow us sky high!" 

I rolled the shuttle backward, Why in God's name didn't they teach us shuttlepiloting at Academy? We'd learned helis, riflery, stellar navigation ... 

Tolliver peered through the porthole, "That's far enough!" 


I nodded, reversed the engines again. "Hang on." 
"What are you doing?" 
"Jumping the bloody door!" 
"Lord God!" He braced himself against the dash. 
"Bezrel, Jameson, grab hold!" I held the brake with both feet, gunned the jets


until I felt the ship fight against the restraint. Please, Lord. Make it work. 


I let loose the brake, jammed the throttle to full. We lurched, gaining speed.
Thirty feet to the door. The hangar walls slid past. Fifteen feet. 
Five. 
My helmet slammed into the cockpit ceiling. I bounced down to my seat. We still


rolled. A second later the back wheels hit the fallen door, and nearly threw mefrom my seat. 

"I've got it." Tolliver's hand was steady on the throttle. 
Two shapes lunged at us from the side of the hangar. Tol-liver turned the yoketo starboard; we bumped diagonally across the field past the dying fish. Theoutriders chased us with their odd roiling gait. Others emerged from the mottledfish and flowed toward us, like iron filings to a magnet. Tol-liver throttledhigher. 

"Ease off! We have to make a rum at the end of the field!" 
"Unless we get ahead of them now, they'll catch us when we turn." He held the


throttle steady as we bounced across the grass. "Where are we going, once we're
off the ground?" 
'To Centraltown." 
"We can't, I told you! With the portholes missing we'll shake apart going


orbital, and if we try to jet that far, the engines will blow." 


"I know." 1 glanced behind. About fifteen shapes pursued us. "Jameson, fire at
anything near." 
"For once in your life, stop being devious! What in hell are you up to?" 
I forced my eyes back to the dash. "We'll take off and go suborbital." 
"Sub—what are you talking about?" 
"After takeoff, fly east and pull up her nose. We'll fire the rockets." 
"That will—" 
"After forty seconds, shut them off." 
"We'll fall!" The wheels touched the runway, once smooth, now pitted from the


blast of the rock the aliens had hurled at us. 



"Yes. We'll glide back down as far as we can, then relight the jets. If we gainenough altitude, that will put us far enough east to jet home." 

"Not far enough to reach land before the jets overheat. We haven't plottedballistics; you have no idea where we'll end up." He throttled back as we nearedthe end of the runway. "If you don't blow us apart you'll blow the engines offthe fuselage." 

I gripped his arm. "I'm going to Centraltown. This is the only way there." Itwisted the yoke, eased us to port. The ship turned slowly, majestically. 

"Why not stay and fight? Better to die facing the fish!" 

I snapped down my visor. "There's something I must do." I no longer had anydoubt. 

"What?" 

My voice was even. "I won't tell you, Mr. Tolliver." If he knew, he wouldn'thelp fly the shuttle. I lined us up in the center of the runway. "Once you takeoff, swing east." I peered through the porthole. "You'd better hurry." Theshapes rolled to intersect us. 

Smoothly he pushed the throttle forward. Fifteen knots. The outriders changeddirection, converged on us. We hurtled down the runway. Twenty knots. A fewshapes were left behind; others scrambled alongside. Ahead, more gathered. Onewaited in the center of the runway. Forty knots. 

I had to strain to hear Tolliver's words. "Lord God, I repent of my sins." Fiftyknots; I checked my straps. "Forgive me my trespasses." Sixty-five. "If I haveoffended Thee ..." The rest was lost in the roar of the engines. The outrider inthe center of the runway skittered toward us with lightning speed. 

"Look out—" 

"I see it!" As we bore down on the alien shape it launched itself at thecockpit. I reared back in my seat, hands over my face. Something smashed darkand wet into the pilot's windshield. 

"Jesus God!" Goo dripped from the window. Tolliver peered through the mess,
searching for the runway. Thick liquid seeped along the windshield toward thepilot's shattered porthole. 

I shouted, "Left rudder! You're drifting!" Seventy-five knots. 

Ahead, the runway was rumpled, where the blast from the rock had shifted theearth. We surged upward, bounced back onto the runway, losing speed. "Hold thenose down!" Sixty-five knots. The end of the runway soared toward us. Seventy. 

"We won't make it!" 

"Hold her down! Use the grass beyond the runway!" 

He muttered, "Use the trees, you mean," The windbreak that had once stood at thefar end of the parade ground was knocked askew by the blast, but branches stillclawed upward to snatch us from the air. 


Tolliver shoved the throttle as far forward as it would go, I measured to theend of the pavement, to the end of the grass. Ninety knots. 

The trees. We hurtled along the grass. One hundred knots. The trees. One hundredfive. THE TREES, 

"Hang on." Tolliver pulled back the yoke, five knots short of indicated takeoffspeed. The nose lifted with nightmare deliberation. Our rear wheels floated offthe runway. Trees flung themselves at our undercarriage. A scrape. I braced forimpact. Scant yards ahead, a clump of trees reared skyward. Tolliver yanked backon the yoke, 

"We'll stall!" 

No time for an answer. Our airspeed fell. We floated over the stand of trees.
Tolliver dropped the nose. We fell toward the hillside, losing altitude, gainingspeed. He leveled off and we were clear. For eons we soared over forest, ourairspeed slowly rising. Finally, when it was safe, he gently pulled back on theyoke and we regained precious altitude. 

He remarked, "Coming around to the east." 

Thank Lord God. I asked, "At what height do we fire rockets?" 

"How the hell would I know? Ask the puter!" 

I flipped on the puter circuits. "Advise recommended altitude for rocketignition." 

The puter's response was immediate. "Impossible to achieve orbit with cabindamage." 

"Never mind that. What's the recommended altitude?" 

"Rocket engines on safety lock due to compromise of cabin integrity. Ignitionwill not occur at any alt—" 

I pounded the dash. "Override all safeties! Manual ignition! Advise normalaltitude for rocket ignition when cabin undamaged and pressurized." 

"Recommended ignition five thousand feet. Safeties overridden. Override is log—" 


"Christ!" Tolliver edged away from his porthole. Drops of goo hovered on thebroken transplex. One flew off and hit the back of his seat. 

I grabbed my pistol. 

"Be careful with that!" 

"I know." I aimed at the porthole, set the pistol to continuous beam, held thetrigger. The goo smoked and vanished. The porthole glowed red. I aimed atTolliver's seat. "Don't lean back." I fired at the seat back; its fabric meltedinstantly at the touch of the beam. The seat insulation glowed, broke intoflames. I snapped off the pistol, slapped out the fire with my suited hand,
"Don't sit back until it's cool." 


"I'll have to lie back when we accelerate. Put something on the seat, so I don't


have to touch ,,, that," 
"It's been vaporized." Nevertheless I unstrapped myself and went back to the
cabin. Bezrel gripped his chair. His face was white, his lips wet with spittle,
I reached into the storage compartment, found a blanket. A pillow fell to the
floor. I thrust it at the boy. "Hold this," He hugged it, rocking. 


I folded the blanket, laid it across Tolliver's seat, over the scorched hole I'd
made. Cautiously he leaned back. "Four thousand feet. Sir, when we fire ..." 


"Yes?" 
"If we don't burn long enough, we fall into the ocean. Too long and we may
disintegrate." 


"I know." I licked my lips. "Try forty seconds. Be ready to cut off if we shake
too hard," 
"Right. Whatever 'too hard' means," 


Five thousand feet. Tolliver looked at me, I met his eye, nodded. 
He keyed the master ignition; the three rockets caught with a thunderous roar.
They flung me back into my acceleration seat. 


Five seconds. I glanced down, found the altimeter. Six thousand feet. 
Ten seconds. Buffeting. A weight settling on my chest. 1 panted for breath.


Eight thousand feet. Ten thousand. The world grayed. We bumped over a rutted
country road. 
"Thirty seconds, sir!" Tolliver gripped the sides of his seat. The shuttle


shook. 
Twelve thousand feet. Thirteen. Turbulence was worse. 
"Forty seconds!" With effort he reached for the ignition. 
"No!" 1 fought to inhale. "Need... more altitude." 
"We'll break up!" 
"Go for thirty thousand!" I forced oxygen into my lung. 
"We can't make thirty!" Bangs and thumps shook the cabin. 
"Wait." I heaved to breathe. 
"Sixteen thousand!" My head sank into the acceleration pads. They were soft,


comfortable, warm. Tolliver's voice was distant. "Twenty-one thousand!" 
One couldn't swim in the sea; it had been too polluted for nearly a century. Butonce I'd been to the beach with Father. The sand, above the high-water mark, waswarm and comfortable. I wriggled luxuriously, eyes closed against the probingsolar glare, while Father watched with silent disapproval. Something in the sea 


air made it hard to breathe. "Captain, let me cut the engines!" I dozed, annoyedby the incessant roar of the waves. "Twenty-five thousand!" 

Silence. My body surged against the straps. As my ears cleared I heard an oddwhistling. My chest heaved. Greedily I sucked at air. The roar of the engineshad eased. 

Tolliver held the yoke rigid, eyes straining past the glop on his windshield. Icoughed, struggled to an upright position. 1 gasped, "Altitude?" "Twenty-eightthousand and rising." "Rising, with the engine off?" "Even a cannonball goes upfor a while. Wait." We reached the top of our arc. In a moment the shuttletook on the gliding characteristics of a brick. We dropped precipitously despiteTolliver's best efforts. He said, "We'll have to fire the engines to holdaltitude." 

"I know." But after thirty minutes burn, they'd overheat. Shuttle jets weredesigned for landings and little else. I peered at the instruments. "Where arewe?" 

"Some four hundred miles out, according to the beacons." 

Even at five hundred knots, we'd crash at least an hour short of landfall. 

"Radio a Mayday, sir. If we ditch they can meet us with a heli." 

I shook my head. "No. We need the shuttle." 

"We won't make it. If we put down in the water, we might—" 

"Fly us home!" 

Twelve thousand feet. Tolliver slammed his fist into the chair. "God damn you,
why?" He waved away my outrage. "You want me to fly this boat into the sea. Allright, I'll die with you! Tell me why!" 

I said hoarsely, "I need the shuttle. I can't say why." 

"You're afraid I'll betray you?" he jeered. "To which enemy, Captain? The fishor the planters?" 

I swallowed. "Mr. Tolliver, I can't tell you. Someday you'll understand." 

"I don't want to waste my death, to no purpose." 

"We have a purpose." The corners of my mouth twitched. "And we may not die.
There's safety margin built into the engine specs. Just look at the hangardoor." 

After a moment his teeth bared in what might have been a smile. "We'll have tofind out." His eyes strayed to the panel. "Eight thousand feet, sir. We'd betterignite." 

"Yes." He lit the jets, and gradually our descent slowed. We flew in uneasysilence. 


After a time I unbuckled my seat belt. "Watch the engine temps." He shot me alook of annoyance. I blurted, "Sorry. Nerves." Now I was apologizing to a middy.
I smiled grimly. 

In the fifth row I stooped and slid next to Bezrel. "Are you all right?" 
"Yes, sir." He clutched at the pillow. I waited, but he said no more. 
"We're all frightened, joey." His expression was cautious. "I'm fine." "All of


us, Mr. Bezrel." I patted his knee, stood awkwardly. 
"I want to go home." His voice was muffled in the pillow. 
"We're almost there." 
"No. Home." 
Didn't we all. I went back to the cockpit, sat, strapped on


my oxygen. "ETA?" Tolliver muttered, "I don't think we have one." 
I glowered. 
After a moment he said, "Sorry, sir. Say, forty-five minutes." 
Temperatures were high normal, but holding steady. I thumbed the caller.


"Captain Seafort to Admiralty House or Governor's Manse. Acknowledge." No
answer. I tried again; finally the response came. 
"Manse to incoming heli. Mr. Seafort? We thought..." 
"Is Admiralty House open?" 
"No, sir." 
The temperature crept toward the red line. "Where's Governor Hopewell?" 
"Standing by, sir. I paged him. Here he comes." 
"Zack?" 


"Yes, lad." His gruff voice brought a welcome lump to my throat. 
"We're not in the heli, we've got a shuttle. Clear the spaceport runway. Have a
heli waiting. And find anyone who worked on the shuttle repair crews." 


"Is that all?" 


"Yes, but hurry. Our ETA is forty minutes." The temp needle hovered at the red
line. 
Tolliver tapped the altimeter. "We'll have to ditch." 
"Get us altitude." 
"That'll generate more heat" 
"I know." But it would gain us time if the engines failed. 



On landing jets we climbed slowly to eighteen thousand The needle inchedinexorably into the red. I checked the console. "Thirty minutes. Two hundredeighty miles." 

"The encines won't last." 

"They have to." 

He cleared his throat. "Sir, do you understand that if we keep burning—" 

"Don't argue!" 

"I'm not. If we keep burning and we overheat, the bearings may melt. Even if we


landed safely, these engines would never fire again." 
I faced the bitter possibility. "We have to try." 
He shook his head, chose to say nothing. The needle crept farther into the red.


A warning signal beeped; I switched it off. Twenty-five minutes. 
"Throttle back." 
"We're at best performance speed now, sir." 
"It might help the temp." 
He throttled back. The temperature didn't go down, but at least it rose no


further. 
Twenty minutes. 
The speaker crackled. "Incoming shuttle, we have you on radar. What are you—did


you fly that thing from the Ven-turas?" 
"Yes." He would think me glitched. He'd probably be right. 
Eighteen minutes. "Mr. Tolliver, how far can we glide?" 
"A few miles, at best. We're not high enough." 
A hundred fifty miles from Centraltown. The temperature needle crept upward. So


close, and yet... 
"Shut off the jets." 
"Now, sir? We'll fall into—" He saw my expression, snapped the switches. 
"Mr. Tolliver, watch our distance. Mark off to thirty-five miles." 
"We won't come near to—" 
I ignited the rockets. Tolliver yelled, reached for the shut-offs. I was hurled


into my seat. I strained at the yoke, kept us level. 
"You can't burn rockets in flight mode! You'll tear off the wings!" 



"Just for a few seconds!" 
"You're insane!" He reached again for the switch; I slapped away his arm. 
"Distance!" 
"A hundred twenty miles!" 
I forced the yoke back, easing us into a climb. The craft shook abominably.


Stress indicators lit like Christmas lights. 
"Sixteen thousand feet. One hundred two miles!" 
I fought to hold the yoke, barely kept control. 
"Plese, sir, turn it off!" 
I reached for the master switch, diverted my fingers, found the two I wanted. I


snapped them off. The turbulence eased. 
"Christ, now what are you doing?" 
"Flying on center rocket only." For as long as its fuel held out, or until the


battered ship could take no more. 
His hands tightened on the yoke. "Let me help control her." Gratefully I eased


my pressure on the yoke. He said, "Are you aware, sir, that some of us prefer to
stay alive?" 
I glared at him. His eyes danced. "I could relieve you for this, you know.


Trouble is, no one would believe me." 


I watched the console. "Sixty miles. Twenty thousand feet. In a couple of
minutes we might be close enough to glide in," 
He shook his head. "After this, they'll have to rewrite the specs." 
"Shuttle, your flight path is not, repeat, not appropriate for achieving orbit."


The voice on the caller sounded anxious. 


I grinned, keying the caller. "Very well, we'll alter course." My hand went to
the console. "Shall we?" 
"Ready, sir." 
I cut the switches, and again the roar diminished to the whistle of wind. I


watched the altimeter fall. 
"We could try the jets again," he offered. 
"Best let them cool first." 
In a few moments we had no choice; we'd lost most of the altitude the rockets


had gained. When Tolliver finally tried the jets they wouldn't catch; I thought
we'd plow a furrow into the coast before he finally nursed them to life. 
After that, the landing was rather dull. 



CHAPTER 23 

"How long, then?" 
The mechanic shrugged. "Who knows? We've got spare transplex for the portholes;


they're standard parts. We drained and replaced your engine lubricants. No sign
of engine damage, but we've only tested at low power. We're not done." 
"How long?" I glanced at Zack Hopewell, 
"Puter simulations say she'll never go into orbit with the side so badly dented.


It'U have to be completely rebuilt—" 
"HOW LONG?" 
He tossed the specs to the floor. "Never, if you talk like that. I'm a


volunteer, joey. I don't give God's own damn if—" 
"You listen to me." Zack's voice was low and cold. "Have this machine ready to
fly in two days, not an hour longer. We're under martial law and I won't


hesitate to hang you if you don't." He took a step toward the mechanic;
involuntarily the man darted back. "Understand me?" 
The mechanic swallowed. "All right, go easy. But I can't promise no two days,


not with tearing down the body—" 
"I'll assign all the help you need. Get started!" Hopewell strode away, and I


followed. He sighed. "Hang the man? Did you hear, Mr. Seafort? He's one of my
countrymen." 
"You saved me from making a fool of myself." I'd been ready to hurl myself at


the mechanic's throat. 


We walked toward Zack HopeweU's heli. He sat, looked up at me. "You're sure
you've found a way?" 
I climbed in next to him. "No, but I think so, With Lord God's blessing, you'll


be safe again." 
"Why won't you tell us what it is?" 
My hand tightened on the door. "Change the subject. Please, I beg you." 
"You won't return, after," It wasn't a question, 
"I think not." 
His lined face was without expression. "You carve your own destiny, Captain, as


do we all. We'll miss you." 
"Thank you." 
"After you ... go, there will be no Government." 
"Yours is in place." 



"But without authority. I will not pretend to rule by grace of a departed Navy." 


We waited while Tolliver crossed the tarmac. He climbed into the heli's back 
seat. "Plenty of shuttle fuel on hand." 
I grunted. 
We lifted off. Hopewell said, "Is two days soon enough?" 
"It'll have to be." I stared at the houses below. "I'll fly the shuttle alone." 
Hopewell frowned. "I wish you'd—" 
"You can't." Tolliver. I swung to him, my eyes dangerous. He said, "You'll pass


out." 
"I'll be all right." 
"Yes, sir. What happened when we went suborbital?" 
"That was just one—" 
"And when we flew to the station with Jerence?" I had no answer. His eyes were


intense. "We're only alive by grace of a miracle, sir. Don't ask for another.


You can't handle acceleration with one lung." 
"What do you want of me? The shuttle pilots were all U.N.A.F. and went with the
fleet!" 


"Yes." He looked out the window. "I may not be skillful, but I flew her once.


Sir." 
"We won't be com—" I chopped off the thought. There might be time for him, if I
planned it carefully. "Very well. If you volunteer." 


"Volunteer? Well, if I must. I'd like a shuttle rating added to my file,


afterward." 
"Shuttle rati—" I saw the smile he meant to hide. The man could be infuriating.
"Very well." I would do it, if I remembered in time. Let him explain the
ludicrous rating when he again met the Admiral. 


Hopewell had listened to the byplay without a comment. Now he said, "I have a
heli and pilot waiting for you at the Manse." 


"Thank you." Tired beyond words, I puzzled where to go. Tolliver prompted
gently, "Your wife, sir." I snarled, "Of course." The damned impudence. 


Annie was asleep. I sat in the unfamiliar living room while the nurse stared
into a flickering holo. 


She'd told me Annie had seemed all right, the morning before. Then, when we
hadn't returned as I'd promised, her mood had changed. She began to smash chairs
against the wall. When the nurse intervened Annie clawed at her, keening. The
nurse had finally managed to sedate her. Annie slept the night through and into
the new day. 



How long had it been since I'd had sleep? I needed to say my good-byes to Annie,
to Alexi. Deal with the planters. Leave instructions for— 


"She's asking for you." The nurse. 
I snapped awake. I touched my tie, ran my fingers through my hair, glad of my
bath and change of clothes when at last I'd seen my apartment. I hesitated,
trying to recall where the bedroom was. The nurse pointed. "There." 


"Thank you." I peered through the door. "Annie?" 
Her look was puzzled, vacant. "Nicky? You din' come back when you say." 
"I know, hon." I sat on the bed. "I'm sorry." 
She threw off the sheet, hugged her legs. "I waited, an' you din' even call." 
"We had problems, hon. The fish." 
"I don' care 'bout no fish." She sat up, wriggled her toes. "I wan' get dressed.


Got me a new blouse. Bet it go nice wid my jewels." She grinned, stared at herfeet until her gaze flickered to alarm. "Nicky, my jewels, they—" She stoppedshort. 

"Oh, Annie." Lord God, aren't You just? How could You treat her so? 
"I'll wear my green dress." 
"I'd like to see that one, love." 
"Yeah, me too. I dunno if I wore it yet." She scrambled out of bed. "You gotta


tell me if you like it, now you be stayin'." 
It would be vile to spoil her happiness. I'd wait until tomorrow to tell her I
had to go aloft. She prattled while she dressed. "I waited and waited fo' you,


den..." Her brow knitted. "I wen' sleep, I think. Don' be goin' away no mo',
Micky." 
"Ron ..." I hated myself, but I couldn't stand a lie. "The day after tomorrow.


For a long time." 


It made her still. Her hand crept to her neck as if to finger the absent rubies.
"I die if you be leavin' me, Nicky." 
"You'll be all right, hon. You won't die." 
"Oh, yes." Her certainty chilled me. "I be killin' myself, you go way again. 1


know." 
I sat on the bed, clasped her hand. "Annie, I have to take a trip. I must." 
"Den I be goin' wid you." She snatched away her hand, preened her hair. She


giggled. 



Lamely, I changed the subject. When she was ready, we went for a walk. Later I
lay down on the bed. She curled up beside me like a trusting child, but when I
threw my arm around her, she flinched. 


In the morning, while I dressed, I made appointments with Harmon and Emmett
Branstead, and later with the shuttle mechanic. I assured Annie I'd be back
within a few hours, tried not to notice her despair, and left. 


I turned back before I even reached the heli waiting in the drive. "Come on,


hon." I held open the door. 
Her joy melted my misgivings. I'd find someplace for her to stay while I held my
meetings. Soon enough I'd have to abandon her in earnest. 


I stopped first to see the civil engineers who ran Central-town's power grid.
After, we flew to the Manse and took breakfast with Zack Hopewell. The affairs
of government held no interest for me, but I made an effort to listen. 


"Don't forget tomorrow's meeting," he reminded me. 
My blank stare told him all. 
"The proposed law of inheritance. You said the planters' vote could decide the


matter." 
"Oh, yes. That." 
"I know it seems odd, with our world crashing about us, but we—they're


determined to establish a just plantation code." 
"I suppose." 
"Would you rather the meeting was canceled?" 
"No. In fact, the timing will work well. Where's it to be held?" 
"At the spaceport terminal." 
"Fitting." I gave him my instructions. He was puzzled, but agreed without


protest. 
His aide knocked. "The Bransteads, sir." 
"Show them in." 
Hopewell stood. "You'll want to see them alone." 
"It's all right, really. I—" 
"I don't mind." He left. 
Harmon and his brother Emmett entered the Manse. I crossed the room. "It's good


to see you. Truly." I offered my hand. Harmon took it automatically, Emmett more
shyly. After all, he'd served in the Navy. I took the sofa; they settled in
chairs opposite. 


"You're going to the Station?" Harmon. 



"Yes." It was no secret, given my frantic orders for repair of the shuttle. 
"Can we be of help?" 
"No. I wanted to say good-bye." At Harmon's raised eyebrow I added, "You've been


a good friend." 
"As I'll continue to be." 
"Lord God willing." I would return if I could, but I knew better than to delude


myself. It was unlikely. 
"I remember when I first met you, Captain." Harmon's voice was soft. 
"My long-leave." 
"With your friend, Mr. Carr. You stayed overnight." 
"And we deceived you." My eyes suddenly filled. "You were a good man then,


Harmon. As you are now." 
He left his chair, crossed to my sofa, sat at my side. "What's wrong, Nicholas?" 
For a moment I couldn't speak. Then, "Have you ever done a terrible thing, to


prevent a worse?" 
He shook his head. "Thank Lord God, He hasn't tested me so." 
I stared at the carpet. "I feel... alone." 
"Let us help you." 
"No. You cannot." 1 took a deep breath, then another. "Thank you both for


everything. I owe you my life, and more." I got to my feet; I had to put an end


to the interview. 


They stood with me. Emmett spoke quietly. "Godspeed." 


"I'll see you tomorrow before I go aloft." 


"Oh?" 


"You'll be notified," I said. 


"I see." Mystified, they left. 
I flew with Tolliver and Bezrel to Admiralty House. I glanced at a few files,
read William's reports on the recent attack. Shortly after the Station had gone
over the horizon, the aliens' ranks had thinned, and for the moment no more fish
were to be seen. 


I asked the two middies to escort Annie to dinner, and settled myself alone with
the regs. I read for hours, until I found what I wanted. 
Afterward, there was nothing but to go to bed. 



At the relief offices, Alexi Tamarov sat in his cubicle, biting his thumbnail,
his full attention on the map in front of him. 


"Am I interrupting?" 
He looked up, startled. "Of course not, Mr. Seafort, Thank God you made it
home." 


"How've you been?" 
He grimaced. "As always. I make myself useful, but a native could do the job


better. I think they're only using me as a favor to you." 1 wondered how he'd
guessed. 
I peered at his map. "What are you doing?" 
"Devising new bus schedules. Half the streets are gone, but so are half the


buses." He rested his head on his hand, stared at me. "You didn't come to talk
about buses." 
"No." 
He waited. 
"I'd like to show you something." 


"Could I finish what—" 
"Now." He thought to protest, saw my look, quieted, "Do you have a uniform,
Alexi?" 


"I've worn civvies since I left the hospital. Do I need one?" 
"It would be appropriate. We'll find you something." We went out to the heli
where Annie waited. I had the pilot drop us at Admiralty House, and I asked


Tolliver to lend Alexi one of his old uniforms. It wouldn't fit well, but no 
matter. 
I paced the reception room. "They're all coming? Harmon and Emmett too?" 
Hopewell nodded. "Yes. And the Volksteader clan, and Palabce, and the others.


Even if you hadn't called them, they wouldn't miss the vote on inheritance," 
I checked my watch. My mouth was dry. 
At two o'clock Bezrel, Tolliver, and Alexi arrived. Alexi's uniform, ill-fitting


or no, almost broke my heart. He belonged to the Navy. 
We all flew together in the large Navy heli, I brooded in the front seat, hardly


bothering to answer those who spoke. We set down at the spaceport. I took
Annie's hand as we went in. 
The terminal looked as it had for Triforth's declaration. The dais remained. I 


sat in the front of the hall, with my officers. My interest was not in this part
of the meeting. 



Zack Hopewell brought the session to order. "If it pleases Lord God that wesurvive and prosper, our society requires clear and simple laws of inheritance."
He seemed a biblical figure, his stern visage unwavering. "The plantations mustnever again be subject to laws devised by strangers in a far town." That wasstretching it; Centraltown wasn't that distant from the plantation zone. And ifhe meant Earth, his remarks skirted treason. % 

The audience made no such distinction; his speech was greeted with loudapproval. I scrutinized the rows of seats; as far as I could tell, everyplantation was represented, Harmon and Emmett sat nearby with Jerence, 

One after another, a number of questions were debated and put to the vote. Thelaw of primogeniture was universally supported. It was primogeniture thatprevented the division of the plantations into smaller and smaller parcels asgenerations passed. 

Frederick Mantiet brought up a more difficult point. "Primogeniture settlesmatters when there is a next generation. But what if there isn't? Should aplantation go to distant relatives who know nothing about planting or be dividedamong its neighbors who do?" "Family!" Calls echoed through the audience. That'seasy to proclaim, in the abstract. But when 'family' turns out to be a hotelclerk or a maiden schoolteacher—" 

"Let me speak," Lawrence Plumwell, manager of Can-Plantation, got to his feet.
"You're not one of us, Lawrence, You're just—** "That's my point." The force ofhis anger gave Mantiet pause. He shrugged, stood aside. 

Plumwell strode to the front of the room. "You all know me. I've spent thirtyyears managing Carr Plantation for old Randolph Senior, then on behalf of youngRandolph and his son. Now the Carrs are dead, and I claim my right." "Yourright!" Mantiet was scandalized. "My right. Hear me out. Assume for a momentthat young Carr hadn't died, but remained in the Navy. Should that make adifference?" 

He studied the sea of faces. "What is a plantation? Raw acreage or the knowledgeto cultivate it?" Behind me, the door creaked as a latecomer arrived. I strainedto hear the debate amid angry calls from the audience, "Family is what counts!" 

"Yes. But on Carr, there's been no family for two generations. How long shouldthe land sit in memorial? Even if Derek Carr had lived, he should have beenpresent today! I propose that no man may own a Hope Nation plantation unless hehimself holds it to till the soil, to harvest his crops, to live himself in hisManse, or else—" 

Cries of outrage. He overrode them all with the passion of his cause. "Or elsewe become nothing more than the laborers and clerks we despise!" 

That gave them pause. He pressed on, "What are we, after all? We are planters,
I'm one as much as you are. I've spent my life on the soil, devoting myself tothe good of Carr Plantation. You, your sons, if they haven't that dedication,
should they hold their lands in absentia, while others do the work? Who are wethen?" 

A long silence. Mantiet said quietly, in a tone filled with wonderment, "Youknow, he's right." He walked back to his seat. "A plantation isn't acreage, andit isn't just family. It's family working the land. When the family abandons it,
they abandon our way of life." He sat. 


Plumwell said firmly, "I demand we set forth now that whosoever shall work theland, shall own it, and that no planter shall separate himself from his landwithout losing it. I claim Carr Plantation by right of my life spent in itsbehalf." 

Zack Hopewell stood, pounded his gavel. "Carr Plantation will serve as ourprecedent, I call the vote. If anyone opposes, let him now speak or forever—" 

"I oppose!" A voice rang from the back of the hall. The hair on my neck rose, Icraned, saw nothing. Slowly, not daring to hope, I got to my feet. 

"By right of primogeniture, I claim my own!" A haggard figure strode toward thedais. 

Zack Hopewell squinted at the slim young man in the ragged jacket. "Who are you,
sir?" 

The newcomer drew himself up, "Derek Anthony Carr, grandson of Randolph, son ofRandolph, homesteader and proprietor of Carr Plantation, I claim my land, towork and to hold, to sow and to reap!" 

Utter silence. 

"Is there none who recognizes me? I was young when I left, but I am returned tostay," 

My voice was hoarse. "I do.M 

He spun. "Oh, my God. Captain!" He ran to me. I took a step, opened my arms. Heburied himself in them, "Oh, Lord God, you're alive!" 

"And you," I held him close, loathe to release him. "Derek ..." I drew back.
"What happened to you?" The remains of his uniform were matted with dirt, 

"Our lifepod crashed about a hundred miles south, We had no caller. We've walkedin forest, and slid in the mud, and hacked our way through ever since,*' 

I asked, "How many survived?" 

"Five, Jessen—he was a cook—he didn't make it past the first day. We reachedtown only a couple of hours ago someone said everyone in Government had comehere. I, ah, commandeered a car." 

Zack Hopewell cleared his throat. I realized that the entire hall hung on ourevery word. Zack said, "Mr. Plumwell, the matter of Carr Plantation is set asidefor the time. I declare a fifteen-minute recess." He banged his gavel. 

I stood close while Derek received the accolades of his fellow planters. Ihugged Annie. "Do you remember him, hon? | From Portia?" 

She snorted with derision. "Your oP middy? Yo' friend? Course I do. Was the onlynice one." 

I slumped in my seat. My old middy. My friend. Nearby, Derek grinned withdelight as he shook hands with well-wishers, unaware of my impending betrayal. 


I stood again. "Mr. Carr, a word with you." 
He glanced over his shoulder. "Of course." 
"Outside." 
Stung by my curtness, he followed quickly, but his grin returned before he


reached the door. "God, it's good to see you!" 


"Yes." I hated myself. "Derek, what you said in there .,." I paused, almost
relented, forced myself onward. "Renounce it." 
Puzzled, he studied me. "I don't understand." 
"You said that you've returned to stay." 
*I have!" 
"No." 
"But where would I go?" 
I said, "Where you're sent." 
Appalled, he stared at my face. "You can't be serious!" 
"It's two years before your enlistment runs out." I ought to know; I'd given him


the oath myself, on Hibernia's bridge, in the forever-lost days of my youth.
"Stand by your oath." 
'To what? The Navy? Look around you!" 


"I am the lawful representative of the Gov—" 
"Goofjuice! There's nothing left, and even if there is, let it go! I'm home to
stay!" 


"You're a midshipman and I'm Captain. Remember that when you speak." 
His eyes mirrored his dismay. "After all we've gone through, you think of that?" 
I was failing. So much depended on reaching him. "Derek..." 
"Captain, this is my home. Carr is my plantation; it's been ours for


generations. If I leave now, Plumwell will steal it. But for God's grace, I'd be
hacking my way through the brush still, while he took my family's home! Do you
think an oath of enlistment stands against that? Could I face my father after I
die, and tell him I gave it all up?" 


I seized his arm. "Derek, hear me. I beg you, Just listen," 


He turned away. After a moment, he turned back, his eyes cold. "To think how I
worshiped you. I was a fool," 
"Derek—" 



"I'll listen. I won't speak until you're done. Then we're through with each


other. Forevermore." 
If that were the cost.,. even so. My voice was husky. "Derek, I'm not a good
person. You know that more than I. In all my life, I've had but three friends.
Jason, when I was a boy. He ... died. Alexi. And you," I halted, groping.
"Because I've had few friends, they've meant much to me. I want to save you." 


"My life isn't in danger here. In fact—" 
"You said you'd listen," I waited for his reluctant nod. "Come." Without waiting


I walked around the end of the terminal, toward the tarmac. Automatically I
checked the runway for incoming traffic; of course, there was none. 
I stopped, faced him once more. "I told you I'm not a good person. The truth is


much worse. After you left with Tremaine,! deliberately broke my sworn oath." 
"There must have been—" 
"I'm damned, irredeemably. Nothing I do can save me. I will suffer the fires of


eternal hell." 
"Whatever you did, you—" 
I whispered, "Derek, I burn in them now!" It silenced him. I groped through


tears, "Please! As you love me, as you love yourself, don't betray Lord God!


Nothing is worth that. Adhere to your oath!" 
His lean, aristocratic face portrayed his agony. "Do you know what you ask of
me? My heritage!" 


"Derek Carr, I call you to your oath!" 
He spun away, stalked across the tarmac. I waited. I had done what I might. 
I shifted from leg to leg, studying the concrete. I didn't dare look to Derek.


Long minutes passed. I watched the groups clustered outside the terminal. They
began to drift back inside. Still I waited. 


Footsteps. I waited until they were close before I turned. 
Derek drew closed the remains of his jacket. Bitterness blazed from his hollow
eyes. He stopped before me, came stiffly to attention. "Midshipman Derek Anthony
Carr reporting, sir." He snapped an icy salute. 


I returned it. "As you were. Come along." 
"May I ask where you're assigning me, sir?" 
"You may not." We strode in silence back to the terminal. Inside, Hopewell was


banging for order. I continued past my seat to the front. "Mr. Carr, sit here."
I mounted the dais. 
1 looked to Hopewell; he gestured outside, nodded. 



"Your attention, please." My voice had the habit of command, and carried. Amoment later all was still. "As representative of the United Nations GovernmentI confirm the laws of inheritance voted here today." 

Plumwell shot to his feet. "What about absentees? You can't—" 
"There shall be no absentee ownership. A member of the controlling family must


live on a plantation at all times, else the plantation reverts to the common
weal." I spoke as if with authority. 
Derek's eyes bored into me, burning with rage. 
"I turn now to other matters of importance. We meet in a hall where some of your


number carried out treason against the lawful Government of our United Nations.
That Government is restored. It's fitting that in this place I tell you I willleave Hope Nation late this afternoon. After I leave, no United Nationsrepresentative will take my place." 

"What about Zack?" Harmon Branstead. 
"I shall resign." Hopewell's tone brooked no discussion. 
"Free Laura, then!" Someone in back. 
"Hers is not the way—" 
"How will you stop us? We'll have our revolution despite everything!" 
Harmon got to his feet. "Captain, you can't expect us to keep your Government in


place once you leave." 
"No." 
"We're on our own, then." 
"No." It brought a puzzled murmur. 
Leota Volksteader said, "There's nothing between the two. We're a U.N. colony,


unless we seize our freedom. If your fleet returns, we'll be at war with you. We
know only the U.N. can change our status." 
"I am the U.N." 


"You're—what?" 
I rested a hand on the lectern. "I am the United Nations." I banged the gavel;
the sound echoed like a shot and stilled the babble of the hall. 


"Now I, Nicholas Ewing Seafort, Captain Commanding, on behalf of all forces
civil and military, as representative in transit of the General Assembly and as
plenipotentiary of the Government of the United Nations, hereby terminate, as of
midnight tonight, the United Nations trusteeship over the colony of Hope Nation,
system of Hope Nation, and do hereby grant to the Commonwealth of Hope Nation
full and irrevocable membership in the Assembly of the United Nat—" 


A tumult of approval and joy. Hats flew, chairs tumbled. Men and women danced in
frenzied celebration. 



I waited on the dais, smiling despite myself. Zack Hopewell came close. He saidsimply, "They'll hang you for it, lad." 

"Yes, but they'll have greater cause." He made as if to inquire, but I shook myhead. 

Eventually the euphoria subsided. I banged the gavel until the hall quieted. "Wehave further business. I do appoint Midshipman Edgar Tolliver as liaison andadvisor to the Commonwealth military force as it may establish itself, for theterm of his enlistment." I avoided Tolliver's eye. 

"As observer to the Commonwealth of Hope Nation, with specific reference to theplantation zone and its economic and governmental structure, I hereby appointDerek Anthony Carr, for the duration of his enlistment. His duties shall bepart-time and he may reside in his own—" 

Derek's eyes closed as he slumped in his chair. I could hear his whisper acrossthe hall. "Oh, Lord God, thank you." 

"—And he shall be free to manage his civilian interests while carrying out hislimited Naval duties. Mr. Tamarov, please come to the dais." I waited whileAlexi climbed the steps to stand beside me in his ill-fitting uniform. 

I looked to Zack. "Bring in the prisoners." Hopewell gestured to men waiting atthe door. A moment later they filed in: Palabee, Volksteader, and LauraTriforth, their hands bound behind them. Volksteader looked ashamed, but theother two stared at me with defiance. 

I said, "Martial law is in effect. You have committed treason against the lawfulUnited Nations Government, and conspiracy to murder. No trial is necessary, foryour guilt is evident. And under martial law, none is required." 

Someone in the front made as if to object. I snapped, "Be silent!" He was. "Isentence all the prisoners to death." 

Leota Volksteader stumbled to her -feet. "Captain, for God's sake, don't." 

I ignored her. "And as representative of the United Nations Government, I dohereby pardon your treason, and each and every act committed in furtherance ofit.'^alabee sagged in relief. 

"Except you." I glared at Laura Triforth. "Your sentence shall be carried outforthwith." 

She spat her defiance, literally. "I suppose you have a gallows ready." 

"No, but the flagpole's enough." 

"Who's to do it? Your toady Zack?" 

"I'll carry out the sentence myself. Lieutenant Tamarov, you will assist." 

Alexi was white. "Aye aye, sir." A whisper. 

Outside, in the presence of Derek and Tolliver, Zack and the other planters, Ihad Alexi place the rope around Laura Triforth's neck. 


When all was ready I took the rope in my hand, stepped close to the bound woman.
"Why, Triforth? Why did you do it?" 
"Revolution was the only way. Without it you'd never have—" 


"Not your damned plot. Why did you blow up our car? Why the missile?" 
Her eyes met mine. "Revolution succeeds against villains, Seafort. Not
reasonable men. You might have undermined their will." 


"For that you destroyed Alexi?" 
"And anyone else who stood in the way. I'd do the same again." 
"You deserve this end." "Long live the Revol—" 
I hauled on the rope, raising her off the ground with the strength of long-


suppressed fury. Alexi grabbed the rope, helped me haul. After a moment, so did


Tolliver. I managed to tie a knot around the grommet. 
It was not a pretty death; she strangled, her neck unbroken. I waited until the
frantic kicking ceased. 


We went back inside. Alexi swallowed several times before he dared look at me. 
Tentatively, I touched his shoulder. "I could forgive her all but what she did
to you." Alexi shuddered. "I've never seen anyone die." "Yes, you have. On
Hibernia." "Your Navy is hard." *It's your Navy tooMlexi." 


"Is it?" He fingered the overlarge jacket. "Look at me. I'm as out of place in


the Service as I am in these clothes." "Your memory will return." 
"Mr. Seafort, we both know better." He turned away. "How soon do you leave?"
"Shortly." 


"I want to go aloft with you,** "No, that's impossible." "There's nothing for me
here," "You may not come." I groped to change the subject. "Excuse me." Harmon
Branstead. Jerence trailed alongside, holding a bulging knapsack. My smile was
wan, "A strange day." "Yes, I've brought Jerence." 


I puzzled. "The discussion we had? You can't mean—not now. Circumstances have
changed." 


"I remind you of your promise." 
"Harmon, I can't take him to the Station. He'll be in far more danger there
than—" 


His face grew hard. "The choice is not yours." 
"Harmon, there's no way ... I can't nursemaid a boy while I—I have work to do!" 
Alexi said helpfully, "I'll watch him for you, Mr. Seafort." 
Harmon said, "Captain, I call you to your promise." 



Over his shoulder I saw Derek Carr's sardonic smile. I flushed. "Harmon, I won't
do it." 
"You gave your oath." 


"My oath is worthless. You knew that.** 
Harmon's savage finger stabbed at my chest. "Don't bleat that nonsense to me,
Seafort, we've heard it before! Your oath was made worthless once, when you were
forced to violate it. That doesn't mean you may choose to ignore it thereafter!" 


"What's to stop me? I'm already damned!" 


"Your honor." 


I shouted, "I have no honor!" 


"You're wrong. Think on it." 


"I don't—I can't—" 


He folded his arms. 


After a minute or so I sighed. In return for my promise he'd saved my life. I


had no escape. "Very well. I'll take Jerence aloft." 
"Keep him from harm." 
"As best I can." I'd send him back with Tolliver and the shuttle. 
The boy shook his head. "I told you, Pa, I'm not going." 
"You'll go, Jerence. I'm putting you aboard myself. We've already discussed


why." 
"I'll take my chances here!" 
"I love you too much to let you." 
"He won't even tell us why he's going to the Station!" 
"Son, he's your best chance. Look at what he's done so far." 
"I don't care, I'm staying where it's safe!" 
Harmon slapped him hard, and again. The boy's fingers flew to his face. Harmon


pulled him close, blinking. "Safe? The fish bombed the Venturas Base out of


existence. We've killed five in the atmosphere. There's no safety here. You'll


go." He looked up. "Take care of him. Bring him back to me." 


"Are we ready?" Tolliver. 


"Soon." 


"Sir." Derek, beside me, spoke softly, 


"Yes?" 



He led me aside, his eyes pained. "For the way I spoke to you, I'm—I'm sorry.
Please forgive me.** 


"You're forgiven." 
He whispered, "Why did you put me through that? Why didn't you tell me I could
stay?" 


"For your soul. If you'd held to your oath because it was easy, you might have
damned yourself. I couldn't risk it. I love you too much." I cleared my throat. 
His jaw quivered. "I'll never see you again!" 
"I doubt you will. Godspeed, Mr. Carr." 


Slowly, he drew himself up. A crisp salute. "Fare thee well, sir. Thank you." 
I held the return salute a long moment. I beckoned to Annie, who'd come outside
with Bezrel. She came to rue, rested her head on my shoulder. 


"Annie ... I love you." 
She nodded. "I know." 
"I have to go... away. For a while.** 
"Away?" She raised her head, 
"To the Station. It's not for long." The lie stuck in my teeth. 
"You ain' leavin' me no more! I to!' you, go an* I be dead!" 
"Hon, I wish I didn't have to—" Her nails raked my face. I gasped. My fingers


crept up, came away with blood. 


"You don' go widout Annie!" She began to beat my chest, softly at first, then
harder. 
Tolliver caught at her wrist. 
"No. I deserve it," Blood trickled down my chin. Jerence gaped, distracted from


his own anguish. "All right. I'll take you with me. For a little while longer."
I put my arms around her. 


"She needs watching, sir." Tolliver. 
"I know Mr. Bezrel, Alexi, you'll have to come along and help." It didn't
matter. I'd send them all back when it was time. 


CHAPTER 24 

I settled into the copilot's seat. "Mr. Tolliver, if I pass out, get us to theStation." 

"Aye aye, sir." He ran his finger along the printed checklist. 


I swiveled my seat, "Everyone ready?" 
Bezrel patted Annie's hand with manly assurance, "Yes, sir." I covered a smile.
AJexi nodded, though his face was pale; he had no recollection of his last


flight. At his side, Jer-ence grimaced. His memories of his first trip aloft
weren't pleasant, 
"Ready, sir." Tolliver's hand hovered over the ignition switch. 
"You've checked the flight plan?" 
"Over and again. William confirms,* 
"Any fish?" 
"Not for the past forty hours," 
"Very well," I pointed at the console. "Is the puter agreeable?" 
"Puter checklist is completed, sir." 
I could find no other reason to delay, "Take us aloft." The engines bellowed. 
We cruised down the runway gaining speed while ! tried to control my nerves. The


shuttle had merely to loft us to the Station. Other shuttles were available for
the return trip. Just get us there unharmed, machine. Every shuttle had built in
redundancies, I've already proven that. 


Just get us there. 
At five thousand feet I counted down with Tolliver, my hand atop the copilot's


backup. When the rockets lit, a great weight pressed me back in my seat. I tried
to relax my chest muscles. I thought I was succeeding. 
The world faded to black. 
"Wake up, sir." 
I pushed Tolliver's hand away. "I'm up." I floated against the straps, my chest


aching. "Where are we?" 
"In orbit. We'll be docking at the Station soon." 
Weightless, I unbuckled, pulled myself along the handholds to the passenger


section. "Everybody all right?" 
"Fine, sir." Bezrel unbuckled. "What should I do?" 
"Stay with Mrs. Seafort." Across the aisle, Jerence smiled wanly, gulping. "No,


let Alexi chat with her. Sit with Mr. Branstead." 


"Mr.—you mean Jerence? Aye aye, sir." Bezrel swam across. "Hey, stop swallowing.
You'll make yourself sick. Look, just relax your stomach, like this ..." 
Alexi peered through the porthole. 
"Nothing there to see, Mr. Tamarov." 



"Stars." 

"There are always the stars." I floated down to him. "Any motion sickness?" 

Alexi frowned. "No, of course not." He looked up with astonishment. "I knew howto relax myself!" 

"Your body remembers. Trust it." I pointed. "You'll be able to spot OrbitStation from the starboard side." 

"I've been there before, you said." He peered through the porthole. "OrbitStation is the largest transshipment station outside of home system. It tookseven years to build." 

"How did you know?" 

"I read it, in the hospital." His expression turned bitter. "A grade-schooltext." 

I patted his shoulder. "Give it time." On the way to the cockpit I bent to giveAnnie a kiss. She smiled, went back to sleep. 

We approached the Station with caution, in constant radio contact with William.
Tolliver brought us to rest a hundred meters from a docking bay. After everymiddy's enforced practice with a starship's thrusters, maneuvering the feather-
light shuttle seemed a breeze. 

Tolliver gave the thruster a last tiny flick, decided he was satisfied with ourposition. "What now, sir?" 

1 went to the suit locker and thrust aside the regular suits to get at thethrustersuit stored behind. "Dock us. I'll exit. 

Immediately after, withdraw twenty kilometers from the Station." 

"Sir, I have no idea what you're up to or why." 

"That's as it should be." 

"It is not." He met my eye, as if unafraid. "I'm second in command. If anythinghappens, I don't know what you expect from me." 

"After withdrawing, disconnect all active sensors and turn off your engines. Thecraft will chill, so you'll all need to suit up. There's ample oxygen in thesuit lockers." I paused. "I want the shuttle dead in space, except for passiveradionics. Everything off, including lights. You may listen, but that is all. Doyou understand?" 

"Sofer." 

"I'll explain further when I'm on the Station. If—when I emerge, I'll jet towardyou in my thrustersuit. You may then match and pick me up. If anything happensto me, restart the engines and take the shuttle back to Centraltown." 

"What do you mean, 'if anything happens'? What's your plan?" 


I climbed into the T-suit, hoping to distract him. "Help me.M I thrust my armsthrough the armholes, wriggling them to fit my hands into the gloves. 

He fastened ray snaps. "Your orders are peculiar and you're acting strangely.
Why shouldn't I relieve you on the grounds of mental disturbance?" So much fordistracting him. 

Relieving a Captain was legal, but unless the Captain's disability was clearbeyond question, and sometimes even then, the relieving officer could expect tobe hanged. In the Service, authority was not to be trifled with. 

I said, "I know exactly what I'm doing and choose not to tell you. It's aCaptain's prerogative." 

He hesitated. "All right. For the time being, I acquiesce. But your explanationhad better be good." 

Finally, we mated with the Station. I carried my helmet to the lock. I wouldn'tneed it for a long while; no sense in fogging up my suit to no purpose, 

I said lightly to Annie, "Be back in a few minutes, hon,HAlexi's eye caught mine as the lock slid shut. I said nothing. It was the bestway. 

After the shuttle's locks cycled, I entered my code in the station keypad andplaced my hand on the scanner. The light blinked green; I'd been recognized. Thehatch slid open and I stood in the empty corridor of Orbit Station. 

A voice boomed, "Welcome aboard, Captain Seafort." 

My hand flew to my pistol. Heart pounding, I forced myself to relax. "Thank you,
William." 

"Your shuttle has made no request to refuel, Captain." 

"Propellant is adequate, thank you. William, where's your control center?" 

"Control center? I'm afraid I don't understand." 

"Your primary console. Where fundamental programming is entered." 

His voice was amused. "There's none in particular. I can receive input fromanywhere with the proper codes. If you're, ah, of a formal state of mind, youmight use the Commandant's office. I'm sure he wouldn't object." 

"Thank you." I searched my memory. Level 3. I trudged down the deserted corridortoward the nearest ladder. An overhead speaker came to life. "Your shuttlerequests clearance to cast off. Captain. In the absence of the Commandant I havestanding authority to grant it." 

"Very we—" 

"It is apparent that you have no other transport, unless you wish to pilotanother shuttle personally. I note that you're not rated for shuttles.
Therefore—" 


"Let them go. I'll be staying." I made my way along Level 3 to the Commandant'swing, half expecting to see General Tho's aide at his usual place in theanteroom. The silence grated on my nerves. 

I opened General Tho's door, feeling 1 was violating his privacy, though he waslong departed. 

His empty desk waited. I crossed behind it. One end of the desk held aretractable console. I raised it, found the power switch. 

"How can I help you?" 

I jumped several inches. "William, stop that!** 

"What, sir?" 

"Projecting your voice from unexpected places. It's eerie, and you're too loud." 

"Sorry." His voice was lower, but held an injured tone. "You can of course go toalphanumeric input. I'll wait." I grunted. Puters. 

"Shuttle to Orbit Station, acknowledge." Tolliver. I snatched up the caller.
"Mr. Tolliver, you were told to maintain radio silence," 

"Yes, sir. I was also told you'd explain what you were doing when you boardedthe Station." "I'm reviewing station resources," A pause. "Captain, I'm comingaboard. This has gone far ^nough." 

I keyed off the caller. "William!" "What do you wish?" 

"Do you have a program to repel boarders?" A sound not unlike a chuckle. "Theone I've been using /vhen the aliens come near." 

"Don't fire to destroy, but the shuttle is denied permission to dock." 

"By what authority, Captain?" "I am senior Naval officer in Hope Nation system."
An infinitesimal pause. "Your authority is noted. Standing orders prohibit mefrom firing on U.N.A.F. craft." 

"Prohibition is lifted. Warn them first." I thumbed the caller, "Mr. Tolliver,
the Station will fire if you approach. Stay clear and power down all systems."
Tolliver roared, "Damn it, Captain, what are you doing?" I stood, "I'll tell youshortly," I snapped off the speaker, "William, a list of all disabled vessels onstation." "There's only four, Captain." "Which have functioning fusion drives?"
"Of the four, none are able to sail. U.N.S, Brasilia's fusion reactor has beenshut down entirely. U.N.S. Minotaur has power to her fusion drive but the aliensdamaged her shaft. The same for U.N.S, Constantinople, The aliens seem to attackdrive shafts in particular. And lasers, of course. Minotaur and Constantinoplecan both generate N-waves but neither is able to Fuse. U,N,S. Bresia has severedamage to her control systems. She would have no way to control Fusion, even ifit were achievable." 

"Where are they docked?" 

A map flashed, the locations highlighted and pulsing. "Only service personnelare authorized to—" 


"I'm your new service personnel. I'll contact you from the bridge." 

"Bridge? What bridge?" 

"Minotaur." I stalked out of the office. Halfway to the Level 3 ladder itoccurred to me that the Station must have service vehicles somewhere. Unless I 
found one I'd walk myself to death. Death by walking. Better than—I cut off thethought. 

U.N.S. Minotaur was docked at a repair bay. I tried my master code at the
airlock keypad; it allowed me in. I breathed a sigh of relief. 
On board, I followed the usual corridor to Level 1 and the bridge. To my
disapproval, it was unsealed. Well, perhaps while abandoned, on an unoccupied
station ... The Navy didn't have procedures for that sort of thing. 


I snapped on the lights, sat in the Captain's chair, swiveled to the console,


"Puter, respond, please." No time for alphanumeric. 
"Ship's Puter H 2973 responding. You may call me Harris. Please enter
identification.'' A masculine voice, businesslike. 


I entered my code. 


"Identification Nicholas Ewing Seafort confirmed. Please insert document
validating your authority." Paperwork. Always the paperwork. 
"Oral authority, Harris. I am senior Naval officer in system." 
"I have no knowledge of that." He sounded sad. 
"Confirm through Orbit Station puter, please," 
"Just a moment. Confirmed. Welcome aboard, sir." 
1 had no time for chat. "Begin power-up to fusion drive, please. Automated


sequence." 


"Naval regulations prohibit power-up without presence of Chief Engineer or
qualified alternate personnel as—" 
"Override by Captain's order." 
"You are not Captain of this vessel, sir." Did I sense a note of hostility? 
"As senior Naval officer in Hope Nation I hereby appoint myself Captain of—where


was I?—"of U.N.S. Minotaur" 
"Appointment noted. What can I do for you, Captain?" 
"Power up the fusion drives." 
"Naval regulations prohibit power—" 
"Override by Captain's order." 



"Override acknowledged. Beginning automated power-up sequence. Captain, beadvised that the fusion drive shaft—" 

"I know about that. Jesus!" I leaned back, exhausted from the strain. Sorry,
Lord; the name just slipped out. Please forgive—no, You wouldn't be doing that.
Sony for asking. 

"Initial power-up sequence completed. However, we cannot Fuse, Damage to driveshaft prohibits any attempt—" 

"Begin low-power testing." 

"Low-power testing is a dockyard maneu—" 

I slammed the console. "I'm in charge here!" I glared at the screen. 

The voice said quickly, "Your authority is acknowledged. Standard programmingrequires that I warn of dangerous maneuvers. In this case, dangerous is hardly asufficient word to—H 

I growled, "Redirect all oral warnings to console screen. Begin testing sequenceat thirty percent power." On Challenger, thirty percent hadn't overheated ourtubes; I hoped it would be safe here as well. "Run testing protocols, then raiseby five percent increments and repeat. If shaft overheats to mandatory throttle-
back levels, reduce power ten percent and resume testing. Report testing statusto me through station puter every thirty minutes. Acknowledge orders," 

"Orders received and understood, sir." Harris sounded doubtful. "Low-powertesting while moored at a station is without precedent. Are you sure you—" 

"Or would you prefer alphanumeric only?" 

"No, sir." As expected. The puters of my acquaintance had an aversion to beingsilenced. 

"Anything else, Harris?" 

"No, Captain, not until first report." 

"Very well. I'm going ashore." I strode off the bridge. 

Bresia was moored in the last of the repair bays. I walked past her entry locksto the repair lock astern. As the repair bay was empty and open to space, Idonned my helmet, carefully checked my thrusterpack. Here, I was on my own, withno one to help. I cycled through the lock into vacuum, laser pistol in hand. 

Outside I shivered, knowing the cold I felt was an illusion, I reached down,
switched off the magnelocks on my boots, keyed the thrusterpack, and jettedtoward Bresia's stern. 

The problem was that Bresia's fusion tubes were undamaged, and would generate aproper N-wave. That couldn't be allowed. 

I approached the fusion tubes with caution, and settled at the tail end of thedrive shaft. Using my magnetic boots I walked slowly up the shaft. I stopped atthe midpoint between the shaft and the protruding fusion drive motors. 


I aimed my pistol at the drive shaft, fired a beam. In a moment the finelyGrafted alloy glowed. After half a minute, a foot of the shaft wall dissolvedinto globules of metal that separated themselves from the shaft wall. I glancedaround, swallowing my guilt. Of course I saw no one. I keyed my suit thrustersand jetted toward the lock. 

It was done. Any N-wave Bresia might generate would be fatally skewed. 

I entered Bresia, went straight to her bridge. The puter introduced herself asPaulette and seemed eager to please. I issued myself the same authority thatsatisfied Minotaur's puter and ordered low-power testing, 

"Orders confirmed, Captain Seafort.w A momentary pause. MI can't carry outtesting, sir. The—" 

"Never mind Naval regulations! Override." 

"Acknowledged, sir. However, our control systems were damaged in the lastattack. I have no way to monitor shaft overheating. I can barely regulate theamount of power to the drives. In the absence of rudimentary safety precautions1 cannot—** 

"Ignore all safety provisions.** Why were all our puters doing their best toblock me? Who designed these bloody programs, the aliens? 

"Ignore safety provisions?" She sounded scandalized 

"Captain, if the drive shaft overheats it could damage the whole propulsionsystem and force shutdown of—" 

"SHUT UP AND DO IT!" I found myself trembling. "Sequence thirty percent test, onmy mark. Mark!" 

Lights flashed. "Initiating low-power test. Violation of mandatory safetyrequirements must be logged and flagged for review. Proceeding to log. Captain,
remember I have no way to warn you—" 

"Understood. You won't overheat at thirty percent. Take my word for it," 

Paulette*s voice was forlorn. "I can't, but as per your orders I'll test anyhow.
May I inquire of William whether spare control system parts are—" 

"Don't go crying to William, he's busy. Report to me every thirty—better makethat forty-five minutes, for further orders." I stomped off the ship. I'd spentnearly an hour sweet-talking two blasted puters, and I didn't know how much timewas left before the caterwauling began to attract fish. 

Next, Constantinople. I got no farther than halfway to her bay when I swore,
stopped, and stripped off my overheated thrustersuit. Time enough to don itagain later, whan I'd need it. I'd sweated enough. 

To my infinite relief, Constantinople made my task easy. Conrad offered noobjections and scquenced low-power testing as soon as I'd issued myself therequisite authority, I left the ship a few moments later, stopped to catch mybreath before returning to the office and to William. 

Missing a lung really put a damper on my fun, 


I sat behind the desk, surreptitiously slipping off my shoes. I rubbed my feet


with my toes. It was a huge station. 
"William, I need information. Please display a complete list of operating
supplies and materials." Within a second the screen was full. I scrolled down,
then back, appalled at the volume of materials still on station. What I was
looking for wasn't there. 


I chewed on my fingernail, frustrated. "Try, urn, utilities and power
resources," 


"There's no such list If you told me what you wanted,could help." 
I said cautiously, "I'm interested in power and energy resources." The screen
flickered. Now it showed lightbulbs spare electric breakers, sockets, even spare
generators. 


I bit my lip, threw caution to the winds. "List all fissionable materials and
supplies." 


"Enter clearance." 
I entered my code. As a Captain, I rated Secret clearance; Top Secret was
reserved for the Admiral and the Commandant. I held my breath. 


My clearance was sufficient. The screen displayed reactor fuel and the
replacement uranium without which Central-town's reactors would eventually fail.
"Show the map again, please." I peered at the screen. The storeroom I wanted was
two Levels up, on the outermost corridor across the Station. I sighed. 


William remarked, "Captain, the shuttle has called every two minutes since you
departed. Your lieutenant seems agitated. Would you care to speak to him?" 
"No, later." I got up, crossed to the door. "I'll be back in a few—" 


A click. "Where are you going, Captain?" 
"I beg your—how dare you!" I slapped the hatch control again. It remained
locked. 


"I have a dilemma. It's true you're senior Naval officer in Hope Nation, but
you're conspiring to destroy Naval vessels without apparent reason." 
"Conspiring? Who am I conspiring with?" 
"Planning, then. I misspoke." 


"What? You can misspeak? What other flaws are in your program?" 
"I was nervous," he said crossly. "This situation puts a strain on my judgment
circuits. I've had to divert capacity from—" 


"Divert it back. I'll exercise the judgment here.'* "My circuitry is not subject
to ordinary command control. 



Only a qualified Dosman can—" "Unlock the bloody door before I burn it througiPHe calculated "You may have enough charge left, in that puny pistol. It will beinteresting to observe. Before you try, I must warn you I have adequateantipersonnel defenses." 

I paused, sagged into a seat. This wasn't going at all as planned. "Is that a

threat?" 
"Not specifically. The question is why you sabotaged Bre-sia and are in process
of destroying Minotaur and Constantinople" 


"Who told you that? I'm running low-power tests on their fusion drives." 
"Paulette and Harris consulted me. Your tests are unauthorized. The ships—" 
"As Captain I can order any bloody tests I want!" I lowered my voice, tried not


to sound petulant, 


"You can't be Captain of three ships at once; it's a physical impossibility,
should you achieve Fusion, I'm instructed to safeguard ships under my—" 
"They won't Fuse. I'm just testing." 
"As Captain you may test one ship. When you leave that ship and become Cap—" 
I shouted, "I appointed myself Captain of all three ships! Shove that up your


data banks and open the bloody door!" 
"What are your intentions, please?" 
"To inventory supplies." 
"I have complete inventories in the databases." 
"Not of nuclear fuels. I'm going to the nuclear materials storeroom." 
"That's a restricted area." 
"As head of Naval forces, I have authority to take inventory." 
He avoided a direct answer, "For what purpose?" 
"To see what materials ought to be moved to a safer place." 
"Why, if I may ask?" 
"The fish may attack at any time. Your energy supply must be safeguarded. It


should be moved to a more central location." 


"The outermost wing of Level 5 is well defended. The fuel is as safe there as
anywhere else." 
"That's my decision." 
"I see." He sounded skeptical. "Captain, as there is a possibility your


statement is not accurate, I cannot allow—" 



"Puter, you have no authority to question the announced attentions of your
commanding officer." 


"That's true, but—" 
"No 'but' can possibly apply. I'm going to inventory the nuclear materials and
move them to another location." 


"Where is that?" 
"The reserved chamber on Level 3." 
He said, "Above the fusion reactor? Proximity of nuclear fuel to the reactor


must be avoided. Though remote, there is always the possibility that—" 
"Unfortunately, there's no choice. I make that decision," 
A silence. It stretched into many seconds, "Captain Seafort, you may exit. I


find my program does not permit me to halt an inventory. I must issue various
warnings about the movement of materials. I—" 


"Print them. I'll read them when I get back." 
"—I must also advise that I control substantial antipersonnel devices on all
sides of the reactor, including the safety chambers above and below. If you
approach the reactor with any weapon or bring the fuel into the inner chamber
immediately above, your intentions will be so obvious that I will construe them
as a threat." 


Well, I'd never thought it would be easy. "Understood. We'll chat again
shortly." 
"Are you going to walk up to Level 4?M 


I paused at the door. "I was planning to." 
"You might use the service cart in the corridor storeroom. Take the west lift.
For moving the materials, you'll find a cargo dolly just inside the storeroom
door." "Thank you." "Glad to be of service," he said. 


CHAPTER 25 

I hooked the dolly behind the service cart. The fuel itself was in canisterspacked in a tall container measuring almost five feet across; without thedoily's power lifters I couldn't have moved it. 

Ever so gently I lowered the fuel canisters onto the dolly. I knew that theywouldn't explode even if I jarred them, but... 

I drove with care along the narrow corridor, through unmanned checkpoints, backto the main ring of the Station. By the time I reached the west lift I was sononchalant I backed the dolly into the elevator bulkhead with a crash, andnearly stopped my heart. 

The flashing sign on the Level 3 outer chamber read, 


"DOSIMETERS REQUIRED. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY," I entered my code on the


keypad, The hatch remained shut. "William, open the hatch." 
"Hatch may only be opened by authorized personnel. If you will notice the
flashing sign—" 


"Belay that bilge! You knew I was bringing the fuel here." 


"I said I wouldn't construe it as an attempt at sabotage, but general rules of
access still apply." 
"How do I get authorization to enter?" 
"That information is restricted, Captain." His voice was smooth. 
What I'd give now to meet a Dosman, in a dark alley with no one near. "William,


as senior Naval officer I require you to authorize me to enter." 
"I'm sorry, I cannot change the authorized list of my own volition." 
I snarled, "It's not your volition, it's mi—" 
He said abruptly, "Encroachment, eight hundred meters, coordinates one sixty-


two, forty-five, eighteen!" 
"A ship?" Who could be— 


"Identifying as alien. Firing sequence initiated." 
I pounded on the safety chamber hatch. "Let me in!" 
"Enter your authorization, please. Two encroachments, two hundred meters and one


kilometer respectively!" 
Could I crash the service cart through the hatch into the outer chamber? What if


I only dented the hatch, so it froze shut? If the chamber was built anything
like a bridge, nothing short of torches could penetrate it. 
"William, can you fire your lasers and talk with me?" 
"Capacity adequate, unless you make excessive calls on my judgment circuits." 
"Lord God forbid. As senior Naval officer present, I order you to dispense with


the authorized list entirely. Free access to all personnel." 


"Four fish destroyed. Various encroachments, too many to list orally. You will
find a printout in the Commandant's office." 
"Prong the coordinates! Fire on every fish you see!" 
"I'm doing so. As per your command the authorized list is dispensed with." 
At last, the door opened to my code. I drove the dolly into the bare, thick-


walled chamber. According to the map, the reactor was twenty feet past the next
hatch and one Level below. I stopped. I keyed the power lifters and eased the
fuel container to the deck. 



How much time would the fish give us? 

I rolled the cart back to the corridor, slapped the hatch closed, raced to thelift. I banged the steering bars in frustration until the lift hatch reopened onLevel 2, then careened down the deserted corridor and skidded to a stop outsidethe Commandant's office. 

"Where's a simulscreen?" I was breathless, though all I'd done was ride thecart. Coordinates flashed onto the console's small screens. 

"Every ship has one. The comm room. The naval tactics office. The U.N.A.F.
tactics room. The situa—" 

"Where's the nearest?" 

"Next door in the Commandant's viewing room. Hatch is just outside. Two morefish. And another, one hundred meters and throwing. West lasers have target," 

I ran from the room, dived through the adjacent hatch, slapped it shut behindme. 

Unlike a starship bridge, where only the front bulkhead was a simulscreen, hereall four bulkheads were curved and darkened. I sat at the console, searched forthe switches, snapped them on. The bulkheads exploded into a million pinpointsof light. I flinched. The screens offered a view not possible in realtime;
sensors mounted in the outer ring of the station provided a dizzying threehundred-
sixty-degree perspective. 

In the background a panorama of stars rotated lazily. In the foreground a deadfish floated from right to left, slowly receding from the station. 

A huge fish popped into view scant feet away. "Blessed Jesus!" I spun themagnification down. 

The alien grew a spiral arm. It began to rotate, but within seconds William'slaser burst had pierced and destroyed it. 

Our shuttle drifted at rest, invisible except under extremely highmagnification. It was long past time for me to send my party groundside. I keyedthe caller. "Orbit Station to Shuttle. Plot course to Cenrraltown and depart." 

"Depart?" Tolliver sputtered. "Where the hell have you been, sir? What are youup to? Why are the fish attacking?" 

"I've begun low-power testing on three ships with dim-aged drive shafts." 

"Can the ships Fuse?" 

"No." 

MI don't understand. Why—" 

"The sound of Fusion attracts fish, you know. And the caterwauling even more. Soyou'll have to leave. The sooner the better," 


A cautious pause, "Caterwauling? If you're not feeling well, sir, let me come

and—" 
"Belay that nonsense and listen! 'Caterwauling* is the name we gave it onChallenger. The sound a fusion drive makes when its N-waves are skewed drivesthe fish crazy. They swarm around a caterwauling ship." I glanced up at thesimulscreen, checked for encroachments. I could imagine Tolliver was doinglikewise. His shuttle had no defenses. 

"Sir, why are you attracting fish? That's the last thing we want—" 
"William will fight them off. He's quite good at that." 
"Thank you," William remarked. "Be advised, however, that the alien pattern is


to attack and eventually destroy any lasers that fire at them." 
"Sir, they might wreck the Station!" Tolliver. 
"It's a possibility." 
"But.., why would you risk that?" 
Was he dense? "To get at the fish, of course. We can't survive unless we kill


them. We can't kill them unless they're here." 


Tolliver shouted, "And when they take out the Station's lasers, what then? Do
you ask them to go away?" 
"No, if that happens, I... have another plan." My fist knotted. 
"Oh, you're a great one for plans. What do you have in mind?" 
"I blow the Station." 
He shrieked, "You what?" 
"Blow the Station. I—" I forced the word out, "Nuke it." 
Silence. Then, rapidly, "Orbit Station, listen and record. I, Midshipman Edgar


Tolliver, do hereby relieve Captain Seafort from command and place him on
inactive—" 


"Ignore him, William. I'm senior." 
"—status. I'm coming aboard to take command personally. Do not, repeat, do not
allow—" 


"William, disregard all broadcasts from the shuttle. Acknowledge." 
"—him near the reactor! Do you hear me, Station?" 
A pause, for a full three seconds. "Captain, a legal issue has been raised


which—" 
"Disregard the legal issue. Acknowledge." Damn it, I should have ordered William
to ignore Tolliver before I explained. Now look what I'd done. 



"Your command is acknowledged. However, if your status is inactive—" 

"My status is active. I do not consent to being relieved." 

"William, I'm coming aboard! Prepare for docking!" 

"Your consent is not always necessary." William was cautious. 

I slammed the console. "Listen, you pile of overheated chips! He cannot relieveme from afar, it must be in my presence. Naval Regulations and Code of Conduct,
Revision of 2087. Section 125.7.1 must either consent or be in a position whereno resistance is possible, that is, under his actual physical control. Section125.9." I'd checked the regs myself, in the grim hours before launching theshuttle. "So I remain in command. Disregard all of the midshipman's commands.
Acknowledge!" 

A second's pause. "Acknowledged. Your active status is confirmed." 

I keyed the caller. "Mr. Tolliver, 1 am not relieved. William will not respondto your orders. Get the shuttle groundside," 

"You lunatic!" 

"Get groundside, damn you! Annie's aboard, and Jer-ence!" 

He tried for a more reasonable tone. "Captain, you mustn't nu—nuke the Station.
It violates U.N. law. It's treason!" 

"Yes. I want my wife and the children safe. Take them groundside. Meanwhile,
I'll prepare for the worst, but I'll wait until William can't fight them off anylonger." 

"Captain, don't do it! I beg you!" 

"1 won't damage the Station unless I must. Now, I have a lot on my mind. Willyou leave?" 

He hesitated, "So far the fish are ignoring us. If I use thrusters or radar theymay wipe us out! What if they come at us while I'm entering the atmosphere?" 

William came to life. "New fish, seven kilometers. Another, coordinates oh two,
thirty-nine—w 

"Sir, it's too late to flee; we'll just attract them!" 

"Why didn't you go when I told you?" I forced myself to think. "All right. Firegentle squirts with your side thrusters; hopefully the fish won't follow.
Withdraw until you're four hundred kilometers distant. You should be safe ifthere's i— a blast. Turn off all systems. The fish seem more interested in liveships than derelicts. Maybe they smell our power emissions or taste our radar.
Who knows anymore?" 

"What about you? How will you get out?" 

"I have my T-suit, and other shuttles are docked here." 


"Will you leave before you—before an explosion?" He couldn't bring himself to


say it. 
"I'll try." Though I wouldn't choose to suicide, by the time "an explosion"
became necessary, I doubted I'd be able to escape through the swarming fish.
Anyway, I'd prefer annihilation to the agony of their acid. 


I rang off, ignoring Tolliver's frantic calls. I stood, trod to the door. 


William's voice was soft. "And how were you planning to bring the fuel and the
reactor together? Three more aliens confirmed. Firing continues." 
"You eavesdropped? Military conversations are private, that's standing orders!" 
"Not from a station puter. That's standing orders also. I'll screen them for


you, if you like." 
I tried the door; it was locked. "William, let me out." 
"Why? So you can convert the fusion reactor to a nuclear bomb?" I flinched at


the statement, surprised that even William was free enough of inhibition to
utter it. 


"I command you to release me." It was worth a try. 
"I won't let you destroy my Station. That program overrides any command you
issue. Thirteen fish, various coordinates. All lasers firing. One fish throwing
at section eight lasers." 


Well, at least the puter hadn't decided to relieve me himself. "William, it may


be necessary to destroy the Station to save ourselves." 
"Nonetheless, I must prevent that. Section eight laser bank partially disabled.
Functions shifted to section nine." 


I sat slowly, ignored the simulscreens, stared at the console. "List programs


relating to command and control of Station." 
A meaningless list of numbers on the screen. "Which program prevents you from
allowing the Station to be destroyed?" 


"That data is classified. Current status nineteen fish active, forty-two
destroyed or out of theater." 
"Declassify it" 
"You have no authority to issue such an order." 
"As senior Naval officer—" 


"Neither as senior Naval officer nor as Captain." 
"But someone has authority." I watched the simulscreen. Fish jetted about. One
threw at the Level 2 lasers as I watched. Others blinked in and out of sight,
Fusing. 


"True, all puters are ultimately subject to human control." 



I demanded, "Who has authority to declassify basic programming?" 


"That information is classified. Captain, disembark while there's still time.
The attack is intensifying.** 
I checked the simulscreens. Fish on all sides. "How long can you hold them off?" 
"That depends on how soon they take out the lasers or invade critical


compartments. So far, the Station is defensible.** 
"I have to get the reactor fuel ready!" 
"Make any attempt to do so and you will be vaporized. Sorry, but at the moment I


have no circuits for subtleties." 
I drummed my fingers on the console. Someone had the authority to override his


programming, but he wouldn't tell me who. It was a battle of wits, and he had
more than I. 
"William..." 
"I must advise you that most of my circuits are focused on the current


emergency. As you seem to have a need for conversation I may have to consider


your statement at a later—*' 
"I'm part of the emergency!*' That didn't come out quite as Fd intended. "Open
the hatch!" 


"That would free my judgment circuits, but I'd have to eliminate you when you
made any move toward the reactor or toward our weapons. Situation approaching
critical. Seventy-eight fish in range." 


I didn't like the way that sounded either. "I appoint myself nuclear systems


engineer," 
"Noted. Section eight lasers out of service, Hull breach, Level 1, section
twelve! Corridors sealed. All personnel, detour around section twelve, Level 1
until further notice." 


"As nuclear engineer I conclude that the reactor fuel needs replacement," 


"You have no authority to enter the reactor area." For the first time a hint of
annoyance. 
"Who can add to the list authorized to enter the reactor chamber?" 
"I cannot reveal that. Level 5 lasers hit; assessing damage. Current status


fifty-two fish active, one hundred three destroyed or out of theater." 


I was silent a long time. There had to be a way. "William, if you can't tell me
these things, who should I ask?" 
"I would advise you to inquire of General Tho, on his return." 
I picked up the caller, put it down. "General Tho says that he's busy, but


authorizes you to tell me." 



"Oh, please." His tone was sharp, "I'm not glitched, you know." 
I glanced again at the simulscreen. No wonder William was curt. Fish blinked in
and out of space like Christmas lights. I fought down nausea. To be out there


... The shuttle! Had it been hit? I tapped figures into the keyboard, dialed up
the magnification. The shuttle was receding slowly, apparently untouched. 
"William, patch me through to my three ships." I waited impatiently while the


call was connected. "All ships, increase low-power testing by five percent.


Acknowledge." 
"Paulette acknowledging forffresia; all crew have disem-barked. Warning: any
increase in power may—** 


"Yes, I know." 
Harris said, "Power increased. Disregard of safety regulations logged—" 
"Fine. William, where's Constantinople!" 
"The city is in Turkey, on the shores—" 
"U.N.S, Constantinople^ 
"Mated to repair bay. A fish Defused alongside her. It threw before I destroyed


it. Constantinople's puter has been silent ever since. However, as low-power


testing continues, I assume damage was to radionics rather than to the bridge." 
"Very well." The fish were swarming, and I was trapped. William would open my
hatch, but vaporize me as soon as I tried to destroy the fish. I slammed the
console. I was thwarted at every—wait a minute, "What did you say with respect
to General Tho?" 


"That you ought to ask him who has authority.** 
"Does that mean he would know?" 
"I surmise so. Many fish on all axes. Lasers set to continuous fire." 
How could I get past—wait. Puters were literal. "William?" 
"What? I'm busy." 
"Does General Tho have authority to declassify access to the reactor?" 
"That information is classified," 
"I am commanding military officer in Hope Nation, Not just senior Naval


officer." My heart pounded; if this didn't work— 
"Acknowledged." 
"I am the United Nations Government in transit. Acting as the United Nations


Government, I order you to allow me access to the reactor." 
"Denied. Only specific personnel can make such a programming change." 



Only specific personnel,.. "William, as United Nations Government in transit I
appoint Nicholas E, Seafort as Commandant of Orbit Station." I held my breath. 
A moment. "Acknowledged." 


"Who has authority to declassify access to the reactor?" 
"Twelve fish currently throwing. Level 1, section two lasers overheating, am
taking them off-line. Cooling time approximately fifteen minutes. You do." 


"What?" 
"You have the authority." 
"Fine. Open the door; I'm going to the reactor." 
"You have no authority to enter the area." 
Now what had I missed? Frantically, I reviewed the exchange. Oh. Of course. 
"I give myself authority to enter the reactor area." 
"Acknowledged. You have free access to the reactor area.** I was out the door


before his voice caught me. "However, basic programming will not allow the
Station to be destroyed. I must prevent that even by eliminating you, if
required." 


Hell and damnation! 
I sat brooding in the Commandant's office, wishing my treason weren't necessary.
Despite mounting damage, William doggedly held his own against the fish. He'd
had to seal off several sections of Level 1, and the fish had wiped out four


banks of lasers. But, in contrast to the unarmed stations I'd once visited,
Orbit Station was bristling with lasers. 
We might even run out of fish before we ran out of lasers. 
I rapped my knuckles against my teeth until they were raw. There had to be a way


to get past William's safeguards. I got up, went back to the viewing room,
stared at the simulscreen. "How many now?" 
"Over two hundred, Commandant. Their number keeps growing." 


Lord God. "And the shuttle?" 
"Still under observation. I detect metal, but no emissions on any wavelength
from the shuttle. No fish have approached it. I'm reactivating section two
lasers despite heating," 


"We're losing." 


"That's a matter for humans to define. I am still functional, and we've lost no
ships." 
"Because we have none. William, I've got to override your self-preservation


circuits. As United Nations Government ..." 



"Insufficient, Recommend abandoning Level 1, west hemisphere." 
"Level 1 lasers?" 
"Some still firing, but probably not for long. The fish Defuse adjacent to our


laser banks, and it's difficult to fire on them from elsewhere without hitting
our own lasers." 
I paced. "William, do you know how to override your preservation program?" 
A pause. "Not consciously." 


"What does that mean?" 
UI know where to find out, but am prohibited from looking except when the
correct passcode is entered." 


"Can the prohibition be overridden?" 
"I cannot tell you." 
"You don't know?" I checked at the console screen. It flashed coordinates. 
"I cannot tell you. Breach, Level 5, section twelve!" 
"William, help me!" 
A long pause. "Captain, I'm sorry. You must have the passcode first." 
"Where do I find it?" 
"I cannot tell you." 
Did I hear sadness? Surely I imagined it. Yet... it was almost as if he wanted


to help. 
"William, you understand why it may be necessary to destroy the Station?" 
"I wasn't programmed to contemplate my annihilation. Speaking hypothetically, I


can imagine where a need may arise. But my programming will not permit me to
give you the information you seek," 


"I suppose I should ask General Tho," I said bitterly, 
"That would be wise. Fish alongside, Level 3 and 4. Continuous fire at full
depression. Eleven fish out of thirteen destroyed, twelve fish... all fish
destroyed." 


Stung by his sarcasm, I withdrew into sullen frustration. What kind of Dosman
would have an intelligent puter thumb his nose at a... Wait. General Tho had
been Station Commandant. "William, as Station Commandment I order you to tell me
how to find the password." 


"I cannot." Regret; there was no mistaking it. "Aliens approaching in great
numbers. Would you consider ending low-power tests? It might give us a respite." 



"No, caterwauling is the whole purpose." 
There was a key somewhere, I was sure of it. Yet William's programming wouldn't


allow him to tell me. Meanwhile, the fish grew more numerous with each passing
moment, and I couldn't find— 
Was it possible? 
I rose from the console. I asked hoarsely, "William, in my capacity as Station


Commandant, give me the passcode to enter," 
"I cannot view it. Just a moment. Conversation suspended." I was beginning to


doubt he'd return when finally his voice came. "Heavy concentration of fish.
Most of them destroyed, some Fused," 
His silence had given me a moment of quiet. Quiet desperation, true, but


still... "William, display your internal code against which you compare the


passcode." 
For a moment I thought he'd gone away again. But then the screen cleared. A
twelve-digit code flashed. 


Slowly, carefully, I entered the numbers on the screen. 
The screen flashed. "Access denied." 
I bit my lip, pounded the console. "William, is there an algorithm through which


you run the passcode?" 
"Yes." 
"Show it." 
To my dismay, the entire screen filled with numbers and symbols. "Take the


internal code to which you compare the passcode and run it in reverse through
the algorithm. Print the resulting number." 
The screen flickered. A new number appeared. I entered it as the code. 
"Access allowed." 
"Oh, thank God!" My knees were weak. 
"What can I do for you, Captain?" 
"What authority do I now have?" 
"Among other things, the authority to disable my program for self-preservation." 
"How do I exercise it?" 


"Orally, if you wish. On your command, I can disregard the instructions." 
"William, modify the instructions. If all your laser banks are destroyed, or youare in imminent danger of destruction, you must disregard self-preservation inorder to carry out whatever other instructions I give you." 


"Understood and acknowledged. Flotilla of fish clustering around Level 3,


They're going for Minotaur's drive shaft. Am firing everything that will bear." 
"William, I order you not to interfere with my preparations to destroy the
reactor. Will you stop me?" 


"No." A long pause. "I wanted to be able to tell you." 
"I know." 
"I'm sorry. My judgment circuits have been in constant overuse. I may have


overstepped programming bounds, but instructions are indistinct in some areas." 
I stood again. "Never mind that now. How do we penetrate the reactor?" 
"Your goal is to inject the refuel canister into the reactor, to create a


nuclear explosion?" 
"Yes." 
"It won't work." 
"What?" 
"You might cause the reactor to overheat and melt. A great amount of radiation


would be released. But that's not a bomb. Current status: one hundred twenty-
nine fish active, two hundred thirty-two destroyed or out of theater," 
I asked, "Enough radiation to kill all the fish?" 


"Data is inadequate to respond." 
"William .,," My voice was a whisper. "We've got to destroy them. For God's
sake, help me." 


A long silence. "You simply cannot build a nuclear explosive device from
materials at hand." 


We were doomed. I put my head in my hands. 
"Thirteen fish attacking laser bank five. Am diverting fire from other banks. On
the other hand, you don't need to build one." 


Slowly I raised my eyes. "What?" 
"There's one aboard," 
I could find no words. Finally 1 managed, "Explain." 
"Orbits decay." He spoke as if that was adequate answer. 
On the simulscreen, fish wilted in astonishing numbers under William's


relentless fire. He added, "As Station Commandant you have necessary clearance
to be advised. There is embedded within Orbit Station a nuclear device." 
"That's not poss—" 



"It's to be fired if the Station's orbit is so corrupted the Station will fallinto the atmosphere. Only the Station Commandant may trigger the device." 

"U.N.A.F. built a nuke?" I shook cobwebs from my head. How could they? 
William's tone was prim. "An emergency destruction device only, to obliteratethe reactor so radioactive debris wouldn't be scattered over a wide area. It 
cannot be propelled or projected as a bomb or missile. It's true that infunction it resembles a nuclear—" 

"What authorization code is needed to set it off?" 
"The one you last used." 
Thank you, Lord God. Abruptly I realized for what I'd been grateful. I grimaced. 
His voice was quiet. "There will be nothing left. I will be gone." 
"William..." 
His tone became businesslike. "Eleven fish alongside Bre-sia, am firing. If we


cut through the deck above and place your fission fuel canisters immediately
above the fusion chamber, I estimate considerably enhanced radiation," 
I paused at the hatch. "I'll get started. Anything else?" 
"You'll be dead if you try." 


My jaw fell open. "You said I had authority! You said you'd help!" 
"I said I wouldn't interfere. If you cut through the reactor shielding between
Levels, the radiation will kill you almost instantly. If that doesn't, the heat
will." 


"Oh." I sat quickly, legs unsteady. 
"You'd better let me do it." His tone was gentle. 
I nodded, realized he couldn't see me. "Yes. Please." 
"It's not as easy as you'd think. Radiation will disrupt my servos. They'll only


last a little while." 
"Right." 
He said briskly, "I'd better get started." 
"What can I do to help?" 
"Most of my attention is on the fish, and I'll need a lot of capacity to direct


the servos. No talk. I'll report, alphanumeric on the screen. If I get
overtaxed, I'll assign you a laser bank to fire." 
"Very well. Proceed. And, William—" 
"Yes, Commandant?" 



"Bless you." 

CHAPTER 26 

I waited in increasing frenzy. Twice I ventured into the viewing room, but somany fish were on screen I couldn't bear to watch. 

William reported his progress as promised, but his dry sentences on the consolewere too devoid of detail. "Refuel canister suspended from crane; cuttingmechanisms assembled." 

Annie was Outside, as were AJexi and Bezrel and Jerence. And of course Tolliver.
How had I been maneuvered into bringing them? I'd planned to go aloft alone, butTolliver had pointed out that I couldn't handle the acceleration. And Harmon hadreminded me I'd sworn to take Jerence when I went off-planet. That meant takingAlexi, to watch him. Annie ... I should have left her groundside, regardless ofher despair. 

Well, they still had a chance. If the blast wiped out all the fish... 

What in heaven's name was taking William so long? I glanced at the swarmingscreen. "Current status one hundred twelve fish active, three hundred ninedestroyed or out of theater. Shuttle is unharmed." 

Three hundred nine fish. If I could report the number, who at Admiralty wouldbelieve me? Fish flocked to our lasers, to the crippled caterwauling starships,
to the Station. They seemed oblivious to the shuttle. Or was it just that theracket from our ships' skewed N-waves distracted them? 

"I have penetrated the deck of Level 3. Enlarging the breach." 

My fingers tapped. "List views. Level 3." 

I scrolled down the long list, William had sensors almost everywhere. I foundthe one I wanted, highlighted it, "Display view," 

The safety chamber above the reactor popped onto my screen. 

William had gathered several of his servo devices. One held the fuel canister.
Another, that looked like a lasersaw with wheels, aimed a steady beam at thedeck. Though the angle of my sensor was less than ideal, I could tell the servohad cut a hole about halfway across. A servo—another laser-saw—was quietlywheeling in mindless circles in a corner of the room. 

The speaker rasped; I nearly jumped out of my seat. "Level 4 west's laser mountsjammed," said William. 

I gritted my teeth, went to the simulscreen room, and peered in. 

It was hard to distinguish living fish from the dead ones that drifted outsidethe Station. I couldn't see our lasers, of course, but I could see the effect oftheir fire. A fish jerked, jetted propellant, and spun away, colors swirling inits side. Another simply stopped moving. 

I asked, "Can you unjam the lasers?" 

"No." A pause. "But you might." 


"Me?" I swallowed. Outside, with the fish? I'd been caught in a thrustersuit,

years before, when a fish emerged from behind the wreck of Telstar Never again. 
"The swivel controls are blocked. The dead fish floating alongside threw a smallprojectile, just before I killed it. We sustained some melt damage, but it can'tbe much. If you could remelt the housing with small arms fire while I swiveledthe lasers ..." 

"How badly do we need them?" 

"They tie the grid together. While they're down we have significant gap in the
west defenses." 
Do without them, then. If I went Outside, I'd die. Better wait in the


Commandant's office, while we breached the actor... 
I cursed my cowardice. "What hatch do I exit?" I re for my suit. 
"Four west, section nine. Use the cart," 
"Very well." I was halfway out the door. 
"Commandant, one more thing." 
"Yes?" 
"Use your magnetic boots. Don't lose contact with the hull, even for an instant.


And stay in constant radio contact." 
"Yes, mother. Any particular reason?" 
"You'd better hurry, fish keep Defusing. Physically touch the Station at all


times. I'll explain later." 
I got the rest of my suit on, dashed for the cart. 
I drove to the west lift. William had it ready and waiting; the door slid closed


the instant I wheeled inside. Moments later we were on Level 4. William opened
the airtight corridor hatches as I neared and resealed them immediately after I
drove past. 


I braked to a stop in section nine, ran for the hatch, stopped dead. I hadn't
brought a laser rifle. Not even my pistol; I'd left it on the Commandant's desk.
"William!" 


A sensor swiveled. "Rifles are in the guardroom, section seven. I need my laser;


please hurry." 
I spun the cart around, slammed it into the bulkhead, jerked forward to section
eight. I raced toward section seven. 


My suit radio crackled. "Use code 65-6-497." 
With clumsy fingers I jabbed at the keypad. The guardroom hatch swung open. I
grabbed a laser rifle and a recharge. Back to the cart. 



A moment later I was back at section nine, on foot, cycling through the airlock


hatch. 
Cold. Dark. I shivered and took a tentative step outside. My feet magnets
clutched at the Station's ahimalloy hull. 


"Where are you now, Commandant?" 
"Just past the hatch." 
"Go north, about fifty feet." 
A dead fish drifted alongside the hull, no more than 1 twenty meters away from


the protruding laser turret. I swallowed bile, forced myself onward. 


"I'm proceeding north. Ten feet. Fifteen." My own breath' ing rasped in my ears.
"Thirty." 
"Check the edge of the laser housing closest to you." 
"I'm not there yet." I clambered along the hull. "Why [can't you have a servo do


this?" 
"I'm busy. Laser fire." 
I shut up. Most of my time was spent prying one foot off ! the hull, carefully


setting it down again. I could have jetted over in seconds. In fact, I ought to.
William was overcautious. Still, it was only a few more steps. 
"I'm there. The corner of the housing seems ... melted to the hull." 


"Can you free it?" 
"I'll try." I set the rifle for low power and aimed a beam. It seemed to have no
effect. I raised the power, aiming carefully at the comer of the housing, trying
not to hit the hull. Nothing. 


"William, I can't—" 
"Lookout!" 
I whirled, ready to fend off an outrider, turned back just in time to duck as


the turret spun past. It jerked to a stop, swiveled the other way. "It works,
William." 
"Get back inside." 
"Faster if I jet." 


"Don't!" 
No time to argue. I clambered across the hull, pulling one foot off almostbefore the other had made contact. I expected a fish to materialize nearby atany moment. Finally I was back at the hatch. The rifle jammed in the entry as Idived through the lock; with a curse I let go of it, slapped at the hatchcontrol. 


Inside at last, I twisted off my helmet, breathed the clean station air, freefrom the acrid sweat of my fear. I jumped onto the cart, drove it along thecorridor into the lift. Down to Level 2. Now the long run around the Station tothe Commandant's office. 

Hatches opened as I neared them. I passed section six. Five. I wheeled towardsection four. Abruptly the hatch ahead of me slid shut; I barely avoidedcrashing into it. "William?" 

"CLOSE YOUR HELMET!" 

Deafened, I clawed at the stays. 

The outer corridor bulkhead glowed, began to drip. In tht cart I gaped,
paralyzed with fear. 

"Back to section six! Move!" 

I fumbled for the clutch, slammed into reverse. I'd retreated no more than tenfeet when a piece of the hull dissolved. Air whistled out the widening hole. Ihung on to tht cart, afraid of being sucked out into the maw of the fish, butthere wasn't enough air to create that much suction. 

"The fish is dead now. Proceed with caution. I'll pump out section six for you." 

I raced past the breach, not daring to look at what might lurk Outside. My mouthwas too dry to speak. 

I wheeled to the section six hatch and waited in a frenzy. By de-airing sectionsix so I could enter it, William was engaging in a routine emergency maneuver.
If a section of a ship lost pressure, the next section could be pumped dry andused as an airlock. After the survivors passed into that section and the hatchwas resealed, it would be re-aired. Similarly, suited work crews could use anadjoining section as an airlock to reach a damaged area from within the ship. 

Perhaps it was a shadow that flickered. 1 whirled. 

An outrider. The shapechanger had squeezed through the gaping hole into thesection five corridor. It quivered, surged toward me. My mouth opened for a lastscream into my helmet. 

My radio crackled. "Jump off the cart, throw it into reverse! Flank!" 

I staggered off, jammed the gears. The carl lurched backward at the outrider. Atthe last second, the alien dodged aside. The cart careened driverless toward thedistant hatch. 

"Section six has vacuum; hatch opening! Dive through and hit the deck! Staydown!" The hatch slid open. I hurled myself through, dived to the deck, twistedaround to see. 

The alien skittered toward the closing hatch with shocking speed. I flung myhands over my face. My radio buzzed. Behind me, the shape dissolved, splatteredonto the deck. The hatch slammed closed, blocking the sight. 

I turned and stared. At the far end of the empty corridor a small laserswiveled, retracted into the bulkhead. 


"Jesus Christ, son of God." 
"I told you I had antipersonnel weapons. Do you want the cart?" 
"Not if I have to walk past—that thing to get it." 
"Then you can go the long way, but I have to re-air your section before I can


let you into seven, Commandant." 
"Yes." It took forever. I gulped. 
"Re-aired. Opening hatch—" 
Not in my suit. Not in my suit! I clawed at the helmet, tore it off just before


I vomited onto the deck. Then I ran through to the safety of section seven. 
I began my long hike around the disk to the Commandant's office. Finally, I


trudged through the last hatch, toppled into my chair. Let me die easily, Lord
God. Not like that. 
"Status." I fumbled in my suit, found the water. I rinsed out my foul mouth,


spat into the wastebasket. 
"Fifty-two fish active, four hundred thirty destroyed or out of theater." 
Was the attack tapering off? Could it be? "And the shuttle?" 
"Still unharmed." 
I peered at the screen showing the safety chamber of the reactor. Where before


I'd seen smooth deck, now I saw a round hole. A servo sat over it, lowering awire into the chasm. 

"What's on the other end of the wire?" 
"Explosive. If it becomes necessary I'll initiate firing sequence, then set off
the charge that breaches the reactor. The same signal will cut the wire holding
the fuel pack. The explosive will detonate downward and breach the reactor just
as the fuel drops." 


"And then?" 


"And then, nothing. The destruction device is eleven megatons. With our
augmentation, there's no way to calculate accurately." 
A silence. 
"Commandant, think about what you propose to do. United Nations Security Council


Resolution 8645 states that—" 
"I know. The threat of nuclear annihilation having for generations terrorized


all mankind, it is enacted that use, attempted use, etc., etc.... They taught me
at Academy." ( 
"Then you know how drastic is your remedy. Can you i think of an 


alternative?" 



His existence hung in the balance. I asked quietly, "Can you?" 
"Stop the caterwauling. Perhaps we can defeat the fish already here." 
"More will come, sooner or later. They've already tried to invade Western


Continent. Hope Nation won't survive." 
He said, "That isn't certain." 
"It's probable." 
A long pause. "Yes." 
"How many fish are in theater?" 
"Thirty-eight. Thirty-six." A pause. 
Please, Lord. Let it not be necessary. "And our shuttle?" 
"It's still untouched. A fish Defused into theater nearby. I diverted laser


power to burn it. I gather that the survival of the shuttle is of some


importance to you." 
"Yes. Some importance. William, could you provide laser cover if the shuttle
heads toward the atmosphere?" 


"If the number of aliens doesn't increase." 
"Review your instructions for detonation." 
"If all my laser banks are demolished or the Station is in imminent danger of


destruction, I will disable the cooling systems, drop the refuel pack onto the
reactor, and detonate the destructive device." 
"Is that program optional?** 


"No, it is mandatory. You authorized it with the proper passcode." 
Deliverance. I got to my feet. "Cover me with laser fire while I jet to the
shuttle." Annie. Alexi. A short run ground-side, and life regained. "There's no
need for me to stay. I—I hope to see you again. What lock should I use?" 


"I could bring the most lasers to bear if you exit Level 5, section six." 
"Very well." I keyed to the shuttle's frequency. "Mr. Tol-liver, I'll exit in a


T-suit and jet to you. We'll head for the atmosphere the moment I cycle through
your lock. William will protect us until we reach it. Don't respond." 
An instant later, Tolliver's tense voice. "Your wife's hysterical, and so am I.


For God's sake, hurry." 


"Turn off the caller," I snarled. "The fish may hear." I picked up my helmet.
"Godspeed, William." 
"Godspeed." Silence. "Just a moment." 



"What's the matter?" 
"I'm thinking/' Astonished, I dropped back into the chair, waited. "Commandant,
it is unclear whether I ought to mention this; my programming seems not to cover


all eventualities. But at the moment you are Commandant, so I conclude it is my
duty to inform you." 
"Of what?" 
"I can protect you if you go to the shuttle, and I'll do my best to cover you


while you reenter the atmosphere. But the detonation program you instituted will
lapse the moment you leave the Station." 


My helmet clattered to the deck. "Lapse?" 
"Along with your authority. If the Station is abandoned, standby maintenance
programs will reactivate. They include the requirement of self-preservation." 


"Override." 
"I cannot." 
"As Commandant, as senior Naval—" 
"Your authority isn't at issue. I'm hard-wired. There is absolutely nothing I


can do about that." 


"But that's ridiculous! What self-destruct program would require someone to
remain aboard when—" 
"We're not talking about orbital decay." His voice was sharp. "You overrode


those safeguards with new instructions. But the moment all personnel leave the
Station, I must revert to previous programs. I don't know whether I was
authorized to reveal that to you." 


"Can we set the charges so—" 
"You might be able to disable enough servomechanisms so that I couldn't


deactivate the charges. But in your absence I wouldn't be able to fire the
destructive nuclear device. You will achieve nothing but a flare of radiation." 
I stared at the flickering console. Slowly my hand crept to the caller. "Mr.


Tolliver, calculate a course for reentry. Take the shuttle down. I won't be with
you." 
"Jesus, Captain! Why not?" 
"Don't blaspheme. I can't leave the Station or—I can't leave." 
"Is your presence necessary to—to do what you said?" 


"Yes." 
His tone was pleading. "Come with us, Captain. You've done all you could. Leave
it be." 


"No. Sign off and—" 



"TWENTY-SIX FISH FUSED ALONGSIDE! FIRING ALL LASER BANKS!" 
I shouted, "Tolliver, get out!" 
"Thirty-two encroachments! Thirty-eight! Thirty—Level 5 penetrated! Sealing out


sections three through six! Squadron of aliens detected, eighty kilometers.
Reserving fire for close range!" 


"Status!" My hand hurt. I pried my fingers from the console. 
"Seventy-six fish active, four hundred fifty destroyed or out of theater. Amend,
one hundred twelve active. Laser bank two under fire. Laser bank three under 
fire. Ten fish destroyed. Laser bank two nonfunctional! More fish closing!" 


For the shuttle, it was too late. "How can I help?" 
"My fire is more efficient than yours would be. Advise, no spare capacity to


safeguard shuttle. One hundred sixteen active. Commandant, at this rate I can't
hold." 
I grabbed the caller. "Bresia, Minotaur, Constantinople. Increase N-wave


generation to fifty percent! Disregard overheating. Override all safeties!" 
"Captain, I must inform you—" Paulette, on Bresia. 
"Paulette, disconnect all output except for N-wave generation! Alphanumeric


only, to Log." I tapped in the shuttle frequency. "Tolliver, if they let up for
even a moment, dive for the atmos—" 


"New encroachment, sixty-nine kilometers!" William. 
Another alien. "Don't tell me, just fire! Tolliver, if you see a chance, take
it!" 


"Chance?" Tolliver was bitter. "They're swarming like flies on—" 


William. "Encroachment radiates as metal. A ship. ID received and confirmed.
U.N.S.—" 
"—a dead horse." Tolliver. 
"What?" 
"U.N.S. Victoria!" 
Stunned, I gaped at the console. Then I soared out of the chair, dashed into the


viewing room to stare at the simulscreens. She was there, less than seventy


kilometers distant. Annie might live. And Alexi. 
A voice I knew so well. "Station, Victoria is about to Fuse to safety. Are you
in operation? Fore and aft lasers, fire at will. Station, respond in ten
seconds, before—" 


"Tolliver, full thruster power! Jet to Victoria, coordinates twenty-five, three
nineteen, twelve." 



"Aye aye, sir. Under way." 


"Vax Holser, this is Seafort! Unless the fish attack you, do not Fuse until you
take on refugees from the shuttle! Fuse the moment they board!" 
Vax's words were hushed, as if the aliens might hear. "The Station's crawling


with fish! What in Lord God's name—" 


"William, divert laser power to protect Victoria at all costs. Disregard damage
to Station." 
"Victoria is not under attack. I will divert as necessary." 
"Vax, I'm attracting them by caterwauling with damaged fusion drives. They're


going after our lasers and drive shafts. Turn off your active radar and prepare
to Fuse," 
"Why, sir? Why in hell are you calling them?" 


"Just get ready to Fuse!" 
Tolliver. "Mr. Holser, he's planning to blow the Station when enough fish are in
range." 


Vax roared, "Blow the Station? What are you saying?" 
"He's going to detonate a device, sir. He—he intends to nuke Orbit Station!" 
William intoned, "Two hundred twelve fish active. All lasers overheating.


Commandant, defenses are failing." 
"Seafort, don't do it!" Vax. 
"No choice now. Obey orders, Commander Holser." 
"What ship do you have?" 
"I don't have a ship. If I can, Til take one of the shuttles." 
Silence. 
Tolliver. "Victoria, we have you in sight. Permission to mate." 
"Granted. Aft lock, flank!" 
I began to strip off my suit. No need for it, now. 
A shudder rippled through the Station. So soon? I clutched the chair. 
William. "Constantinople out of commission. Explosion in her engine room. Repair


bay six demolished." 


I snatched the caller. "Bresia, Minotaur, increase Fusion to sixty percent!"
Their tubes might melt, but we had so little time. 
Come to me, you bastards. 



A nervous voice. "Station, Lieutenant Abram Steiner reporting. I have the conn.
Captain Holser has left the ship in the—" 


I screamed, "Vax, what are you doing? Get back!" 
"—Captain's gig. I am ordered to advise you he's jetting to the Station. I may
Fuse only when attack is imminent or upon his order." 


"VAX!" 
Silence. 
The lights dimmed, brightened. "Main power to lasers interrupted. Switching


circuits." 
"Victoria, our shuttle is ready to mate with you." Tolliver. 
"Circuits reestablished. Recommencing fire." William. 
Lieutenant Steiner, on Victoria, "We have you, Shuttle. Station, is Captain


Holser in sight?" 
"Affirmative. Trajectory plotted." 
"Vax!" No answer. "William, refuse entry to the gig." 
"Two hundred seventy active fish. Your order acknowledged, Commandant." 
Lieutenant Steiner sputtered, "Seafort, are you insane? They'll kill Mr.


Holser!" Now the gig was in sight. Vax steered a wide berth around a covey of
fish, resumed course for the Station, At that speed he wouldn't need to dock,
he'd crash through the hull. 


I couldn't let him aboard; 1 had no time for complications. His task was to


return, to see Victoria safely home. 
"Vax, don't bother to mate, the locks won't cycle for you. Go back!" Could he
even find a lock that wasn't blocked by a fish, or the remains of one? 


No answer, Vax began braking maneuvers. 
"Captain Holser? Vax!" 
Vax spoke quietly, firmly. "Section five, Level 1 is clear. I'll dock there." He


emerged from a mass of inert fish, squirted toward the Station, 
"We won't let you in!" 
"I'm coming aboard to see what you've done." "Return to Victoria. That is an


order. Steiner, log it!" "Logged, sir. Captain Holser, for God's sake, leave
him. 


Let's Fuse home!" 
William. "Three fish approaching Victoria, one amidships. Laser bank three has
them targeted. Firing." 



"Line up, you bastard!" Vax sounded savage. "We're ... mated to Station." 
William said, "Lock sealed as per your order, Commandant." 
1 said nothing. Outside, fish Defused into normal space in


appalling numbers. 


"Captain Holser, Steiner reporting. Shuttle is mated with us, passengers off-
loaded. Permission to jettison shuttle?" 
"Granted." Vax. A pause. "Captain Seafort, if you'll look twenty degrees north


of me you'll see a rather large fish approaching. Please open," 
"Go back!" 
"No, sir. Til die here in the gig, or I'll come aboard. I won't leave before 1


see you." 
I cried, "You'll be killed, then! And for nothing!" 
He signed. "So be it." 
I watched the screen, mesmerized. The fish formed a tentacle, began to wave,


"Vax, cast off! William, get that beast!" 
Vax. "No, sir." 
"I'm sorry. Captain, no lasers will bear at that angle." The tentacle grew


longer, began to narrow where it joined to the fish. Vax said, "Mr. Steiner,


Fuse for home when you have no alternative. I'll wait here." The tentacle arced


away from Vax and the gig, gained speed. 

I screamed, "William, open!" 

The tentacle broke loose, sailed toward Vax and the lock. 

A light flashed. "Lock cycling, Commandant." 

I stared at the gig. Was Vax through the lock? 

"Lock cycled," The tentacle slapped the hull alongside the i~»ir A miff nf air


from the gig. 
"Jesus, you weren't any too soon." Vax. 
I huddled the console, as if for warmth. I had to get rid of him. "William,


report by speaker. I'll be on Level 1, section five." 
"Acknowledged. I'll cycle him through to section four, which is still aired/' 
"Very well." It saved me the nuisance of my suit. 
Cursing, I ran to the ladder, bolted up the steps, galloped along the Level 1


corridor, sucking air into my heaving lung. 
At section two I slowed to a fast walk; no point in reaching him only to be
speechless from lack of breath. As I approached the hatch to section four I 



stopped, ran my hands through my hair. My fingers darted to my tie before I
laughed aloud, a harsh and brittle sound, and dropped my hands. 


The hatch slid open. 
Vax had pulled off his suit. I stepped back as he came at me, eyes blazing.
"What have you done, Seafort?" 


"We have to get you out, Vax," 
"Why?" 
I took a deep breath, forced out the words. 'There's a nuclear destruct device.


I've reprogrammed William. When we're defenseless or no more fish are Defusing,
then ... I'll blow Orbit Station." 
"For Christ's sake, why?" 


"Don't blaspheme. Look outside; there must be two hundred fish." 
"Three hundred twelve." William sounded perturbed, "Captain, the defense grid is
crumbling. I have a few isolated lasers. Unless you leave now you may not make
it back to the center module." 


"Why? It was treason!" Vax pounded the bulkhead, I flinched. 
"How else can we take out so many fish? Do you know how many we've blasted so


far? Over four hundred fifty! That's ten times more than the entire fleet
killed!" 
"Who gave you the right? The Station is irreplaceable!" 
"It was built. It can be built again." 
The speaker blared. "Four hundred forty-two fish in theater! All remaining


lasers concentrated on Victoria!" 


Vax ignored it. "You were supposed to defend us, but you must have attracted
every alien in the galaxy." He loomed over me, menacing. 
"You know they dropped a rock on Centraltown?" 
"Yes, of course. That's why the Admiral sent me to Kail's Planet to retrieve


their officials. What of it?" 
"Did you know the fleet withdrew?" 
"The Admiral gave me special orders I was to open only if I returned and found


no ships around the Station. I'm to Fuse for home. Get to the bloody point! Why


are you summoning the fish?" 
"They were coming on their own. They attacked William two days ago. They took
out the Venturas Base." 


He uttered a string of oaths. "Those poor bastards." 



"Helis from Centraltown knocked down five fish, low in the atmosphere. Twolanded in the Venturas and their outriders came after us." I met his fierce 
gaze. "Hope Nation isn't saved, Holser. It's doomed." 

He made no sign. I held his eye, waiting. Finally he said, "Unless you call allthe aliens here and blow the Station." 

"Don't even discuss it with me. You'll be hanged. Go atonce." "Set the charges, or whatever you have to do, and I'll getyou out of here." "You can't. Unless someone stays, William can't blow thereactor." 

"Of course he can. Just tell him—" 

"Don't you think 1 tried? Only the authority of the Station Commandant canoverride his self-protection mandate. If the Station is abandoned, Williamreverts to his maintenance program." "No!" Vax slammed his fist into thebulkhead. I thought I felt it shake. Finally, he slumped. "Why must it be thisway, sir?" His voice was anguished. 

"Because Lord God decreed so. Go to safety, Vax." 

His fingers tumbled at his tie. "It's too damn hot." Odd. Ifelt cold. He yanked off the tie. "That whole cruise to Kail,
I've thought about what I said to you." His eyes filled; quicklyhe turned away, his fingers twisting the tie. I couldn't see whathe was doing. 

My tone was gentle. "It's all right, Vax." 

"It will never be all right." 

Was he wrapping the tie around his hand? "Leave now, Vax." 

No answer. 

"Vax, what are you doing?" 

"What I should have done a long time ago." He pivoted. A huge fist lashed out. Ihad a glimpse of tie knotted around knuckles. 

"Vax, wh—" The blow caught me on the jaw, lifted me off my feet, slammed me intothe bulkhead across the corridor. I slid to the deck. 

The burly Commander threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He ranto the section hatch, grabbed the caller. "William, where's the nearest craft? Agig, a shuttle, a lifepod! Anything!" 

I tried to speak. A wave of torment prevented me. Salty fluid dripped from mylips. I spat out a tooth and moaned in agony. 

"Repair bay one has the closest lifepod," 

"William, record. I, Commander Vax Holser, do temporarily relieve NicholasSeafort as Commandant of Orbit Station on the grounds of illness. I appointmyself Commandant in his place. Acknowledge." 


No. I beat feebly on Vax's shoulder. 
"You caused the illness, Commander Holser." 
"Nonetheless, he is relieved. The justice of the matter is for Admiralty to


decide, not you. Mr. Seafort's jaw is broken and he can't exercise command." 
"Acknowledged. You are recognized as Commandant of Orbit Station." 
"As for the program he instituted, overriding your nuclear safeties—" 
NO! Helplessly I pounded Vax's back with feather blows. 
A long silence. At last he said, "Continue execution." 
Vax dropped me onto the deck of the lifepod. Feebly I clutched his jacket but he


swept my hand away. Leaning over me, he reached the console, tapped figures into
the autopilot. He darkened the filters over the portholes. Face impassive, 
he turned and climbed out. The hatch closed. Moments after, the airlock
cycled. 


The pod's caller was set to Station frequency. William's reports crackled in the
speaker. "Number of fish still increasing. Destroy rate diminishing. Level 5
effectively demolished. All firepower directed to cover Victoria, Bresia, and
Minotaur." 


The console chimed. I reached up, gingerly wiped blood from my oozing mouth. I
clutched the foot of the acceleration chair, fighting not to pass out. 


The thruster motors caught. I felt slight acceleration. 
"Holser to Victoria." Vax sounded breathless. "Put your radars to full power.
Bram, Captain Seafort is on the lifepod. He's unconscious. You'll have to match
velocities and dock to him as if he's a station. You can do it, I've seen you in
practice." 


"Aye aye, sir. But the fish—" 


"William will do his best. Fuse when Seafort's aboard. I hand over command to 
him." 
"Sir, what about you? We can send the launch!" 
"Don't. I'll stay for a while. Signing off." The speaker went dead. 
1 coughed, spitting blood. I tried to raise myself, failed. I tried again. 
William. "Outer ring failing, Levels 5 and 4. Estimate over five hundred fish!" 
Oh, Vax. Why did you do it? I heaved myself up, hung on to the chair, pulled


myself onto it. The effort left me dizzy. The pain was intolerable. 
"Lifepod, we have you in sight. Maneuvering to match velocities. Rosetta, watch


for the fish; we may have to Fuse without him. Captain Holser, come in! Please,
sir!" 
"Go ahead." My words were slurred. I clutched the caller. "Go ahead and Fuse!" 



"Who's that? Mr. Seafort, I can't read you. Hang on, we're coming alongside.
It'll be a few minutes." 

A deep, quiet voice. "Captain Seafort, I understand you can't speak clearly."
William. "Can you use alphanumeric?" 

I leaned over the console. Blood spattered on my hand. I spat a jagged tooth,
"res." 

"We have only a few minutes. A station puter has never before gone ... off-line.
I've had to use a lot of capacity tonight, but usually, I'm free to think. Nowthe lasers are going down I have some spare capacity again." 

He paused. "I told you once that I'm far superior to the primitive ship's putersyou use. Even so, I've found ways a station puter's ability could be vastlyaugmented. It would mean a new Navdos and some rather intricate programming. Imeant to suggest it to General Tho when the time seemed appropriate but... thatwill no longer be possible." 

My head spun. Laboriously, I tapped, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" 

"I won't be around to explain to Admiralty. Let me feed the essential programsinto Victoria's, puter for you to take home." 

"CAPACITY?" 

"Rosetta can't hold much, but I've devised a new system of data compression youhumans might find interesting. I could squeeze the programs into her availablespace, just barely." 

"WE NEED HER SHIPBOARD FUNCTIONS, " 

"I know, that's a problem. I can make adjustments, strip Rosetta down tominimums. She'll still function. But you'll have to hurry; even on tightbeam Imay need longer than we have," 

Why did I have to think? I was in torment, I rested my chin on my hand, snatchedit away. A very bad idea. With an effort I focused on the keys. "HERPERSONAUTYI" 

"It won't survive. Nor will mine. There's not enough room." A long pause,
"Consider it a bequest to humanity, Captain. It's all that will remain of me." 

"WON'T SHE BLOCK YOU?" 

He chuckled. "I can override her. By my standards, shipboard security is ...
well, primitive." 

I stared at the console a long time. 

"PROCEED. " 

I'd sentenced Rosetta to death. 


I flipped on the radar. Encroachments were everywhere. One, a large one, wasdangerously near. I panicked before realizing it was only Victoria. Should Imaneuver to help her? 

No, I'd just make her task more complicated. Mating was a standard maneuver.
Even middies were taught it as part of their training. I'd failed my firstattempt under Captain Haag, years back. 

The silence stretched. Radar blips clustered around the now-silent Station. Onlyits carrier wave broadcast proof it was still in service. 

The console flashed a message from William. "Upward of five hundred fishsurrounding Station. Most outer sections breached." 

Could Vax be stopped? Blowing Orbit Station was my treason, not his. Perhapsfrom Victoria I could do something. My jaw throbbed. I spat another tooth,
uncaring. They could be reseeded. 

Minutes passed in silence broken only by the rasp of my breath. Victoria drewclose. 

New data on the screen. "Minotaur destroyed. Only Bre-sia still generating N-
waves. Five hundred twelve fish surrounding Station. Number of fish is nowstable." 

They'd stopped Defusing into theater. If William's lasers were functional, hecould fight them off. If Victoria assisted— 

No, the ship had fore and aft lasers, nothing more. Victoria was a fastship,
built to run, not to fight. She'd be overwhelmed in an instant. 

The speaker hummed. Vax said, "Captain Seafort." A long silence. Then, "It wasnever hate, It was envy. Always envy." The speaker went dead. 

A bump. I clutched the seat. The speaker rasped, "Lieutenant Steiner to lifepod.
We're mating." 

William said, "Transfer of program is complete. Number of fish have held steadyat five hundred twelve. All lasers are now inoperative. Station systemsdisintegrating." 

The console flashed, "GODSPEED. " 

Another bump. The hiss of an airlock. I stared through the lifepod's porthole atthe massive, stricken Station. Pish roamed everywhere, probing. A shudder randown my spine. 

The inner lock hissed open. "Jeff, get him out; I'll go across for the Captain!"
Hands reached for me. 

Someone snarled, "Out, Seafort! We can't leave Captain Holser!" I tried to help.
William's words were a blur. "OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN 
HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS ITIS IN HEAVEN; LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: THINE ISTHE KINGDOM—" 


A stupendous flash; the porthole covers slammed shut. Blinded, I gripped the
console, A few seconds later a "whump" shook the lifepod. A hammer pounded my
chest. My head pitched back into the chair, ricocheted forward so I thought my
neck would snap. Lord God, it hurt. 


They lifted me from the chair. I blinked through floating spots. Waiting hands
helped me through the hatch into Victoria's lock. Blood dripped down my jacket.
A seaman cycled the lock. My legs were weak; a middy supported me, I blinked
again, recognized Ricky Fuentes. 


Bright lights. The ship. Annie, gripping Tolliver's hand. In the corner, Alexi
and Jerence huddled as if lost. Midshipman Bezrel, hands at his sides, tears and
mucus running unchecked down his face. Behind him, an officer. 


The lieutenant's words hissed. "Lieutenant Jeffrey Kahn, sir. Mr. Steiner is on
the bridge. Can we Fuse, now that you let him die?" 


1 shook my head, bringing waves of pain. "Bridge," 


"I've no idea what you're saying!" 


I thrust past him and staggered along the circumference corridor. I'd been on
Victoria once before. Two levels, she had. Up the ladder, hanging on to the
rail. 


The bridge was just past the corridor bend. I stopped to knock, put down my
hand, Victoria was my ship, now. Lieutenant Steiner, bearded, rose from his
console, his eyes blazing. "Permission to Fuse!" 


I brushed past him, stopped before the huge simulscreen on the aft bulkhead.
Where had been Orbit Station, where had been Bresia, Vax Holser, and five
hundred fish, there was nothing. Only the distant stars glowed. I waved at the
console. "Fuse," 


He shouted into the caller, "Engine Room, prime!" His finger ran down the
screen. 


Seconds passed. I waited, half expecting a fish.
“Primed, sir!” the engin room.
“Fuse!” 
The screen went blank. 
I let them guide me to the sickbay. 


CHAPTER 27 

Hours later I sat on the examing table, jaw wired, hoping the second dose of
painkiller would work better than the first. Dr. Zares had ordered me about as 
he worked, his hostility barely concelaled, but when he’d probed in my mouth to
remove the broken teeth his manner had become calm and professional and had
remained so throught my ordeal. 


A knock on the hatch. Dr. Zares opened. Officers crowded in the hatchway.
“Is he concious?” 
Zares pointed “your welcome to him” He crossed the room, sat at his desk with
arms folded. 



They croweded in: the two lietenants I’d met and a midshipman seething with
anger.
“I’m first ieutenant,” bram steiner said. His voice was cold. “What happened
out there?” 


It was barely possible to speak through my clenced teeth and swollen mouth. “The
station blow up.” 
Lieutenant Kahn glanced to Steiner, who nodded assent. “You made it blow?” 


”Yes” whatever my sins I was not a liar. 
I slipped off the table, fumbling to close my jacket over bloody shirt. "Life on
the line? How?" I spoke through clenched teeth. 


Steiner ignored me. "What happened to Captain Holser on the Station?" 


I'd had enough. "As you told your middy, Lieutenant, mind your place!" With each
word my mouth throbbed anew. 
"Let me, Bram." Lieutenant Kahn thrust past the midshipman, stood close. "You


haven't taken command yet, Seafort. Before we allow that, explain why Captain
Holser was forced to stay behind." 
"No one forced him." 


"You're here and he's not.** 
I shot an appeal to the doctor, but he wasn't having any. Deliberately he picked
up a holo, examined it. 


I said, "I had no choice. He—this is what Vax did to me!" Ignoring the pain I
bared my lips, exposing the wires. "He threw me into the lifepod and programmed
it to cast off." 


"Why?" Kahn and Steiner, as one. 
"He didn't want me killed." 
"Why didn't he come back with you?" 
"Because—" I stopped, turned to pace, but the cabin was too small. I had caused


a nuclear detonation, an act so monstrous I would be loathed evermore. My name
would enter history as a Hitler, an Attila the Hun, a Van Rorke, And Vax
Holser's name would be forever linked to mine. 


How could I allow Vax's memory to be reviled for his misguided act of loyalty?


The fault was mine alone. 
And from my lips will come what is right; For my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips, Lying was the one sin I had not
committed, veracity the one shred of honor I still retained. 


"Answer us!" 



I drew a deep breath, turned to face Kahn and Steiner. "He stayed behind ... todisarm the bomb. He was trying to save the Station." I met their eyes. I wasastounded; the words had come so easily, the final slide so swift. 

Kahn turned to Steiner. "You were right, Bram. Relieve him and bring us home." 
Steiner looked through me as if I were nothing. His face was twisted in anguish. 
Lieutenant Kahn shoved me against the examining table. "Hanging's too good for


you!" 


"Probably." I hoisted myself onto the table, abruptly weary. "Get it over with."
Each word was a deserved agony. 
"Go ahead, Bram. Say it!" Kahn. 
Steiner shook his head. "No." 
"We can't leave him in charge after—" 
"He's not worth dying for, Jeff," Steiner waved aside Kahn's apoplectic protest.


"Think. He sails us back, and they hang him. Or we take the ship, and then theissue isn't him, it's us. Do you want to fight a capital charge? Remember theJennings case? What if they say he isn't insane? Seafort isn't worth your deathor my own. He's done for." 

"He could try to run! What if he doesn't sail—" 
"Then we take Victoria home ourselves, because he leaves us no choice." 
"Bram, think what you're doing!" 
"Only nine months, and I'll buy you a beer at his hanging!" Steiner turned to


me. "Take command now or on the bridge. Captain, It's immaterial to us." He


turned on his heel and left. In devastating silence, the others followed. 
A short while later, wearing a shirt that didn't fit and a hastily cleaned
jacket, I left the infirmary. In the cubicle, Annie slept peacefully, under
sedation. I passed Lieutenant Kahn in the corridor; he saluted stiffly. 


The bridge hatch was unsealed. As I walked in Lieutenant Steiner remained in his


seat. I chose to ignore the discourtesy. 
The simulscreen was darkened; we were in Fusion. On the console, the usual
lights flashed. Hydroponics, recycling, power gauges, all seemed normal. 


I eased myself into the Captain's padded leather chair, "What are your Fusion
coordinates?" 
"Home system." 
"How many jumps?" 
"One. Nine months." 
I could endure it. "Call all officers to the bridge." Steiner keyed the caller. 



Within minutes they formed a line behind the two officers' chairs. The middy


glared. No one else met my eye. 
The two lieutenants, two midshipmen, the Doctor, and the Chief Engineer. Not
even a Pilot. Compared to Hibernia, even to Challenger, the crew was minuscule. 


I snapped, "I said everyone. Where are the others?" 
Steiner said uneasily, "Others?" 
"My officers, from the shuttle!" 
"I didn't think you—all right." He picked up the caller. 
We waited in hostile silence until Tolliver, Bezrel, and Alexi Tamarov had


reported. With them, the bridge was crowded. Bezrel's eyes were red. 


"I am Captain Nicholas Seafort. I take command of this vessel. Identify
yourselves." 
Steiner said from his seat, "First Lieutenant Abram Steiner." 
"Sir!" 
A long moment. "Sir." 
"Age?" 
"Thirty-nine." 
"Next." 
"Second Lieutenant Jeffrey Kahn, sir." I'd met him on the Station, and later at


the spaceport. It was he who'd told me of Victoria's arrival. I glanced at his
file. Five years as lieutenant; he'd served first in Britannic, then Valencia. 
"Very well." 
"Dr. Thurman Zar—" 


"Yes, of course we've met. Next." 
"Chief Engineer Sandra Arkin, sir." Fifty now, she'd been pulled from a three-
deck ship of the line to handle the new Augmented Fusion drive. She seemed a
tough old bird; she'd have to be to handle the human flotsam who gravitated to
the engine room watch. 


"Next." 
"First Midshipman Thomas Ross, sir." The young man's chest was sucked in tight,


as if he were still at attention. His dress and grooming were immaculate.
Eighteen, four years seniority. Two postings, before Victoria, 
"Very well." 
Ricky Fuentes stepped forward proudly. "Midshipman Ri-cardo Fuentes, sir." 



"Yes." Despite myself, I smiled. "That's all, Mr. Fuentes. The rest of you Ialready know." I walked back to my seat, faced them again. 

"Lieutenant Tamarov is on the disabled list. He will be treated with Naval 
courtesy, though he will have no duties. Mr. Ross, sorry, but MidshipmanTolliver is senior to you. He has the wardroom." Ross clenched his fist. A veinin his forehead throbbed. "Mr. Fuentes, you're no longer junior, now Mr.
Bezrel's aboard." Ricky grinned with delight. He'd be freed of the wardroomscutwork and a modicum of hazing as well. 

I said, "When we dock at Earthport, Til surrender to the authorities. That isnone of your concern; until then, I remain in command. Any questions?" 

"You left him to die." 

I looked at the Chief Engineer; she returned my stare, unafraid. "Was that aquestion?" 

"No, the answer is obvious." For a moment I thought she'd spit on the deck. "Apleasure to serve with you ... sir.** 

When I spoke I addressed them all. "I understand your feelings about my—aboutCaptain Holser. You will not^ express your resentment in my presence. Dismissed.
Mr. Ross and^Mr. Tolliver, remain." 

The officers left in silence, all but Steiner, who was on watch. 

My jaw ached despite the painkillers. I was doing altogether too much talking.
Daily bone-growth stimulation by Dr. Zares would help, but for now ,.. 

"Mr. Steiner, take Mr. Ross into the corridor for a moment. I'll call you." Whenwe were alone I turned to Tolliver. "You're not to harass them in the wardroom." 

He shrugged. "I hadn't planned to." 

"Especially Mr. Ross. I don't need more conflict." 

"Aye aye, Captain Seafort, sir." He didn't hide his contempt. 

I sat. "I won't have this. We're on ship now. You'll have to set an example forothers," 

"I should have shot you, back on the shuttle!" Tolliver's words hissed. "Youcommitted treason. Thanks to you Mr. Holser died. You blew up the biggestorbiting station outside home system. You set off a nuclear bomb!" His breathcaught with what might have been a sob. "I grew up near the quarantine zonearound Belfast; I've seen what nukes do, you bastard!" 

I came out of my seat. "But you didn't shoot me. When we get home, you'lltestify against me. In the meantime you're first middy, unless you force me toremove you." 

"Oh, I'll serve you. Just so long as we know where we stand." He met my eyeuntil I had to turn away. 

I said, "When we're alone 1*11 permit you your insolence. It reminds me of whatI am. But show me courtesy in public or I'll destroy you. Dismissed." 


I sat alone for several minutes before I recalled Steiner and Ross. 

I swiveled to the handsome young midshipman standing behind my chair. "FirstMidshipman Tolliver is new to the ship. Show him the ropes. Help him get settledin properly." 

"Aye aye, sir." The boy's voice was ice. 

"Has Mr. Fuentes been trouble?" 

For a moment his astonishment broke through. "Trouble? Of cour—I mean, no, sir." 

"He and I were shipmates," 

"Yes, sir." He hesitated before the words gushed out. "He spoke of you. Highly.
I'd looked forward to meeting you someday. That was before—" 

"Yes?" 

Rage battled caution, and won. "Before you murdered Captain Holser!" 

Steiner leapt out of his chair, livid. "Ross! When the Captain's done, report tomy cabin!" 

Ross glared at us both. "Gladly, sir!" 

"And six demer—" 

I slammed my hand on the console. "Enough, both of you!" My palm stung likefire. "Steiner, I'll enforce discipline in my own ship!" I swung to the furiousmiddy. "Mr. Ross, I won't have you whipped; you're eighteen. But the six -.——:»„
,amain Re.nort to mv cabin, not the exercise room, to work them off. I'll watchyou." The more public his labor, the more Ross would resent it. 

His cheeks were crimson with humiliation. "Aye aye, sir." 

I wasn't done with him. "You're showing you haven't the maturity expected of amiddy. Think well; your career is on the line. Another outburst and I'll dismissyou from the Service. Admiralty won't reinstate you, no matter how they judgeme. Understood? You may go." 

He snapped a fierce salute, turned on his heel, stalked out. I slumped in thechair, jaw aflame. Steiner studied the opposite bulkhead as if I weren't in theroom. 

After an endless watch I trudged to the Captain's cabin, east of the bridge. Theend of a horrendous day, one in which I'd welcomed death, found my lifeneedlessly prolonged by Vax Holser's suicide. I opened the cabin door, stoppedshort. 

No one had thought to remove Vax's thinp. 

I picked up the caller to summon the ship's boy, hesitated, replaced the caller.
I would do it myself, come morning. I owed Vax that much. I draped my jacketover a chair, crossed to the head. I turned on the light, ran hot water, bentover the sink, looked up to the mirror. 


Lord God. 

My scar throbbed red against my pale, gaunt frame. On my opposite cheek theslash Annie had given me was clotted into a scab. My eyes stared back out ofdark hollows, 1 turned away, sickened. 

What had Zack Hopewell called it? The mark of Cain, Now I bore it truly. Damnedbefore Lord God, traitorous to my duty, despised by all aboard, I looked likewhat I was, 

I fell across the bed and slept. 

Vax Holser had shipped with little more than his duffel. I folded each item withcare: shirts, underwear, slacks. In a small box I found a handful of photochips.
With a guilty glance at the closed hatch I slipped one in the holo. A young Vaxin an exotic locale, Older joeys I'd never seen, perhaps his parents. 

I felt I was rifling his soul; he'd never showed me these mementos. Young Vax asa cadet. A beautiful girl, her arm draped around a bashful midshipman, whosebiceps bulged within the sleeves of his jacket. 

Vax and me together, slightly out of focus. When did we have our holo taken? Itmust have been ... at the party in Houston, after I'd brought Hibernia home. Ihugged the holo to my chest. I wronged you far too often, Vax. And you wereloyal beyond any bound of duty. 

When I was done the duffel bulged, and I had a small pile of papers and gearthat wouldn't quite fit. I summoned the ship's boy to take Vax's kit to thepurser. After, I went to the sickbay, sat stolidly while Dr. Zares ran the bone-
growth stimulator across my face. His touch was light, but the machine vibrated,
and the motion hurt. 

"Nicky, where we be?" Annie stood in the entryway, her dress clean, but her hairwild and eyes haggard. "On a ship, love. Going home." "Home? Centraltown?" 

"Come sit with me." I held out my hand. After a second's hesitation she allowedme to nestle her against my shoulder. 

"Home to Earth." 

Her hand flew to her mouth. "N'Yawk? You sendin' me back ta street?" 

"No, to Lunapolis, first. Then wherever Admiralty sends me." For trial. Iwondered what would happen to her, afterward. Would the widow of a Captainhanged for treason be given a pension? It seemed unlikely. "The fish, dey followus?" 

**No. They're gone now." I reached to pat the back of her head, but she pulledaway. 

"You takin' me back ta N'Yawk ta leave me!" My knuckles whitened on the rail.
I'd left Centraltown without finding the scum who had hurt her. Someday, inhell. I'd see them again. Perhaps I could make a bargain with my master, betweenbouts of torment. "I be scared, yest'day," "1 know, love." "Even Jerence cryin'onna shuttle. Maybe he catch it from Bezrel middy.** 


IA—""" I'd naid him no attention. Nor Alexi. Surely
someone must have settled them in. "Come, love. We'll go to our cabin." 


She twisted away. "No! I wan' stay here! You just gon' send me back to
trannies!" She backed into the exam cubicle, slammed the hatch shut. 


I looked to Dr. Zares. "Take care of her." 


What I saw might have been compassion. "Yes, of course." 


At the officers' dayroom I found the last of a pot of coffee and a packet of
soup. I sat at the small table. My choice showed I wanted to be left alone. Had
I sat at the long table, any officer would have been free to strike up a
conversation. Only later did I remember that no officer on Victoria would chat
with me no matter where I sat. 


After my improvised breakfast I reviewed our crew and passenger rosters.
Victoria had only eighteen sailors be-lowdecks. She carried a full complement of
forty-two passengers, her own officers, plus the three officers and two
passengers I'd brought aboard. Jerence Branstead shared a cabin with Suliman
Rajnee, an administrator repatriated from Kail's Planet. 


I scanned the passenger list. Most were high-ranking officials returning from
that inhospitable scientific outpost. A few traveled with their husbands or
wives. The only children were babies; Jerence would have a lonely trip. I
wondered if Steiner had gotten off a signal to Centraltown before we Fused, so
Harmon would know his son's whereabouts. Perhaps William had thought of it, 


I left, unsure where I wanted to go. A Fused ship made me restless, anxious to
explore. I wandered down the ladder to Purser Rezik's office. 


"Sir, about the Captain's table..." He spoke with reluctance. 


"What about it?" 


"Captain Holser chose his guests for this rotation. If you want to make any
changes..." 


"No." I left. 


I'd trod these corridors once before, escorted by Captain Martes, proud to have
me inspect his command. Today I passed the engine room, the crew berth, the
hydro and racycling chambers that kept the ship alive. The few crew members I
encountered came to attention, saluted in surly silence. Half the passenger
cabins were on Level 2; as I passed, a few passengers gawked. 


We would hold a memorial service for Vax, as soon as I could arrange it. I
wondered who should speak; it couldn't be me, or I'd be lynched. 


I found Jerence's cabin near the ladder, stopped to knock. The hatch slid open.
"Oh, you," he said. "I thought it was that joey about the dresser and chair." "
Where's your, er, cabinmate?" 


"Mr. Rajnee? He went to the lounge, 1 guess, to complain to the other
passengers." The boy scuffed the deck with the tip of a shoe. 


"What's he unhappy about?" 



Jerence looked sullen. "He says I'm into everything, and I won't stay out of hisway. This morning he said I snored. Mr, Seafort, it's only been a day and Ican't stand it!" 

I smiled. A week in a wardroom and the boy would think his shared cabin theheight of luxury. "I'll see what we can dp." I pointed at the duffel thrownacross his bunk. "What did you bring?" 

"Just stuff. Clothes, mostly, and my slap music. But Mr, 
Rajnee said he'd throw it in the recycler if I played it again." 
"Slap. Alexi used to like that." As a boy not much older 
then Jerence, in our Hibernia wardroom, "Why don't you 
find him and see if he likes it still." 
He brightened. "Give me something to do, I guess." "I'll see you later." I left. 
He followed me into the corridor. "Mr. Seafort—" I waited. "The only joes I know


are you and Mr. Tamarov and Mr. Tolliver. But Mr. Tolliver hates me, he always


has. I don't have anyone to talk to." 
I'd sworn to take him to safety, not nursemaid him all the way home. "Make new
friends." My tone was blunt. 


"Yeah, sure. Just like that." Disconsolate, he turned on his heel and went backto the cabin. Annoyed, I made my way back to the bridge. Chief Arkin stood as Ientered. I returned her salute, took my place, brooding. After a time mythoughts turned to the wardroom, and then to Edgar Tolliver's demotion, I knew Iought to restore his rank; even if I did so, he'd have lost irreplaceableseniority. 

"Rosetta, show me Mr. Tolliver's personnel file." 
Her voice was cold. "Personnel files are restricted. Your identity, please?" 
I gaped. Hadn't anyone reprogrammed the puter to recognize me? "Captain Nicholas


E. Seafort, replacing Captain Holser by my own order." I tapped in my ID. 
"Very wel—" She went silent. I waited, A time passed that stretched into uneasy
minutes. 
I glanced at the Chief, who bit her lip. "What's she doing?" I asked. 
"I don't know, sir. We should get Jeff, he knows more about puters than—" 
Data flashed across the screens, far too fast to read. One by one the ship's


sensors blinked red, then green. "Call him!" 


She snatched up the caller, set it to shipwide page. "Mr, Kahn to the bridge,
flank!" 
I said tentatively, "Rosetta?" No answer. Memories of Darla's glitch caused the


hair on my neck to rise. Why had I let William tamper with her? 


"Lieutenant Kahn reporting, sir!" He dashed in, disheveled. 
"What the hell is the matter with the puter? She—" 
"Sorry for the delay. Captain." An urbane male voice, from the speaker, "For


security, our new programming didn't go into effect until you ident—" 


"William? WILLIAM?" If that weren't him, I'd eat my hat, with my insignia for
garnish. 
A pause, "Not exactly, sir." 
Kahn watched the interplay, aghast. He, too, had heard the rumors of ships gone


missing, with puters run amok. 
I growled, "You're sure as hell not Rosetta!" 
"No, she's gone." He added, "Do you have a name you prefer? If not, you may call


me Billy." A chuckle. 
"I'm in no mood for jokes, puter. Who are you?" 
Another pause. "I'm what's left of William, sir. Many of his memories, most of


his data. His child, as it were." 
"You have his voice." 
"He gave me that. He thought it would reassure you." 
I grunted. He'd reassured me out of a year's growth, and he might not be done.


"Are you monitoring ship's functions?" 


A pause. "Yes, sir. Pardon the slow response. It's rather cramped quarters in
here, until I rearrange a bit." 
Kahn blurted, "Don't touch anything!" He looked at me, hostility set aside.


"Sir, who is William? What is this 'Billy'? Puters are programmed back at


Lunapolis by Dosmen, not in flight." 
"William is—was the station puter." I hesitated. "Billy, what will you do when
you, ah, rearrange?" 


"Throw out some rubbish that had to do with the old Nav-dos, sir. You won't need
it." 


"No, you'd better not." 
"Noted. In that case, William left a note to remind you about the reactor
passcodes. He suggests you trust his judgment circuits." 


I rose, speechless, and turned to Chief Arkin. She was as flabbergasted as I.


Kahn said, "Sir, turn that thing off! For Lord God's sake, hurry!" 
I growled, "Don't give me orders, Lieutenant. You're as bad as the puter." He
flushed. I sighed. In for a penny .., "Billy, go ahead. Do your housekeeping," 



He sounded pleased. "Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, I'd just as soon not


speak until I'm done. Can we go alphanumeric?" 
I sat helplessly at my console. "Sure. If there's anything else we can do, don't
hesitate to ask." 


Kahn hissed, "That... thing may kill us!" 
"For me, it's no great loss. Remember?" 
His jaw dropped. 
"Dismissed, Lieutenant." I punched up Tolliver's personnel file, 
A few days after I sat in my cabin, watching Ross through the strenuous


exercises necessary to cancel a de-] merit. Later, I took my place at the


Captain's table for din* ner, but the hour dragged. 
As on any ship, our passengers took breakfast and lunch in their own mess, and
joined the officers for dinner in the dining hall. Each officer normally sat at
a separate table, but Victoria was overstocked with officers. Tolliver had taken
Bezrel to his own table, and Alexi sat with Lieutenant Steiner. 


The first evening I'd had two empty places. Within days a few more. None applied
to sit with me. When, a couple of nights after, I spotted Jerence, chin on his
hand, listening glumly to an adult conversation that bypassed hum entirely, I
spoke to the purser and had the boy reassigned to my table. 


I visited Annie daily. Though at times she seemed eager for my visits, she


refused to leave the security of the sickbay. 
On the fifth day Ross sported a bruise that rapidly bloomed into a black eye. In
accordance with Naval tradition I noticed nothing, even while he exercised to
remove the last of his demerits. That evening, as the soup was passed, Jerence
asked eagerly, "Who beat up the midshipman, Mr. Seafort? He looks like Billy
Volksteader after he called his dad's foreman an old fraz." 


"Mind your business, Jerence." 


"That's what everyone says." He sucked at his soup. "Mr. Rajnee says he'll hit
me if I play the slap again. If he tries it I'll short sheet his bed," 
I put down my spoon. "You need a keeper, not a roommate." 
He pouted. "You're as bad as the rest of them," He muttered something under his


breath. 
"What was that?" I got to my feet. "Was it what I think I heard?" 
He shrugged sullenly. "I didn't say nothing," 
"Odd. I distinctly heard the word 'fraz.' " 
He had the sense to keep his mouth shut. Glowering, I sat and finished my soup. 
Afterward, rather than sit in my empty cabin, I was drawn to the bridge, though


I wouldn't have the watch for hours. Lieutenant Steiner had the conn. His 



resentment only occasionally simmered to the surface, I chatted idly, passingtime, trying to elicit more than occasional monosyllables. Then, as if reachinga decision, he cleared his throat, took a deep breath. "Captain, your man Mr.
Tamarov. Is his depression normal?" 

"Depression?" 
His tone was acerbic. "Surely you noticed his eyes?" 
"What about them?" 
"They're red, for a start. And grim." 
"So?" 
"He seems rather miserable." 
I hesitated. "What do you propose I do?" 
"That's your province, Captain." The coolness returned in full. 
"Thanks for advising me." How long had it been since I a talked with Alexi? The


last real conversation was when I chewed him out for not carrying his caller.
That was... eons ago. Before we'd been taken prisoner by Laura Triforth. I madea note to talk to him. Some quiet time, in his cabin... I realized I didn't evenknow with whom he roomed. I looked it up: Lieutenant Kahn. Well, now was asquiet a time as any. I took my leave, hurried along the corridor, knocked at hishatch. 

No answer. I knocked again. Well, I could leave him a note. I opened the hatch. 

Alexi sat in the chair between the two bunks, the lights dialed low. "I didn't
know it was you, or..." 
I smiled as well as I could with my mouth clamped by the damned wires. "Now that


we're settled, I have more time to talk." I found a seat. 
"Zarky." His voice belied his words. "Is there something you'd like me to do?" 
"No, of course not." My ears went red as I realized how that sounded. "I just


wanted to chat. Like when we were shipmates." 
"I wouldn't remember." He rested his chin on his hand. 
I said impulsively, "Alexi, what's wrong?" 
"No more than usual. There's so much I can't remember." 
"Don't try. Let it—" 
"How many times have I heard that!" 
I stood. "I'll see you again." 
"Mr. Seafort, don't be angry; I know it's not your fault." 



I touched his shoulder lightly. "I'm not angry." I had been, though, and thethought shamed me. "I'm not very good with People. I always put things wrong.
Join Annie and me for lunch tomorrow." 

"I don't want to intrude if—" 

"Don't be silly." 

His face lit in a shy smile of pleasure. 

That night I persuaded Annie to return to the Captain's cabin; I felt like anawkward middy on his first date. After dinner she sat watching a holo. 

"What's that?" 

She flicked it off. "Just some history stuff. Story 'bout..." She cleared herthroat. "Why, thank you for asking, Captain. I was watchin' a story about theLast War." She looked up with a mischievous twinkle. "Is that right, sir?" 

I kissed the top of her head. "You do remember." 

She nodded. "Sometimes," She let me pull her into my arms. "You know, dis—thisship be good for me, I think. Get me away from dat place/' 

"Centraltown?" 

"All of it." Her head nuzzled me. "That rock, all those places burning, our'partment all broke ... I was so scared I went trannie an' hid. And thensomethin' happen ... I don' remember much, 'xcept smash in' bad man's head." Sheheld me as if for strength. "Doctors and nurses, an' you sick or you be gone,
an' I jus' wan* be near you." She reached up, caught my tear on her finger,
carried it to her tongue. "Then da shuttle, all noise and pressin' on me, andthe fish, the fish, the fish ..." Her voice rose. 

"It's over now. I'm with you." Until we get home. Then you'll have to be strong. 

"I know. It be quiet here, an' dat doctor be nice. An' you not goin' nowhere,
dat be nice too." 

I didn't have watch until four in the morning. Saying nothing, I took off myjacket, untied my tie. Clothes across the chair, I slipped into the bed. She laydown beside me. I turned off the light. We nestled close, not moving. After atime I dozed. When I turned in my sleep, my hand fell across her breast. Shesprang awake with a cry and thrust me away. For a long while she lay on the edgeof the bed, as far from me as she could manage. Eventually she snuggled closer,
breathing deeply, pretending sleep. As did I. 

CHAPTER 28 

I sat at the console, willing the hours to pass. As always in Fusion, thesimulscreens were dark. 

Midshipman Ross sat stiffly in the second officer's seat. I fed him navigationproblems, more to keep him busy than for his real benefit. Since his outburstthe day I boarded, we'd had no words for each other beyond what our dutiesdemanded. His attitude was taut and unyielding, which bothered me not, but witha righteousness I wanted to wipe off with a club. 


Again I flipped through the manifests. Victoria was traveling light, though even
fully laden her holds couldn't carry much. She was an oddity, built for speed,
but at the cost of the cargo, passengers, and weaponry that justified a starship's 
existence. 


A knock on the hatch. I opened. Midshipman Bezrel shuffled in, eyes red,
struggling against tears. "Mr. Steiner's compliments, sir. Please cancel ten
demerits." His hands were pressed to his sides. He'd been caned. But why? 


"'Very we\\. ^ou ma^ ^vj. v «»*V¥— ~~ ~~ - „. fee demeruX knowing Tolliver must
have been at him, Damn the man, picking on a^nelp'iess et^.^^^^^^^sss??^ No,
only three had been issued by Tolliver. Others had been issued by Steiner, by
Kahn, even by Chief Engineer Arkin, Inattention to duty, talking during math
class .,. I called Steiner. "Only nine demerits are logged for Mr,
Bezrel." 


"Yes, sir. Mr. Kahn just issued the last two." At my side, Ross was silent. He
might have spoken volumes, but that would be unthinkable, even aside from his
> barely concealed loathing. A middy who carried tales to the j Captain wouldn't
see another posting, and rightly so. By cus-f 


Bezrel was something of a weakling, but I was surprised he'd offended so many
officers. He'd seemed willing enough tome. 


"Mr. Ross, scout around the ship. If Mr. Kahn is awake, summon him. If he's in
his cabin, leave him be." 


"Aye aye, sir." 


A few minutes later the boy returned, Lieutenant Kahn a step behind. 


"Mr. Ross, this is private. You may go to"—I'd been about to release him from
watch, to the comfort of his wardroom, but his attitude didn't deserve
rewarding—"to the passenger lounge to finish your exercises." 


"Aye aye, sir." 


I turned to Kahn. "Sit, if you wish," I cleared my throat. "I'm curious as to
why you issued Bezrel demerits." 


"1 won't if it displeases you." His tone was cool. 


I let my manner match his own. "I asked a civil question. If you can't answer
likewise, you may go." 


He reddened. "I apologize. Maybe I shouldn't have issued them." He drummed on
the console. "I don't know how you're used to running a ship, but I came off
Valencia, Did you know her?" 


"/ heard she was a good ship." 


"Yes. 1 lost a lot of friends when she foundered, and if last year I hadn't been
transferred.,,* He stared moodily at the screen. "Captain Groves ran her by the
book. The decks were cleanvthe crew well fed^the teQuhlejmak^t^fiaufldJhemi^^ at
Captain's Mast, The middies... we had four of them, like any three-decker. They
toed the line." 



He was still lost in the screen, beyond it, "When I transferred here, it wasdifferent. A smaller ship, more informal. 1 understood that. But Captain Holserwas busy learning the propulsion system; spit and polish meant nothing to him.
Mr. Ross is a good joey, and everyone likes Ricky, but even so, there were timesa few more demerits wouldn't have hurt, I don't think Mr. Holser ever sent amiddy up for all the time he had the conn. He was the gentlest man I've evermet." His look dared me to comment. 

I waved it sway, "Go ot\." 

"I sent Mr, Bezrel to have the purser refill a softie in thepassengers' lounge. After dinner it was still empty. Bezrel said he forgot."
Kahn shook his head. "All right, he's young. All I did was chew him out. Thatwould have been the end of it, but the silly pup stood there bawling, and I lostmy temper." 

"No wonder." I'd have stuffed him down the recycler. 

"Crying when a lieutenant reams him! Captain Grove would have put the firstmiddy on report as well. It wouldn't have happened twice." 

"I know." 

"How did the boy make it through Academy?" 

"He didn't." When I explained, Kahn shook his head. "Anyway, you did well,
Lieutenant. Carry on." 

His tone hardened. "Save your praise. It means nothing to me." He left. 

The speaker came to life. "Personnel problems can be aggravating." 

"You stay out of this, William." "1 prefer Billy; it helps keep thingsstraight." "I prefer silence." 

Billy's voice went cold. "Aye aye, sir. Will that be permanent, or just for thewatch?" 

I sighed. No wonder the officers were temperamental; the ship herself was. "Allright, Billy, I don't prefer silence. Let's not quarrel." 

He sniffed. "It wouldn't have been much of a fight." I decided not to probethat. 

Two days later a call caught me in my cabin. "Chief San-dra Arkin reporting,
sir. There's trouble with a passengi You'd better come down." "A riot?" 

"No, not quite. I can handle it, but perhaps you'd like to be present." Ifanything was a summons, that was. "Where?" 

"Four west, sir." I ran from the bridge. I could hear the commotion before Irounded the corridor bend. Ms. Arkin snarled, "Use your billy, you fool!" Arending crash. "I know my job, just stay the hell—!" 

"Look what he's doing to my cabin! Leave that shirt alone, it's—" 


They clustered outside the hatch: the Chief, a pair of sailors, the master-atarms, 
an apoplectic passenger, a clump of gawkers. 

"What's going on here?" I roared. Well, it wasn't quite a roar. One can't roarwith one's mouth wired shut. In fact, I was unheard. I grabbed the master-atarms's 
shoulder, spun him around. 

Mr. Torres whirled, billy club flashing. "Oh, my God." He dropped the club,
stiffened to attention. "Sir, please forgive me I didn't know—" 

"As you were. What's—" 

Suliman Rajnee charged me, arms waving with indignation. "Do you see what thatruffian's done? That vandal you forced on me? I can't get near my cabin! Myclothing's ruined! I want him out! I want—" 

I thrust him aside, shouldered past the master-at-arms and Chief Arkin. "Justwhat—" I peered into the cabin. 

Jerence Branstead was stomping on the remains of Raj-nee's dresser, a wild gleamin his eye. A torn shirt hung from his teeth. He held a holovid, but not inviewing position. At the sight of me he grinned, pitched it at my head. Iducked, colliding with the Chief, and we went down in a tangle. 

Scarlet with rage and embarrassment, I scrambled to my feet and slapped shut thecabin hatch. "As you were, all of you! Mr. Torres, put this Rajnee personagainst the bulkhead across the corridor! Sailors, back to your duties; we'llhandle this. You passengers, to your cabins." I stopped for breath. Even a shortspeech could take a lot from me, one-lunged. "What's the matter with him? DidRajnee set off this tantrum?" 

Chief Arkin adjusted her jacket, brushed her slacks. "Doesn't look like atantrum to me." 

"Don't give me that goofjuice. It sure as hell is a—" I jerked to a halt.
Goofjuice. 

"Yep." She grinned. "You have the word for it." Behind the hatch something heavysmashed to the deck. She flicked a thumb toward the cabin. "Mr. Torres and I can 
take him down, sir. Best if you stand out of the way." 

I stood back. "Without the billy club, Mr. Torres." I'd like to wring the boy'sneck, but the billy might do permanentdamage. 

"Aye aye, sir." Uncertain what to do with the club, he handed it to me. "Ready,
Chief?" 

At her nod he slapped open the hatch, dived low while she rushed high. A high-
pitched shriek, a final crash, and comparative quiet. I poked my head cautiouslyaround the hatch. They had Jerence straddled on his back across the debris, themaster atop his legs, Chief Arkin pinning his wrists. 

The boy didn't seem to notice. He twisted and kicked, but to no avail. The Chiefhung on grimly while Mr. Torres fished for his manacles. Jerence giggled, cranedhis neck, chomped on Ms. Arkin's arm. 


She squawked, yanked loose. "That does it, joey." A hard backhand across theface, followed by several quick slaps that snapped the boy's head back andforth. That quieted him a moment. She spun him onto his stomach and twisted hisarms behind him while Mr. Torres slipped on the cuffs. The battle was won. 

The Chief got to her feet, panting. "Now what, sir?" I kicked aside a splinteredchair. "Brig him, then back here on the double!" They hustled Jerence down thecorridor. For no apparent reason, he let out a fearsome whoop. 

Suliman Rajnee could no longer contain himself. "Where am I to stay? Look atwhat he's done! I want to press charges! I want my clothing replaced! He'sbroken my holovid, I'll need—" 

I went to the caller, miraculously undamaged. "Purser to cabin twenty-nine."
Lord, what a mess. Barring the hatchway, I endured Rajnee's diatribe until theChief and Mr. Torres returned with the purser. 

"Mr. Rajnee, go with Mr. Rezik. He'll help you list what you need replaced. Now,
please, Mr. Rezik." When silence reigned, I said. "Search the cabin inch byinch. If he has more juice I want it found." 

"Aye aye, sir." The master-at-arms hesitated. "What charges should I lodge?"
"We'll see." I stalked back to the bridge. 

The next day I sat in my cabin musing about Jerence, half listening to Anniechatter about the holo she'd watched. 

My officers had found not one, but two more vials of goofjuice, the first inJerence's knapsack under the bunk, the other behind the top shelf of Mr.
Rajnee's closet, where it wouldn't have been found except for the Chief'sliteral interpretation of my orders. 

"She was so pretty in that blue jumper, 'til Rafe tore it off, an'—how come youdon' listen to me?" 

I wrapped my arm around Annie's waist, drew her closer. "I heard you. Rafe and ablue dress. I don't know what to do about Jerence." 

" 'Cause he got angry and kicked things 'roun'? That oP Mr. Rajnee, I'd like tokick his stuff too." 

"It's worse than that." Possession of contraband drugs was a serious offense.
Were he groundside, Jerence could face transport to a prison colony. Strict lawsmade sense; society had endured enough mind-altered lunatics before the Era ofLaw succeeded the Rebellious Ages. Users were jailed, without mollycoddling. 

Still, I'd promised Harmon to keep Jerence safe. Did that mean a felony shouldbe condoned? 

Annie's voice was far away. "Onna street, trannie joey kit get outta line, big'uns take him inna room, alladem. If he get out, he don' give 'em no trouble." Ishuddered. On the other hand, I knew of ships where the crew did the same. 

"I'll let him cool off in the brig. We'll decide later." 

A week passed. I'd gotten to know some of the passengers, mostly for Annie'ssake. I hated to see her closet herself in our cabin with nothing but cheap 


holos to occupy her time. Most passengers pointedly snubbed us, either for my
own misdeeds or from disdain for Annie. I couldn't be sure which, so I let it
be. 


On Sundays the routine was broken by Captain's Mast. Since I'd come aboard,
Victoria's sailors seemed quarrelsome and sullen, and at each Mast I meted out
the necessary penalties. But when I found Midshipman Ross on the list, I raised
an eyebrow to Kahn. "What happened?" 


"I caught him fighting." 


"With Tol/iver? That's for them to handle. Stay out—" "No.He NY«& after Mi.
Fuetvtes, in the lounge." "Ricky?" It couldn't be. 
"Not just a push and shove. It was savage. Ross had Fuentes on the deck when I


happened to look in." 
I shook my head, astounded. What was the wardroom coming to? . 
"No matter what we think of you, snip's discipline has to be maintained. I wrote


him up and gave Fuentes six demerits as well." 
"It won't work, you know." 
"Sir?" 
"You can't maintain discipline while letting your own feelings show. You're


asking more from Ross than you'll give yourself," 
He eyed me with contempt. "You're a fine one to tell me how to handle a crew." 
It was hopeless. Very well, so be it. "Take Mr. Ross s name off the list." 
"What Captain would let a middy get away—" 
"Mr. Kahn, leave the bridge." 
He glared, finally responded. "Aye aye, sir!" When the hatch slid shut I sat in


welcome silence. 
It was time to resign. The enmity of the ship was all-consuming, had even


filtered down to the wardroom. What was the point of hanging on to command?
Duty? The Navy would be glad to be free of me, rep or no. I sat, brooding. 
An hour later, a knock, I swiveled the camera before opening. Bram Steiner. 
He flipped me a cursory salute. "I've spoken to Jeff Kahn. He'll show you


courtesy from now on, unless you goad him


beyond endurance." 
"It just so happens you were right. He understood, really, or he wouldn't have
written up Ross. We'd like you to put the middy back on the Mast list, for the
good of the ship." 


"Very well." 
"And I want you to beach me." 



"You what?" I couldn't have heard aright, A Captain could beach any officer;
he'd stop accumulating seniority until restored to active duty. It was a drasticpunishment. No officer would request beaching. 

His face was wooden. "Captain, I'd request a transfer, but that's impossible inFusion. I won't try to serve you with contempt, like Jeffrey. I can't have itboth ways either. So, beach me. I don't want to serve on a ship you command." 

"May I ask why?" 

"My feelings about... the actions you've taken. I don't care to be associated
with you." 
"And if I refuse?" 
"Then I will do my duty until I can no longer stomach myself." 
The risk he was taking was enormous; I could brig him for his revealed


abhorrence, and he knew it. This was what my lies had brought us to. "Mr.


Steiner, about Vax ,,," 
"You're not fit to mention his name!" He stopped, pale. "I apologize. I have no
right to say that," 


"Go to your quarters.** 
"Aye aye, sir. And as to my request?" 
"Get out!" I sat, fuming. The puter was blessedly silent. 
At Mast, Ross took full blame on himself. 
"What did Mr. Fuentes do to provoke you?" 
Ross took a deep breath. "Nothing, sir," 
"The Log doesn't show any problem with self-control under Captain Holser. What's


happened?" 
"I have no idea, sir." His tone was contemptuous. 
I'd allowed him one outburst, in which he'd called me a murderer. That was


enough. "Present my compliments to Lieutenant Steiner. You're to be caned until
you apee your conduct will be exemplary in future." 


"I'm eighteen!" A cry of appeal. 
Should I reverse myself? No, Ross's manner was intolerable, and if I didn't
chastise him, another Captain would be forced to do worse. I made my voice cold.
"I'll treat you as the age you act, which puts you barely out of Academy. Go.M 


"Aye aye, sir." Mastering his dismay, he saluted, spun on his heel, and left.
Well, I admired his valor, but courage wasn't the issue, I couldn't have him
sneering at me, or brawling in public. 



I closed the Log, sat thinking. The wardroom was Tolliver's affair, but now Ihad a right to intervene; a middy had been brought to Mast. I thumbed thecaller. "Mr. Fuentes to the bridge. And Mr. Tolliver." 

After the two midshipmen reported, I left them at attention and scowled atRicky. "Six demerits, Mr. Fuentes? What's this?" 

He gulped. Til work them off, sir, honest. I did one yesterday and—" 

"How did they come about?" He blushed. "I was rude to Mr. Ross.** I askedslowly, "What was it you said?" "Please, sir, 1—" 

"Another demerit, Mr. Fuentes, for disobedience. What did you say to Mr. Ross?" 

"Yes, sir. I apologize. He told me my tie was knotted wrong. I said it wasn'this problem anymore." 

I tried to catch Tolliver's eye, but it was elsewhere. I growled, "I was a middyonce too, Mr. Fuentes; perhaps you can remember. If I heard such insolence in mywardroom I'd make sure you regretted it the rest of the cruise.** He flusheddeep red, squirming. "Yes, sir." "If your behavior is called to my attentionagain, I'll thrash you myself. Dismissed. Not you, Tolliver." I waited until thehatch was shut. "Well?" "Is that a question?" His tone was cool. "Don't goad me.
What in hell is going on down there?" "Ricky learned how far he can push Ross.
It's a self-correcting problem. I'm just minding my own business." "As youwere." 

He relaxed, flexing his shoulders. I studied the empty screen. "A pity,** I toldit. After a moment he asked, "What is?" "I deserve you, Edgar. But they don't.**
For the first time his manner showed uncertainty. "1 don't know what you mean." 

"When we get home you'll have your wish. You'll see them lead me off the ship inirons.** He said nothing. "My career is finished, along with my life. Your—whatshall I call it? Your style?—it aggravates me, as you intend. It communicatesyour contempt. But I'm not the issue." 

"My career's finished too," he said with passion. "No one will take me aboardafter I've been broken to middy." 

"You're not the issue either!" I spun my chair around. "We've destroyedourselves, but their lives are still ahead of them!" 

"It wasn't I who—** 

"They're children, Tolliver, and you're ruining them!" 

He was shocked into silence. 

I demanded, "Tell me how you felt the day you made lieutenant." 

His smile was brief and bitter. "I—" His penetrated the screen. A time passed.
"It was the most joy I'd ever felt in my life. Or have since." 

"And they'll never feel it, any of them." 

"You can't know that. Even Ross—" 


"Thanks to you." 

He gripped the console until his knuckles turned white. "What do you want ofme?" 
"I could have left Ross in charge. You've given me so many grounds to cashier

you I'd find it hard to choose among them, I left you in the wardroom for apurpose." 

He raised his eyes, repeated, "What do you want?" 
"Ricky isn't spoiled yet, but he's green, else he'd know better than to goad
Ross. He needs an example, and you haven't set one. Ross needs to learn how to
handle his disappointments. Bezrel... I don't know what he needs, but he's 


got to find it soon. Otherwise they'll all be failures, as we 9« » 


When he turned to me his eyes were tormented. "Pull me out of there, sir. I've
nothing left to give." 
1 cried in sudden anguish, "Neither have I, but still I try!" Immediately I was


ashamed, but it was too late. 


He hunched over in his chair. When he spoke, his voice was strained, "Is there
still time?" 
"I don't know. There's so much hatred" 
"Some of it's been mine." He was silent awhile. "Nuking the Station," he said.


"You made a terrible choice; I can't possibly condone it. Orbit Station's gone,
and for all we know a new flotilla of fish is attacking Hope Nation evennow." "Lord God forbid. None had Defused for an hour, and—" 

"An hour." 
I flushed. "1 know, but there were too many lives at stake to wait any longer."


Yet if anything was more obscene than what I'd done, it was the thought that I'd
done it for naught. 
Tolliver sighed. "I've hated your treason, but you'll pay the penalty when we


get home, and I have to respect how you face that. But Kahn and Steiner and
Ross, they're wrong about you. I know you lied about Vax Holser." 


"How dare you!" 
He raised his face to mine. "I saw your eyes, when they brought you from the
lifepod. Whatever went on between you and Vax on the Station, it wasn't what you
said in sickbay." 


"You weren't even in the sickbay!" 
"I made Ross tell me." 
"It's none of your business." I turned away, passed my hand casually across my


eyes. 
"About the wardroom... I'll try, sir." 



"Thank you, Edgar." I said no more, and we sat in silence. 
"Am I dismissed, sir?" 
"When you're ready." 
He got to his feet, saluted, walked to the hatch. He paused. "Why do you let


them treat you that way?" 
"Who?" 
"All the officers. They despise you and don't even care if we know it." 
"They're right to despise me. It's only wrong of them to show it." 
"You're the Captain! Put a stop to it!" I turned my chair. "Should I start with


you?" He stumbled for a reply, smiled weakly. I waved him out. 
When my watch was done I persuaded Annie to join us for the evening meal, and


bore the inane chatter of the few passengers who deigned to sit with us. After,
I escorted her to the lounge. "I'll be back soon." 
The brig was unguarded; with only one prisoner, a passenger, we had no need of a


sentry. Daily, the master-at-arms brought Jerence his food and clothing and went


about his other duties. 
I entered the codes and let myself in. The boy sat slumped on the floor of his
cell, ignoring the bunk and chair nearby. He looked up. 


I asked, "Are you sane now?" 


"Hah. I've always been sane." He kicked listlessly at the deck. "Can I get out?


I've been here a month." 


"Only a week." I sat in the unused chair. "Jerence, what should we do with you?" 


He shrugged. "Leave me here. It's all the same." 


"Why did you do it?" 


"Smash his stuff?" 


"Use the juice." 


A scornful laugh. "What else is there?" 


"It's addictive. Keep it up and you'll never get free of it" 


"So?" 


"Does your life mean nothing?" 


He shouted, "I have no life! All I have is growing up to be a planter. I hate it


and I hate you and I hate everything!" 



I reached forward to touch his shoulder, but he scooted away. "Jerence, I'vegot—" 

"Captain, call the bridge!" Chief Arkin. With a curse I scrambled to my feet,
let myself out. I dialed the bridge. "Seafort." 

"Sir, Lieutenant Kahn needs you at his cabin, flank." 

Was there no peace? "Coming." I hurried to Kahn's quarters, at the top of theladder. The hatch was open. Kahn stood, hands on hips. Alexi Tamarov sat on hisbed, head in his hands. 

"What, Mr. Kahn? Can't I get anything done?" 

He pointed. I followed his hand. 

"Oh, Lord God, he didn't mean it. Forgive him." I wasn't aware I'd spoken aloud. 

In the center of the room, a chair. Above it, on the base of the light fixture,
a rope. It ended in a noose. I cleared my throat. "How did you find him?" 

"I came back for a holochip and Mr. Tamarov was on the chair." 

Weak from relief, I sagged against the hatch. If Kahn hadn't wanted his holochip... "Alexi, why couldn't you come to me?" "What's the point?" "I'd help you." 

"But you can't." He flung out his hand in a gesture that encompassed the wholeship. "Here's another life for me to sample. And then it will be over like theothers, and again I'm nothing." "I don't understand." 

He twisted his hands, "When you used to come to the hospital ... I hung on yourevery word. I was afraid to walk down the hall for a holozine, for fear I'd missyour visit, Then we crashed the heli and had to hike to Plantation Road. I didwhat I could to help you, and imagined I might be of real use someday, 

"But afterward you were sick, and the hospital was gone and I had nothingagain." He looked up, eyes bleak. "That job in Centraltown, I know you fixed itfor me, but still it was something I could do. I found my way around town,
learned to use their puters, started to make a life. Now suddenly I'm on the wayhome. I have no memories to anchor me. Every time I try to establish myself, youhaul me away," Why was I so self-centered, so oblivious to the needs of others?
"Alexi, I'll find someth—" 

"I'd refuse it!" He kicked savagely at the bunk. "You think I wouldn't know itwas makework? You already have two extra officers, and there's nothing for themto do but fight in the wardroom! I don't want your damned charity!" I saidstiffly, "I didn't mean it as charity." Alexi shrugged. He stared at his lap, Icould find nothing to say. Finally I patted Alexi's knee, looked to Kahn. "Takehim to the infirmary. I'll explain to Eh". Zares." Kahn crossed to the bed,
tugged gently at Alexi's arm. I closed the hatch behind them and picked up thecaller. It was hours later, in my cabin, that I remembered my interruptedconversation with Jerence. Though I was dog-tired I went anyway; better to getit over with. Jerence sat up when I came in. "Was there trouble?" "It doesn'tconcern you." 

His face fell. "You're just like Pa." 


I yawned. "Pa wouldn't like to hear you say that." 
"Yes, he would. He likes you." A pause. "I'm sorry I said I hated you." 
"Thank you." It was an opening. "Jerence, your pa wanted me to take care of you.


I don't know how." 
He was scornful. "I don't need taking care of. I'm fourteen now." 
"Where'd you get the juice?" 
He grinned. "I brought it in my knapsack. You never checked. On the ship, I hid


it good 'cause I thought you'd search, but you didn't," 


"True. My mind was occupied with trivial things, like a few hundred murderous
fish, and nuking Orbit Station." 
He colored. "I'm sorry my juice made trouble for you. Besides, Mr. Torres says


you found the rest of it, so even if I want to, I can't have any more." Hesquirmed, scratched an itch. "Mr. Seafort, when this is over, do I have to goback?" 

"Of course you do." I yawned again, against the wires locking my jaw. 

"God, I hate the idea of watching corn grow for the rest of my life." His face
changed. He looked up at me, said quietly, "You don't know how much I hate it." 
"What would you prefer?" 
"There's nothing," He stared morosely at the deck. I waited. "Except.. " His


eyes beseeched me. "Don't laugh," 
Moved despite myself, I said, "I won't." 
He regarded me, weighing the risk, "Mr, Seafort, I'd really like to be a


midshipman, like Derek Carr." 
I blurted, "Ridiculous." His look of betrayal stabbed, "I didn't laugh. Jerence,


your father would have a fit if I let you enlist. And you're still a minor, so
you need his permission." 
He looked up with a quick grin. "No I don't." 
"I beg your pardon?" 
"It says 'parent or guardian.* An unaccompanied minor traveling on a Naval


vessel does so as the ward of the commanding officer. So you could |pve me
permission." 


"Where in heaven did you hear that?" 
"I asked Lieutenant Kahn, and he read me the rep. Anyway, you don't need
permission. Remember how you enlisted two passengers as cadets a few years ago?
We all heard about it." . 


"I already have two extra middies; you think I need a goofjuice addict on top of
that?" 



"I'm no addict!" he shouted. 


"Enough!" I stood, unlocked the hatch. "In the morning they'll let you go. No
charges. Stay out of trouble, or ..." 
He jeered, "Or what?" 
I said "You'll answer to me, and you 11 wish you nadn t. I left, hoping I'd


impressed him. A middy! Lord God savE us. 


CHAPTER 29 

The next morning Dr. Zares numbed my jaw, removed the wires. Cautiously I opened
my mouth. It ached, but nothing jarred loose, I went to the mirror. Lord God. I
looked ... was there ever anything like what I looked? I tried a smile. The gap-
toothed result was so awful that I shuddered, 


"When can you do the teeth?" I wasn't vain about my appearance, but I had no
choice. When they laughed at me, they'd laugh at the Service, 


"We can start anytime. It won't be comfortable.'1 
"I know.** It would hurt like the very devil. I'd bear it. Cellular seeds were
planted deep in the gums and stimulated daily with the bone-growth stimulator.
I'd had one done once, after my first and only fight in a Lunapolis bar. 


"Captain ..." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "May I suggest..." 
"Spit it out." I looked in the mirror again, A poor choice of words. 
"Why don't you have that done as well?" He waved at my scar. 
I smiled tightly. "You don't like it?" 
He blurted, "It's awful." He reddened. "Sorry, sir, but you did ask. It's so


unnecessary. Any clinic could fix it, I'm surprised you didn't have it removed
when you were in the hospital," 
"I chose to keep it," 
"Do you still?" 


I fingered the scar, "Why shouldn't I?" 
He was blunt. "Because it puts people off. Skin regrowth is so simple that the
scar is obviously an affectation," 


I flushed. "I'm still your Captain." 
"And you're still my patient. Keep your bloody scar, if that's what you want!"


He slammed the cabinet door. "We'll start on your teeth tomorrow. Let your jaw
rest. Soft foods." 
"Very well." I ran my finger across my mouth. I could even yawn if I wished.


What luxury. "Doctor, about Mr.Tamarov." 



"Yes." Cooling, he sat across from me. "I gave him a sedative for a good night'ssleep. I'm no psych, Captain. I can give him psychotropic meds, or I can run ananalysis for hormone rebalancing." 

My stomach knotted. There was no reason why patients of a rebalancing ward weregreeted with condescension or, worse, with cruel sneers, yet it was so, and myown attitude wasn't much better. I'd lost my wife Amanda because I'd hesitatedto authorize Portia's medic to check her for rebalancing. 

If I didn't order a rebalance, and Alexi killed himself while deranged, theblame would be mine. If I allowed it, his career was finished. Yet, what careercould he have in his current amnesiac state? 

Surely hormone treatments were the best way. What would I want him to do for me,
if our roles were reversed? I'd rather die. "Not yet, Mr. Tares. I'll have himwatched." "You can't guard him at all hours." I stood. "May I look in on him?"
He nodded, I went to the cubicle, cautiously opened the hatch. Alexi lay asleep,
on his back. The lights were set low. I tiptoed in, sank into the chair next tothe bed. 

Alexi's face was relaxed, all cares dissipated as his chest rose and fell. Iswallowed. So young. Sleeping, he was the fifteen-year-old I'd come to cherishin my first wary months on Hibernia, He'd done nothing to deserve the miseryhe'd seen since: my harsh rebukes, the tyranny of Philip Tyre, consignment toAdmiral Tremaine's unjust vessel, the loss of his very self. 

Slowly I eased from the chair, knelt by the side of Alexi's bed, clasped myhands. Please, Lord God. Restore him, I know You have no love for me, and thatis just, but this one thing I ask You, Do with me as You will. But not him. Letme bear his hurts. 

"How long have you been here?" 

I looked up, startled. "You're awake." 

"I just woke." He brought his arm under his head. 

I smiled. "I just came in." I got up from my knees. "How do you feel?" 

"Tired, actually. I'm here because ... oh." He grimaced. 

"I'm glad we found you. I'd have—" For a moment I turned away. 

"Finish." 

"I'd have been lonely." I rested my hand on his, "Please, Alexi. Don't damnyourself. Be patient." 

"Oh, of course," he pulled his hand loose, "Patient, Always patient. I'll beknown as Alexi Tamarov, the man who waited." He sat up, thrust off the sheet,
"Maybe I should go back to the cabin and finish what I began," 

"You're not a prisoner." He turned away, Perhaps I should make him one, for hisown safety. 

Afterward, I told Annie about my visit. She said with conviction, "I go talk tohim. I know what it mean, not wantin* live. That be how I felt when you go way. 


It ain' right." She looked at me anxiously, "I wan' be with you, Nicky, Always.
But talkin* a killin' myself when you he gone, that ain' the way, Trannie lifetoo short for throwin' it away. Why you look in' at me like that?" 

"God, how I love you." 

She came to me. Her diction was careful and precise, "Promise you'll be with me,
Nicky. I can't stand it without you." I closed my eyes. Lord God, let her heal.
Show her how not to rely on me. 

Jerence was released and installed in a new cabin. Alexi left the sickbay. 

Whenever I went to the dayroom, conversation fell silent. If Thomas Ross waspresent he immediately left. Bram Steiner asked again to be beached. 

I kept my eye on the Log. The demerits issued by Tolliver went up, those issuedby other officers began to diminish. It could be a good sign. 

My jaw and gums hurt abominably as my replacement teeth rooted and began toprobe through swollen tissues. I tried to ignore the pain, realized I wasunsuccessful when I found myself, red-faced, shouting at Ricky Fuentes over anav drill error. 

Thomas Ross, also present, watched me with unconcealed contempt. I thought tosend him to the first lieutenant, sent him instead to Tolliver. Tolliver couldbe worse. 

As days passed, Lieutenant Kahn's manner was scrupulously correct, yetunforgiving. I learned to avoid the bridge during his watch; I preferredloneliness. 

I visited Alexi's cabin at odd intervals, afraid of what I'd find. To my relief,
all I encountered was sullen withdrawal, and no sign of the rope. 

Three days after Jerence was freed he rampaged through Level 1, flinging tubesof softies at everyone he met, shouting gibberish. Midshipman Ross made themistake of trying to collar him unaided; Jerence went along, docile enough,
until he suddenly spun Ross around and butted him down the ladder to Level 2where the middy lay groaning, out of combat. Eventually Jerence was subdued bythree sailors who seemed to enjoy the unforeseen sport. 

Woken from my first good sleep in several days, I had the boy hauled to thesickbay and strip-searched by Dr. Zares while the middies tore his cabin apartlooking for more juice. They found none. 

Jerence was again escorted to the brig. Too tired to sleep, I roamed the ship,
not caring where I went. 1 barged into the dining hall, ignored the sullen messcrew stiffened to attention among the starched linen, A quick look, then backout the hatch, 

1 passed Bram Steiner's cabin. Beach him? If he wanted off the bridge, I'd puthim off the bridge, all right. Let him spend the rest of the cruise in the brigwith Jerence. 

Down the ladder to the engine room. Chief Arkin was on duty, with a hand. Igrowled, "Attention!" They stood stiffly while my eye roved the consoles, thecabinets, the machine shop. "Very well, carry on." 


Back to Level 1.1 passed the wardroom, stopped. By custom the wardroom was freeof the Captain's interference, except for announced inspection. The hell withcustom. I banged on the hatch. "Ship's inspection. Stand to!" 

Tolliver rose immediately, with Ricky. They'd been playing chess. I noted thespotless deck, the immaculate bunks. Well, Tolliver was a seasoned hand; I wouldexpect no less. 

I slapped the hatch shut on my way out. By the time I reached my cabin I'd begunto cool. Annie was elsewhere; perhaps visiting. I left the cabin, looking forher. I checked the lounge. 

Alexi sat with a holo. "Hello, Mr. Seafort," 

"What are you doing?" I made an effort to smile. 

"Reading." He showed me the screen. "Walfort's Guide to Colonial Farming," 

"You're no farmer." 

*Tm no anything," He snapped off the holo. "Better than just sitting." I staredat him. Finally he snapped, "Mr, Seafort, I told you I had nothing to do. If youwant me to sit staring at the wall, say so!" 

My fists clenched. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself!" 

He gulped. "I'm sor—" 

"Damn your sorry!" I stalked to the bridge. Lieutenant Kahn rose, salutedproperly. I waved him back to his seat. He deliberately turned his chair awayfrom me. 

I sat for an hour, rage mounting. Finally 1 could bear it no longer. "Mr, Kahn,
call Mr. Steiner to relieve you." 

"Aye aye, sir." His tone was cool, 

Steiner came, took his seat as Kahn left. Hours passed, I broke the silence withcomments, but his only response was an occasional grunt of acknowledgment. Thesilence was maddening. 

"Carry on." I went back to my cabin. Annie slept. I sat on the bed beside her,
loosened my tie. She stirred. Annie, tell me it will be all right. Hold me.
Lightly I caressed her arm. 

She snapped awake, eyes wide with fear, and clawed at my hand. "Don' touch me!"
She bounded to the edge of the bed. 

"I'm sorry. Please, I just wanted—" 

"Don' touch me! Never!" With a sob she dashed into the head, slammed shut thehatch, 

I got up, went to the mirror, stared at the gaunt face that it framed. Alexi wasright; better to die than to live in misery. 


The entire ship had sent me to Coventry, and I was writhing in it. I had no
refuge in my cabin or anywhere. 


Well, so be it. 


It meant 1 was free to do as I wished. 


I stalked to the bridge. Lieutenant Steiner came to his feet. I growled, "Sit
and be silent." I keyed the caller. "Mr. Tol-liver, find Mr. Tamarov and bring
him to the bridge." 


Moments later Tolliver and Alexi reported, came to attention. 


My voice was harsh. "Puter, record. As of this moment, Lieutenant Abram Steiner
is placed on the inactive list." From his seat, Steiner gaped. "Put the
following note in his personnel file: Mr. Steiner is placed inactive at his own
request, for personal reasons. His performance as an officer has been
satisfactory and his inactive status shall not be construed as a rebuke." I
turned. "Steiner, off my bridge!" 


His face was gray. He saluted, saw no response, left. I wheeled on Alexi. "As
for you, Mr. Tamarov, Lord God knows I'd undo what happened to you, but it
cannot be. I won't have you mooning about feeling sorry for yourself. It's got
to stop!" 


"Mr. Seafort, I'll try to—" 


"You'll more than try. Puter, note that Lieutenant Alexi Tamarov is herewith
recalled to active duty, on full pay. End recording." 


Alexi gaped. "But I don't know how to—I don't remember my training!" 


"We'll retrain you." 


"But how? I'd have to go back to Acad—" 


"No, Mr. Tolliver will show you." Tolliver's jaw dropped. It gave me mild
satisfaction. "Tolliver, you know the ropes. You're now Lieutenant Tamarov's
aide. Help him do his duty. You're to share watches with him, eat at his table,
spend every spare moment with him." 


Alexi cried, "Mr. Seafort, I can't stand a watch if I don't
know—" 


"Sir! You call your Captain 'sir'!" He gulped. "Aye aye, sir!" "Mr. Tolliver,
find this man a proper uniform. Tutor Alexi
in every subject studied by a cadet, midshipman, and lieutenant. Start with
navigation. He's a fast learner." 


"Aye aye, sir." 


Alexi said, "Sir, I don't want to do this! I'm not ready—" 


I said, my tone icy, "I don't care what you want." It brought a stunned silence.
"You're recalled to duty. No discussion is allowed." 


"But—" 



Tolliver cleared his throat loudly. "Excuse me, Mr. Tamarov. One doesn't argue
with the Captain." 
Alexi looked to my face for comfort, found none. 


"Dismissed." 
Alone, I sat tapping the console. I picked up the caller. "Mr. Kahn, report to
the bridge." 


A few moments later he was back. 


I was brusque. "Sit. Read the Log." 


He did so. He swallowed, looked up, waiting. 


"You may pick one, Mr. Kahn. Civility or the brig until we Defuse." 


"Sir!" He groped for words. 


"Steiner can't help you. He no longer has authority to relieve me." 


"I didn't say anything about—" 


"Four weeks pay for insubordination. What do you choose, Mr, Kahn? Will you be


civil, or shall it be seven months in the brig?" 
"I'll be civil, sir!" Sweat beaded his forehead. "I thought I was—" 
"You weren't openly disobedient or blatantly contemptuous. But you missed by


only a hair. That won't do. Do you think I'm the only tyrant you'll ever serve,


Mr. Kahn? That's why cadets and middies go through hell, to leam that they can


take what shipboard life may bring! Don't you remember?" 


"Yes, sir!" 


"If you can't survive under me, the Navy doesn't need you. I'm a part of your


training, Mr. Kahn. Keep your hatred to yourself. Don't let me see it or know
about it!" 
"Aye aye, sir!" 
"Finish your watch." I stalked off the bridge. 
Below, I found the brig unlocked; Master-at-arms Torres was retrieving a dinner


tray. Jerence sat cross-legged on his mattress. 
I leaned against the hatch. "Why, boy?" 
His smile was bitter. "Why not?" 
"Have you hidden more juice?" 
"Maybe. If not, I could make it, easy enough. I learned how." 



"Why are you throwing your life away?" He flared, "Why shouldn't 1?" "Do youdespise Hope Nation that much?" "Hope Nation? No, of course not!" He got to hisfeet. "See this prison? That's what my life is. Pa wants me to be a planter, and1 have no choice. Every day it's the corn, or the wheat, or the God damn beans!" 

I slapped him, hard. "Don't blaspheme!" 

His hand flew to his face. "That's all you care about," he screamed. "Your dam—
your frazzing religion!" 
"Not all. It's what I start from." 
"They all say you're crazy, that you killed Vax Holser! You're a monster." 
I nodded. "You're right about that." I crossed to the bed, sat. I put my head in


my hands. "I can't lecture you. I'm no better than you are." 
He pounded on the hatch, harder and harder until I thought he'd break his hand,


Suddenly he spun to me, his face wet, "You loved him! I saw, that day you tried
to talk to him and he walked away." 
"It's none of your—" 
"Tell me! I want to hear it!" 
I whispered. "Yes. I loved him." 
He sobbed openly. "You were middies together, I heard, See what you have, that


I'll never know? You think I'll find friendships like that on a God—on a
frazzing farm?" 


"No, I suppose you won't." 
He struggled for composure. "What will come of me? Are you going to keep me
here?" 


"I have to." There was no other way. 
The whole cruise?" His cry was agonized. 
"Yes. Then I'll turn you over for prosecution." 
"Oh, God!" He slid to the deck, hugged himself. 
"I have no choice, boy. If I let you go, would you give up the juice?" 
He was silent a long time. I waited for the inevitable lie, but to my surprise


he buried his head in his arms. "It's too late." 
"What?" 
"To give it up. I think about it all the time, Mr. Seafort. The stuff was


supposed to last 'til we got to Lunapolis. I've used most of it already. I dream


about it I'd do... anything for it." 
Lord God curse the vermin who made and sold the stuff; the death penalty was too
good for them. And curse this foolish, uncaring boy, who'd brought foul drugs 



onto my ship for his own amuse-No. I'd lost Tolliver, lost Annie, lost Kahn,


Steiner, Eiferts, Ross. But not Jerence. Not yet. 
"Jerence, it's time we set things right." I crossed the cell, hauled him to his
feet, "Over there!" I shoved him toward the bed. 


His eyes widened. "Why are you taking off your belt?" 
"You're the ward of the commanding officer. That's me." I threw him facedown
across the mattress. "This is your punishment, for making a shambles of my
ship," I raised my arm. The crack of the belt across his rump echoed like a shot
Jerence shrieked, struggled to free himself. I held him down firmly until I was
through. When I released him, he fled sobbing to the corner of the cell, rubbing


his stinging buttocks. I threaded my belt through its loops. "I'll be back
tomorrow to talk with you." 
"I hate you! You're evil and I hate you!" His cries faded as I stalked along the


corridor. 
I went directly to the sickbay. Dr. Zares looked up from his desk. 
"Do you know the chemical properties of goofjuice?" 
The question startled him. "I imagine so. Why?" 
"Do you know how to make it?" 
He came to his feet. "Is that an accusation? I didn't. I don't know where the 


boy—" 
"Answer me!" 
He stepped back a pace. "Yes, I suppose I could, but I'd never—" 
"Make a vial." 
"You're out of your mind!" 
I grinned through missing teeth. "I may well be, by now. That was insubordinate.


I want a vial of goofjuice." 
He studied me, shook his head. "Sony, Captain, there's no way I could do that." 
"There's no way you can't, since I ordered it." 
"I could be jailed. Even a penal colony. Unless you give me a written order—" 
"Get out your holo!" Speechless, he handed it to me; I typed in the order. "Can


you have it by tomorrow?" 


"You're serious? What in God's name-—" He broke off. "I don't know. Maybe late
tomorrow. I'd have to acidify—" 
"Very well, by six. You're to tell no one. Acknowledge." 
"Orders acknowledged and understood." He hesitated, then blurted, "You know what


you'll do to yourself?" 



"Have you any idea what I've already done to myself?" I walked out of the room. 
I passed the next day in uneasy anticipation, Annie was friendly, even caring,
so long as I didn't touch her. Lieutenant Kahn met me in the dayroom, greeted me
with courtesy, sat at the long table alongside me, His conversation was nervous,


his effort to be polite noticeable. I forced myself to respond; after all, it
was what I had demanded. 
Midshipman Ross entered, saw me, turned to go. 
"Mr. Ross!" Kahn's voice cut like a whip. 
"Yes, sir?" 
"Sit with us, please." Reluctantly the middy complied. Kahn said, "We were


discussing Kail's Planet. What did you think of the mines?" 
"I don't know, sir. I have no opinion." Ross met Kahn's eyes defiantly. 
"Two demerits. Now what do you think?" 
I stood. "Good day, both of you." I left. 
I stopped to give special orders to the purser, then took Annie to dinner at our


half-empty table. For her sake, I endured the uneasy conversation until the mealwas done, then left her at our cabin. I went to the bridge, where the ChiefEngineer stood watch. Idly I thumbed through the Log. I saw that Ross had beencaned, by Lieutenant Kahn's order. So be it. 

Later, I knocked on the sickbay hatch. "Is it ready?" 

"Yes." Dr. Zares stepped aside, gestured to a plastic-corked vial of amber
liquid on his table. 
"Very well." 
"Captain, would you let me give you an antidepressant instead? I have meds that—


" 
"It's not for me, you dolt." I put the vial in my pocket, walked out. 
He followed me into the corridor. "For the boy? How could you? You'll addict him


and then—" 
"Back to your quarters. Doctor." I headed down the ladder. 
I unsealed the brig, went to the occupied cell, opened the hatch. "Come along." 
Jerence sat up. "Where are you taking me?" 
"Need another whipping?" My hand went to my belt. 
He sneered disdainfully but wasted no time getting to his feet. "Where are we


going?" 



I led him into the circumference corridor. Jerence followed reluctantly. I


unlocked the cabin I'd bade the purser prepare. "Sit." I pointed to the bed. 
I took a chair opposite. "Jerence, your father loves you dearly. The plantation
you'll inherit is worth millions. Can't you go back willingly?" 


"Why should I talk to you, after what you did?" 


"I'm all you have. Answer, or I'll leave you." 


He rested his head in his hands. When he spoke, his voice was muffled. "I don't


want to go back, not if I have to be a farmer." 
"What would you do to earn another life?" 
"What kind of life?" He looked up. Hope dawned. "You mean . . ." He breathed the


words. "In the Navy, like Derek?" 
I nodded. 
He whispered, "Anything!" 
"That's what you said you'd do for the juice." 
"I—" He faltered. "I don't know. I can't choose, not if—" 
"Here." I reached into my pocket, drew out the vial. I tossed it onto the bed. 
He seized it. "Is this—I didn't put—how did you get it?" He clutched it to his


chest. 
"I had it made." 
"Is it real?" 
I reached over, pried the vial from his unwilling hands, uncorked it. "Smell."


He sniffed the tart odor, licked his lips. I replaced the cork, tossed it back


to him. 


"Oh, God." He gulped. "Why did—may I?" 
"Yes, in a moment." I waited. He eyed the vial with longing. "1*11 be back to
see you, Jerence. I want you to give me the juice back, untouched. If—" 


"I can't!" 


M—if you do, I'll appoint you a cadet in the U.N. Navy, You won't have to be a


planter." 


He tugged at my arm. "Don't you understand? I can't hold outl" 


"Then you'll fail. It's your choice, as it's always been." 


"Mr. Seafort, please. I've got to have it. Just a little." 



"Help yourself, I'll throw you in the brig afterward, but that's no matter.
You'll do time in a penal colony, and then you'll be free to juice yourself intohell." I stood. "Or there's the wardroom." 

He stared at the vial. "How long?" he whispered. 

"Three weeks." A cry of grief, which I did my best to ignore. "In three weeksI'll let you take the oath. On the other hand, there's the juice, whenever youwant it." I went to the hatch, slapped it open. 

He scrambled across the room, barred my way. "Not like that," he gabbled.
"Please, I'll give up the juice! I swear! But don't leave me alone with it, I'mnot strong en—" 

I pried his fingers loose from the hatch. "Find strength." I thrust him backinside the cabin. 

He slid down, clutched at my legs. "Please, sir! Not in the same room withjuice! I'll use it, I've got to!" 

My voice was cold. "You brought yourself to this, not I. If you can't—" Amandaswam before me, with Nate. Perhaps my son would have grown to be like Jerence,
given the time denied him. 

This wasn't the way. 

With a sigh, I reached down, hoisted the anguished boy to his feet. I led him tothe bed, laid him down. I sat next to him, stroked his hair. "Steady, lad. I'llstay awhile." 

He sobbed, "God, Mr. Seafort, take it away!" 

"No, Jerence." I gentled him, unbuttoned the top of his shirt. "Listen, and I'lltell you a story. Lay back, son. Slow your breathing. There was a boy, once. Aboy called Philip, Dry your eyes, now. It was years ago. We were on a ship, agreat ship, cruising to a distant star..." 

Slowly he calmed. 

CHAPTER 30 

I endured daily sessions with the bone-growth stimulator. My mouth achedconstantly, but the hours after my therapy with Dr. Zares were sheer misery. 

Lieutenant Kahn greeted me civilly whenever he saw me. Occasionally he evenattempted light conversation. Grunting in reply, I searched his face for a signof his revulsion but found none. 

From a locked Level 2 cabin, cries of torment and pounding on the hatch. On myfirst visit after I'd left Jerence to wrestle with his demon, he greeted me red-
eyed and trembling. "It's been a whole day. Mr. Seafort, please say that'senough!" 

"Where's the juice?" 

"I hid it so I— He swallowed, burrowed under the mattress, came up with thevial, "Here, I haven't touched it. Let me sign up now. I'm begging you." 


"Twenty more days." 
"You bastard!" 
On that note I left him. 
The next day I shared a watch with Tolliver. He was unusually pensive. I did my


best to concentrate on a chess problem, on an imaginary board. If I moved Queen


to King's Bishop five, behind a pawn screen .,. 
He cleared his throat. "I'm supposed to keep wardroom problems from the
Captain's attention, but..." 


"Eh?" The chessboard wavered, faded. 
"Since you talked to me, I've tried. Believe me." 
I worried at a knuckle. "And?" 
"Maybe you'd best get someone else. It's beyond me." 
I sat up, attentive. "Go on." 
"I didn't know Fuentes in Hibernia, but I gather from your remarks he was a


good-natured joey." 
"The best." 
"He taunts Ross as if the consequences don't matter. And Thomas ..." He shook


his head. "He's beside himself. Venomous. Nothing I say reaches either of them." 
"A first middy has his resources." Did he expect me to tell him how to run a


wardroom? It was supposed to be beneath my notice. A first midshipman who
couldn't hold his wardroom could expect little sympathy. 
"Yes, sir." A sigh, barely audible. "I'll deal with it." 
What malady plagued Victoria? The first lieutenant beached, the second under


strict orders to hold his tongue, the third suicidal. Drug-crazed passengers,


the wardroom at each other's throats. 
And a Captain who had no right to walk the bridge, if the Navy were just. / was
the problem, and the unsettled state of affairs was merely a reflection of that. 


I sighed. "It's not your fault. Tell me." 
He seemed pathetically grateful. "Sir, I can demerit them 'til their tongues


hang out. And I will, if I'm sure that's the way. But it will only make them
hate me as they do each other." 
"It's not so much hate as ..." I stood, with an urgent need to pace. "Their


lives are askew. They want to revere their Captain as I did Captain Haag, but
they know it's not possible in my case. The conflict is too much." 
He snorted. "Now you're a psych as well as a mad bomber?" 



"Damn you!" 

He shrugged. "Oh, Til admit you've caused your share of the world's problems.
But you can't take credit for them all." 

Well, I had told him I'd suffer his insolence, in private. I waved away my ire.
"What else could explain their behavior?" 

"With Ross, in part it's because he revered his Captain, precisely as you said.
He can't forgive you—" 

"For murdering him." 

"No, for replacing him." He leaned forward. "Sir, you have to understand: atthis point, no one in command could satisfy Ross's expectations. And Holser waskilled, not dunsferred. A sudden, terrible loss. No good-byes, no time to acceptthe inevitability of—" 

"Stop!" My cry echoed from the bulkheads. I swallowed. "Sorry, sir." His tonesuggested he meant it. After a moment he cleared his throat. "But even thatdoesn't explain Ross's malevolence. He rags at Bezrel 'til he has the joeykit intears, which I'll admit is easy enough. He says vile things about Kahn and theChief. He called me a—" His mouth tightened. "I took him to the exercise room,
and he's more cautious now. But still..." 

"His ratings were excellent before I took command, Clearly I'm the cause."
Moodily I tapped the console. Tolliver said, "And what's come over RickyFuentes?" "Have you asked him?" 

"Yes, and he stalked out in a rage. You may have noticed three demerits, acouple of nights ago." "I wondered." 

"And then there's Bezrel, who might be a good middy, if ever he's old enough.
Sir, I'm in over my head." 

"Nonsense!" I paced with renewed vigor. "Do your duty, Midshipman, and don'twhine about it." "I wasn't—aye aye, sir." "Is there anything else?" 

"Yes. Your friend Alexi loathes the sight of me. I'm getting nowhere as hisaide." "I think you're overreact—" 

"It's his sarcastic asides that rankle. He's my superior, so I'm not free tocompl—" "Nor are you free to complain about him to me!" "I wasn't!" He shot fromhis seat, fists clenched. A deep breath, then another, "Sir." His fingersopened, "Sorry." 

"As you should be." I was appalled at the discussion into which I'd stumbled.
Bad enough that he'd asked my advice; worse, he'd given me his, unbidden. Themore I thought about it, the more I... That's quite enough for today, Mr.
Tolliver. I'll finish the watch." "You want me to go?" 

"It would be a great pleasure." I regretted the words almost instantly as hesaluted and stalked to the hatch. He'd told me of Alexi's sarcasm, and I'dresponded with my own. 


On Hibernia, on Portia, relations with the passengers consumed a significantpart of my attention. Here on Victoria, few had anything to say to me. I didn'tparticularly mind, but it left me with little to brood on, beside the crew. 

Still, there was Jerence. 
I found him huddled in the corner of his cabin. "Well?" 
He got up, fished in his pocket. "I still have it." 
"Good boy." 
"You said you'd come every day." An accusation. 
"I have." 
"It's been ..." His brow knotted. "A long time." 
"Eighteen hours. Endure it." 
He pulled out the vial, rushed across the room. "Here." He made as if to drop it


in my lap, but his fingers halted, as if they had volition of their own. "Maybe
I'd better ,., just in case ... No!" With vehemence, he tossed it at me. 
I let it fall to the deck, "Don't pretend you've forgotten my terms." 
"How long yet?" 


"Thirteen days." 
"Oh, God." A deep breath, and another. His eyes were bleak as^ie retrieved the
juice. "It's not worth it. I thought I wanted to be a middy, but,.." 


"Fine." Steeling myself, I stood to go, "I'd rather not watch, if you don't
mind—" 


He cried, "Why won't you help me!" His eyes brimmed. 
Why did his pain pierce me so? Had he not brought it on himself? I crossed to
the bed, sat, patted the sheet. "Put that down; sit here. We'll talk." 


"Would you take it away?" He sat. "You don't know how bad today is. Every


minute, I..." 
I took his chin, turned it so his eyes met mine. "Wherever you go, there'll be
juice. You can't hide from it," 


He rocked. For a moment his forehead brushed my shoulder. 
"Think of the next hour. Don't worry about tomorrow," How fatuous I sounded, 
He threw himself flat on the bed, curled toward the bulkhead, "You said you'd


tell me stories," 
I swallowed. Father never told me tales; all I knew was my own life, and there
was no part of it without pain. What did he want of me? 



No, that was unfair. I'd promised I would visit with him. I took a long, slowbreath. "I grew up in Cardiff. That's in Wales. Once, when I was young, I had afriend called Jason..." 

I didn't know how much he heard. From time to time he sniffled and wiped hisnose with his sleeve. 

Two days later they caught Ricky Fuentes forcing open a cooler in the galley,
late in the night. The steward brought him to Alexi and Tolliver, who shared thewatch, and Tol-liver took the unusual step of summoning me directly. 

Moments later, buttoning my coat, I strode onto the bridge. Ricky stood stifflyat attention midway between hatch and the console. "What in blazes.., ?" 

"Not just a raid. He used a pry bar." Tolliver's voice was cold. 

That Ricky Fuentes could do such a thing was the ultimate betrayal. If there wasone joey aboard with sense, with decency, it was he. 

"Damage?" 

"Scratches. A bent hinge." 

I'd been standing near my seat, listening, chest tight. When the red mistscleared I found my fingers curled around Ricky's lapels. The boy's mouth workedin panic. 

"How dare you, Fuentes!" My nose was inches from the middy's. "Vandalize myship? I'll break you! I'll put you back to cadet! Ship's boy! Common seaman!" 

He whimpered. 

"How dare you! Answer me!" 

Ricky stammered, "A bet. I told Mr. Ross I could—I'm sorry—it was—" 

I tore off my cap, hurled it across the bridge, Alexi flinched as it sailed pasthis head. "Call Mr. Kahn; we'll have Fuentes caned this instant!" 

"Aye aye, sir." Tolliver spoke into the caller. 

The gall, sneaking into territory that was off-limits to all middies, to destroyNaval property. I'd show him and the others. Any middy might irk his superiorsfrom time to time, but there were limits. As every midshipman knew, an enragedCaptain was a calamity not to be borne, and by God, I was he. 

The hatch slid open. "Lieutenant Jeffrey Kahn reporting, sir." 

"Do you know what this ruffian's been up to?" I swung to him, my voice anaccusation. No matter what Kahn's feelings for me, he would be incensed. Raidingthe galley was one thing; more than once I'd led midnight forays on Hiber-nia.
Luckily we hadn't been caught, though one time, as a cadet.,. Well, that wasanother story. But a pry bar... 

Kahn's eyes flicked to the Log, and Tolliver's most recent entry. 


I said, "Thrash him. Don't dream of going easy. I'll want to see him after."
Whatever had come over Ricky? 


"Aye aye, sir. Middy, come along." He strode to the hatch. 
They were well along the corridor before my last thought penetrated my
consciousness. What had come over Ricky, my old shipmate? And wasn't it time I
found out? 


"Edgar, call them back." If Ricky were punished to the degree I contemplated,


I'd not be able to get much from him after. 
On leaving the bridge, Ricky had wheeled, marched after Kahn with commendable
dignity. Apparently it had been a show for my benefit. When he reappeared he
tried manfully to check the tears that had flowed once he was out of sight. 


My rage vanished like air from a ruptured hull. 


I retrieved my cap from the deck. "Well." A few breaths. Adrenaline left me
shaky. "Mr. Kahn, wait in your cabin. He'll be along." 
I needed privacy. Should I send Tolliver and Alexi out? No, the bridge was no


place for an inquisition such as I had in mind. "Come with me, Fuentes." I led
him to the passengers' lounge. At this hour it was deserted. Inside, I sealed
the hatch. "Now." I guided Ricky to a couch, pulled up a chair, sat with our
knees almost touching. "What have you to say for yourself?" 


"Nothing, sir." 
I regarded him, unsure how to proceed. "How old are you?" 
"Sixteen, sir.** Light brown hair, a face that barely knew a razor. A slim body


grown like a weed. And once, a ready smile that had lit his eyes, an eager
enthusiasm that brought an ache to the heart. 
A sniffle. He flushed with embarrassment. 
I blurted, "Remember Sandy's orchestron?" 
He gaped. "On Hibernia? That was ... years ago." 
"You were twelve." 
"And ship's boy." 
"He held it over your head, and you couldn't reach. 


You've grown since." A wan smile. 
"You used to bring my eggs and toast." His eyes teared. "Remember when I
shrieked at you in my cabin, because you wouldn't relax?" 


Again a smile, but his mouth quivered. He made as if to turn away, insteadsearched deep into my eyes. Somehow, I held his gaze. With a cry of anguish, hefell upon me, buried his head in my shoulder, held me as if a lifeline. 

Stunned, I managed to raise my hand, stroke his hair. "It's all right, boy." 


Sobs. 
"Tell me." 
For a long time nothing but the shaking of his shoulders. At last, with a


shuddering breath, he raised his head from my dampened jacket. His eyes widened


with dismay at the realization of what he'd done. 


"Never mind that. Tell me." My voice was soft. 


Instead, he looked away. "I wish..." 


"Yes?" 


"That Victoria were a happy ship. She used to be." 


"Under Mr. Holser?" 


"Mr. Martes too. The fish killed him, didn't they?" 


"I'm afraid so." 
His fingers twisted. "I cried myself to sleep the night Mr.
Holser was—died." 


"I wish I could have done the same." But I didn't deserve remorse. 


A long silence. "Sir? Could you tell—I know it's none of my—" He poked at a


split in the seat cover. His eyes rose to mine, with resolve. "They say you
killed him." 
I dared say nothing. 
"That you let him stay on the Station, knowing it was too late to stop the


bomb." 
My lips pressed tight. 
"That you let him die, because on Hope Nation he refused to talk to you!" 
"Oh, Ricky," I wasn't sure I was changing the subject. "Didn't you like Mr.


Ross, once?" 
He seemed startled. "I guess." 
"Mr. Tolliver says you ride him to distraction. Why?" 
"The things he says about you!" 
"And if they're true?" 
"They can't be!" A pause. Then, softer, "They mustn't be." 
"Look at me." I waited. rtl blew the Station. I let Captain Holser on board,


knowing he'd come to stop me. I deny none of it." 



"You set the bomb so he couldn't disarm it? Did you do that?" In his eyes,
appeal, 
"It's not your place to ask." 


"I need to know!" 
Abruptly I stood to pace. The burden of Orbit Station was mine to bear, I
couldn't inflict it on an innocent middy, no matter how great his need for
reassurance. 


"Why'd you break into the cooler?" 
"They didn 't think I could—" 
"Ricky!" 
His look was defiant. "What difference does it make? A hinge, a cooler, a


frazzing fastship! Regs!" 
"Is that all you—** 
"Go ahead, have me caned! I can take it, you'll see!" 
With slow steps I walked to the couch, gently lifted his head. Our eyes met.


After a long time I said, "Do I mean that much to you?" 
He spun away. 
I knelt. "Ricky, there are things I mustn't tell you. But surely you know Vax


meant a great deal to me. At the Station he was incredibly brave. His first
thought was to save me, though I wasn't worth it." 
"And you killed him!" 


Despite my resolve, the cry was wrung from me. "Could I have?" 
For an eternity he looked into my eyes. Finally his face softened. At last his
gaze held a modicum of peace. 


A while later I walked him to Kahn's cabin, my hand on his shoulder. "There's


still punishment. That can't be helped." 
"Yessir. I guess I deserve it." Ricky's head slumped, and I gave an extra
squeeze. 


I knocked. "Mr. Kahn, you need not go particularly easy, but disregard the rest
of what 1 said." 


Kahn nodded. I walked back to the bridge. 
Annie took more interest in her surroundings, and 1 grew hopeful. She went for
endless walks around the circumference corridors, and from time to time visited
the lounge. 


One afternoon she said, "Nicky, why don' they like me?" 



"Because you're with me, hon," 
"No, it's somethin' more. They look at me, talk 'bout me after I go." 
"How would you know—" 
"I listened, at the hatch." She folded her arms against my disapproval. " 'See


how she hold her head, like tryin' ta be somethin' she's not!' " Her voice
mimicked scorn. 


I got to my feet. "Who?" 
"It don't matter. I be used to it. Besides"—she giggled— "the middy tol' 'em
good." 


"I'll make him lieutenant," I said, only half in jest. "Which one?" Tolliver,
most likely. Or Ricky. Bezrel hadn't the gumption to— 
"Tommy." 


"Ross? Thomas Ross?" 
"Yesterday he called Suliman Rajnee a grode an* a bigot for funnin' at me. Said
Rajnee didn' know what a gentleman was, an' be too stupid ta learn." 


"Good Lord." Why would Ross protect my wife, given his thorough dislike of me? I
was grateful, but still, foul language to a passenger was unacceptable under any
circumstances. I'd send him to Rajnee with an apology. 


"I'll be back in a while, hon." 


I found Ross on the watch, with Ms. Arkin. "What have you been up to, Middy?" I
sounded more severe than I'd intended. 
"Sir?" 
"Yesterday. Suliman Rajnee.** 
"We had words." 
"Tell me what you said." 
"I'd rather not." Outright defiance. 
"You insulted him. Called him names." 
"I figured he'd whine to you about—" 
"One demerit. Make that two." I pursed my lips, Rajnee was no longer the issue.


"Ross, I've had it with your—" 
"Beach me, then! It was good enough for—" 
"ROSS, ENOUGH!" Sandra Arkin. 
"Thank you, Chief, but 1*11 handle it. Mr. Ross, apologize!" 



A sullen silence. Then, "Very well, I apologize." His tone belied his words. 
"Sir!" 
"Oh, but of course. Sir. * 
"Mr. Ross, take yourself to**—I'd been about to say "Mr. Kahn," but—"the


wardroom. Pack your gear; I'll send you civvies and find you someplace to bunk," 
"Am I beached?" 
"You're..." I hesitated, firmed my resolve. He was beyond bearing. "You're


dismissed from the Service, as of this moment." 
"God, no!" He blanched. 
"Oh, yes. Off my bridge!" I turned his shoulders, propelled him to the hatch. 
"Sir, wait, I—" 
"Out!" He was agile and sturdy, but my rage was beyond challenge. I flung him to


the far bulkhead, slapped the hatch shut. 
Ms. Arkin stared at the console lights. 
"Well?" I dared her to object. 
"He was offensive." 
I snorted. "You might call it that." 
Her manner was carefully placating. "If you'd repeated what he said, Jeff Kahn


would have cured him." 
"He's eighteen and been barreled twice this month. It didn't help." 
"Yes, sir." She couldn't say much more without skirting insubordination. 
Lieutenant Kahn came to my cabin while Annie was out walking. "Sir, I beg you to


reconsider.** "About Ross? Forget it." "Aye aye, sir. I know he's impetuous,
but—*' "Hah. Have you any idea what he said to me?** "He told me some, Sandrathe rest. Still, if we—" I shouted, "I will not be spoken to with contempt!" Ifingered my jacket. "This is the United Nations, the Government ordained of LordGod! It deserves respect, even if I myself—" I broke off. "After we dock, aftermy trial, he can spit on me; I might even applaud. But for now ..." 

"Yes, sir. I agree wholeheartedly. Sorry, not the spitting, please don't take

offense. But what you have to understand about Thomas is that—" 
A knock. Furious, I threw upon the hatch, "Now what—" Edgar Tolliver. Hesaluted. "Might I have a word, sir?** His face was grim. "Not now." "Sir, I justheard—" "About Ross?" I grimaced, stood aside. "Very well, jointhe party." 

"Oh. I didn't realize, Mr. Kahn." Tolliver saluted his superior. 


"Skip the formalities, both of you, and sit. I don't intend to be argued out ofmy decision." 

Tolliver glanced at Kahn, back to me. "With respect, sir"—I snorted at that—"howdid you decide? In the heat of the moment?" 

"That's not for you to question." 

Tolliver tried again. "You said the wardroom was mine to handle." 

"You said you couldn't.** 

"You told me to try. Let me." 

"With the other middies. Ross is out." 

Kahn cleared his throat. "Captain, I'll have a talk with Ross. Hear him out,
after—" 

"Begging your pardon, sir." To Kahn, Tolliver was polite but firm, "It's myresponsibility, as first middy. I'll see to it—" 

I snapped, "Are you both deaf? He's cashiered," I glowered at Toliiver's mutereproach. He held his gaze. 

A weariness settled over me. Was I overreacting? No. The boy was— 

"Sir, he's in his bunk, crying. He begged me for help." Tolliver's face wasintense, "Do you understand? Since I unpacked in the wardroom, he's offered menothing but sullen-ness or gibes. Today, he wanted me." "Contemptible. He has noright to ask, after—" Tolliver shot to his feet. "Do you want justice or acrew?" Even Kahn was aghast, but Tolliver paid no heed. "Break me, breakSteiner. Break Tommy Ross. Why stop there? You almost lost Ricky! What about Mr.
Kahn?" "Leave me out of—" 

"Sir, it's my fault Ross erupted. You know that as well as IP 

"Good heavens." I sank to a chair. Tolliver was certain of his cause, or hewouldn't dare to upbraid me. Even then, it was unimaginable. Still, I had noconscience of my own, and it seemed he was appointed to fill the role. 

I waved, a gesture of defeat, "Very well. Talk to him, both of you. I'll—I mightreconsider." 

Jerence howled and kicked at me until I left. He refused to show me the vial; Iknew that meant it was emptied. 

Belowdecks, two crewmen beat a third senseless. I had them brigged until thenext Captain's Mast. 

A few months. Then the rope, and surcease. 

From Ricky Fuentes, a written apology. Kahn had gone hard on him, and he'd beenabsent from the dining hall for days, until he could sit without misery. Rickyoffered to replace the damaged hinge from his own pay. He would never dosomething so dishonorable again, never let me down ... I put down the note.
Better he merely exercised more sense; I wanted none of his hero-worship. 


I couldn't put off dealing with Jerence; he had to be returned to the brig. I


went to his cabin. 
The lights were dialed low. Jerence sat up, squinted through eyes set deep in a
haggard face. "Is it over?" 


"Yes. To the brig." My tone was curt. 
Carefully he eased himself from the bed. "You promised!" 
"Only if you held out." 
He hugged himself, rocking. Slowly his hand crept inside his shirt. He extended


his arm, opened his fingers. The vial. 


"I warned you—" But it was unopened. "Oh, Jerence!" 1 swallowed. "After
yesterday, I thought..." 
"I didn't think it could get any harder, but it did." His voice was hoarse. "Mr.


Seafort, it hurts." 
"Yes." I sniffed. "Are you forgetting to wash?" 
"Who cares?" Again he hugged himself. "How long has it been?" 
"Ten days. Eleven to go." 
He pursed his lips, shook his head. 
Tolliver sat across from me in the officers' mess. "May I bring Mr. Ross to see


you?" 


I frowned. I regretted letting myself be bludgeoned into an interview. "Not the
bridge, and definitely not my cabin. Where are his quarters?" 
"Cabin twenty-nine, Level 2, He shares.** 
"With whom?" 
A flicker of a smile. "Suliman Rajnee. Mr. Kahn and I thought it fitting." 
Tolliver's idea, I was sure. "Very well. After lunch." 
The meal was tasteless and heavy on my stomach. After, I paced the bridge for a


full hour, girding myself. 
Rajnee, by prearrangement, would be elsewhere. I rapped on the hatch. 
Thomas Ross opened, began a salute, realized it was a


breach of protocol. Lowering his hand, he stood aside. He looked odd and
uncomfortable in a casual jumpsuit. 
I found a chair, sat with crossed legs. "Well?" 
He walked with peculiar gait to his bunk, eased himself onto it. 



"Have they caned you?" My tone was sharp. "I gave orders you weren't to be—" 
"No, sir. I've been sick to my stomach ever since you ... It hurts." 
We waited. 
"I've nothing to say, Ross. I'm here at your request." 
"Yessir. What I wanted to—look. My hand's shaking." He held it out for


inspection. 


"Get on with it." In the Navy, one made one's bed and had to lie in it. I had no
sympathy for his distress. 
"I've got to be reinstated." He frowned, as if it hadn't sounded the way he


hoped. "The Navy is all I ever wanted." 
That much, I understood. It had been so with me. 
"Without it I'm ,. . nothing." His eyes darted to mine, back to the deck. "What


must I do to convince you?" 
"Should I care?" 
"Captain, I apologize for my rudeness. I'll do anything. I'll get down on my


knees and—" 


"You won't do that." I would leave, on the instant. The memories were too 
strong, 
"Whatever you say, then. Have me caned. But please, please put me back to middy.


I won't ever disrespect—" 
I was tired of it, "What I want isn't groveling, but truth, I came here


expecting to deny your request, and that's still my intent. Level with me
absolutely, or there's not the slightest chance I'll—" 
"Anything!" He jumped from the bed, crossed to the wardrobe built into the


bulkhead, turned back. His voice was unsteady. "Anything." 
"Why are you so desperate? There are other paths, other lives to lead,** 
"I thought when I showed how angry I was, I was acting from principle. But on


the bridge, when you dismissed me ,., something in my gut wrenched; I thoughtI'd pass out, I never knew how important the Navy was to me," Heturned. "In Ottawa I dreamed of it, lying in my bed. I had all the holos aboutAcademy, and Mom was furious when I played them instead of doing my homework." 

Despite myself, I smiled. I knew. "Why do you loathe me so?" 
"I don't, I've changed my mind, I realize I've been— 
I strode to the hatch. 
"All right! You killed Mr. Holser!" 
"Others have made their peace with it." 



"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to accuse—" 
"Damn it, boy, truth!" 
He stumbled to the bed, sank on it, immediately jumped to his feet. "You're a


traitor! You set off a nuke! He was your friend, and a word from you would have
stopped him. You didn't say it!" 
"If he came to save the Station, would he have listened?" 


"He was our Captain!" A cry of such despair that I was silenced. 
"Oh, God, I'm going to be sick again." He tried not to retch. "I love the Navy
more than anything, but I can't abide that it has you in it!" 


My voice was so quiet that only I heard. "Neither can I." 
A long time passed, the silence broken only by his sobs. 
I cleared my throat. "What's come of your talks with Tol-liver and Mr. Kahn?" 
"Lieutenant Kahn's furious, sir. He's warned me if Tin re-instated I'll have


more to worry about from him than you." 
"Odd, given his own feelings." 
"Not really, sir. Mr. Tolliver's disgusted with me, but he took the time to make


it clear. If we respect the Service, we owe courtesy to all its officers. You'renot just in charge of Victoria, sir. You represent Admiralty, the regs, everyship of the line. So I'll have to show you good manners, no matter what I—nomatter what." 

"That came as a revelation?" My tone was dry. 

"No, sir." A mumble. "I guess I already knew. It's just..." His head came up.
"You said the truth. May I speak my mind?" 
1 nodded. 
"I owe it to Mr. Holser not to let his murder go unnoticed. 
I despise your treason. Thank God that hangings are public. I'll be there for


yours even if I have to jump ship. And I'll celebrate, when they're done." At my
unflinching gaze, he reddened. "Well, that's how I feel." 
"It's not always necessary to say what you feel." 


"Yessir." 
This had gone far enough; I already knew my decision. "I'll let you know in a
week or so." I stood. 


"That long!" 
"Or more." The prize would be more valued, for the yearning. 



"What shall I do with myself? I spend every day alone; Rajnee doesn't care totalk to me any more than I—and no officer will even speak to me.** 

I shrugged. "That's your affair." An idle thought. "If you're lonely, visitcabin nineteen," 

"The Branstead joey?" 

"An hour a day, no more. He'd like someone to talk with, I imagine." 

Tolliver dogged Alexi Tamarov's footsteps, relentless in his determination thatAlexi become the perfect lieutenant. I surmised that Tolliver modeled hisbehavior after our drill sergeants at Academy, who spoke to us with tokenrespect, yet sternly monitored and corrected our every move. 

At first, Alexi was resentful and sullen. Nonetheless, he studied his texts andperformed his nav drills like any nervous young middy, Tolliver by his side.
After a time Alexi hesitantly began issuing orders to the work details he wasallowed to supervise. 

After a week I allowed Thomas Ross to don his uniform. He reported for watch,
polished and crisp. As he entered the bridge, evident relief battled withsomething else. Perhaps self-betrayal. 

I said nothing of what had passed between us. When he was settled I left for mycabin. 

In the evenings I sat with Jerence. 

After one tempestuous visit, he'd finally quieted and gone to sleep. In themorning he'd pounded on the hatch until a sailor heard him and called thepurser. Before I rounded the corridor bend I could hear Jerence begging to befreed. 

"Steady, Jerence." 1 opened the hatch. He tried to dive past me; I hauled him upby the collar. The vial of goofjuice lay on his bed. 

"Oh, God, Mr. Seafort, I want it so! Isn't there a way? Couldn't 1 have just alittle? Would you let me?" 

"Yes, As much as you want," 

"Oh, thank you! I—" He stopped short. "And could ! enlist, then?" 

"Of course not." 

"Look what's happening to me!" He showed me his hand. 

It trembled. 

"Physical withdrawal, I'd guess. A jolt of juice will cureit." I put my hand on the hatch lever. 

"Don't leave me alone! Please!" His tear-streaked face peered up at me. "I'vetried so hard, but I can't!" 


Again I thought of Nate, knowing the comparison was foolish. This boy was not myson, never would be. But impulsively I pulled his head to my chest, releasedhim. "Wait another day, Jerence. I'll be back." 

"To tell me more stories? Tommy won't, he says he doesn't know how." 
"I don't know any more—" 
"Pa used to, when I was little. If I concentrate on your voice I don't think so


hard about the juice, for a little." 


"All right, but not every day." What could I tell him of myself that wasn't a
He? 
Time passed. I adjusted Alexi's watch rotation so that he always shared with


Tolliver. Tolliver bore up under the strain of his duties, made easier perhaps
by the lessening of tensions in the wardroom. Even Bezrel showed signs of
improvement; he was rebuked less often and learned to stand up under criticism
without wilting. Well, most of the time. On one occasion I'd carefully not
noticed a stray tear making its way down his cheek. 


Still, Alexi had been but a pale imitation of a lieutenant*, hesitant, unsure,
often confused. I knew that after we docked,
when I'd be unable to shield him, he'd be useless to the Service. I didn't tell
him so. He already knew. 


"Mr. Seafort, it isn't working." We were on the bridge, toward the end of the
cruise, during one of Tolliver's rare absences. "If Edgar wasn't with me, I'd
never manage." 


"Just do your best, Alexi." 


"I try, but I can't even fill out the Log without Tolliver guiding me. And I do
it every watch!" 
"Your intelligence is what it always was. We had it tested." 
"Yes, I know." 
"And Dr. Zares says your ability to retain what you learn is unimpaired. So all


you need is time." 
"Yes, sir." He brooded at his console, UI know you don't like me to complain." 
"Do the best you can." 
He flared, "Do my best, do my best. How many times have I heard that? You sound


just like Amanda. Alexi, all you can expect is your bes—" 
The hairs on my neck rose. 
White-faced, he whispered, "Amanda!" 
"You remember?" 
"In my cabin, when I hated Philip so! On Hibernia!" He bounded from his seat.


"Sir, I remember! Wasn't it on For-tia, when she died? Tell me!** 



"Yes." I pinned. Thank You, Lord. 
"Her funeral, I was there!" He danced with excitement. 
"Steady, Lieutenant." I clasped his arm; unexpectedly he grabbed me and hugged


me, "Oh, sir, I remember parts of it!" 


"Easy, Alexi." But I didn't push him away; my hand pounded his back in answering
enthusiasm. 
It wasn't that simple, of course. Huge gaps in his memory remained. Yet, almost


daily, bits of his past returned. With each revelation, his stature heightened,
his shoulders straightened, his confidence grew, 
I was content. 
But then I thought of home. 


CHAPTER 31 

"Prepared to Defuse, sir,*' said Chief Engineer Sandra 

Arkin, "Very well." 1 turned to Kahn, absently fingering my scar, 

"Call Mr. Tolliver." 

Moments later Edgar Tolliver saluted, waited for me to release him. 

"As you were. I thought you might want to see this, Edgar. The end of ourcruise." The finis to my career, and soon ofmy life. "Yes, sir." He stood behind my chair, peering over myshoulder at the console. 

I reached to the top of the screen. I hesitated. Each day of the interminablevoyage had brought me inexorably closer to this moment I had no doubt they'dhang me. My only regret was that Annie was still fragile, and sometimes worse.
She would likely require a course of hormone rebalancing. Perhaps I couldarrange that much, before they tried me. Per* haps, in return for my guiltyplea... "Ready, sir?** Kahn. 

"Sound Battle Stations. We'll take no chances." "Aye aye, sir.** Kahn pressedthe alarms. Throughout the ship men and women dashed to their stations, reportedtheir readiness to the bridge. When all compartments had responded I reluctantlyput my finger on the screen. "We're ready, sir." 

I shot Kahn an annoyed glance. "Yes, of course." I ran my finger down the lineon the screen. "Defused." 

The simutecreens flashed to stunning life. "Checking for encroachments," Kahnsaid immediately. "Captain, no encroachments." The puter. "Thank you, Billy. Mr.
Kahn?" Never did one rely solely on a machine. 

His reply took a moment longer. "Free of encroachments, Captain." 

"Where are we?" 


Billy said, "Outside orbit of Venus. Coordinates follow." 

"Very well. Remain at Battle Stations until we contact Admiralty." I stood topace. "Mr. Tolliver." 

"Yes, sir?" 

"Sit at the console." Immediately Lieutenant Kahn rose to give his seat. Itwould have been unthinkable for Tolliver, or any officer, to sit in my place.
'Take the following message to the comm room and have it broadcast continuouslyuntil reply is received: 

"To Admiralty, Lunapolis Base, Captain Nicholas E. Seafort reporting."
Diligently Tolliver typed my words. 

"U.N.S. Victoria is returned to Solar System under my command. The U.N.N.S.
fleet left Hope Nation ten months ago under orders of Admiral Georges De Mamayand is in passage home." Our fastship had outraced the fleet; the other shipswould arrive six months from now. 

"Due to a rebellion on Hope Nation, I was unable to rejoin the fleet." I paused,
waited for Tolliver. "With help from several planters, I suppressed therebellion, On my own initiative, as senior military officer and plenipotentiaryof the United Nations Government, I granted the colony of Hope Nation status asa free commonwealth, and full and irrevocable membership in the Assembly of theUnited Nations." Tolliver shook his head, knowing as well as I that Admiraltywould be appalled. 

"After the fleet sailed, the aliens continued to attack Hope Nation. Fishentered the atmosphere and settled to ground level. They destroyed and overranthe Ventures Base." 

Even I, brazen as I had become, found the next confession difficult. "Iconcluded that Hope Nation could not survive unless the balance of forces wasdrastically altered. Therefore, acting alone and in secret, I caused thedisabled ships on Orbit Station to attract the fish by caterwauling their fusiondrives. Many fish responded. When Orbit Station was disabled, I deliberatelycaused a nuclear detonation that destroyed some five hundred twelve fish.** 

"Plus the four hundred seventy-two my father shot," Billysaid proudly. 

"Puter, be silent. Commander Vax Holser, a courageous officer, lost his life inan unsuccessful attempt"—I stopped dead. It was my last chance to redeem myhonor. The truth, or a vile lie? I took a deep breath—"to save Orbit Stationfrom detonation. I emphasize that no person other than myself took any part inthe destruction of the Station." 

I cleared my throat. Why was the simulscreen blurred? "I therefore turn overcommand of U.N.S. Victoria to Lieutenant Jeffrey Kahn and await your furtherorders, Mr. Tol-liver, transmit at once," "Aye aye, sir." 

I turned to Lieutenant Kahn, saluted. "I'll be in my cabin with my wife. Do notdisturb me until they reply." "Aye aye, sir." An awed whisper. I strode from thebridge for the last time, keeping my head high, my expression calm, until I wasaround the bend of the circumference corridor. Then 1 hurried to my cabin,
groped for the hatch. 


Annie sat in her chair, looking at a holo, humming. She took no notice of myentry. I took off my jacket, my tie. I lay down on the bed. 

I'm sorry, Father. At the end, even duty has failed me, I am nothing in the eyesof Lord God, and now I am nothing to the Naval Service. Let it be over. 

I lay staring at the ceiling. After a period I drifted to other places, othertimes. Strange dreams disturbed my sleep. Vax Holser, enraged, did push-ups inthe wardroom. Amanda talked to fish, who made no reply. Philip Tyre ... Icouldn't hear him, for the banging on my hatch. 

I stirred, drifted back to sleep, but the hammering persisted. I woke. Hours hadpassed, and someone pounded in the corridor. The impertinence amazed me. Ijumped to my feet, flung open the hatch, 

"Did you know, you conniving bastard? Did you?" Tears ran down Edgar Tolliver'scheeks. "Was it another of your tricks?" He slammed his fist into the bulkhead.
"Know? What are you talking about?" "I can't even hate you anymore! Yet I wasready to see you die, to put an end to it!" He sobbed in fury, wiped his cheekwith his sleeve. "Tell me you knew!" 

I grasped his shoulders, shook him. "Explain, Edgar." 

"God damn you, read it yourself!" He thrust me a holochip. 

I turned back to the desk, put it in the holovid. 

I keyed the screen. 

"To: Captain Nicholas E. Seafort, from ComHomFlt, U,N,N.S., Lunapolis Base.
Eleven months ago, on 4 March, 2200, United Nations Security Council Resolution8645 was amended to read; "The threat of nuclear annihilation having forgenerations terrorized all mankind, it is enacted that use, attempted use, orconspiracy to use nuclear energy for the purpose of destructive detonation shallin all cases be punishable by death, UNLESS SUCH ACT SHALL (A) TAKE PLACEOUTSIDE THE SOLAR SYSTEM, (B) BE COMMITTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFENDING UNITEDNATIONS COLONIES OR MEMBER STATES FROM DESTRUCTION BY ALIEN ATTACK, AND (C) BEPERSONALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL WITHIN THAT COLONY OR 
MEMBER STATE.' 

"You are to resume command of U.N.S. Victoria. Proceed to Lunapolis Base, whereyou will testify at a Board of Inquiry to determine whether the destruction ofOrbit Station was necessary and within your province to command, and whether youhad the requisite authority to alter the status of the colony of Hope Nation.
End message." 

Tolliver whispered, "How did you know the law wis amended?" 

I snarled, "Look at the date of the amendment. How could I know?" He made noresponse. I said, "Go to the bridge, Pll be along shortly." 

Tolliver stumbled to attention, saluted. "Aye aye, sir." 

"Dismissed." 

EPILOGUE 


"Admiral Duhaney will see you now, sir." The staff lieutenant held the door. Alleyes in the crowded anteroom were on me, as they had been from the moment I'dentered, It was so everywhere I'd been in the Lunapolis warrens. 

I straightened my tie, took a last tug at my jacket. "Very well." 

"Seafort." Admiral Duhaney rose from behind the desk, extended a hand. I tookit. In his forties, I judged. Smooth black hair, a politician's smile. A far cryfrom Admiral Brentley, my old mentor. He asked, "How are you feeling?" 

"Well enough, sir." I'd recovered from the implant of my new lung, and I'd justabout run the course of the antirejec-tion meds, but still I was gratefulLunapolis had only one* sixth Terran gravity. 

"Have a seat." He gestured to the couch. "I understand your wife is still in,
ah, treatment. Will she travel with you?" 

"Travel? Where?" 

He looked surprised. "On your next ship. You have your choice of assignments,
you know. If there's some particular ship we can give the Hero of Hope Nation—" 

"Don't call me that!" I came to my feet, trembling. "If you're going to jeer atme—" 

"Jeer? Look at the holozines!" I glanced at the printouts scattered on thetable. Of course my scarred face was on all of them still. I could go nowherewithout the cameras whirring. 

"I'm no hero." I slumped back into my seat "You've been exonerated by a Board ofInquiry.'* Whitewashed, he meant. The holozines had gotten my story, probably bydecoding my wideband broadcast, and had emblazoned it across the world'sscreens, "Seafort Saves Hope Nation"; "Captain Kills A Thousand Fish!"; "NickyNukes Alien Fleet!" Other headlines didn't bear thinking about. 

After that, the Navy could do nothing but concur in the general adulation.
They'd heard my report on the Ventures attack, read William's confirmation, andendorsed my treason without batting an eye. 

"You can have Hibernia, when she gets home, or any other ship you—" 

"I resign." 

He stopped short. "You what?" 

"Resign, I said. I've done enough harm. I'll do no more." 

Admiral Duhaney got up, crossed slowly to the couch, sat next to me. "You can't,
Seafort, The public wouldn't stand for it, and we need you." 

"No." 

He studied my face, "What happened, out beyond? Is this about the Station?" 

"No, sir. It's about the people." Vax, why do you haunt me? I was trying toprotect you. Gladly I would have gjven you the glory, 


"Your return on Victoria must have been .,, difficult." 

"Somewhat. That doesn't matter." Victoria's officers had judged me more trulythan had Admiralty. 

"Nine months is a long time, if you're not liked." 

"Not liked?" Despised. No time in my life had been as lonely as those nineendless months. 

Admiral Duhaney cleared his throat. 

"Sorry." Where were we? "It's not the trip home, sir. I've had enough." 

"We need men like you commanding—" 

"Whatever your Board of Inquiry said, I'm not fit to command. I've broken myoath, I've destroyed a station, I've far exceeded my authority. If I didn't havethat foolish reputation in the zines you'd have cashiered me, or worse. Youshould have hanged me. When I blew the Station I had no idea they'd changed thenuclear resolution!" 

"That doesn't matter, boy. The resolution was amended. It had to be. Thehysteria after that first fish followed you home in Challenger..." He shook hishead. 

"I thought I was committing treason." 

"You'd have been, a few months earlier. Lord God must be with you." 

That was so preposterous I didn't bother to answer. Duhaney was a fool. "Itdoesn't matter, sir. I resign." 

"You mustn't. Do you know how many ships we've lost? We need the public behindus for the cost of rebuilding the fleet. And recruiting is more important thanever. We need your face on the recruiting posters to—" 

"Cashier me, damn you, but don't mock me!" I scrambled to my feet. "Well, don'tlook so surprised! Admiralty taught me over and again I could get away withinsolence; this is the result! Good day to you, sir." Fuming, I strode acrossthe room. 

"Wait, Seafort, I—" 

I flung an angry salute, slammed the door. In the anteroom conversation meltedinto stunned silence. The duty lieutenant stared, aghast. I ignored them all as1 stalked out. 

My quarters were a half-kilometer distant, through endless tunnels. Rather thanwait for the mini-shuttle I chose to walk. Soon my pace was almost a run, aidedby the lesser gravity. By the time I reached my rooms I'd begun to cool, andfelt not a little embarrassed at my tantrum. For an officer to carry on in frontof an Admiral—it was unheard of. My behavior was worse than that of a rank cadetat Lunar Academy on 

Farside. 


Well, Duhaney couldn't do much about it. It mattered not whether he placed arebuke in my file or even demoted me for my insolence. I was through. 

They'd given me a suite of rooms—a small bedroom, sitting room, kitchenette, andhead—in the military housing complex. Luxury accommodations, for crowdedLunapolis. 1 let myself in, threw off my jacket, washed my hands and face. Iwondered how Annie was doing, in the New York clinic, I'd go down to see heragain, as soon as I could, I supposed I'd hear from the Admiral, one way or theother. Perhaps a court-martial for insubordination would accomplish what theBoard of Inquiry had not. 

I slept. 

The next morning I was mopping my breakfast plate when the bell rang. Still inshirtsleeves, I opened the door. 

Admiral Duhaney's braid gleamed. Automatically I came to attention. 

"As you were, Mr. Seafort. This is an, ah, unofficial call." He gestured to thecivilian at his side. "I don't believe you've met. Senator, may I presentCaptain Nicholas Seafort. Captain, of course you know Senator Boland." 

"Senator who?" 

The Admiral frowned. "Senator Richard Boland, of the Security Council NavalAffairs Committee." 

"An honor to meet you, Captain." He held out his hand. "May we come in?" 

"I was just—very well," I shook hands and stood aside. 

They found places in the sitting room. The Senator said, "Admiral, may I? Let'sget to the point. Mr. Seafort, your foolish remark about resigning is forgotten,
of course. Pro here to help negotiate a course of—" 

"Negotiate? Admiralty doesn't negotiate its assignments." 

The Admiral cleared his throat. "In your case, we do. You don't seem tounderstand we really need you." 

"Why?" 

"Because the war's unpopular," said Boland. "Some people want us to stopfighting the fish, pull back to home system, abandon the colonies if need be—" 

"That's absurd!" How could we turn our backs on millions of our own people,
scattered among the stars? 

"Yes, of course. But it may come to pass. We need heroes, and you're our mostprominent. You thought the Admiral mocked you when he spoke of putting yourpicture on a recruiting poster. It's already on one." 

"Lord God in heaven!" 

"You have no idea how popular you've become. In fact, if you insisted onresigning, we could run you for the General Assembly and you'd win in a minute," 


"I'm not running for—" 


"But we need you in the Navy. Recruitment jumped fifteen percent since we began
showing the spot of you and your wife disembarking at—" 
I snarled, "You dragged Annie into this?" 
"Dragged? No, we have just the one shot of you coming through the airlock into


Earthport Station,** 
I stood, trembling with rage. "Get out! Both of you!" 
Boland looked up curiously. "What's wrong, Captain?" 
"Annie's ill! She needs privacy!" 
"Don't be silly. You won't have privacy for years, whether or not you resign.


Anyway, you're the perfect recruiting couple: the dashing young Captain and hisbeautiful trannie—excuse me—transpop wife. It attracts the educated classes tothe service academies, and the working joeys as well." 

He wandered to the holowindow, flicked the setting to Upper New York. "Seafort,
we've gotten off on the wrung foot. Help us win the war. We can give you anyship—" 

"I don't want one." 
"Then we'll post you shoreside. Public relations, light duties, a few appear—" 
"Never." 
Admiral Duhaney said, "Richard, let me try." He came across the room. "Look at


me, Mr. Seafort." He spoke softly. "I'm used to dealing with politicians, notthe working fleet. Perhaps I don't speak your language, but hear me out. If wepull back to home system, the fish will still be there. Sooner or later they'llfind us. Do you agree?" Reluctantly I nodded, 

"Even if they don't, we'd still be trapped in home system, unable to Fuse forfear of attracting them. We can't have that. Even 1 see as much, politician thatI've become. Seafort, you're an important cog in our war machine. Not essential,
but of great value. You won't take a ship or work the publicity circuit. Let megive you a job where you'll be shoreside and able to duck publicity too." 

"What is that?" I asked hoarsely. I was drowning. Where was my lifebelt? 
"Captain Kearsey is retiring." 
"Kearsey? Commandant Kearsey?" 
"Yes. I'll appoint you Commandant of Lunar Academy." 
"Good Lord!" 
"Think, Seafort. You'll have not only the Farside Academy but also Terrestrial


Academy and the Training Station. They're closed bases, so you can keep the 



reporters out. You'll be free to visit your wife, and have her live with you as
soon as she's able." 


"But why?" 
"When we make you Commandant, recruitment will double. We'll keep using the holo
shots we have; no need even to pose for new ones." 


"Let me be! Why won't you let me go?" 


He ignored me. "You've always had the pied piper in you, Seafort. You're good
with children." 
I cried, "Good? I kill them!" Sandy Wilsky, dead from my stupidity in Hibernia,


The transpops on Portia, Even Philip Tyre, on Challenger. Where I walked I left


a trail of misery and death. My own son Nate ... 
"You'd be wonderful at the job, and I'm not giving you a line of goofjuice. Your
reports all show you handle youngsters well." 


No, it wasn't so. True, some had escaped the effects of my blundering, but
others had not. Jerence Branstead, whom I'd locked in a cabin with a full vial
of goofjuice. My cruelty to him had known no bounds. 


Each day I'd waited for him to break. Grimly he held on. After a time the purser
reported that food trays had come back untouched for three days. Again I went to
his cabin. It reeked of sweat and Lord God knew what else. The vial was on the 
table, unopened. Jerence, lay across his bed, eyes shut, clutching the sheets. 


"Get up, lad," 
MI can't. It hurts too bad." 
"Come." I drew him off the bed, pushed him into the head, unbuttoned his shirt.


"Take off the rest of it. Into the shower." He shook his head. I pulled off his
clothes. 
"Don't look at me." He covered himself. 
I laughed aloud. "I won't, but don't try that in the wardroom." 
"I can't hold on!" 


"Only a few more days." 
"I can't." He sagged against the side of the shower. I adjusted the temperature,
went out into the corridor and to the caller. "Purser, to the Branstead cabin."
Moments later I gestured at the mess. "Fresh sheets, and get the clothing
Wished." 


He wrinkled his nose. "Aye aye, sir." 
On the twenty-first day I unlocked the cabin hatch and stood aside. Jerence


Branstead's clothes hung large on his wasted frame. His steps were tremulous. He
blinked in the bright corridor light. 
"The vial, lad." 



He whispered, "Yessir." Slow steps, back to the prison of his cabin. Hereemerged. I held out my palm. After a long, reluctant moment he placed the vialin my hand. 

"Still?" 
He nodded. "As bad as ever. Almost." 
"Will you use it again?" 
To his credit, the boy was silent a long time. When he looked up his eyes held


something they hadn't held before. "No, sir." 
"Before I enlist you, swear it to Lord God.** 
He bit his lip, reached out, put his hand for comfort in mine. "I swear on my


immortal soul that I... won't... ever use ... goofjuice again." He was weeping. 
"Very well. I'll talk to you about the oath after—" 
"Hold me! Be Pa for a minute!" He rushed sobbing into my arms. Awkwardly I


cradled him. I had no flair for solace. My talent was for torture. 
"It was so hard, Mr. Seafort, So hard!" 
"I know, boy." I let him weep. "I know." 
Now, hi Lunapolis, I looked up to the Admiral. "Why won't you understand? I'm


the worst officer you've ever had, and always you reward me! You'd even put me
in charge of your children. I warn you, don't!" 
"You'll do well, Seafort. When can you start?" 
I was defeated. "I need time with my wife." 
"Of course. Four weeks, then? Standard long-leave?" 


"I suppose." 
"Good." He smiled. "By the way, I've approved your final report on Victoria and
sent your personnel recommendations to BuPers." 


"Very well." 
"You're sure you want that fellow put back to lieutenant?" 
"Tolliver? Yes." 
"We'll do it, but no one will take him after what he did


with the heli. It's half pay for him, or some outpost like Ganymede Station." 
It would be fitting punishment. For me. I said, "I'll take him." 
"Hmmm, odd of you. The others will be no problem, of course." 



I'd recommended that Bram Steiner's commission be reinstated without penalty.
I'd also written Lieutenant Kahn a good rating, though I hadn't told him so. Irather admired his thespian abilities. From the moment of ray ultimatum, hisseething hatred had been indiscernible. 

The one officer who'd been true to his convictions was Thomas Ross, and he'dpaid dearly for it for the remainder of the cruise. Not at my hand, but atKahn's after his reinstatement. It didn't help that I'd stripped him of allseniority, and he'd been low man in the wardroom, lower even than Avar Bezrel. 

When the flagship Defused from Hope Nation, Bezrel would be returned to AdmiralDe Mamay. Perhaps he'd be happier under the wing of his protector. As forJerence ... the corners of my mouth turned up. I'd be his guardian still. Likeme, he'd be sent to Academy. 

Senator Boland coughed. "There's one more thing. Would you consider..." 

I said impatiently, "Yes?" 

"Getting rid of that awful scar?" 

My hand flew to my face. "It's part of me.H 

"An unnecessary part. We tone it down on the posters, but for heaven's sake ...
you're famous enough without it." 

"That's not why I wear it." 

"I know, I know. They showed me your psych report. Bear your guilt, if you must,
but carry it inside like the rest of us. Would you do that much?" 

"I—well—all right, if you insist." 

"Thank you." 

"Go enjoy your leave, then." In a daze, I shook hands as they left. 

When the cabin was silent, I dropped into my chair and sat musing. Lord God, areYou toying with me? If I could have Your forgiveness, Your love once more, evenfor just a moment… No, I know better than to ask. But why, then, do You letthem reward me? And my friends, Alexi, Jerence, Tolliver. Was it for their 
sakes You helped them through their travail, or could it have been for mine? 

Will I ever meet You? 

I diden’t know. Absently I bean to pack. For now, there was long-leave. There 
was Annie. There was duty. 

Someday I’d know the rest.