Discussion went into technicalities for several minutes. At last, reluctantly, Lawes said, “Very well. We will be tracking you continuously, remember. Stand by for possible further instructions. If nothing suspicious happens, I will re-establish direct communication at nineteen-thirty hours. Is that clear?” Receiving his acknowledgment, he blanked without a goodbye.
Brodersen leaned back. “Wow,” he said. “For a while there, I wondered if he would shoot. His finger’s awful twitchy on the trigger. But of course, at this distance, Frieda can intercept whatever he might send – I presume.”
“It’s desperate our enemies are, I’m thinking,” Caitlmn said.
“Right. And the more desperate people get, the more dangerous. Us included.” He turned to smile at her. The darling face drew close to his. “Well, we’ve three to four hours before things get spiny. Better rest up, macushla, if you can.”
She ran fingers down his cheek. “I’ve a more interesting idea, my life.”
“Huh? I – Look, I’ve got to make the rounds, jolly the troops, check everything out-”
“If those responsible have not their departments in good shape by now, you’re too late,” she said firmly. “They do, though. I’ve sounded them out in ways the Old Man cannot. The morale of most is flying banners; the rest are at least of stout heart. Aye, we might hold an assembly, for a few rousing songs of revolution and freedom. But that’s best done as late before our plunge as may be.” She grinned. “Thus you’ve better than an hour free, Daniel Brodersen, and sure I am you’ve the wit to pass it in style.”
“Uh, well, uh, look, frankly, I’m so full of worries, I doubt-”
She stopped his lips with hers. Her hands roved. Presently she laughed.
“See? That fret of yours was for naught.” Springing to her feet, grabbing his wrist: “Come along, me bucko. No use to struggle. You’re doomed.”
Stars blazed in every viewsereen of the command center. The dimmed image of Sol hung like a burning moon, Earth hidden from sight behind it. Elsewhere a globe glowed wanly golden, the sign at which the ship had halted. In another direction, the cylinder that was the T machine whirled, its mass and might brought by a tiny distance – about fifty megameters, hardly more than the Circumference of a terrestroid planet-down to a bit of jewelry adrift in heaven.
Brodersen floated alone, harnessed, listening to his blood. Those tides went more easily than he had expected. He would not have taken a fear suppressant in any event, for he needed each millisecond he could shave off his reaction time, but he had figured on being strung tight. Pegeen is heap good medicine, he thought.
If only she could be here. She wouldn’t distract him willingly. He just wasn’t sure that in her nearness he could remain the complete robot he ought to be. It was plenty hard curbing the knowledge that soon she might die.
And Stef poised at detector and communicator consoles in the electronics shack; Joelle as holothete and Su as linker were parts of the ship, her pilots through the shoals and breakers ahead; Phil and Martti occupied the engine room, though likely they were condemned to do no more than sweat; Frieda had the armament center, with Carlos – who had learned something about it earlier – to give partial assistance. That left Caitlin to comfort Fidelio. Tuning briefly in, Brodersen had heard her swapping music with the Betan.
A blink and beep sent his attention to the outercom. Lawes’ haggard countenance jumped into its screen. “Watchship – there you are. Are you Side 107
Anderson, Poul – Avatar, The prepared?”
“More or less,” Brodersen replied. “We’ve still got problems. I do hope the apparatus doesn’t suddenly run wild. That could send us off to Kingdom Come, you know.”
Time lag here was imperceptible. Dozsa had reported Aihazen as being a few thousand kilometers off. Magnification could have made the lean shape visible, but Brodersen saw no cause to bother. “I… hope the same… for your sake,” Lawes said. “Proceed according to your declared flight plan. I’ll stay in touch… Proceed!”
“Yes.” Brodersen addressed the intercom. “Captain to crew. You heard the man. Get busy.” He saw Lawes flush and clench teeth, as if twice convinced this was a pack of pirates.