“Mmm . . . that’s a nasty way to put it, Mary. I’d do anything in the world for you that I could-because I love you. But it would be utterly simple if you were married to me. So say you will.”
“Let’s let that be for the moment. How do you propose to get this ‘secret’ out of them?”
Lazarus could almost hear his wise nod. “Oh, they’ll talk!”
“Do you mean to say you’d send them to Coventry if they didn’t?”
“Coventry? Hm! You don’t understand the situation at all, Mary; this isn’t any minor social offense. This is treason- treason against the whole human race. We’ll use means! Ways that the Prophets used . . . if they don’t cooperate willingly.”
“Do you mean that? Why, that’s against the Covenant!”
“Covenant be damned! This is a matter of life and death- do you think we’d let a scrap of paper stand in our way? You can’t bother with petty legalities in the fundamental things: men live by-not something they will fight to the death for. And that is precisely what this is. These . . . these dog-in-the-manger scoundrels are trying to keep life itself from us. Do you think we’ll bow to ‘custom’ in an emergency like this?”
Mary answered in a hushed and horrified voice: “Do you really think the Council will violate the Covenant?”
“Think so? The Action-in-Council was recorded last night. We authorized the Administrator to use ‘full expediency.'”
Lazarus strained his ears through a long silence. At last Mary spoke. “Bork-”
“Yes, my dear?”
“You’ve got to do something about this. You must stop it.” “Stop it? You don’t know what you’re saying. I couldn’t and I would not if I could.”
“But you must. You must convince the Council. They’re making a mistake, a tragic mistake. There is nothing to be gained by trying to coerce those poor people. There is no secret!”
“What? You’re getting excited, my dear. You’re setting your judgment up against some of the best and wisest men on the planet. Believe me, we know what we are doing. We don’t relish using harsh methods any more than you do, but it’s for the general welfare. Look, I’m sorry I ever brought it up. Naturally you are soft and gentle and warmhearted and I love you for it. Why not marry me and not bother your head about matters of public policy?”
“Marry you? Never!”
“Aw, Mary-you’re upset. Give me just one good reason why not?”
“I’ll tell you why! Because I am one of those people you want to persecute!”
There was another pause. “Mary . . . you’re not well.”
“Not well, am I? I am as well as a person can be at my age. Listen to me, you fool! I have grandsons twice your age. I was here when the First Prophet took over the country. I was here when Harriman launched the first Moon rocket. You weren’t even a squalling brat-your grandparents hadn’t even met, when I was a woman grown and married. And you stand there and glibly propose to push around, even to torture, me and my kind. Marry you? I’d rather marry one of my own grandchildren!”
Lazarus shifted his weight and slid his right hand inside the flap of his kilt; he expected trouble at once. You can depend on a woman, he reflected, to blow her top at the wrong moment.
He waited. Bork’s answer was cool; the tones of the experienced man of authority replaced those of thwarted passion. “Take it easy, Mary. Sit down, I’ll look after you. First I want you to take a sedative. Then I’ll get the best psychotherapist in the city-in the whole country. You’ll be all right.”
“Take your hands off me!”
“Now, Mary . . .
Lazarus stepped out into the room and pointed at Vanning with his blaster. “This monkey giving you trouble, Sis?”
Vanning jerked his head around. “Who are you?” he demanded indignantly. “What are you doing here?”
Lazarus still addressed Mary. “Say the word, Sis, and I’ll cut him into pieces small enough to hide.”
“No, Lazarus,” she answered with her voice now under control. “Thanks just the same. Please put your gun away. I wouldn’t want anything like that to happen.”