can’t go into detail. That’d endanger us. However, I can share something
special, if you’ll keep it to your absolute self.”
Her forefinger drew a cross over her lips. “On my soul’s honor.” How
utterly solemn she could be!
But when I spoke of the spacecraft plans we’d gotten from a source I
must not name, of the possibility of Operation Luna making an end run
around both the politicians and the enemy, she shouted and laughed and
sprang into my lap to hug me. “Magniff! Like–like stars in the mashed
potatoes! Oh, Daddy-man, you are a sly old woof]”
“Easy, there,” I urged after she’d calmed slightly. “This is at the
earliest stage, remember. Don’t count your chickens when the rooster’s
barely been introduced to the hen. Probably your mother and I will have
to go back east for a week or two and investigate further.” That
misdirection hadn’t hurt me when we used it before. It did this time.
“If so, Uncle Will will move in here, but most of the housekeeping
responsibility will fall on you. He knows as much as you do about our
new prospects, so you and he can discuss them if you want, but only when
you’re strictly alone. Mainly, though, what we need you for, starting
this day, is to create a better atmosphere at home. Join with us in
lifting Ben and, especially, Chryssa out of their fears. If they see you
relaxed and cheerful–savvy?”
After she had swallowed hard, her answer came bravely. “Sí, señor. I
feel a lot better already.”
“Good. We can maybe figure out tactics, like jokes and games. But
first– Well, no denying there’ll be a load on you, and it may from time
to time get heavy. Are you prepared to shoulder it?”
“I am.”
“Okay. In return, your sentence of confinement to quarters is commuted
as of tomorrow morning. Go out and have fun while you can, punkin.”
“Th-th-thanks.” The youthful earnestness remained. “I’ll always be on
call, sir. And if anything really bad happens while you’re gone–” Fire
blazed up. “God help the baddies!”
That alarmed me a bit as I recalled Sneep’s visit, plus various earlier
incidents. Feeling it would be unwise to spoil the present mood, I
contented myself with a mild warning. Thereafter we plunged into plans
for things to do.
The upshot was that dinner became a happy meal and the youngsters
quickly got back their merriment. Soon they looked forward to the change
of pace while their parents were gone.
As for me, I returned to the lab. Thus Ginny, not I, received Barney’s
courier and gave him a copy of the documents. She told me that, as
promised, he bore no resemblance to the colorful woodsman whose name he
borrowed. He didn’t even wear the winged Federal Express cap. Rather, he
showed just enough individuality that he wasn’t too conspicuously drab
and anonymous. “Yeah,” I said, recalling an incident once at Nornwell,
“from a private detective firm. Watson and Goodwin, I’ll bet. Their
operatives are expert at self-effacement.”
Otherwise Ginny was occupied most of her waking hours. That wasn’t with
her practice. Again she’d phased it out, canceling or postponing
appointments, referring urgent cases elsewhere. I’d have worried about
her future career if I didn’t know her reputation had become proof
against moth, rust, and disgruntlement.
In fact, this was part of her problem. Word would fly around that Dr.
Matuchek must be up to something. The enemy’s spies would scarcely buy
the idea that it was a much-needed vacation. Well, let them share the
impression that we planned a huddle with our partners at Nornwell. So
far, we hoped, they wouldn’t suspect why, but they could make several
different plausible guesses, and if one of them happened to be the
“real” reason, Operation Luna, it was a blind anyway.
Barney gave it substance when he called on Friday. That resonance was
encrypted, but we couldn’t be dead certain of security and he kept his
language well guarded, like us. Still, that big, easygoing man had
gotten as enthusiastic as a supernova. “It looks great,” he boomed.
“You’ll want funds. Suppose I transfer fifty thousand dollars for
startup expenses–to your personal account, to keep things simple. We’ll