“I think that ‘repossess’ would be a more politic word to use, Lieutenant.”
“I’m sorry, yes. . . .”
“So, what about it?”
“The President stressed that he wants it to be a peaceful occupation of the ship. And I can see why, if things took a difficult turn—say, because the people on it won’t cooperate—and it resulted in force having to be used, that would be a bad thing. The record in history that you just mentioned, for example, might not read so well.”
“I’m listening.” The look on Nyrom’s face said that he still had no idea where this was leading.
Even though Robin had tried rehearsing this several times, the words still came awkwardly. “Well, sir, my mother is aboard the Aztec.”
“Yes, I know. A bio-scientist sent by the Academy on Dione.”
“She wasn’t a Pragmatist supporter. And as things stand, the new Terran government is something she’ll be opposed to. Right now, that would probably apply to most of the others there on the Aztec too. . . .” Robin made an open-handed gesture. “But I was also with her long enough after we came from Earth to know why she’s that way. You see, sir, she deals with Kronian scientists. She’s only ever heard one side of it. She doesn’t really understand what the New Order means. Because no one’s ever really explained it. What they say on the news gets distorted.”
“You think it would make a difference?” Nyrom asked. He sounded skeptical.
“Yes, I do, sir. . . . At least, I think it would stand a good chance. Because I know how she really is. And maybe it would make a difference to the others there too if they knew.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“Simply a request to be included in the initial party that is sent aboard the Aztec. If you like, I want to contribute to the success of the mission. I believe that if I talk to her she might see things differently, and if that happens we might be able to influence others. If enough of them come around, it could defuse any resistance before it gets started. So it could help things go smoothly, without trouble, the way everyone wants.” Nyrom’s expression had softened. He seemed receptive to the idea. Robin showed both hands briefly. “It wouldn’t be risking anything to try, sir. But if the whole ship came over as a ready asset to Earth, instead of having to be fought against, it could make a big difference. That’s what I’d like to help make happen, if I can.”
Nyrom stared at him for several seconds while he considered. “Very well, Lieutenant. I’ll propose it to the appropriate people,” he replied.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
They came to a bar of gravelly gray sand lying between the main course of the river and a back channel scooped into a bend of low bluffs. It was an island, clean and dry, devoid of reed thickets, cane growth, flies, and snakes, rising out of the water like the back of a long, humpbacked whale. They beached, hauled themselves and the raft up clear from the waterline, and for the first time since the evening of the day before last, tasted a hot meal. And then they slept.
* * *
The next morning did not exactly bring the exhilaration of feeling born again into new bodies. But it was an improvement. They actually got to walk from one end of the sandbar to the other, to stretch, bend, draw in deep chestfuls of air, and try a few basic calisthenics, which invigorated Keene but caused twinges of pain in Charlie’s injured calf. On checking, they found the wound red and inflamed. Keene cleaned and treated it with what he could find in the medical kit, then bound it up again, after which the last scraps of the food they had brought from the runabout provided a passable breakfast. And then they secured the packs, spare paddles, and poles, pushed off and were on their way once again. Their confidence and technique had improved some by this time, and they were getting more proficient at spotting shallows and rapids ahead that had to be circumvented on foot, dragging or carrying the raft. At other times, where the flow was clear, they risked venturing farther out into the stream and letting the current carry them. Their progress was much faster than the day before, and Keene estimated they should reach Joburg with some margin to spare before dark.