Nyrom waited until Delucey sat down opposite him at the metal-edged table, then took off his hat and leaned back. “At ease, Lieutenant. What I want to talk to you about is just between us and the walls.”
Delucey made the concession of resting his elbows on the arms of the chair, but otherwise remained guarded. He said nothing but regarded Nyrom questioningly.
“We know a lot more about you than you might imagine, Lieutenant.” Nyrom made his voice pointed and confidential, communicating that this was a time to open up. “You went through a lot back there, didn’t you? Lost everything, lost practically everybody. And you made a heroic effort to start out again and make a go of it. I’m full of admiration for the guts it took. But it didn’t work out, did it, son? You’re not happy. Am I right?” He paused, reading the face that without change of expression asked where this was going, then shook his head. “Kronia isn’t for you. Stifling, unexciting . . . But demanding. And that’s how it was going to be for the rest of your life. That was why you joined the Security Arm. That was why a lot of young people who are here on this ship did.”
Delucey’s eyes retained their detached, mildly cynical look. “What else is there?” he asked after taking a few seconds to consider what Nyrom had said.
“There’s Earth.” Nyrom’s voice warmed to the thought of it. Again the wary look, waiting, conceding nothing. “All the things you remember are still there: oceans, mountains, endless landscapes, air you can breathe under open skies. Except now it’s wild again, untamed. There’s room for a thousand lifetimes there, all different.”
“They’re going back. The Varuna . . .”
“And what will they do there? I’ll tell you. They’ll turn it into Kronia all over again. Is that what you want to have waiting if you ever go back too one day? Or would you rather have your world, that lets you be what you used to be, the way you ought to be?”
“You sound as if you’re offering some kind of choice,” Delucey said.
Nyrom liked directness, and nodded. “As we all know, the recent Pragmatist proposal to broaden the Kronian political process to a more equitable basis was rejected by those who control the present system. What most people don’t know is that it didn’t end there. The Congress had the chance to reform within the legitimacy of its own constitution. But since they won’t change to something that’s fairer for everyone there, we’ll take the only alternative . . .”
“We?”
Nyrom nodded. “It’s bigger than you probably think. We’ll create our own system—the only kind that’s workable in the long run—in the only other place available at the present time. We’ll build Earth again. And you can be part of it, Lieutenant.”
Delucey stared hard at the table. Nyrom could almost feel his mind racing. “But I thought the Pragmatists were against returning to Earth,” he said finally.
“Against trying to support a major Earth base from Kronia and sustain Kronia at the same time,” Nyrom agreed. “But a self-contained operation on Earth would be something different. And the beginnings of it are right there, waiting for us already.”
“You mean the base there? Taking it over?” Delucey’s reply followed so easily that Nyrom got the feeling he had been ahead of the conversation all along.
“There’s enough aboard this ship to start a pilot industrial operation—and to defend it if need be, while it’s becoming self-sufficient. Add that to what’s there now, and the things the Aztec is carrying, which is bound for Earth already, and we’re off to a pretty solid start.” Nyrom paused, to let Delucey take it in, watching his eyes flicker unconsciously around the room as if searching for the flaws. “And you wouldn’t even be saying goodbye to the family,” he went on. “Since your mother is on the Aztec too.” He noted the surprise that flashed in Delucey’s eyes and nodded. “Oh, yes. I told you we know more about you than you probably imagined. And we know how you think too, Lieutenant.” Another pause, shorter this time, indicating that he was through. “Whatever your answer, clearly we have to deny you access to communications beyond the ship until our purpose becomes more widely known. But we have to begin detailed arrangements now. When we move to assert control of the Trojan, where will you stand, Lieutenant? Will we be able to count on you?”