Would have thought I was about to kill his baby! He turned gray. “That would stop every research . . . destroy priceless data.., waste, oh, I don’t know how much! Call it a half billion dollars!”
“So I thought. Could take all that gear instead of smashing and let you go on best you can.”
“That would be almost as bad. You must understand, Gospodin, that when an experiment is interrupted–”
“I know. Easier than moving anything–and maybe missing some–is to take you all to Complex and quarter you there. We have what used to be Dragoon barracks. But that too would ruin experiments. Besides– Where you from, Doctor?”
“Princeton, New Jersey.”
“So? You’ve been here five months and no doubt exercising and wearing weights. Doctor, if we did that, you might never see Princeton again. If we move you, we’ll keep you locked up. You’ll get soft. If emergency goes on very long, you’ll be a Loonie like it or not. And all your brainy help with you.”
A cocky chum stepped forward–one who had to be sent for twice. “You can’t do this! It’s against the law!”
“What law, Gospodin? Some law back in your hometown?” I turned. “Finn, show him law.”
Finn stepped forward and placed emission bell of gun at man’s belly button. Thumb started to press down–safety-switched, I could see. I said, “Don’t kill him, Finn!”–then went on: “I will eliminate this man if that’s what it takes to convince you. So watch each other! One more offense will kill all your chances of seeing home again–as well as ruining researches. Doctor, I warn you to find ways to keep check on your staff.”
I turned to Loonies. “Tovarishchee, keep them honest. Work up own guard system. Don’t take nonsense; every earthworm is on probation. If you have to eliminate some, don’t hesitate.” I turned to Director. “Doctor, any Loonie can go anywhere any time–even your bedroom. Your assistants are now your bosses so far as security is concerned; if a Loonie decides to follow you or anybody into a W.C., don’t argue; he might be jumpy.”
I turned to Loonies. “Security first! You each work for some earthworm–watch him! Split it among you and don’t miss anything. Watch ’em so close they can’t build mouse trap, much less transmitter. If interferes with work for them, don’t worry; wages will go on.”
Could see grins. Lab assistant was best job a Loonie could find those days–but they worked under earthworms who looked down on us, even ones who pretended and were oh so gracious.
I let it go at that. When I had been phoned, I had intended to eliminate offenders. But Prof and Mike set me straight: Plan did not permit violence against Terrans that could be avoided.
We set up “ears,” wideband sensitive receivers, around lab area, since even most directional rig spills a little in neighborhood. And Mike listened on all phones in area, After that we chewed nails and hoped.
Presently we relaxed as news up from Earthside showed nothing, they seemed to accept censored transmissions without suspicion, and private and commercial traffic and Authority’s transmissions all seemed routine. Meanwhile we worked, trying in days what should take months.
We received one break in timing; no passenger ship was on Luna and none was due until 7 July. We could have coped–suckered a ship’s officers to “dine with Warden” or something, then mounted guard on its senders or dismantled them. Could not have lifted without our help; in those days one drain on ice was providing water for reaction mass. Was not much drain compared with grain shipments; one manned ship a month was heavy traffic then, while grain lifted every day. What it did mean was that an incoming ship was not an insuperable hazard. Nevertheless was lucky break; we were trying so hard to make everything look normal until we could defend ourselves.
Grain shipments went on as before; one was catapulted almost as Finn’s men were breaking into Warden’s residence. And next went out on time, and all others.
Neither oversight nor faking for interim; Prof knew what he was doing. Grain shipments were a big operation (for a little country like Luna) and couldn’t be changed in one semi-lunar; bread-and-beer of too many people was involved. If our committee had ordered embargo and quit buying grain, we would have been chucked out and a new committee with other ideas would have taken over.