The second visitor was Einar Haugen. As the shivering in her arms lessened, Dagny addressed him: “Buenos dias. Though it isn’t exactly that, is it?”
She let Rita go. The vice governor—former vice governor—shambled over to shake hands. He was a tall, thin man whom Wahl had never given anything very important to do. “This is terrible, terrible,” he said in the same English. “You are most welcome, madame. Most good of you to come. Please be seated. Coffee?” A pot and cups had been set out. “Or anything else?”
Dagny waved the offer aside. “No, I’m already wound as tight as my mainspring will go.” He blinked. She saw that, while he got her drift, he didn’t recognize the idiom. It was an antique, at that. And he, he couldn’t be much over fifty. She caught Erann’s glance again. “What are you doing here?”
“I was a house guest,” the Lunarian answered.“Hm? I didn’t know the Wahls still knew you particularly.”
“There was a matter for privacy. In kindness, Governor Wahl agreed that I sleep here. That would let us meet alone whenever he discovered an hour free, as harried as he was. This mornwatch I deemed it best I stay to relate such little as I can that may throw light on the misfortune. Having talked to the police, I would have taken me hence, but honored Haugen told me I should abide your arrival.”
As well he might, Dagny thought. Erann had spoken smoothly, his countenance revealing nothing. That too was Lunarian style, not suspicious in itself— ‘Mond’s and her great-grandson!—but the wind was for sure blowing weird.
They all settled down, the boy cat-watchful. Dagny regarded the woman. “Rita, dear,” she said, “you’re walking wounded and about to fall on the deck. Don’t deny it, I’ve seen the signs many a time before. In a few minutes I’m going to find you a sedative and tuck you in for a watch’s rest or longer. But first can we get it over with, telling me what you people know?” She wanted that directly, not filtered through another mind. Learning just what had happened was vital to planning her own course.
Rita stared at the hands folded in her lap. Monotone: “Juan Aguilar, our mayordomo—our, our steward—Juan found him in his pool about the break of dawnwatch. He pulled him put, called Emergency, roused me on the intercom, did his best to give first aid. The medics came within minutes. They tried and tried, but could not revive him. Meanwhile I called you. As you advised, I called Seflor Haugen and asked him to keep the secret for a while, as well as he could. Then I had Juan wake Erann. The police have been here, but only for an hour, because there does not seem to have b-been—malhecho—“ The voice died away. She had scarcely moved.
“I directed the police chief and medical office to keep silence,” Haugen said. “I have ordered appointments cancelled and official staff to stay away until called. That cannot go on for long. Besides the, uh, public interest, we must notify his son and daughter. And … proceed with the government’s work.”
He sounded more desperate, or frightened, than pompous. A well-intentioned political hack, Dagny thought, who took the job on Luna because he was in line for a raise in rank and expected this to be pro forma until he moved on to something harmless back Earthside. His eyes implored her. .
“How do they know it wasn’t foul play?” she asked.
Haugen could deal with routine practicalities. “No sign of violence. Shortly before you arrived, I received the examiner’s preliminary report from the hospital. The case does have its puzzling features, but nothing—I would rather continue this later, Mme. Bey-nac.”
Yes. Rita. Decent of him. But a few things must yet be probed. “Any idea when he died?”
“Hours ago. The exact time is still undetermined because—We have no possibility of revivification. He was, was there too long.” Brain too deteriorated.
Hm. That was suggestive, considering how whore-frigid Wahl had kept the pool. “When did anybody last see him alive? What was he doing?”
“He had had a dreadful day, as you can imagine,” replied Rita dully. “He came home and had supper with me. He did not eat much. We finished about 2030 and he said he must work late in his study and I should not stay awake for him. That was the last time for me, until he lay dead by the water. He was preparing a speech, a statement to the world, for the … the contingency of actual combat occurring.”