Leoh leaned back with the shock. “Then—Martine simply must accept Commonwealth alliance.”
Spencer nodded. But his face showed that he didn’t expect it.
Leoh and Hector watched General Martine’s inauguration on tri-di, in the professor’s apartment. That evening, they joined the throngs of politicians, businessmen, military leaders, ambassadors, artists, visitors, and other VIP’s ho were congregating at the city’s main spaceport for the new Prime Minister’s inaugural ball. The party was to be held aboard a satellite orbiting the planet.
“Do you think Ceri will be there?” Hector asked Leoh as they pushed along with the crowd into a jammed shuttle craft.
The Watchman was wearing his dress black-and-silver uniform, with the comet insignias on his collar. Leoh wore a simple coverall, as advised in the invitation to the partyIt was a splendid crimson with gold trim.
“You said she’s been invited,” Leoh answered over the hubbub of the hundreds of other conversations.
They found a pair of seats together and strapped themselves in.
“But she wasn’t certain that she ought to go … what with her father’s death only a few weeks ago.”
Leaning back in the padded chair, Leoh said, “Well, if she’s not there, you can spend hours telling her aU” about the party.”
The Watchman’s lean face broke into a toothy grin. “I hadn’t thought of that.. . .”
The shuttle filled quickly with noisy party goers and then took off. It flew like a normal rocket plane to the top of the atmosphere, then boosted swiftly to the satellite. The party was well under way when Hector and Leoh stepped from the shuttle’s air lock into the satellite.