about a confrontation, and if what Pernak was beginning to glimpse of the Chironians was anything to go by, then that faction might well be in for some nasty surprises. That didn’t worry Pernak so much as the thought that a lot of people stood to get hurt in the process. Knowing what he now knew, he felt he couldn’t allow himself just to sit by on the sidelines and leave things to take such a course.
Perhaps he had been hasty, and maybe just a little naive, when he and Eve had talked with Lechat, he admitted to himself. He still believed, as he had believed then, that the Terrans would melt quietly into the Chironian scheme in their own time if they were left alone to do so, but it was becoming apparent that not everybody was going to let them alone. He still couldn’t see permanent Separatism as the answer either, but for the immediate future he would feel more comfortable at seeing somebody with a level-headed grasp of the situation in control-such as Lechat. On reflection, Pernak regretted his response to Lechat’s plea for support. But it was far from too late for him to be able to change that. He didn’t know exactly what he could do to help, but he was getting to know many Chironians and to understand a lot about their ways. Surely that knowledge could be put to some useful purpose.
Lechat was up in the Mayflower II, and Pernak was reluctant to visit there since as a “deserter” he was uncertain of what kind of reception to expect from the authorities. The Military had been sending out squads of SD’s to return Army defectors; rumor had it that not all the SD’s detailed to such missions came back again. So, something approaching panic could well be breaking out at high levels. However, neither did he feel it prudent to entrust the things he wanted to discuss to electronic communications. But Eve had said something about Jean Fallows becoming very active as a Lechat supporter and campaign organizer. . . That would be a good place to begin.
He nodded to himself. That was what he would do. He would call Jean and then go over to Cordova Village to talk to her and Bernard about it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
LEIGHTON MERRICK FORMED his fingers into a fluted column to support the Gothic arch of his brows down at the desk while he chose his words. “Ah, I’ve been looking over your record, Fallows,” he looked up. “It shows a consistent attention to detail that is very pronounced . . . everything thorough and complete, and properly documented. It’s commendable, very commendable . . . the kind of thing we could do with more of in the Service.”
“Thank you, sir.” It was obviously a softener. Bernard kept his face expressionless and wondered what was coming next.
Merrick allowed his hands to drop down to his chest. “And how are you settling in? Is your family adjusting well?”
“Very smoothly, considering that it’s been twenty years.” Bernard permitted a faint smile. “Jean’s finding some things a bit strange, but I’m sure she’ll get over it.”
“Good, very good. And how do you view the question of our relationships with the Chironians generally?”
“I find them a refreshingly honest and direct people. You know where you stand with them.” Bernard gave a slight shrug. “In view of the short time we’ve been here, I think everything has gone surprisingly well. Certainly it could have been a lot worse.”
“Hmmm . . .” The reply didn’t seem quite what Merrick hoped for. ‘Not quite everything, surely,” he said. “What about the shooting of Corporal Wilson a week ago?”
“That was unfortunate,” Bernard agreed. “But in my opinion, sir, he asked for it.”
“That may be, but it’s beside the point that I was trying to make,” Merrick said. “Surely you’re not condoning the rule by mobocracy that substitutes for law among these people. Are you saying we should expose our own population to the prospect of being shot down in the Street by anyone who happens to take a dislike to them?’
Bernard sighed. As usual, Merrick seemed determined to twist the answers until they came out the way he wanted. “Of course not,” Bernard replied. “But I think people are exaggerating the situation. That incident was not representative of what we should expect. The Chironians act as they’re treated. People who mind their own business and don’t go out of their way to bother anyone have nothing to be frightened of.”