Colman stared hard at her in surprise. “Yes, I am. How–”
“I’ve heard about you.” It could only have been from the Chironians he had talked with earlier. Why would they mention his name to her? Who was she? She came nearer and smiled. “My name is Kath. I have some connection with the technical aspects of what goes on here. From what I’ve heard, I’d imagine you’d find this an interesting place. Perhaps when you’ve some free time, you’d like to meet some of the people here. If you like, I could mention it to them.”
Colman was nonplussed. He shook his head as if to clear ú it. “What–What exactly do you do around here?” Kath’s smile became impish, as if she were amused by his confusion. “Oh, you’d be surprised.”
Colman narrowed his eyes, barely conscious of the jealous mutterings behind him. “Well . . . sure,” he said cautiously. “If it wouldn’t be any trouble to anyone. You must have talked to the two guys who were here earlier.”
Kath nodded. “Wally and Sam. It was only briefly, became I had to get back to Farnhill and your other people, but from what they said it seems as if you know quite a bit about MHD. Where did you study?”
“Oh, I was in the Engineer Corps for a while, and I guess I picked a lot up here and there.” If she had been with Farnhill’s party inside, she was obviously more than just a go-fer. Why in hell did she come out to the parking lot to be nice to the troops?
“How many other engineers do you have here?” she inquired lightly, looking around the rest of the squad. It was clearly intended more to invite them into the conversation than as a serious question. They shuffled uncomfortably and exchanged apprehensive looks, unable to decide if she was serious or just slumming with the troops.
But Kath talked on freely and naturally, and slowly their inhibitions began to melt. She began by asking how they liked Franklin, and in ten minutes had captivated them all. Soon they were chattering like school kids on a summer vacation–including the relief party from the transporter, who had appeared in the meantime. The detail due for a break seemed to have forgotten about it. Something very strange was going on, Colman told himself again.
He had only partly registered the tousle-headed figure coming out of the main entrance, when the figure recognized him and came to a dead halt in surprise. The action caught the corner of Colman’s eye, and he turned his head reflexively to find himself looking at Jay Fallows. Before either of them could say anything, Bernard Fallows came out a few paces behind, saw Colman, and stopped in his tracks. It was too late for him to go back in, and impossible to walk on by. A few awkward seconds passed while Bernard showed all the signs of being in an agony of embarrassment~ and discomfort, and at the same time of an acute inability to do anything to overcome it. Colman didn’t feel he had any prerogative to make a first move. Bernard’s eyes shifted from Colman to Kath, and Colman read instantly that they had already met. Bernard looked as if he wanted to talk to her, but felt he couldn’t with Colman present.
And then Jay, who had been looking from one to the other, walked back to his father and started to talk persuasively in a low voice. Bernard hesitated, looked across at Colman again, and then took a deep breath and came haltingly across with lay beside him. “It’s been a long time,” he mumbled. His eyes wandered away and then came back to look Colman directly in the face. “Look, Steve, about that time up on the ship in the pump bay. I, er… I–”
“Forget it,” Colman interrupted. “It happens to everyone. Let’s leave it with all the other stuff that’s best left .up there.”
Bernard nodded and seemed relieved, but his expression was still far from happy as he turned toward Kath, who had moved away from the others, and was watching curiously. Bernard seemed to want to say something that he didn’t know how to begin.