The long view, p.20
The Long View, page 20
part #2 of The Long View Series
melya corradone's system worked rapidly. The words varied, but the results were consistent; one after another, men and women were cleared of implants and passed as trustworthy.
Between cases, Rissa asked, "But you say you are the only one who can unlock their minds. Supposing you were not available?"
The harsh, croaking voice said, "I'm the only one who can do it with these words. With someone else-and we did set up alternates-the words would be different. It's all part of the method. Dr. Sandissen worked it out-I merely apply it."
"That's horse puckie," said Markine. "Sandissen did the pioneer work, sure-but Melya's improved on it and refined it a lot. Modesty's her worst fault."
"And yours," said Melya Corradone, "is talking when I'm supposed to be working."
in the side office Rissa worked at her list of questions-adding and deleting, trying to cover every possibility. Markine, watching, grinned at her. "Not so easy?"
She looked at him and crumpled the paper. "I have been using the wrong approach. Details are not important here." She stood.
"You've figured something out, then?" said Gameel.
"Yes. To each of you I shall outline the terms of our agreements, then ask two questions: Do you offer these in good faith? And; what limits have you set, to your cooperation?"
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She waited. Neither man spoke, so she said, "Will you answer these? And is it necessary that I tape them?"
Markine said, "I'll answer; forget the tape." Gameel looked dubious, gave no answer for nearly half a minute, then slowly nodded.
"All right," he said. "But I get to ask you the same questions."
"Agreed. Shall we get on with it? We may have to preempt Melya's work, briefly." But Zelde guided them to a machine being used for lesser-priority subjects. They waited until the current group was finished-most passed but some went to detention-then had the room to themselves.
"Me first," said Laje Markine. To her first question, he said, "Yes-in good faith, from our side." To the second, "Well, we're not giving up our protections until we're sure you're phasing out Welfare and giving as much freedom as possible-that you don't bog down and decide it's too much work, and leave things pretty much as they are. In a few months we should know.
"I don't mind telling this because there's nothing you can do about it-and in fairness, you have to admit it makes sense. Until we're sure, we keep our cover-just in case. Our people who come out to help you, don't get too nosy about their IDs -maybe they're phony, or maybe they have still other names to hide under if anything goes sour. I guess that's about it. Satisfied?"
"Yes. And convinced that you are as valuable an ally as we had hoped."
"Oh? How's that?"
"Had you not arranged to protect yourselves, I would doubt your capability."
Markine moved to another seat; Gameel took his place and again Rissa spoke. The man's first answer was, "That's right. For our percentage we're with you all the way." Then; "Limits? About like Markine's, I guess. You don't see our books until our contract's signed and completed. And no ID at all on our hideout people, until they're ready to give it. That bother you?"
Rissa moved a switch; the field's hum stopped. She stood and moved away from the equipment. "The field is off, so 1 may ask another question. How long, before these people come out of hiding?"
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"Like Laje, again-a few months, maybe. High Council will vote it, actually." He moved to the operating position and sat. "Now I'm in a hole-I don't know how to work this gadget. Can we get Corradone here?"
Markine said, "I know how. You ask; I'll interpret."
The men changed places. Gameel said, "I don't have to repeat the agreements again, I guess. Are you and Tregare dickering in good faith?"
"Entirely." Gameel looked to Markine, who nodded.
"And like you said to us-with what reservations?
"We, also, withhold information you will not need in our joint efforts. You do not, I am sure, expect to know all our plans. You will know all that concerns your activities with us-which is to say, we will not attempt to use you for aims you do not know about."
"There was a flicker there," said Markine.
"I had not finished; what I said was ambiguous without what I say now. Of course we will take precautions. It is conceivable, Gameel, that your High Council might change its mind and decide to try for a larger slice of the pie-or even for dominance. Naturally, we shall see to it that no such opportunity arises."
"All in the clear this time," said Markine.
Gameel nodded. "That's straight enough. All right-I guess we're done here." He stood. "Corradone's staying for a while -right? Okay-let's go, Laje. Pleasure dealing with you, Ms. Kerguelen."
"And my pleasure also. I will convey your regards to Bran Tregare."
". . . and I did not bother to mention, Bran, that the truth field console was the recording model. I will play the tape for you."
When it was done he said, "Good enough-everybody's using precautionary common sense and making no bones about it. That's a good way to start off." On the screen, he grinned. "And the polygraph trouble was nothing but a wrong cable? It's good you spotted it so fast. And this Corradone woman-Markine gets points for bringing her along, all right."
"She has speeded the work greatly. There were more im-
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planted persons than we thought-including some who had gone to detention without trying to clear themselves, since they did not know this was possible.''
"How many total? Roughly ..."
"Of the more than five thousand on her list, many are elsewhere-on UET ships years from here, or dead. Nearly seven hundred are here and alive. We had cleared less than a hundred-in a few more days she should be through the lot."
"Fine. Tell her she's on the payroll, special consultant to the Port Commander, as long as she wants. Now, then-what else are you doing?"
"Waiting to see Liesel and Hawkman tomorrow morning- unless I hear from them, earlier. And Ivan, and Ilse-I have not had the time, as yet. And-1 have been missing you, Bran."
"Yeah-I miss you, too. But you've done a real day's work, there. Any chance you can bring our unfrozen family out here tomorrow?"
"I will ask. Aedra Leng is working with them and I have had no opportunity to speak with her. But, Tregare-it is wasteful to use a ship to move three people. And I can fly a scout. All right?"
"UET-"
"No UET ships have been sighted since Ressider met the two from Hokkaido, And if one appeared-and was not intercepted, and by wildest chance detected me-how would its captain know my scout was of any importance?"
"They wouldn't have to-they'd shoot just to be shooting. But you're right-the odds are with you. Just stay low and keep a sharp lookout."
rissa called GrafSpee twice; neither time could she reach her brother. She gave it up and took Melya Corradone with her to dine aboard Valkyrie with Zeicie and Jamie. The older woman spoke seldom, until Zelde said, "The Underground broke you loose from Welfare?"
Melya looked at her, then nodded. "Yes. And it wasn't their fault it took them five years. But two weeks earlier and I'd still have a voice that wouldn't hurt your ears." She waited, then said, "Our floor heard an escape rumor-when
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nothing came of it, they rioted. I caught two slugs through the neck. When Markine's people-though he was just a recruit then-got to me, I was in an infirmary bed. The first time I'd slept in a bed for more than two years."
"What-?"
"Economy-in space and fixtures. Ms. Kerguelen-as a child, I suppose you thought your dormitories were crowded."
"I did not think of such things-it was so totally different from what I had known-"
"Before I was Welfared I saw it explained on Tri-V how forty persons could sleep just as well in a hundred twenty square meters as in nearly two hundred. And that is how I slept, at first. Then someone realized that cots need more space than people do-so they took out the cots and padded the floors. It more than tripled the capacity of the dorm."
By conscious effort, Rissa relaxed her clenched jaws. "This still exists?"
"Worse, in some of the Centers. Sleepers don't have to stand up, do they? So the dormitories, some places, are subdivided vertically-one meter high-you crawl in. Forced ventilation, so you don't quite suffocate."
Rissa gasped. "Under those conditions-seventy percent of our people-"
"No-just the more crowded areas. And they've quit building Centers some time ago. Cheaper to transfer people between condominiums, and then when UET's ready, change a whole condo over to Welfare. Cut off services, move in Committee Police as guards-move out people's possessions, put up the fences. Instant Welfare."
Silent for a moment, Rissa then said, "The worst of it- those in the most terrible of conditions, they will be the last we can help."
Zelde M'tana reached and squeezed her hand. "You'll be working on it. And where we can, we'll all help."
Rissa tried to smile, but her thoughts were grim. And later, sleep did not come easily.
zelde woke her, next morning. "Hawkman Moray called- you're invited to breakfast aboard Hobnails." Rissa got up and began dressing. "How does he look?"
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"A little pale, but same old hearty smile. Voice, too. And said to tell you Liesel's fine-has an appetite like a horse, so hurry along."
Rissa laughed. "All right; tell him I will." Zelde left; Rissa prepared herself quickly. Wearing a light jacket against morning chill, she went groundside and walked briskly to Hobnails,
Upship, short of the galley, she met Aedra Leng. "Aedra!" She hugged the smaller woman. "Liesel and Hawkman are waiting?"
"Yes. Oh, it's good to see you, Rissa! Come along. I'm afraid Kickem's gone groundside already." And in the galley Hawkman cut short her embrace with Liesel, to lift her high and kiss her himself.
When she had breath again Rissa said, "Well, you both look well enough. Zelde said you were pale but I do not notice it." They sat; a crewman brought food and coffee.
"Oh, we're fit to travel," said Hawkman. "Whenever you're ready."
Liesel said, "Funny thing-recovery this time seemed faster than at Stronghold."
"It's a shorter haul, for one item," said Aedra. "We don't know why, but it seems to make a difference."
"Well, it sure feels that way." Then, to Rissa; "Where's our granddaughter? With Tregare?"
Rissa explained. "And it will be-oh, I have lost track of time-a few weeks more, before Dacia arrives with the scout-ship."
Hawkman said, "Well, we'll just have to wait, then." And; "I hear we missed a good fight, in space. But no one's told us the details."
Between bites of food, Rissa described the battle, "-so, riding with Kickem you broke through UET's formation- twice." Hawkman grinned and shook his head. Rissa went on to tell of the hit on Graf Spee, Ilse's injuries and Ivan's destruction of the UET command ship.
"A deadly young man, your brother," said Hawkman.
"And how's Use now?" Liesel said. "Have you seen her lately?"
"No-and I must. I will try to again call Ivan."
Taking coffee with them, the four went to Control. The woman at the comm-panel soon had Ivan on the screen; Rissa asked her questions.
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"It's been bad, Rissa, but she's coming out of it-physically, anyway."
"What do you mean? Can I come see her?"
"I-I'll ask. If you do-well, be careful how you react. Her appearance-"
"Ivan! What has happened? Bran mentioned surgery, and-"
He shook his head. "That's not it; the latest operation was mostly to pin her shoulder together better, and some of the bones around it. She suffered shock from that, sure. But her face-maybe she won't want you to see her without the bandages. I'll go find out." He left, but the screen stayed lighted.
Rissa turned to the others. "I had not known. When I saw her, her head was bandaged, but no one said-"
"Maybe they didn't know, yet, how bad it was going to be," said Liesel.
"But how bad is it?" Rissa said. "I-oh, here is Ivan again."
Her brother was frowning. "She says she'll see you-that she can't hide forever."
Liesel moved forward. "Can I come along? I'm her friend, too." Hawkman began to speak but Liesel motioned him away. "I think-just Rissa and I, for now." He nodded and gripped her shoulder; she patted his hand.
Ivan said, "I'd think so. If Ilse says no, our galley can keep that coffee cup full for you
"Very well. We will be only a few minutes." Rissa signed for the technician to cut the circuit.
Aedra said, "Perhaps it's a hurt that looks terrible for a while, but only until it heals."
"No," said Rissa. "I cannot think so. Ilse-she is tougher than that." She breathed deeply. "Well-let us go."
since liesel's vigor was still below par, Aedra called a groundcar for them. Walking up Graf Spec's ramp, though, the older woman moved briskly enough.
Ivan met them. "She's had a trank shot to relax, her, so if she's a little erratic, don't mind." He led them to the quarters he and Ilse shared, and they entered.
Rissa, determined to show no reaction, was hard put to keep her resolve. / had not imagined it would be this bad! The right
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side of Ilse Krueger's face-more than half, over to the line of the left cheekbone-was unharmed. But the left side-from near the mouth's corner to within inches of the top of the head
-was covered with massive scabbing. A burn wound, Rissa guessed, and saw that it was cut by a slash of deeper scar- pointed near the mouth and pulling it up and wider, pointed again high on the side of the head, and widening to nearly an inch where it crossed-
"There wasn't enough left of the ear," said Ilse, "-just a little tag at top and bottom, no point in trying to save it. I'm deaf on that side, too." She tried to laugh, choked on it. "I've always been vain of my face, my body, and my competence. Weli, I can forget the face, can't 1? And for catching this, maybe the competence, too."
"It was a freak chance!" said Ivan. "You know that." He turned to Rissa. "One in a billion-I investigated it, later. A turret blew-faulty component, I guess-you hear of it now and then. And three to one on us, they were, Ilse-remember that. Caught in crossfire and still you got one of them-and got us out of there, after the hit." He was nearly shouting; now he lowered his voice. "Plain bad luck they hit the hole the turret left. And someone fleeing that blowup opened a bulkhead door-there wasn't much left of whoever it was-and one lousy flash of their beam reflected off it. Less than half a millisecond, or her head would have been taken clean off-but she got the flash burn. The deep scar, almost to bone, was the beam itself; the rest is side-dissipation."
"Yes," said Ilse Krueger. "They put the right things on it, your medics, when they arrived. So maybe I've got skin re-growing under these scabs, or maybe scar tissue and I'll need skin grafts. Either way I suppose the hair's gone on this side, but they've been making wigs a long time. Bat this-" She pointed to the deeper slash. "I think it's too deep; a graft won't help, even if there's enough left over the bone for a graft to grow to."
"We had a groundside doctor look at it," Ivan said. "A top man. He says, once it's healed, at the least he can take out the lower end of that scar, where it thins down-"
"So I won't have to go around the rest of my life with this idiot half-grin. Well, that's something, I guess."
Rissa knew she must speak. Finally; "The loss of hearing
-you are sure it is permanent, not correctible?"
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Ilse stared at her, then broke into real laughter. "Rissa-I love you! Because-I think that's the same question you'd ask if you were lying here." She waved away Rissa's attempt to answer. "Oh, it's permanent, all right-no eardrum and damned little middle-ear apparatus. In fact, they closed the passage off-too good an access for infections, otherwise."
Liesel spoke. "That's sound practice. Now, then-how's the rest of you?"
Ilse said, "You two do make a pair. Well, the beam flash didn't do anything below the neck. But getting out of there we took another hit-a dud missile, I think-and it threw me halfway across Control and smashed this shoulder into gravel, mostly. Also broke some ribs and my right thigh. I'll be slow getting back to any kind of good coordination-if I ever do."
"You will," said Ivan. "You won't let up until you're satisfied with yourself."
"Now that, I'll never be again. Don't be foolish. And-" She looked at him, then said, "I appreciate what you're doing; don't ever think I don't. But once I'm up and around, and don't need somebody to hold my hand-well, if you want to leave Graf Spec- "
