Part 7 (1/2)
At least part of his operation had been functioning well. He was getting some raw data from the far observatories searching the Taurus region along the vessel's approach path. The others hadn't found anything as useful as a jettisoned power module, but he was monitoring a particle-counting array deployed on the surface of Demos. If the luren drive had left a particle trail, they might find it. But not until the computer was up again.
t.i.tus hoped Colby's good news was that they had regained contact with the probe that had tracked the alien in, then ceased talking before dumping its data. Unmanned probes often righted themselves. There were a dozen good people working on the problem, but t.i.tus needed the data soon, for the probe had seen the approach from a different angle.
”Well then,” he said heartily, ”your good news is that Wild Goose has finally reported in?”
”No, my good news isn't that good. Abbot Nandoha has agreed-after considerable persuasion on my part-to help with your repairs. He's technically hired to run our power plant, but his dossier shows he's also a computer architect. I hope he can redesign your system and put you back on line with the parts we have and will be getting soon.”
Oh, s.h.i.+t. ”I'll bet that took some persuasion.”
”Now, t.i.tus, I am aware of the, uh, friction you've generated with Nandoha. I don't expect such behavior from my department heads. You'll make an effort. Am I understood?”
”Yes.” She couldn't fire him because n.o.body else had spent the last ten years identifying stars with planets. A few decades ago, the search had been the main occupation of astronomers. But the grant money had dried up. Now, t.i.tus had the only complete catalogue of such stars, and heaps of unpublished papers. The lack of public interest had forced t.i.tus to make his living teaching. ”I will make the effort, Dr. Colby. And in the future, I will take care not to allow fatigue to erode my temper. Please accept my apology.”
”Now don't take it too hard, t.i.tus. We're all human. We make mistakes. If I hear nothing more of it, it won't go on your record, your pay won't be docked, and I won't need to bring in a lesser manager for your department.”
”Thank you, Dr. Colby.”
”Carol-remember?”
t.i.tus forced himself to relax visibly. But this was a message from Abbot. At will, his father could remove him from the project just by creating ”friction.”
”Look, Carol, I'm not sure it's necessary to take such a vitally needed man off life-support. s.h.i.+mon is a genius in his own right, and has been diligent-”
”Don't argue with me, t.i.tus. I'm giving you Nandoha for a week. In four days, I'll want your list of what still must be brought from Earth. Don't despair, I'll get it for you somehow. But only what Abbot can't do without. Good day.”
t.i.tus sat back and stared at the blank screen. Maybe the anti-Project humans are blocking appropriations because somebody knows about the sleeper. If they knew, Connie might know by now, too. But he couldn't a.s.sume that. He had to get a message out to Connie. He needed blood concentrate. He needed someone who could stand up to Abbot. And he had to know what to do about the sleeper.
Before he could report, he had to verify his suspicions about cloning. Mihelich was no orderly. His file was locked behind highest security. Even queries for his published papers were blocked. And while t.i.tus had been wasting time on Mihelich's files, Abbot had outflanked him, Influencing Colby. He'll control the whole Project before I figure out what's really happening.
”t.i.tus?”
Inea peeked around the office door.
With an incredible effort, t.i.tus rearranged his face into a welcoming smile. ”Come in. What can I do for you?”
She ventured into the room. ”What's wrong?”
What could he say? That another vampire was coming to joust with him for possession of her? ”Nothing new.”
”t.i.tus,” she warned.
”Carol says we're not getting our scheduled parts s.h.i.+pment. No appropriation.”
”Bad. But it's more than that.”
”s.h.i.+mon's going to blow his Israeli stack when he discovers what Carol has done.”
She almost bit at that one, but instead of asking what Carol had done, she shook her head. ”More.”
t.i.tus wondered how he could be so transparent to a human. ”All right,” he confessed, as if surrendering. ”I'm worried. I can't figure out how to tell you. something.”
”Just tell.”
”You may never speak to me again. I couldn't stand that. It's been bad enough the last few days, with you stalking off every night without a word.”
She frowned at him, studying him in that way that made him so nervous. ”I'm not ready to talk yet,” she said. ”Later. I promise.”
”Okay. Look, meanwhile could you do me a favor?”
”Like?”
He thought fast. ”You've turned out to be very talented with circuitry. When the few components we can get finally do arrive, we won't have time to fool with them. I'm going to send you over to Ernie Natches in Electronics for some quick training. That way you'll be more help when we really need you.”
”What precisely do I have to learn?” she challenged.
”Let Ernie decide. He's got benches full of our components he's trying to repair. You can help.”
She studied him again, weighing. ”You're making this, up as you go along.”
Diabolical woman. He recalled thinking that in a monotonous undertone during the years he'd been going with her. ”Inea, I've got a lot of problems. I have to create solutions on the spot.”
”What problem is getting rid of me a solution to?”
”Trying to get my computer repaired and keep my a.s.s out of the fire. The worst part is that I spend all my time filling out forms, writing reports, and going to meetings rather than doing physics. I'm becoming a frustrated administrator.”
”You're evading again.”
”Consider it a favor. I'll owe you. Report to Ernie in the morning, okay?”
”It's not okay, but I'll do it. What do I tell him, that I'm still on your payroll?”
”Of course. He's doing me a favor. Training you.”
She went to the door. ”What you owe me in return is a complete explanation.”
”Okay. As soon as we get back to Earth.”
”t.i.tus!”
He shrugged.
”You have the best woebegone look of anyone I know. All right, but I get my explanation on the Quito landing pad.”
”No deal. The ”port restaurant.”” He'd never forget that scorching sun.
”Don't quibble!” She left.