Part 28 (2/2)

Giraud shut his mouth. He was sweating. Bogdanovitch was dead four years ago, Harad of Fargone was in the seat of State and making common cause with Gorodin of Defense and deFranco of Trade, and Lao of Information. d.a.m.n them. The Expansionist coalition held firm, the Abolitionists were in retreat and Corain and the Centrists had lost ground, losing Gorodin to the Expansionist camp where he had always belonged, but Nasir Harad, d.a.m.n him, snuggled close to Gorodin, the source of the fat Defense contracts for his station, and State and Defense and Information were the coalition within the Expansionist coalition-the secret bedfellows.

Reseune did not have the influence it had had. That was the bitter truth Giraud had to live with. It gave him stomach upsets and kept him awake at night. But Ari had been-so far as they understood-unique.

”Let me tell you,” Giraud said, ”there are things within our files which are very sensitive. We do not want them released. More, we don't want any chance of Warrick being called out of Planys to testify. You don't understand how volatile that situation is. He has to be kept quiet. His recall of small detail, things he might have heard, things he might have discussed with his father down the years-will be far better than you or I want. His memory is extremely exact. If you don't want Alliance to be able to unravel what you've done in specific detail, keep Warrick quiet, keep Warrick quiet, can I be more clear?” can I be more clear?”

”Are you saying present administration can be compromised?”

Dangerous question. Dangerous interest. Giraud took another breath. ”I'm only asking you to listen to me. Before you discover that the threads of this lead, yes, under closed doors. You want the Rubin project blown to h.e.l.l-you let Warrick get loose, and there won't be be a Rubin project.” a Rubin project.”

”Sometimes we're not sure there is a Rubin project,” Lu said acidly, ”since RESEUNEs.p.a.cE has yet to do more than minor work. Tests, you say. Data collation. Is Is there a director?” there a director?”

”There is a director. We're about to transfer the bank. It's not a small operation. This inquiry is not going to help us. We're strained as it is. There's an enormous amount of data involved. That's the nature of the process. We are in operation. We have been in operation for six years. We do not intend to waste resources in a half-hearted effort, general.” d.a.m.n. It's a tactic. Distract and divert. ”The point is Warrick. The point is that the Planys facility is under your security and we have to rely on it. We hope we can can rely on it.” rely on it.”

”Absolutely. As we hope to rely on your cooperation on the Gehenna matter, Councillor Nye.”

Blackmail. Plain and simple. He saw Harad's hand in this. ”To what extent?”

”Agreement to cooperate with Alliance scientists. We'll swear it was a lost operation, one concealed behind the secrecies of war. Something no one knew had been done. No one in office now. That a communications screw-up saw it launched.”

”Ariane Emory's name has to be kept out of it.”

”I don't think that's possible. Let the dead bear the onus of responsibility. The living have far more at stake. I a.s.sure you-far more at stake. We want to keep an active channel into this situation on Gehenna. Descendants of Union citizens are still legally our citizens. If we choose to take that view. We may not. In any case-Science should be interested in the impact on the ecology; and the social system. We stand to gain nothing by withholding an apparent cooperation. Not Not the actual content of the tapes, to be sure. But at least the composition of the colony, the ratio of military personnel to azi. The personal histories of some of the military. Conn, for instance. Distinguished service. They should have some recognition, after all these years,” the actual content of the tapes, to be sure. But at least the composition of the colony, the ratio of military personnel to azi. The personal histories of some of the military. Conn, for instance. Distinguished service. They should have some recognition, after all these years,”

Sentiment. Good G.o.d.

”Reseune,” Giraud said, ”equally values Emory's distinguished record.”

”I'm afraid that part will get out. The azi, you know. Once the public knows that, there's hardly any way you can hide it. But damage control is already in operation. State is onto it.”

”Harad knew knew about this operation?” about this operation?”

”It does fall within State's area of responsibility. Science doesn't make foreign policy. Our Our obligation in that consideration is quite different. I do urge you to think-what your contracts are worth. We do obligation in that consideration is quite different. I do urge you to think-what your contracts are worth. We do not not contract primarily with Bucherlabs. We continue to work with you. We continue to support RESEUNEs.p.a.cE-even at a cost disadvantage. We expect that relations.h.i.+p to be a mutually satisfactory one-one we hope we can continue.” contract primarily with Bucherlabs. We continue to work with you. We continue to support RESEUNEs.p.a.cE-even at a cost disadvantage. We expect that relations.h.i.+p to be a mutually satisfactory one-one we hope we can continue.”

”I see,” Giraud said bitterly. ”I see.” And after a breath or two: ”Ser Secretary, we need that data protected-for more than a dead woman's reputation. To keep Council from blowing this wide open-and destroying any chance of success.”

”Now you want our help. You want me to throw myself and my Bureau on the grenade. Is that it? -Let me explain to you, ser, we have other have other considerations right now, primarily among them a rampant anti-militarism that's feeding on this scandal as it is-which is a critical danger to our national defense, at a time when we're already under budget constraints, at a time when we can't get the s.h.i.+ps we need and we can't get the problem of expanded perimeters through the heads of the public or the opposition of Finance in Council. We have a major problem, ser, your project has become a sink into which money goes and nothing emerges, and, dammit, you want us to stand and s.h.i.+eld you from inquiry while you refuse our requests for records. I suggest you defend considerations right now, primarily among them a rampant anti-militarism that's feeding on this scandal as it is-which is a critical danger to our national defense, at a time when we're already under budget constraints, at a time when we can't get the s.h.i.+ps we need and we can't get the problem of expanded perimeters through the heads of the public or the opposition of Finance in Council. We have a major problem, ser, your project has become a sink into which money goes and nothing emerges, and, dammit, you want us to stand and s.h.i.+eld you from inquiry while you refuse our requests for records. I suggest you defend yourself, yourself, ser-with Reseune's well-known resources. Maybe it's time to bring this project of yours put. Make a choice. Give me a ser-with Reseune's well-known resources. Maybe it's time to bring this project of yours put. Make a choice. Give me a reason reason I can I can use use to maintain that data as Cla.s.sified-or give me the records I need.” to maintain that data as Cla.s.sified-or give me the records I need.”

”She's not ready, my G.o.d, not now, now, in the middle of scandal that touches her predecessor. She's a six-year-old kid, she can't handle that land of attack-” in the middle of scandal that touches her predecessor. She's a six-year-old kid, she can't handle that land of attack-”

”It's your problem,” Lu said, folding his hands, settling into that implacable, bland stare. ”We don't know, frankly, ser, if we have have anything to protect. For all you've been willing to demonstrate to us, it is another Bok clone.” anything to protect. For all you've been willing to demonstrate to us, it is another Bok clone.”

”I'll show you records.”

”Bok's clone was quite good as a child. It was later the problems manifested. Wasn't it? And unless you're willing to go public with the child and give me a reason to clamp down on the records-I can't extend that protection any further than I have.”

”Dammit, you leave us vulnerable and they'll find us the door that leads to your own territory.”

”Through yours, yours, I think. You were very active in Reseune administration in those years. Can it be-those records you defend-lay the blame to you, ser?” I think. You were very active in Reseune administration in those years. Can it be-those records you defend-lay the blame to you, ser?”

”That's your guess. It may s.h.i.+ne light where a good many people don't want it.”

”So we direct the strike, don't we? It's always useful to know what you've left open for attack. I'm sorry it has to be in your territory. But I certainly won't leave it in mine.”

”If you'll apply a little patience-”

”I prefer the word progress, progress, which, quite truthfully, I find lacking in Reseune lately. We can discuss this. I am prepared to discuss it. But I think you'll understand I am inflexible on certain points. Cooperation is very essential just now. If we do not have a reason to withhold those records, we must provide those records. You must understand-we have to provide something to the inquiry. And soon.” which, quite truthfully, I find lacking in Reseune lately. We can discuss this. I am prepared to discuss it. But I think you'll understand I am inflexible on certain points. Cooperation is very essential just now. If we do not have a reason to withhold those records, we must provide those records. You must understand-we have to provide something to the inquiry. And soon.”

One did. One sat and one listened while the Defense proxy, proxy, d.a.m.n him to h.e.l.l, laid out Gorodin's program for, as he called it, damage control. d.a.m.n him to h.e.l.l, laid out Gorodin's program for, as he called it, damage control.

A proposal for scientific and cultural cooperation with Alliance. Coming from Defense via the Science Bureau.

An official expression of regret from the Council in joint resolution, made possible by the release of selected doc.u.ments by the present administration of Reseune, indicating Bogdanovitch, Emory, and Azov of Defense, all safely deceased, collaborated in the planning of the Gehenna operation.

d.a.m.n him. him.

”We'll see to Warrick,” Lu said. ”Actually-allowing him conference with his son might have some benefit right now. Monitored, of course.”

viii ”Justin?” The voice came from the other end, Jordan's voice, his father's voice, after eight years; and Justin, who had steeled himself not to break down, The voice came from the other end, Jordan's voice, his father's voice, after eight years; and Justin, who had steeled himself not to break down, not not to break down in front of Denys, on whose desk-phone the call came, bit his lip till it bled and watched the image come out of the break-up on the screen-a Jordan older, thinner. His hair was white. Justin stared in shock, in the consciousness of lost years, and mumbled: ”Jordan-G.o.d, it's good to see you. We're fine, we're all fine. Grant's not here for this one, but they'll let him next time. . . .” to break down in front of Denys, on whose desk-phone the call came, bit his lip till it bled and watched the image come out of the break-up on the screen-a Jordan older, thinner. His hair was white. Justin stared in shock, in the consciousness of lost years, and mumbled: ”Jordan-G.o.d, it's good to see you. We're fine, we're all fine. Grant's not here for this one, but they'll let him next time. . . .”

”. . . You're looking fine,” You're looking fine,” Jordan's voice overrode him, and there was pain in his eyes. Jordan's voice overrode him, and there was pain in his eyes. ”G.o.d, you've grown a bit, haven't you? It's good to see you, son. ”G.o.d, you've grown a bit, haven't you? It's good to see you, son.

Where's Grant?”

Time-delay. They were fifteen seconds lagged, by security at either end.

”You're looking good yourself.” O G.o.d, G.o.d, tile ba.n.a.lities they had to use, when there was so little time. When there was everything in the world to say, and they could not, with security waiting to break the connection at the first hint of a breach of the rules. ”How's Paul? Grant and I are living in your apartment, doing real well. I'm still in design-” tile ba.n.a.lities they had to use, when there was so little time. When there was everything in the world to say, and they could not, with security waiting to break the connection at the first hint of a breach of the rules. ”How's Paul? Grant and I are living in your apartment, doing real well. I'm still in design-”

A lift from Denys' hand warned him. No work discussions. He stopped himself.

”. . . A little grayer. I know. I'm not doing badly at all. Good health and all that. Paul too. d.a.m.n, it's good to see your face. . . .” A little grayer. I know. I'm not doing badly at all. Good health and all that. Paul too. d.a.m.n, it's good to see your face. . . .”

”You can do that in a mirror, can't you?” He forced a little laugh. ”I hope I do look that good at the same age. Got a good chance, right? -I can't report much-” They won't let me. ”-I've been keeping busy. I get your letters.” Cut to h.e.l.l. ”I really look forward to them. So does-”

His father grinned as the joke got through. ”You're my time machine. You've got a good chance. . . . I get your letters too. I keep all of them.” ”You're my time machine. You've got a good chance. . . . I get your letters too. I keep all of them.”

”So does Grant. He's grown too. Tall. You could figure. We're sort of left hand and right. We look out for each other. We're doing fine.”

”You weren't going to catch him. Not the way he was growing. Paul's gone gray too. Rejuv, of course. I'm sorry. I was absolutely certain I'd told you in the letters. I forget about it. I'm too d.a.m.n lazy to dye it.”

Meaning the censors had cut the part it was in, d.a.m.n them.

”I think it looks pretty good. Really. You know everything looks pretty much the same at home-” Not elsewhere. ”Except I miss you. Both of you.”

”I miss you too, son. I really do. They're signing me I've got to close down now. d.a.m.n, there's so much to say. Be good. Stay out of trouble.”

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