Part 12 (1/2)

Sam grinned ruefully, albeit proudly. ”Aw, it would've taken a century for me to make full priest, Papa. The only way to do is like Major Mauser. You didn't know this, but, I've been following the fracases all along. Especially when you were the reporter. I've watched every fracas you've covered for years. I guess you know I'm pretty proud of you.”

”Sam! What are you doing in that uniform! Answer me!”

The boy flushed. ”I'm old enough, Papa. I switched categories. I've signed up with Chrysler-Ford in their fracas with Hovercar Sports.

They're taking me on as infantryman.”

”Infantryman?” Freddy winced, and closed his eyes. ”Listen, boy, where'd you get the idea that--” He started over again. ”But all your life I've given you the inside on the Category Military, Sam. All your life. No trank in our home. No watching the Telly day in and out.

You've gone to _school_. More than I ever did. You were going to be a Temple priest--”

Sam sat down too, vaguely surprised at this father's reaction. ”Aw, Papa, everybody's a fracas buff now. Everybody. You can't get away from it. I ... well, I want to be like Major Mauser. Get so all the fans know me, want my autograph, all that. And all the excitement of being in a fracas, getting in the dill, and all. I just want to be like the other fellas, Papa.”

Freddy could only stare at him.

Sam tried to explain. ”Shucks, it was really you that made me want to become a mercenary. You're the best Telly reporter of them all. When _you_ cover a fracas, Papa, you really do it. You can see _everything_.” He shook his head in admiration. ”Gosh, you really feel the emotion. It's the most exciting thing in the world.”

”Yeah, son,” Freddy Soligen said emptily. ”I suppose it is.”

XIII

Joe was able to get around on auto-crutches by the time she finally arrived--a stereotype visitor. Done up brightly, a box of candy in one hand, flowers in the other. He could see her coming across the lawn, from the visitor's offices. He wished that he had worn his other suit.

His clothing was on the skimpy side when uniforms were subtracted.

She came up to him. ”Well, Joe.”

He looked at the flowers and attempted a grin. ”Lilies would have been more appropriate, considering the shape I'm in.”

Nadine said, ”I've just been talking to the staff doctors. You're not in as bad shape as all that. Some bone mending, is all.”

The grin turned wry. ”I wasn't just thinking of the physical shape.”

He settled to the stone bench which stood to one side of the walk he had been exercising upon before her arrival. For a moment, she remained standing.

He looked up at her. ”Well,” he said. ”I didn't break your condition,”

he said. ”Am I still receivable?”

She frowned.

Joe said, bitterly, ”You told me that you were going to take the fracas in and if my actions resulted in any casualties, you never wanted to see me again.”

She took the place beside him. ”I did watch. For a time, the rest of the battle going on below was ignored and you were full on lens for at least twenty minutes. I was never so frightened in my life.”

Joe said, ”The first step toward becoming a buff. First you're scared.

Vicariously. But it's fun to become scared, when nothing can really happen to you. It becomes increasingly exciting to see others threatened with death--and then actually to die before you. After a while, you're hooked.”

She looked carefully at the flowers. ”That's not exactly what I meant.

I was frightened for you, Joe. Not thrilled.”