Part 15 (1/2)
”Very convenient,” the old man said. ”The two of you simply fill out a form--I've got a few left from the last time--and get Izzy and me to witness it. Drop it in the mail, and you're married.”
”If you think I'd marry you, you filthy--” Sheila began.
Mother Corey listened attentively. ”Rich, but not very imaginative,” he said thoughtfully. ”But she'll learn. Izzy, I have a feeling we should let them settle their differences.”
As the door shut behind them, Gordon yanked Sheila back to the couch.
”Shut up!” he told her. ”This isn't a game. h.e.l.l's popping here--you know that better than most people. And I'm up to my neck in it. If I've got to marry you to keep you out of my hair, I will.”
Her face was pasty-white, but she bent her head, and fluttered her eyelashes up at him. ”So romantic,” she sighed. ”You sweep me off my feet. You--Why, you--”
”Me or Trench! I can take you to him and tell him you're mixed up in Security, and that you either have papers on you or out at the Chicken Coop to prove it. He won't believe _you_ if I take you in. Well?”
She looked at him a long time in silence, and there was surprise in her eyes. ”You'd do it! You really would.... All right; I'll sign your d.a.m.ned papers!”
Ten minutes later, he stood in what was now a connecting double room, watching Mother Corey nail up the hall door to the room that was to be hers. There were no windows here, and his own room had an excellent lock on it already--one he'd put on himself. Izzy came back as Mother Corey finished the door and began knocking a small panel out of the connecting door. The old man was surprisingly adept with his hands as he fitted hinges and a catch to the panel, and re-installed it so that Sheila could swing it open.
”They're married,” Izzy said. ”It's in the mail to the register, along with the twenty credits. Gov'nor, we're about due to report in.”
Gordon nodded. ”Be with you in a minute,” he said as he paid Mother Corey for the materials and work. He jerked his head and the two men went out, leaving him alone with Sheila.
”I'll bring you some food tonight. And you may not have a private bath, but it beats the Chicken Coop. Here.” He handed her the key to the connecting door. ”It's the only key there is.”
Chapter XI
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT
All that day, the three rocket s.h.i.+ps sat out on the field. n.o.body went up to them, and n.o.body came from them; surprisingly, Wayne had found the courage to ignore them. But rumors were circulating wildly. Bruce Gordon felt his nerves creeping out of his skin and beginning to stand on end to test each breeze for danger.
With the credit they'd acc.u.mulated in the fund, nearly all their collection was theirs. Gordon went out to do some shopping. He stopped when his money was down to a hundred credits, hardly realizing what he was doing. When he went out, the street was going crazy.
Izzy had been waiting, and filled him in. At exactly sundown, the rocket s.h.i.+ps had thrown down ramps, and a stream of jeeps had ridden down them and toward the south entrance to the dome. They had presented some sort of paper and forced the guard to let them through. There were about two hundred men, some of them armed. They had driven straight to the huge, barnlike Employment Bureau, had chased out the few people remaining there, and had simply taken over. Now there was a sign in front which simply said MARSPORT LEGAL POLICE FORCE HEADQUARTERS. Then the jeeps had driven back to the rockets, gone on board, and the s.h.i.+ps had taken off.
Gordon glanced at his watch, finding it hard to believe it could have been done so quickly. But it was two hours after sundown.
Now a car with a loudspeaker on top rolled into view--a completely armored car. It stopped, and the speaker began operating.
”Citizens of Marsport! In order to protect your interests from the proven rapacity of the administration here, Earth has revoked the independent charter of Marsport. The past elections are hereby declared null and void. Your home world has appointed Marcus Gannett as mayor, with Philip Crane as chief of police. Other members of the council will be by appointment until legal elections can be held safely. The Munic.i.p.al Police Force is disbanded, and the Legal Police Force is now being organized.
”All police and officers who remain loyal to the legal government will be accepted at their present grade or higher. To those who now leave the illegal Munic.i.p.al Force and accept their duty with the Legal Force, there will be no question of past conduct. Nor will they suffer financially from the change!
”Banks will be reopened as rapidly as the Legal Government can extend its control, and all deposits previously made will be honored in full.”
That brought a cheer from the crowd, as the sound truck moved on. Gordon saw two of the police officers nearby fingering their badges thoughtfully.
Then another truck rolled into view, and the Mayor's canned voice came over it, panting as if he'd had to rush to make the recording. He began directly:
”Martians! Earth has declared war on us. She has denied us our right to rule ourselves--a right guaranteed in our charter. We admit there have been abuses; all young civilizations make mistakes. But we've developed and grown.