Part 19 (2/2)

”Pete loves generators, Bergkamp,” Johnny said with a wide smile. ”The bigger the better. He can do anything with the right amount of power . . . and a place to stand.”

There are moments, General, when you're a pain in the a.s.s, Peter remarked. Peter remarked.

If anything, the general's smile got wider.

Sorry, Pete. Let's blow this joint.

”Thanks for your help, Bergkamp. C'mon, Pete, I know you didn't get a chance to settle in.” And I won't mention the beautiful redhead you brought up with you. And I won't mention the beautiful redhead you brought up with you.

You just did.

Rank has some privileges. I'm grabbing some lunch. What about you?

I need to unpack.

Catchya later. Johnny Greene turned in the other direction and Peter gratefully went to his quarters. He'd left his bag in the personnel carrier and now 'ported it up to his cabin. He would have to apologize to Dr. Scott for leaving her in the abrupt way he had. Maybe they would have explained it all to her when she reached the sick bay. Thinking of apologies reminded him that his remarks to the general had been uncalled for, even if Johnny had not apparently taken offense. But Peter was annoyed with himself for snapping like that. Johnny Greene turned in the other direction and Peter gratefully went to his quarters. He'd left his bag in the personnel carrier and now 'ported it up to his cabin. He would have to apologize to Dr. Scott for leaving her in the abrupt way he had. Maybe they would have explained it all to her when she reached the sick bay. Thinking of apologies reminded him that his remarks to the general had been uncalled for, even if Johnny had not apparently taken offense. But Peter was annoyed with himself for snapping like that.

Peter changed his waste-bag and showered, closing his eyes as he levered shampoo to his head. He stood under the fine air-driven hard spray until he no longer felt the sting of soap on his sweated face. The warm air circulated through the shower enclosure and died away as the cubicle's sensors ceased registering moisture to be recycled.

Peter lay down on the bunk, lifting the light cover over his bare body.

”I'll just close my eyes,” he murmured. He did, and was startled by the strident buzz of the intercom.

”The admiral's compliments, Mr. Reidinger,” said a voice he recognized as Yeoman Nicola Nizukami, ”and would you kindly join him for dinner at 2130 hours?”

Peter saw that he had an hour to get dressed.

”Yes, certainly, Mr. Nizukami. Delighted.”

He must have slept nearly three hours. He'd have to get fit. There was a Reeve Board up here for him to use and he could rig the hydrotherapy bath for swimming against a current. He'd start tomorrow morning. That is, if his schedule allowed.

8.

”Asked their permission?” Incredulity and outrage colored Johnny Greene's voice as Peter Reidinger arrived at the admiral's lounge, promptly at 2130 hours. ”Asked their permission to move the freighter?”

”Or so the company spokesman informed me,” the admiral said, his tone amused.

”Then that captain should have asked our permission for tangling in our net , ” Johnny said.

”The net was not where it was supposed to be,” Dirk replied in the manner of someone reporting conversation. ”Good evening, Pete. Barney, see what Mr. Reidinger wants to drink.”

”Lit up like a Christmas tree,” Johnny went on, ”dense enough to be clearly visible on the antiquated screens those tubs use, and three klicks from where he should have been to reach the mooring Honeybald a.s.signed him. That captain is suffering from a serious visual malfunction.” Then as an afterthought, ”Or he wasn't even on the bridge.”

”How did you know?” Dirk said, grinning. ”And he's captain no longer.”

”Good!” Johnny took a swig of his drink like a toast to that dismissal. ”We've got enough problems up here without someone inventing more. Freighting's a boring job. I wouldn't want it. But that,” and he pointed his finger at the admiral, ”doesn't mean I would be a d.a.m.ned fool.”

”Ah, Dr. Scott,” the admiral said, leaving Johnny to greet another guest. ”Hope that little flap on your arrival didn't give you a false impression of our hospitality.”

”Of course not. I was impressed by the way you all handled the emergency. Good evening, Peter,” she added, nodding to him.

Ceara Scott was certainly not fl.u.s.tered this evening. She wore a burgundy silk suit that was a stunning contrast to her upswept red hair and fitted her extremely well. She certainly didn't look like any medical person he'd ever encountered.

”Admiral?” Johnny's tone chided Coetzer to introduce him and, grinning, Dirk did so.

”A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Scott,” the general said, with a wide grin and appreciative glances.

”So you are the famous John Greene,” she said. ”I was warned about you.”

”You were?” Johnny pretended surprised dismay. ”Who would cast aspersions on my innocent head?”

”My uncle, Jerry Scott, was in your etop squadron.”

”Rosie Scott?” Johnny's surprise was no longer pretend. ”You're Rosie's niece?”

She nodded and sighed. ”Rosie!” She added, with a grimace, ”He hated that nickname.”

”Then he shouldn't have been saddled with that shade of red hair,” Johnny replied. ”d.a.m.ned good etop, though,” he said in an aside to Dirk.

Dash Sakai and Madlyn Luvaro, who looked elegant in a rich emerald green, Pota Chatham, and Shandin Ross arrived in a group and that completed the admiral's table.

Peter sat across from Ceara Scott and tried not to stare at her or worry if she was noticing him. He felt unaccountably awkward with knife and fork. He also felt awkward in answering her questions, especially when the admiral, Johnny, Madlyn, and Dash informed her of his particular part in coping with the emergency. She had watched the s.p.a.ce drama from the sick bay.

”Didn't put you off a s.p.a.ce walk, did it?” Shandin Ross asked.

”If anything, I was rea.s.sured,” she replied, her glance flicking from Peter to Johnny.

”Just let us kinetics know when you're ready to try and we'll stand by,” Johnny said.

”A s.p.a.ce walk is not obligatory, you know,” Madlyn said. ”I'm one of those who can't 'hack the black,' as they say up here.” She gave a little shudder.

”I'd like to try, but only after I've got my experiments started,” Ceara Scott replied.

Johnny asked her what area of s.p.a.ce medicine.

”It's esoteric and I'd bore you all stiff with the process but I'd be happy to show you my lab work, if you're interested.” She smiled at Johnny's startled reaction to her invitation and turned to the admiral. ”You must be very proud of the facilities you have up here. So much has already been done. Even under Ludmilla Barchenka.”

”Yes, so I understand,” the admiral replied at his blandest.

Ceara blushed.

Peter caught her embarra.s.sed thought that possibly the name of the previous Station commander revived unpleasant memories.

Madlyn Luvaro rea.s.sured her and then the entree was served and everyone's attention turned to the excellent roast. It was all told a very pleasant evening and, toward the end of it, Peter relaxed sufficiently to enjoy it as much as the others did.

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