Part 7 (1/2)
”I don't want to risk any personnel,” Rodrick replied. ”I'm going to use the admiral and Moprotomorrow. We do need to get one of the things alive, if possible-dead if not. Then we'll know better what we're up against. I'm going down to see Grace Monroe when I leave here to discuss it with her.”
Mandy reached for her drink to hide her moment of disappointment. It was comfortable sitting here and talking with Duncan. They never seemed to have any time to talk.
An enlisted crew member brought the coroner's report. There wasn't much information there that Rodrick didn't already know. The only new information was that the marrow had been very efficiently removed from the bones. Very tough tendons were still attached in a few places, but otherwise all flesh had been removed. He shared the report with Mandy. She shuddered as she read, and Rodrick had the desire to go around the desk, take her in his arms, and tell her that it would be all right.
He controlled his urge and stood. ”Thanks for the drink.”
She didn't want to be alone. Rocky was on duty on the bridge until midnight. ”I've finished here. Mind if I tag along? I have been intending to see Grace all day.” That last was a lie, but on the way down she'd think of something to ask Grace.
Three levels down, at the very core of the s.h.i.+p, Grace was about to be kissed. She had gone down to help Max Rosen in engineering as soon as she'd heard that all colonists were going to spend the night on the s.h.i.+p. She had a special dinner planned for two, and the sooner Max finished his work, the sooner he'd be able to come to her quarters.
Mainly, the problem was cooling and ventilating the large bays where the colonists were bedded down.
She ran figures through the computer for Max, estimating the caloric heat output of sleeping bodies. Max fed the figures into the climate control center. The colonists never thought about the fact that the comfortable temperature and circulating fresh air didn't just happen naturally. It was also necessary to install temporary water fountains and deploy a great number of emergency chemical toilets.
Max supervised from his office and, everything finished, ran his fingers through his mussed hair and grinned. ”You look like you need a drink,” he said.
”I happen to have some premixed in my quarters,” Grace said.
Max rose and held out his hands. She put her hands in his, and he pulled her to her feet. ”I can't wait that long for this,” he murmured, and his lips had just touched hers when the soft bong of the opening door jerked Max's head around to see Juke roll in.
”Excuse me, Grace,” Juke said. ”I just thought I'd better report that morale seems to be very good.”
Max's face was contorted with pure agony. ”Get out of here, Juke,” he growled, while Grace was trying to swallow her laughter, her nice neck straining with the effort, her cheeks bulging. ”This is getting to the point where it isn't funny, Grace,” Max moaned.
”Well, if you have no further instructions for me, Grace,” Juke said, ”I will leave you with this thought: When fortune tellers serve instant tea, what do they read?”
Max reached for a heavy wrench and threw it to clang off the door as it closed rapidly behind Juke.
”I'm s-s-s-so-rry, ” Grace sputtered, making a great effort to stop giggling. She reached up and put her cool, smooth hands on his cheeks. It had been a long day. His beard was a sharp stubble on herpalms. She drew his head down to hers, and her lips parted. The bong sounded, and Duncan Rodrick said, ”Sorry, gang.”
Max rolled his eyes and turned. Mandy Miller was looking at Grace with wide eyes. Grace winked and, unseen by the men, gave Mandy the thumb-and-finger circle for okay. Mandy smiled widely. Grace Monroe had chosen. ”I checked your quarters and lab, Grace,” Rodrick said, ”and figured you'd be down here. Your boys are the ones to get us one of those d.a.m.ned underground things. I know Mopro can fry the thing or blast it apart, but can Mopro and the admiral capture one alive?”
”Mopro isn't designed for grasping or holding things,” she answered. ”But he's very powerful. Given time I could give him new arms. And a tension spring across his back, I think-”
”I don't want to take that much time,” Rodrick said. ”I want the area to be safe so the scouts can go out looking for whoever built the city the McRaes found. We need the oil team drilling again. Amando wants to get some crops planted as quickly as possible.”
”Let me say this,” Grace mused. ”I'd put the admiral in an arena with a full-grown rogue Bengal tiger with no concern for his safety. Also, he's lightning fast. He could easily stay out of the thing's way. With the right equipment, I think my boys can do the job.”
”What will they need?” Rodrick asked.
”I'd say the best idea is the original one-the noose. If the admiral can get the noose around the outside of the creature's snout, Mopro's strong enough to pull it out of the hole. Then I guess it might be possible for the admiral to help guide it into some sort of a cage.”
”I think I'll go out and talk it over with the admiral,” he said. ”Anyone care to come along?”
Rosen looked at Grace. ”No, thanks. I'm off to find a private corner where I can kiss this woman without some robot busting in.”
Grace laughed and pulled Max along, to go with the captain.
Rodrick looked at Mandy. ”You might as well come along. You haven't had much fresh air since we've landed.”
In the brief walk down to engineering and then outside, Duncan had found that it was more than pleasing to have Mandy by his side.
Omega's two moons were in one of their rare double-full phases, hanging just over the eastern mountains, casting a discernible double shadow. The admiral, forewarned, waited for them just outside the hatch. The air was summery and balmy, and salty with an ocean breeze. Grace clung to Max's arm and breathed deeply. Mopro's bulk was half-hidden in shadow. Mandy listened as Rodrick talked with the admiral as if the robot were human, then listened to the admiral's suggestions with respectful interest.
The admiral seemed eager to tackle the job and suggested that he could rig a central noose secured four ways to keep the beast anch.o.r.ed in one spot.
Grace said, ”Stay out of its reach, Admiral.”
”I will, Grace,” he promised. ”But I don't think the thing could do me any harm, short of soiling my uniform.” ”Stay out of its reach anyhow,” Grace said.
Rodrick looked at the two moons. Interesting patterns on the larger one. Full moons. Lovers' moons.
He could just catch a hint of Mandy's light perfume as she stood beside him.
”I'll get back to my patrol, Captain,” the admiral said.
”I've got a drink waiting,” Max said. He took Grace's hand, squeezed it. ”Captain, how'd you like to perform a marriage?”
”Right now?” Rodrick asked.
”This minute,” Max said.
”Max is impetuous,” Grace explained, grinning.
”Eden is a country of laws,” Rodrick said, with mock solemnity. ”First you have to get the license.”
”d.a.m.ned red tape,” Max growled.
”You can't rush it,” Mandy said. ”It's an important event. You two are very well liked. Everyone will want to come. You can't just say you're going to get married and not makeplans .”
”Plans I got,” Max said, his leer evident to Grace in the bright moonlight.
”Max, take out the papers. Do the planning. When we get things organized a bit, a big wedding will give us our first holiday,” Rodrick said.
”It'll give us something to celebrate,” Mandy added.
Max grunted and led Grace toward the open hatch. Mandy lingered for just a moment.
”We already have something to celebrate,” Rodrick said, wanting to hold her with him for just a little longer. ”Did you get the report that Stoner found a piece of metal today?”
”Yes, isn't it wonderful?”
”You two coming?” Grace called from the hatch.
”In a minute,” Mandy called back. The admiral and Mopro disappeared around the curve of the s.h.i.+p's hull.