“Why do you think we’re so fascinated by the possibility of finding someone else we could talk to? I mean, high-tech aliens could be dangerous.”
The Talios story had not been released, so Jake did not mention it. “It’s in our genes,” he said. “What wouldn’t any of us give to sit down and have a beer and pizza with someone from the other side of the galaxy?”
The remark brought applause. Then a young woman seated near the front raised her hand. Jake looked in her direction, and she got up. “Captain Loomis, how do you feel about Project Rainbow?”
“I’m sorry. What’s Project Rainbow?”
“Selika,” she said. “Where they’re killing off the planet.”
“I think they should wait until they have better research. Until they can accomplish what they want without harming anything.”
More applause. And more hands went up. He was about to signal someone else, but the woman stayed on her feet. “Would it be fair,” she said, “to describe your feeling as outrage?”
“Well, I’m not sure I’d go that far. But I’m not happy with what they’re doing.”
“You’re not happy? They are probably killing off everything on that world, everything on Selika, and you’re not happy?” Her voice was rising. “I wouldn’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I won’t sleep much better tonight knowing that people like you are in charge.”
* * *
NEWSDESK
SHOOTER MISSES SENATOR BELMAR AT AWARD DINNER
Two Dead; Senator Shielded by Killer’s Aunt
HOPKINS DROPS OUT OF GOLD RACE
Belmar, McGruder Lead in Nomination Fight
Collins Stays in Despite Sex Scandal
Wife Expected to Provide Support Tonight
BOOKS LOSING GROUND IN WESTERN WORLD
Does Anybody Read Novels Anymore?
Nonfiction Down Slightly
GROUP MARRIAGE LAW PASSES IN CALIFORNIA
Governor’s Veto Overridden
ASTEROID PASSES BETWEEN EARTH AND MOON
NAU MURDER RATE DOWN 17TH STRAIGHT YEAR
Chicago Safest City
LAST MAN STANDING LEADS OSCAR HOPEFULS
NORMAN: NAU WILL STAY OUT OF SOUTH AMERICAN TURMOIL
NFL MAY EXTEND SEASON TO 24 GAMES IN 2198
Players’ and Fans’ Unions May Oppose
Chapter 21
PRISCILLA SURFACED NEAR midnight on the seventeenth, five days before the licensing ceremony. Within an hour she received a relay of Jack Kelly’s Late Night reporting that unnamed sources had confirmed that Monika Wolf suffered a breakdown at Amity and was being returned for treatment. “Well,” said Monika, “I suspect that might leave you wondering where the truth is in this matter.”
Kelly added that Kosmik was denying the report. They had a clip from an interview with Howard Broderick. “Ridiculous,” Broderick said. “Monika’s coming back, yes, but it has nothing to do with mental issues. I don’t know where this story came from.”
Monika sneered. “Right, Howard, you wouldn’t have any idea, would you?”
“Our guest tonight,” said Kelly, “is Senator Hollins of Ontario, a sponsor of the Life Guard Amendment, which would prohibit terraforming on any world where it can’t be done without harming the local life-forms. Senator, welcome to Late Night.”
“Thanks for having me, Jack.”
“I wanted to ask you about this Monika Wolf story. She’s coming home from Selika, which is the scene of the terraforming operation that’s causing so much uproar. Are they really killing the local wildlife? Edward Kepinjer, a biologist who’s been working on Quraqua, the other world where they’re doing terraforming, says they are not having any problem there. Can you explain what’s going on?”
“Jack, this is unknown territory. We don’t really have solid evidence yet that we’re doing serious damage on Selika. Quraqua seems to be okay. But different worlds—?” He shrugged. “What we’re learning about Selika does suggest there might be a problem.”
“If that’s the case, Senator, why don’t they just relocate to somewhere else?”
“Because, at the moment, there is nowhere else. Not if you’re talking about establishing a colony. There are, in fact, about twenty living worlds. But in some cases the atmosphere is beyond reclamation. In other places, the gravity index is too high. Or too low. And I know that sounds strange, but most of us don’t adjust well if we have to spend a lot of time in low-gravity situations. Where it’s too high—” He smiled. “I don’t think many of your listeners would be much interested in putting on an extra two hundred pounds overnight. A couple of worlds might have been okay except that they have unstable ground conditions.”
“So we have to look some more.”
“That’s correct. Finding the right world is going to cost money. And it takes time. So far, we only have Quraqua. We thought we had a second place in Selika. Unfortunately, Jack, it looks as if that may not be working out.”
Monika raised a fist.
* * *
THEY HAD JUMPED in unusually close to the Wheel. Ten hours later, the Venture pulled into dock. And it was, finally, time to say good-bye. Monika got her gear and paused at the air lock. The return voyage had been considerably easier than the outbound flight. “You want to ride with me next time,” Priscilla said, “just let me know.”
“No charge?”
“None at all.”
“Good. Where are you going next?”
“I have no idea.”
Monika smiled. “Me, too. Look, let me know when you’re headed for Andromeda.” Priscilla offered her hand, but Monika embraced her. Then she stepped back. “One thing before I go: Don’t trust these people. Kosmik. Where they’re concerned, it’s strictly about the money.”
* * *
PRISCILLA WENT TO the Skyview for lunch. She was being shown to her table when her link chimed. It was Howard. “I’m glad to hear you’re back. How’d the flight go?”
“It went okay,” she said.
“No problems?”
“No.”
“All right. Good. What are you doing now?”
“Just sitting down to lunch.”
“When you’re finished, how about coming over to the office for a few minutes? No hurry.”
* * *
HE LOOKED UP from his desk, apparently happy to see her, and pointed to a chair. “You have another mission coming up. In six days. You have any problem with the schedule?”
“No,” she said. “That sounds okay.”
“Good. I just wanted to give you some advance warning.” He leaned forward and frowned. “There’s something else. You’d already left Amity before I found out why they were sending Monika back. I apologize for that. I wasn’t aware there’d been a stress-related problem, or we’d have handled things differently. She didn’t give you any trouble, did she?”
“No. Not at all. She was fine.”
“Okay. Good. I’m glad to hear it. We’re usually more careful.” He showed her a big, happy smile. “Anyhow, you’ll be leaving Wednesday, the twenty-third. You’ll be on the Venture again.”
“I like the ship.”
“I was sure you would. Obviously, you’ll be gone over Christmas. That’s okay?”
“What’s the mission?”
“Amity again.”
Priscilla stared at him. “Amity?”
“Something wrong?” he asked.