Part 11 (1/2)
Chung stirred. ”Wait a bit,” he said. ”We have one of your people aboard, Lieutenant Ziska. Can you send a gig for her?”
”She didn't collaborate with us,” Blades added. ”You can see the evidence of her loyalty, all over my mug.”
”Good girl!” Hulse exclaimed savagely. ”Yes, I'll send a boat. Signing off.”
The screen blanked. Chung and Blades let out a long, ragged breath.
They sat a while trembling before Chung muttered, ”That skunk as good as admitted everything.”
”Sure,” said Blades, ”But we won't have any more trouble from him.”
Chung stubbed out his cigarette. Poise was returning to both men.
”There could be other attempts, though, in the next few years.” He scowled. ”I think we should arm the Station. A couple of laser guns, if nothing else. We can say it's for protection in case of war. But it'll make our own government handle us more carefully, too.”
”Well, you can approach the Commission about it.” Blades yawned and stretched, trying to loosen his muscles. ”Better get a lot of other owners and supervisors to sign your pet.i.tion, though.” The next order of business came to his mind. He rose. ”Why don't you go tell Adam the good news?”
”Where are you bound?”
”To let Ellen know the fight is over.”
”Is it, as far as she's concerned?”
”That's what I'm about to find out. Hope I won't need an armored escort.” Blades went from the cubicle, past the watchful radioman, and down the deserted pa.s.sageway beyond.
The cabin given her lay at the end, locked from outside. The key hung magnetically on the bulkhead. Blades unlocked the door and tapped it with his knuckles.
”Who's there?” she called.
”Me,” he said. ”May I come in?”
”If you must,” she said freezingly.
He opened the door and stepped through. The overhead light s.h.i.+mmered off her hair and limned her figure with shadows. His heart b.u.mped.
”You, uh, you can come out now,” he faltered. ”Everything's O.K.”
She said nothing, only regarded him from glacier-blue eyes.
”No harm's been done, except to me and Sparks, and we're not mad,” he groped. ”Shall we forget the whole episode?”
”If you wish.”
”Ellen,” he pleaded, ”I had to do what seemed right to me.”
”So did I.”