Limmer said, "That's command-how about engineering?"

  "Even better-technical people don't tend to be so damned political."

  "Good. I-" Limmer paused. "Enough business-Felcie wants to feed us now."

  During dinner and after, talk was of other matters. The two children drew their due of attention until their bedtime-and a certain amount, in comments, after it.

  And later, before leaving, Rissa said, "This-with all of

  73

  you here-has been the finest evening I have had on this planet!"

  the next day, Tregare took Hawkman, along with Bernardez and Aedra Leng, for "the deluxe guided tour of Stronghold. You want to come, Liesel?"

  "No, thanks-not today." She wiped a smear of cereal from Lisele's chin. When the others had left, she said, "Rissa, we hadn't decided, Hawkman and I, how long to stay out of freeze here. We can't afford too long, I know-but now I'm up, I'd hate to waste the waking on just a few days."

  Rissa thought. "You must stay at least for Lisele's second birthday, bio-time, and counting by Earthdays. That will be in twelve more of ours."

  "Good! We'd thought either a week-make it quick-or a month. You've decided for us," Watching the little girl, she smiled. "This one-in her ways, more than looks-reminds me a lot of Sparline at the same age. I wish Sparline could see her-and that you and Bran could have seen her young Tregare."

  "Yes-Tregare Lombuno Moray. Who chose those names?"

  "Ernol insisted on Tregare, and Sparline on Lombuno. They both agreed the surname would give the boy proper status."

  "1 see." The door chime sounded. "Just a moment."

  She opened the door to Felcie and Arlen. Felcie said, "Am I late? Liesel-you're so good, to look after these little bush-stompers for us. Are you sure you know what you're getting into?"

  Liesel waved a hand. "The short time I'll be awake here, I want to get to know these two kids as much as I can-along with seeing the rest of you. And this is one good way to do it, so I can concentrate on 'em."

  "Well, they're a handful, sometimes."

  "1 am sure," said Rissa, "that Liesel Hulzein can cope with two small children. But we do appreciate it, Liesel!"

  "Sure. Now get your string moving."

  RISSA had planned-and Felcie was agreeable-to spend the

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  day inspecting programs that for some time she had only been able to spot check. They visited the ships set up for weapons practice, and Rissa noted the average scoring progress at each-as well as taking one half-hour practice session herself.

  "Sixty-eight. I had better come here more often."

  The woman on duty as instructor said, "Why, that's the best score I've seen here!"

  "But I have done better-and I will again." Then, "It will not be enough, 1 see, to train turret gunners before we leave here. I will suggest to Tregare that each ship have one position set for practice, to keep skills honed during the journey."

  As they left, Felcie said, "You're really expecting a big battle at Earth, aren't you?"

  "I do not know-but if there is one, I intend that we win it."

  rissa boarded Inconnu on whim; she had no real business there. She found Gonnelsen in Control; the tall blond man nodded, smiling, but said nothing.

  She said, "Well, hello-I did not expect to find you here, for I heard you are to have a ship of your own."

  He swallowed; then-low-toned, as usual-he spoke. "Ms. Kerguelen-you've got to speak to Tregare for me."

  "I do not understand."

  "I've told him-I don't want command-it's not in me. But he won't listen."

  "Tregare says, and I have noted also, that you are very capable."

  He shook his head. "Not to command-not that. I'll go groundside first. It's-the deciding."

  "But all of us must make decisions. You make them now."

  "Not the same. Once I-people died of it. Not again!''

  Seeing the strain in him, she touched his hand. "I will speak to Tregare."

  The only thanks he gave was another nod.

  "Gonnelsen-you have spoken to me more, just now, than in all the time I have known you."

  His gesture stopped midway. "I had to."

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  home again, after dinner she told Tregare. "He means it, Bran."

  "I know. But damn it-he's wasted in a subordinate job, working under someone who knows less than he does.''

  "Under you, Tregare?"

  His headshake showed impatience. "I can't keep him on Inconnu-I have to spread the talent thin; you know that." He rubbed his forehead. "The man owes it to me to hold down a bigger job."

  Rissa smiled. "You have said he is a good organizer, once someone sets policy. Are there not subordinate jobs on a larger scale?"

  Tregare's finger stabbed air. "Right! It's making death that bothers him, is it? Though he's never shown squeamish in a fight . . . well, Limmer needs a top aide, to help run Stronghold when we've gone, and neither of us are all that satisfied with the possible candidates." He moved to the viewscreen. "I'll call Gonnelsen."

  Suddenly busy with her daughter's needs, Rissa heard only the last of Tregare's side of the call and none of the other man's. "That's right, and Fleet Liaison's a big part of it ... no, you'd work for Limmer and with Vanois, on that... sure, in space some of the time; how else? ... All right, and when you come to Earth I'll buy you one . . . first of the week, I'd think, if that gives you enough time... yes, sure, I'll tell her."

  He cut the circuit and joined Rissa. "It's all set, and Gonnelsen says to thank you a lot." He kissed her. "That last, though, was my own idea. You've cleared up something that's been bothering me."

  "I am glad. And there was something more-" She told him her idea for weapons practice in space.

  "No reason why not-I'll get it started tomorrow."

  Hawkman and Liesel entered. "Business twenty-seven hours a day," Hawkman said. "But that's what wins wars."

  Tregare laughed. "It had better." And then, "Just one more item. Rissa-you knew you're moving up to Second Hat? And Hain to First?"

  "I had not thought-but, very well, I accept. And do you have a new Third in mind?"

  "Not from Inconnu; we've pretty well picked over the executive talent aboard." He stared at nothing, then grinned.

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  "How about Anders Kobolak?"

  "I have noted his progress. He becomes competent-a good choice."

  "Yeah. I'll tell Stepan-no, I'll tell the boy tomorrow and let him do the announcing at home."

  "Ah, Bran," said Hawkman. "If only we could have got you away with us, to Number One! We'd own the planet by now."

  "But as it is," said Liesel, "it's a bigger prize we're going after."

  on the morning of Lisele's birthday, Rissa and Liesel sat, making preparations. "It is like two birthdays for each child," said Rissa. "On Aden's, Lisele was-you might say-crown princess to his king. Today it will be the other way."

  "Sure-with the two kids so close, you have to give both a good play." Liesel sighed. "It's been so damned long- Hawkman and I used to do it about like that with Bran Tregare and Sparline, when they were small."

  Rissa still shrank from thinking of Sparline, aging while she herself had not. She said, "Liesel-you have told of personal happenings, but nothing of how your plans for Number One were developing."

  "Haven't I? Oh, yes-I started to, the other day, but Lisele banged her head and I forgot. Well, then-no,! need a cup of coffee first." That need filled, she said, "It was moving. I hated to leave just then-but Sparline has a sound head and Ernol was coming along like a good kite in a strong wind. He could even lie by that time-so long as it was merely business."

  She sipped her coffee. "Well, let's see now-you left before Fennerabilis pushed at the wrong oligarch, finally. Crandish, it was-you may have met him, I don't recall. So control of Fennerabilis' interests was our price for protecting him. Once the shock was past, he settled down well."

  "First Bleeker, then Fennerabilis. You do gather the reins of power."

  "Not first Bleeker-remember? Sixth, or maybe seventh. But then-Crandish was overextended, too, we found. So we let him waste substance against Fennerabilis until we could grab his string."

  77

  She paused to sip again from her steaming cup. "Right after that, it got snicky. Everything we tried, we ran into stone walls. Finally-you know what it turned out?" Rissa shook her head. "Well, you see-we weren't the only ones with the same idea."

  "Of gaining control of Number One?"

  "Of gaining control to stop the peace-spattering cutthroat infighting! We'd been suspicious of Harkeen and the No Name Cooperative but we couldn't prove a damned thing- any more than they could on us. Then our strings crossed, and for a time it looked like civil war coming up, or close to it."

  Rissa said nothing. Liesel set down her cup. "Ernol presided at the meeting we called. It was time to push his status- and he had a cue box, just in case. Not that he needed it."

  "And everything you do," Rissa murmured, "is multipurpose."

  "Of course! Well-everyone jockeyed a lot, and right quick it came clear we all held more cards than showed. So right in the middle of Harkeen's ultimatum Ernol asked him-and not off the cue box, either-how many votes he controlled.

  "Harkeen had five. The No Names, after stalling a while first, admitted to four. So-it took a while, but we made a pact."

  "You have a majority-that you can trust?"

  "I think so. Harkeen and I had been at odds for years-nothing personal, just two dogs after the same bone. So when it came clear we each wanted to save Number One from tearing itself apart- "

  "Liesel! Why have you not told of this before?"

  "Too far away-here was more important. Anyway, it wasn't strung solidly when we had to leave. But working at it, we were. So if Ernol and Sparline can keep the string tight-"

  "I wonder that you dared to leave, at all."

  Liesel Hulzein laughed. "Wasn't a matter of dared-I've got confidence in my daughter and in Ernol. But I do hate to miss a good ruction."

  the party, thought Rissa, succeeded totally. Aden took his secondary role as well as Lisele had done two months earlier. The adults set their own concerns aside, for the time-and for Hulzeins, especially, Rissa mused, that takes some doing!-

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  and gave the children full stage center. The two were let to overstay their bedtimes; only when they clearly showed fatigue were they bundled off, undressed, and tucked away in bed.

  Then, and only then, Limmer said, "Tregare? Let's talk schedules." Over Felcie's protest, he continued. "I've asked before-when do you leave? I'm not all that happy about staying behind here but-"

  "I told you, Limmer-I need one of us to hold the fort here. Vanois stays, true-but he can't handle people. You can. Sure as peace I'll miss you folks, but there's no help for it."

  Scarred lips twisting, Limmer smiled. "5 didn't ask all that-just, when do you leave?"

  "He says more than you asked," said Rissa, "because we will miss you."

  "Yeah, yeah-they know that." Tregare waved her words away. "All right-I've had to stretch schedules more than once, but now I think I can set it. By Earth count, we're nine days short of eight hundred here on Stronghold. Another three hundred, minimum, plus ninety or less for leeway, we lift. That good enough?"

  Limmer frowned, then nodded. "I guess it has to be. Let's see-that puts us barely into NY88. So-now the big question."

  Tregare's brows rose. "Like what?"

  "Like how long after you leave are we stuck here? Who takes over from me, and when and how?"

  With both hands Tregare pushed those questions back. "Wait a minute, Derek." Now the hands rubbed his face. After long moments, he spoke. "Yeah-I see it. And I think you gave me the answer to something.''

  "Oh? I didn't notice, Tregare-and I'd like to hear it."

  "Let me figure, a minute-I can't do the long view in my head." On a scrap of paper he scribbled, scratched out, and wrote again. "All right, here it is-we hit Earth. Win or lose, Stronghold's no more use to us-except as a place to collect ships as long as UET sends them out. You agree?"

  A pause, then Limmer said, "Damn all, you're rightl But how-?"

  "But win or lose, you won't know, here, until NY109-and that's too long to wait."

  "You're sounding good, so far. I'm still listening."

  "All right. You stay here long enough to swallow two more

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  UET fleets and arm them-or three, if you'd rather. And pick your successor-someone Vanois can work for without too much trouble."

  "He gets along with Kobolak as well as not." "Kobolak it is, then-unless you get a better idea." Tregare looked at what he had written. "Then-leaving about as much defense here as we're leaving you, you pull string for Earth." Limmer's mouth twitched. "And when we get there?" "If you need to ask, I picked the wrong man. You tell me." "Okay-yeah, Tregare. If you've won, no problem-only one latrine in all of U!E!T!-every hour, on the hour. And if, peace forbid, the bastards get you or chase you off-" "You know what to do, don't you?" "Have a shot at it myself-but get out if it doesn't look like working. And scatter, and-those who get away without a UET tail on them-regroup at Number One." "See?" said Tregare. "You didn't need to ask."

  the days passed, and one evening Liesel Hulzein said, "Our last night. Bran-Rissa-you can't know what this month means tome."

  "I can guess," said Tregare. "You sure you wouldn't rather stay up-and warm-a while longer?"

  "If we did," Hawkman said, "we'd end up riding live, overcrowding you on Inconnu." He laughed. "Life, if you hadn't noticed, is a contagious habit."

  Tregare grinned. "I don't know-I've never been in freeze. Rissa?"

  "Merely the one time, Bran-as you know. For utility, only. The philosophical side escaped me."

  "Just as well," said Liesel. "Save the philosophy until you need it. And give me another drink, Bran Tregare. I'm of no mind to go sober into freeze-and of little mind to go at all. But I must-I must-"

  Later, good-bye kissing, Rissa said, "We will be together, on Earth. Do not doubt it."

  And Hawkman. "If there were any reasonable way to stake a wager on this outcome, I'd bet high on it."

  for several days afterward, Rissa felt depression. "And Lisele

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  does not help," she tol Tregare. "Always asking 'Where

  Liesel?'-and of course 1 cannot explain to her." He looked up at her. "You think it doesn't bother me,

  too?"

  "You have said nothing-but then, you would not." "That's as may be. But still- Rissa, would you rather

  they'd stayed in freeze? Or that the Hoover d been too late to

  come here at all? Gone straight to Earth, instead?" "No. No, I do not wish either of those things." "Then be glad of the time we did have-and look forward

  to the next." She shrugged away tension. "You are right, Bran, i will

  try."

  aedra Leng lived up to Bernardez' claims. Rissa instructed her in projector gunnery, and soon they were fierce competitors, as well as friends. And after one such session, the two of them visiting with Felcie, Aedra told her persona! history.

  Born on Earth a year before Rissa, Aedra left that planet when she was twenty-two. Her father was in civil service, in a grade safely below political levels-but from his student days he had worked with the Underground, and from childhood Aedra had known his dual role. When one day he announced that he had procured a job for Aedra with the colonial government of Terranova, she knew he was getting her off Earth for her own safety. And at Terranova she found that he had not wholly succeeded.

  "I'd enjoyed the trip-about fifteen months subjective- we couldn't afford freeze, you see. And a good thing, too, it turned out. I found a new lover-the ship's Third Hat-to console me for the one I'd left with more tears than I really felt. And he-Miklos-was the one who saved me."

  She went groundside and reported to the agency that was to employ her. She met with blank stares; no jobs, she was told, were available. Frightened as well as puzzled, she started back to the ship. But on the way, Miklos intercepted her. He told her that a faster ship from Earth had brought word that she was proscribed.

  Her money, in the ship's vault, was out of his grasp, but he had brought her cabin luggage. And in the lining of one suitcase was hidden Aedra's jewelry. "So-a fugitive, on a new

 

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