Long View - Zelde M'Tana Part 25

"Carlo, you mean? How'd you find out?"

"Police work gives one an ear for such things. Of course, very few here know I was ever Police-and on Mr. Adopo-lous' orders, the fact's been kept quiet. So as a mere recruit, I get talked to-and I listen."

She leaned forward. "Zelde, you're very close to having a mutiny on your hands."

Shaking her head, Zelde sat back. "Me? Third Hat, Acting Second? Parnell, you mean-and do these lice think they'll mutiny on him?" One hand clenched; the other rubbed it. "They try that, there'll be some go out the airlock!"

Pushing her tray aside, Torra reached one hand to Zelde's two. "Listen first. The stories differ, but basically the cabal discounts the captain-because you and Doctor Fesler, being secret lovers, are planning to kill him." And before Zelde could explode her wrath: "Control yourself! Maybe we should speak more privately."

Zelde caught her breath, and nodded. "All right. You have to know the worst, don't you? Needless to say, I don't believe any of it."

"You-you better hadn't. Look-at Escape, not even knowing Parnell yet, I saved his life. He says I own it-but I don't." She felt her mouth twist. "Wish I did, though- wish I could-so's I could keep it safe for him!" Her knuckles wiped tears away. "Tell me the rest, then. Like, how long's this been going on? And how come I'm only now finding it out?"

"Not long, I think. And you couldn't know until something happened. Now then- they're counting Mr. Adopo-lous out, too, while he's disabled. And you and Fesler get credit for that also." Unbelieving, Zelde shook her head.

"Oh, that's the story, all right. And the mutiny's against you, personally, because you're the one who stands in its way. Officer Tzane's totally loyal, I'm sure, but she's no fighter-and you are. And because you're so solidly tied to Parnell, you're the target. So that leaves Carlo Mauragin."

"For what? I don't see it. For what?"

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"To be the figurehead, for whoever's organizing this putsch."

It made sense. After a moment, Zelde said, "Yeah. It didn't feel right-Carlo, all on his own, coming after my hide." And the thing was new; Zelde hadn't been as blind as she'd begun to think she was. Everyone Torra Defose listened to, told it the same- something that didn't start until after liftoff.

Zelde leaned forward. "How soon do they move? You know?"

The dark, serious-faced woman shook her head. "And neither do they, I think.

Not the best-organized conspirators I ever heard of. A small group, I suspect, and working-as they must-with total amateurs." Her laugh was a quick bark. "Carlo Mauragin, for the love of peace!"

"Carlo, yeah-but what do I do?"

"Now, that's the right question. All right-I doubt that you like the idea of a security network. But that's what you need-and it's what I know how to do. Will you trust me to do it?"

Second thoughts-truth drugs or no, it was only after Defose came aboard that this thing started. But what choice? "Go ahead and start. I'll talk it over with Parnell."

"Of course. Can you recommend anyone to work with me, or shall I recruit my own people?"

That one was easy. "You know Turk Kestler?" A nod. "Good-you get with Turk, let her recruit for you. Anybody knows this ship, she does." Another thought. "And she'd better do go-between for us until this is settled."

Terra's brows raised. "You don't like my company?"

Impatient, Zelde shook her head. "Not that. But, Dop-ples or no Dopples, some of the wrong people will know who you are. So we shouldn't get together too often.

One thing-if I'm a target, hanging around me could make you one, too."

She thought, but didn't say, that that idea worked both ways. Besides, still not able to be all sure of Defose, Zelde would feel better if her reports came through Turk.

Because if there was anyone who could read people. . . . But all she said was, "On this ship, Turk's my oldest friend-oldest still alive, anyway." Poor Tillya! "So any- body sees her and me together, it's no new thing. Scan it?"

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Slowly, Defose nodded. "Yes. We'll do it that way."

Zelde checked the time, and stood. "Peace up a pipe, I'm overdue on watch-and that's not something I need on the log just now. Look-soon as I can, I'll tell Turk you'll be in touch, and why." She paused. "And thanks. I appreciate the help."

"My pleasure." That was all, so Zelde went upship to Control, fast as she could without losing her wind.

Four minutes late. h.e.l.l with it; she logged it straight.

Nothing else new on the log except a routine drive room report. But she should have been here to punch it in herself. Oh, well. . . .

She switched her intercom to Turk's quarters. Then, to the side, she saw Charvel look at her and move a switch himself. Hold it!-if she used the hush set, he couldn't hear her, but could he record what she said? d.a.m.n! I wish I knew this stuff better.

So for now, she switched off- contact with Turk would have to wait.

Idle now, her mind on other things, she was surprised when the watch ended.

Lera Tzane relieved her; Zelde talked only of routine items, and left as soon as she could.

Turk would be sleeping now; Zelde realized she could do with some of the same.

In quarters she found Parnell dozing, not quietly-covers thrown back, and sweating.

She pulled one cover up, so he wouldn't take chill. Then, too tired to bother with washing up, she crawled in beside him.

In the morning, feeling better, she showered and dressed. Parnell began to stir; she called the galley and ordered breakfast brought. For a moment, no answer: then a voice said, "Just a minute." Zelde waited.

Switches clicked; Fesler's voice said, "Is that you, Zelde? In case I do operate today, the captain can't have any food; I left orders to that effect. Unless we postpone."

Behind Zelde, Parnell said, "Yes, that's standard. All right-Fesler, when do you want me?" Fesler set it at mid-morning; Parnell replied, "Then an hour before that time, I want a brief meeting of all Control officers-including the watch officer; this won't take long. And Harger, to represent the drive room. Dopples shouldn't be moved, so we'll meet there. Set it up, would you please, Fesler?" The medic agreed; Zelde cut the circuit.

204.

"That's not his job, Parnell: you should of had me do it."

He didn't answer; looking, she couldn't tell what kind of shape he was in. Tense, maybe-the surgery and all- couldn't blame him for that. She went to him; his hug was gentle so she kept hers that way, too. "Ragir-you all right? As good as can be for now, I mean?"

"Ready enough to have Fesler plumb my unhallowed depths and see what he can fix." His grin was almost right. "Well-since I can't eat, I may as well bathe." He turned away, then looked back. "My stomach doesn't believe Fesler. So would you spare me the sight of food, Zelde, and eat in the galley?"

"Sure." Until the bathroom door closed, she watched Ms bare, scarred back.

Then she went upship, to eat.

She found Turk and Rooster, and sat with them. As she ate. she told of the arrangement with Torra Defose. "She's level, I think. If she is, she's worth a lot to us. If she isn't- I expect you'd spot that, Turk."

Kestler frowned, then nodded. "I think so. And none of my other people are to know she's ex-Police, is that right?"

"Best not. It'll leak out, though, I expect."

"All right. All we can do, Zelde, is play it loose." Turk paused to sip coffee. "Now then-guess what Rooster's up to, this morning?" Zelde shook her head. "Mounting our new insigne, that's what! He's done suit drill with the airlock open, and it's all set." Rooster's grin was as wide as Zelde had ever seen it.

"Hey, that's fine. Does Parnell know? I'll tell him. But-" But when Rooster was outside, she thought, Parnell would be lying, unconscious, with his guts cut open.

Turk leaned forward. "Something the matter?"

"It's just-" She explained. "Seems so strange, is all."

"You tell him, anyway," said Rooster. "Give him a little something extra to wake up for."

They were trying to cheer her up, she knew-and after a few minutes she did feel better. And Parnell, when she told him, seemed cheered, also.

Dopples' room held only two chairs-by seniority, Parnell and Harger had them.

Zelde, Carlo Mauragin, Lera Tzane when she hurried down from watch-they stood.

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did Fesler, and one look from him stopped Mauragin when the young man went to sit on the edge of the bed.

Parnell cleared his throat. "All right-we're here, and the business is brief. Fesler, switch the intercom to record into ship's log." This done, Parnell said, "Control officers and Drive representative, the ship Chanticleer, in meeting. Ragir Parnell commanding and presiding. I have one item." He cleared his throat. "The shared ownership of this vessel is a matter of record." He paused, and Zelde thought, What was he up to?

Dopples said, "True, skipper. What's there to discuss?"

Parnell looked at him. "This much, Dopps. I'm going into surgery; I hope and expect to come out of it in good shape. But there are always risks-and I believe in providing for them."

He looked up at Zelde, then back to Dopples. "You're here to witness my last will and testament. When I die- today or years from now-all I own, which is mostly shares in Chanticleer, goes to Zelde M'tana."

She saw the shock hit -Dopples' look of resistance, Har-ger's puzzlement, Lera Tzane's accepting nod, and from Carlo Mauragin, sheer hate! And 1 ain't told Parnell about that one, yet.

She gripped Parnell's shoulder-he flinched, and briefly she thought she'd grabbed the bad one. No-just startled, probably. "Ragir, you don't need to do this. I-"

"Hush, Zelde." So quietly he said it, she barely heard him. But with her, the whole group went silent. Now Parnell's voice raised. "At Escape, Zelde saved my life; since then, it's been hers." He looked up. "Like it or not, Zelde, that's true."

Now he turned back to the others. "And with it goes t.i.tle to my possessions. You're all here to witness, and that's official."

He made to stand, but Dopples said, "A question or two, to be sure things are straight?" Parnell sat again. "Well, then-this isn't the way we handled the late Captain Czer-ner's holdings, is it? Or Terihew's, come to that. What's so different now?"

The captain shook his head. "Until we'd met, after Escape, and applied the Agowa formula, there were no such things as shares; you know that. UET owned the ship. Dopps-what's your real objection?"

The wrong time, this is. But for sure, there was no stop- 206.

ping him. Now Dopples said, "All right-here it is. Shares were a.s.signed by rank, as shares of command, too. What I want to know is, are you saying it's the other way, too- that command goes with your shares?"

Two sick men throwing more force of will at each other than the rest, all together- including, Zelde realized, herself. No time for thinking-just say something. "My turn," and they listened. "Ragir-Captain, 1 mean-you're not for dying. Don't even think that." She heard a snort- Mauragin-and swung to face him; he shrank back.

Later I ' l l get to you! And now, to Dopples: "Mr. Adopolous-"

He interrupted. "Parnell, are you seriously proposing that command go to this girl? Oh, she's become a good officer-but she never saw the inside of a ship, before this one."

"As I recall," Parnell said, "you're the one who suggested her for Third Hat. But I don't think Zelde was done talking."

"For certain, I'm not. Mr. A.-you're next in line and earned it. Shares or no shares, if you was in shape for the job-"

Again Dopples cut in. "I'll accept that-but even so, you're not next senior."

"No!" It was Lera Tzane. "Don't try to put command on me. Even temporarily- unless there's no one else, I don't want it."

"You don't," said Carlo Mauragin, "but M'tana sure does."

Now Tzane's face reddened. "But not you, I suppose! You and your little galley- politician games-and not even handling your Acting Third Hat properly. Zelde and I, covering for you-but not any longer! I promise you that."

It was all going to h.e.l.l. Zelde said, "If Parnell wanted a hearing to chew the small stuff, he'd of called one." Seeing Lera's stricken look, she gave her a wink.

"This is no kind of scene for a man going in surgery; let's stop it. Ragir- you say what you want and I'll stand by it." And please don't stir this s.h.i.t up any worse than it is.

Breathing a little faster, Parnell showed no other sign of strain. His voice came mild. "I don't see the problem-why there should be one. We chose our course and destination in the approved fashion. Until Chanticleer reaches that destination, our agreed plans hold and it hardly matters who 207.

nominally commands. As to the ship's good, I mean." He looked around the group.

"I a.s.sume that's what concerns us all-and I hope so. Now, if there is a change of command. Mr. Adopolous, you will succeed me if physically able. If not, then with Officer Tzane opting out of the succession, Officer M'tana will act in your stead."

Parnell shrugged. "Fair Ball's not too many weeks away. And there, groundside, you can poll the ship by Agowa formula, if need be, to determine your future course. As I fully intend to do, peace willing, myself."

He stood; his gesture brushed away any try at argument. "This meeting's at an end."

Carlo Mauragin muttered something. Parnell turned. "Yes?"

At the door, Mauragin said, "Just agreeing with you, sir."

"Do so aloud, please."

Carlo's face reddened; then he braced, chest out and shoulders square. "That you don't understand the problem."

Quickly, to Parnell alone, Zelde said, "Forget it. I'll settle this-and be back before you notice."

She ran to the door. Mauragin had scuttled out; at the first cross-corridor she caught him and grabbed his arm. To one side stood a storage cubby, empty. "In here, Carlo-don't let's make a show." Sullen-faced, he followed her.

"What do you want now?'

"For the cracks at me, nothing-yet. But twice in there, it was Parnell you speared at. Do that again, and I'll have your guts on the deck. Hear me?"

He looked puzzled. "You think you're ready to call me out?"

"Not hardly. Just to do it-like I said. Saves time."

"Why-that's not regulation-the code doesn't provide-" He shook his head. "Ship's court would crucify you. . . ."