FM Busby Long View 3 Zelde M'Tana

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g%20View%2003%20-%20Zelde%20M'Tana%20v1.0.txt said, "How's the taping going,
for Dopples?"
"All right." Eating as she talked, Defose said, "That's not what I'm here
for." She looked around; no one was within listening distance. "You recall I
asked about subversion on this ship?"
"You think back, you'll see I didn't lie to you."
The lean, Indian features creased in a smile. "I know. In
\r 201
\rmaking my decision to try to get on the \iKhan,\i I analyzed that interview.
Using the truth to misdirect-
it's a useful talent." Done eating, she wiped her fingers. "Now, though-do you
know that you have a subversion problem yourself?"
"Carlo, you mean? How'd \iyou\i 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 \ihim?"\i 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. \i"Listen\i
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 \iwhat?"\i
202
"To be the figurehead, for whoever's organizing this putsch."
It made sense. After a moment, Zelde said, "Yeah. It didn't \ifeel\i
right-Carlo, all on his own, coming after my hide." And the thing \iwas\i 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 \ido?"\i
"Now, that's the right question. All right-I doubt that you like the idea of a
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security network. But that's
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Busby,%20F.%20M%20-%20L...0Long%20View%2003%20-%20Ze
lde%20M'Tana%20v1.0.txt (124 of 196)15-7-2004 1:30:15
file:///G|/eMule/Incoming/Busby,%20F.%20M%20-%20Long%20View%....%20M%20-%20Lon
g%20View%2003%20-%20Zelde%20M'Tana%20v1.0.txt 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 \ichoice?\i "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 \iread\i people. . . . But all she said was, "On
this ship, Turk's my oldest friend-oldest still alive, anyway." \iPoor
Tillya!\i "So anybody sees her and me together, it's no new thing. Scan it?"
\r 203
\rSlowly, 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. Hell 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? \iDamn! I wish I
knew this stuff better.\i 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
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