John Maddox Roberts - Spacer: Window of Mind by John Maddox Roberts Page B
Authors: John Maddox Roberts
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already," said Torwald. "Well it's not surprising, with one tiny merchant crew in the middle of a big navy and line expedition."
"If that man's on drugs," Michelle said, "it means the med officer in charge of his section is taking bribes."
"That information is worth something," Torwald said.
"Navy standards must've fallen off since we were in," said Michelle. "Kiril, how did you know what that man was taking?"
"Anybody could see he was on Hyper," she said. "It's in the eyes."
"I couldn't see it," Michelle said, "and I'm a doctor."
They were interrupted by an officious junior diplomat who was bustling about, trying to introduce everybody to everybody else. "And you people are from the Space Angel, aren't you?" he said. "Have you met the head of the civilian mission?" He stepped aside to bring forward a very tall man who was accompanied by a shorter companion. "May I present Director Ramon Izquierda, of the Satsuma Line, and his nephew, Tomas 1 luerta."
Kiril held her breath, awaiting her friends' reaction. To her relief, they stayed formally correct, giving dignified nods and hows, accompanied by polite muttered nothings. She noticed that no handshakes were offered. Izquierda topped the tall Torwald and Finn by the better part of a foot. He was rail thin and his face was angular and aquiline, with a high forehead lopped by a great mane of wavy gray hair. A generous mustache softened the harsh thinness of his mouth.
Huerta was a foot shorter, and a younger version of his uncle. Except for lacking the commanding height, he had to be a near double for the older man thirty years ago. It seemed the facial genes ran strong in the family. Kiril noticed that his eyes lit upon her with more than passing interest.
"So, you were among the personnel on the famous Space Angel expedition of a while back? Doubtless we would have met earlier, but I was away on an expedition when you returned." Izquierda's tones were suave and polished. "I just met your alien friend, a most remarkable creature. What a pity, though, that he must be a poet. A scientist would have been of far greater use to humanity."
"I think Homer knows far more of scientific matters than he lets on," said Torwald. "Possibly it's for the benefit of humanity that he keeps quiet about it."
Kiril felt it was safe to relax now, since the conversation was being confined to small talk. She was a bit disappointed in Izquierda. He was a formidable person, but she had been expecting something with horns and tail, from the way her shipmates had spoken about him. Then she heard the skipper's voice from behind her.
"Hello, Ramon. It's been a while." Izquierda's gaze passed over Kiril's head, and her spine went rigid. Her assessment of him underwent a radical reevaluation. Compared to this man, Pao Lin was a saint. Unconsciously she squeezed Lafayette's arm tightly, and he looked at her in amazement.
"Indeed it has been, Gertrude," said Izquierda, his tone still even and mellifluous. He nodded towards Ham. "I see that
Hamilton is still with you. Who would have thought that peacetime would bring us together again on an expedition?"
"Good question," said the skipper. "You've come up in the world since I saw you last."
"Rather the opposite seems true of you. Although I am sure that the independent merchant service has its attractions." '
"At least I can be among friends," said the skipper. "That's something you can't enjoy on a board of directors."
"Alas, how true. However, power brings its own comforts."
The man from the diplomatic section was growing more alarmed by the second, but the conversation was interrupted by the approach of K'Stin. "Lord!" muttered Huerta under his breath. "What a hideous creature!" Kiril winced. The man wouldn't have dared such a remark had he realized the unbelievable sensitivity of a Viver's hearing. K'Stin, however, showed no sign that he had heard.
"Greetings, squishy ones," he began. "You see before you K'Stin, Free Guardian of the glorious
"If that man's on drugs," Michelle said, "it means the med officer in charge of his section is taking bribes."
"That information is worth something," Torwald said.
"Navy standards must've fallen off since we were in," said Michelle. "Kiril, how did you know what that man was taking?"
"Anybody could see he was on Hyper," she said. "It's in the eyes."
"I couldn't see it," Michelle said, "and I'm a doctor."
They were interrupted by an officious junior diplomat who was bustling about, trying to introduce everybody to everybody else. "And you people are from the Space Angel, aren't you?" he said. "Have you met the head of the civilian mission?" He stepped aside to bring forward a very tall man who was accompanied by a shorter companion. "May I present Director Ramon Izquierda, of the Satsuma Line, and his nephew, Tomas 1 luerta."
Kiril held her breath, awaiting her friends' reaction. To her relief, they stayed formally correct, giving dignified nods and hows, accompanied by polite muttered nothings. She noticed that no handshakes were offered. Izquierda topped the tall Torwald and Finn by the better part of a foot. He was rail thin and his face was angular and aquiline, with a high forehead lopped by a great mane of wavy gray hair. A generous mustache softened the harsh thinness of his mouth.
Huerta was a foot shorter, and a younger version of his uncle. Except for lacking the commanding height, he had to be a near double for the older man thirty years ago. It seemed the facial genes ran strong in the family. Kiril noticed that his eyes lit upon her with more than passing interest.
"So, you were among the personnel on the famous Space Angel expedition of a while back? Doubtless we would have met earlier, but I was away on an expedition when you returned." Izquierda's tones were suave and polished. "I just met your alien friend, a most remarkable creature. What a pity, though, that he must be a poet. A scientist would have been of far greater use to humanity."
"I think Homer knows far more of scientific matters than he lets on," said Torwald. "Possibly it's for the benefit of humanity that he keeps quiet about it."
Kiril felt it was safe to relax now, since the conversation was being confined to small talk. She was a bit disappointed in Izquierda. He was a formidable person, but she had been expecting something with horns and tail, from the way her shipmates had spoken about him. Then she heard the skipper's voice from behind her.
"Hello, Ramon. It's been a while." Izquierda's gaze passed over Kiril's head, and her spine went rigid. Her assessment of him underwent a radical reevaluation. Compared to this man, Pao Lin was a saint. Unconsciously she squeezed Lafayette's arm tightly, and he looked at her in amazement.
"Indeed it has been, Gertrude," said Izquierda, his tone still even and mellifluous. He nodded towards Ham. "I see that
Hamilton is still with you. Who would have thought that peacetime would bring us together again on an expedition?"
"Good question," said the skipper. "You've come up in the world since I saw you last."
"Rather the opposite seems true of you. Although I am sure that the independent merchant service has its attractions." '
"At least I can be among friends," said the skipper. "That's something you can't enjoy on a board of directors."
"Alas, how true. However, power brings its own comforts."
The man from the diplomatic section was growing more alarmed by the second, but the conversation was interrupted by the approach of K'Stin. "Lord!" muttered Huerta under his breath. "What a hideous creature!" Kiril winced. The man wouldn't have dared such a remark had he realized the unbelievable sensitivity of a Viver's hearing. K'Stin, however, showed no sign that he had heard.
"Greetings, squishy ones," he began. "You see before you K'Stin, Free Guardian of the glorious
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