Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

“Make peace? You’re certain of that?”

“I’m certain, Harriet. I know what you’re thinking. But these are not the people who took Bobby. You’ve got to trust me on this.”

If Harriet hadn’t been thinking of Bobby before, the reminder seemed to give her even greater pause. “What are you telling me, Legroeder? Did you find out anything about—?”

“Some leads, yes. And these people from Ivan are working on it for me. I’ll explain later.”

Harriet seemed to accept that with difficulty. “All right. I’ll see what I can do.”

Legroeder turned to Friedman. “Maybe she can persuade them, if they don’t believe you.”

Friedman looked ready to believe anything, and nothing.

Apparently the authorities were persuaded, either by Friedman’s claim or by Harriet’s intervention, or both, because eventually a directive came down from the secretary general to the Spacing Authority, and both ships were granted clearance to enter orbit near the docking terminal. Phoenix settled into a parking orbit under the watchful eyes of a small squadron, while Impris , aided by a tow, was brought into an arrival dock.

There was growing excitement aboard Impris as they awaited permission to debark. They were told that arrangements were being made for lodging, medical exams, and preparation for transport to the surface. After endless delays, a decontamination tunnel was put in place. When at last the passengers and most of the crew were given permission to go “ashore,” the ship’s corridors resounded with cheers. The exodus began at once—though Fre’geel ordered his Narseil crew to remain on board until the Narseil diplomats arrived, from the Essling and from the embassy on Faber Eri.

Legroeder and Deutsch went out through the checkpoint and stood in the receiving area with a knot of officials, watching as the Impris passengers crowded off the ship. It was a lot like the debarkation at Outpost Ivan; many of the passengers looked dazed. And yet, it was different: this world was home for them, or at least their point of departure a century and a quarter ago. Legroeder suspected that for many of them, the stopover at Ivan had been more like a dream than a return to civilization as they had known it. He wondered if they’d recognize the society they were about to encounter here.

He had little time to think about it, before one of the station security agents approached. “Rigger Legroeder, you’re wanted in the station administrator’s office. Follow me, please.” The agent looked at Deutsch. “Are you here as an official representative of the Kyber?”

Deutsch hummed thoughtfully. “In the absence of Tracy-Ace/Alfa, I could be considered official, I suppose.”

“He should come along,” Legroeder said.

The agent still looked unsure, but waved them on together.

They were ushered into a room with more Faber Eridani officials than he could keep track of. Events began to blur from that point on. The most senior government officials had not yet arrived, but those who were there wanted to hear the entire story. Legroeder gave the brief version, knowing he was going to be telling it many times over. No one seemed to know quite what to do with Deutsch, and he sat silent most of the time, only occasionally answering a direct question or offering a small elaboration.

After what seemed hours, Legroeder was drawn aside and informed he had a visitor. For a moment, he fantasized that it might be Tracy-Ace, but that seemed unlikely; her ship wasn’t even in dock. Curiosity overcoming weariness, he followed the aide out to the anteroom.

“There you are!” said a grey-haired lady.

“Harriet!” he cried, and ran past the startled aide to embrace Harriet in a bear hug.

“Don’t crush me, dear!” she pleaded, laughing.

Legroeder held her at arm’s length. “How did you get here so fast?”

Harriet’s eyes twinkled as she readjusted her glasses. “I grabbed the first Narseil shuttle up. I’m still technically under their wing. What, did you think you don’t need a lawyer anymore?”

Legroeder practically danced her around the room. “How could I doubt? Harriet, what’s been happening here? Tell me everything! How are you—and how is Morgan? And did you find Maris?”

“Stop. Stop , before I get dizzy!” she laughed. “Yes, Morgan and Maris will be very happy to see you.”

“You found her!”

“About a week ago. Alive and well.”

Legroeder closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh of gratitude.

“I knew you’d be glad to hear that. But now, Legroeder—” Harriet put a hand on his arm “—before you say anything else—tell me what you found about Bobby.”

Legroeder felt his throat tighten. Harriet saw his hesitation, and her face fell at once. He put a hand on hers. “We haven’t found him yet, but we found his trail. He was taken alive from the L.A ., and later transferred from DeNoble to another outpost. When I left Ivan, they were still trying to track him down.” He squeezed her hand. “There’s hope, Harriet. Don’t give up.”

Harriet drew a deep breath. “All right. I can hold out a little longer, I guess.” She forced a smile. “My word, but it’s good to see you in one piece.” She glanced toward the door where the aide was waiting for Legroeder to return to the debriefing. “How are they treating you in there?”

Legroeder shrugged. “They haven’t hung me out to dry yet.”

“We’ll do much better for you than that, dear. Your lawyer’s with you now…”

Whether or not it mattered to anyone else that his lawyer was with him, it certainly made him feel better. By the time they broke for dinner, it was apparent that he could look forward to a lot more of the same. It would start all over again tomorrow, once the people with real power had arrived. At that point, they’d bring in Captain Friedman and the Narseil, as well. Legroeder was grateful for a chance to get away for dinner with Harriet, in the station administrator’s dining room. “I feel so out of touch with what’s been happening here,” he said, wrapping his fingers around a glistening stein of beer.

Harriet laughed. “ You feel out of touch! Which one of us went flying off to be captured by space pirates, was gone for ten weeks without a word, and then came back standing at the wheel of the legendary Flying Dutchman of the stars?” She peered over the tops of her glasses. “I was afraid I’d never see you again. And I never dreamed you’d fly the bloody ship back to us! ”

“Well, I was a little surprised myself,” Legroeder admitted. He glanced out through the doorway of the dining room. “Freem’n! Come on in here! Harriet, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” The cyborg floated in through the doorway and greeted Harriet with an amplified rumble and an outstretched metal hand. “I don’t think you were ever properly introduced back there.”

“No,” said Harriet, rising. “I know you were together on the rescue mission—”

“A major understatement. Freem’n’s—” Legroeder hesitated. “Well, besides being a friend, he’s an outstanding rigger. And a goodwill representative…” The rest of the words caught in his throat. Of Ivan. Of the Kyber pirates .

Harriet stiffened, as she shook Deutsch’s hand. It didn’t take a mind-reader to guess what she was thinking.

Legroeder hastened to add, “He started out as a captive, impressed into service just like me, Harriet. And I couldn’t have done any of this without him.”

Harriet relaxed a little. “So,” she murmured to Deutsch, “what is your role here at Faber Eridani?”