第14节

felt the colour rise to his cheeks. Damn.... 'It's not what you

think. It's a relationship that was forced on me." Steve found the

vengeful barb he'd been looking for. 'Like you and the

Consul-General."

If the shot went home it didn't show, and he felt demeaned for having

said it.

'I see. Does that mean I can take my revenge - as you did?"

'Watching him die made me feel better, but I didn't kill him because of

what happened between you. I was following orders."

.Clearwater took hold of his hands again. 'You don't have to justify

yourself."

'I'm not trying to. I want you to understand. What happened then is

exactly what's happening now. You weren't the victim, he was. You

manipulated him. And that's what I'm trying to do now."

'With this woman..." ?'Yes! Fran is our ticket to ride. She has the

contacts we need and she can make things happen - just like your friend

the Consul-General and the guy I took advantage of, the Herald

HaseGawa."

Clearwater nodded. 'When the time comes, let me know if she needs

persuading."

'I will. Trust me."

'Always." She pulled him towards her and offered up her mouth to

his.

Why, Steve asked himself, should one simple word like that make me feel

so lousy? 'Listen ' The door opened and two servicemen came in. Each

of them was toting a four-inch thick suitcase full of tools and test

equipment, and they'd been running. Many more breakdowns like this,

thought Steve, and there'll be guys camping out in the sitting room.

"Fraid we're gonna have to ask you to cut short your visit, Captain.

We seem to have a problem with the air-conditioning."

'Sure, these things happen." Steve exchanged an amused glance with

Clearwater which they didn't see.

'Thought it was getting a little stuffy in here."

Three of the nursing staff came in, took hold of Clearwater's bed and

bedside cabinet and began to manoeuvre them out through the door.

'We're just going to move you to another room for an hour or so,'

explained the senior orderly.

Steve accompanied the procession down the corridor.

'You're free to stay if you wish, sir."

'That's okay,' said Steve. He gripped Clearwater's hand and felt her

fingers tighten round his. 'I think we've said all there is to say for

the moment." When they reached the chosen door he gave her a comradely

pat on the shoulder and stepped aside as they wheeled her in. 'I'll

stop by when I come off duty tomorrow."

'Please do,' she said. As they wheeled her in she looked back over her

shoulder, a knowing, conspiratorial gleam in her eyes.

Steve nodded to show he'd received the message.

Karlstrom returned the salute of the two ensigns guarding the

turnstile, stepped into the gleaming metal cylinder and was rotated

through onto the blue carpet of the Oval Office. The President-General

stood in his usual opening position, gazing out at the

computer-generated landscape beyond the tall, curved windows.

Today's picture was his favourite view of Pre-Holocaust New England in

the fall, leaf-strewn grass overhung by yellow, gold and russet trees

which framed a white wooden building surmounted by a tall spire with a

cross on top. A church. A place where people gathered to worship.

Religion. The Family had retained the concept but dispensed with the

buildings. Twice a day, the soldier-citizens of the Federation

gathered in various-sized groups at their posts or work-places to offer

up prayers to the Supreme Being which, in their case, was not God but

the President-General.

Whenever Karlstrom entered the Oval Office for a one-on-one meeting,

Jefferson always had his back turned. As a past-master himself in the

art of manipulating people, Karlstrom believed it was a deliberate ploy

by the PG, part of a continuing programme to create and maintain the

aura of unchallengeable superiority. By ignoring the person entering,

he was saying: This view from my window which holds my attention is

more important than you and the business you have come to discuss and,