第30节

good. This planet can only

take so much. If you're ever allowed to access the records, you'll

find out just how bad it was. It's taken us over nine hundred years to

haul ourselves out of the pit just to get back - in technological terms

- to where we started. Nobody in their right minds would ever want to

go through that again.

'understand this, Brickman. The Family is not against the concept of

freedom. As you know for yourself, Trackers are free to do all kinds

of things- within certain limits. What the Family has done, and will

continue to do, is decide where the edges are. One day perhaps, you'll

be making those kinds of decisions. And when you get that high, you'll

realise that we, the people that run things, do so out of a sense of

duty - not because we're a bunch of power-hungry maniacs ' 'Sir, I!"

Karlstrom silenced Steve with a raised hand. 'Brick-man!

Fer crissakes! I wasn't born yesterday! I once felt the same way!

How do you think you've got this far?

Why d'you think we've chosen to work with you? It's because we know

you better than you know yourself!

We know what buttons to push! That's why Commander Jefferson had your

marks downgraded in the final exams at the Flight Academy. Yes! After

docking points for the couple of odd foul-ups you came the closest

anyone has ever come to achieving the perfect score! So we arranged

for you to come fourth. Are you going to tell me that didn't light a

fire under your tail?"

."No, sir. It did."

'Damn right, it did."

'How did Fran - I mean, Commander Jefferson- come to be involved in

that particular decision?"

'She hasn't told you? Maybe it's time you knew. She's been running

you and Roz for the last five years."

'Running...?"

'She's been your controller. You two were put on a Special Treatment

List at birth. There's a whole department of AMEX whose job it is to

follow you people through every stage of your development. When

Commander Jefferson went to work in that department she was given your

file."

'I didn't realise I was that important .... ' 'Oh, you are Brickman,

you are. She's made it her business to know everything about you. And

now you're pushing her button. Kind of ironic, don't you think?"

Karlstrom checked the steam pressure gauge and opened the door to the

fire-box. 'Okay, fire her up."

Steve tossed in several more billets- logs that had been sawn into

thirty-inch lengths then quartered with an axe.

His technique was improving with each load, and the scorching heat that

met his first attempts was now much less of a problem.

'Not bad,' shouted Kafistrom. 'You learn fast. That's what I like

about you. You could have a real future with us, y'know that? And not

just because of your present relationship with Commander Jefferson.

That's not going to last, but I guess you've already figured that

out.

I'm talking about AMEXICO. That's the best route to the top for a

young man in a hurry." He paused to eye Steve.

'That's where you want to end up, isn't it?"

It was like being stripped naked. 'Sir, I, uhh - why I just never

thought about it! I mean, y'know - that far ahead - ' Karlstrom

laughed. 'Not much! Only every other second! Jeer! Don't you ever

come clean?! I respect ambition! How the hell d'you think I got to be

head of AMEXICO? I'm not bullshitting you, Brickman. Play your cards

right and one day you could be the man to take over my spot when it's

time for me to move on. And where would that put you?"

'One step away from the Oval Office..."

Karlstrom smiled and spread his hands. 'It could all be yours,

Brickman. All you have to do is become a team-player."

'I thought I was, sir."

'I'm talking about getting your head totally together, Brickman. That

means ditching any lingering thoughts about playing both ends against

the middle - like keeping a door open to the Plainfolk in case things

get too hot here. And don't insult my intelligence by trying to deny

it. I understand.