第10节

before. There were some people who took an instant dislike to him and

no amount of sweet talk could bring them round. They just did not

respond to treatment. The important thing was not to get mad.

'Yes,' he replied. 'With Roz's help I think I can."

Wallis made another attempt to lower the temperature.

'Roz - what shape will ALPHA-BRAVO be in six weeks from now?"

'Clearwater? She'll still be flat on her back. All we've done so far

is stabilize her condition. She needs several more ops and at least

four months convalescence before she's on her feet - assuming there are

no complications."

'Okay,' said Wallis. 'Let's move on. Steve, why don't you beging by

telling us what happened from the time you took off from Long Point."

Steve recoiled. 'Wow... you mean everything?"

'Yes."

'How long have we got?"

'As long as it takes."

'Okay, uhh, before I start - do you happen to know if Kelso and Jodi

got home in one piece?"

'Jodi did,' said Wallis. 'Someone found the explosive charge strapped

to her chest and managed to pull the detonator out a split-second

before it was triggered. It was the other that did the damage."

Steve nodded soberly. 'The transmitter was hidden under Kelso along

with the Pr."

'How did you know?" asked Nevill. 'D'you put it there?"

'No. It was a couple of days before I discovered the explosives were

missing. That was when Cadillac told me what they'd done. And later,

we heard a wagon-train had been blown apart."

'Yeah,' said Nevill. 'The Lady from Louisiana. Your ex-crew-mates.

Nice gesture, Brickman."

Angered by this jibe, Steve's self-control snapped.

'You wanna know something? I'm getting pretty sick of your smart-assed

remarks and your fucking innuendoes!

If you've got some beef you wanna get off your chest, come right out

with it!" Nevill's jaw dropped.

'Whoa! Hold it!" said Wallis. 'I think we're getting a little ahead

of ourselves. I'm sure Jake didn't intend to accuse ' 'Yeah? Well, he

can take his accusations and shove them right up his ass! I was the

one who was out there risking my neck for the Federation. What the

fuck does he know about anything? Desk-bound pratt!" Nevill bounced

back, eyes blazing. 'You can spare us the war-torn hero routine. Not

one of these guys around this table has less than five overground

assignments on his slate. That's why we're here. And as for what I

know about anything, Brickman, let me tell you this.

I know I'm a major and you're a jumped-up ensign whose lieutenant's

tabs are still hanging out to dry."

The mexican tapped his chest. 'I earned my promotion in the field, not

filling gravy-boats on the fucking mess deck. So I'll say what I like,

when I like. And when you next address me, lieutenant, you'll do so

with the respect you have been trained to show a senior officer!"

'Yes, sir, ma]or..."

'And no dumb insolence either! I saw that look!" Wallis made a

placatory gesture. 'Okay, that's enough.

If we're pulling rank, I'm the senior officer here. And I'd like to

remind you all that this organization, unlike many regular army units,

places a premium on intelligence and a spirit of enquiry. A readiness

to challenge assumptions instead of the usual knee-jerk responses

required from junior ranks. It is mental discipline we look for, not

the kind instilled on the parade-ground and our executive body has,

traditionally, always encouraged the free and frank exchange of views '

'Fuck tradition!" Nevill stabbed a finger at Steve. 'He may be billed

as a star turn but he's still a fucking wetback and no wet-back is

going to shit-talk me I' Wallis coughed. 'Okay, Jake, you've made your

point."

He made eye contact with Steve. 'Would you like to proceed?"

Steve gave them the full story. With questions and answers, it took

over four hours, split into two sessions with a meal break in

between.

Steve took a rain check on the food, preferring to spend the allotted

time in the intensive care ward with Clearwater. It was no great

hardship. The trays sent