Free Seed of Stars by Dan Morgan, John Kippax Page A

the biggest, newest ship in Earth's space force taking root under me?"
    All boredom was gone from the proceedings now.
    The Corps officers were well acquainted with Bruce in this mood, and secure in the knowledge that, for once, his planet-busting rage was not directed against one of their number, they watched with eager interest and a touch of pride. Seated to Magnus's right, his assistant Ichiwara stared through pebble-thick glasses, his mouth hanging open with shock in the face of such open lese majesty. Next to him, an Explorations Division secretary waited, hands poised over keyboard of her steno-typer, trembling visibly.
    At the focus of all attention, Magnus remained unperturbed, his voice still cool and scholarly as he replied: "My dear commander, I thought I had already made it clear that I do not intend to skimp my work or my obligations in this matter. Six months, nine, or even a year, if necessary, are not too great a price to pay in oider to ensure the secure future of this planet Earth must live by her colonies, must accept her responsibilities towards them against the day when she may need their allegiance. If you have any doubts on this score, I suggest that you examine the memories of your own experience on Minos IV and think again. Do I make myself clear?"
    All eyes turned towards Bruce, anticipating a further explosion, but the commander disappointed his audience. Lean features set hard, jaw thrust forward, he stood in silence for a long moment, then without another word, he did a smart about-turn and walked out of the room.
    Magnus watched him go, with no change in his bland expression. Taking full advantage of the shocked silence, he surveyed the remaining occupants of the room in a leisurely manner, then said: "Now ladies and gentlemen, to continue...."
    Maseba took a deep breath and settled back to his seat, his dark eyes watching Magnus with a new hint of respect One game to Magnus—but Bruce was not the
    man to accept defeat gracefully; there would be a return bout.

    Two hours later, the briefing session ended, Maseba hurried back through the corridors of sixth level towards medic section, his mind already full of plans for the execution of his own particular assignments during the Kepler III operation.
    Even thus preoccupied, he still took time out to greet the crew members he met on the way.
    "Olo, how about that burn? No pain?"
    "Kekkunen, girl, I haven't forgotten you want that crooked toe straightened."
    He came across a P.O. leaning against a bulkhead and massaging his left leg. "Dockridge, one of these days I'll have that leg off and start over again."
    "Blimey, sir," Dockridge said. "I wish you wouldn't. It's nothing, really...."
    As Dockridge talked, Maseba's eyes roved ahead down the corridor, and he saw a crewwoman moving in the opposite direction from the way he himself was going.
    There was something about her walk . . . something careful ... something.... Lithe as a cat, he took off in her direction, caught up with her and tapped her on the shoulder.
    "Go tell your officer I want to see you in sick bay right away."
    "But, sir..."
    "But nothing—do as I say, girl. And tell your officer to call me, if it's not convenient" He swung on his heel and hurried away.
    Helen Lindstrom had been known to swear that George Maseba, at his gentlest, had a bedside manner fit to charm the very stars out of the sky. He was exerting that charm to the full now as he took the hand of the little Japanese girl who lay in Psyche Room Four. Just above the girl's head a soothing pattern of colored lights, designed to interest and caress the mind of the watcher, changed and flowed. It seemed to Maseba that the girl saw, but that the patterns had no effect. She stared blankly, her eyes wet with tears.
    "Mia, you don't want to take this to heart too much, and don't think I'm a villain."
    She did not answer. Tears went on welling silently from her almond eyes like pearls of sorrow.
    "Mia, you know and I know that