Speaker 1: Operation Haystack by Frank Herbert. It's hard to ferret out
Speaker 1: a gang of fanatics. It would obviously be even harder
Speaker 1: to spot a genetic line of dedicated men. But the
Speaker 1: problem Orne had was one step tougher than that. When
Speaker 1: the Investigation and Adjustment Scout cruiser landed on Marek, it
Speaker 1: carried a man the doctors had no hope of saving.
Speaker 1: He was alive only because he was in a womblike
Speaker 1: cresh pod that had taken over most of his vital functions.
Speaker 1: The man's name was Lewis Orne. He had been a blocky,
Speaker 1: heavy muscled redhead with slightly off center features and the
Speaker 1: hard flesh of a heavy planet native. Even in the
Speaker 1: placid repose of near death, there was something clownish in
Speaker 1: his appearance. His burnt, ungan covered face looked made up
Speaker 1: for some bizarre show. Marek is the League capital, and
Speaker 1: the I a medical center there is probably the best
Speaker 1: in the galaxy, but it accepted the cresh podud an
Speaker 1: Orn more as a curiosity than anything else. The man
Speaker 1: had lost one eye, three fingers of his left hand,
Speaker 1: and part of his hair, suffered a broken jaw, and
Speaker 1: various internal injuries. He had been in terminal shock for
Speaker 1: more than ninety hours. Umbo Stetson, Orne's section chief went
Speaker 1: back into his cruiser's office after a hospital flitter took
Speaker 1: pod and patient. There was an added droop to Stetson's
Speaker 1: shoulders that accentuated his usual slouching stance. His over large
Speaker 1: features were drawn into ridges of sorrow. A general straggling,
Speaker 1: trampish look about him was not helped by patched blue fatigues.
Speaker 1: The doctor's words still rang in Stetson's ears. This patient's
Speaker 1: vital tone is too low to permit operative replacement of
Speaker 1: damaged organs. He'll lived for a while because of the pod.
Speaker 1: But and the doctor had shrugged. Stetson slumped into his
Speaker 1: desk chair, looked out the open port beside him, some
Speaker 1: four hundred meters below. The scurrying beetlelike activity of the
Speaker 1: eye's main field sent up a discordant roaring and clattering.
Speaker 1: Two rows of other Scout cruisers were parked in line
Speaker 1: with Stetson's port, gleaming red and black needles. He stared
Speaker 1: at them, without really seeing them. It always happens on
Speaker 1: some routine assignment. He thought nothing but a slight suspicion
Speaker 1: about heleb. The fact that only women held high office,
Speaker 1: one simple, unexplained fact, and I lose my best agent,
Speaker 1: he sighed, turned to his desk began composing the report.
Speaker 1: The militant corps on the planet Heleb has been eliminated.
Speaker 1: Occupation force on the ground. No further danger to galactic
Speaker 1: peace expected from this source. Reason for Operation Rediscovery and
Speaker 1: re Education. After two years on the planet failed to
Speaker 1: detect signs of militancy. The major indications were one a
Speaker 1: ruling caste restricted to women, and two disparity between numbers
Speaker 1: of males and females far beyond the Lutig norm. Senior
Speaker 1: Field Agent Lewis Orn found that the ruling cast was
Speaker 1: controlling the sex of offspring at Conception Sea, attached details,
Speaker 1: and had raised a male slave army to maintain its rule.
Speaker 1: The R and R agent had been drained of information,
Speaker 1: then killed. Arms constructed on the basis of that information
Speaker 1: caused critical injuries to Senior Field Agent Orn. He is
Speaker 1: not expected to live. I am hereby urging that he
Speaker 1: received the Galaxy Medal and that his name be added
Speaker 1: to the role of honor. Stetson pushed the page aside.
Speaker 1: That was enough for Comgo, who never read anything but
Speaker 1: the first page anyway, details were for his aids to
Speaker 1: chew and digest. They could wait. Stetson punched his desk
Speaker 1: callbox for Orne service record, set himself to the task
Speaker 1: he most detested, notifying next of kin. He read, pursing
Speaker 1: his lips home Planet Chargon notify in case of accident
Speaker 1: or death Missus Victoria Orn mother. He leafed through the pages,
Speaker 1: reluctant to send the hated message. Orn had enlisted in
Speaker 1: the Marak Marines at age seventeen, a runaway from home,
Speaker 1: and his mother had given post enlistment consent. Two years later,
Speaker 1: scholarship transferred to Una Galacta and R and R School
Speaker 1: here on Marek. Five years of school and one R
Speaker 1: and R field assignment under his belt, and he had
Speaker 1: been drafted into the i A for Brilliant Detection of
Speaker 1: militancy on Hamel and two years later kaput. Abruptly, Stetson
Speaker 1: hurled the service record at the gray metal wall across
Speaker 1: from him. Then he got up brought the record back
Speaker 1: to his desk, smoothing the pages. There were tears in
Speaker 1: his eyes. He flipped a switch on his desk dictated
Speaker 1: the notification to Central Secretarial ordered it sent out priority.
Speaker 1: Then he went ground side and got drunk on ho
Speaker 1: car brandy, Oran's favorite drink. The next morning there was
Speaker 1: a reply from Shargan Lewis Orne's mother, too ill to travel,
Speaker 1: sisters being notified, Please ask Missus Ipscott Boullion of Marek,
Speaker 1: wife of the High Commissioner, to take over for family.
Speaker 1: It was signed Madrina ORNs standish sister. With some misgivings,
Speaker 1: Stetson called the residence of Ipscott Boullioon, leader of the
Speaker 1: majority party in the Marrick Assembly. Missus Boulion took the
Speaker 1: call with blank screen. There was a sound of running
Speaker 1: water in the background. Stetson stared at the grayness swimming
Speaker 1: in his desk visor. He always disliked a blank screen.
Speaker 1: A baritone husk of a voice slid. This is Polly Bullion.
Speaker 1: Stetson introduced himself, relayed the chargon message. Victorious boy dying here,
Speaker 1: Oh the poor thing, and Madrine is back on chargon
Speaker 1: the election. Oh yes, of course, I'll get right over
Speaker 1: to the hospital. Stetson signed off. Broke the contact the
Speaker 1: High Commissioner's wife. Yet he thought then because he had
Speaker 1: to do it. He walled off his sorrow got to
Speaker 1: work at the medical center. The oval cresh containing orn
Speaker 1: hung from sealing hooks in a private room. There were
Speaker 1: humming sounds in the dim, woodary greenness of the room,
Speaker 1: rhythmic chuggings, sighings. Occasionally a door opened almost soundlessly, and
Speaker 1: a white clad figure would check the grapht tapes on
Speaker 1: the kresh's meters. Orne was lingering. He became the major
Speaker 1: conversation piece at the intern's coffee breaks. That agent who
Speaker 1: was hurt on heleb he's still with us, man. They
Speaker 1: must build those guys different from the rest of us. Yeah, understand,
Speaker 1: he's got only about an eighth of his insides. Liver, kidneys,
Speaker 1: stomach all gone. Lay you odds he doesn't last out
Speaker 1: the month. Look what old sure thing McTavish wants to
Speaker 1: bet on. On the morning of his eighty eighth day
Speaker 1: in the crash, the day nurse came into Orne's room,
Speaker 1: lifted the inspection hood looked down at him. The day
Speaker 1: nurse was tall, lean faced professional who had learned to
Speaker 1: meet miracles and failures with equal lack of expression. However,
Speaker 1: this routine with the dying ia operative had lulled her
Speaker 1: into a state of psychological unpreparedness. Any day now, poor guy,
Speaker 1: sh thought, and she gasped as he opened his soul
Speaker 1: remaining eye and said, did they clobber those dames on Heleb? Yes, sir,
Speaker 1: she blurted, They really did, sir. Good Orn closed his eye,
Speaker 1: his breathing deepened. The nurse rang frantically for the doctor's
Speaker 1: It had been an indeterminate period in a blank fog
Speaker 1: for Orn, then a time of pain, and the gradual
Speaker 1: realization that he was in a crash had to be
Speaker 1: He could remember his sudden exposure on Heleb, the explosion,
Speaker 1: then nothing good old Cresh. It made him feel safe,
Speaker 1: Now shielded from all danger, Orton began to show minute
Speaker 1: but steady signs of improvement. In another month, the doctors
Speaker 1: ventured an intestinal graft that gave him a new spurt
Speaker 1: of energy. Two months later, they replaced missing eye and fingers,
Speaker 1: restored his scalp line, worked artistic surgery on his burn scars.
Speaker 1: Fourteen months, eleven days, five hours and two minutes after
Speaker 1: he had been picked up as good as dead, Orn
Speaker 1: walked out of the hospital under his own power, accompanied
Speaker 1: by a strangely silent Umbo Stetson under the dark blue
Speaker 1: i a field cape. Orne's coverall uniform, fitted his once
Speaker 1: muscular frame like a deflated bag. But the pixie light
Speaker 1: had returned to his eyes, even to the eye he
Speaker 1: had received from a nameless and long dead donor. Except
Speaker 1: for the loss of weight, he looked to be the
Speaker 1: same Lewis Orn. If he was different beyond the spare parts,
Speaker 1: it was something he only suspected, something that made the
Speaker 1: idea twice born, not a joke. Outside the hospital, clouds
Speaker 1: obscured Marek's green sun. It was mid morning. A cold
Speaker 1: spring wind bent the pile lawn tugged fitfully at the
Speaker 1: border plantings of exotic flowers around the hospital's landing pad.
Speaker 1: Orn paused on the steps above the pad, breathed deeply
Speaker 1: of the chill air. Beautiful day, he said. Stetson reached
Speaker 1: out a hand to help Orn down the steps, hesitated,
Speaker 1: put the hand back in his pocket. Beneath the section
Speaker 1: chief's look of weary superciliousness, there was a note of anxiety.
Speaker 1: His big features were set in a frown. The drooping
Speaker 1: eyelids failed to conceal a sharp, measuring stare. Orn glanced
Speaker 1: at the sky to the southwest. The flitter ought to
Speaker 1: be here any minute. A gust of wind tugged at
Speaker 1: his cape. He staggered, caught his balance. I feel good.
Speaker 1: You look like something left over from a funeral, growled Stetson.
Speaker 1: Sure my funeral, said Orn. He grinned anyway. I was
Speaker 1: getting tired of that walk around type morgue. All my
Speaker 1: nurses were married. I'd almost stake my life that I
Speaker 1: could trust you, muttered Stetson. Orn looked at him. No, no,
Speaker 1: stett stake my life. I'm used to it. Stetson shook
Speaker 1: his head. No, damn it. I trust you, but you
Speaker 1: deserve a peaceful convalescence. We've no right to saddle you
Speaker 1: with stead. Orne's voice was low, amused. Huh. Stetson looked up.
Speaker 1: Let's save the noble act for someone who doesn't know you,
Speaker 1: said Orn. You've a job for me. Okay, you've made
Speaker 1: the gesture for your conscience. Stetson produced a wolfish grin.
Speaker 1: All right, so we're desperate and we haven't much time
Speaker 1: in a nutshell. Since you're going to be a house
Speaker 1: guest at the Bullions, we suspect Ipscott Bullion of being
Speaker 1: the head of the conspiracy to take over the government.
Speaker 1: What do you mean take over the government? Demanded Orn.
Speaker 1: The Galactic High Commissioner is the government subject to the
Speaker 1: Constitution and the assemblymen who elected him. We've a situation
Speaker 1: that could explode into another rim war, and we think
Speaker 1: he's at the heart of it, said Stetson. We've eighty
Speaker 1: one touchy planets, all of them old line studies that
Speaker 1: have been in the League for years, and on every
Speaker 1: one of them we have reason to believe there's a
Speaker 1: clan of traders sworn to overthrow the League, even on
Speaker 1: your home planet, Shargon, you want me to go home
Speaker 1: for my convalescence, asked Orn. Haven't been there since I
Speaker 1: was seven. I'm not sure that. No, damn it. We
Speaker 1: want you as the Bullion's house guest. And speaking of that,
Speaker 1: would you mind explaining how they were chosen to ride
Speaker 1: herd on you? There's an odd thing, said Orn, all
Speaker 1: those gags in the I a about old upshook Ipscott Bullion,
Speaker 1: and then I find out his wife went to school
Speaker 1: with my mother. Have you met himself? He brought his
Speaker 1: wife to the hospital a couple of times. Again, Stetson
Speaker 1: looked to the southwest, then back to Orn. A pensive
Speaker 1: look came over his face. Every school kid knows how
Speaker 1: the Nathians and the Moracian League fought it out in
Speaker 1: the Rim War, how the old civilization fell apart, And
Speaker 1: it all seems kind of distant, he said. Five hundred
Speaker 1: standard years, said Orne. And maybe no farther away than yesterday,
Speaker 1: murmured Stetson. He cleared his throat, and Orne wondered why
Speaker 1: Stetson was moving so cautiously. Something deep troubling him. A
Speaker 1: sudden thought struck Orn. He said, you spoke of trust.
Speaker 1: Has this conspiracy involved the I A We think so,
Speaker 1: said Stetson. About a year ago, an our and R
Speaker 1: archeological team was nosing around some ruins on Dabi. The
Speaker 1: place was all but vitrified in the Rim War, but
Speaker 1: a whole bank of records from a Nathan outpost escaped.
Speaker 1: He glanced sidelong at Orn. The raw and rob boys
Speaker 1: couldn't make sense out of the records. No surprise, they
Speaker 1: called in an I, a cryptanalyst. He broke the complicated
Speaker 1: substitution cipher. When the stuff started making sense, he pushed
Speaker 1: the panic button for something. The Nathians wrote five hundred
Speaker 1: years ago. Stetson's drooping eyelids lifted. There was a cold
Speaker 1: quality to his stare. This was a routing station for
Speaker 1: key Nathian families, he said, trained refugees. An old dodge
Speaker 1: been used as long as there's been but five hundred years. Step,
Speaker 1: I don't care if it was five thousand years, barked Stetson.
Speaker 1: We've intercepted some scraps since then that were written in
Speaker 1: the same code, the bland confidence of that. Wouldn't that
Speaker 1: called you? He shook his head. And every scrap we've
Speaker 1: intercepted deals with the coming elections. But the election's only
Speaker 1: a couple of days off, protested Orn. Stetson glanced at
Speaker 1: his wrist krono forty two hours to be exact, He said,
Speaker 1: some deadline. Any names in these old records, asked Orn.
Speaker 1: Stetson nodded. Names of planets, yes, people, No, some code names,
Speaker 1: but no cover names code named on Chargon, was winner
Speaker 1: that ring any bells with you? Orn shook his head. No,
Speaker 1: what's the code name here? The head, said Stetson. But
Speaker 1: what good does that do us? They're sure to have
Speaker 1: changed those by now. They didn't change their communications code,
Speaker 1: said Orn. No, they didn't. We must have something on them,
Speaker 1: some leads, said Orn. He felt that Stetson was holding
Speaker 1: back something vital. Sure, said Stetson. We have history books.
Speaker 1: They say the Nathians were top drawer in political mechanics.
Speaker 1: We know for a fact they chose landing sites for
Speaker 1: their refugees with diabolical care. Each family was told to
Speaker 1: dig in, grow up with the adopted culture, develop the
Speaker 1: weak spots, build an underground, train their descendants to take over.
Speaker 1: They set out to bore from within, to make victory
Speaker 1: out of defeat. The Nathians were long on patients. They
Speaker 1: came originally from nomad stock on Nathia, Io. Their mythology
Speaker 1: calls them ARBs or herbs. Go review your seventh grade history.
Speaker 1: You'll know almost as much as we do. Like looking
Speaker 1: for the traditional needle in the haystack, muttered Orn, how
Speaker 1: come you suspect High Commissioner upshook? Stetson wet his lips
Speaker 1: with his tongue. One of the Billyon's seven daughters is
Speaker 1: currently at home, he said, names Diana, a field leader
Speaker 1: in the Ia women. One of the Nathian code messages
Speaker 1: we intercepted had her name and address. Who sent the message, Askedorn,
Speaker 1: what was it all about. Stetson coughed, you know, Lou,
Speaker 1: we cross check everything. This message was signed M O. S.
Speaker 1: The only MOS that came out of the comparison was
Speaker 1: on a routine next of kin reply. We followed it
Speaker 1: down to the original copy and the handwriting checked name
Speaker 1: of Madrina Orn Standish Mattie Orn Froze turned slowly to
Speaker 1: face Stetson. So that's what's troubling you. We know you
Speaker 1: haven't been home since you were seventeen, said Stetson. Your
Speaker 1: record with us is clean. The question is permit me,
Speaker 1: said Orn. The question is will I turn in my
Speaker 1: own sister if it falls that way. Stetson remained silent,
Speaker 1: staring at him. Okay, said Orn. My job is seeing
Speaker 1: that we don't have another rim war. Just answer me
Speaker 1: one question. How's Mattie mixed up in this? My family
Speaker 1: isn't one of these trader clans. The whole thing is
Speaker 1: all tangled up with politics, said Stetson. We think it's
Speaker 1: because of her husband. Ah, the member for Chargon, said Oran.
Speaker 1: I've never met him. He looked to the southwest, where
Speaker 1: a flitter was growing larger as it approached who's my
Speaker 1: cover contact? That many transceiver we planted in your neck
Speaker 1: for the geenad job, said Stetson. It's still there and functioning.
Speaker 1: Anything happens around you, we hear it. Orn touched the
Speaker 1: subvocal stud at his neck, moved his speaking muscles without
Speaker 1: opening his mouth. A surf hissing noise filled the matching
Speaker 1: transceiver in Stetson's neck. You pay attention while I'm making
Speaker 1: a play for this Diana Bullion. You hear, then you'll
Speaker 1: know how an expert works. Don't get so interested in
Speaker 1: your work that you forget why you're out there, growled Stetson.
Speaker 1: Missus Boulion was a fat, little mouse of a woman.
Speaker 1: She stood almost in the center of the guest room
Speaker 1: of her home, hands clasped across the paunch of a long,
Speaker 1: dull silver gown. She had demure gray eyes, grand motherly
Speaker 1: gray hair combed straight back in a jeweled net, and
Speaker 1: that shocking baritone husk of a voice issuing from a
Speaker 1: small mouth. Her figure sloped out from several chins to
Speaker 1: a matronly bosom, then dropped straight like a barrel. The
Speaker 1: top of her head came just above Orne's dress epaulets
Speaker 1: we want you to feel at home here, Louis, she husked,
Speaker 1: you are to consider yourself one of the family. Orn
Speaker 1: looked around at the bull you owned guest room, low
Speaker 1: key furnishings with an old fashioned select a call for
Speaker 1: change of decours, a pole. A window looked out onto
Speaker 1: an oval swimming pool. The glass muted to dark blue.
Speaker 1: It gave the outside a moonlight appearance. There was a
Speaker 1: contour bed against one wall, several built ins, and a
Speaker 1: door partly open to reveal bathroom tiles. Everything traditional and comfortable.
Speaker 1: I already do feel at home, he said. You know
Speaker 1: your house is very like our place on Shargun. I
Speaker 1: was surprised when I saw it from the air. Except
Speaker 1: for the setting, it looks almost identical. I guess your
Speaker 1: mother and I shared ideas when we were in school,
Speaker 1: said Polly. We were very close friends. You must have
Speaker 1: been to do all this for me, said Orn. I
Speaker 1: don't know how I'm ever going to ah here we are.
Speaker 1: A deep, masculine voice boomed from the open door behind Orn.
Speaker 1: He turned saw Ipscott Boullion, high commissioner of the Moroccan League.
Speaker 1: Bullion was tall and had a face of harsh angles
Speaker 1: and deep lines, dark eyes under heavy brows, black hair
Speaker 1: trained in receding waves. There was a look of ungainly
Speaker 1: clumsiness about him. He doesn't strike me as the dictator type,
Speaker 1: thought Orn, But that's obviously what Stet suspects. Glad you
Speaker 1: made it out all right, son, boomed Bullion. He advanced
Speaker 1: into the room, glanced around. Hope everything is to your
Speaker 1: taste here. Louis was just telling me that our place
Speaker 1: is very like his mother's home on Chargon, said Polly.
Speaker 1: It's old fashioned, but we like it, said Bullion. Just
Speaker 1: a great big tetragon on a central pivot. We can
Speaker 1: turn any room we want to the sun, the shade,
Speaker 1: or the breeze, but we usually leave the main salon,
Speaker 1: pointing northeast view of the Capitol. You know we have
Speaker 1: a sea breeze on Chargon that we treat the same way,
Speaker 1: said Orn. I'm sure Lewis would like to be left
Speaker 1: alone for a while now, said Poe. Dolly. This is
Speaker 1: his first day out of the hospital. We mustn't tire him.
Speaker 1: She crossed to the polar window, adjusted it to neutral gray,
Speaker 1: turned the selectacole, and the room's color dominance shifted to green.
Speaker 1: There that's more RESTful, she said. Now, if there's anything
Speaker 1: you need, you just ring the bell there by your bed.
Speaker 1: The autobuttle will know where to find us. The bulloons left,
Speaker 1: and Orn crossed to the window looked out at the pool.
Speaker 1: The young woman hadn't come back. When the chauffeur driven
Speaker 1: limousine flitter had dropped down to the house's landing pad.
Speaker 1: Orn had seen a parasol and a sun hat nodding
Speaker 1: to each other on the blue tiles beside the pool.
Speaker 1: The parasol had shielded Polly Bullion. The sun hat had
Speaker 1: been worn by a shapely young woman in swimming tights
Speaker 1: who had rushed off into the house. She was no
Speaker 1: taller than Polly, but slender and with golden red hair
Speaker 1: caught under the sun hat in a swimmer's sine yon.
Speaker 1: She was not beautiful, face too narrow, with suggestions of
Speaker 1: Bullion's cragginess, and the eyes over long, but her mouth
Speaker 1: was full, lipped, chin strong, and there had been an
Speaker 1: air of exquisite assurance about her. The total effect had
Speaker 1: been one of striking elegance, extremely feminine. Orn looked beyond
Speaker 1: the pool, wooded hills and dimly on the horizon a
Speaker 1: broken line of mountains. The bull yons lived in expensive isolation.
Speaker 1: Around them stretched miles of wilderness, rugged with its planned neglect.
Speaker 1: Time to report in, he thought. Orn pressed the next
Speaker 1: stud on his transceiver got Stetson told him what had
Speaker 1: happened to this point? All right, said Stetson. Go find
Speaker 1: the daughter. She fits the description of the galley saw
Speaker 1: by the pool. That's what I was hoping, said Orn.
Speaker 1: He changed into light blue fatigues, went to the door
Speaker 1: of his room, let himself out into the hall. A
Speaker 1: glance at his wristchrono showed that it was shortly before noon.
Speaker 1: Time for a bit of scouting before they called lunch.
Speaker 1: He knew from his brief tour of the house and
Speaker 1: its similarity to the home of his childhood, that the
Speaker 1: hall led into the main living salon. The public rooms
Speaker 1: and men's quarters were in the outside ring, secluded family
Speaker 1: apartments and women's quarters occupied the inner section. Orn made
Speaker 1: his way to the salon. It was long, built around
Speaker 1: two sections of the tetragon, and with low divans beneath
Speaker 1: the view windows. The floor was thick pile rugs pushed
Speaker 1: one against another in a crazy patchwork of reds and browns.
Speaker 1: At the far end of the room, some one in
Speaker 1: blue fatigues like his own was bent over a stand
Speaker 1: of some sort. The figure straightened at the same time
Speaker 1: a tinkle of music filled the room. He recognized the
Speaker 1: red gold hair of the young woman he had seen
Speaker 1: beside the pool. She was wielding two mallets to play
Speaker 1: a stringed instrument that lay on its side, supported by
Speaker 1: a carved wood stand. He moved up behind her, his
Speaker 1: footsteps muffled by the carpeting. The music had a curious
Speaker 1: rhythm that suggested figures dancing wildly around firelight. She struck
Speaker 1: a final chord, muted the strings. That makes me homesick,
Speaker 1: said orn Oh. She whirled, gasped, then smiled. You startled me.
Speaker 1: I thought I was alone. Sorry, I was enjoying the music.
Speaker 1: I'm Diana Boullion. She said, you are mister orn Lou
Speaker 1: to all of the Bullon family. I hope, he said,
Speaker 1: of course, Lou. She gestured at the musical instrument. This
Speaker 1: is very old. Most find its music well, rather weird.
Speaker 1: It's been handed down for generations. In my mother's family,
Speaker 1: the Kithra said, Orrin, my sister's play. It been a
Speaker 1: long time since I've heard one. Oh, of course, she said,
Speaker 1: your mother's. She stopped, looked confused. I've got to get
Speaker 1: used to the fact that your I mean that we
Speaker 1: have a strange man around the house who isn't exactly strange.
Speaker 1: Orne grinned. In spite of the blue eye, a fatigues
Speaker 1: and a rather severe pulled back hairdo. This was a
Speaker 1: handsome woman. He found himself liking her, and this caused
Speaker 1: him a feeling near self loathing. She was a suspect
Speaker 1: he couldn't afford to like her. But the Bouillions were
Speaker 1: being so decent taking him in like this, and how
Speaker 1: was their hospitality being repaid by spying and prying? Yet
Speaker 1: his first loyalty belonged to the i A to the
Speaker 1: peace it represented, he said, rather lamely. I hope you
Speaker 1: get over the feeling that I'm strange. I'm already over it,
Speaker 1: she said. She linked arms with him, said if you
Speaker 1: feel up to it, I'll take you on the deluxe
Speaker 1: guided tour. By nightfall, Orn was in a state of confusion.
Speaker 1: He had found Diana fascinating and yet the most comfortable
Speaker 1: woman to be around that he had ever met. She
Speaker 1: liked swimming, poloika hunting tetar apples. She had a poo
Speaker 1: poo attitude toward the older generation that she said she'd
Speaker 1: never before revealed to anyone. They had laughed like fools
Speaker 1: over utter nonsense. Orn went back to his room to
Speaker 1: change for dinner, stopped before the polar window. The quick
Speaker 1: darkness of these low latitudes had pulled an ebbin blanket
Speaker 1: over the landscape. There was city glow off to the left,
Speaker 1: and an orange halo to the peaks where Marak's three
Speaker 1: moons would rise. Am I falling in love with this woman?
Speaker 1: He asked himself. He felt like calling Stetson, not to report,
Speaker 1: but just to talk the situation out, and this made
Speaker 1: him acutely aware that Stetson or an Aid had heard
Speaker 1: everything said between them. That afternoon, the autobutle called dinner.
Speaker 1: Orn changed hurriedly into a fresh lounge uniform, found his
Speaker 1: way to the small salon across the house. The bullions
Speaker 1: already were seated around an old fashioned bubble slot table
Speaker 1: set with real candles golden Shardy service. Two of Marak's
Speaker 1: moons could be seen out the window, climbing swiftly over
Speaker 1: the peaks. You turned the house said Orn. We like
Speaker 1: the moon rise, said Polly. It seems more romantic, don't
Speaker 1: you think. She glanced at Diana. Diana looked down at
Speaker 1: her plate. She was wearing a low cut gown of
Speaker 1: firemesh that set off her red hair. A single strand
Speaker 1: of rainnock pearls gleamed at her throat. Orn sat down
Speaker 1: in the vacant sea opposite her. What a handsome woman,
Speaker 1: he thought. Polly on Oran's right looked younger and softer
Speaker 1: in a green stole, a gown that hazed her barrel
Speaker 1: contours Bollyon. Across from her were black lounging shorts and
Speaker 1: a knee length kooby jacket of golden pearl cloth. Everything
Speaker 1: about the people in setting reeked of wealth power. For
Speaker 1: a moment, Orn saw that Stetson's suspicions could have basis.
Speaker 1: In fact, Bollion might go to any lengths to maintain
Speaker 1: this luxury. Oran's entrance had interrupted an argument between Polly
Speaker 1: and her husband. They welcomed him and went right on
Speaker 1: without inhibition, rather than embarrassing him. This made him feel
Speaker 1: more at home, more accepted. But I'm not running for
Speaker 1: office this time, said Bullion patiently. Why do we have
Speaker 1: to clutter up the evening with that many people just
Speaker 1: to our election night parties are traditional, said Polly. Well.
Speaker 1: I'd just like to relax quietly at home tomorrow, he said.
Speaker 1: Take it easy with just the family here and not
Speaker 1: to have to It's not like it was a big party,
Speaker 1: said Polly. I've kept the list of fifty. Diana straightened,
Speaker 1: said this is an important election, Daddy, How could you
Speaker 1: possibly relax? There's seventy three seats in question, the whole balance.
Speaker 1: If things go wrong in just the Alkis sector. Why
Speaker 1: you could be sent back to the floor. You'd lose
Speaker 1: your job, as why someone else would take over as
Speaker 1: Welcome to the job, said Bullion. It's a headache, he
Speaker 1: grinned at Orn. Sorry to burden you with this, my boy,
Speaker 1: but the women of this family run me ragged. I
Speaker 1: guess from what I hear that you've had a pretty
Speaker 1: busy day too, he smiled paternally at Diana and your
Speaker 1: first day out of the hospital. She sets quite a pace,
Speaker 1: but I've enjoyed it, said Orn. We're taking the small
Speaker 1: flitter for a tour of the wilderness area tomorrow, said Diana.
Speaker 1: Luken Relax all the way I'll do the driving. Be
Speaker 1: sure you're back in plenty of time for the party,
Speaker 1: said Polly. Can't have. She broke off at a low
Speaker 1: bell from the alcove behind her. That'll be for me.
Speaker 1: Excuse me, please, no, don't get up. Orn bent to
Speaker 1: his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot.
Speaker 1: Beside his plate meat an exotic sauce, cyric champagne, peloika
Speaker 1: O smile more luxury. Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
Speaker 1: Anything important, asked Bollyone. Only a cancelation for tomorrow night.
Speaker 1: Professor Wingard is ill. I'd just as soon it was
Speaker 1: canceled down to the four of us, said Bouyone. Unless
Speaker 1: this is a pose, this doesn't sound like a man
Speaker 1: who wants to grab more power, thought Orn. Scotty, you
Speaker 1: should take more pride in your office, snapped Polly. You're
Speaker 1: an important man. If it weren't for you, I'd be
Speaker 1: a nobody and prefer it, said Boullion. He grinned at Orn,
Speaker 1: I'm a political idiot compared to my wife. Never saw
Speaker 1: any one who could call the turn like she does.
Speaker 1: Runs in her family. Her mother was the same way.
Speaker 1: Orn stared at him, fork raised from plate and motionless.
Speaker 1: A sudden idea had exploded in his mind. Mind, you
Speaker 1: must know something of this life, Louis said, Bullioon. Your
Speaker 1: father was member for Chargon once, wasn't he? Yes, murmured Oran.
Speaker 1: But that was before I was born. He died in office.
Speaker 1: He shook his head, thought it couldn't be. But do
Speaker 1: you feel all right, lou asked Diana. You're suddenly so pale.
Speaker 1: Just tired, said Orne. Guess I'm not used to so
Speaker 1: much activity. I've been a beast keeping you so busy today,
Speaker 1: she said. Don't you stand on ceremony here? Son, said Polly.
Speaker 1: She looked concerned. You've been very sick, and we understand
Speaker 1: if you're tired, you go right on into bed. Oran
Speaker 1: glanced around the table, met anxious attention in each face.
Speaker 1: He pushed his chair back, said well, if you really
Speaker 1: don't mind, mind, barked Polly. You scoot along now see
Speaker 1: in the morning, lou said Diana. He nodded, turned away,
Speaker 1: thinking what a handsome woman. As he started down the hall,
Speaker 1: he heard Bollion say to Diana die, perhaps you you'd
Speaker 1: better not take that boy out tomorrow. After all, he
Speaker 1: is supposed to be here for arrest. Her answer was
Speaker 1: lost as Orn entered the hall, closed the door. In
Speaker 1: the privacy of his room, Orn pressed the transceiver stud
Speaker 1: at his neck, said Stet. A voice hissed in his ears.
Speaker 1: This is mister Stetson's relief, Orn, isn't it. Yes, I
Speaker 1: want to check right away on those Nathian records the
Speaker 1: archaeologists found find out if Heleb was one of the
Speaker 1: planets they seated right hang on. There was a long silence. Then, Lou,
Speaker 1: this is Stett. How come the question about Heleb. Was
Speaker 1: it on the Nathian list? Negative? Why do you ask?
Speaker 1: Are you sure, Stet? Did it? Explain a lot of
Speaker 1: things it's not on the lists? But wait a minute? Silence.
Speaker 1: Then Heleb was on the line of flight to Arugia,
Speaker 1: and Erugia was on the list. We've reasoned to doubt
Speaker 1: they put anyone down on Erugia if their ship ran
Speaker 1: into trouble. That's it, snapped Orn. Keep your voice down
Speaker 1: or talk sub vocally, ordered Stetson. Now answer my question.
Speaker 1: What's up? Something so fantastic it frightens me, said Oran.
Speaker 1: Remember that the women who ruled Hella bred female or
Speaker 1: male children by controlling the sex of their offspring at conception.
Speaker 1: The method was unique in fact, our medics thought it
Speaker 1: was impossible. Until you don't have to remind me of
Speaker 1: something we want buried and forgotten, interrupted Stetson. Too much
Speaker 1: chance for misuse of that formula, yes, said Orn, But
Speaker 1: what if your Nathian underground is composed entirely of women
Speaker 1: bred the same way? What if the hell had women
Speaker 1: were just a bunch who got out of hand because
Speaker 1: they'd lost contact with the main element. Holy moully, blurted Stetson.
Speaker 1: Do you have evidence? Nothing but a haunch? Said Orn.
Speaker 1: Do you have a list of the guests who will
Speaker 1: be here for the election party tomorrow? We can get it.
Speaker 1: Why check for women who mastermind their husbands in politics?
Speaker 1: Let me know how many, and who? Lou that's not
Speaker 1: enough to That's all all I can give you for now,
Speaker 1: But I think I'll have more. Remember that, he hesitated,
Speaker 1: spacing his words as a new thought struck him. The
Speaker 1: Nathians were no Mad's day began early for the Bullions,
Speaker 1: in spite of its being election day. Bullyon took off
Speaker 1: for his office an hour after dawn. See what I
Speaker 1: mean about this job owning you, He asked Dorn. We're
Speaker 1: going to take it easy to day, lou, said Diana.
Speaker 1: She took his hand as they came up the steps
Speaker 1: after seeing her father to his limousine flitter. The sky
Speaker 1: was cloudless. Orn felt himself liking her hand in his
Speaker 1: liking the feel of it too much. He withdrew his hand,
Speaker 1: stood aside, said, lead on, I've got to watch myself.
Speaker 1: He thought, she's too charming. I think a picnic, said Diana.
Speaker 1: There's a little lake with grassy banks off to the west.
Speaker 1: We'll take viewers and a couple of good novels. This'll
Speaker 1: be a do nothing day. Orn hesitated. There might be
Speaker 1: things going on at the house that he should watch,
Speaker 1: but no. If he was right about the situation, then
Speaker 1: Diana could be the weak link. Time was closing in
Speaker 1: on them too. By tomorrow, the Nathians could have the
Speaker 1: government completely under control. It was warm beside the lake.
Speaker 1: There were purple and orange flowers. Above the grassy bank.
Speaker 1: Small creatures flitted and cheaped in the brush and trees.
Speaker 1: There was a groomas in the reeds at the lower
Speaker 1: end of the lake, and every now and then it
Speaker 1: honked like an old man clearing his throat. When we
Speaker 1: girls were all at home, we used to picnic here
Speaker 1: every eight day, said Diana. She lay on her back
Speaker 1: on the ground mat they'd spread. Orne sat beside her,
Speaker 1: facing the lake. We made a raft over there on
Speaker 1: the other side, she said. She sat up, looked across
Speaker 1: the lake. You know, I think pieces of it are
Speaker 1: still there. See she pointed at a jumble of logs
Speaker 1: as she gestured, her hand brushed ORNs. Something like electric
Speaker 1: shock passed between them. Without knowing exactly how it happened,
Speaker 1: Orn found his arms around Diana. Their lips pressed together
Speaker 1: in a lingering kiss. Panic was very close to the
Speaker 1: surface in Orn. He broke away. I didn't plan for
Speaker 1: that to happen, whispered Diana, nor I muttered Orn. He
Speaker 1: shook his head. Sometimes things can get into an awful mess.
Speaker 1: Diana blinked, lou don't you like me? He ignored. The
Speaker 1: monitoring transceiver spoke his mind. He'll just think it's part
Speaker 1: of the act, he thought, And the thought was bitter
Speaker 1: like you, he said, I think I'm in love with you.
Speaker 1: She sighed, leaned against his shoulder. Then what's wrong? You're
Speaker 1: not already married. Mother had your service record checked. Diana
Speaker 1: smiled impishly. Mother has second sight. The bitterness was like
Speaker 1: a sour taste in Orne's mouth. He could see the
Speaker 1: pattern so clearly. Die. I ran away from home when
Speaker 1: I was seventeen, he said, I know, darling. Mother told
Speaker 1: me all about you. You don't understand, he said. My
Speaker 1: father died before I was born. He It must have
Speaker 1: been very hard on your mother, she said, left all
Speaker 1: alone with her family and a new baby on the way.
Speaker 1: They'd known for a long time, said Horne. My father
Speaker 1: had broach his disease, and they found out too late.
Speaker 1: It was already in the central nervous system. How horrible,
Speaker 1: whispered Diana. Orne's mind felt suddenly like a fish out
Speaker 1: of water. He found himself grasping at the thought that
Speaker 1: flopped around just out of reach. Dad was in politics,
Speaker 1: he whispered. He felt as though he were living in
Speaker 1: a dream. His voice stayed low, shocked. From when I
Speaker 1: first began to talk, Mother started grooming me to take
Speaker 1: his place in public life. And you didn't like politics,
Speaker 1: said Diana. I hated it, he growled. First chance, I
Speaker 1: ran away. One of my sisters married a young fellow
Speaker 1: who's now the member for Shargun. I hope he enjoys it.
Speaker 1: That'd be Mattie, said Diana. You know her, asked Orn.
Speaker 1: Then he remembered what Stetson had told him, and the
Speaker 1: thought was chilling. Of course, I know her, said Diana, lou,
Speaker 1: what's wrong with you? You'd expect me to play the
Speaker 1: same game. You calling the shots, he said, shoot for
Speaker 1: the top, cut and scramble, claw and dig by tomorrow,
Speaker 1: all that may not be necessary, she said. Orn heard
Speaker 1: the sudden hiss of the carrier wave in his neck transceiver,
Speaker 1: but there was no voice from the monitor. What's happening tomorrow?
Speaker 1: He asked? The election's silly? She said, Glu, you're acting
Speaker 1: very strangely. Are you sure you're feeling all right? She
Speaker 1: put a hand to his forehead. Perhaps we'd just a minute,
Speaker 1: said Orn about us. He swallowed. She withdrew her hand.
Speaker 1: I think my parents already suspect we billyoons are notorious
Speaker 1: love at first sighters. Her overlarge eyes studied him fondly.
Speaker 1: You don't feel feverish, but maybe we'd better What a
Speaker 1: dope I am, snarled Orn. I just realized that I
Speaker 1: have to be a Nathian too, you just realized. She
Speaker 1: stared at him. There was a hissing gap in Orne's transceiver.
Speaker 1: The identical patterns in our family, he said, even to
Speaker 1: the houses, and there's the real key. What a dope.
Speaker 1: He snapped his fingers the head. Polly, your mother's the
Speaker 1: grand boss woman, isn't she? But darling? Of course she.
Speaker 1: You'd better take me to her and fast, snapped Orn.
Speaker 1: He touched the stud at his neck, but Stetson's voice intruded.
Speaker 1: Great work, Lou, we're moving a special shock force. Can't
Speaker 1: take any chances with Orn spoke aloud and panic, Stet
Speaker 1: you get out to the bullioons and you get out
Speaker 1: there alone, no troops. Diana had jumped to her feet,
Speaker 1: backed away from him. What do you mean, demanded Stetson.
Speaker 1: I'm saving our stupid necks. Bark Dorn alone, you hear,
Speaker 1: or we'll have a worse mess on our hands than
Speaker 1: any rim war. There was an extended silence. You hear me,
Speaker 1: Stett demanded Orn. Okay, Lou, we're putting the O force
Speaker 1: on standby. I'll be at the bulloons in ten minutes.
Speaker 1: Comgo will be with me. Pause and you'd better know
Speaker 1: what you're doing. It was an angry group in the
Speaker 1: corner of the Bullion's main salon. Luvered shades cut the
Speaker 1: green glare of a noon sun. In the background, there
Speaker 1: was the hum of air conditioning and the clatter of
Speaker 1: roboservants preparing for the night's election party. Stetson leaned against
Speaker 1: the wall beside a divan, hands jammed deeply into the
Speaker 1: pockets of his wrinkled, patched fatigues. The wagon tracks furrowed
Speaker 1: his high forehead. Near Stetson, Admiral Scobat Spencer, the i
Speaker 1: a's commander of galactic operations, paced the floor. Comgo was
Speaker 1: a bull necked, bald man with wide blue eyes and
Speaker 1: a deceptively mild voice. There was a caged animal look
Speaker 1: to his pacing three steps out, three steps back. Polly
Speaker 1: Bullion sat on the divan. Her mouth was pulled into
Speaker 1: a straight line. Her hands were clasped so tightly in
Speaker 1: her lap that the knuckles showed white. Diana stood beside
Speaker 1: her mother. Her fists were clenched at her sides. She
Speaker 1: shivered with fury. Her gaze remained fixed glaring at Orn.
Speaker 1: So my stupidity set up this little meeting snarled Orn.
Speaker 1: He stood about five paces in front of Polly, hands
Speaker 1: on hips. The admiral, pacing away at his right, was
Speaker 1: beginning to wear on his nerves. But you'd better listen
Speaker 1: to what I have to say. He glanced at the
Speaker 1: comgo all of you. Admiral Spencer stopped pacing glowered at Orn.
Speaker 1: I have yet to hear a good reason for not
Speaker 1: tearing this place apart getting to the bottom of this situation,
Speaker 1: you traitor, Lewis, husked Polly. I'm inclined to agree with you, madam,
Speaker 1: said Spencer, only from a different point of view. He
Speaker 1: glanced at Stetson. Any word yet on Scottie Bullioun. They
Speaker 1: were going to call me the minute they found him,
Speaker 1: said Stetson. His voice sounded cautious, brooding. You were coming
Speaker 1: to the party here tonight, weren't you, Admiral, asked Orn.
Speaker 1: What's that have to do with anything? Demanded Spencer. Are
Speaker 1: you prepared to jail your wife and daughters for conspiracy?
Speaker 1: Asked Orn. A tight smile played around Polly's lips. Spencer
Speaker 1: opened his mouth closed in soundlessly. The Nathians are mostly women,
Speaker 1: said Orn. There's evidence that your womenfolk are among them.
Speaker 1: The admiral looked like a man who had been kicked
Speaker 1: in the stomach. What evidence, he whispered. I'll come to
Speaker 1: that in a moment, said Orn. Now note this. The
Speaker 1: Nathians are mostly women. There were only a few accidents
Speaker 1: and a few planned males like me. That's why there
Speaker 1: were no family names to trace, just a tight little
Speaker 1: female society, all working to positions of power through their men.
Speaker 1: Spencer cleared his throat, swallowed. He seemed powerless to take
Speaker 1: his attention from Orne's mouth. My guest, said Orn, Is
Speaker 1: that about thirty or forty years ago the conspirators first
Speaker 1: began breeding a few males, grooming them for really choice
Speaker 1: top positions other Nathian males. The accidents were sex control failed.
Speaker 1: They never learned about the conspiracy. These new ones were
Speaker 1: full fledged members. That's what I'd have been if I'd
Speaker 1: planned out as expected. Polly glared at him, looked back
Speaker 1: at her hands. That part of the plan was scheduled
Speaker 1: to come to a head with this election, said Orne.
Speaker 1: If they pulled this one off, they could move in
Speaker 1: more boldly. You're in way over your head, boy, growled Polly.
Speaker 1: You're too late to do anything about us. We'll see
Speaker 1: about that barked Spencer. He seemed to have regained his
Speaker 1: self control, a little publicity in the right places, some
Speaker 1: key arrests, and no, said Orne. She's right, it's too
Speaker 1: late for that. It was probably too late a hundred
Speaker 1: years ago. These dames were too firmly entrenched even then.
Speaker 1: Stetson straightened away from the wall, smiled grimly at Orn.
Speaker 1: He seemed to be understanding a point that the others
Speaker 1: were missing. Diana still glared at Orn. Polly kept her
Speaker 1: attention on her hands, the tight smile playing about her lips.
Speaker 1: These women probably control one out of three of the
Speaker 1: top positions in the league, said Orn. Maybe more, think, Admiral,
Speaker 1: Think what would happen if you exposed this thing? There'd
Speaker 1: be secessions, riots, subgovernments would topple, the central government would
Speaker 1: be torn by suspicions in battles. What breeds in that atmosphere?
Speaker 1: He shook his head. The rim war would seem like
Speaker 1: a picnic. We can't just ignore this, barked Spencer, he's stiffened,
Speaker 1: glared at Orn. We can, and we will, said Orn.
Speaker 1: No choice. Polly looked up studied Orn's face. Diana looked confused.
Speaker 1: Once a Nathian, always a Nathian, Ah snarled Spencer. There's
Speaker 1: no such thing, said Orn. Five hundred years cross breeding
Speaker 1: with other races saw to that there's merely a secret
Speaker 1: society of astute political scientists. He smiled wryly at Polly,
Speaker 1: glanced back at Spencer. Think of your own wife, sir,
Speaker 1: in all honesty, would you be calmgo to day if
Speaker 1: she hadn't guided your career? Spencer's face darkened. He drew
Speaker 1: in his chin, tried to stare Orn down. Failed. Presently,
Speaker 1: he chuckled wryly. So Bey is beginning to come to
Speaker 1: his senses, said Polly. You're about through, son to Don't
Speaker 1: underestimate your future son in law, said Orn. Ha Bark Diana.
Speaker 1: I hate you, Lewis Orne. You'll get over that, said
Speaker 1: Orn mildly. Hugh Diana quivered with fury. My major point
Speaker 1: is this, said Orn. Government is a dubious glory. You
Speaker 1: pay for your power and wealth by balancing on the
Speaker 1: sharp edge of the blade that great amorphous thing out there.
Speaker 1: The people has turned and swallowed many governments. The only
Speaker 1: way you can stay in power is by giving good government. Otherwise,
Speaker 1: sooner or later your turn comes. I can remember my
Speaker 1: mother making that point. It's one of the things that's
Speaker 1: stuck with me. He frowned. My objection to politics is
Speaker 1: the compromises you have to make to get elected. Stetson
Speaker 1: moved out from the wall. It's pretty clear, he said,
Speaker 1: Heads turned towards him. To stay in power, the Nathians
Speaker 1: had to give us a fairly good government. On the
Speaker 1: other hand, if we expose them, we give a bunch
Speaker 1: of political amateurs, every fanatic and power hungry demagogue in
Speaker 1: the galaxy just the weapon they need to sweep them
Speaker 1: into office. After that chaos, said Orn. So we let
Speaker 1: the Nathians continue with two minor alterations. We alter nothing,
Speaker 1: said Polly. It occurs to me, Lewis, that you don't
Speaker 1: have a leg to stand on. You have me, but
Speaker 1: you'll get nothing out of me. The rest of the
Speaker 1: organization can go on without me. You don't dare expose us.
Speaker 1: We hold the whip hand. The IA could have ninety
Speaker 1: nine percent of your organization and custody inside of ten days,
Speaker 1: said Orn. You couldn't find them, snapped Polly, How asked Stetson. Nomads,
Speaker 1: said Orn. This house is a glorified tent men on
Speaker 1: the outside, women on the inside. Look for inner courtyard construction.
Speaker 1: It's instinctive with Nathian blood. Add to that an inclination
Speaker 1: for odd musical instruments the cathira, the tambour, the oboe,
Speaker 1: all no mad instruments. Add to that female dominance of
Speaker 1: the family and odd twist on the nomad heritage, but
Speaker 1: not completely unique. Check for predominance of female offspring. Dig
Speaker 1: into political background. We'll miss damn few. Polly just stared
Speaker 1: at him, open mouthed. Spencer said, things are moving too
Speaker 1: fast for me. I know just one thing. I'm dedicated
Speaker 1: to preventing another rim war. If I have to jail
Speaker 1: every last one of an hour after this conspiracy became known,
Speaker 1: you wouldn't be in a position to jail any one,
Speaker 1: said Orn, the husband of a Nathian, you'd be in
Speaker 1: jail yourself. We're more likely dead at the hands of
Speaker 1: a mob. Spencer paled. What's your suggestion for compromise, asked Polly.
Speaker 1: Number one. The I A gets veto power on any
Speaker 1: candidate you put up, said Orn number two. You can
Speaker 1: never hold more than two thirds of the top offices.
Speaker 1: Who and I A vetos are candidates, asked Polly. Admiral
Speaker 1: Spencer stat myself, any one else we deem trustworthy? Said Orn.
Speaker 1: You think you're a god or something, demanded Polly. No
Speaker 1: more than you do, said Orn. This is what's known
Speaker 1: as a check and balance system. You cut the pie,
Speaker 1: we get first choice on which pieces to take. There
Speaker 1: was a protracted silence. Then Spencer said it doesn't seem
Speaker 1: right just to No political compromise is ever totally right,
Speaker 1: said Polly. You keep patching up things that always have
Speaker 1: flaws in them. That's how government is. She chuckled, looked
Speaker 1: up at Orn. All right, Louis we accept She glanced
Speaker 1: at Spencer, who shrugged nodded glumly. Polly looked back at Orn.
Speaker 1: Just answer me one question. How'd you know I was boss? Lady? Easy?
Speaker 1: Said Orn. The records we found, said the Nathian. He'd
Speaker 1: almost said Trader family on Marak was coded as the head.
Speaker 1: Your name, Polly, contains the ancient word poll, which means head.
Speaker 1: Polly looked at Stetson. Is he always that sharp every time?
Speaker 1: Said Stetson. If you want to go into politics, Lewis
Speaker 1: said Polly, I'd be delighted to I'm already in politics.
Speaker 1: As far as I want to be growled Orn, what
Speaker 1: I really want is to settle down with Die, catch
Speaker 1: up on some of the living I've missed. Diana stiffened.
Speaker 1: I never want to see hear from or hear of,
Speaker 1: mister Louis Orne ever again. She said that is final,
Speaker 1: emphatically final. Orne's shoulders drooped. He turned away, stumbled, and
Speaker 1: abruptly collapsed full length on the thick carpets. There was
Speaker 1: a collective gasp behind him. Stetson barked. Call a doctor,
Speaker 1: they warned me. At the hospital, he was still hanging
Speaker 1: on a thin thread. There was the sound of Polly's
Speaker 1: heavy footsteps running towards the hall. Lou, it was Diana's voice.
Speaker 1: She dropped to her knees beside him. Soft hands fumbling
Speaker 1: at his neck his head. Turn him over and loosen
Speaker 1: his collar. Snapped Spencer give him air gently. They turned
Speaker 1: Orn onto his back. He looked pale. Diana loose his collar,
Speaker 1: buried her face against his neck. Oh, Lou, I'm sorry,
Speaker 1: she sobbed. I didn't mean it. Please, Lou, please don't die. Please.
Speaker 1: Orren opened his eyes, looked up at Spencer and stetson.
Speaker 1: There was the sound of Polly's voice talking rapidly on
Speaker 1: the phone in the hall. He could feel Diana's cheek
Speaker 1: warm against his neck, the dampness of her tears. Slowly, deliberately,
Speaker 1: Orne winked at the two men. End of Operation Haystack
Speaker 1: by Frank Herbert