[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
changes no policies. I'll take care of all the work. All you will have to do-if you have to do anything-is
make the formal appearance before King Wilem-and possibly show up at a controlled press conference
or two, depending on how long it is before he is well again. What you have already done is much
harder-and you will be paid whether we need you or not."
"Damn it, pay has nothing to do with it! It's-well, in the words of a famous character in theatrical
history, 'Include me out.'"
Before Rog could answer, Bill Corpsman came bursting into my cabin without knocking, looked at
us, and said sharply to Clifton, "Have you told him?"
"Yes," agreed Clifton. "He's turned down the job."
"Huh?Nonsense!"
"It's not nonsense," I answered, "and by the way, Bill, that door you just came through has a nice
spot on it to knock. In the profession the custom is to knock and shout, 'Are you decent?' I wish you
would remember it."
"Oh, dirty sheets! We're in a hurry. What's this guff about your refusing?"
"It's not guff. This is not the job I signed up for."
"Garbage!Maybe you are too stupid to realize it, Smythe, but you are in too deep to prattle about
backing out. It wouldn't be healthy."
I went to him and grabbed his arm. "Are you threatening me? If you are, let's go outside and talk it
over."
He shook my hand off."In a spaceship? You really are simple, aren't you? But haven't you got it
through your thick head that you caused this mess yourself?"
"What do you mean?"
"He means," Clifton answered, "that he is convinced that the fall of the Quiroga government was the
direct result of the speech you made earlier today. It is even possible that he is right. But it is beside the
point. Bill, try to be reasonably polite, will you? We get nowhere by bickering."
I was so surprised by the suggestion that I had caused Quiroga to resign that I forgot all about my
desire to loosen Corpsman's teeth. Were they serious? Sure, it was one dilly of a fine speech, but was
such a result possible?
Well, if it was, it was certainly fastservice .
I said wonderingly, "Bill, do I understand that you are complaining that the speech I made was too
effective to suit you?"
"Huh? Hell, no! It was a lousy speech."
"So? You can't have it both ways. You're saying that a lousy speech went over so big that it scared
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
the Humanity Party right out of office. Is that what you meant?"
Corpsman looked annoyed, started to answer, and caught sight of Clifton suppressing a grin. He
scowled, again started to reply- finally shrugged and said, "All right, buster, you proved your point; the
speech could not have had anything to do with the fall of the Quiroga government. Nevertheless, we've
got work to do. So what's this about you not being willing to carry your share of the load?"
I looked at him and managed to keep my temper-Bonforte's influence again; playing the part of a
calm-tempered character tends to makeone calm inside. "Bill, again you cannot have it two ways. You
have made it emphatically clear that you consider me just a hired hand. Therefore I have no obligation
beyond my job, which is finished. You can't hire me for another job unless it suits me. It doesn't."
He started to speak but I cut in. "That's all. Now get out. You're not welcome here."
He looked astounded. "Who the hell do you think you are to give orders around here?"
"Nobody.Nobody at all, as youhave pointed out. But this is my private room, assigned to me by the
Captain. So now get out or be thrown out. I don't like your manners."
Clifton added quietly, "Clear out, Bill. Regardless of anything else, it is his private cabin at the present
time. So you had better leave." Rog hesitated,then added, "I think we both might as well leave; we don't
seem to be getting anywhere. If you will excuse us
-Chief?"
"Certainly."
I sat and thought about it for several minutes. I was sorry that I had let Corpsman provoke me even
into such a mild exchange; it lacked dignity. But I reviewed it in my mind and assured myself that my
personal differences with Corpsman had not affected my decision; my mind had been made up before he
appeared.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]