April 5: A Depth of Understanding by Mackey Chandler Read Free Book Online Page B

pocket.
    Ron looked back and forth between them frowning. He took a deep breath. "I apologize for bumping you. I'll try to not do it again. If I do please understand it's just clumsiness in zero G. I'd really appreciate your assurance you won't hold it against my client, since it's true, I don't know local customs."
    "Not at all, it was strictly between us and as far as I am concerned it is like it never happened now. Let's start with a clean slate," she proposed.
    Ron gave a tilt of his head that was almost a bow, acknowledging it and kept his mouth shut. He went out front of Amos, to be away from April, trading places with Joe without any consultation. Joe picked up on it and fell back, so they weren't totally clueless.
    At the elevator Amos stood waiting with his brow furrowed. "Might I offer to take you to dinner sometime soon, by way of further apology and to ask you more about Home?"
    "I've been looking forward to going to go to dinner at the Fox and Hare tomorrow. If you'd like to join us at 1900 hours come along. It's a private social club and they won't present a bill to our table, but you are welcome to join us as my guest."
    "Should I leave my security?"
    "Whatever you wish. It's a small place so they may need to sit at an adjoining table, but they'll be close enough to watch you. I suggest you go see Zach at the Chandlery near the cafeteria and get spex like your guys have," she said, touching hers. "They make getting around, like finding the club, a lot easier. Can you come Gramps?"
    "I wouldn't miss it, but after dinner I'd like to be excused to go off to the poker room."
    "What sort of poker?" Amos asked, interested.
    "Oh, it's just a friendly local game," April's grandfather explained. "Usually a fifty-hundred spread with a pot limit raise. If you suggest a bigger game with thousand dollar ante or more you may get enough guys to have a game, but most of them are going to beg off and have their own."
    "That sounds interesting. Do you have to be a member to play?"
    "You can be my guest if you want to play. We're not too stuck up to take your money."
    "Ain't that the truth," Eddie grumbled.
    April was surprised. Not that Eddie would play, but that he would lose.

Chapter 5
    The next morning at breakfast April thanked Gunny again for supporting her at ISSII.
    "It wasn't so much supporting you personally, as I agree we can't let the Norte Americanos slide back into ignoring treaty provisions and limiting travel to Home. They will just keep picking away at it if we let them. We can't spare the funds or personnel to put an observer at every USNA exit point. It might precipitate another war to try. So it's really up to all of Home's citizens to object, if they see somebody trying to detain a Home traveler."
    "I'm going to address that next Assembly," April vowed. "Not to ask a vote, or suggest  anyone be obligated, but just make an advisory announcement."
    "Not everybody has the nerve or ability to get in the face of customs agents. I saw the necessity of that. However, taking such a hard line with the guard later was more than was necessary. That was twice in a day you put yourself on the line, at risk. If you keep that up the odds will catch up with you. I think the second incident was more a matter of temper than principal."
    "You're right, what can I say?"
    "That's sufficient. I was glad you didn't call out Amos though. He is well known down below and even if you were technically correct on custom, I think it would have been bad publicity. So far your image has been pretty positive with the common Earthies. If the politicians and security people who hate you, well, there is a huge public undercurrent against them too."
    "Yes, I keep hearing that, but I don't see it."
    Gunny shrugged. "It's hard to explain if you haven't lived there. They may be evil, but they aren't stupid. The ways they have to control people have been carefully refined, especially the last hundred years. Most Earthies, not just North Americans,