Pegasus in Space by Anne McCaffrey Read Free Book Online Page B

fumbling and the replacement installed. Barchenka’s speech disk was inserted and the two technicians stepped back, out of her way. The music faded.
    “
Boje moi!
” were her first words. “The disk has been corrupted.” She glared around at the technicians as if they were responsible. The woman, after a brief hesitation, stepped forward and murmured to the Manager. Barchenka flapped her hand about in an angry rejection. She turned back to the lectern long enough to eject her disk, and with a furious glare at the assembled, stormed off the platform and out of the auditorium. Somehow she left the impression that, if the door had not been automatic, it would have slammed shut.
    The master of ceremonies launched himself at the lectern, tapping the tiny microphone to be sure he was audible.
    “Sorry about that but let’s give Manager Barchenka the ovation she deserves.”
    That she might not be able to hear through the thick panel did not register with him. His script required him to ask for an ovation. He did so. Very few dutifully stood and the enthusiasm of a genuine ovation was noticeably lacking. The guests on the platform, as if they wished to provoke a more lively participation from the audience, were the last to cease bringing their hands together.
    The master of ceremonies cocked his head, obviously listening to an engineer’s report. He smiled and leaning tentatively over the lectern, said: “I’ve been assured that we’re back on-line, distinguished guests. I’m sure we’re all sorry that some green gremlin,” and he paused to see if everyone responded to his little joke, “has denied us the rest of Manager Barchenka’s stirring speech but, as she so often did after the, ah, minor setbacks, let us proceed.” He turned slightly and spread his hand invitingly to Admiral Coetzer who would now address the audience in his capacity as the newly appointed Station Manager.
    Rhyssa was suddenly aware that what the assembled had heard of Barchenka’s speech had not actually confirmed that transition of authority.
    If the admiral seemed to hesitate briefly as he inserted his speech disk into the prompter, his face mirrored a little pleased smile when the process appeared to be successful. He began to speak in a crisp voice. He immediately mentioned the many, many agencies whose workers had generously given their time, skill, and thousands of work-hours to see this worldwide dream come true. He made special note of those whose work had been conscripted from the international Linear Labor Pool and happily announced that 32 percent of the “casual workers” had elected to stay on the Station as maintenance crew.
    No other speaker experienced any difficulty with the prompting screen and they kept their remarks laudably brief. The special music composed by a Russian for this occasion marked the end of the formal part of the program and finally the master of ceremonies invited the audience to adjourn to the reception area.
    Just what did
you
do, Pete?
Johnny asked in a tight ’path as he homed in on Rhyssa, David, and Peter, emerging from the crowd making for the refreshments.From another direction, Supreme Court Justice Gordon Havers joined his fellow psychics.
    Peter eyed the general speculatively.
Banging her fist on the prompter wasn’t a good idea. Possibly even scrambled her text
.
    Good thinking
.
    Peter did grin at the wordplay.
    “
Greene!
” and the harsh voice stopped both the general and Peter in their tracks. Barchenka, her face set with anger, pulled Johnny Greene around by the arm. Alarmed, Peter stepped backward, trying to disappear into the throng. But others were as quick to leave the Manager’s presence and Peter was halted, unable to move or willing to teleport. “How did you get up here? How did you scramble my screen?” she shouted, thrusting her fist up under the general’s nose. She was so intent in confronting him that she failed to notice Rhyssa fade behind Dave’s tall figure,