Spinneret by Timothy Zahn Read Free Book Online

silently. You wanted a sympathetic ear, and now you’re trying to bite it off. “You say he’s dropping the charges?” he asked in a more reasonable tone.
    She regarded him uncertainly, her hand on the knob. “That’s what he said.”
    â€œVery kind of him.” Moved by an obscure feeling, Perez forced himself to a more dignified sitting position, sliding back so that he could lean against the wall. “I’m sorry I blew up a minute ago. I’ve never been wild about pain.” He waved to the desk chair. “Please sit down?”
    She hesitated only a second before stepping to the chair and sinking a bit tentatively into it. “So … what is it you don’t like about this place?”
    He snorted. “The list would fill a disk,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned it would have made more sense to colonize the South Sahara. I’ve never understood why the UN wanted to pour so much money and effort into Astra in the first place.”
    â€œIf you felt like that, why did you sign up?”
    â€œ I volunteered because many of my people were coming. Many of them, on the other hand, didn’t truly volunteer.”
    Her eyes widened momentarily, then settled into cool disbelief. “You have any proof of this?”
    He shook his head. “Nothing that would be seen as such. And don’t misunderstand me: I’m not saying they were kidnapped and loaded aboard trucks for the training center. The pressure was much more subtle than that—portrayal of Astra as a new beginning, the land of opportunity and freedom that the U.S. had turned out not to be, plus the implication that life would be getting harder if not enough of us volunteered. We were painted a rosy picture—can you blame us for being unhappy with the housing and working conditions we’ve been put into here?”
    â€œThis is a brand-new world. Did you expect to find hotels and theaters waiting for you?”
    â€œI expected exactly what is here—a continuation of the social injustices I was already tired of.”
    â€œEverybody’s had to make sacrifices—”
    â€œBut some aren’t making nearly as many as others,” he shot back. “Are the scientists living three and four to a house? The soldiers? How many Anglos are going out in the fields tomorrow, planting crops by hand because the extra machinery is still packed into their crates?”
    â€œAll right, then,” she said after a short silence. “Assume for the moment that you’re right. What do you suggest be done?”
    â€œFor now, a sincere commitment to improve conditions in Ceres would probably be enough. We’re not stupid—we know you can’t build new houses overnight. If you could get us another couple of hologames for the rec center, that would be a nice gesture.” Perez paused as a flicker of surprise crossed Carmen’s face. Probably expected some wildly impractical scheme for turning Ceres into Little Mexico, he thought. Well, enjoy it while you can, because here comes the bite. “And I think Major Dunlop has proved he has no real feeling for the people here. He should be transferred and someone else put in charge.”
    Carmen’s pleased/surprised expression vanished. “Oh, you think that, do you?” she asked coolly. “Do you want to suggest a replacement while you’re at it?”
    â€œNot necessarily. But why are you suddenly so hostile? I thought United States citizens had the right to choose their own leaders.”
    â€œDon’t play word games,” she snorted. “You know perfectly well that you gave up certain rights when you volunteered for this trip.”
    â€œPerhaps,” he shrugged, locking eyes with her. “But having spent time in the Army myself, I can tell you that people grow tired of military rule very quickly. I think that Colonel Meredith would be wise to consider what he’ll