Spinneret by Timothy Zahn Read Free Book Online Page B

you’ll be put on the list for whenever the flyers are put back into service. Until then, I repeat, the cars and planes are all we have.” A footstep behind him made him turn: Andrews, back from returning their car to the pool. “Now, if you’ll excuse us,” he added, “Lieutenant Andrews will escort you out. Good night, Doctor.”
    Hafner grimaced slightly, but had the sense not to argue. “Good night, Colonel. Thank you for your time.”
    The geologist left, followed closely by Andrews. Unlocking his office door, Meredith ushered in Carmen and waved her to a seat. “Now,” he said, sinking into his desk chair, “tell me about Perez.”
    He listened in silence for the few minutes it took to recount her conversation with Dunlop’s alleged riot leader. “He seemed pretty sincere, Colonel,” she said when she had finished.
    â€œI’m sure he did,” Meredith nodded. “Whether he was or not is another story. A massive plot to press-gang Hispanics is a bit hard to swallow.”
    â€œI know.” She paused. “There do seem to be a lot of Hispanics here, though.”
    Meredith shrugged. “The climate here approximates the Southwest, and we needed people experienced in farming sandy soils. That focuses on the area where Hispanics are already concentrated, so what’s the big deal?”
    Carmen shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, sir. But even if nothing … unfair … has occurred, there’s still that perception. I was thinking on the way back … perhaps you could set up something like a city council in each of the towns. Not with any real power,” she added quickly, correctly interpreting his expression. “It would be more of an advisory sort of body, a clearinghouse for complaints and suggestions.”
    â€œWe already have channels like that set up,” he reminded her.
    â€œYes, but …” She pursed her lips. “It’s all organized along military lines. The civilians may not feel comfortable with that; I know it took me a while to get used to military procedure and I was raised in an Army home.”
    â€œWhat you’re suggesting is that I give them the illusion of democracy without the substance.” Meredith shook his head. “It’d be more trouble than it’s worth. You’d add top-heaviness to the administrative sector, inject a battalion-worth of unnecessary political maneuvering and infighting, and generally use up man-hours for no net gain.”
    â€œThe gain would rest in smoother cooperation between civilians and military,” she countered.
    â€œTechnically speaking, Miss Olivero, there are no civilians on Astra. Everyone is under military rule and law, and if some of them don’t like it, I’m sorry. They’ll get used to it in time.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better let you go; it’s getting late. I’ll want a formal report from you for the file, but there’s no particular rush.”
    â€œYes, sir.” She recognized the dismissal and stood up, but then hesitated. “Colonel? What are you going to do about Major Dunlop?”
    â€œWhatever I do, it won’t be because of Perez’s veiled threats,” Meredith told her shortly.
    She swallowed. “Yes, sir. Good night, Colonel.”
    â€œGood night.”
    He gazed at the closed door for several seconds after she was gone, wondering what exactly he’d done to deserve such a day. Then, with a sigh, he turned to his computer terminal and flicked it on. The screen lit up but remained blank; apparently the underground light-pipe network was still generating problems. Cursing under his breath, he turned the machine off and buzzed for Andrews.
    â€œYes, sir?” the aide said as he entered.
    â€œI hate to do this to you, Lieutenant, but I’ve got a couple of projects I want started right away, and I’m just too dog-tired to hunt up a