TÊTE-À-TÊTE
“This is pretty awkward for me,” said Douglas Stavenger.
Sitting beside him on the automated tractor that ran from Armstrong spaceport back to Selene proper, Anita Halleck appraised Stavenger coolly. He really is quite handsome, she thought: his face was youthfully taut, strong bone structure, and just a hint of some African ancestry in his light mocha skin tone.
And his body is filled with nanomachines, she reminded herself.
“It must be quite important for you to take me off the Earthbound shuttle,” she replied.
For long moments Stavenger said nothing. Halleck watched the shadows flicker across his face as the tractor trundled along below the tunnel’s overhead lights. He looked grim, troubled.
At last Stavenger spoke up. “You know about the accidents at Farside.”
“That rocket that blew up,” Halleck said.
“And earlier, a man was killed when his space suit failed.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Shifting uncomfortably on the tractor’s thinly cushioned seat, Stavenger answered, “The chief of our accident investigation team wants to talk to you about it. At Farside.”
A pang of alarm surged through Halleck. “I don’t want to go to Farside! I’m due back in my office in Geneva tomorrow.”
“I’m afraid that will have to wait. You’re going to Farside.”
Anger flared. “You can’t force me to go to Farside! I have my rights!”
Trying to smile, Stavenger said, “You can go voluntarily or we can obtain an order from the governing council. It’s your choice.”
“An order?”
“This could turn out to be a homicide investigation, after all. We don’t have much of a crime rate here at Selene, but we do have the legal apparatus in place. And security people to enforce the rules.”
Halleck bit back the reply she started to snap out at him. For several heartbeats she stared at Stavenger. He’s not happy about this, but he’s concerned about what’s going on at Farside, she realized. He’s trying to put it gently, but the government of Selene will arrest me like some common criminal if I don’t cooperate.
“I understand,” she said at last. “I’ll call my office and tell them that I’ll be staying here a few days longer than I expected.”
Stavenger’s relief was palpable. “Thank you, Mrs. Halleck. Thank you for understanding.”
* * *
Six hours later Anita Halleck approached the same tractor, this time bound outward to the spaceport and a lobber waiting to fly her to Farside. She had chosen to wear a simple jumpsuit of pearl gray. No sense dressing up for Farside, she told herself. None of those techies would appreciate it.
But as she climbed up into the tractor, she remembered that Carter McClintock was at Farside. Carter appreciates the finer things in life, she thought, smiling inwardly.
To her surprise, Edith Elgin was already in the tractor, dressed in a coral pink floral camp shirt and comfortable twill shorts.
“Welcome aboard,” said Edith brightly.
“You’re going to Farside?” Halleck asked as she sat beside Edith.
“I surely am. I’m going to coordinate the news media interviews with Professor Uhlrich.”
“Interviews? About the accidents?”
As the tractor lurched into motion, Edith shook her head negatively. “No, no. About New Earth. Professor Uhlrich’s discovered the planet’s got an atmosphere like Earth’s.”
“Has he?”
“News bureaus Earthside are all a-twitter about it. They can’t send people to Farside ’cause of the lockdown, so I’m going to coordinate their requests for interviews and background info.”
“Really? I thought no one was allowed into Farside while the accident investigation is proceeding.”
Edith grinned, strong white teeth gleaming. “Almost no one,” she said. “But why’re you going?”
“Ask your husband,” Halleck grumbled.
* * *
By the time they landed at Farside, Edith and Halleck had exchanged their life histories. Up to a point.
As they trudged along the springy access tube to Farside’s minuscule reception center, Edith was saying, “You mean nobody’s ever done a documentary on your life? Cripes, it’d be spectacular!”
Halleck shrugged. “If you think it makes sense to do it…”
They stepped through the airlock hatch and into the reception area. Nate Oberman sprang to his feet the instant he recognized Anita Halleck.
“Mrs. Halleck,” he said, “I couldn’t believe it when I saw your name on the manifest.”
“Hello, Mr. Oberman,” she said sweetly. Turning to Edith, “Do you know Edie Elgin?”
“I’ve seen you on the vids a lot, Ms. Elgin,” said Oberman. “Welcome to Farside.”
“Thanks,” Edith said. “Could somebody take me to Professor Uhlrich’s office, please?”
“I’ll call his assistant, Dr. Yost.”
Halleck said, “And I’m supposed to meet a Dr. Luongo.”
“That is me,” said Latisha Luongo, entering the reception area from the corridor door. She too was in one-piece coveralls, burnt orange. “Thank you for coming, Mrs. Halleck.”
Resisting an urge to complain about being forced to come to Farside, Halleck said, “I’ll be happy to assist your investigation in any way I can, naturally.”
“I appreciate that. Allow me to show you to your quarters.”
With a parting glance at Edith, Halleck followed the tall, leggy Luongo out into the corridor. Edith clutched her travelbag in both hands while Oberman sat back behind his desk and made a phone call.
He looked up at Edith, grinning. “Dr. Yost’ll be here in a coupla minutes.”
“Thanks.”
His grin widening, Oberman explained, “This place is so small it only takes a couple minutes to get anywhere.”
“I see.”
“Would you like to sit down?” Oberman pointed to the trio of sculpted plastic chairs against the far wall.
“It feels good to stand, actually,” said Edith. But she stepped to the chairs and dropped her travelbag on one of them.
Trudy Yost looked the tiniest bit flustered as she entered the room. “I’m Dr. Yost, Professor Uhlrich’s assistant.”
Edith saw that she was very young; her diminutive size and plain figure making her look almost like a child. She wore a drab pullover blouse and baggy slacks.
Sticking out her hand, “I’m Edie Elgin.”
“I’ll show you your quarters, and then take you to the professor,” Trudy said as they shook hands.
“Fine,” said Edith.