Operation Haystack Page 4
question ...the whole balance. If things go wrong in just the Alkes sector ... why... you could be sent back to the floor. You'd lose your job as ... why... someone else could take over as--"
"Welcome to the job," said Bullone. "It's a headache." He grinned atOrne. "Sorry to burden you with this, m'boy, but the women of thisfamily run me ragged. I guess from what I hear that you've had a prettybusy day, too." He smiled paternally at Diana. "And your first day outof the hospital."
"She sets quite a pace, but I've enjoyed it," said Orne.
"We're taking the small flitter for a tour of the wilderness areatomorrow," said Diana. "Lew can relax all the way. I'll do the driving."
"Be sure you're back in plenty of time for the party," said Polly."Can't have--" She broke off at a low bell from the alcove behind her."That'll be for me. Excuse me, please ... no, don't get up."
* * * * *
Orne bent to his dinner as it came out of the bubble slot beside hisplate: meat in an exotic sauce, _Sirik_ champagne, _paloika au semil_... more luxury.
Presently, Polly returned, resumed her seat.
"Anything important?" asked Bullone.
"Only a cancellation for tomorrow night. Professor Wingard is ill."
"I'd just as soon it was cancelled down to the four of us," saidBullone.
_Unless this is a pose, this doesn't sound like a man who wants to grabmore power_, thought Orne.
"Scottie, you should take more pride in your office!" snapped Polly."You're an important man."
"If it weren't for you, I'd be a nobody and prefer it," said Bullone. Hegrinned at Orne. "I'm a political idiot compared to my wife. Never sawanyone who could call the turn like she does. Runs in her family. Hermother was the same way."
Orne stared at him, fork raised from plate and motionless. A sudden ideahad exploded in his mind.
"You must know something of this life, Lewis," said Bullone. "Yourfather was member for Chargon once, wasn't he?"
"Yes," murmured Orne. "But that was before I was born. He died inoffice." He shook his head, thought: _It couldn't be ... but--_
"Do you feel all right, Lew?" asked Diana. "You're suddenly so pale."
"Just tired," said Orne. "Guess I'm not used to so much activity."
"And I've been a beast keeping you so busy today," she said.
"Don't you stand on ceremony here, son," said Polly. She lookedconcerned. "You've been very sick, and we understand. If you're tired,you go right on into bed."
Orne glanced around the table, met anxious attention in each face. Hepushed his chair back, said: "Well, if you really don't mind--"
"Mind!" barked Polly. "You scoot along now!"
"See you in the morning. Lew," said Diana.
He nodded, turned away, thinking: _What a handsome woman!_ As he starteddown the hall, he heard Bullone say to Diana: "Di, perhaps you'd betternot take that boy out tomorrow. After all, he _is_ supposed to be herefor a rest." Her answer was lost as Orne entered the hall, closed thedoor.
In the privacy of his room, Orne pressed the transceiver stud at hisneck, said: _"Stet?"_
A voice hissed in his ears: _"This is Mr. Stetson's relief. Orne, isn'tit?"_
_"Yes. I want a check right away on those Nathian records thearchaeologists found. Find out if Heleb was one of the planets theyseeded."_
_"Right. Hang on."_ There was a long silence, then: _"Lew, this is Stet.How come the question about Heleb?"_
_"Was it on that Nathian list?"_
_"Negative. Why'd you ask?"_
_"Are you sure, Stet? It'd explain a lot of things."_
_"It's not on the lists, but ... wait a minute."_ Silence. Then: _"Helebwas on line of flight to Auriga, and Auriga was on the list. We'vereason to doubt they put anyone down on Auriga. If their ship ran intotrouble--"_
_"That's it!"_ snapped Orne.
_"Keep your voice down or talk subvocally."_ ordered Stetson. _"Now,answer my question: What's up?"_
_"Something so fantastic it frightens me,"_ said Orne. _"Remember thatthe women who ruled Heleb bred female or male children by controllingthe sex of their offspring at conception. The method was unique. Infact, our medics thought it was impossible until--"_
_"You don't have to remind me of something we want buried andforgotten,"_ interrupted Stetson. _"Too much chance for misuse of thatformula."_
_"Yes,"_ said Orne. _"But what if your Nathian underground is composedentirely of women bred the same way? What if the Heleb women were just abunch who got out of hand because they'd lost contact with the mainelement?"_
_"Holy Moley!"_ blurted Stetson. _"Do you have evidence--"_
_"Nothing but a hunch,"_ said Orne. _"Do you have a list of the guestswho'll be here for the election party tomorrow?"_
_"We can get it. Why?"_
_"Check for women who mastermind their husbands in politics. Let me knowhow many and who."_
_"Lew, that's not enough to--"_
_"That's all I can give you for now, but I think I'll have more.Remember that ..."_ he hesitated, spacing his words as a new thoughtstruck him _"... the ... Nathians ... were ... nomads."_
* * * * *
Day began early for the Bullones. In spite of its being election day,Bullone took off for his office an hour after dawn. "See what I meanabout this job owning you?" he asked Orne.
"We're going to take it easy today, Lew," said Diana. She took his handas they came up the steps after seeing her father to his limousineflitter. The sky was cloudless.
Orne felt himself liking her hand in his--liking the feel of it toomuch. He withdrew his hand, stood aside, said: "Lead on."
_I've got to watch myself_, he thought. _She's too charming._
"I think a picnic," said Diana. "There's a little lake with grassy banksoff to the west. We'll take viewers and a couple of good novels. This'llbe a do-nothing day."
Orne hesitated. There might be things going on at the house that heshould watch. But no ... if he was right about this situation, thenDiana could be the weak link. Time was closing in on them, too. Bytomorrow the Nathians could have the government completely undercontrol.
It was warm beside the lake. There were purple and orange flowers abovethe grassy bank. Small creatures flitted and cheeped in the brush andtrees. There was a _groomis_ in the reeds at the lower end of the lake,and every now and then it honked like an old man clearing his throat.
"When we girls were all at home we used to picnic here every Eight-day,"said Diana. She lay on her back on the groundmat they'd spread. Orne satbeside her facing the lake. "We made a raft over there on the otherside," she said. She sat up, looked across the lake. "You know, I thinkpieces of it are still there. See?" She pointed at a jumble of logs. Asshe gestured, her hand brushed Orne's.
Something like an electric shock passed between them. Without knowingexactly how it happened, Orne found his arms around Diana, their lipspressed together in a lingering kiss. Panic was very close to thesurface in Orne. He broke away.
"I didn't plan for that to happen," whispered Diana.
"Nor I," muttered Orne. He shook his head. "Sometimes things can getinto an awful mess!"
Diana blinked. "Lew ... don't you ... like me?"
He ignored the monitoring transceiver, spoke his mind. _They'll justthink it's part of the act_, he thought. And the thought was bitter.
"Like you?" he asked. "I think I'm in love with you!"
She sighed, leaned against his shoulder. "Then what's wrong? You're notalready married. Mother had your service record checked." Diana smiledimpishly. "Mother has second sight."
* * * * *
The bitterness was like a sour taste in Orne's mouth. He could see thepattern so clearly. "Di, I ran away from home when I was seventeen," hesaid.
"I know, darling. Mother's told me all about you."
"You don't understand," he said. "My father died before I was born.He--"
"It must've been very hard on your mot
her," she said. "Left all alonewith her family ... and a new baby on the way."
"They'd known for a long time," said Orne. "My father had _Broach's_disease, and they found out too late. It was already in the