Strength has its purposes!
The bolts removed, she lifted the end of the divan. My! It was heavy. She doubted that three men could lift it. She slipped the text under the divan, restored the bolts, twisting them tight.
Now for something juicy about Win Ferry.
She stood up and returned to the console. Ferry gave her no difficulty either. He practiced no discretion whatsoever.
Poor old fool! I'm going to destroy Oakes for you, Win.
No! Don't trick yourself into nobility. You're doing it on your own and for yourself. Let's keep love and the glory of others out of it.
Remember that I have power; you believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you. You are my creator, but I am your master.
OAKES WOKE out of his first sound sleep groundside to muffled pounding outside his cubby.
His fingers reached his com-console before he was even awake and the viewscreen showed complete madness up and down Colony's corridors.
Even outside his own locked hatchway!
"I'm hungry now! I'm hungry now! I'm hungry now!"
The chant was a snarl in the throat of the night.
There were no guns in evidence, but plenty of rocks.
In a matter of blinks, Lewis was on the line.
"Morgan, we've lost them for now. This thing will have to run its course unti...."
"What the hell is happening?" Oakes did not like it that his voice cracked.
"It started out as a round of The Game down in the 'ponicsways. Lots of drinking. Now it's a food riot. We can flood 'em out wit...."
"Wait a minute! Are the perimeters still secure?"
"Yes. My people out there."
"Then wh....?"
"Water in the passages will slow 'em down until w...."
"No!" Oakes took a deep breath. "You're out of your league, Jesus. What we'll do is let them go. If they seize food, then it'll be their responsibility when food gets even shorter. The supply does not change, you hear me? No extra food!"
"But they're running wild throug...."
"Let them rip things up. The repairs afterward will keep them busy. And a good riot will purge emotions for a time, wear them out physically. Then we turn it to our advantage, but only after well-reasoned consideration."
Oakes listened for some response from Lewis, but the 'coder remained silent.
"Jesus?"
"Yes, Morgan." Lewis sounded out of breath. "I think that yo.... had better mov.... to the Redoubt immediately. We can't wait for dayside, but you'l...."
"Where are you, Jesus?"
"Old Lab One complex. We were moving out the last o...."
"Why must I go to the Redoubt now?" Oakes blinked and turned up the illumination in his cubby. "The riots will pass. As long as the perimeter's secure we ca...."
"They're not stamping their feet and whining, Morgan. They're killing people. We've sealed off the gun lockers but some of the rioter...."
"The Redoubt cannot be ready yet! The damage there wa.... I mean, is it safe?"
"It's ready enough. And the crew there is handpicked by Murdoch. They're the best. You can rely on them. And, Morga...."
Oakes tried to swallow, then: "Yes?"
Another long pause, garbled snatches of conversation.
"Morgan?"
"I'm still on."
"You should go now. I've arranged everything. We'll flood 'em out of the necessary passages. My people will be there within minutes: our usual signal. You should be at the shuttle hangar within fifteen minutes."
"But my records here! I haven't finished th...."
"We'll get that later. I'll leave a briefing disc for you with the shuttle crew. I'll expect to hear from you as soon as you get to the Redoubt."
"Bu.... I mea.... what about Legata?"
"She's safe shipside! Call her when you get to the Redoubt."
"It'.... that bad?"
"Yes."
The connection went dead.
Though a pendulum's arc may vary, its period does not. Each swing requires the same amount of time. Consider the last swing and its infinitesimal arc. That is where we are truly alive: in the last period of the pendulum.
LEGATA LOOKED past Oakes to the sea below the Redoubt. It was an orderly suns-set out there, Rega following Alki below the rim of the sea. A distant line of clouds boiled along the horizon's curve. Long waves rolled in to crash on the beach of their small bay. The surf lay out of sight beneath the cliffs upon which the Redoubt perched. Double walls of plaz plus an insulated foundation screened out most of the sounds, but she could feel the surf through her feet. She certainly could see the spray misting her view and beading the plaz along the view porch.
Orderly suns-set and disorderly sea.
She experienced a sense of calm which she knew to be false. Oakes had bolstered himself with alcohol, Lewis with work. They were still getting reports from Colony, but the last word suggested that the old Lab One site was under siege. Lucky thing Murdoch had been sent shipside.