Spinneret

She forced a chuckle and accepted the cassette he handed her. "All right—but this time you start."

"If you insist," he said, stacking the plates. "But I warn you: I was a very dull person in college."

They both did their best, but it was clear the mood of the evening had been irreparably darkened, and Hafner left early.

Is this how it's going to be now? Carmen wondered as she undressed for bed an hour later, the book she'd tried reading abandoned for lack of concentration. Is the Spi

Oh, don't be so dramatic, she chided herself. You're tired, you're overworked, and you're feeling sorry for yourself. Ride it out, girl; at the very least, nothing more can happen to you until morning.

But she was wrong.

It was still the dead of night when the insistent buzz of her phone dragged her out of a surrealistic melding of all the war movies she'd ever seen. "Hello?" she answered groggily, knocking the instrument into bed with her before she could get her fingers to close on it.

"Carmen? This is Colonel Meredith. How fast can you pull yourself together and get out to Martello?"

"Uh … half an hour, I suppose," she said, still not fully awake. "What's, uh, going on?"

"One of the UN's ships has just arrived in orbit and is sending a shuttle down," he told her. "Aboard are our old friend Ashur Msuya … and President Allerton."

"Allerton?" she asked unbelievingly, the last remnants of fog evaporating in a rush.

"That's what I said—and as the old line goes, I've got a bad feeling about this.

Whatever they're up to, I want you there, both as Council head and chief trade negotiator."

"Yes, sir. Are you bringing anyone else in?"

"Just you and me and possibly Major Brown. Why?"

"Well … I don't know, Colonel, but it sounds to me like we're about to be delivered an ultimatum. Perhaps we ought to have a small delegation there, a delegation that would more completely represent the population."

There was a short pause. "The danger is that a group like that would display a complete lack of unity, which I presume is the exact opposite of your intent."

"True. But Msuya, at least, already knows about the Council and the fact that you listen to it. At least occasionally."

"That's why you're going to be there."

"Yes, sir … but I'm not in control of the Council. I can certainly back you up on anything you say, but if the Council as a whole doesn't agree we could have trouble later."

"In other words, you think I should invite Perez," Meredith said flatly.

Carmen swallowed. "Yes, sir. And maybe Dr. Hafner, too, as representative of the scientists."

The silence this time was longer. "I suppose you're right," he said at last, reluctantly. "In the short run we can afford squabbles in front of Msuya more than we can afford riots in front of the Rooshrike. In the long run … well, that'll have to take care of itself. All right, I'll give them a call. Be at the Martello conference room as soon as you can; the shuttle's due in under an hour, and I'd like time to confer with you first."

Carmen already had the phone strapped to her wrist and was pulling on her underwear. "Half an hour or less, sir."

"Good. By the way—any particular reason you suggested Perez and Hafner?"

"Yes, sir. Since they've seen the Spi

He grunted. "I hope you're right. See you soon."

Chapter 21

The conference room at Martello had been put together out of two offices and a small machine shop in anticipation of face-to-whatever meetings between Carmen and alien trade representatives. It was not yet even remotely plush, but the chairs were comfortable and the table had been polished to a high gloss. Standing stiffly behind his chair, Meredith glanced around the room once more, wishing they'd had more time to work on the place. A room adequate for meeting a Ctencri merchant seemed considerably less so for a talk with the Commander in Chief.

The far door opened and a young corporal stepped in, looking about as nervous as a soldier not actually under fire can look. "Colonel Meredith: may I present the President of the United States and Mr. Ashur Msuya of the United Nations."

Flattening against the door, the corporal snapped a salute as Allerton and Msuya strode past him into the room.

Followed by four quiet men in dark suits, who spread inconspicuously along the back wall. Secret Service? Meredith wondered. Or did Msuya decide to bring some muscle this time? Hiding his worry, he threw Allerton a salute of his own.

"Mr. President; Mr. Msuya: welcome to Astra. I'm sorry we haven't got a more elaborate ceremony for you, but we're a bit short of brass bands here."

Allerton smiled slightly at that; Msuya didn't. "That's quite all right," the President said. "We're actually here more on business, anyway."

So we're skipping even the pretense of a casual visit. Uh-oh. "I expected that was the case, sir," he said. He gestured to the three people flanking him. "Permit me then to introduce Dr. Peter Hafner, Civilian Council Head Carmen Olivero, and Councillor Cristobal Perez, whom I've asked to sit in on the meeting. If there are no objections, of course."

"There are," Msuya said. "Having civilians here serves no useful purpose. You are in command on Astra, Colonel, and I for one have no patience with this 'Civilian Council' smokescreen."

Deliberately, Meredith turned to Allerton. "Mr. President?"

"Mr. Msuya is correct in that all responsibility for Astran activities must rest with you," Allerton said. "However, if you want to consider these people as advisors, I think we can accept their presence."

Msuya growled something under his breath, and for an instant he and Allerton locked eyes. Then, with a fractional shrug, he pulled a chair out from the table and sat down. So, Meredith thought as Allerton and and the Astrans followed suit, Allerton hasn't completely knuckled under to UN pressure yet— or at least is willing to lock horns with Msuya on minor issues. Tucking away the information for future reference, he looked at Allerton and waited for the other's move.

It wasn't long in coming. "Colonel, we've been hearing reports recently of what must be considered unusual policy decisions coming out of your office. Your refusal to allow Mr. Msuya's scientific team to study your Spi

A well-rehearsed speech, Meredith thought, keeping his eyes OD the President.

"Am I being court-martialed, sir?" he asked bluntly.

"Not in the usual sense, no. Neither your rank nor your record are in any danger.

Only—as I said—your position on Astra."

"I see." Meredith glanced once at Msuya's poker face, thinking furiously. "As far as the scientific teams are concerned, I believe my jurisdiction includes the final decision on perso

"The time was ours to waste if we chose," Msuya put in with a mildness that seemed to shelter the promise of later fireworks. 'Furthermore, as a commissioned UN group we were legally outside your command authority."