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helm of our yacht. It had looked so easy on the sims, but once I had all that
to handle, I found out the sims hadn't really prepared me. Our pilot made me
watch the tapes over and over again, just to get it through my head that I
didn't know everything."
The midshipman finished in an embarrassed rush, his color even higher.
Carlie, accustomed to Ozzie's more usual rich boy attitude of self-importance
was amused and pleased.
"You may well have a point, Mister Russo. I'll make a note of it."
"Yes, Lieutenant. Thank you, Ma'am."
Later still, the routine business was interrupted from Tactics.
"Lieutenant Dunsinane, a pinnace just launched from the surface. It's
going great guns. A second just followed it, also going fast."
"Vector?"
"First one is heading for an armed merchantman, Psalms. The second is
heading for armed merchantman Proverbs."
"Those are the other Templeton ships," Carlie said. "Inform Captain
Boniece. Then tight-beam our pinnace and suggest she increase her accel. I
want those people back on board."
"Yes, Ma'ams," eddied around the bridge.
The next interruption came from the com station.
"Call coming in from planetary surface, Lieutenant Dunsinane.
Originating at their Palace of the Just. Caller identifies himself as one
Ronald Sands."
"Get Captain Boniece on the line," Carlie said. "Let him know what's
up."
"Captain Boniece is on, Ma'am," came the reply hardly a breath later.
"He says for you to take it. He'll ghost."
"Right. Pipe it to the bridge."
Ronald Sands proved to be a man of middle years whose light eyes seemed
focused on some visionary distance. He wore his light brown hair well past his
shoulders and his full beard neatly trimmed. When he moved, though, there was
carefully controlled energy that reminded Carlie that the Faithful eschewed
prolong. Sands was probably no more than thirty, possibly younger than that.
"You are Lieutenant Dunsinane?" Sands began, his tone almost concealing
his disbelief and disgust. Carlie remembered hearing that the Faithful kept
their women in isolation. This being the case, Sands was keeping his poise
admirably.
"That is correct. Lieutenant Carlotta Dunsinane, officer of the watch,
HMS Intransigent. How may I be of service?"
Sands' lips twitched in a very slight smile, one that was surely a
concession to courtesy rather than an indication of any friendliness or
warmth.
"I speak with the words of Chief Elder Simonds," he said.
Looking down at what was apparently a prepared script he read.
* * *
"These are the words of Chief Elder Simonds: 'The people of the Star
Kingdom have come to Masada speaking of mutual respect and the possibility of
alliance. God in His infinite wisdom and greatness of heart has offered
opportunity for the Star Kingdom to show the depth of its commitment to these
words.'"
"'A vessel belonging to one of our most honored and respected Elders has
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been stolen by those who have no respect for the Faithful. Its course will
take it near to you. We do not ask you to take the vessel, nor to fire upon
it, only that you slow it in its progress so that it may be reclaimed. As God
has said: 'He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an
hedge, a serpent shall bite him.'"
"'Thus they go from strength to strength. They are a stubborn and
rebellious generation. However, God has shown that mercy and truth are met
together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.'"
* * *
Carlie felt momentarily overwhelmed by this last spate of scripture, but
she managed a courteous nod.
"Your request has been heard, however, I must consult my captain."
"There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak," Ronald Sands
agreed. "We ask only that the time for speech not be delayed overlong so that
these thieves may slip away unimpeded."
"You will have the captain's response promptly," Carlie agreed.
"Intransigent out."
When the transmission was broken, Carlie took a deep breath.
"Captain Boniece, your orders, Sir?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]