Starswarm

by Jerry Pournelle

  "Hi, darlin'," Mike said. "This is Jeanine."

  "And she's special?" Goldie asked.

  "That she is."

  "Then come in and welcome," Goldie said. "Of course I was hoping you'd come back to me." Her tone left a great deal of doubt as to what she meant by that.

  The inside of the room was expensively furnished in a lavish imitation of a Persian harem, with silk wall hangings and a beaded curtain that shielded the entrance to a room with a large divan. Goldie went to a cabinet and got out glasses. She poured two tumblers of something clear that smelled to Jeanine of licorice, then added a small quantity of ice water to each. The liquor turned cloudy as the water trickled in. She handed a glass to Mike, then turned to Jeanine. "Didn't reckon you'd fancy ouzo," she said. "What'll you have?"

  "Tea?" Jeanine said.

  "Sure." Goldie spoke to the ceiling. "Big Boy. Tea. Russian Caravan, big pot, three of us." She turned back to Mike and lifted her glass in a salute. "Cheers."

  "Cheers."

  "OK, Mike Gallegher himself, what brings you here after ten years and more? It sure ain't me."

  "I need a favor."

  "Think of that."

  "Come on, Goldie, things happened back then. You heard about some of them. My bosses were killed, and the cops made out that I'd done it. I had to hide out. I mean really hide out, so deep no one knew. Hell, Jeanine still thinks my name's Flynn."

  Goldie nodded, but her expression didn't change. "I heard about it. Bit of a disappointment, not getting that pardon and all."

  "For me too," Mike said. "And I don't imagine Michelle and Harold were too thrilled."

  "Papers said you were wanted for questioning-"

  "Harold and Michelle?" Jeanine said. "Harold and Michelle Trent? The new General Manager? They were killed! I read about that, a security guard was supposed to have—that was you?"

  "Not sure what you read," Mike said. "But yeah, it sure was me wanted for questioning. Long story, and part of it's still not mine to tell."

  "But—"

  "If I'd really been involved in a conspiracy to take out the two richest people on the planet, do you think I'd still be hanging around?" Mike said.

  "I've known Mike longer than you," Goldie said. She chuckled. "Better too. I know damn well he didn't kill his boss. But think about it this way, he's not stupid. If he took that big a chance, he'd have made enough to get off planet. So where you been hanging, Mike Gallegher himself?" Goldie asked. "Sure not around here."

  "Out in the boonies," Mike said. "Goldie, look, we really need help." He grinned. "I can pay too."

  "You never had to pay," Goldie said. "But you always did. OK, what do you need?"

  "ID."

  "When, and how good?"

  "Morning, and good enough to get us on planes out of town. Different planes. After that, hers ought to hold up for a couple of weeks anyway."

  Goldie frowned. "Must be bad, to make you two lovebirds split up."

  "Didn't know we were that obvious," Mike said.

  "I can tell, Goldie can always tell," she said. "I just hope someday a guy looks at me the way you look at her. I know damn well I'd never suspect him of murdering his boss. Or give a damn if he did it. How bad are you wanted?"

  "Don't know—"

  "Let's just see," Goldie said. She looked up at the ceiling again. "Big Boy, what's the wanted status for Michael Gallegher—" She turned to Mike. "What name they looking for you under?"

  "Mike Flynn. And Jeanine Osmund."

  "You heard it," Goldie said. "More ouzo?"

  "Naw, I need to keep my head clear."

  There was a soft tone from the cabinet. Goldie opened it and took out a tray with a steaming pot of tea, cups, and tea service. "OK," she said. "I don't drink much anymore either." She poured tea for all of them. "Things sure have changed. New breed of security people. No fun at all. Not like old times. Wonder what would have happened if I'd got that pardon you promised me?"

  "You ever get the evidence we wanted?"

  Goldie laughed. "Sure I did. Some of it's what keeps this place open. Kind of interesting stuff."

  "Hang on to it," Mike said. "May still come in useful—"

  "It sure will," Goldie said. "For me."

  "Michael Gallegher, Captain, Headquarters Division, Great Western Enterprises Security Department," the ceiling announced. "Deceased. Formerly wanted for questioning concerning the murder of Harold and Michelle Trent. Terminated while resisting arrest. Michael Flynn, general facilities maintenance foreman at Starswarm Research Station. Wanted for questioning, felony rebellion, computer fraud, GWE Security two-star alert. Jeanine Osmund, marital status questionable presumed widowed, waitress at Harry's Tavern, Pearly Gates, routine surveillance inquiry Pearly Gates police. Additional want, material witness, regional GWE Security," the ceiling announced. "No national wants. I offer a conclusion."

  "State it," Goldie said.

  "Evidence indicates medium probability that Michael Flynn and Michael Gallegher are the same person. Penetration of records would produce proof with minimum probability of detection. Shall I proceed?"

  "It won't be necessary. Your conclusion is correct. Thanks, Big Boy," Goldie said. She grinned self-consciously.

  "You always were polite to your computers," Mike said.

  "Yeah, and it's stupid considering what I pay for them," Goldie said. "Anyway, you heard it. Your grayskin buddies want you pretty bad. Two-star alert. That carries a pretty good snitch fee, and God knows what they'd pay for Mike Gallegher." She grinned at Jeanine's look of alarm. "Don't worry, sweetie, I haven't sunk that low yet. But, Mike, if Big Boy can come up with that conclusion, so can the GWE system."

  "Don't I know it. I don't think they've asked yet, though."

  Goldie nodded. She studied Jeanine a moment. "We won't have to change you much. Different hairstyle ought to do it. Any name you fancy, or you want to leave it to us?"

  "I've never done anything like this," Jeanine said. "What's best?"

  "Leave it to us," Goldie said. "Long as you can remember the name we give you."

  "She'll be traveling with a five-year-old boy," Mike said.

  "No problem as long as he can keep his mouth shut. Now you," Goldie said. "Be a little harder to fix you up. Worse if they connect Flynn with Gallegher."

  "That's for damn sure," Mike said.

  "How long does this have to work?"

  "Couple of days is better than nothing," Mike said. He shrugged. "It may be over by then."

  "What may be over? Never mind, I don't want to know," Goldie said. "Last time I got involved in one of your operations it damn near got us all killed. You say you need it by morning. This is liable to be expensive. Help yourself to more tea. I'll be back in a bit." She went out and closed the door behind her.

  "Can you trust her?" Jeanine asked.

  Mike grinned. "Sure I trust her. Goldie and me go back a long way, back to Earth even. I sent her out to this planet, way back when. I'd trust her anywhere. Besides, I've got her heart in a jar in my safe deposit box." Mike carefully didn't look at the ceiling. "More tea, darlin'?"

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  A Journey

  IT WAS gray dawn at the waterfront park. The sun was a smear to the east that might or might not be above the horizon. No one was around. Just for luck Mike used the telephone to punch in the number Gwen had given him, but as he had expected there was no answer. "Nobody home," he said.

  "So what are we looking for?" Jeanine asked. Her hair was now shorter and light brown, and she wore large earrings that made her face look different. "What next?"

  "Don't know. Just supposed to go look where I left that box. So I will." Mike started down the path toward the sea. The tide was out a long way. The electronics box had evidently been swept out to sea, because there was nothing on the ledge where he had left it. The path was wet and slippery, and there were no hand rails below the high tide marks, so getting down to the wide strip of rock sand exposed by the retreating tide t
ook longer than he thought it would.

  A yellow object caught his eye. When he got to it, he could see it was about the size of a basketball. There were five smaller spherical objects near it. They were all sealed, and when he shook one it seemed to be full of liquid. Mike took a plastic bag from his pocket. Jeanine had taken longer to get down the face of the bluff. She caught up with him as he was stuffing the last of the gourdlike objects into his bag. "What are those things?" she asked.

  "Beats me. I just know I'm supposed to take them to Starswarm Station along with those electronics boxes," Mike said.

  "And then what?"

  Mike shook his head. "Nobody ever told me what happens after that." Maybe nothing, he thought. But—"Guess I'll just have to wait and see. Right now it's time to get you moving. Find a good place to stay near Universe Park and have some fun with Jason. I'll find you when I can."

  "You gave me a lot of money. Won't you need it?"

  "Money is about the only thing I don't need now," Mike said. He pointed up the bluffside trail. "And it's time to get going. That electronics shop will be open about the time I get you off to the airport."

  There was no trouble getting to Cisco. His new ID showed him as Ben Trumper, traveling salesman for a novelty company. His hair was parted on the right side rather than the left, contacts changed the color of his eyes, and he walked with a slouch rather than the military bearing that was natural to him. There were police in the airports at Pearly Gates and Cisco, but they didn't give him a second look.

  Mike claimed his luggage. He'd been concerned about the sea gourds leaking, so he'd paid extra to have them shipped in the pressurized forward hold where pets rode. A quick inspection showed they were intact.

  There were no roads to Starswarm Station, and no regular passenger flights. The only way there was by helicopter, and passengers usually rode out with the weekly supply ship, which would leave in three hours. Mike was scheduled to be on it, but of course they'd be watching for him now. So now what? He kept hearing a voice in his head. "Captain Gallegher, you were assigned to protect me. You could not save me the last time I was threatened. Now you have another chance, if you hurry." Which was fine, but how? He had enough money to buy a helicopter, but that took paperwork Goldie hadn't got him.

  Mike bought a paper, looked through the want ads, and took a taxi to a used car lot where he paid cash for an elderly but inconspicuous sedan. Then he used a public terminal to look up a name and address in the phone directory.

  Cal Phillips, the supply copter pilot, lived not far from the airport. Mike drove there and parked across the street from his house. He watched when Cal came out, made sure he was alone, and followed him to the hangar parking lot. When Cal got out, Mike walked over to him.

  "Eh—Mike. You look different."

  "Yeah, and I expect you know why."

  Cal looked around nervously. "No, what's the story?"

  "Let's take a walk."

  "Look, I got to get to work," Cal protested.

  "Cal," Mike said, "I don't know how much snitch fee they'd pay you to turn me in, but you can make a lot more if you get me to Starswarm Station without the grayskins knowing about it."

  "I don't think so," Cal said. He looked around the lot again. "I wasn't going to do you, I swear I wasn't even thinking about it. But the word's out, Mike. Twenty thousand for information leading to your arrest."

  "No small sum. Fact is, though, I can match it with a bonus. In cash too."

  "Can you now? How big a bonus," Cal asked. "I'll level with you. I don't believe any of that crap they said about how dangerous you are, and I can sure use the money, but hell, Mike, if they find out I helped you I lose my job, and then how are the kids going to eat?"

  "So we see they don't find out," Mike said. "And besides, if it goes sour you can tell them I threatened you." He showed the pistol in his belt. "And the bonus is ten thousand. Thirty thousand, Cal. Just get me back to Starswarm Station without the grayskins finding out."

  Cal whistled. "So what's this all about?"

  "I really don't think you want to know," Mike said. "Now, I expect they've got someone watching this place."

  "Nobody special I know of," Cal said.

  "Good, but just in case, we play it by the book," Mike said. "You sneak me aboard the ship."

  "Uh—where's the money?"

  "Ten now, that's all I've got with me. Rest when I'm in the station." Mike smiled thinly. His jacket covered the pistol, but they were both aware of it. "So let's get going. I suggest we go in through the supply shack."

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Cease Firing

  ALL right, there's the station dead ahead," Cal said. "So where do I land?"

  "Over by the lake," Mike said. "You crazy?"

  "Probably," Mike said, "but do it anyway. See that cove there? Go to the far side of it and set her down next to the water."

  "OK—"

  Mike waited until the copter was on the ground. "Now get out," he said.

  "What the hell—"

  "Do what I tell you, Cal. I got no reason to harm you, but I'm not taking any chances now. Get out. Walk over there. Over to the far side of the cove." Mike waited until the pilot was well away from the ship, then took out his luggage. He ripped open the plastic bags surrounding the sea gourds, and threw them into the water. A black tentacle seized each one and pulled it under.

  "So far so good," Mike said to himself. He took out the electronics boxes.

  "Mike!" Cal was shouting. He pointed toward a grove of trees near the lake. A dozen centaurs were trotting toward them from the grove.

  "Walk back over here," Mike said. "Not near the ship. Just stand over yonder."

  "Them things look dangerous."

  "They are dangerous," Mike said. "But I've been told they're no danger to us. May even be friendly."

  "And who the hell told you that?"

  "You wouldn't know her," Mike said. He laid out one of the electronics boxes and activated the fuel cells to power it up. Lights flashed. Then he unreeled the antenna and tossed it into the water.

  Nothing happened. He hadn't really expected anything to happen. Gwen had said that only she could program the stupid box, and she was gone before he could get it built. Mark up another failure for Captain Michael Gallegher. Whatever Gwen had planned wasn't going to work. Now it was up to Michael Gallegher. Maybe the centaurs would help. They'd stopped about a hundred meters away and were watching, not doing anything. They all had axes in their belts, and a couple of them carried spears, and what the hell was that other stuff? It looked like they were wearing backpacks. Earthmade backpacks, a lot like Kip's backpack. Mike wondered about that, but how do you talk to a centaur?

  As he wondered, the pack turned and trotted back toward their grove. Mike watched the lights blink on the unprogrammed electronics box. Still nothing. Mike shrugged. He'd done what he'd been told to do. No point in hanging around here any longer.

  Henderson, Mike thought. He's smart. Maybe he can think of something. God knows I can't. He thought of removing the useless electronics box so Henderson could examine it, but decided he might as well leave it, since he had another on the chopper.

  "OK, Cal," Mike said. "Get aboard. Now we go to the station. I'm done here."

  Cal lifted and headed toward the fenced station. "Mike, what in hell is this all about?"

  "Cal, I wish I knew. I went into Pearly Gates for some R and R, and next thing I know, they've chased Kip into the bush and they're after me."

  "Chased Kip into the bush? He's just a kid. Why?"

  "Some kind of story about explosions."

  "That why you wanted to land near that lake?" Cal asked. "You got some way to leave messages for the kid?"

  "Something like that."

  "Mike, this stinks." Cal looked down at the scrub brush. The centaurs were just vanishing into their grove. "That's not safe out there for a kid."

  "Well, he grew up here," Mike said. "And they tell me he's got the dogs with hi
m. But you got it, it stinks."

  "Chopper 861, this is Starswarm Station Security. Identify yourself."

  "Security, this is 861, Cal Phillips in the regular supply ship. Since when did you start having security checks?"