Quiet Invasion(42)

What if they know me? What if they were there? The thought rose unbidden from the back of his brain.

“Pleased to meet you, Dr. Godwin,” Cleary was saying. Ben focused on her, a little startled, but she just smiled politely.

Ben stuck his hand out and shook hers. It was strong and slightly calloused. He made himself look into her amber-colored eyes. He saw no hint of recognition there, and relief, as irrational and unlocked for as his anger and his fear, almost robbed him of his balance.

“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Cleary,” he answered in as steady a voice as he could manage. Too young, he thought to himself. Security has limits on how rejuvenated you can be, and they’re both way too young to have been at Bradbury.

That realization allowed him to greet Bowerman with something approaching equanimity.

Then, it was over. The yewners mingled with the department heads, making polite small talk about their voyage and the base. Helen flitted between the conversational groups, reminding everyone of the reception scheduled for that evening. Grace Meyer walked Isaac Walters a little way off from the general crowd and talked to him in low, urgent tones. Michael took charge of Cleary and Bowerman and was telling them about the provisions he’d made to get them access to base records regarding the Discovery. Stykos and Wray stood back and photographed it all.

Then, in groups of twos and threes, the yewners and their chaperones began to make their way to the elevator bundles. The crowd thinned, and Ben found he could breathe again.

The sound of footsteps echoing through the docking corridor turned Ben around again. Another person emerged. This one wore a tan tunic and trousers with blue ID patches, the standard uniform for crews on distance ships. It took Ben a moment to recognize him.

“Hello, Dr. Godwin.”

Joshua Kenyon, one of Venera’s atmospheric researchers, held out his hand. Well, no, he wasn’t exactly Venera’s. He’d never made the commitment to live on the base. He just came up every now and again to do his work on Rayleigh scattering in the upper atmosphere and then went back down to Mother Earth to analyze and publish what he’d found. Because of that, Ben found himself unable to really like the man.

Kenyon was also not scheduled to be back for at least another six months.

“Hello, Dr. Kenyon.” Ben shook his hand. “This is unexpected, especially in uniform.”

Kenyon blushed a little. “I know. They weren’t even going to let me back up. Special flight for U.N. VIPs only. But I knew a couple of guys on the crew, and they kind of smuggled me in.” He gestured at his uniform. “Not to spec, I know, but when I heard about the Discovery, I couldn’t help myself. I’m really hoping Dr. Failia will let me get a look at that laser.”

Of course. Kenyon used lasers constantly in his work. Ben’s dislike for the man did not change the fact that Kenyon was probably one of the best optical engineers Venera had access to. Of course he wanted a look at the laser. He’d be just the person to pull the machine apart and see what it was made of and what it was for.

Ben shook his head regretfully. “I’m sorry. Helen’s put a ban on any Venerans, or anyone else, going down there until the yewners…the U.N. team has finished up. Doesn’t want anybody to get in their way or to challenge whatever theories they come up with by presenting a whole bunch of facts. She says there’ll be plenty of time for that later.”

Kenyon’s face fell one muscle at a time. “I may just ask her anyway,” he said at last. “Do you think getting on my knees and begging would help any?’

Ben did not laugh. “She’s got her hands full, Dr. Kenyon. I think it’d be better if you just waited until the investigative team’s finished.”

Kenyon’s eyes searched Ben’s face, and Ben saw in them the knowledge of his, Ben’s, personal dislike. That was all right; he’d never supposed it to be a secret.

At last Kenyon blew out a sigh. “Okay, if that’s the way it is, that’s the way it is. I’ll wait.” He paused. “Or did you rent out my room while I was gone?”

“No, your quarters are still right where you left them.” Venera kept a set of apartments for people like Kenyon who came and went on regular schedules. Ben stepped aside. “Sorry you went through all this for nothing.”

The thought no you’re not, flickered across Kenyon’s face, but he quickly smoothed it out. “Thanks,” he said as he strode past Ben, heading for the elevators.

Alone, Ben let his shoulders sag. The U.N. flag fluttered in the breeze from the ventilator shafts, and Ben found his hands itching to go over and rip it down.