- Chapter 13






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Chapter 13
As the voyage drew to its conclusion Grimes was required more and more frequently in Control, Few were the opportunities when he could discuss with Susie and Hodge their plan of campaign after a landing had been made—if a landing was made—and fewer still were the opportunities to have the girl to himself. Their sessions of lovemaking were brief, infrequent but torrid. He knew—and she knew—that what was between them could not last, not even if they survived the landing, not even if they succeeded in making their escape from Dunlevin. The transitory nature of their relationship made it all the more intense.
They had time to talk, sometimes, after their couplings. Once Grimes said to her, "You told me, some time ago, that Lania hates you because you were once Paul's lover. I just can't see how a girl like you could fall for a fat slob like him. . . ."
She laughed, a little ruefully. She said, "He wasn't always so fat. And back on Bronsonia—at least to the refugees and their children, such as myself—he was the Prince, the Prince Charming. Many native Bronsonians thought of him that way as well." She laughed again. "I believe you're jealous, John. . . ."
He laughed, but without real humor. "Perhaps I am."
And then Hodge, outside the cabin, made his usual major production of unlocking the door.
* * *
On another occasion they were talking of less personal matters.
He asked her, "What do you know of Bacon Bay, Susie?"
"About as much as you," she told him. "It's on the west coast of New Ireland. I suppose it was named after some personality among the original colonists. . . ."
He said, "There was a Bacon Bay—no, not Bacon Bay but a name very similar—back on Earth. I remember it from a history lesson years ago, when I was just a school kid. One of the American presidents made a landing there in support of a counterrevolution. . . ."
"And what happened?"
"It came unstuck."
She said, "I have a sort of presentiment that this one will. It's just as well, I think, that we won't be sticking around to find out just what does happen. . . ."
* * *
For a change Hodge was watching Grimes eat while Susie kept guard outside.
He said, "I've been helping the general's artificers with the hovertanks. Nasty, vicious little three-man jobs. . . . One driver, two gunners. . . . You're an expert on military matters, Grimes; perhaps you could tell me why Mortdale is going to use ground forces instead of a fleet of armed pinnaces? After all, we could have loaded quite a few aboard this ship. . . ."
"A lot depends," said Grimes, "upon what arms he was able to purchase on Porlock. Quite possibly the Porlockers didn't have any military aircraft to spare."
"Those tanks," said Hodge, "were manufactured in the Duchy of Waldegren."
"And so what? They could still be Porlockian surplus army equipment. But tanks instead of aircraft for the invasion? It makes sense. Aircraft—or spacecraft operating inside or outside an atmosphere—are fine for blowing the hell out of the enemy's military installations and/or centers of population—but they're also fine targets themselves. And if you want to take and hold, without causing overmuch damage, you need infantry. And tanks are sort of mechanized infantry."
"They can take and hold as much as they like," said Hodge, "as long as they don't hold us."
* * *
"This looks like being the last time, John," said Susie. "The last time, that is, on this leg of the voyage. I hope that it's not the last time, period."
"I do, too."
"That's up to us, the three of us," she said.
He looked suspiciously at her naked belly. It seemed a little plumper than usual.
She laughed. "By the three of us I meant you, Hodge and myself. Don't worry about any other possible meaning to my words. I'm taking my shots."
"Just as well," said Grimes. "I've enough worries already."
"You worried? I've heard that when you were in the Survey Service you were notorious for your good luck."
"If my luck had held," he said, "I shouldn't be here now."
"You bastard!" she said, and Grimes had to talk hard and fast before she would allow him to continue with the lovemaking.
When they were finished he said, "But, after all, I have been lucky. This time with you. . . ."
She said, "You don't deserve it."
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