Freedom’s Choice (20 page)

“He thinks by calling them ‘farmers,' they won't scare us as much,” Janet remarked to Anna.

Kris grinned over her shoulder at Janet but the woman was whistling in the dark: her eyes were scared and her chin trembled a bit. Anna Bollinger, who had left her baby son with someone for this meeting, looked even more frightened.

“I hoped to get their attention, admiral, as the one chance I saw—then—of getting off this planet and back home. Best scenario would be to make
them
notice the Eosi-Catteni combine,” Mitford said.

“A bit naive of you, wasn't it, sergeant?” asked Geoffrey Ainger.

“Now, wait just a minute, Ainger,” Kris said, sitting up straight with the anger that bit of condescension roused in her. She was not placated by Easley leaning over to murmur something to the British naval officer.

“My apologies, Miss Bjornsen. I forget how little you had at your disposal in the early days,” Ainger said, elevating his butt off the chair. “Sergeant Mitford, no offense intended.”

“None taken,” Mitford said equably, and waved his hand, accepting the apology. The hand came down on Kris' leg, a reminder that he was well able to defend himself.

“It was at the very least what any noncom should do,” Bull Fetterman said. “Establish what escape route is possible to return to his regiment.”

“We established a lot more than that,” Dick Aarens said, jumping to his feet. “And we've done a damned good job of converting the Mech Makers' stuff to human needs. Give us some credit, damn it.”

“We do, I assure you, Mr. Aarens, especially since you contrived so many of the improvements…” Reidenbacker began.

“We'd better stop congratulating ourselves,” Mitford put in, “begging your pardon, sir, but I'd like to hear what Admiral Scott now has in mind.”

Kris privately believed it was obvious from Scott's expression that he had nothing in mind…yet.

“What I'd like to hear again…friends,” and Scott was having trouble finding an appropriately inoffensive group noun, “is exactly your impressions of the arrival of the leviathan you saw, collecting this planet's harvests.”

“If you mean, were we scanned then,” Kris replied, “no, we weren't.”

“Hell, admiral, the ship didn't even know we were there,” Jay Greene said. “It just sailed overhead like some sort of…” and he waved his hand above his head, “monstrous dinosaur.”

“It didn't land?”

“Not that we saw,” Mitford replied.

“Zainal led a group of us back here, because we thought that's where it hovered,” Ninety Doyle said. “We weren't that far behind it when it took off again. There wasn't a bloody thing left of the acres of crates we had to climb to get out of here.”

“So there was nothing in it of the speed and flexibility of what buzzed us?” Beverly asked.

“Nuh-huh,” and Ninety shook his head emphatically. “Different thing entirely.”

“We sort of thought at the time,” Jay Greene said, “that it was preprogrammed to do its job. That there wasn't any life-form aboard it.”

Rastancil whistled, impressed. “Totally automated?”

“And a culture which has patently invented matter transmitters…” Scott said, clearing his throat.

“That would have been the only way all that stuff could have been loaded in the time it hovered,” Ninety agreed. “Just like on
Star Trek.
”

“Then it is entirely likely that today's scanner is also totally automated,” Easley said.

“We couldn't get any idea of the mass of the scanner,” Rastancil said. “I was on the bridge when it began its orbit and the transport doesn't have much in the way of fancy detection devices…” He looked over at Marrucci, who had been in the scout.

The pilot shook his head, holding up his hands. “I couldn't figure out what to activate on the board.” He looked at Zainal.

“The scout will not track such speed,” the Catteni said.

“So, essentially, we must wait until the device sends its reports to the Farmers,” Scott said, “and then await results.”

“Isn't there anything we can do to save ourselves?” Anna Bollinger's voice had a slightly hysterical note in it.

“We can't just sit still and do nothing.” Janet added her protest.

A slightly supercilious expression crossed Admiral Scott's face and Kris, who had started to like the man, changed her opinion again.

“If he asks her what she thinks we should do…” she murmured to Mitford, who once again clamped his hand on her leg in restraint as he turned around to Janet.

“There's a lot we can do, Janet, and that's why we're here. Now, we've done pretty well so far, haven't we?” he asked, and waited until she gave her head an unwilling nod. “So just hold tight a bit longer, huh?” Then Mitford turned back to the front table. “Since it's a fair bet that the scanner saw that we've altered all the machines that are supposed to be in the various garages and barns we've been using, why don't we start by clearing them out? I'd also recommend that we explore the nearer continent with the view of taking up our residence there
…that is, if we find the Farmers haven't set up shop there, too.”

Scott was nodding acceptance of these suggestions, and even Ainger looked less dour.

“There're all those closed valleys on this continent, blocked to keep something in, or something out. How many did we discover, Zainal?” Mitford turned to his right.

“Several dozens. We must ask the map woman, Sheila, for details.”

“The caves are ours,” Patti Sue said firmly, the last person Kris would have thought would speak up in such a meeting. “We've made them livable.”

“But we have trespassed,” Janet said to her.

Kris didn't dare look around at Janet: what she was saying seemed so weird from a woman who was considered basically quite sensible. Maybe the scan had done something to some folks after all. She shuddered. She wasn't going to think there could be the least bit of truth in those asinine rumors, all products of insecurity and lack of self-confidence.

“If we give them back what we took…” Janet went on and then, hearing Dick Aarens' contemptuous snort at that idea, she whirled around on him, pointing her finger. “You're the one who started taking their machines apart…”

“Janet!” Once again Mitford called her to order, twisting around to face her. “You're not thinking this through and you're not a silly woman. You've been such a strength to so many who got here confused and scared.”

Sandy Areson had discreetly moved to sit on Janet's other side and now put a comforting arm around her shoulders, nodding once to Mitford to indicate she would take over now.

“What was done is done, and I doubt even the best of our mechanical geniuses could put all the parts back
together again,” Scott said in a conciliatory tone. “Not that that would be even remotely feasible, since we'll need every single thing we've contrived from their machinery to effect an evacuation of their premises. If that is one of our options.”

“I think retreat in the face of overwhelming strength is usually considered a sensible course of action,” Bull Fetterman said at his driest.

He got scattered laughter for his attempt to reduce the tension in the mess hall.

“Furthermore we can prepare places for everyone,” Beverly said with a big smile, “if what I've seen of some of those valleys is any indication.”

“The other continent's a better idea, General,” Mitford said, rising from his chair. “Especially as we now have the Tub to do reconnaissance. Which I had planned to do anyway.”

“Positive action is always admirable, sergeant,” Scott said, “and I suggest you complete your plans and get them under way as soon as possible.”

“Will Yuri's group start immediate evacuations, too?” Mitford swung halfway around, indicating Janet.

“You better believe it,” but it was Reidenbacker who answered the question. He gave Janet an encouraging smile. She made a pathetic little sound in her throat but managed a brief smile, still twisting her hands nervously in her lap.

“They'd better consider that there'll be a lot more newcomers reacting like Janet,” Kris murmured to Mitford. He nodded his head.

“Shouldn't we clear out all the things we've made?” Dick Aarens asked. “We need everything if we're going to function. And the scout? Where can we stash that now if we've got to clear the barns?”

Scott held up his hands. “Give us a few hours here,” and he gestured to the specialists sitting behind him, “and we'll formulate the necessary plans and set up
teams to implement them. Now, I know some of you have been upset by the whiz-ball we had this morning…” His label for the orbital caught everyone's attention this time, and he grinned to see its effect. “But we don't want to start another batch of rumors with those who still feel insecure here on Botany. Let's be careful how we discuss this meeting outside the mess hall, shall we? I ask all of you, by whatever you hold sacred, not to start a second wave of ridiculous rumors. We'll do as much as humanly possible to rectify our misappropriation of housing and effects. Certainly our first priority is getting people out of our landlords' buildings and to safer places, like the valleys. Equally important is preserving the equipment we need to conduct an orderly evacuation.”

Chuck Mitford turned around to those behind him. “Keep in mind, folks, it's taken the Farmers more than nine months to discover we're here. I'd say we had plenty of time to get elsewhere and at least sweep the garages and barns clean before we leave. Right, Janet? Anna?”

“We can do it,” Patti Sue said, so staunchly that Kris, remembering how fearful the girl had once been, could have cheered out loud at that vote of confidence. Both Janet and Anna responded to her remark and looked less despondent.

“Of course,” Patti added ingenuously, “they might not come until the growing season starts, and we don't even know when winter ends, if this
is
winter.”

Zainal got to his feet again. “I like the idea of moving us all to the other continent if it is okay,” he said. “I think we should go soon. The airships can look at the other landmass. It may not be as barren as it looks from space. If it is, they can help us search.”

Ninety got to his feet as soon as Zainal sat down. “There are a lot of those closed valleys, too, which obviously weren't used by the Farmers. Maybe we can put
people in them.” When he heard protests arise, he added, “With stairs to get out when you had to. The valleys grow trees and bushes. We could transfer a lot of the stuff we've been growing to feed us to the valleys. And aren't the Turs and Catteni trying 'em out for us?” He grinned broadly with a teasing glance at Zainal.

Mitford rose. “I agree with Zainal, for what it's worth,” he said with an unusual touch of humility.

“Sarge, you had the only idea feasible at the time. Don't have a guilt trip over it now,” Kris said staunchly, and her remark was quickly seconded by many in the hall.

“We all helped,” Joe Latore said, and turning around in his seat, looked straight at Dick Aarens. “Didn't we?”

Aarens noticeably ignored him.

“Yes, but what happens if we move to the other continent,” Anna Bollinger said, her face distorted with fear, “and they come after us there?” Janet immediately put a reassuring arm on her shoulders and glared around.

“Hell's bells, missus,” Ninety said, “there're caves all over the planet they'd never find you in. And probably caves across the channel, too, wouldn't you say, Zainal?”

Kris turned around, one hand going to Anna's knee. “We know it's really your son you're worried about, Anna, but why borrow any more trouble than we've already got?”

“Which brings me to the subject of the Catteni contribution to our present crisis,” Scott said. “Zainal, what will your High Eosi do when the satellite reports that whiz-ball?”

“Worry,” Zainal answered succinctly, his yellow eyes glinting with mischief.

Scott allowed a slight smile at Zainal's facetiousness. “Would they come back to inspect Botany or set up a blockade of warships or something similar?”

“First, it will be discussed. Second, the satellite will be checked for faults that what it reported is true. Third, they may send someone to see what happened to us.” Zainal obviously doubted his third point was likely.

“Fourth, what if they send us more colonists?” Sandy Areson asked.

Zainal considered that for a moment, dropping his chin to his chest.

“I think no more colonists come for a while now, Sandy.”

“Especially since it's been unlucky for them to land on this planet,” Aarens said, chuckling.

Zainal went on as if Aarens hadn't aired his wit. “They will not believe the speed of the whiz-ball.”

“And they know that it did not originate in this solar system?” Scott asked.

Zainal nodded. “They will think a long time before they do anything.”

“Good,” Scott said, rubbing his hands together. “Then that will give us time to remove ourselves completely. As I understand Catteni colonial policy, Zainal, they might even abandon the planet as unsuitable. Is that right?”

Zainal nodded.

“So we might be all right after all?” Anna Bollinger asked, her tear-streaked face brightening.

“It is entirely possible,” Scott said with considerable and sincere aplomb.

* * *

The upshot of the discussion was not a referendum after all, but the organization of scouting parties to check out every single one of what Ninety Doyle tagged “lonesome valleys.” Small groups would be quartered in the valleys to discover any unusual denizens, though none had been seen in either of the other two inhabited places. Once Mitford had organized the basics of those explorations, he left a sheaf of instructions with Easley as
“the manual” and roused the members of his combined team. They set off before second moonrise since the amphibious vehicle had lights.