Mars Prime Read Online Free PDF Page B

unless accompanied by a crew member, so everyone was an expert of some kind and fully acclimated to zero-G.
    The mission administrator's offices were huge by shipboard standards, at least twenty feet square, and featured a tiny reception area complete with live receptionist. He was Velcroed to the bulkhead and had a wall-mounted keyboard pulled in front of him. A wire connected his head-jack to the keyboard and hinted at a wealth of capabilities. He had black skin, a serious expression, and a British accent. His name tag read "W.K. Julu."  
    "Yes?"
    The security officer seemed suddenly less sure of herself. "Prisoner Corvan to see Administrator Fornos."
    The receptionist nodded toward the guard. "You may return to your duties. Officer Corvan, if you would be so kind as to wait a few minutes, Administrator Fornos will be right with you."
    The guard wasted little time leaving the office and heading for more familiar territory. Corvan wished he could do the same.
    The fact was that Fornos had authority verging on that enjoyed by 19th-century sea captains. While he couldn't eject Corvan from the main lock without a trial, he could impose any other punishment he wanted to, up to and including continued imprisonment. The ties with Earth and Earth law were broken now, and concepts like freedom of the press were just that: concepts. Something Kim had instinctively understood and Corvan had just started to assimilate.
    What was the penalty for disobeying a direct order anyway? It had been quite severe in the Army. He'd meant to read all the rules and regulations but never quite got around to it.
    "Administrator Fornos will see you now."
    Corvan nodded his thanks, peeled himself off the velcro patch, and pushed his way toward a now open door. It closed behind him.
    The first thing he saw was Fornos floating on his back looking up at what Corvan thought of as the ceiling or overhead. It was packed top-to-bottom and side-to-side with monitors, read-outs, extendable keyboards, and other pieces of gear too esoteric to be understood with a single glance. All were somewhat recessed to protect against collisions.
    The administrator glanced his way. He had a small cherubic face, and it was immediately transformed by an almost beatific smile. Fornos had charm, there was no doubt about that, and Corvan felt himself smile in response.
    "Corvan! Good of you to come. Sorry about your stay in the cooler. Terrible misunderstanding and all that. Your wife is charming, absolutely charming, and beautiful to boot. A little tall for the likes of me, but very attractive. Here—take a look at this." Fornos pointed to a color monitor.
    Disarmed by the other man's friendliness, and silenced by the avalanche of words, Corvan pushed himself toward the overhead. Once there it was a simple matter to maneuver into position. The monitor had a shot of what was obviously Earth. Smaller now that the ship was underway but large enough to fill most of the screen.
    "Say goodbye to her, Corvan—we'll be a lot older when, and if, we see her again."
    The picture, plus the thought, brought a lump to Corvan's throat. Fornos was right. They were leaving Earth, and the reality of that brought a flood of emotions that he hadn't expected to feel. And while there was the possibility of two-way travel someday, it was extremely unlikely that he or anyone else in the crew would live to see it.
    Fornos nodded as if privy to the other man's innermost thoughts. "Hard to believe isn't it? Well, that's where you come in. Seeing is believing, and your reports will go a long way toward building support for future missions, and this one for that matter."
    The reop pushed his emotions into the background. He must be careful here. Fornos was a master psychologist. He had demonstrated that by the ease with which he had played on Corvan's emotions. Corvan chose his words with care.
    "Yes, sir. And I look forward to providing those reports. But they won't mean much unless they're true.