“You’re learning this fast, Bob. I hope that was the right line to take.”
“Me too. Some days I want to get back to doing something I understand, instead of having to make things up as I go along.”
Nikki said, “If that was making it up as you go along, I’d hate to see you once you get the hang of it, Caveman. You turned him every way but loose.”
“I was just trying to get him to realize the situation he is in. He’s being told things that are demonstrably not true, but he doesn’t think to question them.”
Natti said, “I think you’re right, Bob, but I don’t know how well he will take being informed of that fact by an impudent monkey.”
“None of your folks seemed to be ready to step up and give him the bad news.”
“You’re right there. Hopefully, he will take the time to check what you said, before he sends more fleets.”
“Is Snappi having any luck figuring out who he can trust in the fleet?”
“He’s gotten one ship squared away. It looks like it will be a time-consuming task.”
“We could always give some of the officers he has decided to trust the same training he had, and let them assist in the process of vetting the rest of the fleet.”
“I’ll ask him about that. It sounds like a good idea. I better get back.”
“Talk to you later, then.” He headed toward the transit. Once he was gone, Nikki asked, “You just talked like that to the HRIC of all the rodents?”
“If I didn’t, he would have thought I was subject to his authority, don’t you think?”
“I suppose. Just seemed like you were pretty rough on him.”
“His fleet has been showing up here, and everywhere I go, wanting to take me out. I’m a little tired of it, I guess.”
“Do you think he paid any attention to what you said?”
“I expect we’ll know for certain in forty hours or so.”
“What happens in forty hours?”
“I’m guessing that’s about how long it would take him to get another fleet out here, if he decided not to listen.”
“You don’t think Murphy is finally going to give us a break, then?”
“I’ve learned not to bet that way. It doesn’t mean I can’t hope for better results, just that I need to be prepared if I don’t get them.”
“What’s next?”
“I ought to go talk to Frank, but I surely don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“I keep telling him he needs to straighten up, and he keeps finding ways to blow it off. If I can’t get results, all I’m doing is undermining my authority.”
“You don’t think the new system is going to keep him out of trouble?”
“We recruited him because he’s the best we could find at developing innovative solutions to problems. It just never occurred to me that he would use that skill on us, too.”
“You’ll figure it out. Go by and see him, don’t let it get bigger than it actually is.”
“You coming for immoral support?”
“Hey, we’re married! There’s nothing immoral about it.” When we got to Frank’s, there was a Marine out front. He said, “Hi, Boss. Checking up on us?”
“More like checking up on Frank. Is he behaving himself?”
“Ms. Witti hasn’t found any problems on her after-shift checks.”
Something about the way he phrased that didn’t sit right with me. I asked, “Is that because there isn’t anything to find, or because Frank has gotten better at hiding his work?”
The bot stuttered a little as he said, “B-Because t-there was n-nothing to f-find at that t-time, Boss.”
I shouted, “Frank, get your bony butt out here!”
Julie came out and said, “He’s sleeping, Boss.”
“Bullshit!” I went in, and found him working. I said, “You can undo whatever you’ve done to these bots, and report to the brig, or I can stun you till your ears smoke, and drag you to the brig. Your choice.”
I saw the Marine raising his stunner, but I managed to get mine up and stun Frank first. The Marine froze with his stunner halfway raised, and locked up. I found some flex cuffs on his belt, and hooked Frank up. Julie said, “Sorry, Boss.” She tried to raise a stunner to point at me, but she froze as well. I took out my knife and cut a piece out of a pillowcase to gag Frank with. I didn’t know if he had some verbal commands stored, but I didn’t see any need to risk it. I said, “Gene, get Scotti and Lakki down here Ass-Ape!”
“On their way, Boss.”
“Connect me to Morning Flower, please.”
“Hi, Bawb. Are you coming to supper? Voice of the Mountain would really like for you to make chee-lee. He wants to be one of the People of the Wind.”
“Not today. I want Walking Skunk to be one of the People of the Wind, too.”
“No, Bawb, he is not Walking Skunk anymore. He is Voice of the Mountain.”
“The Voice of the Mountain speaks with a mighty roar.”
“He will after your chee-lee.”
“Could you do me a favor?”
“Of course. You are Bawb, friend of the Starfoot. What do you need?”
“I have a fellow who needs to learn some manners. Do you suppose you could keep him busy shoveling for a month or so?”
“He’s not one of those small ones that can’t work and fuss all the time, is he?”
“No. I don’t know how much work you can get out of him, but he isn’t a Squirrel.”
“Sure, just bring him to the village.”
“Would you mind coming to pick him up? All I have to bring him are bots, and he’s been messing with their heads and making them do what he
