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D'arl's lip might have twitched, but his voice was firm enough. "Less powerful equipment might well have cost the Dominion the war, and would certainly have ...
Stillman frowned. " 'Everyone else'? How widespread is this problem?"
D'arl turned back to face the mayor, looking annoyed that he'd let that hint slip out. "It's not good," he admitted at last. "We hoped to keep as many Cobras...
"Can you do anything to help Jonny?"
D'arl shrugged slightly. "I don't know. He's an unusual case, in that he came back to a small home town where everyone knew what he was. I suppose it might h...
"So are Cobra reflexes," Stillman nodded grimly. "Besides, Jonny's family is here. I don't think he'd like leaving them."
"That's why I'm not recommending his relocation, though that's the usual procedure in cases like this," D'arl said. "Most Cobras don't have the kind of close...
Stillman rose from his chair. "I trust the Central Committee will be trying to come up with some kind of solution to this problem."
D'arl met his gaze evenly. "Mr. Stillman, the Committee is far more concerned about this situation than even you are. You see one minor frontier town; we see...
"And what do we do in the meantime?" Fraser asked heavily.
"Your best, of course. Good day to you."
* * *
Jame paused outside the door, took a single deep breath, and knocked lightly. There was no answer. He raised his hand to knock again, then thought better of ...
Seated at Jame's writing desk, hands curled into fists in front of him, Jonny was staring out the window. Jame cleared his throat.
"Hello, Jame," Jonny said, without turning.
"Hi." The desk, Jame saw, was covered with official-looking magforms. "I just dropped by to tell you that dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes." He ...
"Filling out some college applications."
"Oh. Decided to go back to school?"
Jonny shrugged. "I might as well."
Stepping to his brother's side, Jame scanned the magforms. University of Rajput, Bomu Technical Institute on Zimbwe, University of Aerie. All off-planet. "Yo...
"I don't expect to come home very often," Jonny said quietly.
"You're just going to give up, huh?" Jame put as much scorn into the words as he could.
It had no effect. "I'm retreating from enemy territory," Jonny corrected mildly.
"The kids are dead, Jonny. There's nothing in the universe you can do about it. Look, the town doesn't blame you-no charges were brought, remember? So quit b...
"You're confusing legal and moral guilt. Legally, I'm clear. Morally? No. And the town's not going to let me forget it. I can see the disgust and fear in peo...
"Well . . . it's better than not getting any respect at all."
Jonny snorted. "Thanks a lot," he said wryly. "I'd rather be picked on."
A sign of life at last. Jame pressed ahead, afraid of losing the spark. "You know, Dader and I have been talking about the shop. You remember that we didn't ...
"Yes-and you still don't."
"Right. But what stops us from having you and Dader run the place while I go out and work somewhere else for a few months?"
Jonny was silent for a moment, but then shook his head. "Thanks, but no. It wouldn't be fair."
"Why not? That job used to be yours. It's not like you were butting in. Actually, I'd kind of like to try something else for a while."
"I'd probably drive away all the customers if I was there."
Jame's lip twisted. "That won't fly, and you know it. Dader's customers are there because they like him and his work. They don't give two hoots who handles t...
Jonny closed his eyes briefly. "And what if I am?"
"I suppose it doesn't matter to you right now whether or not you let your life go down the drain," Jame gritted. "But you might take a moment to consider wha...
"Yeah. The other kids are pretty hard on her, aren't they?"
"I'm not referring to them. Sure, she's lost most of her friends, but there are a couple who're sticking by her. What's killing her is having to watch her bi...
Jonny looked up for the first time. "What do you mean?"
"Just want I said. She's been putting up a good front for your sake, but the rest of us know how much it hurts her to see the brother she adores sitting in h...
"Wallowing in self-pity?"
"Yeah. You owe her better than that, Jonny. She's already lost most of her friends; she deserves to keep her brother."
Jonny looked back out the window for a long moment, then glanced down at the college applications. "You're right." He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. ...
Jame grinned and gripped his brother's shoulder. "Thanks," he said quietly. "Can I tell Momer and Gwen, too?"
"Sure. No; just Momer." He stood up and gave Jane a passable attempt at a smile. "I'll go tell Gwen myself."
* * *
The tiny spot of bluish light, brilliant even through the de-contrast goggles, crawled to the edge of the metal and vanished. Pushing up the goggles, Jonny s...
Mayor Stillman was out of his car and walking toward the door when Jonny emerged from the building. "Hello, Jonny," he smiled, holding out his hand with no t...
"Fine, Mr. Stillman," Jonny said, feeling awkward as he shook hands. He'd been working here for three weeks now, but still didn't feel comfortable dealing di...
Stillman shook his head. "I really just dropped by to say hello to you and to bring you some news. I heard this morning that Wyatt Brothers Contracting is pu...