today.â
Joshuaâs wife was in front. She did not speak during the ceremony, but when it was over and she started down the center aisle, everyone cleared space for her. She shook hands, thanked some, hugged others. But she never looked at Jake.
 * * *Â
HE CALLED PATRICIA McCoy in the morning. âYes, Jake?â she said, sounding as if she knew bad news was coming. Though maybe, from her perspective, it would provide a sense of relief. âWhat can I do for you?â
âIâve been thinking, Patricia.â He was in the Starlight lounge, staring out through a port at an approaching ship. âIâm going to put in for early retirement.â
 * * *Â
LIBRARY ENTRY
The details of what happened at Lalande are not yet clear. We know that one of the captains, Joshua Miller, died, but that all of the passengers returned unharmed. And we should consider that taking children on flights to other stars, while it may present extraordinary educational opportunities, nevertheless entails a substantial level of risk. Assistance, should they need it, is simply too far away. If the World Space Authority had been able to launch a rescue vehicle from the space station when it first learned a bomb had been planted aboard the
Gremlin
, Captain Miller might be alive today.
The hard reality is that, had the
Copperhead
not happened to be close to Lalande, where the bomb exploded, there might have been no survivors. The death of Captain Miller constitutes a clear statement of the courage and dedication of those who operate the interstellars. But that courage and dedication may not be enough to prevent a greater disaster eventually. Are we going to wait until we lose, perhaps, an entire vehicle filled with young people, as almost happened here?
Children do not grasp the hard fact that their lives are being put at risk. It is one thing for adults to take their chances on a flight for which aid, if it is needed, may simply not be available. It is something else entirely to put our sons and daughters on such a flight. Either we should call a halt, or we should provide the Authority with the means to ensure reasonable protection for interstellar travelers.
â
The New York Times
, November 25, 2195
 * * *Â
ON THE NET
I guess there will always be loons who want to bomb people they donât know.
âBrickoven2
We need the death penalty back.
âBobmontana
Brickovenâs right. Weâll never run short of maniacs.
âMariaY
Hard to figure how you get a bomb on board a starship. Last I heard, they had weapon detectors. Havenât heard an explanation, but obviously somebody wasnât paying attention.
âSollyforth
Sollyforth doesnât seem to be aware that this is the first time ever somebody tried to bomb a spaceship. Iâd have been surprised if they
had
intercepted the bomber.
âbillreever
Billreever obviously doesnât know they do routine checks at the shuttles.
âSollyforth
Hey Solly, the shuttles donât provide the only access to the Wheel. Some people, insiders I guess, are able to use landers. The search procedures only apply at the terminals.
âbillreever
Well, whatever the reality is, when they catch the guy who did thisâand it will be a guy, itâs never a womanâthey should fry him.
âBobmontana
Thatâs sexist, Bob. Women are just as capable of behaving like lunatics as guys are. They just donât do it as often. Remember that mother in the Middle East a few months ago whose kid blew himself up in a temple and killed a dozen people? She said she was proud of him. Thatâs as loony as it gets.
âMariaY
Chapter 13
THE CERTIFICATION CEREMONY was a month away. Until then, Priscillaâs time was her own. The normal routine for a new pilot was to lock down an assignment with one of the deep-space corporations and take some leave. Priscilla needed to get away. Go home and put
Joshuaâs wife was in front. She did not speak during the ceremony, but when it was over and she started down the center aisle, everyone cleared space for her. She shook hands, thanked some, hugged others. But she never looked at Jake.
 * * *Â
HE CALLED PATRICIA McCoy in the morning. âYes, Jake?â she said, sounding as if she knew bad news was coming. Though maybe, from her perspective, it would provide a sense of relief. âWhat can I do for you?â
âIâve been thinking, Patricia.â He was in the Starlight lounge, staring out through a port at an approaching ship. âIâm going to put in for early retirement.â
 * * *Â
LIBRARY ENTRY
The details of what happened at Lalande are not yet clear. We know that one of the captains, Joshua Miller, died, but that all of the passengers returned unharmed. And we should consider that taking children on flights to other stars, while it may present extraordinary educational opportunities, nevertheless entails a substantial level of risk. Assistance, should they need it, is simply too far away. If the World Space Authority had been able to launch a rescue vehicle from the space station when it first learned a bomb had been planted aboard the
Gremlin
, Captain Miller might be alive today.
The hard reality is that, had the
Copperhead
not happened to be close to Lalande, where the bomb exploded, there might have been no survivors. The death of Captain Miller constitutes a clear statement of the courage and dedication of those who operate the interstellars. But that courage and dedication may not be enough to prevent a greater disaster eventually. Are we going to wait until we lose, perhaps, an entire vehicle filled with young people, as almost happened here?
Children do not grasp the hard fact that their lives are being put at risk. It is one thing for adults to take their chances on a flight for which aid, if it is needed, may simply not be available. It is something else entirely to put our sons and daughters on such a flight. Either we should call a halt, or we should provide the Authority with the means to ensure reasonable protection for interstellar travelers.
â
The New York Times
, November 25, 2195
 * * *Â
ON THE NET
I guess there will always be loons who want to bomb people they donât know.
âBrickoven2
We need the death penalty back.
âBobmontana
Brickovenâs right. Weâll never run short of maniacs.
âMariaY
Hard to figure how you get a bomb on board a starship. Last I heard, they had weapon detectors. Havenât heard an explanation, but obviously somebody wasnât paying attention.
âSollyforth
Sollyforth doesnât seem to be aware that this is the first time ever somebody tried to bomb a spaceship. Iâd have been surprised if they
had
intercepted the bomber.
âbillreever
Billreever obviously doesnât know they do routine checks at the shuttles.
âSollyforth
Hey Solly, the shuttles donât provide the only access to the Wheel. Some people, insiders I guess, are able to use landers. The search procedures only apply at the terminals.
âbillreever
Well, whatever the reality is, when they catch the guy who did thisâand it will be a guy, itâs never a womanâthey should fry him.
âBobmontana
Thatâs sexist, Bob. Women are just as capable of behaving like lunatics as guys are. They just donât do it as often. Remember that mother in the Middle East a few months ago whose kid blew himself up in a temple and killed a dozen people? She said she was proud of him. Thatâs as loony as it gets.
âMariaY
Chapter 13
THE CERTIFICATION CEREMONY was a month away. Until then, Priscillaâs time was her own. The normal routine for a new pilot was to lock down an assignment with one of the deep-space corporations and take some leave. Priscilla needed to get away. Go home and put
Similar Books
