Greylorn | Page 6

relief that Lt. Taylor came
up to the bridge looking sick.
"Sir," he said, "we took more damage than we knew with that meteor
strike." He stopped and swallowed hard.
"What have you got, Lieutenant?" I said.
"We missed a piece. It must have gone off on a tangent through stores
into the cooler. Clipped the coolant line, and let warm air in. All the
fresh frozen stuff is contaminated and rotten." He gagged. "I got a
whiff of it, sir. Excuse me." He rushed away.
This was calamity.
We didn't carry much in the way of fresh natural food; but what we had
was vital. It was a bulky, delicate cargo to handle, but the chemists
hadn't yet come up with synthetics to fill all the dietary needs of man.
We could get by fine for a long time on vitamin tablets and

concentrates; but there were nutritional elements that you couldn't get
that way. Hydroponics didn't help; we had to have a few ounces of
fresh meat and vegetables grown in sunlight every week, or start to die
within months.
* * * * *
I knew that Kramer wouldn't let this chance pass. As Medical Officer
he would be well within his rights in calling to my attention the fact
that our health would soon begin to suffer. I felt sure he would do so as
loudly and publicly as possible at the first opportunity.
My best move was to beat him to the punch by making a general
announcement, giving the facts in the best possible light. That might
take some of the sting out of anything Kramer said later.
I gave it to them, short and to the point. "Men, we've just suffered a
serious loss. All the fresh frozen stores are gone. That doesn't mean
we'll be going on short rations; there are plenty of concentrates and
vitamins aboard. But it does mean we're going to be suffering from
deficiencies in our diet.
"We didn't come out here on a pleasure cruise; we're on a mission that
leaves no room for failure. This is just one more fact for us to face.
Now let's get on with the job."
I walked into the wardroom, drew a cup of near-coffee, and sat down.
The screen showed a beach with booming surf. The sound track picked
up the crash and hiss of the breakers. Considering the red plague that
now covered the scene, I thought it was a poor choice. I dialed for a
high view of rolling farmland.
Mannion sat at a table across the room with Kirschenbaum. They were
hunched over their cups, not talking. I wondered where they stood.
Mannion, Communications Officer, was neurotic, but an old Armed
Force man. Discipline meant a lot to him. Kirschenbaum, Power Chief,
was a joker, with cold eyes, and smarter than he seemed. The question
was whether he was smart enough to idealize the stupidity of retreat

now.
Kramer walked in, not wasting any time. He saw me and came over. He
stopped a few feet from the table, and said loudly, "Captain, I'd like to
know your plans, now that the possibility of continuing is out."
I sipped my near-coffee and looked at the rolling farmland. I didn't
answer him. If I could get him mad, I could take him at his game.
Kramer turned red. He didn't like being ignored. The two at the other
table were watching.
"Captain," Kramer said loudly. "As Medical Officer I have to know
what measures you're taking to protect the health of the men."
This was a little better. He was on the defensive now; explaining why
he had a right to question his Commander. I wanted him a little hotter
though.
I looked up at him. "Kramer," I said in a clear, not too loud voice,
"you're on watch. I don't want to find you hanging around the
wardroom making light chit-chat until you're properly relieved from
duty." I went back to my near-coffee and the farmland. A river was in
view now, and beyond it distant mountains.
Kramer was furious. "Joyce has relieved me, Captain," he said,
controlling his voice with an effort. "I felt I'd better take this matter up
with you as soon as possible, since it affects the health of every man
aboard." He was trying to keep cool, in command of himself.
"I haven't authorized any changes in the duty roster, Major," I said
mildly. "Report to your post." I was riding the habit of discipline now,
as far as it would carry me. I hoped that disobedience to a direct order,
solidly based on regulations, was a little too big a jump for Kramer at
the moment. Tomorrow it might be different. But it was essential that I
break up the scene he