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had expected, but oddly disconcerted and dismayed.
He searched throughout the rest of the mansion and finally located the
marshal back in his office, and alone.
May I come in, sir? he said from the doorway.
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Of course, of course Galt looked up from his desk. Lock the door behind
you. I ve had nothing but people drifting in, thinking this was an extra
lounge. Why d they think I had it set up without any comfortable floats or
cushions in the first place?
Donal locked the door behind him and came across the wide floor to the desk.
What is it, boy? asked the marshal. He raised his heavy head and regarded
Donal intently. Something up?
A number of things, agreed Donal. He took the bare float beside the desk
that Galt motioned him into. May I ask if William came here tonight with the
intention of transacting any business with you?
You may ask, answered Galt, putting both his massive forearms on the desk,
but I don t know why I should answer you.
Of course you needn t, said Donal. Assuming he did, however, I d like to
say that in my opinion it would be exceedingly unwise to do any business with
Ceta at this time and particularly William of Ceta.
And what causes this to be your opinion? asked Galt, with a noticeable
trace of irony. Donal hesitated.
Sir, he said, after a second. I d like to remind you that I was right on
Harmony, and right aboutNewton ; and that I may be right here, as well.
It was a large pill of impertinence for the marshal to swallow; since, in
effect, it pointed out that if Donal had twice been right, Galt had been twice
wrong first about his assessment of Hugh Killien as a responsible officer, and
second about his assessment of the reasons behind the Newtonian move on
Oriente. But if he was Dorsai enough to be touchy about his pride, he was also
Dorsai enough to be honest when he had to.
All right, he said. William did come around with a proposition. He wants
to take over a large number of our excess land forces, not for any specific
campaign, but for re-leasing to other employers. They d remain our troops. I
was against it, on the grounds that we d be competing against ourselves when
it came to offering troops to outside markets, but he proved to me the
guarantee he s willing to pay would more than make up for any losses we might
have. I also didn t see how he intended to make his own profit out of it, but
evidently he intends training the men to finer specializations than a single
planet can afford to do, and maintain a balanced force. And God knows Ceta s
big enough to train all he wants, and that its slightly lower gravity doesn t
hurt either for our troops, that is.
He got his pipe out of a compartment in the desk and began to fill it.
What s your objection? he asked.
Can you be sure the troops won t be leased to someone who might use them
against you? Donal asked.
Galt s thick fingers ceased suddenly to fill his pipe. We can insist on
guarantees.
But how much good are guarantees in a case like that? asked Donal. The man
who gives you the guarantee William isn t the man who might move the troops
against you. If Freilander leased troops were suddenly found attacking
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Freilander soil, you might gain the guarantee, but lose the soil.
Galt frowned.
I still don t see, he said, how that could work out to William s
advantage.
It might, said Donal, in a situation where what he stood to gain by
Freilander fighting Freilander was worth more than the guarantee.
How could that be?
Donal hesitated on the verge of those private suspicions of his own. Then he
decided that they were not yet solid enough to voice to the marshal; and
might, indeed, even weaken his argument.
I don t know, he replied. However, I think it d be wise not to take the
chance.
Hah! Galt snorted and his fingers went back to work, filling the pipe. You
don t have to turn the man down and justify your refusal to Staff and
Government.
I don t propose that you turn him down outright, said Donal. I suggest you
only hesitate. Say that in your considered opinion the interstellar situation
right now doesn t justify your leaving Freiland short-handed of combat troops.
Your military reputation is good enough to establish such an answer beyond
question.
Yes Galt put the pipe in his mouth and lit it thoughtfully I think I may
just act on that recommendation of yours. You know, Donal, I think from now on
you better remain as my aide, where I can have the benefit of your opinions
handy when I need them.
Donal winced.
I m sorry, sir, he said. But I was thinking of moving on if you ll release
me.
Galt s eyebrows abruptly drew together in a thicket of dense hair. He took
the pipe from his mouth.
Oh, he said, somewhat flatly. Ambitious, eh?
Partly, said Donal. But partly I ll find it easier to oppose William as a
free agent.
Galt bent a long, steady look upon him. By heaven, he said, what is this
personal vendetta of yours against William?
I m afraid of him, answered Donal,
Leave him alone and he ll certainly leave you alone. He s got bigger fish to
fry Galt broke off, jammed his pipe into his mouth and bit hard on the stem.
I m afraid, said Donal, sadly, there are some men between the stars that
are just not meant to leave each other alone. He straightened in his chair.
You ll release my contract, then?
I won t hold any man against his will, growled the marshal. Except in an
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emergency. Where were you thinking of going?
I ve had a number of offers, said Donal. But I was thinking of accepting
one from the Joint Church Council of Harmony and Association. Their Chief
Elder s offered me the position of War Chief for both the Friendlies.
Eldest Bright? He s driven every commander with a spark of independence away
from him.
I know, said Donal. And just for that reason I expect to shine the more
brightly. It should help build my reputation.
By Galt swore softly. Always thinking, aren t you?
I suppose you re right, said Donal, a trifle unhappily. It comes of being
born with a certain type of mind.
War Chief
The heels of his black boots clicking against the gray floor of the wide
office of the Defense Headquarters on Harmony, the aide approached Donal s
desk, which had been his home for three years now.
Special, urgent and private, sir. He placed a signal tape in the blue shell
of ordinary communications on the desk pad.
Thank you, said Donal, and waved him off. He broke the seal on the tape,
placed it in his desk unit, and waiting until the aide had left the
room pressed the button that would start it.
His father s voice came from the speaker, deep-toned.
Donal, my son
We were glad to get your last tape; and to hear of your successes. No one in
this family has done so well in such a short time, in the last five
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