High-Opp

Chapter 20

Janus Peterson sat across from Movius and Grace in their apartment. He seemed uncomfortable, kept looking out the window at the dusk settling over the city. “I had to come back and tell you. I’ve been thinking for two days now.”

Movius sat on the arm of Grace’s chair, a hand loosely across her shoulders. “What else, Janus?”

“That’s most of it, Dan. I’ve been working for O’Brien eight years now. I guess I’ve always held your opinion of him—a cold-blooded fish thinking of nothing but his charts.”

“He never got things really unified and moving, though,” said Movius.

“Not the way you’re doing. He always kept putting us off, saying the time wasn’t yet, be patient.”

“When did you run out of patience?”

“When he explained how I might have to pull the trigger, that he was going to get rid of you when you’d served your purpose. I started wondering if I’d wake up some day and find out I’d served my purpose.”

“A lot of people feel that way,” said Movius.

“Revolution is a mean business,” said Peterson.

“Not that mean,” said Grace. She looked up at Movius. “If you destroy all human values, you wind up right where you started. That’s why I’m backing Dan instead of my father.”

“And brother shall be turned against brother and the child against the father,” said Movius.

“What’s that?” asked Peterson.

“Something I heard a pastor say once.”

Peterson hauled his thick bulk out of the chair. “I’ll be shoving off.” He grinned at Movius. “I’ve a little of your work that needs doing.”

“Did you get the word to Phil Henry?”

“I sent a man right after I left you before.”

Movius got to his feet. “Thanks for coming clean with me, Janus. Will you explain to the others that I understand how it is?”

“We knew you would,” said Peterson. “We talked it over before I came back here.”

“He does understand,” said Grace. “That’s why we need him.”

Peterson gave Grace a piercing look. “Just see that nobody,” he emphasized the word, pausing after it, “gets in here who don’t belong in here.” He propelled his huge body toward the door, opened it as the chimes rang.

Over Peterson’s shoulder, Movius caught a glimpse of Navvy’s face. Peterson suddenly thrust himself against Navvy, there was a short scuffle; Peterson pulled away, exposing Navvy, who was rubbing his wrist. “Don’t try them tricks on the man who taught ’em to you,” said Peterson. He pocketed a fap gun.

Navvy’s face was flushed. “I came to find out.”

Peterson took Navvy by the collar, hauled him inside, shut the door. “Find out what?”

“If she is.” He looked at his sister. Grace was standing beside Movius.

“It’s my fault,” she said. “O’Brien loaned us a car today and I let Navvy bring me in the building, the basement driveway, with it. I assumed he’d got right on out. He’s been waiting to come up here instead.”

Movius nodded.

“You want to find out if your sister is what?” demanded Peterson.

“Like O’Brien said.”

“What did O’Brien say?”

“That she was pregnant and had gone back on us.”

“O’Brien’s a cold potato who needs more time in the fire,” said Peterson. “Dan knows all about him and your father and about you and Grace, too!” He propelled Navvy roughly into the room. “I got a question for you, Navvy London.”

Navvy didn’t look at him, stared from Movius to Grace, back to Movius.

“How long you figure it’ll be before your father or O’Brien tosses you into some hot spot that suits their high and mighty convenience?” demanded Peterson.

A pouting look came onto Navvy’s face. It was unlike him and it surprised Movius.

In a stiff manner, Navvy said, “I’m ready to serve wherever I’m needed.”

Peterson curled his lip. “All self-sacrifice. Now ain’t that pretty?” He raised his voice to a near bellow. “And what kind of government do you think their kind’d set up? I’ll tell you what kind! One where you or me wouldn’t count, where everybody’d be expected to give in to the needs of whoever was running things.” Peterson grabbed Navvy’s shoulder, shook him. “You dumb head! What kind of a Sep do you think you are? That’s the kind of government we got now!” He pushed Navvy farther into a chair.

“I never thought,” said Navvy, sinking into a chair.

“Of course you never thought!” growled Peterson. “That’s the trouble with us. We never thought because we believed that smart thinking could solve everything—somebody else’s thinking.”