Canby's Legion by Bill Baldwin

Author:Bill Baldwin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780595141388
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 1995-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

Book Five

FLIGHTS AND REVELATIONS

March 19, 2690, Earth Date

Perrin Station • Earth

During the next weeks, work at Perrin Station proceeded at a rate Canby found astonishing—in spite of reduced rations. Clearly, much of the progress was thanks to the government equipment furnished by Nemil Quinn. But much credit also accrued to determined legionnaires who were spurred on by those two most compelling of goads: anxiety and hope—the former engendered by a fast-dwindling money supply, the latter by rumors of lucrative jobs going begging for lack of mercenary teams to accomplish them. When he could spare time from his many administrative duties, Canby spent innumerable hours in the excellent old simulator, sharpening his flying skills and practicing for the billion and one emergencies that could threaten a starship during combat.

However, he’d also found time to catch the tube from nearby Hampton, Virginia, for an occasional evening with Tenniel in the Manhattan Sector—a place in which he found himself only days before Death’s scheduled first flight. After a leisurely supper at Griffin’s Café—and two bottles of an inexpensive but delicious merlot—they bumped and pushed their way uptown through noisy, gaudy rivers of humanity to take in a HoloDrama, then returned at length to her apartment building, talking about the ’Drama and, as they often did, discussing the Empire’s postwar breach of faith with its middle class—and how it had affected them both. Canby tried everything he could think of in an attempt to prolong the evening, but inevitably they were on the fourth floor at her door. In the dim light of the hall, she fumbled for her keys for a moment, then turned to face him with a questioning look and remained that way for a long time, as if she were deliberating.

“Everything all right?” he asked at length.

At that moment, Tenniel seemed to reach some sort of decision and took his hand. “Yes,” she said softly, “everything’s wonderful.” On this springlike, late-winter evening, she was wearing a pullover sweater beneath her down jacket, a short skirt, stockings, and high heels. She smiled at him, a solemn look in her eyes. “You know, Gordon Canby,” she continued, “on our first date, I said I could probably love you, and you know, sometimes I think I do. You are one terribly nice guy. I haven’t enjoyed anyone’s company so much in years—maybe ever.”

Surprised, Canby put his arm around her, almost without realizing what he was doing. “I think I love you, too, Tenniel,” he whispered, pulling her close and placing his lips on hers. The perfume she wore was strong and stimulating. At first they kissed gently, but in spite of everything Canby could do, his breathing became shallow—and so, he noticed, did hers. Slowly, her mouth opened. He reined in his emotions. Since their first date, he’d been careful not to push this part of their relationship; she’d seemed to appreciate that, although each time at the door, their good-bye kisses had been longer and longer. In control of himself once more, he pulled away.

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