Revolt on Alpha C (Jerry eBooks) by Robert Silverberg

Author:Robert Silverberg [Silverberg, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jerry eBooks
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

THE PLACE WAS in turmoil when he returned. There were colonists all over the building, some demanding to speak to Captain Reinhardt, some just trying to make their feelings heard to anyone who would listen. Larry reported in to the captain, who was sitting at the dinner table talking in a low voice to Harrison and two other colonists, but Reinhardt signaled to him that he did not want to be disturbed.

Feeling that he was being left out of everything, Larry headed upstairs to his room. Heitor was in one corner, studying, and Harl was sprawled in the other, also reading. They looked up as he entered.

“Hi,” said Harl. “O’Hare was in here looking for you before, but Heitor said you were out walking with Jon Browne. Did I hear straight?”

That you did,” Larry said. “We’re invited to the town meeting tonight.”

“Are you going?” Heitor asked.

Unless Reinhardt needs us. But so far this trip it seems he needs us like a Martian sandstorm,” Larry said. “Except when there’s a floor to be scrubbed “Or a message to send,” Harl said. “But you’re not serious about going, are you?”

“Sure,” Larry said. “Why not? I’m curious to see what happens. We’ve got history being made right in front of us, you know.”

“True enough,” Harl said. “But if they vote to rebel the first thing they may do is lynch the nearest Earthmen, if Browne stirs them up enough

Larry looked at Harl in amazement. “You’re kidding! I spent the afternoon with Browne, and he seems a perfectly fine fellow. I don’t think he’d do any such thing.”

“Treason!” Harl exclaimed, in mock oratorical style. “I accuse you of treason, Cadet Stark! What do you mean by complimenting a rebel? Someone who is risking his life to overthrow the colonial rule of Earth? Isn’t he a vile creature, completely evil? That’s what you seemed to be saying up to now, and naturally I believed you.”

Naturally,” Larry said, with a smile. Harl’s sarcasm was not lost on him. He sank into the nearest chair, considerably puzzled. What Harl was saying was right—he had thought of the revolutionaries as little more than criminals until meeting Browne and the other townspeople. Now he wasn’t sure what to think at all. Enemies were beginning to look like friends, friends like enemies. He remembered what his father had often told him: “Always remember, Larry. Earth knows what it’s doing. Don’t let anyone fool you.”

But were they fooling him? Was Earth all-wise and the colonists doing something wild and rash, or were they merely honest people fighting for their rights and Earth the blind oppressor? He wondered.

There was a knock on the door. Larry, glad of the interruption, leaped up to see who was there.

It was O’Hare. Larry looked up at the face of the big man, who had been his first friend among the spacemen. Under his arm O’Hare was carrying the treasured electronic guitar which he had taught Larry to play. O’Hare handed the guitar to Larry, who took it gently and cradled it in his arms.

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