The Cosmic Eye (UC) by Mack Reynolds

Author:Mack Reynolds [Reynolds, Mack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780843906103
Publisher: Leisure Books (Mm)
Published: 1972-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The Security Prime Technician, visably tired after speaking to the room without benefit of loud speaker, broke off and turned back to Matt Edgeworth. Still standing, they spoke urgently to each other in voices too low to carry to where Rex Morris and Nadine Sims sat.

Nadine bit her under lip, and looked in their direction. She seemed to come to a conclusion and came to her feet, apologetically. She said to Rex, "I've just remembered an appointment. No don't get up. We'll just have to postpone this lovely evening for another time."

Rex had already come to his own feet, in spite of her protest, but she was gone—-in the direction of the two Security bigwigs.

Rex grunted, "I'll bet you just remembered an appointment."

He took up his half empty glass and wandered in the direction of the table that had been occupied by his uncle and party. At the present, practically everyone in the room was on their feet. At least, all the men were. Here and there, about the Flop House, feminine members of the Technician caste remained seated, their faces in an expression of being put upon, usually, rather than in alarm.

Technician Marrison was blurting, "… shoot 'em down. That's what I say. Round *em up and shoot *em down like dogs. That's what they are, rabid dogs!"

But Uncle Bill, who didn't seem to have got quite as far into his cups as most of them, said wryly, "We're going to have to catch them before that's very practical, Fred."

The textile technician spun on him, a bit wildly perhaps, in view of the mildness of the opinion stated. "I could expect some dissent from you, William Morris, in view of the known opinions of your brother."

"Good Howard," someone else blurted. "Are we going to start arguing among ourselves? Who knows, when we walk out of here, if some sniper will take a shot at us?"

"Right," somebody else said, semi-hysterically. "We either hang together, we of the Technician caste, or we'll hang separately. But Fred's right We've got to show them no mercy. Order the Security Functional Sequence to shoot them down on sight"

Rex Morris was taking it all in from the sidelines. He looked over at his uncle.

And that worthy was still wryly disgusted, in spite of the reproof from Marrison. "How can we shoot them at sight, if we've never seen one of them?"

"You know what I mean," the other told him.

Rex decided that nothing of any relevance was going to be said in this gathering at this stage of the game. They were conducting themselves like a bunch of old women. He wandered off, looked about the room for Nadine Sims and couldn't spot her. He made his way to the entrada. The Flop House was emptying and the entry was crowded. Rex slipped through the chattering, shrilling Technician caste habitues of the place to the sidewalk beyond. There too were chattering, milling, excited groups, some arguing inanely, some waiting for their summoned cars.

Rex decided that

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