The Lagrangists by Mack Reynolds

Author:Mack Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, L-5, space station, detective, colony
ISBN: 9781479403202
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2014-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The senior officer’s mess obviously doubled as a lounge, since there were various easy chairs about, a Tri-Di set, an old fashioned set of bookshelves, complete with well-worn looking hard cover and paperback books, and a library booster next to the Tri-Di phone screen.

There was but one large table occupying the middle of the room.

Besides the commodore, the Goddard’s senior officers consisted of his First Officer, the Chief Engineer, the First Engineer and the doctor and nurse who had treated Rex and Susie on the Leonov. Rex never did learn their names, there were too many to remember under such a short acquaintanceship. Besides, all knew each other, save for Rex, and were on a first-name basis.

Susie was obviously the center of attention. Rex got the impression that there were various women working in the Goddard but that space workers of the feminine flavor were evidently not inclined to be petite beauties of the Doctor Susie Hawkins variety. The nurse was unfortunately plain and lumpy of figure, and while the first officer was a woman, in appearance she was either past her prime or never had one.

The commodore was seated at one end of the table, Professor Casey at the other. Rex and Nils flanked Susie to the chagrin of the younger space station officers.

Rex Bader must have shown his surprise at the fact that the table wasn’t automated.

The commodore caught it and said, “We’ve got so much automation up here, Doctor Bader, that we avoid it in our day-by-day activities to the extent we can. Makes life less sterile.”

They were waited on by Billy, who evidently doubled in the steward department. But first the commodore brought forth his precious liter of rum, to the applause of the assembled officers, and very carefully divided it evenly. In spite of the number of them, it added up to a generous tot for each.

The commodore turned to Rex and said, “You are a newcomer to the Goddard Doctor. I suggest that you pledge and toast.”

Rex stood, turned in the direction of George Casey, lifted his glass and said, “To the Father of the Lagrange Five Project and to the success of his child.”

The others clapped, then stood too, in the toast. The professor managed a flush.

So unused were the station’s officers to alcohol, banned in space, that the several ounces each received merried them up considerably. The conversation was free and the dinner a success.

The fact was, Rex found, that the excellent vegetables and the fruits served as dessert were grown in space, but the dehydrated foods shuttled up from Earthside were as atrocious as such things have ever been. To Rex’s surprise, the pork was as good as he had ever eaten.

The commodore explained, when complimented on it. “We raise our own pigs and chickens, Doctor. The agricultural experts did considerable preliminary work here before moving on to Island One. Pork, in particular, does wonderfully in low gravity. We started with the best stock available and they are perfectly fed.

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