Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven [272]
"Do you need anything? Coffee? Tea?"
He thought that through, slowly. "No. I don't drink coffee or tea. Something with sugar in it? A Coke. Or just sugar water. Hot sugar water."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, please." What I need, he thought, is fresh insulin. There's nobody here who knows how to prepare that. If they ever give me the time I can do it myself, but first … "First thing is to bring the benefits of civilization back to the Stronghold."
"What?"
"I might have known I'd walk into a war," he told Maureen. "I was looking for the haves. The have-nots were bound to be somewhere around."
"I'll bring tea," Maureen said. She went to the men turning the cement mixer. "Harvey, Dad wants you up at the house."
"Right," Harvey Randall said. "Brad, you stay with Dr. Forrester, and make sure—"
"I know," Brad Wagoner said. "I think he should get some sleep."
"I can't." Forrester was far enough away that they didn't think he could hear them … and he looked like death warmed over anyway. The dead don't hear. "I have to get to the other barn now." He started to get up.
"Dammit, stay in that chair," Wagoner shouted. "I'll wheel you over."
Harvey followed Maureen out of the barn. He zipped up all his clothes against the wind, and they walked on in silence for a moment. Presently he caught up to her. "I don't suppose there's anything to talk about," he said.
She shook her head.
"You're really in love with him?"
She turned and her expression was … strange. "I don't know. I think Dad wants me to be. Wouldn't that turn you off? Breeding for politics! It's Johnny's rank Dad wants. I think he believes in Colorado Springs."
"Oddly phrased. Well, it certainly would be convenient."
"It would, wouldn't it? Harv, Johnny and I were sleeping together before you ever met me, and not because I was ordered to, either."
"Yeah?" He smiled suddenly, and she saw and wondered; but he wasn't going to mention George Christopher's tirade. No. "Have I got a chance?"
"Don't ask me now. Wait till Johnny gets back. Wait till it's all over."
Over? When is that? He pushed the thought away. Despair would be too easy. First Hammerfall and Loretta dead. The drive through nightmare, with Harv Randall curled around his wounded ego, a dead weight in the passenger seat. The fight to be ready for winter, for Fimbulwinter. The glaciers had been here once; every damn boulder in that damn wall was a reminder. Harv tasted the urge to howl at the heavens: Isn't that enough? Wasn't it enough without cannibals, war gases, thermit?
"You didn't say no," he said. "I'll hang onto that."
She didn't answer, and that was encouraging, too. "I know how you must feel," he said.
"Do you?" She was bitter. "I'm the prize in a contest. I always thought it was a joke, poor little rich girl. Suddenly nothing is funny anymore."
They reached the house and went in. Senator Jellison and Al Hardy had maps spread out on the living-room floor. Eileen Hamner held more papers, Hardy's eternal lists.
"You look frozen," Jellison said. "There's something hot in the Thermos. I won't call it tea."
"Thanks." Harvey poured a cup. It smelled like root beer, and tasted much like that, but it was hot and it warmed him.
"Progress?" Hardy asked.
"Some. The thermit bombs are coming along, but the fuses have to be made. Over in Hal's barn they're cooking up a god-awful brew that Forrester says will be mustard gas, but he's not sure how long it takes to finish the reaction. He's cooking it slow so as not to take chances."
"We may need it quicker than we think," Jellison said.
Harvey looked up quickly. "Sir?"
"Deke's people sent us a message on the CB an hour ago," Jellison said. "Couldn't make it out. Alice took another CB out to get on top of Turtle Mountain."
"Alice? Turtle Mountain?" Harvey was incredulous.
"It's in line of sight to us and Deke," Al Hardy said. "And communications are better lately. It should work."
"But Alice? A twelve-year-old girl?"
Hardy looked at him strangely. "Do you know anyone else who'd have a better chance of getting a horse up that mountain at night