Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven [74]
"I should be the only one with trouble?"
"How're you getting along?"
"Pretty good."
Two days later, Delanty was much better—but Baker didn't have an answer.
He had just returned from taking a vacuum sample, and was alone with Jakov when Baker said, "I can't stand it."
"I beg your pardon?" the Russian said.
"Something bothering me. How does Leonilla take a leak in free fall?"
"This concerns you?"
"Sure. It's not even idle curiosity. One reason we never sent women into space, the design boys couldn't come up with proper sanitary facilities. Somebody suggested a catheter, but that hurts." Jakov said nothing. "So how does she do it?" Johnny demanded.
"That is a state secret. I'm sorry," Pieter Jakov said. Could he be joking? It didn't show. "It is time for a new series of solar observations. Will you help me with the telescope, please."
"Sure." I'll ask Leonilla, Johnny thought. Before we get down, anyway. He glanced sideways at the Russian. Maybe Jakov didn't know either.
"How you doing?" Baker asked.
"Fine," Delanty said. "Does Houston know?"
"Not from me," Baker said. "Maybe from Baikunyar. I don't guess Jakov keeps much from his people. But why should they tell Houston?"
"I hate it," Rick said.
"Sure you do. So what? You've proved whatever you needed to. You're here, and we got the wings opened out. Christ, man, if you can do that kind of work while you're sick, they ought to call you Ironman. You'll be working tomorrow."
"Yeah. You solve that problem that was bothering you?"
Baker shrugged. "No. I asked Pieter. 'State secret,' he said. State secret my ass."
"Well, maybe we can find out. We've sure got enough cameras … "
"Sure. That'll look good in the report. Two U.S. Air Force officers sneaking into the lady's powder room with cameras. Well, I've got the watch. I'll go wake up Comrade Brigadier. See you." Johnny Baker floated out of the Apollo capsule and across Hammerlab. It was quiet out there; Leonilla was asleep in Soyuz, Delanty strapped down in Apollo, and Jakov supposedly catching a nap before going on watch.
Baker swam toward the Russian's bunk. In the maze of telescopes and cameras and growing crystals and x-ray detectors Jakov floated, lightly strapped to a nylon web. He was grinning at the bulkhead. When Johnny reached him, the grin blinked out.
Like he just gave somebody a hotfoot, Johnny Baker thought. And was caught in the act.
State secret my ass.
June: Three
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.
Matthew 24
The outer receptionist was new, and she didn't send Harvey Randall on into the big executive suite on the third floor of Los Angeles City Hall. Harvey didn't mind. There were others waiting out there, and his crew wouldn't be up with the cameras for a few minutes anyway. He was early for his appointment.
Harvey took a seat and indulged in his favorite game: people-watching. Most of the visitors were obvious. Vendors, political types, all there to see one of the deputy mayors or an executive assistant. One was different. She was in her twenties, and Harvey couldn't tell if early or late twenties. She wore jeans and a flowered blouse, but they'd come from an expensive shop, not from The Gap. She stared frankly, and when Harvey looked at her she didn't let her eyes drop in embarrassment. Harvey shrugged and crossed the room to sit next to her. "What's so interesting about me?" he asked.
"I recognized you. You do TV documentaries. I'll remember your name in a minute."
"Fine," Harvey said.
That did make her look away; but she turned back to him with half a smile. "All right. What is it?"
"You first."
"Mabe Bishop." Her accent was definitely native.
Harvey fished into his memories. "Aha. People's Lobby."
"Right." She didn't change expressions, which was curious; most people would be pleased to have a national documentary reporter recognize their name. Harvey was still finding