Ring Around the Sky - Allyn Gibson [12]
Gomez said, “I’ll want to examine the new elevator housing you’ve constructed, and I’ll want to examine the damage to the elevator shaft personally.” She looked to Tev. “You’ll be with me, Commander.” She turned to Eevraith. “You, too, if you’re interested.”
Grevesh opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and fixed on Tev. “You can repair the elevator?”
“We’ll try, First Minister,” said Gomez. She rose from her couch, and Tev followed suit.
He smiled. “Good. Very good.”
“You should know, sir,” said Tev, “that the damage may be more extensive than even we can repair.”
Eevraith stood quickly. “Tev!” he cried. “The fact remains that the replacement shell need only be installed for the elevator to be repaired.”
“The fact remains, Minister, that Commander Gomez and I know nothing of the sort.” Tev turned from Eevraith to Grevesh. “If we cannot repair the elevator shaft, the likelihood is that Kharzh’ulla will have to be evacuated.”
A look of cold fury crossed Grevesh’s face, and the white skin flushed dark red. “I once thought you worthy of being a Kharzh’ullan, Tev, but I can see now that you are only a Tellarite. Your father would be most disappointed in you.” He turned his chair and retired to his office, leaving Gomez and Tev alone on the balcony with Eevraith.
Gomez looked to Tev. “You have a way with tact, Commander.”
He shrugged. “It needed to be said.” He looked to Eevraith, and his eyes narrowed. “I imagine, Minister, that you have been keeping the truth from him.”
Eevraith crossed the space between Tev and himself. “Evacuating the planet is not the truth, Tev, but merely a possibility.” He spoke his words with precision and barely veiled anger.
“You hadn’t told him,” Gomez said. “You hadn’t told him that the damage might be so extensive that even we might not be able to repair it.”
Eevraith nodded slowly. “You’ve seen him. He’s barely conscious of where he is. That was the fifth time in a month I’ve had to explain centrifugal force to him. Telling him that the Ring poses a danger to the entire planet is more than he can deal with.”
“And what will you do, Eevraith, if you must abandon Kharzh’ulla?” asked Tev. “Return to Tellar? Where will your political career be then?”
Eevraith reached out, grabbed Tev’s uniform collar, and pulled his face into Tev’s. “I would be very careful, Tev.”
Tev shoved Eevraith away. “Is that a threat, Eevraith? You’re the one putting personal politics before public safety.” He nodded toward the city beyond the balcony. “Those lives are on your head, not mine.”
“Gentlemen!” said Gomez as she came in between them.
Eevraith stamped the balcony tile with his foot. Tev turned and looked at him. “You left, Tev. In the end, you left. Tell me truly that you know better than I what is best for these people.”
Tev narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and wandered to the balcony’s railing, leaning on it to look out over the city.
Gomez planted her hands on her hips. She looked at Tev, frowned, then turned her attention to Eevraith. “Will you join us, Minister, in surveying the elevator damage and the replacement housing?”
Eevraith nodded slowly. “Of course. I presume you will want to see the housing first.”
Gomez shook her head. “I’d rather examine the elevator shaft and see firsthand what needs to be done before passing judgment on the housing.” She raised her hand, cutting off Eevraith’s coming objection. “I’m sure what you’ve assembled is fine, but I want to see what will work without any preconceived notions of what you think will work.”
“Very well,” said Eevraith. “If there is anything else?”
Gomez sighed. “Tev?” she called.
Tev turned. “I have nothing more.”
Gomez nodded. “Then I think we have everything we need at this point, Minister Eevraith. How would 1600 hours strike you?”
“That should be fine.” Eevraith paused. “Should I have someone escort you to the entrance?”
“I think Commander Tev and I can beam out from here.”
Eevraith nodded. “Sixteen hundred hours,