Tunnel in the Sky (22 page)

   
Dumont stared at him. “Oh, so that's it? And the cat is out of the bag!” He glanced around. “I see quite a few here who are younger than I am. See what he's driving at, folks? Second-class citizens. He's going to stick an age limit in that so-called constitution. Aren't you, Grant? Look me in the eye and deny it.”

   
“Roy! Dave! Grab him and bring him to order.”

   
Rod had been listening closely; the show was better than usual. Jimmy had been adding his usual flippant commentary. Now Jimmy whispered, “That tears it. Do we choose up sides or do we fade back and watch the fun?”

   
Before he could answer Shorty made it clear that he needed no immediate help. He set his feet wide and snapped, “Touch me and somebody gets hurt!” He did not reach for any weapon but his attitude showed that he was willing to fight.

   
He went on, “Grant, I've got one thing to say, then I'll shut up.” He turned and spoke to all. “You can see that we don't have any rights and we don't know where we stand- but we are already organized like a straitjacket. Committees for this, committees for that- and what good has it done? Are we better off than we were before all these half-baked committees were appointed? The wall is still unfinished, the camp is dirtier than ever, and nobody knows what he is supposed to do. Why, we even let the signal fire go out yesterday. When a roof leaks, you don't appoint a committee; you fix the leak. I say give the job back to Rod, get rid of these silly committees, and get on with fixing the leaks. Anybody with me? Make some noise!”

   
They made plenty of noise. The shouts may have come from less than half but Cowper could see that he was losing his grip on them. Roy Kilroy dropped behind Shorty Dumont and looked questioningly at Cowper; Jiminy jabbed Rod in the ribs and whispered, “Get set, boy.”

   
But Cowper shook his head at Roy. “Shorty,” he said quietly, “are you through making your speech?”

   
“That wasn't a speech, that was a motion. And you had better not tell me it's out of order.”

   
“I did not understand your motion. State it.”

   
“You understood it. I'm moving that we get rid of you and put Rod back in.”

   
Kilroy interrupted. “Hey, Grant, he can't do that. That's not according to-”

   
“Hold it, Roy. Shorty, your motion is not in order.”

   
“I thought you would say that!”

   
“And it is really two motions. But I m not going to bother with trifles. You say people don't like the way I'm doing things, so we'll find out.” He went on briskly, “Is there a second to the motion?”

   
“Second!”

   
“I second it.”

   
“Moved and seconded. The motion is to recall me and put Rod in office. Any remarks?”

   
A dozen people tried to speak. Rod got the floor by outshouting the others. “Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman! Privileged question!”

   
“The chair recognizes Rod Walker.”

   
“Point of personal privilege. I have a statement to make.”

   
“Well? Go ahead.”

   
“Look, Grant, I didn't know Shorty planned to do this. Tell him, Shorty.”

   
“That's right.”

   
“Okay, okay,” Cowper said sourly. “Any other remarks? Don't yell, just stick up your hands.”

   
“I'm not through,” insisted Rod.

   
“Well?”

   
“I not only did not know, I'm not for it. Shorty, I want you to withdraw your motion.”

   
“No!”

   
“I think you should. Grant has only had a week; you can't expect miracles in that time- I know; I've had grief enough with this bunch of wild men. You may not like the things he's done- I don't myself, a lot of them. That's to be expected. But if you let that be an excuse to run him out of office, then sure as daylight this gang will break up.”

   
“I'm not busting it up- he is! He may be older than I am but if he thinks that makes the least difference when it comes to having a say- well. . . he'd better think twice. I'm warning him. You hear that, Grant?”

   
“I heard it. You misunderstood me.”

   
“Like fun I did!”

   
“Shorty,” Rod persisted, “will you drop this idea? I'm asking you please.”

   
Shorty Dumont looked stubborn. Rod looked helplessly at Cowper, shrugged and sat down. Cowper turned away and growled, “Any more debate? You back there. . . Agnes? You've got the floor.”

   
Jimmy whispered, “Why did you pull a stunt like that, Rod? Nobility doesn't suit you.”

   
“I wasn't being noble. I knew what I was doing,” Rod answered in low tones.

   
“You messed up your chances to be re-elected.”

   
“Stow it.” Rod listened; it appeared that Agnes Fries had more than one grievance. Jim?”

   
“Huh?”

   
“Jump to your feet and move to adjourn.”

   
“What? Ruin this when it's getting good? There is going to be some hair pulled . . . I hope.”

   
“Don't argue; do it!- or I'll bang your heads together.”

   
“Oh, all right. Spoilsport.” Jimmy got reluctantly to his feet, took a breath and shouted, “I move we adjourn!”

   
Rod bounced to his feet. “SECOND THE MOTION!” Cowper barely glanced at them. “Out of order. Sit down.”

   
“It is not out of order,” Rod said loudly. “A motion to adjourn is always in order, it takes precedence, and it cannot be debated. I call for the question.”

   
“I never recognized you. This recall motion is going to be voted on it it is the last thing I do.” Cowper's face was tense with anger. “Are you through, Agnes? Or do you want to discuss my table manners, too?”

   
“You can't refuse a motion to adjourn,” Rod insisted. “Question! Put the question.”

   
Several took up the shout, drowning out Agnes Fries, preventing Cowper from recognizing another speaker. Boos and catcalls rounded out the tumult.

   
Cowper held up both hands for silence, then called out, “It has been moved and seconded that we adjourn. Those in favor say, 'Aye.'“

   
“AYE!!”

   
“Opposed?”

  
 
“No,” said Jimmy.

   
“The meeting is adjourned.” Cowper strode out of the circle of firelight.

   
Shorty Dumont came over, planted himself in front of Rod and looked up. “A fine sort of a pal you turned out to be!” He spat on the ground and stomped off.

   
“Yeah,” agreed Jimmy, “what gives? Schizophrenia? Your nurse drop you on your head? That noble stuff in the right doses might have put us back in business. But you didn't know when to stop.”

   
Jacqueline had approached while Jimmy was speaking. “I wasn't pulling any tricks,” Rod insisted. “I meant what I said. Kick a captain out when he's had only a few days to show himself and you'll bust us up into a dozen little groups. I wouldn't be able to hold them together. Nobody could.”

   
“Bosh! Jackie, tell the man.”

   
She frowned. “Jimmy, you're sweet, but you're not bright.”

   
“Et tu, Jackie?”

   
“Never mind, Jackie will take care of you. A good job, Rod. By tomorrow everybody will realize it. Some of them are a little stirred up tonight.”

   
“What I don't see,” Rod said thoughtfully, “is what got Shorty stirred up in the first place?”

   
“Hadn't you heard? Maybe it was while you were out hunting. I didn't see it, but he got into a row with Roy, then Grant bawled him out in front of everybody. I think Shorty is self-conscious about his height,” she said seriously. “He doesn't like to take orders.”

   
“Does anybody?”

   
The next day Grant Cowper acted as if nothing had happened. But his manner had more of King Log and less of King Stork. Late in the afternoon he looked up Rod. “Walker? Can you spare me a few minutes?”

   
“Let's go where we can talk.” Grant led him to a spot out of earshot. They sat on the ground and Rod waited. Cowper seemed to have difficulty in finding words.

   
Finally he said, “Rod, I think I can depend on you.” He threw in his grin, but it looked forced.

   
“Why?” asked Rod.

   
“Well. . . the way you behaved last night.”

   
“So? Don't bank on it, I didn't do it for you.” Rod paused, then added, “Let's get this straight. I don't like you.”

   
For once Cowper did not grin. “That makes it mutual. I don't like you a little bit. But we've got to get along and I think I can trust you.

   
“Maybe.”

   
“I'll risk it.”

   
“I agree with every one of Shorty's gripes. I just didn't agree with his soltition.”

   
Cowper gave a wry smile unlike his usual expression. For an instant Rod found himself almost liking him. “The sad part is that I agree with his gripes myself.”

   
“Huh?”

   
“Rod, you probably think I'm a stupid jerk but the fact is I do know quite a bit about theory of government. The hard part is to apply it in a. . . a transitional period like this. We've got fifty people here and not a one with any practical experience in government- not even myself. But every single one considers himself an expert. Take that bill-of-rights motion; I couldn't let that stand. I know enough about such things to know that the rights and duties needed for a co-operative colony like this can't be taken over word for word from an agrarian democracy, and they are still different from those necessary for an industrial republic.” He looked worried. “It is true that we had considered limiting the franchise.”

   
“You do and they'll toss you in the creek!”

   
“I know. That's one reason why the law committee hasn't made a report. Another reason is- well, confound it, how can you work out things like a constitution when you practically haven't any writing paper? Ifs exasperating. But about the franchise: the oldest one of us is around twenty-two and the youngest is about sixteen. The worst of it is that the youngest are the most precocious, geniuses or near-geniuses.” Cowper looked up. “I don't mean you.

   
“Oh, no,” Rod said hastily. “I'm no genius!”

   
“You're not sixteen, either. These brilliant brats worry me. 'Bush lawyers,' every blessed one, with always a smart answer and no sense. We thought with an age limit- a reasonable one- the older heads could act as ballast while they grow up. But it won't work.”

   
“No. It won't.”

   
“But what am I to do? That order about hunting teams not being mixed- that wasn't aimed at teams like you and Carol, but she thought it was and gave me the very deuce. I was just trying to take care of these kids. Confound it, I wish they were all old enough to marry and settle down- the Baxters don't give me trouble.”

   
“I wouldn't worry. In a year or so ninety per cent of the colony will be married.”

   
“I hope so! Say . . . are you thinking about it?”

   
“Me?” Rod was startled. “Farthest thing from my mind.”

   
“Um? I thought- Never mind; I didn't get you out here to ask about your private affairs. What Shorty had to say was hard to swallow- but I'm going to make some changes. I'm abolishing most of the committees.”

   
“So?”

   
“Yes. Blast them, they don't do anything; they just produce reports. I'm going to make one girl boss cook- and one man boss hunter. I want you to be chief of police.”

   
“Huh? Why in Ned do you want a chief of police?”

   
“Well . . . somebody has to see that orders are carried out. You know, camp sanitation and such. Somebody has to keep the signal smoking- we haven't accounted for thirty-seven people, aside from known dead. Somebody has to assign the night watch and check on it. The kids run hog wild if you don't watch them. You are the one to do it.”

   
“Why?”

   
“Well . . . let's be practical, Rod. I've got a following and so have you. We'll have less trouble if everybody sees that we two stand together. It's for the good of the community.”