Ray Gun Revival magazine, Issue 53

even if I could—”
“I don’t want a pardon. I want a
safe passage.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“I’ll take a ship, a crew and ten
hostages—your mother among
them, you can be sure about that—
and leave the spaceport and all the
other hostages to you. You won’t
follow me with any of your ships,
and when I’m far enough from your
fleet, I’ll release the remaining hostages
on a planet of choice, and you
can come to get them.”
Now it was Niatti’s turn to laugh.
“Very amusing, Seward. Do you realize
how many people in the system
want to see you lynched? You’ll
meet these people as soon as you
land on any planet within voyage
distance. And even if you won’t, I’m
sure at least one of the people in
your loyal crew will be glad to give
you up in return to a commuted
sentence.”
“I’ll take that chance.”
“And I’m almost tempted to give it
to you. But I’m afraid it’s not within
my authority.”
Seward sighed. “I’m starting to
get the impression that you can’t offer
me much, Niatti.”
“Actually, I can offer you quite a
lot. The Coalition agreed to get you
the best lawyers the system’s taxpayers’
money can buy.”
Seward voice turned bitter. “No
lawyer is going to save me from the
rope.”
“That’s right. But they can extend
it. They’ll drag your trail for years,
and you might die from heart-attack
before your sentence is even announced.
Or maybe cancer—if it
helps, I can give you my stock of cigarettes.
I’ve had nothing to do with
them since I stopped smoking.”
“That’s very generous. But I’ll still
take the safe passage option.”
“As I just explained to you, it’s not
going to happen.”
Seward sighed again. “You’re a
stubborn one.”
“After so many years in the company
of my mother, you should have
realized that stubbornness runs in
our family.”
“So maybe it’s time both you
and your mother will learn that this
stubbornness has a price.”
Three shots were heard through
the communication panel, and then
it went silent.
***
Niatti stood up when General
Matsumoto entered her office and
saluted him, smiling. “Why, it’s the
new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff! Congratulations, Sir!”
The General replied with a smile
of his own. “Thank you, Colonel. I
understand that congratulations are
in order for you to. You and Samir
decided on a date yet?”
“We tried, but it’s a little difficult—with
all those jobs you give
him on such a short notice...”
The General laughed. “Noted,
Colonel. I’ll make sure you can both
spend more time together.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Actually, I came here with a proposal
of my own. This new job is the
last one in my military career, and
five years from now, I’ll need a man
to replace me.” He leaned back in
his chair. “Or a woman.”
Niatti raised an eyebrow. “Are you
sure this is a good idea, Sir? My reputation
is very problematic in some
circles.”
The General gave her a dismissive
gesture. “You’re a soldier, Niatti.
Most people understand that it can
be a dirty job.”
She stared at her mother’s picture,
hanging on one of the office
walls. “Sometimes I find myself
thinking just how dirty it has to be,
Sir.”
“Haven’t we been through this,
Colonel? Seward was going to kill
her regardless of anything you could
have said or done.” The General
frowned. “But while we’re on the
subject, I’ve had some complaints
about your insistence to keep the
ISSUE 53
picture here.”
“The picture stays,” said Niatti.
“And so do I.”
The General gave her a puzzled
look.
“Sir, I’m grateful for your offer, but
I have to say no. In fact, it’s probably
a good time to tell you that I am resigning.”
“Colonel, you’ve been through a
lot, but you’re still too young for retirement.”
“Who said anything about retirement?
I want to stay here and keep
managing the spaceports. It’s nonstop
work.”
“Colonel, you can’t—”
“Sure I can. I’ve been doing that
for the last two years, and I haven’t
heard anyone complaining. Other
than that picture thing, of course.
But they’ll learn to live with it.”
“You’ve done an excellent job,
no argument. But you can’t just
take over the job you did as a soldier
when it becomes a civilian job.
There’s a procedure, the Coalition is
examining candidates—”
“I know. I’ve registered to become
one. And you’ll make sure I’ll
get the job.”
“Look—”
“You’re a big hero, Sir. People
will listen to you. I want the spaceports.”
“But why?”
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