a media hound and a horn dog all at the same time. How do you think it went, Wallace?
“It was very slut-like, Miss Queene.”
“True, it was slut-like but effective. Now, let’s put together a press release that might throw some accelerant on the heat source.”
Chapter 7.0
Vittie call ed out across the office, “Willem, did you see that press release from Queene Mines?”
“Yes , I did. Queene Mines deplores public brawling. They are cooperating with Sheriff Bob. They won’t tolerate that type of behavior from their employees. What about it? It all sounds right to me.”
Vitt ie gave a rather unladylike snort. “You are too nice and trusting for your own good. It says right here they are planning on employee censure for their lumpers who were involved. Any censure might include termination of employment and immediate transport off Ceres.”
“Okay, again , what about it?”
“Darling, it also says we can’t both have a decent society and tolerate this type of behavior. Between the lines she is saying that what is good for the goose is good for the gander; what is good for the stallion is good for mare; what is good for the dog is good for the bitch. She is saying that if she kicks her goons off Ceres then the same thing should be done to Sno.”
“You keep saying ‘she’. I am sure Evelyn didn’t write this herself. Some backroom administrative hack put this together. She probably didn’t even see it.”
Vittie shook her head. “I don’t like it. It reads like the first salvo in a set up to get rid of Sno. I don’t know if I trust Miss Queene anymore.”
Willem smiled. “Sno would like that mistrust in you. It is a good spacer attitude. Paranoia is a good thing in space where trust can get you killed a hundred different ways. Besides, you’re not really paranoid if they really are after you. But, since Evelyn is on her way over here, be nice to her. Let’s not mention the press release and see what she has to say.”
Vittie smiled, “ Okay. You are the boss.”
Willem laughed, “Yeah, and a da rned good one too. Sno was calling me King Willem just before she left. Maybe you should think about that.”
Vittie laughed, “Yes, y our Majesty. I am sure your little chamber maid will be glad to discuss this with you later tonight.”
“Maybe twice later if you grovel properly, wench.”
Before Vittie could answer , the door swung wide and Wallace held it open allowing Queene to sweep into the office. The whole effect was only slightly marred as Queene stumbled slightly as she crossed the threshold moving from the city street’s standard ten percent gravity streets into the fifty percent gravity currently set on the grav-stat by the Whyte Mining office.
She flowed around the counter , slid up to Willem and flung her arms around him. “Willem,” she turned and beamed across the room, “and Vittie, I am so sorry about all that is going on. I do pray your daughter is okay.”
Willem said, “Sno is fine. She took the Sedona outbound a couple hours ago.”
Queene replied, “I can’t imagine being confronted by four drunken brawlers like she did and coming out okay. I would have been so frightened.”
Willem laughed, “Sno doesn’t really frighten all that easily. I haven’t been able to scare her since she was four.”
Queene looked at Willem and Vitt ie, “I am so sorry. I am here to formally apologize on behalf of Queene Mines and myself.”
Willem shook his head, “No reason for you to apologize.”
“No, no, no, my company brought those evil men here. I should have fired them sooner. Poor Miss Whyte could have been hurt. Then there was that dreadful press release coming from my office. Why, I just don’t know what to say!”
“Please don’t fret yourself, Evelyn. Sno is fine. She went back to work without missing a beat. I understand Mario’s didn’t take more damage than it does on any payday night. The only ones hurt were your lumpers. Heck, from what I saw on
“It was very slut-like, Miss Queene.”
“True, it was slut-like but effective. Now, let’s put together a press release that might throw some accelerant on the heat source.”
Chapter 7.0
Vittie call ed out across the office, “Willem, did you see that press release from Queene Mines?”
“Yes , I did. Queene Mines deplores public brawling. They are cooperating with Sheriff Bob. They won’t tolerate that type of behavior from their employees. What about it? It all sounds right to me.”
Vitt ie gave a rather unladylike snort. “You are too nice and trusting for your own good. It says right here they are planning on employee censure for their lumpers who were involved. Any censure might include termination of employment and immediate transport off Ceres.”
“Okay, again , what about it?”
“Darling, it also says we can’t both have a decent society and tolerate this type of behavior. Between the lines she is saying that what is good for the goose is good for the gander; what is good for the stallion is good for mare; what is good for the dog is good for the bitch. She is saying that if she kicks her goons off Ceres then the same thing should be done to Sno.”
“You keep saying ‘she’. I am sure Evelyn didn’t write this herself. Some backroom administrative hack put this together. She probably didn’t even see it.”
Vittie shook her head. “I don’t like it. It reads like the first salvo in a set up to get rid of Sno. I don’t know if I trust Miss Queene anymore.”
Willem smiled. “Sno would like that mistrust in you. It is a good spacer attitude. Paranoia is a good thing in space where trust can get you killed a hundred different ways. Besides, you’re not really paranoid if they really are after you. But, since Evelyn is on her way over here, be nice to her. Let’s not mention the press release and see what she has to say.”
Vittie smiled, “ Okay. You are the boss.”
Willem laughed, “Yeah, and a da rned good one too. Sno was calling me King Willem just before she left. Maybe you should think about that.”
Vittie laughed, “Yes, y our Majesty. I am sure your little chamber maid will be glad to discuss this with you later tonight.”
“Maybe twice later if you grovel properly, wench.”
Before Vittie could answer , the door swung wide and Wallace held it open allowing Queene to sweep into the office. The whole effect was only slightly marred as Queene stumbled slightly as she crossed the threshold moving from the city street’s standard ten percent gravity streets into the fifty percent gravity currently set on the grav-stat by the Whyte Mining office.
She flowed around the counter , slid up to Willem and flung her arms around him. “Willem,” she turned and beamed across the room, “and Vittie, I am so sorry about all that is going on. I do pray your daughter is okay.”
Willem said, “Sno is fine. She took the Sedona outbound a couple hours ago.”
Queene replied, “I can’t imagine being confronted by four drunken brawlers like she did and coming out okay. I would have been so frightened.”
Willem laughed, “Sno doesn’t really frighten all that easily. I haven’t been able to scare her since she was four.”
Queene looked at Willem and Vitt ie, “I am so sorry. I am here to formally apologize on behalf of Queene Mines and myself.”
Willem shook his head, “No reason for you to apologize.”
“No, no, no, my company brought those evil men here. I should have fired them sooner. Poor Miss Whyte could have been hurt. Then there was that dreadful press release coming from my office. Why, I just don’t know what to say!”
“Please don’t fret yourself, Evelyn. Sno is fine. She went back to work without missing a beat. I understand Mario’s didn’t take more damage than it does on any payday night. The only ones hurt were your lumpers. Heck, from what I saw on
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