Read Online Children of the Comet by Donald Moffitt - Free Book Online

his old uniform jacket from the hook by the door where it had been retired, and perhaps they had no orders concerning him.
    He headed down the corridor where he knew Stefan was billeted. He was challenged only once by a young bully-boy who detached himself from his compatriots and floated into his path with his hand up.
    â€œHold it right there, mister!”
    He drew himself up as well as anyone could while hanging in midair and used the sharp-edged voice of authority he’d honed in some forty years of giving orders.
    â€œWhat’s your name, fellow?” he barked. “Who do you report to? Don’t you recognize your captain?” For a moment, he was afraid it wasn’t going to work, but then, after a doubtful glance at the jacket and its insignia, the young cockerel backed down.
    Joorn continued, and when he found Stefan’s corridor, it was already clear of people. A door hung open halfway down, and Joorn aimed himself for it. He landed feetfirst inside the doorway and found Oliver waiting for him along with a trio of bully-boys.
    â€œGlad you could make it, Captain,” Oliver said.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Oliver, and where’s the person who lives here?” Joorn demanded.
    â€œThe old man is fine. He’s been taken to a holding area, where he’ll be safe until it’s over. When the boys here saw that he’d succeeded in contacting you, they thought they’d better let me know. I shouldn’t have overlooked you.”
    â€œWhere’s Professor Karn?”
    â€œHe’s in the comm center, negotiating with the Council. They get their people back, and we get ours. Including yours. The professor insisted on that. I told him you could only get in the way, but I guess that you and him go way back. We should be ready to leave this system within a week.”
    Joorn turned to go. One of the enforcers stepped in his way. The other two closed in on either side of him.
    â€œDon’t do anything foolish, Captain,” Oliver said.
    â€œI want to see Karn.”
    â€œAll in good time, Captain. For the time being, we’re going to lock you in your cabin for your own safety.”
    The two henchmen took over. One of them gripped him by the upper arm. Joorn shook him off, but the man only grabbed him again, more firmly this time. They escorted him unsmilingly through a maze of corridors that were already emptying, as more and more of the habitat’s occupants were caught in the roundup. Some of the people recognized him, or recognized the uniform, but were too intimidated to call out to him.
    When they arrived at his quarters, one of his keepers went inside to make sure the cabin was empty. Then they thrust him inside and closed the door. Joorn heard an electronic click. He tried the knob, but it wouldn’t turn. His comm screen wouldn’t work either, and he was unable to rouse it. He poured himself a drink and sat down. After a couple of hours, the door opened. A pair of briefly glimpsed men in tabards pushed Alten inside and closed the door again.
    â€œSo they got you too,” Joorn said.
    Alten smiled crookedly. “I saw Karn himself. He apologized but said we’d be a distraction. He said to tell you not to worry; it would all be over soon. Enough Homegoers have already been repatriated to make us the majority. He needs them for grunt labor during the trip, if nothing else. You’ll be released as soon as we’re under way. He’ll need your help with the Higgs drive.”
    â€œDo the geniuses doing this realize that if they turn on the Higgs drive before we’re clear of the inner system, they’ll kill everything on Rebirth’s surface, including the colonists?”
    Alten looked genuinely shocked. “They’re not that crazy.”
    Joorn unclenched his teeth. He hadn’t realized how tightened up he was. “You said something about making ‘us’ the majority,” he said. “Does that