Read Online Proteus Unbound by Charles Sheffield - Free Book Online

glared down from his superior height.
    "I'm sorry," Bey began. "I didn't know the kernel level was restricted territory. I was about to—"
    "The kernel level!" The man turned to his companions. "Just like a Snugger, he doesn't understand what you say to him."
    The woman stepped forward. "We're not talking about the kernel. You don't belong on the harvester—or anywhere in our system. You get back to your own stinking kind."
    The other man did not speak, but he stepped to Wolf's side and jabbed him painfully in the ribs with a bony elbow. At the same moment the woman trod on Bey's bare instep with a hard-soled shoe.
    "Hold it, now—" Bey took a step backward. They were in a low-g field, which favored the Cloudlanders, but Bey was sure that if he had to defend himself he could do it very well. He could break any of those thin limbs between his hands, and their feeble muscles had probably done as much as they could to hurt him. But he did not want to fight back—not when he had no idea who or why. He lifted his arm as though to strike at the man in front of him, then lunged for the staircase instead.
    He was all the way up before they had even turned to pursue. At the top he slammed the door in position and raced off along the corridor. On the threshold of his own quarters, he ran into a tall figure coming out. Bey braked as hard as he could, but there was still contact. The man gave a grunt of surprise and went sailing away through the air, bouncing off the wall and then falling face down across the bed.
    "Hey! What the hell!"
    Bey recognized the complaining voice. It was Apollo Belvedere Smith. He went across and helped him sit up.
    Aybee rubbed his midriff. "What's all that about?"
    "I was going to ask you the same. I was running away from three of your people. I've no idea who they are, but they tried to start a fight."
    "Oh, yeah. I came here to warn you not to leave your quarters. Close the door, Wolfman, and lock it."
    "Why? What the devil's going on here?"
    "You're the man they love to hate." Aybee stood up and began to wander around the room. "You didn't hear the newscast, right?"
    "I've been looking at the inside of the harvester."
    "Yeah." Aybee was still scowling, but that was apparently his natural expression. "You know something? Most people are real idiots."
    "Not true. By definition, most people are average."
    That earned a quick grin. "Y'know what I mean. They're animals. Last few days there's been more growling and scowling between government here and government in the Inner System than you'd believe. So in comes news a couple of hours ago from the far side of the Cloud. Bad deal. A whole harvester destroyed, blown apart, thirty thousand people dead. Power plant went blooey. And newsword is that you Sunhuggers did it."
    "Nonsense. The Inner System would never destroy a harvester. We need that food."
    "Hey, I never said I believed it, did I? It's like I said—people here are dumb. They see somebody looks like you—" Aybee paused to give Bey a detailed inspection, then shook his head and went on "—they hate him. You're not safe here now."
    "That's Cinnabar Baker's problem. If she wants me to be useful, she'll have to find a way to give me working space."
    The answering grin was even less pleasant than usual. "No worries. You'll get work space, Wolfman. The other thing on the news is just your line. Form-change foul-ups on the Sagdeyev space farm, a day from here. You and Sylv'll be heading there, see what you can sort out."
    "You won't be going?" Bey wanted to know how important the problem was in Cinnabar Baker's mind.
    "Don't think so. Not 'less you need me. Sylv can handle it. She's no dummy, and she's reliable. You'll like working with her."
    It was probably the highest level of praise that Aybee offered to anyone. Bey nodded. "I have the same feeling. We'll get on together."
    "Mind you, she's no good at real science. She comes to me for that."
    "You're too modest."
    "Mebbe I am." Aybee was examining