Brim was nearly speechless. "T-thank you, Captain," he stuttered. "I'm honored."
"It's not the only news I have for you, I'm afraid," she said, resuming her perch at the work station.
Brim braced himself-somehow, he had a feeling he'd already used up the month's good-news quota. White he watched, vivid colors began to cascade over her screen, then stopped. She frowned for a moment, nodded, then slowly and deliberately removed her glasses and cleaned them with a lacy, handkerchief. "I suppose I also ought to let you know,"
she said at length, "that you are being pushed out of the nest, so to speak."
Brim frowned and raised an eyebrow. "Captain?"
Collingswood lowered her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "It was a difficult decision for me, Wilf," she said, "but I could no longer in good conscience keep you under my thumb. You are therefore to report in the capacity of First Lieutenant to I.F.S. Thunderbolt, just completing a major rework at Gimmas Haefdon, You'll do well with her captain, Vern Engerstrom," she said, "and it's clear that you're ready for that sort of job-Number One."
Number One! Brim felt his heart begin to pound-for the thousandth time that day, it seemed. "But Captain..." he protested.
"No 'buts,' Wilf," Collingswood said firmly. "You've served Defiant well-and everyone concerned with her-but you can't be only a Helmsman all your life. You need to move on now and continue to grow. You leave for Gimmas tomorrow afternoon on S.S. Kersearge- while I embark next week for Avalon. You see, Wilf, I have a new job too-in the Admiralty."
Brim shook his head in utter shock. "B-but who can possibly take your place running Defiant?" he asked.
"The first Carescrian Captain in His Majesty's most Imperial Fleet, that's who,"
Collingswood answered with a smile. "A friend of yours named Calhoun-I thought you might approve. And he'll have Aram to help him out."
Brim grinned. "I approve," he said quietly.
With glistening eyes, Collingswood got to her feet and moved from behind the desk with her arms open. "I shall miss you, Wilf," she said hugging him tightly. Then, abruptly, she glanced at her timepiece and dismissed him with military brusqueness. "That will be all.
Lieutenant," she said crisply. "Your orders are in your message folder."
He bowed. "Thank you. Captain," he said, then turned and made for the door.
"Do well," Collingswood called after him. "Our paths will cross often, so I shall check on your progress with some frequency."
"Aye, Captain," Brim promised, still a little in shock, "I shall do my best."
On his way along the companionway, he met Admiral Plutron headed in the opposite direction. "Good evening, Admiral," he said. Plutron had put on a few pounds since their last encounter long ago on Gimmas Haefdon.
"Good evening. Lieutenant Brim," the gray-haired officer answered. "My congratulations on your promotion."
"Thank you, Admiral," Brim said as they passed, carefully smothering the smile that threatened to form on his face. Old Plutron was carrying two huge bottles of Logish Meem.
Clearly, he was heading for Collingswood's cabin and the demonstration she promised him days ago in space....
Sounds of reveling Bears drifted up from the wardroom on the next deck below as Brim reached his own cabin: "...To ice, to snow, to S-o-d-e-s-k-a-y-a we go! To ice, to snow, to S-o-d-e-s-k-a-y-a we go!..."
He grinned in anticipation. He planned to join that party as soon as he could freshen up-he had a great deal to celebrate himself.... He was rinsing his face when he heard a polite knock. Grabbing a towel, he opened the door. It was barbousse.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Brim," the big rating blurted out, hat in his hand. "I... um... heard about your new ship, Lieutenant," he said. "I want you to know that I already tried to get a transfer to her, but this time, they turned me down flat."
"Come in," Brim said, opening the door wider. "Sit down and tell me about it."
"Oh, I can't stay, Lieutenant," Barbousse said, handing Brim a small blue envelope. "I just dropped by to give you this message. But I wanted to make sure you knew that I tried to be with you on that new ship of yours."
"I'm honored that you even thought about it," Brim said. "But why do you suppose they turned you down?"
Barbousse shrugged. "Well, sir, Captain Collingswood's got me signed up for this new officers' school, an' I can't seem to get out of it."
"Officers' school?" Brim asked with excitement. "That's wonderful! Which one?"
"The Helmsman's Academy," Barbousse said, his face reddening. "I don't suppose I'll ever be a Wilf Brim or anything, but I'd sure be proud to serve in the right seat with you someday, Lieutenant."
Brim shook his head-nearly speechless with emotion. Then he put both hands on the man's broad shoulders. "You'll be a great helmsman, Utrillo," he said. "And I shall be proud to serve with you- always!"
Before Barbousse took his leave, he pointed to the blue envelope. "I suppose you'll want to be readin' that soon as you can," he suggested, "beggin the Lieutenant's pardon. Urn... it's from Miss Valemont. She left it with me about half a metacycle ago."
Eagerly, Brim tore open the light plastic envelope and extracted a letter in beautifully inked, old-fashioned script:
My windows here are all boarded up, friend-but the kitchen is still intact, and a victory celebration supper is on the stove. I shall fetch you at the start of the Evening watch, First Lieutenant Wilf Ansor Brim. -regrets only, Claudia.
A metacycle later, Brim watched the lights of a battered little skimmer bear down the road toward the end of the brow. He'd made his apologies to the Bears in the wardroom, and they appeared to understand. Some opportunities were simply too good to miss!
He shrugged. If his previous assignment to a T-class destroyer were any indication, this was likely to be the last peaceful evening he would spend for quite a long time-especially with the challenges he knew he would face as First Lieutenant. He smiled while he shifted the bottles of Logish Meem under his arm. Nobody he might encounter on the frozen planet of Gimmas Haefdon was likely to be anything like Claudia Valemont-and he meant to make the most of this last evening with her. For a while....
Table of Contents
Chapter 2, **PREPARATION**
Chapter 3, </i>*CONVOY DUTY**
Chapter 4, **ATALANTA**
Chapter 5, **THE BENDER **
Chapter 6, **THE D-SHIP**
Chapter 7, **I.F.S. <i>PRIZE</i>**
Chapter 8, **ANTIQUARIES**
Chapter 9, **LEGACY**
Chapter 10, **THE MIRACLE**