"Onorbit," Pauling said. "And there are only three. Two of them aren't even—"
"You're always saying that, Grayson. As if you could be on an orbit the way you're on the street. I suppose we should make more."
"You can't," he said. "Even if it were legal—and it's not; they would be in violation of international law—you can't build these things in a month, no matter how much money you throw at the contractors."
"I think there may be more someplace," she said expressionlessly.
"I don't suppose they ever pass over France or Germany," the chancellor said.
"Several times a day," Pauling said.
"But that's immaterial," the president said. "These point up, not down. And we've worked out the international aspects. The UN Security Council will be part of the decision-making process."
"They point whichever way we want them to," Pauling said. "And the UN's big red button doesn't have to be connected to anything."
The president sighed. "You've always been such a good team player, Grayson. Until this thing came up."
Pauling faced the others. "I was the only cabinet member not in favor of this scheme. But then I'm the only one who knows an electron from his asteroid."
"As I said, it's no longer a scientific problem. The science has been solved. But we still have our people to protect." She was trying to look presidential but was obviously pissed at Pauling. He had probably said he was going to behave.
"Have they been orbited yet?" Rory said, avoiding the in-orbit/on-orbit controversy.
"No, Dr. Bell, they're undergoing checks. They'll go up next week."
"No matter what our advice is," Deedee said.
The governor cleared his throat and spoke for the first time. "Dean Whittier, with all due respect, the president and her cabinet have considered the scientific aspects of this along with all others—"
"And come up with the wrong decision!" Rory snapped. "This is like children setting up a practical joke to surprise Mommy when she comes through the door. She is not going to be amused."
"I have been assured that there is no conceivable defense against these weapons."
"Oh, please. The Praetorian Guard was invincible in its time, but one soldier with a nineteenth-century machine gun would destroy them in seconds."
The president stared for a moment, perhaps listening to someone offstage explaining what the Praetorian Guard was. "Science is on my side here, Professor. This energy beam goes at the speed of light. Do you know of any way to detect it and get out of its way?"
"No, but neither do I have a spaceship that can go the speed of light. If I did, I'd probably have something to protect myself against twenty-first-century weapons."
"Exactly my point last night," Pauling said. "The only thing we know about these creatures is that their science is beyond our comprehension."
"You may be committing suicide for the whole human race," Rory said. "Or murdering the human race out of ignorance and hubris."
"This is not just a bad idea," Deedee said. "This is the worst idea in history."
The president's famous temper finally boiled over. "Then history will judge me! Not a roomful of professors!" She disappeared, along with Pauling. The governor faded out with a fixed smile pasted on his face.
It was just the three of them, spaced around a plain round table.
Rory sipped cold coffee. "I think she has a thing about professors."
"Professors tend to have a thing about her," the chancellor said.
"We don't have to keep this secret," Deedee said. "We ought to get the word out before the administration does."
Mai shook his head. "She said it was top secret."
"I don't have any clearance," she said. "Do you?"
"I can probably get Marya Washington," Rory said. "She's not exactly pro-administration." She took a phone out of her purse and punched two numbers. She nodded at a robot voice. "Tell Marya that Rory Bell, down in Florida, has to talk to her immediately. Big scoop." She pushed the "off button. "Big scoop of something."
"I need a real cup of coffee," Deedee said. "Go by Sara's on the way back?"
Mai checked his watch. "You two go. I still have time to show up at a budget hearing and surprise some people." He smiled and the smile faded. "Let me know if you need any help, Rory. With the cube people or Her Nibs."
"Thanks, Mai. I may need you to back me up on what the president said."
"Count on it." He looked at Deedee. "See you Saturday?"
Deedee
"With bells on." The chancellor nodded, snapped his attache case shut, and left.
"Hobnobbing with the greats?" Rory said.
"He's a tiger in bed," she said hoarsely. " 'Administer me! Administer me!' " They both laughed. "It's something the provost dreamed up. They've invited all the four-point seniors to a barbecue with all the deans and Mai. Should be fun, if Mai and I aren't in some dungeon in Washington, along with you."
"Any bets as to who he'll show up with?"
"I don't gamble with love." There was a faint rumble of thunder, and she held up an umbrella. "Beat the rain?"
They didn't. Halfway to Dos Hermanos the skies opened up. The umbrella kept their heads dry, but not much else.
Dos Hermanos was warm and crowded. They sat at the bar and ordered cafés con leche.
"So it's us against the president of the United States," Deedee said. "Where do we go from here?"
"You know, she didn't say why she called the meeting," Rory said. "She must have known what our reaction was going to be. So what did she gain by letting us know before a general announcement was made?"
Deedee shook her head. "Maybe it was Pauling who set it up. She pretty much does what her cabinet tells her to do."
"Yeah, Snow White and the Fourteen Dwarfs. The executive branch has seen better days." The coffee came and Rory stirred in a spoonful of sugar. Deedee just sprinkled a little cinnamon on top. "I wonder," Rory continued. "What if you could get someone to claim that this was a declaration of war, and need the approval of Congress?"
"Well, she owns the House, except the Greens. Put the House Greens with the Senate Democrats, you'd at least have some noise. But I don't think you can declare war against a vessel—or a message, which is all we really have."
She held the coffee cup to warm her fingers and sniffed deeply at the cinnamon. "I think the key is going to be education, or propaganda. Your newscaster is probably our most powerful weapon. If the gallups tell LaSalle not to launch the things, she won't."
Pepe burst through the door, drenched, holding a soggy newspaper over his head. "¡Hola!" He dropped the paper into the recycle bin.
There were no seats at the bar. He stood between them and ordered a double espresso.
"How'd the meeting go? Is Fearless Leader smarter in person?"
"A regular Hawking," Deedee said, and in low voices the two of them summed up what had transpired.
"I wouldn't be too worried," he said. "She's just putting on her 'woman of action' hat. France is going to raise holy hell, and Russia, too. She'll never get the Security Council behind it, and she knows that. She's posturing. Campaigning."
"Wish I could be sure of that," Rory said. "Sounds too sophisticated for her." Her phone rang and she plucked it out of her purse. " Con permiso. I have a call in to Marya Washington." She pushed the "record" button. " Buenos?"