Young Rissa by F.M. Busby Page A

perfectly, but Heidele was lucky; she got Renalle on the first try, I hear. Renalle had two miscarriages and one monster — destroyed, of course — before Erika. And Erika — I don’t know the details but it took her fifteen years to produce Frieda — with some serious congenital defects.” “I — I did not know . . .” “Well, you wouldn’t — they were correctible, mostly. But my point is, if Frieda doesn’t introduce outside genes — have herself a two-parent child — the Hulzein line may end with her. And then what happens to the Establishment? How do we trust someone we’ve never met, who’s not essentially our friend Erika, or even personally selected by her?”  
    The idea was new; she considered it. Time and space; yes. “We will have to. Just as I will someday have to trust — whoever succeeds you here, if I travel between worlds to any extent.”  
    He grinned. “True. Except that I’m relying on my judgment, not my genes, when it’s time to choose that successor.”  
    Slowly, she nodded. “Yes, I see the difference. But you have a reason for telling me all this. What is it?”  
    â€œI suggest that you transfer more of your assets out of Hulzein hands and Hulzein knowledge. And build yourself at least one identity that’s not in Erika’s records. Just in case. That’s what I’m doing.” Once more he grinned. “And if you think a convincing, operative prosthetic arm isn’t costing me a packet — think again!”  
    She frowned, they slowly nodded. “Yes, of course. Erika would approve, if she allowed herself to see the problem.”  
    â€œMaybe she does see it. I’m merely providing against the chance that she doesn’t.”  
    â€œYes.” She thought. “Perhaps, Osallin, you can help me with the new identity before I leave here?”  
    â€œCertainly. You have a name in mind, and other details?”  
    She considered. “Laura Konig — blue eyes, light brown hair, native to this planet or brought here as an infant. Other details as you choose. All right?”  
    â€œGood enough. And I don’t keep detailed records of such matters. Only the names — no cross-references, except in my head.”  
    â€œGood. It is settled then. Now — can you get me contact with an Escaped Ship? And if so, how soon?”  
    â€œHmmm — you missed one here, by about a week. The next — ”  
    â€œLast week? No — I saw the board at the port. The only recent departure was UET’s J.E. Hoover .”  
    Osallin laughed. “ Our part of Far Corner knows, so no harm in telling you. The Hoover — if it were known to be Escaped it wouldn’t appear on the port’s docket. But Bernardez, the new captain — he’s smart enough to forward faked reports to Earth. Quite handy — until UET eventually catches on — for an Escaped Ship to keep its pipeline open to information and Weltmarks.”  
    â€œThen Escape is on a larger scale than Earth realizes?”  
    â€œConsiderably. Erika — the Hulzeins — will know about the Hoover when they get my next dispatches. But with luck the Committee may be fooled for a long time yet.” He opened a drawer and brought out a bottle and two glasses. “Let’s drink to luck!”  
    The amber liquid was clear and sparkling; they touched glasses and she sipped. “This is new to me. It is quite tart; I like it. Is it a local product?”  
    â€œFrom the forest yonder; the berry grows on a parasitic vine. Funny thing — in the raw state it’s deadly poison and smells like it. Heat of distillation breaks up the alkaloid molecule.”  
    â€œYou know a lot about Far Corner, Osallin.”  
    â€œThat’s my business. Part of it, anyway.”  
    â€œYes. Now