"Is everything . . ."
"We're fine, sir," Kinsman said calmly. "But we were beginning to wonder if war had been declared or there was some other emergency."
Dead silence for several moments.
"Uh, no . . ." said Jakes as he jetted closer to Colt and Kinsman. "We . . . uh, well, we sort of played a little prank on you two fellas."
"It's something we always do on first flights," Pierce added. "Nothing personal."
Sure, Kinsman thought. Nothing personal in getting bitten by a snake, either.
They were great buddies now as they jetted back to the orbiter. Kinsman played it straight, keeping himself very 66 formal and correct. Colt fell into line and followed Kinsman's lead.
If we were a couple of hysterical, jibbering, terrified tenderfeet they'd be laughing their heads off at us. But now the shaft has turned.
Once through the airlock and into the mid-deck compart- ment, the two lieutenants were grabbed by the four other trainees. Chattering, laughing with a mixture of guilt and relief, they helped Colt and Kinsman out of their helmets and suits. Pierce, Jakes, and Howard unsuited without help.
When he was down to his blue coveralls. Kinsman turned to Major Pierce and said, tightly, "Sir, I must make a report to the commanding officer."
"Podolski knows all about ..."
Looking Pierce straight in his glittering eyes, Kinsman said, "I don't mean Major Podolski, sir. I mean Colonel Murdock. Or, if necessary, the Judge Advocate General."
The blood drained out of Pierce's face. Everything in the crowded mid-deck compartment stopped. Jill Meyers, who had wound up with Kinsman's helmet, let it slip from her hands. It hung in midair as she watched, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. The only sound in the compartment was the hum of electrical equipment.
"The . . . Judge Advocate General?" Pierce looked as white as a bedsheet.
"Yessir. Or I could telephone my uncle, the senior senator from Pennsylvania, once we return to the base."
Now even the trainees looked scared.
"See here, Kinsman . . ." Jakes started.
Turning to face the Major, close enough to smell the fear on him, Kinsman said quietly, "This may have seemed like a joke to you, sir, but it has the look of racial discrimination about it. And it was a very dangerous stunt. And a waste of taxpayers' money."
"You can't ..." Pierce somehow lost his voice as Kins- man turned back toward him. Past the Major's shoulder Kinsman saw Art Douglas grinning at him.
"The first thing I must do is see Major Podolski," Kinsman said firmly. "He's involved in this, too."
