00058

Inside his telecommunications chamber, Gov. Xavier Bright concluded another regular report to Earth. He sat alone before the screen. After he finished, he asked Earth Agent Doris, "What can you tell me of the much-needed supplies I ordered through Mr. Martin? I had forwarded a request list to Gunther Martin, but I haven't heard a peep about the matter since then."

"One moment, please."

Doris' image disappeared, replaced shortly by the face of Earth Leader Arthur Bigges onscreen.

“Yes, Gov. Bright? What can I do for you?"

Gov. Bright repeated his inquiry. "Leader Bigges, Mr. Martin promised to reason with the Committee to send the supplies I've asked for."

Rather than answering, Leader Bigges instead asked his own question. "Let me change the subject, Gov. Bright. What's going on with the house church people? The news here is that your administration is persecuting them needlessly... no reason at all.”

“What?! You know better than that, Arthur. These people- It's some kind of cult, led by Bro. Simon. Even though he is imprisoned on Earth, his followers carry on with his shameful ways, doing things which are just like the bad things he did."

“Such as...?"

"You need not ask. You already know. Bro. Simon has been arrested on Earth for possessing illegal drugs. His followers also are users and dealers. Recently, my Security Leader raided the home of one of the members of the house church. He discovered the whole family was involved in drug use and drug trafficking. Besides that, they stir up trouble and are trying to get the subjects- the citizens- Hope's honest, loyal citizens- to revolt."

"Is that so?" Bigges didn't bother to look at Xavier Bright, as though he dismissed out of hand what the Governor told him. The Earth Leader paged through a folder in front of him on his desk. From it he took out a sheet and held it up to the screen. "Can you make this out, Gov. Bright? It is a summary of complaints, made by tourists visiting the World of Hope, having witnessed what they regard as harassment of the church group during a peaceful demonstration at the rocketport. You blasted them with a water cannon!"

The Governor crossed his arms, becoming defiant as usual. "Really? What do the tourists know of the troubles that cult has caused here on our world? If you think they are merely some eccentrics who want to worship God, then why can't they come worship at our state-sponsored worship center? All are welcome there. Isn't the center good enough? Or, do they hide something? Is their worship not as on the saintly level as they would have us believe? No, these folks enjoy getting attention, causing strife, and dealing in drugs. And that's why Security Leader Clyden used the water cannon- completely harmless- on the mob. He managed to break up their protest and to scatter them. They were deliberately blocking and halting the loading of the fuel energy ore onto the freighter. You want to get the shipments of ore to Earth on time, correct?"

Earth Leader Bigges said, "I want to show you something, Gov. Bright." He played a clip which now filled the whole field of the Governor's screen. It showed a closeup of Nina McCleer being interviewed by some interviewer who remained offscreen.

"Mrs. McCleer,” said the female interviewer, “you and the house church of the World of Hope have been protesting Gov. Bright and his administration, and angering him. Why?"

"I- we will continue to carry out protests, until he returns to us our loved ones. During the last few years of his time as Governor, people have vanished from the streets, or from their homes. Kidnapped, we believe! We want Gov. Bright to return them to us! Xavier, if you see this, and I am sure you eventually will, I am begging you, please send back George!"

"But wasn't your husband killed in a cave-in at the fuel ore mines?" asked the offscreen interviewer.

"No. I don't believe it. I never have. George was on the World of Hope to assess how well Gov. Bright ran this place. Mr. McCleer was to recommend whether Earth should retain Gov. Bright in that position or not. I suspect my husband planned to send an unfavorable report, and Gov. Bright wanted to stop him. He doesn't want to give up his spot as the leader of Hope. He always wants to be the one in charge of anything. I think that may be why my husband has been taken from me!" Nina pointed a finger at the screen. "Xavier, when you hear this, I want you to know, I accuse you of kidnapping George and forcing him into being a slave miner!"

Bigges' face returned onto the screen.

A vein visibly throbbed in Xavier's forehead.

Earth Leader Bigges said, "Apparently, Mrs. McCleer gave a secret interview at an undisclosed place, and some reporter, probably one sent on assignment from the Earth News Bureau, conducted the interview. There's more, of course, but you get the idea. Somehow the reporter smuggled it back to Earth, probably via a tourist, so that your news board couldn't get hands on the interview and, shall we say, edit it somewhat."

"What is your point?"

"Xavier- Gov. Bright, Earth is concerned about this whole situation with Mrs. McCleer and those people protesting. Why is Mrs. McCleer so insistent that her husband is now a miner? I don't understand. Did you treat a representative sent from Earth on official business with such contempt? Did you tell us the facts about his fate?"

He waited for an answer, but Xavier Bright didn't respond.

Leader Bigges shook his head, disgusted. "This whole business with Mrs. McCleer, being so public and all, puts us all in a bad light. It makes us look bad because Earth took you at your word as to what had happened to Mr. McCleer."

Impatient, Gov. Xavier Bright wanted to know, "Am I getting those supplies I requested, and when?”

“The Committee is still discussing it," answered Leader Bigges.

"Discuss a little faster," sneered the Governor. "Without those supplies, how can I get Earth its full quota of its precious ore in a timely manner?"

Bigges replied, "I think if the production falls, then you won't even need the same amount of supplies that you are getting now, since less work is then being done, and hence less supplies would be needed."

Gov. Bright nodded. "Why send any supplies? Then we won't be able to get any work done, and we can save money on freight by sending no ore to Earth. Think of the financial advantage in that!"

Bigges had had enough. He lost his temper and self-control first, ahead of the inwardly seething Xavier Bright. "Now you listen here, Gov. Bright-"

The screen split in two, and on the second half, alongside with Bigges' face, Gunther Martin popped into view. "Arthur, calm down!" Gunther advised Leader Bigges. "You and the Committee must be realistic!”

“Listen to him, Arthur, he's making sense," Xavier Bright said. "Mr. Martin, have you been listening the whole time?"

"Of course. I work with the Committee whenever I can." Gunther  Martin clearly felt no need to apologize for eavesdropping.

Earth Leader Arthur Bigges fumed about the Governor, but kept quiet and he let Gunther Martin have his say.

"Arthur, we must work with Gov. Bright, not against him, to keep production running smoothly. His ways may sometimes alarm the Committee or even the Council, but, as we have said more than once during a meeting, he gets the job done."

Gov. Bright suggested, "Arthur, he's right. He knows what he is saying. Mr. Martin didn't get to where he is by being an undiplomatic clod. We shouldn't fight each other. After all, we both share the same goal."

"Hmmm," grumbled Arthur Bigges. "Okay, Gov. Bright, we'll try to work faster on the matter and see what we can do about the extra supplies. But I cannot promise anything.”

“That's all I ask," Xavier Bright told him. "And I will do what I can, to see the full quota of ore continues to reach Earth on time, but neither can I promise anything."

"Okay, Gov. Bright," Gunther Martin scolded. "Stop antagonizing Ldr. Bigges." Gunther Martin changed the subject. "Gov. Bright, I heard my son hurt his ankle in the line of duty. How is he?"

"He is fine, in very good health," Gov. Bright assured him. "He is being trained to be capable to deal with difficult situations, and to be able to uphold the law. Do not worry for Osmo, Mr. Martin. He is in good hands. We are looking out for his welfare, I most assuredly guarentee you. Meanwhile, I hope you can help us get our needed supplies.”

The way Xavier Bright guaranteed the well-being of his son, for some reason, it sent a foreboding chill down Gunther Martin's spine.

“Yes, Gov. Bright, I am counting on you to watch out for him,” he said uneasily.

(c) drk 2012