Gordon's credits were changed to Legal scrip, and he was issued a
trim-fitting green uniform. Then a surprisingly competent doctor
examined his wound, rebandaged it, and sent him home for the day. The
change was finished--and he felt like a grown man playing with dolls.
He walked back, watching the dull-looking people closing off their
homes, as they had done at elections. Here and there, houses had been
broken into during the night. There were occasional buzzes of angry
conversation that cut off as he approached.
Marsport had learned to hate all cops, and a change of uniform hadn't
altered that; instead, the people seemed to resent the loss of the
familiar symbol of hatred.
He found Izzy and Randolph at the restaurant across from Mother Corey's.
Izzy grinned suddenly at the sight of the uniform. "I knew it,
gov'nor--knew it the minute I heard Jurgens was a cop. Did you make 'em
give you my beat?"
He seemed genuinely pleased as Gordon nodded, and then dropped it, to
point to Randolph. "Guess what, gov'nor. The Legals bought Randy's
_Crusader_. Traded him an old job press and a bag of scratch for his
reputation."
"You'll be late, Izzy," Randolph said quietly. Gordon suddenly realized
that Randolph, like everyone else, seemed to be Izzy's friend. He
watched the little man leave, and reached out for the menu. Randolph
picked it out of his hand. "You've got a wife home, muckraker. You don't
have to eat this filth."
Gordon got up, grimacing at the obvious dismissal. But the publisher
motioned him back again.
"Yeah, the Legals want the _Crusader_ for their propaganda," he said
wearily. "New slogans and new uniforms, and none of them mean anything.
Here!" He drew a small golden band from his little finger. "My mother's
wedding ring. Give it to her--and if you tell her it came from me, I'll
rip out your guts!"
He got up suddenly and hobbled out, his pinched face working. Gordon
turned the ring over, puzzled. Finally he got up and headed for his
room, a little surprised to find the door unlocked. Sheila opened her
eyes at his uniform, but made no comment. "Food ready in ten minutes,"
she told him.
She'd already been shopping, and had installed the tiny cooking
equipment used in half Marsport. There was also a small iron lying
beside a pile of his laundered clothes. He dropped onto the bed wearily,
then jerked upright as she came over to remove his boots. But there was
no mockery on her face--and oddly, it felt good to him. Maybe her idea
of married life was different from his.
She was sanding the dishes and putting them away when he finally
remembered the ring. He studied it again, then got up and dropped it
beside her. He was surprised as she fumbled it on to see that it
fitted--and more surprised at the sudden realization that she was
entitled to it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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