The tomorrow people : $b a science fiction novelMerril, Judith
Science
The tomorrow people : $b a science fiction novel
Merril, Judith
Mars (Planet) -- Fiction; Psychological fiction; Science fiction; Space travelers -- Fiction
One witness scheduled to testify during the coming week should be
able to shed considerable light on “immoral practices” such as those
alleged. That is Dr. Philip Kutler, Staff Psychiatrist for the Moon
Dome, who was subpoenaed by the Subcommittee last week, and arrived
today on the same shuttle with the investigating team.
Reporters present at the shuttle landing at Baja California Spaceport
saw no signs of unfriendliness between Subcommittee investigators and
Dr. Kutler, but were unable to obtain any statement from the doctor.
Subpoenas for a number of other members of the Dome staff were issued
today, and shipped via Moon shuttle in the hands of a Dome staffer
returning from Earth leave who was sworn in as process server just
before takeoff time. An official list of those named in the subpoenas
will not be issued until after service on Wednesday evening (when the
shuttle arrives at Moon Dome), but among those named in authoritative
circles as probable witnesses were Research Director P. A. Christensen,
who testified two weeks ago on Security control; Dr. T. L. Bourgnese,
Biochem Chief at the Dome; Leonard Lakeland, Hydroponics Technician;
Dr. David Chernik, Medical Staff; a number of female staffers, whose
names were withheld, and quite possibly the newest female staff member,
tri-di dancer Lisa Trovi, whose appointment as Psychiatric Assistant
made headlines a short time ago. It was not known whether Miss Trovi
would be questioned about her own experiences at the Moon Dome or in
connection with Col. John Wendt, whom she accompanied to the Dome on
the mysterious visit six weeks ago about which the Subcommittee has
been eager to question him.
A new subpoena for Col. Wendt has also been issued, but since his
release last Saturday from Rio Detention House, where he served two
days of a twenty-day drunk-and-disorderly charge, Col. Wendt has
disappeared.
_Acapulco--Sunday, October 2, 11:30_ P.M. (_C.S.T._)
Under grizzled hair, the General’s face was still strikingly young:
the tight-skinned smooth-jawed face of a man whose energies are never
at the ebb. A man capable of restraint and of control, conscious of
power, continually on the advance. A dangerous man, thought Kutler--a
man almost without weaknesses himself, and entirely without empathy for
weakness in others.
“Frankly, I think it’s damned important,” Phil said crisply. “You
know better than I do what shape he’s in right now. But I wouldn’t
want to be responsible for what he’ll do when he sees _this_ bloody
foolishness.” He rattled the folded newspaper in his hand.
“I’ll be just as frank,” Harbridge answered after a moment’s thoughtful
silence. “Of course Chris was right. I know where Wendt is, and I could
reach him for you. But it’s a risk I don’t think is warranted. We’re
in a position to--let me say, _prevent_ any wild behavior on his part.
Meantime, I’d as lief not--draw enemy fire?--by contacting him.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account