There was a long silence, and then Chamrajnagar spoke. Apparently he had been receiving instructions through his earpiece. "The office of the Polemarch believes that because this data Captain Graff speaks of is incomplete, prudence suggests we act as if we do, in fact, have to have this boy. Time is growing short, and it is impossible to know whether he might be our last best chance."
"The Strategos concurs," said the Russian general.
"Yes," said Graff. "As I said, the results are not final."
"So," said Col. Sillain. "Full authority. For whoever it is who negotiates."
"I think," said Chamrajnagar, "that the director of Battle School has already demonstrated whom he has the most confidence in right now, planetside."
All eyes went to Capt. Graff. "I would be glad to have Captain Rudolf accompany me. I believe we have it on record that this Polish boy prefers to have her present."
This time when the Fleet people came, Father and Mother were prepared. Their friend Magda was a lawyer, and even though she was forbidden, as a noncompliant, to practice law, she sat between them on the sofa.
John Paul was not in the room, however. "Don't let them bully the child," Magda had said, and that was it. Mother and Father immediately banned him from the room, so he didn't even get to see them come in.
He could listen, however, from the kitchen. He realized at once that the man he didn't like, the colonel, was not there, though the woman was. A new man was with her now. His voice didn't have the sound of lying in it. Captain Graff, he was called.
After the polite things were said--the sitting down, the offering of drinks--Graff got down to business quickly. "I see that you do not wish me to see the child."
Magda answered, quite imperiously, "His parents felt it best for him not to be present."
Silence for a long moment.
"Magdalena Teczlo," said Graff softly, "these good people may invite a friend over to sit with them today. But I'd hate to think you might be acting as their attorney."
If Magda answered, John Paul couldn't hear.
"I would like to see the boy now," said Graff.
Father started explaining that that would never happen, so if that's all he wanted, he might as well give up and go home.
Another long silence. There was no sound of Captain Graff getting up from the chair, an operation that could not be performed silently. So he must be sitting there, saying nothing--not leaving, but not trying to persuade them.
That was a shame, because John Paul wanted to see what he would say to get them to do what he wanted. The way he silenced Magda was intriguing. John Paul wanted to see what was happening. He stepped from behind the dividing wall and watched.
Graff was doing nothing. There was no threat on his face, no attempt to outface them. He gazed pleasantly at Mother, and then at Father, and then at Mother again, skipping right over Magda's face. It was as if she didn't exist--even her own body seemed to say, "Don't notice me, I'm not really here."
Graff turned his head and looked right at John Paul.
John Paul thought he might say something to get him in trouble, but Graff gazed at him only a moment and then turned back to Mother and Father. "You understand, of course," he began.
"No, I don't understand," said Father. "You aren't going to see the boy unless we decide you'll see him, and for that you have to meet our terms."
Graff looked blandly back at him. "He isn't your breadwinner. What possible hardship can you claim?"
"We don't want a handout," said Father furiously. "We aren't looking for compensation."
"All I want," said Graff, "is to converse with the boy."
"Not alone," said Father.
"With us here," said Mother.
"That's fine with me," said Graff. "But I think Magdalena is sitting in the boy's place."
Magda, after a moment's hesitation, got up and left the house. The door banged shut just a little louder than usual.
Graff beckoned to John Paul.