"In that case," he said to the fuming image, "all we can do is counter their propaganda with information of our own."

"Yes, and in the meantime the World Court will meet to decide whether or not Moonbase can be considered as a nation of its own."

"Surely you can delay the World Court."

"Only to a certain extent."

"Long enough to send a stronger contingent of troops to seize Moonbase?"

Faure nodded tightly. "Yes, long enough for that, I should think."

For some time after Faure's call, Rashid sat in his desk chair, fingers steepled before his face, swivelling back and forth slightly. He was wondering what he could do about Tamara Bonai. This broadcast from Moonbase had to be her doing. She was defying everything that Rashid had worked so patiently to achieve.

There would be a showdown with Joanna soon, he knew. She's trying to drum up support on the board for a special meeting. Bonai will undoubtedly be on her side, unless I can prevent her from it.

The problem was that Bonai was not merely the figurehead president of the hollow-shell Kiribati Corporation. She was also the head of the Kiribati council of chiefs; technically, legally, she was a chief of state.

I will have to deal very carefully with her, Rashid thought. But she must be dealt with, one way or another.

A slow smile worked across his face. Bonai is a very beautiful woman. It could be quite enjoyable dealing with her—one way or another.

DAY FIFTEEN

Joanna's call woke Doug. He almost told the smart wall to answer it without canceling the video, but Edith stirred drowsily beside him and mumbled, "What's that?"

"Nothing," he whispered, bending over her and kissing her bare shoulder. "Go back to sleep."

Doug slipped out of bed and padded to his desk on the other side of the partitioned room. The phone kept on chiming softly, insistently.

The chair felt cool to his bare rump. He picked up the old-fashioned receiver and spoke softly, "Stavenger here."

From the delay he realized the call was coming from Earthside. His mother's voice asked testily, "Where are you? Why isn't there any video?"

A smile creased Doug's face. "Because it's almost four a.m. here, Mother, and I'm not dressed.' He pressed a stud on the phone console and his mother's features appeared on the wall screen opposite his desk, slightly larger than life.

"Are you all right?" he asked, and heard the same question from her, almost at the same instant.

"I've had a long talk with Rashid. He's as much as admitted that he's working toward a merger with Yamagata."

"A merger?" The thought alarmed Doug. He had never considered that Masterson Corporation might be taken over by another company.

"It would be a buyout, really. Lord knows how much cash Yamagata's promised him under the table."

"What can you do about it?" Doug asked.