Oakes smiled at Rachel Demarest, recalling Murdoch’s jocular admonition: “A few lies don’t hurt when you’ve given them some truth to admire.”

Turning back to face the audience, Oakes said: “But this diverts us from the orderly resolution of our meeting. Rather than waste our time this way, we should take the issues one at a time.”

His announcement about the attempt at Dragon had served its purpose, though. His listeners (even Rachel Demarest) were absorbing the implications with varying degrees of shock.

Someone away in the right rear quadrant of the room shouted: “What do you mean new clones?”

Silence followed his demand, a waiting silence which said it spoke a question in the minds of most.

“I’ll let Jesus Lewis speak to that at another meeting. It’s a technical question about matters which have been under his direct supervision. For now, I can say that the new clones are being bred and conditioned to defeat the perils we all know exist out on Dragon.”

There: Lewis was prepared with subtle lies and half truths. The injection of rumors and key elements of their prepared story into Colony’s grapevine would tie this issue down. Most people would accept the prepared story. It was always better to know that someone else was going into danger, sparing you that necessity.

“You didn’t answer our question about rest and recuperation,” Rachel Demarest accused.

“You may not realize it, Rachel, but the schedule of shipside R & R is the most important issue before us today.”

“You’re not going to buy us off with shipside time!” she said. She was clenching her wand with both hands, pointing it at him like a weapon.

“Again, I am aghast at your limited perception,” Oakes said. “You really are not fit to be making the decisions which you ask the power to make.”

At this direct attack, she backed two steps away from him, glared into his eyes.

Oakes shook his head sadly. “You have a friend down there brave enough to state the essential problem . . .” Oakes pointed down at the perimeter guard who sat in red-faced anger. (Have to watch that one. A fanatic for sure.) “. . . but not brave enough nor perceptive enough to see the full implications of his emotional outburst.”

That did it. The man was on his feet and shaking a fist at Oakes. “You’re a false Chaplain! If we follow you, Ship will destroy us!”

“Oh, sit down!”

Oakes used almost the full amplification to drown out the man’s voice. The sound-shock provided the man’s companions with the interval to pull him back into his seat.

Turning down the amplifier, Oakes asked: “Who among you asks what I ask? An obvious question: Where did WorShip originate? With the ship. That ship!”