Red Planet (6 page)

'I don't know. I wish I could ask Dad about this. He always told me to stand up for my rights—but maybe he would say that this is just something I should expect. I don't know.’

'Look,’ suggested Frank, ‘why don't we ask our fathers?’

'You mean call ‘em up tonight. Is there relay tonight?’

'No, don't call ‘em up; that costs too much. We'll wait till our folks come through here at Migration; that's not so very long now. If we're going to make a fuss, we've got to have our folks here to back us up, or we won't get any place with it. Meantime, we sit tight and do what he asks us. It may not amount to anything.’

'Now you're talking sense.’ Jim stood up. ‘I suppose we might as well try to get this dump tidied up.’

'Okay. Say, Jim, I just thought of something. Isn't the chairman of the Company named Howe?’

'John W. Howe,’ agreed Jim. ‘What about it?’

'Well, the head is named Howe, too.’

'Oh.’ Jim shook his head. ‘Doesn't mean anything. Howe is a very common name.’

'I'll bet it does mean something. Doc MacRae says you have to be somebody's cousin to get any of the juicy company appointments. Doc says that the company set-up is just one big happy family, and that the idea that it is a non-profit corporation is the biggest joke since women were invented.’

'Hmm ... Well, I wouldn't know. Where shall I put this junk?’

Slips were distributed at breakfast the next morning giving what was described as ‘Official Arrangement of Rooms for Inspection'; the job the boys had done the night before had to be done over. Since Headmaster Howe's instructions failed to consider the possibility that two boys might be living in a one-boy room the rearranging was not easy; they were not ready by ten o'clock. However it was nearly two hours later that the Headmaster got around to their cubicle.

He poked his head inside, seemed about to leave, then came inside. He pointed to their outdoor suits, hanging on hooks by the clothes locker. ‘Why haven't you removed those barbaric decorations from your masks?’

The boys looked startled; Howe went on, ‘Haven't you looked at the bulletin board this morning?’

'Er—no, sir.’

'Do so. You are responsible for anything posted on the bulletin board.’ He shouted toward the door. ‘Orderly!’

One of the older students appeared in the doorway. ‘Yes, sir.’

'Weekend privileges suspended for these two pending satisfaction of inspection requirements. Five demerits each.’ Howe looked around. ‘This room is unbelievably cluttered and untidy. Why didn't you follow the prescribed diagram?’

Jim stuttered, tongue-tied by the evident unfairness of the question. Finally he got out, ‘This is supposed to be a single room. We did the best we could.’

'Don't resort to excuses. If you don't have room to store things neatly, get rid of the excess baggage.’ For the first time his eye lit on Willis, who, at the sight of strangers, had retreated to a corner and hauled in all out-rigging. Howe pointed at him. ‘Athletic equipment must be stored on tops of lockers or left in the gymnasium. It must not be thrown in corners.’

Jim started to answer; Frank kicked him in a shin. Howe went on lecturing as he moved toward the door. ‘I realize that you young people have been brought up away from civilization and have not had the benefits of polite society, but I shall do my best to remedy that. I intend that this school shall, above all other things, turn out civilized young gentlemen.’ He paused at the door and added, ‘When you have cleaned up those masks, report to my office.’

When Howe was out of earshot Jim said, ‘What did you kick me for?’

'You dumb idiot, he thought Willis was a ball.’

'I know; I was just about to set him right.’

Frank looked disgusted. ‘Don't you know enough to let well enough alone? You want to keep Willis, don't you? He would have whipped up some rule making him contraband.’

'Oh, he couldn't do that!’

'The heck he couldn't! I'm beginning to see that Stoobie kept our pal Howe from exercising his full talents. Say, what did he mean: demerits?’

'I don't know, but it doesn't sound good.’ Jim took down his respirator mask, looked at the gay tiger stripes. ‘You know, Frank, I don't think I want to become a civilized young gentleman.’

'You and me both!’

They decided to take a quick look at the bulletin board before they got into any more trouble rather than fix the masks at once. They went to the entrance foyer and did so. On the board was pinned:

NOTICE TO STUDENTS

1. The practice of painting respirator masks with so-called identification patterns will cease. Masks will be plain and each student will letter his name neatly in letters one inch high across the chest and across the shoulders of his outdoors suit.

2. Students are required to wear shirts and shoes or slippers at all times and places except in their own rooms.

3. Pets will no longer be permitted. In some cases, where the animals are of interest as scientific specimens, arrangements may be made to feed and care for same in the biology laboratory.

4. Food must not be kept in dormitory rooms. Students receiving food packages from parents will store them with the commissary matron and reasonable amounts may be withdrawn immediately after meals, except Saturday morning breakfast. Special permission may be obtained for ‘sweets parties’ during recreation hours on occasions such as birthdays, etc.

5. Students denied weekend privileges for disciplinary reasons may read, study, compose letters, play musical instruments or listen to music. They are not permitted to play cards, visit in other students’ rooms, nor leave the school area for any reason.

6. Students wishing to place telephone calls will submit a written request on the approved form and will obtain a key to the communications booth at the main office.

7. The student council is dissolved. Student government will be resumed only if and when the behaviour of the student body justifies it.

(signed) M. Howe, Headmaster

Jim whistled. Frank said, ‘Would you look at that, Jim? Dissolving the Student Council—imagine that! Do you suppose we have to get permission to scratch? What does he take us for?’

'Search me. Frank, I haven't
got
a shirt.’

'Well, I can lend you a sweat shirt until you can buy some. But take a look at paragraph three—you'd better get busy.’

'Huh? What about it?’ Jim reread it.

'You'd better go butter up the bio teacher, so you can make some arrangements for Willis.’

'What?’ Jim simply had not connected the injunction concerning pets with Willis; he did not think of Willis as a pet. ‘Oh, I can't do that, Frank. He'd be terribly unhappy.’

'Then you had better ship him home and let your folks care for him.’

Jim looked balky. ‘I won't do it. I won't!’

'Then what are you going to do?’

'I don't know.’ He thought about it. ‘I won't do anything about it. I'll just keep him under cover. Howe doesn't even know I've got him.’

'Well ... you might get away with it, so long as nobody snitches on you.’

'I don't think any of the fellows would do that.’

They went back to their room and attempted to remove the decorations from their masks. They were not very successful; the paint had bitten into the plastic and they succeeded only in smearing the colours around. Presently a student named Smythe stuck his head in the door. ‘Clean up your masks for you?’

'Huh? It can't be done; the colours have soaked in.’

'You're the umpteenth to find that out. But, from the goodness of my heart and a willingness to be of public service, I will paint your mask over to match the original shade—at a quarter credit per mask.’

'I thought there was a catch in it,’ Jim answered.

'Do you want it, or don't you? Hurry up, my public is waiting.’

'Smitty, you would sell tickets to your grandmother's funeral.’ Jim produced a quarter credit.

'That's an idea. How much do you think I could charge?’

The other boy produced a can of lacquer and a brush, rapidly painted out Jim's proud design, using a pigment that was a fair match for the olive-drab original shade. ‘There. It'll dry in a couple of minutes. How about you, Sutton?’

'Okay, bloodsucker,’ Frank agreed.

'Is that any way to talk about your benefactor? I've got a heavy date over on the girls’ side and here I am spending my precious Saturday helping you out.’ Smythe made equally rapid work of Frank's mask.

'Spending your time raising money for your date, you mean,’ amended Jim. ‘Smitty, what do you think of these trick rules the new Head has thought up? Should we knuckle under, or make a squawk?’

'Squawk? What for?’ Smythe gathered up his tools. ‘There's a brand-new business opportunity in each one, if you only had the wit to see it. When in doubt, come see Smythe—special services at all hours.’ He paused at the door. ‘Don't mention that deal about tickets to my grandmother's funeral; she'd want a cut on it before she kicks off. Granny is a very shrewd gal with a credit.’

'Frank,’ remarked Jim when Smythe was gone, ‘there is something about that guy I don't like.’

Frank shrugged. ‘He fixed us up. Let's check in and get off the punishment list.’

'Right. He reminds me of something Doc used to say. Every law that was ever written opened up a new way to graft.’

'That's not necessarily so. Come on.’

They found a long line waiting outside the Headmaster's office. They were finally ushered in in groups of ten. Howe gave their masks a brief glance each, then started in to lecture. ‘I hope that this will be a lesson to you young gentlemen not only in neatness, but in alertness. Had you noticed what was posted on the bulletin boards you would have been, each of you, prepared for inspection. As for the dereliction itself, I want you to understand that this lesson far transcends the matter of the childish and savage designs you have been using on your face coverings, offensive as they were.’

He paused and made sure of their attention. ‘There is actually no reason why colonial manners should be rude and vulgar and, as head of this institution, I intend to see to it that whatever defects there may have been in your home backgrounds are repaired. The first purpose, perhaps the only purpose, of education is the building of character—and character can be built only through discipline. I flatter myself that I am exceptionally well prepared to undertake this task; before coming here I had twelve years’ experience as a master at the Rocky Mountains Military Academy, an exceptionally fine school, a school that produced
men
’

He paused again, either to catch his breath or let his words soak in. Jim had come in prepared to let a reprimand roll off his back, but the schoolmaster's supercilious attitude and most especially his suggestion that a colonial home was an inferior sort of environment had gradually gotten his dander up. He spoke up. ‘Mr Howe?’

'Eh? Yes? What is it?’

'This is not the Rocky Mountains; it's Mars. And this isn't a military academy.’

There was a brief moment when it seemed as if Mr Howe's surprise and anger might lead him to some violence, or even to apoplexy. After a bit he contained himself and said through tight lips. ‘What is your name?’

'Marlowe, sir. James Marlowe.’

'It would be a far, far better thing for you, Marlowe, if it were a military academy.’ He turned to the others. ‘The rest of you may go. Weekend privileges are restored. Marlowe, remain behind.’

When the others had left Howe said, ‘Marlowe, there is nothing in this world more offensive than a smart-aleck boy, an ungrateful upstart who doesn't know his place. You are enjoying a fine education through the graciousness of the Company. It ill behooves you to make cheap wisecracks at persons appointed by the Company to supervise your training and welfare. Do you realize that?’

Jim said nothing. Howe said sharply, ‘Come! Speak up, lad—admit your fault and make your apology. Be a man!’

Jim still said nothing. Howe drummed on the desk top; finally he said, ‘Very well, go to your room and think it over. You have the weekend to think about it.’

When Jim got back to his room Frank looked him over and shook his head admiringly. ‘Boy, oh boy!’ he said, ‘ain't you the reckless one.’

'Well, he needed to be told.’

'He sure did. But what are your plans now? Are you going to cut your throat, or just enter a monastery? Old Howie will be gunning for you every minute from here on out. Matter of fact, it won't be any too safe to be your roommate.’

'Confound it, Frank, if that's the way you feel, you're welcome to find another roommate!’

'Easy, easy! I won't run out on you. I'm with you to the end.’ Smiling, the boy fell dead. ‘I'm glad you told him off. I wouldn't have had the courage to do it myself.’

Jim threw himself across his bunk. ‘I don't think I can stand this place. I'm not used to being pushed around and sneered at, just for nothing. And now I'm going to get it double. What can I do?’

'Derned if I know.’

'This was a nice place under old Stoobie. I thought I was going to like it just fine.’

'Stoobie was all right. But what
can
you do, Jim, except shut up, take it, and hope he will forget it?’

'Look, nobody else likes it either. Maybe if we stood together we could make him slow up.’

'Not likely. You were the only one who had the guts to speak up. Shucks,
I
didn't even back you up—and I agree with you a hundred per cent.’

'Well, suppose we all sent letters to our parents?’

Frank shook his head. ‘You couldn't get them all to—and some pipsqueak would snitch. Then you would be in the soup, for inciting to riot or some such nonsense. Anyhow,’ he went on, ‘just what could you say in a letter that you could put your finger on and prove that Mr Howe was doing something he had no right to? I know what my old man would say.’

'What would he say?’

'Many's the time he's told me stories about the school he went to back Earthside and what a rough place it was. I think he's a little proud of it. If I tell him that Howie won't let us keep cookies in our room, he'll just laugh at me. He'd say —’

'Dawggone it, Frank, it's not the rule about food in our rooms; it's the whole picture.’