The Lord God, but the usual reply
received was, "If you want to keep your post, shut up!" Soon Morn did
whatever he wished without any complaint whatsoever.
67 Having a Priest around all the time bothered North. They usually
only had an auxiliary Priest on the ship to hear confessions and see to
the crew's other religious needs. This Officer usually also served as a
medic in the sickbay, but this Priest had little to do but teach North
things that he already knew years ago.
68 It was difficult for North to pretend interest and to find things
for the Priest to do to keep him out of his way, on his constant
inspection trips. For North did not depend on others to go out and do
the inspecting, but once a year he visited every part of his sector.
69 On one of these inspection trips, weary from a nasty situation that
he had just had to clean up, North entered the conference room, sat his readout board on the table,
and walked over to the refreshment machine, got some hot broth and some
cakes. He looked at the muga dispenser, but had long since given up on
the beverage when The Hashons had advised him against it because it was
a mild narcotic.
70 Sitting down at the far end of the table, he was halfway through his
cakes when he realized he'd left his readout board on the table. Not wanting to get up, North
stretched out his hand and concentrated. The readout board shivered,
then slid noiselessly, across the table, coming to rest in his hand.
71 Ever since The Hashons had taught him this trick, North had been
careful not to let anyone see him use it. He was picking up the readout
board and beginning to look at it, when something made him look into
the corner by the door. The Priest stood there, mouth open, staring in
stunned disbelief. North had had no idea he was in the room.