turned and left the office. Returning to his own
he motioned Gray Mountain to follow him, and put the document in his
hand.
29 "Boy!" Gray Mountain laughed, "When you fake something, you fake it!"
30 "It's not a fake!" North answered, "It's real! We've only got seven
days or less to get everything in your hands so they can go in and get
that thing. You read the bottom line- six months to a year!"
31 Gray Mountain saluted. "Understood, sir," he snapped. "Everything
will be ready as quickly as it can be arranged."
32 As North's old friend turned to leave, North continued to speak.
"Just in case, you better prepare to take over my other duties. I hope
you don't mind if I have you inform the staff."
33 "Not at all," Gray Mountain answered. "Would you like to go home for
a while, sir?"
34 "No," assured North, "I have too much to do here, and too little
time to do it. I will go home at my usual time."
35 "Very well," Gray Mountain acknowledged, and left the room. North
returned to his duties.
36 He was just preparing to go home when his communicator beeped.
"Yes?" he said.
37 "Lord Morning Star is on the line, sir. He wishes to speak with you
immediately!"
38 "Very well," North answered. He reached over and flicked on the view
screen. Sitting back down in the chair, Morn's face looked disturbed,
which was rare. His unemotional expression was the one
everyone was most used to.
39 "North," he began, "a very disturbing outgoing communication from
the Medical Unit to Fleet Command has just been brought to my
attention. What's your immediate status?"