24.
the desk, he pressed the index in the video-phone.
"Yes," the machine asked.
"I want the number of Grey Star," North said, and a the machine flashed a number and address on the screen. North was glad that his uncle was the only Grey Star in the index, because at that time he couldn't remember his address. Punching out the number, he waited for several seonds for his uncle to reply. Whcn his uncle saw who it was he smiled.
"Well! How is my favorite nephew today? He surely looks glum." he added.
"Uncle Grey," North began "father is dead. We need you and Aunt Dawn as quickly as you can come. I can't explain on the phone, but it's bad. Please come as quickly as you can!"
For a moment North's uncle closed his eyes, and lowered his head, but he quickly raised it again.
"We're on our way, North," he said, "Hold on. We'll only be twenty to thirty minutes.
Instantly the screen went blank. North waited a few seconds, staring at the blank screen, then punched in another phone number. In a few moments Morn's mother appeared on the screen. When she saw who was there she bowed her head and closed her eyes. North knew that Hashons very rarely showed emotion, and this honest feeling touched him.
"So you've heard," he said. "Is Morn there?"
"No," Morn's mother said. "When he heard what happened, he went immediately to his Father. He knew many would be speaking against you, and he wanted to be there to defend you. He wanted me to tell you he will defend you as best he can. Even though he is young, his Father listens to him more than He does many of His councilmen."
"If he does not return too late, have him call me," said North.
"I will," answered Golden One. "Now you had better answer the door, North."
"What?" For the first time he noticed the doorbell was ringing. "Thank you," he said quickly, and broke the connection. Hurrying to the door he glanced in his parents room, and saw his mother was still weeping. He pressed the door communicator and asked who was there.
"Captain Grey Moon," was the answer, "of General Star's staff. I have orders to pick up his Battle-Com and records chest. Could you let us in, North?"
North opened the door and let the officer and his four men in. He led them to the office. The technicians quickly disconnected the computer and attached an anti-gravity unit to it, and began to move it out of the apartment.
"Would you witness this statement that we picked up the unit?"