Jodi let it pa.s.s. 'So what's going on, Ray?"

'We're building airplanes. Well -just starting to."

'Who's "we"?"

'Couple of dozen guys like you and me. They pulled us in from all over."

'You from Big Blue?" asked Kelso.

Simons shook his head. 'Lineman. Tech-4. None of us have been near a flight-deck, but we've all got Tech grades of one kind or another.

It's the only reason I can think of for drafting us here. What are you -ground-crew?"

It was Jodi's turn to shake her head. 'Wingmen. I went over the side last year after five up the line." She pointed to Kelso. 'He's been off the hook for longer but . . . I never did get the whole story."

'Who cares?" said Simons. 'It's past history. Waste of breath. When you step off the boat the tapes are wiped clean. The d.i.n.ks don't give a s.h.i.t who you are or where you're from - and neither do we. It's what you do from here on in that counts. And Rule One is to keep faith with your fellow-breakers."

'That's good enough for me,' said Kelso.

'What's Rule Two?" asked Jodi.

'Do as you're told, keep your head down, don't try to buck the system."

Simons's grin had a bitter twist to it.

'That's optional - depending on how long you can stand the heat. If you want out, the d.i.n.ks will be only too happy to oblige. Just remember Rule One. Whichever way you choose to go, don't screw it for everyone else."

'Gotcha."

Simons gave them a second appraising glance. 'So...

wing men, huh? They must have drafted you in to help the other guy with the flight-testing."

'Could be,' admitted Kelso. 'We saw some kind of a glider fly over as we came down the road. Was that him?"

'Yeah..."

'Brought her in real neat,' said Jodi. 'Is he another drop-out from Big Blue?"

Simons nodded. 'Yeah. He runs the project."

Kelso exchanged a puzzled glance with Jodi, then said, 'Did I hear you right? I thought the Iron Masters gave the orders round here."

'They do. It's ... a ... kind of interesting arrangement."

Jodi's throat tightened. 'What's this guy's name?"

'Brickman."

Kelso opened his mouth to speak, but his lips couldn't decide 'which way to go.

Jodi asked the question for him. 'Steve Brickman?

From Roosevelt-Santa Fe?"

'Yeah,' said Simons. 'D'you know him?"

'Do we ever,' growled Kelso. 'Jack me! That lump-sucker's the reason we're standin' here! Last time we saw him he was struttin' around with a bunch of Mutes, dressed up like a monkey's uncle - and now he's got his nose right up the a.s.s of these meatb.a.l.l.s!" 'Cool it, Dave."

'Yeah, I'd listen to your friend,' said Simons, grabbing the opportunity to score a few points off Kelso. 'I don't know what happened out there and I care even less, but it sounds like good o"

Stevie's a lot smarter than you -' Kelso made a lunge towards Simons, but Jodi blocked him with her shoulder. 'I said cool it, Dave! This won't get us anywhere!" 'That's right,' said Simons. 'Brickman's carved himself out a sweet little number. I don't know how long it's going to last, but every day spent working here is one day less in the Pits, or doing some other lousy, backbreaking job. Me and the rest of the guys earned this free ride and we're not about to let some wet-behind the-ears s.h.i.thead mess it up for us."

Kelso saw red again. 'That does it! I ain't takin' any more of this!'

Simons stood his ground as Jodi wrestled Kelso to a standstill. He was bigger and heavier, but she was fast and wiry.

'Kaz! Get the h.e.l.l off a me, will you!" She turned to Simons. 'Don't worry. I'll straighten him out."

'You'd better,' said Simons, turning towards the door.

'Otherwise he's going to be late down for breakfast."

'Oh yeah!" roared Kelso. 'We'll see about that. Don't worry, I got your number!" Simons paused on his way out. 'And as of now, me and twenty-three other guys have got yours." He underscored the threat with a jabbing finger. 'Think about that before you go to sleep tonight."

Kelso shoved Jodi aside and went over to the window.

They both saw Simons walk across the compound.

'That wasn't very smart, Dave."

'Yeah? A good smack in the mouth would have done him the world of good. Would've made me feel better too. f.u.c.kin' Brickman..." He eyed her sullenly.

'Whose side are you on, anyway?"

'Yours. But this is not the time or place to try to get even. These d.i.n.ks'll come down on us like a ton of bricks. Promise me you won't rock the boat."

'Maybe." Kelso stared moodily out of the window, then shrugged as his anger subsided. 'We'll see how it goes." He watched her cross over to the door. 'Where're you off to?"

'To mend a few bridges."

'Nehh, screw 'em. I don't need you brown-nosing for me. If you're not prepared to back me up, just stay out of it. 'Okay?"

Jodi clamped her jaw shut and counted to five before replying. 'You're f.u.c.king impossible - you know that?"

Kelso treated it as a compliment. 'Part of my fatal charm. n.o.body ever got to the top by being Mr Nice Guy."

'No s.h.i.t,' said Jodi, mimicking his delivery. 'You must tell me what it's like up there sometime."

In terms of its physical components - acreage, installations and personnel - the Heron Pool did not give the impression of being a major enterprise. Despite Cadillac's industry, it was still very much in the embryonic stage; an experimental project, no more.