Maslin at last found his voice. "Are you attempting to draft me, Captain?"
"Not draft, Mr. Maslin, mobilize, and I'm not attempting, I'm doing it."
"No, you can't!" Cumberland blurted, lurching toward the table.
"Oh, Cubby, do shut up!" Maslin snapped.
33
The Tears of the SIF*ers
"And what is to prevent Captain Kirk from taking this action?" Spock asked,
raising an eyebrow at the manager's obvious distress.
"Guy has Richart's syndrome."
"God damn you, Cubby!" Maslin exploded, and whirled away.from. the group.
"Guy must never be very far away from the most up-todate medical facihq-.-"
"He'll have that aboard the Enterprise," Kirk interrupted.
"It's not just the availability of medical care, Jim," McCo y interjected.
"Richart's syndrome is triggered and fueled by stress. There's no known
cure, and if the victim is subjected to sufficient strew and exhaustion he
in essence bums himself out.91
Kirk indicated to Spock and McCoy, and he led them out of the briefing room
and into the corridor. "Recommendations, gentlemen?" He suddenly found
Uhura at his elbow.
"Captain," she said urgently. "You can't require him to accompany us when
it could cost him his fife."
"Lieutenant, we may not have a choice. How about it, Spock? Can we bring in
someone else?"
"Negative, Captain. The field of space/time distortion is widening at an
alarming rate. We dare not delay."
64MCCOY?"
"Oh, I've got the facilities to care for him, but it's a rare condition,
and it can get away from you fairly easily. Also the more intense the
personality the more difficult it is to keep it under control."
Uhura started to speak, then stopped herself. Kirk wondered what she had
been about to say, but didn't have time to ponder on it. He rubbed a hand
across his face, and gave a sigh.
"I see no alternative, gentlemen. We need an expert; Maslin is available,
so we'll take him."
"The logical decision, Captain."
34
The Tears of the Singers
"And if he dies will it still be the logical decision, Mr. Spock?" Uhura
asked in a low voice.
"A non sequitur, Lieutenant. A logical action once undertaken remains
logical."
"I'll debate you on that," McCoy said. "But at some other time.99
"Yes, let's get it over with," Kirk said.
They reentered the briefing room, and Cumberland read the decision in their
expressions. ffis face seemed to melt, pulling down into a look of misery.
"Mr. Maslin, if there were anyone else to call upon, believe me we would do
so; but such an option is not open to us. Therefore you are temporarily
mobilized into Star Fleet with the honorary rank of lieutenant. If you
could ready any equipment you will require we9H beam it aboard. We want to
get underway as soon as possible."
Maslin's thin Ups drew back in a sneer. "Do I have the right to file a
protest with the commander of Star Base 24?"
"You have the right to file any protest you wish so long as yoWre back on
this ship by 0300. I'll send two security guards to help you organize your
equipment."
"Afraid I might try to bolt, Captain?"
"I'm going to assume -you're a man of honor, and will adjust yourself to
the realities."
"I'll try to use you for a model," Maslin said sarcastically.
Cumberland slumped in his seat, mumbling what sounded like a litany of
dates and places. Maslin slapped him on the shoulder.
"Come, come, Cubby. Think of all the fun you'll have canceling and
rescheduling all those performances. You might actually, for the first time
in your career, earn your twenty percent.19
Uhura stepped to Maslin's side, and tentatively touched his sleeve. "Is
there . . ." she began, only to be interrupted by the musician.
35
The Tears of the Singers
"So there are no conscripts in Star Fleet, eh?" She retreated before the
bitterness in his face. "I would salute you, Captain, but I don't know how.
You must instruct me when I return. Come, Cubby." And the door hissed shut
behind them.
Kirk sighed, and surveyed his officers. Spock looked thoughtful, McCoy was
frowning at nothing and Uhura stood staring at the door with a deeply hurt
expression on her beautiful face. Kirk sighed again, and pressed the heels
of his hands against his eyes. They felt gritty from lack of sleep.
"So your troubles won't start until we reach Thygeta, huh, Jim?99
Kirk rubbed his forehead, and gave McCoy a sideways glance. "How about if
we just hope they don't get any worse, Bones.91
36
Chapter Three
Maslin carefully laid theviolin case on the table in the center of the room,
and threw his single piece of luggage onto the bed. It was a useless and
petulant gesture, but it somehow made him feel better. He then folded his
arms across his chest, and slowly surveyed his new quarters. In spite of his
relatively low rank he had been assigned to a VIP room. Still, the stark
military efficiency of the room grated on him. '
He prowled about the chamber, locating the head and the swing-out dresser.
Resting his arms on the top of the dresser he studied himself in the round
mirror. The face that looked back was not encouraging. A heavy five o'clock
shadow darkened his cheeks and chin, and his eyes seemed sunken into his
head. Not since his halcyon days at Juilliard and the Rome Conservatory had
he stayed up all night. With the onset of the disease, rest had become his
god.
His first wild night in years, and by God, he was paying for it, he
thought, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. He dug into his pocket,
and pulled out a pill case. Shaking several
37
The Tears of dw Singers
of the small green pills into his hand, he swalJowed them and waited for his
heart to quiet its frantic fluttering.
He turned back to face the room, and suppressed a shudder. He wished now he
had brought some of his own things to relieve the duH gray sameness of the
quarters, but there hadn't been time. Most important had been his instru-
ments, in particular the giant CompuSynthesizer which had required such
care while beaming aboard. Kirk's time limit had hung over him like some
statement of doom, so he had simply thrown together some clothes, escaped
from Cubby's babblings and incoherent fareweRs and beamed aboard the
Enterprise.
God, how he hated space travel, he thought as he moved to unpack. Ile
vastness of space fiRed him with neither a sense of awe nor a sense of
adventure. It made him think of eternity, and he lived too damn close to
that state to enjoy it.
He finished unpacking and glanced at his watch. He had no idea what time
the day began aboard this monstrosity, but he knew if he didn't get sleep,
and soon, he would be spending his first day in the sick bay. He gazed
longingly at the bed, and contemplated just throwing himself down on the
glittering red coverlet My clothed. He pushed away temptation, and forced
himself to undress and change into
a pair of Capellan-spider silk pajamas.
He wasn't going to lose aH of his dignity or forgo aH of his lifestyle just
because a latter-day Captain Bligh had impressed him into the service. It
was his last concious thought before exhaustion claimed him.
The door signal took him off-guard and he jumped convulsively, spilling tea
across his musical score. Cursing, he mopped at the pages with the sleeve
of his robe, and finally shouted, "Come in."
Uhura stepped into the room and quickly assessed the situation. 'TH get you
a towel," she said, and disappeared into the lavatory.
38
The Tears of the Singers
"I came to see if you wanted to join us for breakfast," she said as she
helped him smooth and dry the pages of music.
"And are you the curvaceous bribe who's been sent to keep my spirits up?"
Uhura threw the towel down on the table, and stared at him coldly. "If
you're going to be as much of a bastard as you were last night I'll leave."
"I thought I was quite charming last night."
"I'd say that was a matter of opinion. You had no right to make that remark
to me about conscripts."
"Why? It's true, isn't it?"
"It's not the same situation, and you know it."
Maslin paused, and riffled nervously through the pages of his score. "Did
you argue against my coming when all of you had that little meeting in the
hall?"
"Yes, and I was out of line to have done it." She turned away, and began
fidgeting with the hairbrushes and aftershave bottles that rested on the
dresser. "More than that, I was out of line to have been there at aft," she
added at last.
"IMen why did you do it?"
Uhura turned back to face him. "I don't know."
They stood in silence for several moments, then Maslin said in a low voice,
"Would you mind if I told you I was glad you were there?"
She shook her head, and he wasn't certain if she was objecting,or not. She
walked back over to him, and asked, "What about breakfast?"
"No, thank you. Tea in my room and privacy. I loathe my fellow man before
noon."
"There's at least one of your fellow men you'd better learn to tolerate,"
Uhura said. "Captain Kirk would like you to join him on the bridge as soon
as possible."
"And as soon as possible means now."
"You're a quick leamer."
"No, I have a good memory. Now, what about breakfast?"
39
The Tears of the Singers
"I thought you didn't want any, and if you don't you'd better deal with the
captain first."
"Oh, all right." Maslin grabbed some clothes and vanished into the lavatory
to change. "Did you get in trouble for reporting back late last night?" he
called through the door.
"No, there were too many other matters to occupy people's attention."
"Are you going to escort me to the bridge?"
"If yoWd like."
"I would consider it preferable to wandering aimlessly about this ship for
the next two or three days," he replied tartly, as he stepped back into the
room.
"I told you it was big."
"And ugly," Maslin added as they walked into the corridor.
"It's not a luxury Uner, and you'd better not let our chief engineer hear
you say that. You're likely to find yourself on the receiving end of a
great deal of Scottish ire."
"I'D keep that in mind."
They passed a number of people on their way to the turbolift, and Maslin
noticed that he received a good many interested stares. He wasn't certain
if the interest was due to his lack of a uniform, or if his reputation had
preceded him.
In the turbolift Uhura turned the control and murmured, "Bridge." The
elevator whined into life, moving with incredible speed. They rode in
silence, Uhura gazing thoughtfully at the floor. Maslin surveyed her
classically lovely face, and wondered why he was so forbearing with this
woman? She was a part of everything he despised, and should therefore be
his enemy. Yet it was her presence which had made him take the attitude of
unwilling guest rather than embittered prisoner.
The doors hissed open, and Maslin stepped onto the bridge. The moving star
field ontthe front screen arrested him, holding him frozen with fear and
wonder. On all luxury liners it was common to keep the screens dark or
carrying images of pastoral landscapes for the comfort of the passen-
40
The Tean of dw Sinym
gers. If you were an adventuresome soul there was a special space viewing
room, but Maslin had never used one. He puffed his gaze away, and was
careful not to let it wander back to the dangerously mesmerizing screen.
"Captain's Log, Star Date 3126.7 We are three hours out from Star Base 24,
en route to the Thygeta V system and the mysterious phenomenon that is
warping space and time in that sector," Maslin heard Kirk say from the
command chair. "On board to serve as an albeit reluctant advisor is Guy
Maslin, interstellarly famous composer, conductor and performer.
"I hope the man is worth the effort it has taken to include him in this
mission. Invoking the Civilian Mobilization Act is not a thing I undertake
lightly. Spock is convinced the man will be of use, but I have my doubts,
given his attitude."
Uhura started to step forward as if to warn Kirk of their presence, but
Maslin caught her by the arm, and forced her to wait. Kirk glanced to his
right, toward Uhurals station, then gave a nod of satisfaction, and
continued with his log entry.
44it is possible that the presence of Lieutenant Uhura aboard the
Enterprise will provide a beneficial effect on Mashn's attitude. She seems
interested in Maslin. I only hope she doesn't find herself torn between her
duty and attraction to this man."
Maslin gave Uhura an ironic glance, but she refused to meet his taunting
gaze. Her face seemed carved from ebony as she stepped swiftly to Kirk's
chair.
"Captain," she said crisply. "Mr. Maslin is here."
"Tbank you, Lieutenant." Kirk rose, studying her impassive face. "Did you
just arrive?" he asked casually, tugging down his shirt.
"Several minutes ago, sir.99
Maslin watched to see how Kirk would react to that, and his grudging
admiration for the man increased when it didn't seem to faze Kirk in the
least.
"Very good, Lieutenant. You, may return to your station."
41
The Tears of the Singers
"Yes, sir."
"Welcome aboard, Mr. Maslin. I should have been on hand earlier this
morning when you beamed up, but I had several Federation inspectors to get
out of my hair. I trust everything went smoothly?"
Nlaslin accepted the outstretched hand. "Everything was fine, and I, the
synthesizer and my piano are safely aboard. However, I am a man of strict
habits. I'm accustomed to spending my mornings in quiet and privacy, so if
you could be brief."
Kirk raised an eyebrow at the commanding tone. "Well, you may have to after
your habits somewhat, Mr. Maslin. We all must make our little sacrifices,"
he concluded with a half smile.
"I'd say I've made a hell of a big sacrifice, Kirk, so why don't you just
get to the bottom line. Why did you call me up here? To impress me with the
awesome power under your command? If so consider me impressed, and let's
get on with it.1f
"You're a difficult man, Mr. Maslin."
"I could say the same about you, Captain. As I recall I'm the one who's
been impressed."
"Okay, bottom line. I want to discuss the team that should be assembled to
work with you, and who will command them."
"It's my effort. I'll command it."
"Out of the question."
"I am now, thanks to your gracious intervention, a lieutenant in Star
Fleet."
"It's an honorific only. You are not, I repeat not, in the chain of
command. You will obey any order given to you by a member of this ship's
contingent, but you will issue no orders unless I have specifically placed
a person or persons under your command. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly clear," Maslin muttered, tight-lipped.
42
The Tears of the Sinprs
"Good. Now what are you going to need in the way of personneWt
"Well, since we're dealing with a musical puzzle it would be nice to have
people around me who aren't tone deaf."
Spock removed the monitor from his ear, and stepped down to join the
conversation. "Captain, might I suggest that I am the logical person to
command the landing party. I have extensive musical training, and my ear is
superior to a human's."
Kirk's lips twitched in an involuntary smile, and Maslin, following the
captain's gaze to the Vulcan's elegantly pointed ears, found himself
smiling also.
"Your suggestion is well merited, Mr. Spock. You'll command the landing
party."
"And I want Lieutenant Uhura included in the party," Maslin said.
"Uhura is my chief communications officer. You'd be stripping my bridge
crew if you took her as well as Spock."
"Uhura is also a singer, and I need her on the ground."
The two men stood rigidly squared off. Most of the bridge crew kept their
eyes riveted on their panels, but Chekov risked a glance at the players in
this interesting dispute. What he saw in Uhura's face made him give a low
Star Trek - TOS - The Tears Of The Singers Page 4
