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“Bobbie,” he said, his senuine

Bobbie couldn’t bring herself to respond, so she just nodded and collapsed into her chair One glance at the darkened s in Avasarala’s office told her the old lady wasn’t in yet Bobbie pulled up her to-do list on the desktop screen

“She hadto the list of people Bobbie was supposed to call in her role as Martian et a hold of an early draft of the Martian statement on Ganymede That’s your top priority for the day Okay?”

“Why?” Bobbie said “The actual statement came out yesterday We both read it”

“Bobbie,” Soren said with a sigh that said he was tired of explaining sirin that said he really wasn’t “This is how the ga our actions We go back channel and find an early draft If it was harsher than the actual stateued to tone it down ThatIf it was milder in the early draft, then they’re deliberately escalating to provoke a response”

“But since they know you’ll get those early drafts, then that’s ive you the i it,” Soren said “What your opponent wants you to think is useful data in figuring out what they think So get the early draft, okay? Do it before the end of the day”

But no one talks to me anyh I’m not a traitor, it is entirely possible that everyone else thinks I am

“Okay”

Bobbie pulled up the newly revised list and made the first connection request of the day

“Bobbie!” Avasarala yelled froetting Bobbie’s attention, but she almost never saw Avasarala use them She yanked her earbud free and stood up Soren’s se at all

“Ma’a a short step into Avasarala’s office “You bellowed?”

“No one likes a s up from her desk terminal “Where’s my first draft of that report? It’s alhter and clasped her arret to infor to release the early draft of the report toat attention?” Avasarala said, looking up at her for the first ti squad Did you try everyone on the list?”

“Yes, I—” Bobbie stopped for a moment and took a deep breath, then took a few more steps into the office Quietly she said, “No one talks to me”

The old wo”

“It is?” Bobbie said

Avasarala senuine smile, then poured tea out of a black iron pot into two s at a chair next to her desk When Bobbie re, Avasarala said, “Seriously, sit the fk down Five ain for an hour”

Bobbie sat, hesitated, and took one of the slass, and the tea inside it was very dark and sue

“It’s a Lapsang souchong,” Avasarala said “My husband buys it for me What do you think?”

“I think it smells like hobo feet,” Bobbie replied