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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] desk comscreen beeped. It was Fay. "I've got a Mr. Morch calling from somewhere called Quantonix Researchers in Lowell. He says it's in connection with the visitor you have in there: Dr. Sarda. . . ." "Yes, yes. Put him through." The features appeared of a fleshy faced man with thinning hair combed straight back. "Dr. Balmer?" "Yes." "Hello. My name is Herbert Morch. I'm a director of Quantonix Researchers, here in the city. We're looking at applications of certain quantum physical effects." "How come he doesn't know you if you're working with them?" Sarda asked Balmer. Balmer licked his lip. "Just give me a moment," he muttered. Then, to the screen, louder, "Yes?" "We've just received a call from an Elaine Corley, whom you apparently know. She tells us that a subject of one of our research programs is there with you right now and is experiencing some disorientation problems a Dr. Leo Sarda. I don't know where you fit into things, Dr. Balmer, but this could be serious. We're on our way over right now. I'd appreciate it if you'd do whatever you can to keep Dr. Sarda comfortable, and if you can, please try not to let him leave the premises. We'll be there soon. Thank you." The screen blanked before Balmer could reply. "How long ago was the TX " Sarda began, but the screen immediately sounded a tone again. "Mr. Walworth from Zodiac," Fay's voice announced over the image. "Mr. Walworth? Look, I'm an associate of Dr. Sarda, who was due to meet some people there this morning. I'm just calling to say I'm sorry he couldn't make it. We had a slight hitch." Balmer forced an oily smile. "But everything's under control. Please apologize to our clients and ask them to bear with us." Walworth looked puzzled. "I'm not sure I understand, Mister . . ." "Er, Balmer. Dr. Balmer." "Dr. Balmer, Dr. Sarda was here, on time, with Mr. Troon. Everything went smoothly. They left about fifteen minutes ago." Balmer was beyond rational thinking by now. He pushed Sarda forward in front of the screen, gibbering almost incoherently. "I'll explain why in a moment. . . . The money . . . He'll recognize you. . . . Ask him if the funds went into your account." Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Still not understanding, his face darkening with suspicion, Sarda confronted the screen. "You know me, right? Were some funds paid into an account that I have with you?" "Yes, I know you of course, Dr. Sarda. . . ." Now it was Walworth's turn to be bewildered. "But if you'rewith Dr. Balmer, why does he think . . ." Walworth shook his head, evidently deciding that it was beyond him, or else none of a respectable bank official's business. "Anyway, yes, the funds were paid into your account here, and have been transferred onward in accordance with your further instructions. . . ." 20 Kieran stared distantly over the remains of the evening meal, while June attended to dishes in the kitchen area. There was no word in the English language that rhymed with "orange," she had claimed. A few feet away, Teddy hunched on one of the breakfast-bar stools, eying Guinness as he lay sprawled on the edge of the living area, chin resting on paws. "An Irishman green, Can take the potheen, But an Irishman orange, Just falls to the flooranj-, Ust doesn't seem able, To stay at the table." He looked triumphantly across. "Were we playing for forfeits?" June shook her head despairingly. "Kieran, you're impossible." "But surely it can't come as a surprise. You know that my creative genius knows no bounds. In fact, I'm considering a project to popularize Shakespeare in the American South by translating it into redneck. I thought the first sample might beAs Y'All Like It . What do you think?" "I refuse to think anything. I'm putting it down to nonadaptation to the gravity and the air mixture here. It can affect some people strangely, you know . . ." she looked at him hesitantly, "except that for you, I suppose, it isn't that strange." "Scoff if you will. You'll regret it one day, when women are flocking around in a feeding frenzy after they put up a statue to me in Atlanta. Or maybe they'll give my name to an expressway across Alabama and the Carolinas. Won't you feel proud to have known me, then?" "Are you sure you wouldn't rather an airport?" Kieran considered the suggestion gravely. "Well, okay . . . but I wouldn't settle for less than Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html international." Before June could reply, the room's sound system chimed for an incoming call. She took it on the comset that she had placed nearby, listened for a few seconds, and then switched the call to the mural screen in the living area for Kieran to join in too. "It's Leo and Elaine, from Phobos," she informed him. "Donna got them places on a Triplanetary lifting out tonight. They're just about to board." "Splendid!" Kieran got up and moved to the couch to be in the wall unit's viewing angle. June joined him a moment later. The screen showed Sarda, minus mustache and with his hair trimmed and darkened, pointing a comset while he stood with Elaine, both wearing sunglasses-like imaging spectacles, reflected in one of the mirror panels provided in public places to afford two-way visual connection for handheld devices. Their old feelings had come back in a flood within hours of pulling off the stunt the day before. Kieran had urged them to get away from Lowell that same night, before any repercussions had a chance to catch up with them. They had been sitting out the day at the transfer terminal on Phobos while one of Kieran's ubiquitous "friends in the business" juggled with reservations and pulled wires. "Hey, Kieran, so we're on our way," Sarda greeted. "TP Sirius clipper, lifting out at three-ten local standard for the Ceres sector. After then . . ." he shrugged, grinned, and gripped Elaine's hand, "who knows?" "Well, I've no doubt that you'll both end up doing something interesting," Kieran said. "There's enough in the kitty to keep you comfortable for a while, anyhow. Just watch the deals out there. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." "I don't know how to thank you enough for what you did," Elaine said. "June, I'm so glad that you picked a man who's curious about everything." "It can have its moments," June answered dryly. "Our commission more than covered the costs," Kieran said. "So, you see, I'm just as brazen and commercial as the rest, really." Sarda shook his head. "No, not like the rest. Never. You're something else . . . `Knight.' " "And how's Guinness?" Elaine asked. "Fed, content, and at peace with the limited part of the world that interests him." "We were thinking you should have called him Sirius," Elaine said. "The Dog Star. Get it? He is one." Kieran smiled. "That's good. I wish I'd thought of it." Sarda moved the spectacles a fraction to look around. "Well, it looks as if we're going to have to be moving. It's all been a rush here at the last minute, but I'm glad we had a moment to call. Thanks again from me too. It goes without saying that if there's ever anything we can do . . ." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |