Edward Llewellyn by Fugitive In Transit

Author:Fugitive In Transit
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

IX.

“You spoke to her? But that was expressly forbidden. You saved her from kidnapping. She’s safe and going to her home in Maryland?” Doctor Bose’s voice echoed his confusion and disapproval. “You picked her up in Ithaca! She took him riding! On horses? Good God What happened then?”

Sludic cut in on the extension. “Miss Plastiras, you will have to justify your action No—not by telephone. Come here. Trygvie U Towers. Doctor Bose’s apartment. Today!

“I was not aware you were about to proceed on leave. Your leave is canceled. Report to us then as ordered. What did you say? … I though you said that.” He hung up and looked at Bose. “Alex, did you hear what Katina said?”

“Sada, she’s done a good job. After all, if—”

“She’s done an excellent job, even if she has exceeded her orders. And she has every right to curse me for stopping her vacation. However, such a remark directed at a senior is an unusual response for an Agent, is it not?”

” Katina’s an unusual agent. She must have been shadowing Ward when the Adams woman picked him up. And took him riding. If she’s not human how can she ride a horse?”

“The laws of physics are the same throughout the Arm. And riding animals are not peculiar to Earth.”

“But a horse! Who’d have thought of that?”

“Only Alia apparently. Katina will give us the full story.”

“Why the hell did you ask her to come here? This is a UN apartment. She’ll realize immediately that one of us works for the United Nations.”

“Alex, I’m quite sure that Katina has known at you work for the UN since the first day met her. I’m reasonably sure she knows you’re a Deputy Director-General.”

“I hope she doesn’t learn that my job is alien liaison. Because if she does, she’ll probably tumble to what you are.”

‘That, I doubt. Katina is entirely human. I have yet to meet a human who will accept the fact that a nonhuman like myself can mimic human in both an external body and in social behavior. Humans have a mental block against accepting that any other race is capable creating itself in the human Gods image. You and Alex, are the exception that proves the rule. And had we not lived together, had you seen my bathing upon occasion, I suspect even you would have rejected such a heretical idea.”

“Damn you, Sludic! You’re getting too human to be comfortable.” Bose paused. “Three thugs tried to kidnap Alia. Miss Plastiras saved and had them arrested. Who employed them?” He looked at Sludic. “Did you expect something like that when you told Katina to protect Alia?”

“Suspect—not expect! I know there are others besides ourselves who would like to question Alia. I knew Unipol security would not keep our quest secret. There must now be several organizations who know a ‘Galactic Marshal’ is hunting an alien who looks like a woman. Alia is their target as well as ours.”

“And you’ve let them? You left Katina herself to protect Alia?”

“I did not think Katina would have to protect Alia.

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