Fate of Worlds by Niven Larry & Lerner Edward M
Author:Niven, Larry & Lerner, Edward M. [Niven, Larry & Lerner, Edward M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, High Tech
ISBN: 9780765331007
Amazon: 0765331004
Goodreads: 13167780
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2012-08-21T07:00:00+00:00
27
Sigmund picked at his dinner, the little he had managed to eat burning in his gut like molten lead. There were only so many ways to convey, âI donât know,â and âSorry, I canât tell you that.â He had used them all.
âItâs not fair, Dad,â Hermes said. His face was weathered and tanned from years of farming. âI spent my childhood wondering if you would make it back home. I grew up watching Mom struggling to put on a brave face for Athena and me. Now my daughter is the one out ⦠somewhere, the one out of contact.â
And sheâs my granddaughter. I do understand, son. âI can only tell you that Julia is well, that sheâs doing work you can be proud of. Iâm sorry, but I canât say more.â
âYou wonât say more,â Amelia chided.
His daughter-in-law normally had a wicked sense of humor. She was a communications engineer and twice as smart as Sigmundâjust ask her. Amelia didnât very much like Sigmund and the feeling was mutual. But she loved Hermes and his son loved her, and together they had raised one heck of a fine bunch of children. Sigmundâs dislike of Amelia did not matter.
Today she was one hundred percent an aggrieved mom, and Sigmund was as close as she could get to the people who had put her child at risk. Had Amelia only known, he was one of them. Her dinner also looked stirred and untasted.
âWell?â she prodded.
âI wonât say more,â Sigmund conceded.
âWill she come home soon?â Amelia tried again. âIs she in danger, Sigmund?â
Sheâs in a war zone, far, far away. If he could answer truthfully, it wouldnât help. âSheâll be fine,â Sigmund said, knowing the words were hollow.
His pocket buzzed. âExcuse me.â He retrieved his comp.
Come now. The text was from Norquist-Ng.
âIs that about Julia?â Amelia asked.
Certain that it was, Sigmund said, âI donât know,â once more. âI have to go, though. Thanks for dinner.â
From a stepping disc just outside Hermes and Ameliaâs front door, he flicked to the Ministry.
* * *
âITâS MY FAULT,â Julia said. She looked drained, beaten. âI take full responsibility.â
Norquist-Ng paused the playback. âWhat do you think?â
Sigmund looked around the private office, glad to be rid of the usual hangers-on. I think that Alice took matters into her own hands, Minister, because you took matters into yours. And that had I gone aboard Endurance, Alice would be here, alive.
On whose hands was the blood thickest?
âIâd like to speak with Julia,â Sigmund said.
âThe news wonât get any better, but all right.â Changing tone, Norquist-Ng directed, âJeeves, hail Koala and ask for a secure link to our captain.â
Though it took only minutes, the wait seemed interminable. Finally, a holo opened: Julia, in a nondescript, closet-sized cabin, looking even more dejected than in her message. Something about her surroundingsâproportions? furnishings? the wall color?âshouted that this wasnât any New Terran vessel.
âWe have your report,â Norquist-Ng said abruptly. âWe have questions.â
âYes, Minister.â She swallowed. âGrandpa. It isnât good.â
âStart at the beginning,â Sigmund suggested.
âYes, sir. Endurance was fueled up for the trip home, but low on feedstock for the synthesizer.
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