Gethsemane by James Wittenbach

Author:James Wittenbach [Wittenbach, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Science Fiction And Fantasy
Amazon: B00IMR2M72
Goodreads: 20512034
Publisher: Booktango
Published: 2014-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Keeler – Tolkien Xerox brought round one of the estate’s larger hover sedans and chauffeured the three Keelers toward the city. Pegasus Keeler placed a call on the car’s COM Link. “Bettilu, it’s Bill again. We’re going to Zorg Patterson’s. It’s about seven hours into the evening, and we would love it if you would join us. Call me.”

Sapphire Keeler snorted dismissively. “Why do you want her to join us? She’s about as fun as a night at a Panrovian Accordion Opera.”

Pegasus Keeler replied. “I left her and went to the other side of the galaxy, and all that time I’ve never sent so much as a natal anniversary greeting. Since getting here, I’ve realized all the chances I’ve passed up… that you’ve passed up also.”

Sapphire Keeler shrugged. “I’m comfortable with my decisions.” He paused. “Except for buying the fur-lined sink. In retrospect, I’d take back that one. Probably.”

They passed through one of the checkpoints on the road that led off the estate. It was unmanned. Sapphireans were not a people who cared much about celebrity, and Keelers were not people who cared much about strangers driving by to see the legendary estate, so long as there weren’t too many. Pegasus Keeler was surprised when they came to a second checkpoint that was manned by a team of Ninjas. “That wasn’t there before,” he noted, out loud.

“What, that? We put that in three years ago,” Sapphire Keeler informed him. “Some pro-election nut-jobs from Republic broke into one of the estate houses and broke some of our stuff. We thought we should keep some security nearby, at least for a while.”

“I would have put Trauma Hounds in closer to the estate,” Pegasus Keeler said. Sapphire Keeler wiggled his eyebrows. “What makes you think I didn’t?”

A speedy drive down “Lake of the Loons Parkway” took them into downtown New Cleveland, which was dominated by the sprawling university complex and the colorful office towers of businesses the university had spawned. These followed along the path of the Super Freeway and MagLev Express lines, spreading out at the tip, giving the downtown area a shape like a giant hammer.

The Avenues downtown were very wide, and traffic was very light, it being the end of the week and long past the end of the workday. To the west, Sapphire’s sun was disappearing below the horizon, leaving red rippling reflections on the lake and a warm glow in the darkening sky.

As they passed by the central campus area, the sedan was slowed by foot traffic. Something noisy and obnoxious was going on, and it annoyed Pegasus Keeler. “What the hell is going on? Why is our path toward booze being delayed?”

Tolkien Xerox answered, “Pro-election demonstrators, sir. The New Democratist movement. They’re demonstrating in favor of abolishing the lottery, and replacing it with elected representatives.”

“The fools!” Pegasus Keeler spat. He turned to Sapphire Keeler. “Why aren’t you having them beaten and jailed?”

Sapphire Keeler rolled his eyes. “Because I’m not the Chancellor, Mary Jane Watson is. And she thinks sedition against our planetary government is cute.

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