Knavery: A Ripple Novel (Ripple Series Book 6) by Swanson Cidney

Author:Swanson, Cidney [Swanson, Cidney]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Williams Press
Published: 2014-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

15

TRANSDERMAL ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION

A week and a half later, Georg dined with his uncle and heard some news that was unexpected, welcome, and timely. Georg had been more and more a guest at his uncle’s dinner table, spread in his office. The food was plain but wholesome; Georg didn’t care for it at all.

“I shall be departing this evening, my boy.”

“Yes, Uncle?” It was his most inviting response.

Georg had been attempting to perfect the “inviting response,” finding that this was a better way to obtain information than asking a direct question.

“Indeed. I think I mentioned it to you. A conference in Fresno. Transdermal Routes of Administration for the Twenty-First Century.”

“I hope it will not … bore you, Uncle.” Georg was fishing for how long his uncle might be away.

“It’s only for the weekend,” said Fritz. “No, I think I will find it all quite interesting, my boy.”

“Ah,” said Georg, carefully applying his attention to his fish and cauliflower.

Uncle Fritz continued, expressing his hopes this would satisfy the bastards in Sacramento that Geneses was pursuing worthy goals for the betterment of the human race.

Georg nodded sympathetically. The encouragement to “demonstrate goals consistent with the highest aims,” et cetera, had made clear the corporation was still under close scrutiny.

“There are one or two individuals I am especially looking forward to … overhearing.” Uncle Fritz smiled, and Georg understood his uncle to be saying the “overhearing” would be done in caméleon form. He had the distinct sense his uncle was hiding something from him, however.

Georg wished, and not for the first time, that he had his brother Hansel’s gift to easily hear the thoughts of others. Although, perhaps it wouldn’t have served him, anyway. Hansel had taught Fritz to conceal what he was thinking, and Hansel had, when Georg asked, reported that Fritz was capable of hiding all but his most emotionally laden concerns. So, if Uncle Fritz was trying to keep something back, Georg wouldn’t have heard it, anyway.

“Uncle,” began Georg, “I’m sure it’s my own ignorance, but I don’t see how attending a conference with those beneath your contempt will assist in your long-term goals—”

Fritz interrupted him. “That’s because I do not choose to reveal to you my ultimate aims.”

Georg attempted to look chastened.

“Well, well,” said Fritz, patting Georg’s shoulder, “you’re a good boy. Continue in the path of obedience and I shall reveal wonders to you some day. We shall remake the world, nephew.”

Georg nodded, keeping his gaze subservient.

Fritz patted his mouth with a painfully white linen napkin and rose from his dinner. “For the time being, thanks to my father’s errors of judgment, it falls to me to rebuild the public face of Geneses. That is the first step toward our future, my boy.”

Georg tossed his own napkin casually over the remains of the beige fish and beige vegetable. His uncle might prefer plain, healthy food, but Georg was planning to fill up at KFC or McDonald’s after Fritz left.

“Do you know,” mused Uncle Fritz, “I think I’ll travel by helicopter.

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