Recoil by David Sherman

Author:David Sherman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780345509536
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2008-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

* * *

TWENTY

Rooftop Landing Pad, Ministry of Justice, Fargo, Earth

Dr. Hans Jeroboam’s face turned white as he looked at the huge storm coming in from the northwest. “Maybe we should take the underground, AG?” he asked Huygens Long nervously, casting a fearful sidelong glance at the approaching blackness. A sudden, powerful gust of wind tore at the pair as they got into the hopper.

“Nonsense, J.B.! We’ve got a meeting with the president in ten minutes and we’re not going to be late.” He patted the pocket where he was carrying all the evidence he thought they’d need to get Chang-Sturdevant to agree to Jasper’s arrest. He was secretly amused at the scientist’s nervous reaction to flying in a storm.

“Sir?” The crew chief leaned over and yelled at the two officials as they boarded the flier. “That storm is moving slowly but there’s a lot of turbulence, so please strap in during the flight. The pilot says you may have to take ground transport coming back. We’ll let you know, sir.”

“Oh, hell,” Jeroboam muttered, but his words were snatched away on the wind.

“Hell of a night to be up high!” Long chortled as he strapped himself in. Jeroboam groaned.

Office of the President, Confederation of Human Worlds

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” President Cynthia Chang-Sturdevant said as she shook her head.

“Ma’am, the evidence is all there. It’s quite clear. We have to act and we have to do it right now.” Huygens Long’s face was red with frustration. He’d never seen Chang-Sturdevant so indecisive. He wondered if Jasper had somehow cast a spell over the president when he met with her. He shook his head. Ridiculous. But why was she dithering?

“Madam President, the AG is right. These tests, these analyses, everything points to the fact that Mr. Jasper is an agent of the Skinks. If not a conscious agent, he’s working under their influence. If he is not stopped he could destroy this Confederation.” Dr. Jeroboam was also frustrated, although he did not show it as plainly as the attorney general. “Everything fits,” he added.

Chang-Sturdevant sighed. “Marcus?” She turned to Marcus Berentus, who had had his doubts about the relationship between Jasper and the president, especially after the way she had talked to him in the hallway after his visit.

“Ma’am, Hugh is right. The man must be arrested.”

“You gentlemen know that if we go forward with Hugh’s recommendation, we’re liable to have serious riots on our hands? Jasper has created an enormous following in only the short time he’s been preaching. We’ll have to deal with that. We are going to become very unpopular over this.”

“Madam, we are going to become very dead if this man succeeds in weakening our preparations against the Skinks. The fate of all humanity hangs on the decision you are about to make,” Long said.

“Senator Maxim has already introduced a rider on the upcoming appropriations bill that would reduce funding for Task Force Aguinaldo,” Marcus added grimly.

“I know, I know. And he’s gathered forty cosigners to the measure.

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