The Gap 5 - This Day All Gods Die by Donaldson Stephen R

Author:Donaldson, Stephen R. [R., Donaldson, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-04T20:03:53.560000+00:00

The intercom reported more shouts. Hashi was sure he

heard someone yell, "Just do it!"

At last arrhythmic staccato clicks filled the speaker like

static as Center rerouted the lab's intercom channel.

"Hashi." Min's voice seemed to appear as if it had re-

sumed tard in the room. "Make it quick. This is getting more

complicated by the minute."

Despite his concentration, his heart lurched like a

wounded thing. Obliquely he wondered whether his health was

good enough to sustain the stress. Nevertheless he did his best

to be brief.

"As Acting Director, Min, you're in command of

UMCPHQ. You have authority for Administration. I require

the Administration codes which enable terminals here to ac-

cess the dedicated design computers at Anodyne Systems."

"Good God, Hashi!" she shot back. "Why in hell do you

want to do that?"

Under other circumstances he might have enjoyed her sur-

prise. Or he might have tried to justify himself. But Lane's

distress had taken a toll on him: Chief Mandich's frank out-

rage had left him raw. The sudden poignancy of his desire to

be trusted took him aback.

"You don't have time to hear an explanation, Min," he

answered softly. "I don't have time to offer one." He sighed

at her doubt. "I'm attempting to carry out Warden's orders."

At least she hadn't asked, Why didn't you take care of it

while you were Acting Director? She'd spared him the indig-

nity of having to say, Because I didn't think of it.

"All right," she returned decisively. "Give me a minute.

I'll have to route my authorization through Center to Adminis-

tration so you can open that file. The system isn't set up for

this, but I can invoke disaster priorities."

The speaker went dead as Punisher stopped transmitting.

Hashi bowed his head. That may have been as close as

Min Donner could come to giving him what he truly wanted.

For a brief moment he allowed himself to be grateful.

When he looked up, he found Chief Mandich standing

across the room from him, just inside the door.

Mandich's fists were cocked on his hips; his jaw jutted

like the head of a cudgel. "This better be good, Lebwohl," he

snarled. "The last time a man treated me the way you do, they

had to put a plate on his skull afterward to keep his brains in."

Hashi couldn't hold back. He loathed being held respon-

sible for other people's faults and furies. "Sadly," he retorted,

"they neglected a plate for you. Without being noticed, your

brain must have fallen out on Suka Bator."

Lane hid a grin behind a fringe of unclean hair.

Hashi ignored her. Before Mandich could muster a reply,

he demanded in a tone of utter exasperation, "Are you not

able to grasp the fact that you are essential? Lane and I cannot

discover the evidence we seek without your help.

"A terminal, Chief Mandich," he ordered. "There." His

arm rigid and trembling, he pointed at the console he wanted

Mandich to use. "I will work here." Two quick strides planted

him in front of a terminal near Lane's.

The Chief didn't move. Apparently Hashi had caught his

attention: the belligerence in his eyes had turned to uncer-

tainty. Nevertheless he stood where he was.

"Tell me what we're doing," he insisted harshly.

What we're doing. He'd said "we," That was all the

opening Hashi needed.

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