The Pinnacle by Gary Moreau

Author:Gary Moreau [Moreau, Gary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yard Dog Press
Published: 2017-12-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The following morning, after attending to Klampor, Casey rushed down to his usual spot at the top of the ramp. He’d been sitting there for only a few minutes when he saw a contingent of grim faced comp-techs marching toward the ship, their drab gray uniforms reinforcing the overall impression of grave determination. Aleksandr Protonov strode in the forefront, with his sharp, black beard pointed toward the ship like the tip of an arrow. He was carrying a rolled sheet of paper in his fist, like a club.

They took no notice of Casey as they marched up the ramp and into the ship. Casey stood as rapidly as his stiff legs would allow and followed after them. By then they had disappeared into the up-tube, but there was little doubt of their destination. Casey exited the up-tube to find the squad of comp-techs gathered around the entrance to Slater’s cubicle, being confronted by the improbable hulk that was Yamaguchi.

Protonov’s voice was raised in anger. “I demand to see Commander Slater and I mean now! Get out of my way, you mute gorilla!” Though Protonov was no small man in his own right, compared to Yamaguchi he was insignificant.

Protonov’s normally pale complexion was fiery red. “I know you can hear me, Slater! I’m warning you, get out here, and get out here now!”

While he was still yelling, the portal opened and Slater stepped out. He walked around Yamaguchi and smiled. “Chief Protonov, what an unexpected surprise. Is there a problem?”

“Unexpected my eye! You know damn well why I’m here! You can play your silly game of innocent ignorance with the others, but don’t try it with me.” He shoved the rolled paper at Slater.

Apparently Slater hadn’t seen a copy yet. His eyes flicked back and forth as he quickly skimmed the article. His jaw muscles bulged and his lips pressed together. Even before he had finished reading, Protonov spoke again.

“Spying and the loss of personal privacy are intolerable. It is a despicable act. In Russia, there is a strong prohibition against spying. It is strictly proscribed, criminal! It’s worse than murder. It is murder!” For emphasis he detached his collar, slammed it onto the deck, and ground it under his heal until it “hissed” and “popped’ and released a tendril of blue smoke from under his boot. As if that was a signal, all the comp-techs dashed their collars to the deck and crushed them so that it sounded like popcorn, and filled the room with the acrid odor of fused circuitry.

Slater’s eyes were now a bit wider and shifting back and forth, searching for a response.

Protonov continued. “Don’t even try to deny it. We’re not gullible agri-techs. It took only a few minutes to verify that the new crystal was a broadcast unit.”

Casey smiled until he felt his cheeks were being stretched out of shape.

Slater appeared ashen under the heat of Protonov’s self-righteous indignation. His upper lip and forehead glistened with the sheen of perspiration. Finally, he found his voice.

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