The Price of Water by Ross Adams

Author:Ross Adams [Adams, Ross & Adams, Ross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2024-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Katsumi Yoshi welcomed them into his well-appointed office at Columbia University. David was surprised to find that Katsumi was nearly six feet tall and very fit. For some reason, he’d expected a small, elderly man.

"Gentlemen, welcome." Katsumi greeted each with a brief bow and handshake. "We have much to discuss and very little time for niceties, I'm afraid. Iygal is on his way. Hopefully, this meeting will end your active role in this, and we can let the professionals take over. It is good to see you, Bjorn."

"It is good to see you as well, Katsumi," Bjorn responded.

David just sat staring at Katsumi as if in a daze.

"David, are you okay?" Bjorn asked.

"Yes, of course. My apologies." He couldn't stop thinking that this must have been like meeting Albert Einstein. "Dr. Yoshi, just let me say how pleased I am to have the opportunity to meet you. I admire your work immensely, although it is far outside my own area of expertise."

"Thank you, David. Given what Bjorn has told me of you, I have a hard time believing it is over your head." Katsumi smiled graciously. He spoke softly and without a glimpse of ego. "And please," he added, "Call me Katsumi."

David smiled in return, clearly enjoying the compliment. Bjorn looked at his friend, slightly bemused, but his thoughts immediately returned to his worry for his daughter.

"I suppose the fact that she is motivated again is something," he said aloud without realizing it.

"Excuse me?" both David and Katsumi said simultaneously.

"I'm desperately worried about Ilse," he sighed. "The idea that these bastards are willing to disappear innocent scientists speaks volumes about what they might do should they find her before the World Police Force do."

The three men regarded each other in silence. A moment later, there was a discrete knock on the door.

"Yes, Hiroshi?" inquired Katsumi.

"Pardon the interruption, Master Yoshi, but your son is here," Katsumi's assistant announced in a deferential tone with a bow.

David stood in a daze as Iygal Yoshi entered his father's office with two other officers from the World Police Force. David had never seen any members of the World Police Force in person. Like billions of others, he saw them on the video feeds, but up close and personal, they were very different—more vibrant, almost like cartoon superheroes wearing uniforms and protective gear projecting the ‘WPF’ symbol to the world. David shook his head to clear away the vision.

"Gentlemen, my son, Iygal." Katsumi introduced them.

Iygal had a firm handshake that projected confidence.

"Professor Langstrom, it is good to see you again," Iygal said. "I am very sorry for your daughter's predicament, but I assure you we'll do everything possible to keep her from harm."

"Thank you, Iygal, it is nice to see you again too. I'd like you to meet a very old and dear friend of mine, David Jacobs. He was with my daughter when they met Ekow Aboah and knows more than anyone about where Ekow Aboah and Ilse might be. I hope you can help.

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