Unbound Brothers by Rob Rowntree

Author:Rob Rowntree
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Tags: Kindle+general Fiction+ Science Fiction+Adventure+Mystery+space opera+Thriller, Fiction+Science Fiction+Mystery+Space opera+adventue
Publisher: Fat Skull Books
Published: 2014-02-04T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Languages and Lies

“Sorry for the intrusion, I—”

“Gibson, it’s okay.” Closing the door Alan said, “How have you been? I know you and Shepperd were close. It can’t have been easy.”

“Been a struggle. I never expected to lose him. In the end though, I had, no, have our work. Concentrating helped me move on.”

“Move on? I wouldn’t have thought it’s been a long enough time to move on. Do you want to talk?”

“Not now...maybe later.” An awkward silence followed, before Gibson qualified, “Thanks anyway.”

Rising, Alan moved to his small kitchenette, “Can I get you a drink, tea, coffee, water, juice?”

“Yes, water thanks.”

Reaching for a couple of glasses Alan noticed that Gibson’s hands fidgeted, his fingers twitched. The guy must be strung out, “Are you sure you won’t have something stronger? You seem a little tense.”

“Look Alan, it’s not easy for me to be here. To say that I’m torn would be an understatement. But I can’t stand the skulduggery any more. All this damned subterfuge is bound to get somebody else killed.”

Alan poured the water onto ice, the cracking cubes, loud and sharp. When Gibson remained silent Alan prompted by saying, “Being loyal becomes ingrained. Something that’s not easy to break free from. I can understand how difficult this must be for you to break rank with Conway—”

“There’s no need to patronise me. And your assumption that I’m here to discuss anything to do with Conway is a leap of logic on your part.” Gibson’s face reddened, whether through embarrassment or anger, Alan couldn’t say. “However, in this case it is a lucky guess.”

Lucky guess my arse. Alan moved over and sat near Gibson, passing over the drink. “Nothing would shock me Gibson, anything Conway’s done or is planning to do holds no surprises for me. Take that show of bonhomie earlier. It fooled no one. No my friend, I don’t have any illusions where Conway is concerned. I expect him to do things his way; after all it’s his ship, his expedition and his dollar. The fact that I have control of the vessel is to him an inconvenience. A man like Conway can’t help himself.”

Gibson looked wistful, “I’ve known him for quite some time and not all of the decisions he’s made have sat well with me; unethical, sure, unscrupulous, manipulative, pedantic, but also, magnanimous with his friends, supportive, protective and flexible.”

Alan suddenly understood, “You admire him. No wait, it’s more than that, you revere him.”

“He’s done a lot for us, for me.”

Gibson squirmed a little in the chair. Alan noticed inner turmoil tearing at Gibson’s resolve. “Look everybody has doubts and usually, doubts are a good indication that something needs to be thrashed out. Or at the very least be satisfied. It’s a natural and normal reflection of concern.”

“It’s easy for you Alan. You have no one to betray.”

Alan thought immediately of Jimmy, swaddled in hospital blankets, the twinkle still in his eyes, a physical representation of Jimmy’s belief in his own brother. Betrayal? What would Gibson

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