(eng) Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Retrieval Artist 09 by Blowback

Author:Blowback [Blowback]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-four

DeRicci sat alone in the dining room of the hotel, at a table that overlooked the edge of the crater. Before she came here, she would have thought it weird to stare at Moon rock throughout her meal, but it wasn’t.

It was beautiful.

The crater’s side had multicolored mineral deposits running through the strata. The restaurant’s windows and lighting accented the colors, but didn’t add to them.

The information in the little restaurant audio links told her that the original colonists decided to leave the crater walls intact, and mine for the minerals in other parts of the crater, digging the ground a little deeper so that the housing could actually have a foundation.

DeRicci got the sense that she was looking at a small fortune that the city founders—and by extension, the current government—decided not to touch.

The meal proved both relaxing and an antidote to her heartburn. She did not order any alcohol, not even a local wine made from those same purple grapes, nor did she allow any of her assistants to sit with her. She dined alone on chicken cooked with those purple apples (they were spicy), local potatoes, and a soup that she couldn’t identify.

She was just considering dessert when Popova contacted her through their secure links.

Forgive me, sir, Popova sent, always formal. I hope I’m not waking you.

DeRicci sometimes doubted that she would ever sleep—really sleep—again, but of course she didn’t let Popova know that.

I’m having a late dinner, she sent. Are there problems?

It was an unnecessary question, since Popova wouldn’t have contacted her this late otherwise.

I just had the strangest interaction with Flint, Popova sent.

DeRicci felt cold. She pushed her plate aside, then waved off the waiter walking over with a dessert tray.

When was this? DeRicci sent.

Not five minutes ago, Popova sent.

DeRicci nodded. She should have expected something. Flint had acted strange after DeRicci told him the information on the clones had been classified. It was almost as if she had offended him somehow.

What happened? DeRicci sent.

Talia was here, Popova sent, and one of the damn Earth Alliance investigators cornered her, trying to get information out of her.

I hope you told them she was off-limits, DeRicci sent, knowing how crazy Flint could get about his daughter.

I didn’t have a chance, Popova sent. Talia did just fine, by the way. She wouldn’t be interrogated. She refused to answer questions, and then she walked away.

DeRicci wished she could see Popova. She almost put the link on visual, but the restaurant felt unprotected, even though she was alone here. It was harder to keep a holographic image secure than it was an internal link. She didn’t know the technical reasons, just that her security team had warned her more than once to keep the most confidential conversations link-only.

Then she came to me, Popova sent. I got dinner for us, and I calmed her down. I planned to talk to the Earth Alliance investigators when we finished eating, but Flint came in before that. He got mad at Talia—

He what? He never got mad at his daughter.

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