Juggler of Worlds by Larry Niven; Edward M. Lerner

Author:Larry Niven; Edward M. Lerner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure, Science Fiction - Space Opera, Fiction - Science Fiction, Niven, American Science Fiction And Fantasy, Government investigators, Space Opera, Fiction, Science Fiction, Conspiracy, Suspense, Adventure, Larry - Prose & Criticism, Suspense fiction, General
ISBN: 9780765357847
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2009-06-02T07:00:00+00:00

“Your money has been well spent,” Ander said. He was newly returned from Jinx and still feeding his bulked-up weight. “Including the generous bonus.”

“I don’t remember offering a bonus.” Sigmund didn’t bother adding that two kilos of Kobe beef was a bonus.

Ander merely smiled and crooked a finger at the woman pushing the dessert cart.

The more arrogant, the better the news, Sigmund reminded himself. Once two cannolis and a slice of baklava found their way to Ander’s end of the table, Sigmund took out his comm unit. “Protocol gamma,” he said. Sound suppression, bug suppression, and a translucent holographic screen around the table to stymie lip-readers. Red, yellow, and green dots slowly chased one another around its screen. “We can talk freely.”

“Free except for that matter of my bonus.” Ander blotted his lips with his napkin. “I leave that entirely to your discretion.”

Sigmund waited.

“Very well. You’ll be amused to learn that I caroused our way to success.” Ander tipped his head, smiling in fond memory of something. “Once one has been accepted, there’s pleasure to be had even on West End. You should come back to Jinx with me.”

Sigmund flinched. Since he had limped home from Forward Station, near catatonic with the flatlander phobia, the idea of leaving Earth terrified him. He’d been unable to face even the short trip to the Oort Cloud, where instantaneous hyperwave radio worked, to spare Ander a far longer voyage.

“It sounds like you’ve already gotten your bonus,” Sigmund said.

A cannoli disappeared, pastry flakes raining onto the tablecloth. “As directed, I befriended workers employed by Gregory Pelton’s project. I concede the process was not without its amusements.”

“And?”

“You suck all the fun out of a story, Sigmund. I was eventually hired, of course. A drinking buddy recommended me. It didn’t get me into the inner circle, of course, but I hold a responsible position in the back office. Close enough to the action to know, I think, who the inner circle is.” Ander waved his fork. “Yes, I know. You’re asking yourself why, if I have a responsible position, I could get away.”

Murmurs penetrated the sound suppressors, no more intelligible than the snippets that might leak out. Sigmund said, “Stet. How?”

“That’s the good thing about being middle management, just one transistor in the machine. No one thought anything of it when I said I needed some time off.

“It’s my sister, you see. She got herself arrested in the flatlander riots.” Ander dropped the sudden theatrical voice. “I told them I thought I could get Sis’s charges dismissed—but those are the kind of favors one calls in only face-to-face.”

A waitress came by with fresh coffee. Sigmund waited for her to leave before asking, “So what did you learn that couldn’t be put into an encrypted recording?”

“Pelton’s little secret. The reason he’s been planning a big expedition, although, alas, not the coordinates of its destination.” Ander leaned forward conspiratorially

“And that secret is?” Sigmund prompted.

“Antimatter.” A smug grin lit Ander’s face. “He found a futzy whole world of the stuff.

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