Jump Gate Twist by Mark L. Van Name

Author:Mark L. Van Name [Name, Mark L. Van]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure, Science Fiction - Space Opera, Fiction - Science Fiction, Soldiers of fortune, Space Opera, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction - General, Adventure, Life on other planets, Nanotechnology, General
ISBN: 9781439133705
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2010-07-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

"I don't see why we have to do all this," Jack said, shaking his head. "It's an utter waste of time and energy, and you know how I deplore physical activity." He looked back at the restaurant. "Particularly when we could be doing other, so much more pleasurable things, such as sampling Joaquin's magnificent desserts."

What I knew was how much Jack liked to present the image of someone who hated physical activity. I'd once happened upon him during his exercises, and it was immediately obvious that he kept himself in very good physical condition. I'd subsequently learned from careful observation that he worked out daily with an almost religious fanaticism. Maybe he liked to pretend otherwise as part of his goal of constantly maintaining hidden advantages over all those around him, or perhaps he had other, private reasons for preserving the illusion; he never discussed it. I had no way to be certain of his motivation, but the front he presented was fake.

Not that how he felt mattered to me, of course; if I was going to run this operation, we were going to do it right. I turned my back on him, took a few steps away, looked left and right as if scanning the area, and subvocalized to Lobo, "Monitor all of this."

"Of course," he said.

I faced Jack. "You asked for my help," I said. "You're not paying me anything. So, you either completely and without question obey my orders from now until this is over, or..." I glanced at Manu and decided to stop there. "Preparation is a vital part of protection."

"Nothing is going to go wrong," Jack said.

"Then you don't need me." I turned away again.

"Okay, Jon," he said. "You win. We'll do what you say."

I nodded and faced him. "Has Dougat or anyone on his team spotted you or Manu?"

"There's no need to be insulting," he said. "Of course not."

"To be safe, spend the next three hours in a countersurveillance run anyway. Head to the center of Eddy, then wind your way to the northern edge. When the time is up, if you're being followed, come back here. Otherwise, meet me in the construction site a kilometer and a half due west." I risked exposing my rendezvous zone with Lobo on the assumption that I could reach it as quickly as anyone who might be watching us.

"I explained that they haven't seen us," he said, pain clear in his tone. "Must we go through this silliness?"

"For the last time, yes. I stated the deal, and you agreed to it, so stop complaining. Maybe it is silly, but we need to know if Dougat has found a way to track you, if he's now seen me, and so on."

Jack shook his head, took Manu's hand, and turned to go.

"Be sure to walk at least the last kilometer," I added.

Jack stopped.

I waited.

"As you say, Jon," he finally said.

Good. I jogged toward the forest that grew all the way to the edge of the lot Choy had cleared around Falls.

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