Paradise by Mike Resnick

Author:Mike Resnick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2011-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

11.

The President's Mansion was located in heart of Berengi, opposite the 23-story cylindrical structure that was the brand-new Vainmill Hotel. Four uniformed native guards, each sporting gold braid and epaulettes, signaled the landcar to stop as we pulled up. Masterson got out, nodded to them, and they immediately saluted.

"End of the line," he announced, and I got out and followed him up an impressive staircase into the main reception area—an elegant octagonal room with a thirty-foot ceiling and a pair of crystal chandeliers imported from the Atria system. There were more guards, also natives, and I asked Masterson where the human security team was.

"They're around," he replied.

"I don't see them."

He smiled. "You're not supposed to."

He led me to a small elevator.

"If you weren't with me," he said, "you'd be seeing them right about now."

We ascended to the fourth and top floor, and emerged into a marble foyer. The ceiling was domed, and had bas reliefs of natives in their different tribal dress. An enormous stuffed Sabrehorn, looking remarkably lifelike, guarded the foyer, its head lowered, its long curved horn poised to defend the planetary President's private quarters. The walls were lined with original paintings and holos, each the gift of politicians or celebrities who had enjoyed Peponi's many charms. A nonrepresentational sculpture by Morita, a major artist from far out on the Spiral Arm, especially caught my eye, as did a solid gold bust of Buko Pepon, but almost all of them were impressive.

Masterson gave me a moment to look around, then escorted me to a door at one end of the foyer.

"This is where I leave you," he announced.

"You're not coming with me?" I said, surprised.

"One doesn't visit the President wearing shorts and a dirty shirt," he explained with a smile. "Also, I wasn't invited."

"Where will I find you when I'm through?"

"If you're still my assignment, I'll be waiting for you right here."

"Well," I said, extending my hand, "if not, it's been a pleasure meeting you."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll meet again," he said. "I don't know what he has in mind for you, but I expect you'll be on Peponi for quite some time. The Old Man can be very persuasive when he wants to be."

"We'll see," I said noncommittally, then approached the door, which dilated to let me pass and immediately closed behind me.

I found myself in an immense office. The back wall was glass from floor to ceiling, and overlooked Buko Pepon Boulevard. The other three walls each had a life-sized hologram of Pepon, and were clearly labeled in Terran. One was "The Exile," and showed him standing on a Deluros VIII streetcorner, exhorting his human listeners to free his people from the bondage of colonialism; the second was "The Incarceration," and showed him sitting in his tiny prison cell in Balimora; and the third was "The Triumph," and showed him in his suit and Bush Devil cape, taking the oath of office before an audience of hundreds of thousands of his cheering people.

Pepon himself sat on

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