The Pandora Sequence by Frank Herbert Bill Ransom

Author:Frank Herbert, Bill Ransom [Frank Herbert, Bill Ransom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2012-12-28T05:00:00+00:00

"Questions should be asked directly," Lonfinn muttered.

"And answered directly," Keel persisted. He looked at Brett. "This matter has always been in dispute among 'the faithful' and their political lobby. Most of Ship's faithful topside think it would be a disaster to turn over the C/P's power to a Merman. They have so much power over other aspects of our otherwise dreary lives."

Lonfinn smiled without humor. "A difficult political subject for a young man to understand," he said.

Brett gritted his teeth at the patronizing attitude.

Lonfinn crossed to the wall behind Keel, touched a depression there and a panel slid away. It revealed a huge port that looked out on an undersea courtyard with transparent ceiling and a watery center where clusters of small fishes flashed and turned among delicate, richly colored plants.

"I must be going," Lonfinn said. "Enjoy yourselves. This" -- he indicated the area he had just exposed -- "should keep you from feeling too enclosed. I find it restful myself." He turned to Brett, paused and said, "I'll see that the necessary forms and papers are sent for you to sign. No sense wasting time."

With that, Lonfinn departed, leaving by the same hatch they had entered.

Brett looked at Keel. "Have you filled out these papers? What are they?"

"The papers fulfill the Merman need to feel they have everything pinned down.

Your name, your age, circumstances of your arrival down under, your work experience, any talents you might have, whether you desire to stay . . ." Keel hesitated, cleared his throat. ". . . your parentage, their occupations and mutations. The severity of your own mutation."

Brett continued to regard the Chief Justice silently.

"And in answer to your other question," Keel continued, "no, they have not required this of me. I'm sure they have a long dossier on me giving all the important details . . . and many unimportant tidbits, too."

Brett had fastened onto one thing in Keel's statement. "They may ask me to stay down under?"

"They may require you to work off the cost of your rescue. A lot of Islanders have settled down under, something I mean to look into before going topside.

Life here can be very attractive, I know." He ran his fingers through the soft nap of carpet as if for emphasis.

Brett looked at the ceiling, wondering how it would be to live most of his life here away from the suns. Of course, people from down under did go topside lots of times, but still . . .

"The best disaster-recovery team is composed mostly of ex-Islanders," Keel said.

"So says Kareen Ale."

"I've heard the Mermen always want you to pay your own way," Brett said. "But it shouldn't take long to work off the cost of my . . ." He suddenly thought of Scudi. How could he ever repay Scudi? There was no coin for that.

"Mermen have a great many ways of attracting desirable and acceptable Islanders," Keel said. "You appear to be someone they'd be interested in having aboard. However, that should not be your chief concern of the moment.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.