The Untaken Path (Beyond the Impossible Book 7) by Frank Kennedy

Author:Frank Kennedy [Kennedy, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-02T16:00:00+00:00

20

E XETER ENJOYED A TALL GLASS of sanque and a quiet smoke that evening as he absorbed the news. Rosa Marteen’s update about Michael was disturbing, but the public announcement about Ham Cortez hit him like a brick to the face. He felt an unexpected sadness.

“How well did you know him?” Rosa asked.

“Not well enough. We had a complicated relationship. I’m glad we settled our differences.”

“They say it was a brain aneurysm. What do you think?”

He finished off his drink and set the glass aside. They’d been talking in his quarters for half an hour.

“I don’t know. It seems impossible for a man like that to …” He sighed. “Ever since I learned I was immortal, I stopped worrying about all the things that could kill me. I can take a point-blank from a Force Drum and know I’ll be OK in the end. Death is so …”

“Unfair,” she said. “I hate seeing the good ones die early.”

“While the assholes keep on rolling.”

“A century from now, everybody on this ship except Aeternans will be memories. Not fair.”

Exeter pushed himself out of his comfy chair. He was pissed.

“We owe them, Rosa.”

“What do we owe?”

“They deserve to have the best opportunities. If we can help, we have an obligation to do so. The technology Michael’s hoarding can change the galaxy.”

“Depending upon how it’s used. Yes.”

“I cannot believe he’s playing down the wormhole tech. Every Aeternan knows about the tracking system. Most of Scylla’s crew was there. Is he actually saying we shouldn’t believe our own eyes?”

She grabbed his pipe and inhaled.

“Today was the first blow. Michael knew he’d be asked. He’ll shape his answers in the coming days until no one brings it up anymore.”

“Rikhi Syed told you this?”

“In so many words.” She took a second, nervous puff. “I’m concerned about Rikhi. He was an introvert when I first met him.”

“Weren’t you two together a few years?”

“Until he started working in Central Command,” she said with a fading smile. “At first, he had a schoolboy crush on Michael. Now, it’s something else. He’s a fanatic. He parrots Michael’s words and helps him craft public language to put a fairytale spin on everything.”

“His job, in other words.”

“Except he doesn’t make a distinction anymore. I asked him at dinner about the report I heard from the technologists meeting.”

“What did he say?”

“Kara Aleksanyan was combative. He suspected she was aligning herself with other delegates who are trying to steal our technology.”

Exeter didn’t try to stifle his laugh.

“He said this with a straight face?”

“A straight, earnest face. Michael’s truth is Rikhi’s truth. And Rikhi’s not alone.”

“But we are. Do you think I should speak to the Aleksanyans?”

“It’s dangerous. If you pass along intel to them, and it blows back on Michael, he’ll know it was you. He’ll accuse you of treason.”

Exeter regained his pipe and held it to his mouth.

“He already told me what he’d do to me if I fucked him over.”

“You’re walking a thin line, Exeter. If Michael suspects you’re a traitor, he’ll assume you’re not alone.

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