To Save the Sun [Ben Bova] (fb2) читать постранично, страница - 92

raised no objection to Bomeer’s staying in the room when she called: The woman had absolutely no intention of acknowledging the academician’s presence. She instead went directly to one of the two remaining chairs before the desk and sat, waiting for Adela to take her own seat behind the desk. Bomeer remained on his feet about halfway to the door.

Adela nodded her head curtly in a motion that was not quite a show of respect before taking her own chair. “It’s been a long time, Mistress, but not long enough.” She made sure her voice carried with it as much scorn and sarcasm as she could summon up, then added bluntly, “What do you want?”

“I want nothing but to give you a parting message. Something to think about while you sleep.”

“And what would that be?”

The former Princess smiled and shrugged nonchalantly, settling back into the chair. “I wanted to remind you of the cost of your dream. I know how long you plan to remain in cryosleep. There will be little left of what you remember when you wake up. Javas will be long dead, as will most of your friends and associates.”

“You’ve told me this before. I’ve not forgotten.”

“I’m glad to see that you have a good memory, but you are not the only one. I have a good memory, too.” Rihana crossed her long legs and smoothed the fabric of her gown. When she spoke again her smile had vanished. “I understand that you have become very close to your Eric. Well, remember this while you sleep, Adela: He murdered my son. I do not plan to forget.”

Adela felt a chill sweep over her at the thought of Rihana hurting Eric. She rose shakily, and found it necessary to lean on the desk for support. “You’ll do nothing to hurt my son,” she said forcefully, her words feeling like jagged ice in her throat. “I’ll see to it myself.”

Adela had expected Rihana to threaten the power of House Valtane against her, but when the woman gazed up at her over the bare desktop she did the one thing Adela never expected. She laughed. Adela shook her head in disgust at whatever it was in her words that had so amused Rihana.

“I swear it, Mistress,” she spat, her sudden fear replaced now with unbridled anger. “If I have to forgo cryosleep entirely, you’ll not get close to my son!”

Rihana’s laughter faded, and she made a pretense of wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “Come now, Doctor; do you really think that I would have any interest in your precious offspring? Eric was but the tool mat took my son’s life, a weapon wielded by someone else who owes me a debt. Besides,” she shrugged, and again smoothed a fold in her gown, “I am not so foolish as to have frozen but a single fertilized ovum. My only mistake was in my timing; I’ll do better next time.”

“Not with my family, you won’t.” Adela was appalled at Rihana’s complete lack of emotion regarding Reid’s death, and at how the woman apparently thought of him only as a means to an end.

“Really, you value yourself and your young Prince much too highly. No, it is Javas and what he’s stolen from me that I want.” Rihana stood, her bracelets jingling musically at the movement. And as she continued, Adela became aware that anger made itself plain in her voice only when she spoke of Javas. “He has taken me from that which is rightfully mine—my position in the Empire, guaranteed me by my birthright. I mean to have it back!”

Rihana stood ramrod straight and smiled again, as if the anger and emotion she’d displayed only moments before were but parts of an elaborate act. When she spoke again, her composure had returned. “In any event, Doctor, feel free to sleep; preserve yourself for your project to save the world. But understand that I mean to have what is mine, and that I’ll permit nothing to stand between me and that goal. Not Javas. Not your project. Nothing. And understand something else…” She stopped, her icy blue eyes piercing Adela’s soul. “Once I regain what has been taken from me, you may not recognize the world into which you’ll awake. I’ll see to it.”

“Will you?” Bomeer, until now remaining quietly in the background, came forward. “And you think that those loyal to Javas and to the Hundred Worlds will merely stand aside while you attempt to regain this—what did you call it?—birthright?” He stood resolutely only a meter from her, his chin lifted and his hands clasped behind him defiantly.

She was taller than he, taller than many men, and she looked down on him in more ways than one. Her eyes narrowed disapprovingly and she said, her words dripping with sarcasm, “Do I know you?” Without waiting for an answer she turned for the door. Poser snapped nervously to attention and fumbled with the door controls until finally getting it open and jumping out of Rihana’s way just in time for her to clear the door frame, then followed her out like an obedient dog.

Again, Bomeer and Adela were alone in the barren office, surrounded by an uncomfortable silence that seemed to last for several minutes. “I’ve not looked forward to going into cryosleep this time,” she admitted at last. “I’ve always known that saying good-bye to everything close to me would be hard.” Adela came around the desk, leaned heavily against the front of it as she faced the academician. “But I’ve never been afraid to go into the tank. Until now.”

“Don’t be,” Bomeer replied. He held out his hand, escorting her to the door. “A little while ago I said I was tired of fighting, and I meant it. But the more I consider what I have just seen and heard, the more I realize that there is still a fight to be joined. Somehow, I have a feeling that fighting for a worthy cause for a change will not be nearly so wearying.” At the door, he stopped and faced her, taking both her hands in his. His hands were warm, not the cold unfeeling hands she had always imagined of the academician.

“Don’t worry for Javas,” he said firmly. “He is much stronger than she believes, and he has more support on his side than Rihana can ever imagine.”

“And now he has you on his side,” Adela added.

Bomeer smiled. “Yes, I suppose he does at that.” He thumbed the door open, then, “Sleep well, Doctor.”

The academician turned abruptly and disappeared down the corridor, leaving Adela alone in the quiet, empty office.

Earth

Adela sat on a limestone outcropping on the grounds of Woodsgate and watched the receding thunderheads of storm clouds as they drifted away to the southeast. It was raining heavily beneath the black sky to the southeast, and occasional lightning punctuated by softly rolling thunder several seconds later told her how far away the storm was. The clouds had threatened when they’d passed overhead an hour earlier, but no thunderstorm had come. Now, as the sky above her cleared, the sunshine beamed down once more.

She wore Earth clothing of soft denim jeans and a white linen blouse, with a leather vest and riding boots. She inhaled deeply of the clean afternoon air. The weather front associated with the passing thunderstorms had brought with it cooler, less humid air, and she reveled in what had turned out to be a perfect early summer day.

She had visited the family estate several times during the eight years following the test, and each visit here made her long to return. Adela had always realized the planet’s importance and had studied its people and geography for years, but it wasn’t until she had completed her work, until she had lived for more than a month on Earth, that she found that she had come to love it as intimately as she did her own Gris.

The eight years had been wonderful. Every moment she wasn’t involved in overseeing the project team and analyzing the test data she had spent with Javas; and with Eric upon his return. But this part of the project was over, and Javas had implemented security measures to ensure that Eric would be protected. She was further comforted by the fact that Eric had selected Billy Woorunmarra as his First Officer. Whether the choice had been Eric’s idea—the two had become fast friends shortly after Billy returned from Pallatin—or had been Javas’ doing, she had no way of knowing. But now that Eric had returned safely to his ship…

There was a scrabbling noise farther down the outcropping, the heavy sound of boots on rock, and she turned to see Javas approaching. He, too, was casually attired in Earth garb and looked more like a plantation owner than the most powerful man in the Empire. Adela smiled as he walked the length of the outcropping. He was older, but he was so vibrant and alive that their age difference