Read Online Children of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sara Creasy
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Stepping into Natesa’s office, Edie saw that no expense had been spared here, either. The curved rear wall of the room was a transparent window that overlooked a vast chamber. The chamber housed a lush indoor garden bursting with exotic greenery. Stylish woven rugs covered the deck.
The woman herself stood behind a large polished desk that was positioned exactly in the center of the room to give the appearance that it was partially surrounded by the garden. She was a good deal more composed than before, now wearing a fitted gray suit with her hair twisted into a tight bun, and her lips a dark streak across a pale face. Her staid appearance was in stark contrast with the overly appointed office.
“A few examples of Prisca’s native flora,” she said, noticing that Edie’s attention was drawn to the garden. “Prisca is the planet we’re orbiting—the first candidate world for our project.”
“In other words, these are examples of the native flora you’re in the process of destroying.”
Natesa’s thin mouth formed a half-smile. “Not destroying, Edie. Changing, recreating, molding into something more useful. And after I prove the validity of the project here, we’ll move on to other worlds.” She moved around to the front of the desk and sat in one of two high-backed armchairs angled in front of the desk. “Sit. We have a lot to discuss.”
“No one will tell me anything about Finn.”
“He’ll be released soon from the infirmary. In return for his safety, you promised me your cooperation. So let’s talk about—”
“After what just happened to him, don’t expect me to cooperate with you.”
“As I told you before, I am not responsible for Colonel Theron’s actions. I’m as horrified as you by what he did, not only because of the deal we made but because of the consequences of his little interrogation.” She paused, as if distracted. Presumably she was referring to the cypherteck Edie had injured.
“So will Theron have to answer for it? I mean, are there any consequences at all for torturing an innocent man? Or does he get away with it because he’s a high-ranked officer of the Crib?”
Natesa gave a helpless shrug. “This is all out of my hands, I’m afraid. I’m not the military.”
“I hope you don’t expect me to write him a report about Scarabaeus.”
“Is that what he told you to do? You don’t have time for that. You work for me.”
“He said I was under arrest.”
“He exaggerated. No formal charges have been laid against either you or Finn. Not yet.” The way Natesa leaned very slightly on the last word only magnified the threat. “However, your behavior when we caught up with you a year ago, when you refused to return with me, not to mention the curious events surrounding your so-called kidnapping—all this has put you in a precarious position. Here’s the problem—I have no idea how far I can trust you. But I do value your expertise. Project Ardra needs you. We need to come to some arrangement.”
Edie could see where this was going. “So, I behave myself and you lay off the criminal charges?”
Natesa bobbed her head in acknowledgment. “That goes for Finn, too.”
“Finn should never have been incarcerated in the first place. When he was arrested five years ago, the treaties were already signed.”
“That’s hardly my concern.”
“Well, it is my concern. I want you to put things right. GetAchaiah to cut the leash.” Achaiah was the infojack who created the leash in the first place. Natesa’s people had picked him up near Scarabaeus a year ago. “Where is he, anyway?”
“To my knowledge, he’s in a prison camp somewhere in the Rutger System. Not far from here, actually. But I thought he said he couldn’t cut it.”
“It’s a place to start. Even if he can’t, he might know someone who can.” Infojacks maintained wide-reaching networks. “And I want freedom papers for Finn. I don’t want you throwing him back on that labor gang
Stepping into Natesa’s office, Edie saw that no expense had been spared here, either. The curved rear wall of the room was a transparent window that overlooked a vast chamber. The chamber housed a lush indoor garden bursting with exotic greenery. Stylish woven rugs covered the deck.
The woman herself stood behind a large polished desk that was positioned exactly in the center of the room to give the appearance that it was partially surrounded by the garden. She was a good deal more composed than before, now wearing a fitted gray suit with her hair twisted into a tight bun, and her lips a dark streak across a pale face. Her staid appearance was in stark contrast with the overly appointed office.
“A few examples of Prisca’s native flora,” she said, noticing that Edie’s attention was drawn to the garden. “Prisca is the planet we’re orbiting—the first candidate world for our project.”
“In other words, these are examples of the native flora you’re in the process of destroying.”
Natesa’s thin mouth formed a half-smile. “Not destroying, Edie. Changing, recreating, molding into something more useful. And after I prove the validity of the project here, we’ll move on to other worlds.” She moved around to the front of the desk and sat in one of two high-backed armchairs angled in front of the desk. “Sit. We have a lot to discuss.”
“No one will tell me anything about Finn.”
“He’ll be released soon from the infirmary. In return for his safety, you promised me your cooperation. So let’s talk about—”
“After what just happened to him, don’t expect me to cooperate with you.”
“As I told you before, I am not responsible for Colonel Theron’s actions. I’m as horrified as you by what he did, not only because of the deal we made but because of the consequences of his little interrogation.” She paused, as if distracted. Presumably she was referring to the cypherteck Edie had injured.
“So will Theron have to answer for it? I mean, are there any consequences at all for torturing an innocent man? Or does he get away with it because he’s a high-ranked officer of the Crib?”
Natesa gave a helpless shrug. “This is all out of my hands, I’m afraid. I’m not the military.”
“I hope you don’t expect me to write him a report about Scarabaeus.”
“Is that what he told you to do? You don’t have time for that. You work for me.”
“He said I was under arrest.”
“He exaggerated. No formal charges have been laid against either you or Finn. Not yet.” The way Natesa leaned very slightly on the last word only magnified the threat. “However, your behavior when we caught up with you a year ago, when you refused to return with me, not to mention the curious events surrounding your so-called kidnapping—all this has put you in a precarious position. Here’s the problem—I have no idea how far I can trust you. But I do value your expertise. Project Ardra needs you. We need to come to some arrangement.”
Edie could see where this was going. “So, I behave myself and you lay off the criminal charges?”
Natesa bobbed her head in acknowledgment. “That goes for Finn, too.”
“Finn should never have been incarcerated in the first place. When he was arrested five years ago, the treaties were already signed.”
“That’s hardly my concern.”
“Well, it is my concern. I want you to put things right. GetAchaiah to cut the leash.” Achaiah was the infojack who created the leash in the first place. Natesa’s people had picked him up near Scarabaeus a year ago. “Where is he, anyway?”
“To my knowledge, he’s in a prison camp somewhere in the Rutger System. Not far from here, actually. But I thought he said he couldn’t cut it.”
“It’s a place to start. Even if he can’t, he might know someone who can.” Infojacks maintained wide-reaching networks. “And I want freedom papers for Finn. I don’t want you throwing him back on that labor gang
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