reflection. âThe coalition pushing for these talks is led by a group being advised by Ulanova. They may know how to run businesses, but they donât know how to run governments. Theyâd need her help, and sheâd give them justenough to keep their heads above water until they needed her again. Thatâs not true independence.â
âMaybe itâs enough to get them started.â
âYou donât know Anais, Jan. Once sheâd sunk her claws into that power base, sheâd never let go. She wouldnât rest until she was PM of her own little Commonwealth.â
âFunny she doesnât believe she can get what she wants with an Earthbound government,â Jani said. âBut then, youâre fairly isolated with respect to GateWays. Youâve turned into a planet-sized office building over the yearsâyouâve got no substantial manufacturing or shipping anymore. The colonies are where the money is. By comparison, youâre stagnant.â
Evan scowled. âI wish youâd stop saying âyou.ââ He sagged against the cushions and clasped his hands behind his head. âAre you angry with me? For holding out on you?â
Jani twitched a shoulder. It twitched back. âA little.â
âIâll be waiting for you in Chicago. You will show up, wonât you?â
âYes.â
He looked up at the ceiling and exhaled slowly. âThank you. Iâll sleep more easily tonight.â He stifled a yawn. âIt wonât be horrible.â
âIt could be.â
âIâll be there. Iâll help you.â He fell silent for a time. Then his eyes came to life again, and he laughed. âBefore you arrived, Durian was filling my ear about Tsecha. Your old teacherâs causing quite a stir, apparently. He took one of the embassy triple-lengths out for a spin a few weeks ago. Problem was, nobody knew he could drive. He got as far as Minneapolis before a Service-idomeni pursuit team caught up to him and herded him back to Chicago. They had a hell of a time hushing it up. Thatâs all the anti-idomeni faction needs to hear is that the ambassador flits unguarded through the provinces.â
Jani chuckled as well. âYouâre in for it now! Sounds like he hasnât changed. He used to like making himself up as a human in Rauta Shèrà a. He even pulled down a job as a Consulate tour guide for a few days. Nobody could tellâhis customers kept asking him what colony he was from.â
âOh shit, Iâd forgotten about that. One more thing to worry aboutâwhat joy.â Evanâs expression grew wistful. âSeems odd, calling him Tsecha . We knew him as Nema . I still think of him by that name.â He looked at Jani, his eyes narrowing. âHe liked you.â
âYep.â
âHe thought you were special.â
âUh-huh.â
âHe had plans for you.â
âEvan, if you have a point to make, please do so.â
âNo. No. Just rambling. Exhausted.â
âToo much to drink.â
âHmm.â Worry clouded his features for a moment. âHow do you feel?â
âFine.â
âAre you sure? You look ill.â
âThanks.â Jani rubbed her stomach. It had started to ache. âI just ate too much.â
âWeâve had a few nasty new bugs crop up in the Outer Circle over the past few years. Maybe you should see a doctor.â
â No .â
Evan held up his hands in surrender. âOk, ok. Sorry I mentioned it.â He struggled to his feet, then helped her gather her bag and case. âCabinâs to your liking, I hope? Your clothes?â
âNothing fits, Evan.â
âReally?â He circled her, studying her in a way not entirely objective. âI did my best. Took your measurements from your old ID and turned it over to my tailor. She seldom errs.â
âShe made up for lost time.â
âI disagree.
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