Read Online DS02 Night of the Dragonstar by Thomas F. Monteleone, David Bischoff - Free Book Online
Authors: Thomas F. Monteleone, David Bischoff
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Being involved in that violent incident.”
“You eavesdrop well.”
“You were loud enough for the children to eavesdrop. Besides, that’s not the point. I suppose, Ian, I’m still wondering if you really are through with the Dragonstar.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ian asked, crinkling the cellophane up and tossing it in the garbage bin.
“It’s all very well to say that you’re trying to get away from it, Ian, redeem your life at home — but perhaps what Colonel Kemp says is right. It’s not over, and by trying to hide from your duty, and your feelings toward those you worked with, you are ultimately tearing up the good person you are inside.”
“But, Letty, you know what happened on that alien ship. I ... I ...”
“You fell into another woman’s arms. I know, and don’t think it doesn’t hurt. But I really didn’t care who you’d slept with when you got back — just as long as you were back. If it will help any, I should tell you that I allowed myself to be comforted once or twice while you were away.”
Ian had been eating one of the biscuits, and he found himself suddenly bereft of appetite in mid-bite. “Oh. Who ...” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Letty smiled at him. “No, maybe not. And not sexually at any rate. Though I know that’s always possible. No, Ian, I’ve thought about this, and even though I would like you to stay far away from that Thalberg woman, and though I’d like to scratch her eyes out, reserve be damned, I know that until you are complete about all of this you’ll just never be all here.”
Ian thought for a moment. “You want me to stay with the IASA?”
“If that’s what you want. But don’t you think that a better idea would be to speak with Colonel Kemp, see what he wants? A brief return to the Dragonstar ... a few lines spoken ... just finish things up ... and then you can really, I think, make up your mind as to where you really stand on your efforts to get things right at home. This will probably be your only chance, Ian, and God knows it’s part selfishness that has me saying these things, because if you’re here, l’d like all of you here.”
“If that’s the way you feel, Letty,” Ian said, nonplussed.
“Ninny, it’s not the way I feel that counts right now — it’s the way you feel.” She shook her head and began pouring the tea.
He thought for a moment, and then he said, “I guess you’re right.”
COLONEL PHINEAS Kemp drove through the open countryside of Northern California. He had keyed in the coordinates for the home of John T. Neville, and the on-board CPU was controlling his automobile as it negotiated the electronic highways north of San Francisco. He was currently passing through the legislated Agricultural Preserves of Mendocino County, and he enjoyed watching the endless sky above him and the gently rolling hills of lettuce and corn and other vegetables. Sometimes he enjoyed doing the driving himself, if the road represented any kind of a challenge, but on a straight-line highway like El-State 101, driving was just plain boring.
His thoughts drifted back to the Dragonstar and the international affair that had sprung up around the great ship. Sometimes Phineas felt that the whole affair had become a genuine, royal pain — exciting, challenging, but a disruption in his life nonetheless. The Dragonstar was an intruder, and it had threatened to disrupt his grand design for success and fame. Thankfully, Phineas had played a great part in working things out, wresting what could have been a career-ruining fiasco from the clich é d jaws of defeat.
Now, he thought smugly, this documentary project would put him back on the world’s center stage. He had total and absolute control over the project, and he was feeling very good.
Yes, he thought with a smile, history cannot forget me now.
He had first realized that three days ago, sitting at dinner with Kate Ennis. They had been dining at a posh restaurant in
“You eavesdrop well.”
“You were loud enough for the children to eavesdrop. Besides, that’s not the point. I suppose, Ian, I’m still wondering if you really are through with the Dragonstar.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ian asked, crinkling the cellophane up and tossing it in the garbage bin.
“It’s all very well to say that you’re trying to get away from it, Ian, redeem your life at home — but perhaps what Colonel Kemp says is right. It’s not over, and by trying to hide from your duty, and your feelings toward those you worked with, you are ultimately tearing up the good person you are inside.”
“But, Letty, you know what happened on that alien ship. I ... I ...”
“You fell into another woman’s arms. I know, and don’t think it doesn’t hurt. But I really didn’t care who you’d slept with when you got back — just as long as you were back. If it will help any, I should tell you that I allowed myself to be comforted once or twice while you were away.”
Ian had been eating one of the biscuits, and he found himself suddenly bereft of appetite in mid-bite. “Oh. Who ...” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Letty smiled at him. “No, maybe not. And not sexually at any rate. Though I know that’s always possible. No, Ian, I’ve thought about this, and even though I would like you to stay far away from that Thalberg woman, and though I’d like to scratch her eyes out, reserve be damned, I know that until you are complete about all of this you’ll just never be all here.”
Ian thought for a moment. “You want me to stay with the IASA?”
“If that’s what you want. But don’t you think that a better idea would be to speak with Colonel Kemp, see what he wants? A brief return to the Dragonstar ... a few lines spoken ... just finish things up ... and then you can really, I think, make up your mind as to where you really stand on your efforts to get things right at home. This will probably be your only chance, Ian, and God knows it’s part selfishness that has me saying these things, because if you’re here, l’d like all of you here.”
“If that’s the way you feel, Letty,” Ian said, nonplussed.
“Ninny, it’s not the way I feel that counts right now — it’s the way you feel.” She shook her head and began pouring the tea.
He thought for a moment, and then he said, “I guess you’re right.”
COLONEL PHINEAS Kemp drove through the open countryside of Northern California. He had keyed in the coordinates for the home of John T. Neville, and the on-board CPU was controlling his automobile as it negotiated the electronic highways north of San Francisco. He was currently passing through the legislated Agricultural Preserves of Mendocino County, and he enjoyed watching the endless sky above him and the gently rolling hills of lettuce and corn and other vegetables. Sometimes he enjoyed doing the driving himself, if the road represented any kind of a challenge, but on a straight-line highway like El-State 101, driving was just plain boring.
His thoughts drifted back to the Dragonstar and the international affair that had sprung up around the great ship. Sometimes Phineas felt that the whole affair had become a genuine, royal pain — exciting, challenging, but a disruption in his life nonetheless. The Dragonstar was an intruder, and it had threatened to disrupt his grand design for success and fame. Thankfully, Phineas had played a great part in working things out, wresting what could have been a career-ruining fiasco from the clich é d jaws of defeat.
Now, he thought smugly, this documentary project would put him back on the world’s center stage. He had total and absolute control over the project, and he was feeling very good.
Yes, he thought with a smile, history cannot forget me now.
He had first realized that three days ago, sitting at dinner with Kate Ennis. They had been dining at a posh restaurant in
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