Read Online Dusk (Dusk 1) by J.S. Wayne - Free Book Online
Authors: J.S. Wayne
Tags: BIN 06860-02209
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guided along on antigrav carts by liveried servicepeople: with alcohol for those who fancied a nip, sparkling water or fruit juice for those who did not. Olivia noted without a shred of surprise that the whiskey, vodka, and wine went far faster than the non-alcoholic beverages. She picked up a pair of glasses containing fruit juice and passed one to Merrick.
Dr. Granger spoke from behind her. “May I have a word, Olivia?”
She turned to see Granger looking as solemn and severe as his friendly face could manage. “Of course.” She glanced at Merrick.
Before she could say anything, Granger pressed on. “You don’t need to leave, Merrick. What I have to say concerns both of you.”
Merrick’s eyebrows jumped a little, but otherwise he gave no indication of surprise.
“Some of the other members and I have been talking, Olivia. We know that you and Merrick are virtually the only ones in the Corps who could not have had anything to do with Ambassador Trelawney’s death. I know myself to be innocent, but proving such a thing will take precious time the Corps can ill afford right now.”
Olivia frowned, wondering what Granger could possibly be driving at. She raised her glass and sipped at the light pink liquid within to conceal her confusion.
He caught the look and hurried on. “I, and many of the others, wish to nominate you as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Dusk to the Interstellar Confederacy.”
This bombshell caught her in mid-swallow, and she inhaled the sweet, acidic juice. Immediately she began to cough and sputter uncontrollably. Merrick pounded her back gently, trying to help her evacuate the juice from her lungs. Granger knelt in front of her, taking her hands and holding them tightly so she would not try to straighten prematurely.
After what felt like half of eternity but was really probably less than a minute, she finally took a clear breath and pulled her hands away. Standing erect, she took another, more judicious swallow of the contents of her glass.
Merrick glared at Granger. “So was your plan to nominate and assassinate her all in one move?”
Granger gazed back, completely unruffled. “Hardly. A dead ambassador is of no use to us. However, we need someone who is willing to take the lead in the negotiations with Terra concerning the magickstone. We believe that you are the most qualified person to do so.”
She raised an eyebrow. “But I’ve never even been to Terra. I would have said you or Ingrid would be a better candidate.”
“You are not under any obligation to accept the nomination, Olivia. You need only consider it. We believe you have the energy and idealism of youth, which in this case would be assets we can hardly afford to do without. Ingrid and I both know how we would respond to the Terrans. Both of us would tell them, in no uncertain terms, to piss off. You, on the other hand, have a cooler and more strategically-oriented head. We trust you to make the best possible decision.”
She made a noncommittal gesture with her head. “And what part does Merrick have to play in this?”
Granger met her eyes, as if willing her to see the sincerity and truth of what he was telling her.
“We believe Merrick could best serve as your personal security. After all, he has every reason not to want your lovely body damaged --”
“Careful,” Merrick growled.
“-- and is the person most ideally placed to help keep you alive,” Granger plodded on as if Merrick hadn’t spoken. “It is hardly the perfect solution, but perfection does not exist. We must deal only with what is. In this event, I think you and Merrick together make a very dangerous combination, fully capable of fighting off an attacker while still possessing enough sense to make the right decisions for all parties concerned.”
Olivia nodded slowly. “I don’t entirely know that I like it, but put that way, it seems I have no choice. But who will vote for me?”
Granger stepped back three
Dr. Granger spoke from behind her. “May I have a word, Olivia?”
She turned to see Granger looking as solemn and severe as his friendly face could manage. “Of course.” She glanced at Merrick.
Before she could say anything, Granger pressed on. “You don’t need to leave, Merrick. What I have to say concerns both of you.”
Merrick’s eyebrows jumped a little, but otherwise he gave no indication of surprise.
“Some of the other members and I have been talking, Olivia. We know that you and Merrick are virtually the only ones in the Corps who could not have had anything to do with Ambassador Trelawney’s death. I know myself to be innocent, but proving such a thing will take precious time the Corps can ill afford right now.”
Olivia frowned, wondering what Granger could possibly be driving at. She raised her glass and sipped at the light pink liquid within to conceal her confusion.
He caught the look and hurried on. “I, and many of the others, wish to nominate you as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Dusk to the Interstellar Confederacy.”
This bombshell caught her in mid-swallow, and she inhaled the sweet, acidic juice. Immediately she began to cough and sputter uncontrollably. Merrick pounded her back gently, trying to help her evacuate the juice from her lungs. Granger knelt in front of her, taking her hands and holding them tightly so she would not try to straighten prematurely.
After what felt like half of eternity but was really probably less than a minute, she finally took a clear breath and pulled her hands away. Standing erect, she took another, more judicious swallow of the contents of her glass.
Merrick glared at Granger. “So was your plan to nominate and assassinate her all in one move?”
Granger gazed back, completely unruffled. “Hardly. A dead ambassador is of no use to us. However, we need someone who is willing to take the lead in the negotiations with Terra concerning the magickstone. We believe that you are the most qualified person to do so.”
She raised an eyebrow. “But I’ve never even been to Terra. I would have said you or Ingrid would be a better candidate.”
“You are not under any obligation to accept the nomination, Olivia. You need only consider it. We believe you have the energy and idealism of youth, which in this case would be assets we can hardly afford to do without. Ingrid and I both know how we would respond to the Terrans. Both of us would tell them, in no uncertain terms, to piss off. You, on the other hand, have a cooler and more strategically-oriented head. We trust you to make the best possible decision.”
She made a noncommittal gesture with her head. “And what part does Merrick have to play in this?”
Granger met her eyes, as if willing her to see the sincerity and truth of what he was telling her.
“We believe Merrick could best serve as your personal security. After all, he has every reason not to want your lovely body damaged --”
“Careful,” Merrick growled.
“-- and is the person most ideally placed to help keep you alive,” Granger plodded on as if Merrick hadn’t spoken. “It is hardly the perfect solution, but perfection does not exist. We must deal only with what is. In this event, I think you and Merrick together make a very dangerous combination, fully capable of fighting off an attacker while still possessing enough sense to make the right decisions for all parties concerned.”
Olivia nodded slowly. “I don’t entirely know that I like it, but put that way, it seems I have no choice. But who will vote for me?”
Granger stepped back three
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