Read Online Empire Builders by Ben Bova - Free Book Online

felt-tipped pen both in Roman script and Japanese hiragana characters.
    “Good,” said Saito, when they finished. He glanced out the window at the miniature garden and the reddening sky beyond.
    “Now we can have dinner and then . . .”
    “What am I supposed to do?” Dan asked. “How are you going to do it?”
    Saito smiled at him. “There is nothing for you to do except to wish me a pleasant journey. The doctors will take care of every thing. All is prepared and ready.”
    Feeling somewhat relieved, Dan asked, “You’re not going to slice your belly open?”
    For the first time in all the years that Dan had known Saito Yamagata, the man looked surprise. Stunned with Nobuhiko said, “What do you think my father is going to do?” “End it,” Dan replied. “That’s what you told me. Harakiri.” Saito burst into uproarious laughter. Even Nobo laughed until tears streamed down his cheeks. Dan felt like a dolt, staring at them. “You mean you’re not...?”
    Shaking his head, barely able to control his voice, Saito said, “Dan, my old and dear friend, you’ve always had a flair for the dramatic. I am honored that you were willing to help in a ceremony that is so far removed from your own culture. You are truly a brave man, Dan. And an honored friend.”
    “Well, what in hell’s going to happen?” “Cryonics,” said Nobuhiko.
    “I am going to have myself frozen,” Saito explained. “I have not worked in high-technology industries all my life without absorbing some faith in the future.”
    “Frozen.” Dan felt as numb as if he were on ice.
    “Yes! My condition is incurable today. But tomorrow, perhaps ten thousand years from tomorrow, medical science will conquer cancer. Then I can be revived and returned to health.”
    Dan sank his head in his hands. “Cripes almighty. I thought maybe you wanted me to whack your head off with one of those Samurai swords.”
    Father and son laughed. But after several moments the laughter quieted.
    “I will be leaving you,” Saito remarked. “Just as though I were going to die. I might never be revived. Or it might be so far in the future that neither of you will be alive. We are truly departing from one another, my friend.”
    Dan let a grin creep across his face. “I’ll be waiting for you, pal. If it comes to that, I’ll have myself frozen, too. We’ll see the future together, Sai.” “I would like that.”
    “Damned right!”
    Dinner was long and filled with laughter and reminiscences. Saito regaled his son with tales of Dan’s first days on the Moon, his battles with his fellow workers, his pursuit of the few women living on that rugged frontier.
    “Do you still chase the women?” Saito asked.
    Dan shrugged. They were sitting at a Western-style table on elegant chairs of Philippine mahogany:Yamagata ’s concession to the comfort of his friend.
    “From what I hear,” Nobuhiko joined in, “the women now pursue you.” Grinning, Dan replied, “They love me for my money.”
    “You must send a few of them my son’s way,” Saito said, his lips smiling but his eyes more serious. “I despair of the boy ever marrying.” “Wouldn’t you want him to marry a good Japanese woman?” Dan asked. “I want a grandson! I don’t care who the mother is, as long as the child is legitimate.”
    Nobo said to Dan, “My father doesn’t realize that men of my generation tend to marry much later in life than he did. The women, too. We have plenty of time.”
    “But I don’t!”
    All the smiles around the table faded. Saito huffed unhappily. “I apologize,” he said in a low voice. “I have ruined the spirit of felicity with my selfishness.”
    “I will make you a grandson, Father,” said Nobuhiko. “You may depend on it.”
    Nodding, Saito said, “I know, my son. I was merely trying to be humorous. I was not cut out to be a comedian.”
    “As long as we’ve gotten so damned serious,” Dan said, “there’s something that you can check out for me,