Read Online Eros Ascending: Book 1 of Tales of the Velvet Comet by Mike Resnick - Free Book Online Page B

mementoes of the many worlds she had visited prior to coming to work aboard the Velvet Comet. Part of one wall was covered by a meticulously woven tapestry from Alioth XIV, a plastic case housed an incomprehensible Domarian artifact that bore a tenuous resemblance to a large ashtray, and a wall shelf just to the left of the door held a trio of Denebian stone carvings. The room itself didn't begin to approach the luxury of her office in the Resort, but it had a desk and swivel chair, a pair of tufted sofas, and a small kitchenette.
    Suddenly the largest of the three holographic screens flickered to life, and Redwine leaned forward in his chair. A moment later the image of Victor Bonhomme, tall, well-groomed, and conservatively dressed, stared out at him.
    “Harry, you know better than to contact me here,” he said by way of greeting.
    “This room is secure,” Redwine assured him. “I've changed the code on the door lock, and the skeleton card will keep anyone from monitoring our conversation.”
    “All right,” said Bonhomme. “Give me just a minute to make sure I'm okay at this end.” He leaned over his computer console and began checking his security devices, and Redwine got a glimpse of the tall steel-and-glass towers of Deluros VIII through a window behind his head. Finally he straightened up, obscuring Redwine's view of the planet. “Everything checks out,” he announced. “What's up, Harry?”
    “I think we've got a problem,” answered Redwine.
    “Can't the skeleton card access the books?”
    “I haven't tried it yet.”
    “Then what kind of problem are you talking about?”
    “I want you to think very hard before you answer this,” said Redwine. “Does anyone else know why I'm here?”
    “Just one person.”
    “Who?”
    Bonhomme looked annoyed. “You know I can't tell you that, Harry.”
    “Could this person have told anyone else?”
    “Out of the question. Why?”
    “Because the Chief of Security knows your name. He knows there's a connection between us.”
    “Not to worry. He probably got it from your personnel file.”
    Redwine shook his head. “I got into the main memory bank and changed the file last night.”
    “Last night?” repeated Bonhomme, looking mildly disturbed. “He's a damned good man if he's already found what you changed.”
    Redwine shook his head impatiently. “You weren't mentioned in the original file.”
    “Well, that's a relief.”
    “Don't you understand what I'm telling you?” demanded Redwine. “Somebody's put a plant on board.”
    “One of the whores?” asked Bonhomme.
    “It could be anyone: a prostitute, a technician, even a customer.”
    Bonhomme lowered his head in thought for a moment, then looked up and smiled. “It doesn't make any difference,” he said at last. “Whoever it is can't do a damned thing to stop you as long as you've got that card.”
    “I don't like it,” said Redwine.
    “I don't blame you,” chuckled Bonhomme. “Still, what harm can it do?”
    “I don't know, but I thought we'd better talk it over before the Security chief figures out how to listen in on us.” He paused. “I think we should postpone the operation for the time being.”
    “No way, Harry,” said Bonhomme. “You were sent there to cook the Comet's books. You'd better start putting them in the oven today.”
    “What if I refuse?”
    “You won't,” answered Bonhomme, amused. “Oh, you'll threaten to quit, just like you've threatened to quit four or five other times. But we both know you won't, so why don't you save both of us a lot of aggravation and just go to work?”
    “Damn it!” snapped Redwine. “I swear to you, Victor, this is the last time!”
    “Until the next time.” Bonhomme smiled at him. “Face it, Harry, this is what you're good at. You'd go crazy sitting around in an office just auditing records and finding still more tax breaks for the Syndicate. You may bitch like hell, but you like getting out in the field.”
    “Industrial