Read Online GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) by Marilyn Campbell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marilyn Campbell
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first time. "Good deduction. You have the makings of a tracker, Cherry."
She laughed. "I've been told something like that before. The fact is, I just like figuring out puzzles. So what do you think?"
"The problem with that reasoning is that all we have to go on is what was recorded four hundred years ago. At that time, it was understood that the Illusians' ability involved tricking another being's mind. The monitoring system involves machines."
"Hmmm. What if, instead of a hallucination that's all in the mind, the reason why their illusions seemed so real is that the image actually has, um..." She formed shapes with her hands in the air between them.
"Mass?" he filled in for her. "Or at least the perception of mass or substance. That could explain it, even if no one comprehends how it could be done. If you accept that possibility though then one major problem is still left. If the Illusians have truly changed their ways, there's nothing to fear by raising the shields and aiding them would be the proper, humane thing to do.
"But what if they haven't changed and it's all an illusion? How much stronger are they today than they were four hundred years ago? Could we stop them once the shield was removed or would they have figured out where they went wrong the last time and have corrected the weakness?"
"I get the picture," Cherry said, even though her mind was still trying to locate missing pieces.
"I'm glad to hear that, because I need your help."
"My help? You already know everything I know about this business."
He shook his head. "I don't need help with what you know, but what you do. I need you to do a little acting."
Cherry laughed. "Now that's an interesting twist. Don't tell me. You kidnapped me to save you and Mar-Dot from terminal space boredom. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have an important appointment coming up back in Innerworld and, as long as the Illusians haven't taken it over yet, I intend to be there, not here, entertaining you while you chase bad guys."
"You're not taking this very seriously, Cherry. Don't you believe anything I've told you?"
She shrugged her shoulders and rearranged her legs. "I suppose I believe you, but it's so... I don't know, beyond my experience maybe. Remember, I'm only a lowly Terran, and where I come from, the kind of story you just told only happens in the movies. Please try to understand my side of this. I'd help if I could, but since I don't see how, I just want to go home.
"Aster's in the last month of her first pregnancy. I should be there with her right now. And the appointment I mentioned is a once in a lifetime opportunity for an actress. Theodophilus himself will be conducting auditions in Innerworld for the Noronian Performing Company. I have to be back in time for that."
"You have an incredibly selfish attitude," Gallant said in a nasty tone.
She looked surprised at the intended insult then admitted, "Sometimes I am incredibly selfish but at the moment I'm simply being logical. If the Consociation hired you to straighten this mess out, they must have faith in you. Therefore, I do too. I see no reason why my life should be turned upside down in the meantime."
"I suppose I should thank you for that vote of confidence but the fact remains that I do need your help with something. When is this important appointment of yours?"
She quickly figured how much time had passed. "Twelve days."
"Then there's no problem. I'll have you back in plenty of time for that. I'm sorry you'll miss some of Aster's pregnancy, but I'm sure Rom is taking good care of her. And you'll be back long before the birth."
Cherry still had a few remnants of anger simmering inside that had to be let out. "First you physically abused me and kidnapped me. Then you lied about taking me home right after I allowed Mar-Dot to touch my mind. Why should I believe you now?"
Gallant had to do a little more chin rubbing before he could come up with an answer for her. "You have a valid point. But
She laughed. "I've been told something like that before. The fact is, I just like figuring out puzzles. So what do you think?"
"The problem with that reasoning is that all we have to go on is what was recorded four hundred years ago. At that time, it was understood that the Illusians' ability involved tricking another being's mind. The monitoring system involves machines."
"Hmmm. What if, instead of a hallucination that's all in the mind, the reason why their illusions seemed so real is that the image actually has, um..." She formed shapes with her hands in the air between them.
"Mass?" he filled in for her. "Or at least the perception of mass or substance. That could explain it, even if no one comprehends how it could be done. If you accept that possibility though then one major problem is still left. If the Illusians have truly changed their ways, there's nothing to fear by raising the shields and aiding them would be the proper, humane thing to do.
"But what if they haven't changed and it's all an illusion? How much stronger are they today than they were four hundred years ago? Could we stop them once the shield was removed or would they have figured out where they went wrong the last time and have corrected the weakness?"
"I get the picture," Cherry said, even though her mind was still trying to locate missing pieces.
"I'm glad to hear that, because I need your help."
"My help? You already know everything I know about this business."
He shook his head. "I don't need help with what you know, but what you do. I need you to do a little acting."
Cherry laughed. "Now that's an interesting twist. Don't tell me. You kidnapped me to save you and Mar-Dot from terminal space boredom. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have an important appointment coming up back in Innerworld and, as long as the Illusians haven't taken it over yet, I intend to be there, not here, entertaining you while you chase bad guys."
"You're not taking this very seriously, Cherry. Don't you believe anything I've told you?"
She shrugged her shoulders and rearranged her legs. "I suppose I believe you, but it's so... I don't know, beyond my experience maybe. Remember, I'm only a lowly Terran, and where I come from, the kind of story you just told only happens in the movies. Please try to understand my side of this. I'd help if I could, but since I don't see how, I just want to go home.
"Aster's in the last month of her first pregnancy. I should be there with her right now. And the appointment I mentioned is a once in a lifetime opportunity for an actress. Theodophilus himself will be conducting auditions in Innerworld for the Noronian Performing Company. I have to be back in time for that."
"You have an incredibly selfish attitude," Gallant said in a nasty tone.
She looked surprised at the intended insult then admitted, "Sometimes I am incredibly selfish but at the moment I'm simply being logical. If the Consociation hired you to straighten this mess out, they must have faith in you. Therefore, I do too. I see no reason why my life should be turned upside down in the meantime."
"I suppose I should thank you for that vote of confidence but the fact remains that I do need your help with something. When is this important appointment of yours?"
She quickly figured how much time had passed. "Twelve days."
"Then there's no problem. I'll have you back in plenty of time for that. I'm sorry you'll miss some of Aster's pregnancy, but I'm sure Rom is taking good care of her. And you'll be back long before the birth."
Cherry still had a few remnants of anger simmering inside that had to be let out. "First you physically abused me and kidnapped me. Then you lied about taking me home right after I allowed Mar-Dot to touch my mind. Why should I believe you now?"
Gallant had to do a little more chin rubbing before he could come up with an answer for her. "You have a valid point. But
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