Read Online Heaven's Fall by David S. Goyer, Michael Cassutt - Free Book Online
Authors: David S. Goyer, Michael Cassutt
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you’re right. That money went into—”
Rachel’s nod cut her off. The exchange was one she had simulated, in a way, during the long fall from Keanu. So far it reminded her of her early council meetings when she first became mayor of the HBs, where she had been granted status and some license, but only the power and authority she took. It all felt very familiar.
To Taj and Remilla, she said, “Tell the press to bring their bids when they have them as soon as they have them.
“And we’ll need someone who can serve as our agent. After we get done with media access fees, we have scientific and technical matters to discuss.” She reached for Taj’s hand while glancing at Pav, who stood there, smug, arms folded, proud.
“We would all like you to be our agent, Taj. Tea, too. You’re family. But if you’d rather not, please find someone who will.
“Now, where are we spending the night?”
The answer was, first night in the base hospital—which triggered grumbling from Xavier Toutant. “Relax,” Pav told him. “We need time to regroup, check our luggage, and get some answers.”
They had been talking in the conference room—Taj had not left it for two hours by that time. When Xavier left, Pav turned to his father. “When did you and Tea get married?”
“Fourteen years ago,” he said. “We grew close in the aftermath of the mission.” It was an inadequate way to describe years of mutual isolation and desolation, their desperate couplings and eventual realization of their mutual affection and need.
“I can imagine. Don’t worry; I have no objection. I was just . . . surprised.”
Pav walked to the window, which showed only a portion of the base under a hot Bangalore afternoon. “We don’t know anything, really, about what’s going on here.” He looked back. “That’s what we came to find out. Is Earth still Earth?”
“Some of it,” Taj said. To Rachel, it sounded like an honest answer—if not overly helpful.
“That’s what we need to know, as soon as possible. And who better to brief us than my own father?”
QUESTION: Girls your age are often obsessed with music and fashion. Do you miss those things?
YAHVI: How would I know?
QUESTION: Didn’t your mother tell you about them? Or other women on Keanu?
YAHVI: Apparently not.
QUESTION: Well, do you have any curiosity about—boys?
YAHVI: I’m sexually active, if that’s what you’re asking.
QUESTION: Well, no . . .
ADVENTURE CREW PRESS CONFERENCE,
APRIL 14, 2040
YAHVI
Before the briefing, there was lunch, served in the same conference room. “Does anybody want to lie down or rest?” Rachel said. No one wanted to, though Yahvi would have enjoyed getting out of this building altogether and seeing some of India and Earth.
Even if it meant she had to deal with lots of other human beings. But her parents had warned her, the first day was going to be boring meetings and lots of logistical crap. So far they’d been right.
One of the few times.
Xavier asked, “Where are we staying tonight?”
“Right here,” Taj said. “They had a few unoccupied rooms, so they converted them.”
“Which means they took out the IV units and added an extra lamp,” Tea said. Pav laughed.
A couple of Indian Air Force enlisted men brought in trays of covered dishes as well as cartons. “We didn’t know what you’d be hungry for,” Wing Commander Kaushal said, “so we brought a variety of lunch fixings.”
Which turned out to be sandwiches—something Yahvi had seen exactly once in her life—as well as bowls of various vegetables and fruits, along with more exotic items she could not place. And some very strange breaded objects inside the cartons.
Xavier went after the material in the cartons as if it would make him immortal. Taj and Tea as well. Even her parents were digging into the other food.
Yahvi hesitated. None of it looked appealing. And she still wasn’t feeling hungry. “Is Zeds getting food?”
“Our specialists are with
Rachel’s nod cut her off. The exchange was one she had simulated, in a way, during the long fall from Keanu. So far it reminded her of her early council meetings when she first became mayor of the HBs, where she had been granted status and some license, but only the power and authority she took. It all felt very familiar.
To Taj and Remilla, she said, “Tell the press to bring their bids when they have them as soon as they have them.
“And we’ll need someone who can serve as our agent. After we get done with media access fees, we have scientific and technical matters to discuss.” She reached for Taj’s hand while glancing at Pav, who stood there, smug, arms folded, proud.
“We would all like you to be our agent, Taj. Tea, too. You’re family. But if you’d rather not, please find someone who will.
“Now, where are we spending the night?”
The answer was, first night in the base hospital—which triggered grumbling from Xavier Toutant. “Relax,” Pav told him. “We need time to regroup, check our luggage, and get some answers.”
They had been talking in the conference room—Taj had not left it for two hours by that time. When Xavier left, Pav turned to his father. “When did you and Tea get married?”
“Fourteen years ago,” he said. “We grew close in the aftermath of the mission.” It was an inadequate way to describe years of mutual isolation and desolation, their desperate couplings and eventual realization of their mutual affection and need.
“I can imagine. Don’t worry; I have no objection. I was just . . . surprised.”
Pav walked to the window, which showed only a portion of the base under a hot Bangalore afternoon. “We don’t know anything, really, about what’s going on here.” He looked back. “That’s what we came to find out. Is Earth still Earth?”
“Some of it,” Taj said. To Rachel, it sounded like an honest answer—if not overly helpful.
“That’s what we need to know, as soon as possible. And who better to brief us than my own father?”
QUESTION: Girls your age are often obsessed with music and fashion. Do you miss those things?
YAHVI: How would I know?
QUESTION: Didn’t your mother tell you about them? Or other women on Keanu?
YAHVI: Apparently not.
QUESTION: Well, do you have any curiosity about—boys?
YAHVI: I’m sexually active, if that’s what you’re asking.
QUESTION: Well, no . . .
ADVENTURE CREW PRESS CONFERENCE,
APRIL 14, 2040
YAHVI
Before the briefing, there was lunch, served in the same conference room. “Does anybody want to lie down or rest?” Rachel said. No one wanted to, though Yahvi would have enjoyed getting out of this building altogether and seeing some of India and Earth.
Even if it meant she had to deal with lots of other human beings. But her parents had warned her, the first day was going to be boring meetings and lots of logistical crap. So far they’d been right.
One of the few times.
Xavier asked, “Where are we staying tonight?”
“Right here,” Taj said. “They had a few unoccupied rooms, so they converted them.”
“Which means they took out the IV units and added an extra lamp,” Tea said. Pav laughed.
A couple of Indian Air Force enlisted men brought in trays of covered dishes as well as cartons. “We didn’t know what you’d be hungry for,” Wing Commander Kaushal said, “so we brought a variety of lunch fixings.”
Which turned out to be sandwiches—something Yahvi had seen exactly once in her life—as well as bowls of various vegetables and fruits, along with more exotic items she could not place. And some very strange breaded objects inside the cartons.
Xavier went after the material in the cartons as if it would make him immortal. Taj and Tea as well. Even her parents were digging into the other food.
Yahvi hesitated. None of it looked appealing. And she still wasn’t feeling hungry. “Is Zeds getting food?”
“Our specialists are with
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