Read Online Jezebel's Ladder by Scott Rhine - Free Book Online Page B

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gave when transmitting data. The reverend was either a natural teacher or he
was carrying his Golden Ticket on him.
    Jez fed him questions to keep him
talking. “So they wouldn’t have the same day and night cycle we have?”
    He shook his head. “Day is the
same, but when the giant starts to occlude the sun, we call that penumbra.
During the eclipse, that’s umbra. Even when our colony is facing away from the
sun, which is roughly half the time, reflected light from the giant will light
our skies enough to read by. This time is called reflection . If we can
control the effects of temperature swings, the algae may grow by this light as
well. When we face empty space, we call this true night.”
    He sketched diagrams of the cycles
on napkins and drew models as he spoke. Jez was captivated. After an hour of
her hanging on his every word, he made his big pitch. “I’d be willing to show
you my alien artifact if you agreed to be one of my wives.”
    Jez smiled. The bell on the café
door rang as a seething Benny Hollis stepped in. “I don’t think my husband
would like that, but he might be willing to make a sizeable donation for the
chance to study your artifact.”
    The thought tempted Turwilliger. “We’re
self-sufficient here. We don’t need many of the worldly trappings or artificial
social constructs. Perhaps your husband wouldn’t mind sharing you for a week in
exchange for…”
    Beside their table, Benny raised a
finger. “I have no idea what is going on here; however, if you finish that
sentence, I will be compelled to do you physical harm. Excuse me. Jez, outside,
now.”
    She did a mock curtsy and
apologized to the reverend, “He gets so caveman when he sees me with another
alpha male.”
    Outside the shop, men in black
blocked both directions on the sidewalk. Benny was conflicted. “Fortune has
ordered me to bring you in from the field.”
    Jez snorted. “That’s nice. Be
polite to the reverend. He’s a certified pervert; however, he’s also a gifted
teacher with a Golden Ticket on him. It’s about a concept called Ideal Planets.
Don’t let any women near him; he has this weird but intense seduction ability.”
    “That’s amazing! Four days, and you
got a hit?” Benny said, impressed.
    Jez explained, “That’s what happens
when you actually plan to do something rather than let bureaucrats bully you
into incompetence. I’ve done more in two weeks than your old scheme has done in
two years.”
    “I can’t argue results, but you’ve
really kicked the hornet’s nest this time, Jez. You hung up on the head
of intelligence after refusing to do scouting for him. Baker is flying in
personally for the briefing on the new Fossil data. He’ll be there this
afternoon. Dirt Bag is sending Crusader back with our new recruits to do
training.” Benny shifted to a whisper. “If I can’t bring you to heel, he’s
going to send his head of security after you.”
    Jez was unfazed. “So you’re
picturing me in a dog collar now? Spikes or diamonds? I’m curious.”
    Her guard, Frank, was struggling to
maintain his composure. Only the potential for hostile action kept him serious.
    Benny glared at her. “I’ll
sweet-talk the walking dildo in there. You, head back on the jet and make nice
with Trench Coat. The new page will smooth things over for the boss, but you
need to mend fences. We’re all giving our lives for this project, and we need
each other to survive.”
    Jez blew out the angry breath she
had been holding in. “Damn it. I’m only doing this for you. Are you using your
tricks on me?”
    Benny shook his head. “Never on a
friend or coworker. That would be a betrayal.”
    “Good answer. I’ll get my things,”
Jez said. “What about Oobie?”
    “I’ll spend tonight and tomorrow
with him. We’ll complete the loop back to LA base for the weekend. I promised
that I’d be the lector this Sunday.” We she looked confused, he explained, “The
guy who reads passages from the Bible