Read Online Music of the Spheres by Valmore Daniels - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Valmore Daniels
Ads: Link
steel frames and scatter tools.
When he reached the end of the hall, he heard the
unmistakable voice of his former second-in-command.
“I don’t care how you do it,” Calbert Loche said as he
stared out the window, his back to the door and to Michael. “We need that
meshlink up and running by tonight.”
Calbert turned as Michael stepped inside the incomplete
office, and the clouded look on his face disappeared as he recognized his old
boss. He motioned for Michael to take a seat while he finished his
conversation.
“Yes, there’ll be people here all night. I don’t care about
overtime, just get your guys to have the link hot by morning.” He paused while
listening to the response, then nodded. “Good. That’s what I want to hear.”
Calbert gently touched the comlink sensor at his temple to
disconnect it. His smile widened as he reached across his desk to shake
Michael’s hand.
“Long time no see,” Calbert said, and pointed at Michael’s
chin. “Looks like the weeds are taking over the lawn.”
Michael chuckled, and rubbed his fingers through his graying
beard. “It’s from the stress of dealing with all my sassy employees over the
years,” he said with a grin.
Gesturing to a guest chair on the other side of his desk,
Calbert eased himself into his seat and leaned back.
He regarded Michael with a convivial smile. “How’ve you been
keeping?”
Michael nodded. “Good. Good.”
“Staying busy?”
“Doing a lot of reading.” Michael motioned his hand around
the office. “I didn’t know you guys had relocated.”
“Expanded.”
“What?”
Calbert’s eyes widened. “We’re keeping the main labs where
they are and just moving administration here.”
“Oh? Breakthrough?”
“Ha,” Calbert said. “I wish. No, without any Kinemet, we’re
just spinning our wheels. About six months ago, our grant money ran out, and we
all thought that was it. But then the Chilean Corp. found out about our experiments
with ‘steam cracking’. As it turns out, it’s totally useless for quantum
purposes, but there are other possibilities. They approached us about using the
technology to increase the efficiency of their hydrogen plants. We applied some
of our theories on their systems and nearly doubled their production with only
a marginal increase in expenditure. Since then, we’ve secured contracts with a
dozen other power plants around the world. It ain’t glorious work, but it does
pay the bills.”
“That’s fantastic,” Michael said.
“And the extra profit keeps Ottawa off our backs, and allows
us to maintain our labs on CS3, which,” he said, his voice measured and
careful, “is why you’re here. Right?”
Nodding, Michael said, “Yes. I got a strange call last night
from Alex.”
“I know. I received the report this morning.” Calbert stood
up and looked out the window. “You know my hands are tied. SMD holds our
charter and they call the shots. I’m just a pencil pusher, as far as they are
concerned. I wish I could help.”
Michael cleared his throat. “Maybe you still can.”
“How?” Calbert asked. “I know you’ve tried to go through
Alliras, but since USA, Inc. stopped funding us, SMD isn’t willing to spend
resources actively looking for more Kinemet. We don’t have any in our
possession, and if NASA has any left over, they’re not fessing up.”
“I know.”
Calbert, sounding defensive and frustrated at the same time,
said, “I’ve got some contacts on the SMD survey teams. If anyone uncovers even
a hint of Kinemet, you can be sure I’ll know about it in two shakes.”
“I know,” Michael repeated.
“I’m sure things will turn around in a few years and we can
begin mining Kinemet again.”
Michael shook his head. “Alex doesn’t have that long. But
that’s not what I want to talk to you about.”
“It isn’t?”
“Do you have a transcript of the call I received from Alex?”
Michael knew Calbert did. Alex was a very well guarded and
When he reached the end of the hall, he heard the
unmistakable voice of his former second-in-command.
“I don’t care how you do it,” Calbert Loche said as he
stared out the window, his back to the door and to Michael. “We need that
meshlink up and running by tonight.”
Calbert turned as Michael stepped inside the incomplete
office, and the clouded look on his face disappeared as he recognized his old
boss. He motioned for Michael to take a seat while he finished his
conversation.
“Yes, there’ll be people here all night. I don’t care about
overtime, just get your guys to have the link hot by morning.” He paused while
listening to the response, then nodded. “Good. That’s what I want to hear.”
Calbert gently touched the comlink sensor at his temple to
disconnect it. His smile widened as he reached across his desk to shake
Michael’s hand.
“Long time no see,” Calbert said, and pointed at Michael’s
chin. “Looks like the weeds are taking over the lawn.”
Michael chuckled, and rubbed his fingers through his graying
beard. “It’s from the stress of dealing with all my sassy employees over the
years,” he said with a grin.
Gesturing to a guest chair on the other side of his desk,
Calbert eased himself into his seat and leaned back.
He regarded Michael with a convivial smile. “How’ve you been
keeping?”
Michael nodded. “Good. Good.”
“Staying busy?”
“Doing a lot of reading.” Michael motioned his hand around
the office. “I didn’t know you guys had relocated.”
“Expanded.”
“What?”
Calbert’s eyes widened. “We’re keeping the main labs where
they are and just moving administration here.”
“Oh? Breakthrough?”
“Ha,” Calbert said. “I wish. No, without any Kinemet, we’re
just spinning our wheels. About six months ago, our grant money ran out, and we
all thought that was it. But then the Chilean Corp. found out about our experiments
with ‘steam cracking’. As it turns out, it’s totally useless for quantum
purposes, but there are other possibilities. They approached us about using the
technology to increase the efficiency of their hydrogen plants. We applied some
of our theories on their systems and nearly doubled their production with only
a marginal increase in expenditure. Since then, we’ve secured contracts with a
dozen other power plants around the world. It ain’t glorious work, but it does
pay the bills.”
“That’s fantastic,” Michael said.
“And the extra profit keeps Ottawa off our backs, and allows
us to maintain our labs on CS3, which,” he said, his voice measured and
careful, “is why you’re here. Right?”
Nodding, Michael said, “Yes. I got a strange call last night
from Alex.”
“I know. I received the report this morning.” Calbert stood
up and looked out the window. “You know my hands are tied. SMD holds our
charter and they call the shots. I’m just a pencil pusher, as far as they are
concerned. I wish I could help.”
Michael cleared his throat. “Maybe you still can.”
“How?” Calbert asked. “I know you’ve tried to go through
Alliras, but since USA, Inc. stopped funding us, SMD isn’t willing to spend
resources actively looking for more Kinemet. We don’t have any in our
possession, and if NASA has any left over, they’re not fessing up.”
“I know.”
Calbert, sounding defensive and frustrated at the same time,
said, “I’ve got some contacts on the SMD survey teams. If anyone uncovers even
a hint of Kinemet, you can be sure I’ll know about it in two shakes.”
“I know,” Michael repeated.
“I’m sure things will turn around in a few years and we can
begin mining Kinemet again.”
Michael shook his head. “Alex doesn’t have that long. But
that’s not what I want to talk to you about.”
“It isn’t?”
“Do you have a transcript of the call I received from Alex?”
Michael knew Calbert did. Alex was a very well guarded and
Similar Books
