them as I think of them."
"You will be thoroughly scanned before boarding my ship, and any weapons you are carrying will be confiscated.” He paused. “If you reach an accommodation with the Anointed One, they will be returned to you."
"Fair enough."
"I think we understand each other,” said Korbekkian with a satisfied smile.
"No reason why we shouldn't, Mr. Korbekkian,” answered Lomax. “After all, we're going to be on the same team."
"I sincerely hope so,” said Korbekkian. “I would relish working with a man of your qualifications."
"I think I can say the same about your boss."
Korbekkian looked idly at the oncoming traffic. “What do you know about the Anointed One?” he asked at last.
"Just what I managed to read on the newstapes,” said Lomax.
"I wouldn't believe everything I read in the public press, Mr. Lomax,” said Korbekkian.
"No?"
"Definitely not."
"Does that mean he pays his taxes?” asked Lomax with a smile.
Korbekkian turned to Lomax. “One does not joke about the Anointed One, Mr. Lomax. The press doesn't begin to understand what they're dealing with."
"I got the impression that they thought he was a pretty powerful man, if not an altogether desirable or law-abiding one."
"If I told you the true extent of his political and financial power, Mr. Lomax, you would think me either a fool or a liar."
"It's possible,” agreed Lomax pleasantly.
"If you believe nothing else I tell you, believe this, Mr. Lomax,” said Korbekkian. “You would be wrong.” He paused. “Dead wrong."
[Back to Table of Contents]
7.
Lomax had been confined to his quarters aboard the ship, and hence had no idea of how many multiples of the speed of light they were traveling or how far they had gone, when the ship finally touched down.
"We have arrived, Mr. Lomax,” announced Korbekkian, unlocking his door. “Please do exactly as you are instructed once we leave the ship."
"What about my weapons?"
"They will be returned to you after your interview."
"Your boss may want to see if I know how to use them."
Korbekkian smiled. “You are the Gravedancer. That is sufficient."
Lomax shrugged and walked out of his cabin.
"What's the gravity here?"
"97.2% standard. You will require no protective outfit, no breathing apparatus, no stimulants or depressants."
"I assume that if you wanted me to know what world I was on, you'd have told me,” remarked Lomax.
"That is correct."
"Well, let's get going."
"Follow me, please."
Korbekkian led him to the hatch, and a moment later he found himself standing on a bleak, sun-baked patch of ground. There were enormous sand dunes in the distance, and the wind created reddish dust devils near the horizon. The air was hot and dry. It may or may not have been a desert world—probably there was an ocean somewhere, for the air had a fair oxygen content—but there was no question that he was in the middle of a desert, one that extended in every direction as far as the eye could see.
"You'll adjust to the heat,” said Korbekkian. “If you should begin feeling lightheaded, let me know."
"Where are we going?” asked Lomax. “It looks awfully empty."
"We're going to meet the Anointed One,” answered Korbekkian. “Please bear with me, Mr. Lomax. Our transportation will arrive shortly."
Lomax moved out of the direct sunlight into the shadow of the ship and lit a small cigar. When it was half-done, a sleek armored vehicle approached them, coming to a stop about ten yards away.
Korbekkian gestured Lomax to enter the vehicle, then joined him. It immediately took off at high speed, and Lomax settled back and relaxed, watching the seemingly endless desert landscape go by. Neither Korbekkian nor the driver said a word, and the silent journey continued for the better part of thirty minutes, at which time the vehicle suddenly slowed down and came to a stop.
Korbekkian and Lomax got out, and the vehicle immediately sped away.
"I take it we're here, wherever here is,” said
"You will be thoroughly scanned before boarding my ship, and any weapons you are carrying will be confiscated.” He paused. “If you reach an accommodation with the Anointed One, they will be returned to you."
"Fair enough."
"I think we understand each other,” said Korbekkian with a satisfied smile.
"No reason why we shouldn't, Mr. Korbekkian,” answered Lomax. “After all, we're going to be on the same team."
"I sincerely hope so,” said Korbekkian. “I would relish working with a man of your qualifications."
"I think I can say the same about your boss."
Korbekkian looked idly at the oncoming traffic. “What do you know about the Anointed One?” he asked at last.
"Just what I managed to read on the newstapes,” said Lomax.
"I wouldn't believe everything I read in the public press, Mr. Lomax,” said Korbekkian.
"No?"
"Definitely not."
"Does that mean he pays his taxes?” asked Lomax with a smile.
Korbekkian turned to Lomax. “One does not joke about the Anointed One, Mr. Lomax. The press doesn't begin to understand what they're dealing with."
"I got the impression that they thought he was a pretty powerful man, if not an altogether desirable or law-abiding one."
"If I told you the true extent of his political and financial power, Mr. Lomax, you would think me either a fool or a liar."
"It's possible,” agreed Lomax pleasantly.
"If you believe nothing else I tell you, believe this, Mr. Lomax,” said Korbekkian. “You would be wrong.” He paused. “Dead wrong."
[Back to Table of Contents]
7.
Lomax had been confined to his quarters aboard the ship, and hence had no idea of how many multiples of the speed of light they were traveling or how far they had gone, when the ship finally touched down.
"We have arrived, Mr. Lomax,” announced Korbekkian, unlocking his door. “Please do exactly as you are instructed once we leave the ship."
"What about my weapons?"
"They will be returned to you after your interview."
"Your boss may want to see if I know how to use them."
Korbekkian smiled. “You are the Gravedancer. That is sufficient."
Lomax shrugged and walked out of his cabin.
"What's the gravity here?"
"97.2% standard. You will require no protective outfit, no breathing apparatus, no stimulants or depressants."
"I assume that if you wanted me to know what world I was on, you'd have told me,” remarked Lomax.
"That is correct."
"Well, let's get going."
"Follow me, please."
Korbekkian led him to the hatch, and a moment later he found himself standing on a bleak, sun-baked patch of ground. There were enormous sand dunes in the distance, and the wind created reddish dust devils near the horizon. The air was hot and dry. It may or may not have been a desert world—probably there was an ocean somewhere, for the air had a fair oxygen content—but there was no question that he was in the middle of a desert, one that extended in every direction as far as the eye could see.
"You'll adjust to the heat,” said Korbekkian. “If you should begin feeling lightheaded, let me know."
"Where are we going?” asked Lomax. “It looks awfully empty."
"We're going to meet the Anointed One,” answered Korbekkian. “Please bear with me, Mr. Lomax. Our transportation will arrive shortly."
Lomax moved out of the direct sunlight into the shadow of the ship and lit a small cigar. When it was half-done, a sleek armored vehicle approached them, coming to a stop about ten yards away.
Korbekkian gestured Lomax to enter the vehicle, then joined him. It immediately took off at high speed, and Lomax settled back and relaxed, watching the seemingly endless desert landscape go by. Neither Korbekkian nor the driver said a word, and the silent journey continued for the better part of thirty minutes, at which time the vehicle suddenly slowed down and came to a stop.
Korbekkian and Lomax got out, and the vehicle immediately sped away.
"I take it we're here, wherever here is,” said
Similar Books
