Read Online Sword of the Lamb by M. K. Wren - Free Book Online

overt move.”
    “But that’s no great secret.”
    Woolf smiled bitterly, then began walking toward the windowall, Alexand falling into step with him.
    “No, it’s no great secret among the Elite, or even a few upper-class Fesh, but that isn’t the version taught in every Fesh Basic School. We’re less than a hundred thousand out of four and a half billion, Alex. The Elite—and the Concord—can’t survive without Fesh loyalty. So—” His shoulders came up in a quick shrug. “—we must be careful not to disillusion them, and that isn’t easy these days.”
    At the windowall, Alexand stared bleakly at the sprawling glitter of Concordia. The pervading hum of the city, a sound as incessant as surf on the sea, didn’t penetrate the ten centimeters of flexsteel-reinforced glass.
    Woolf went on irritably, “Quiller is a young man enamored of the great god Truth—or, rather, Fact. He decided all this was so important, every literate citizen should know about it. He tried to slip it through with a Pri-Four rating, and that was his error. The Board of Censors wouldn’t have objected so much to a Pri-Three.”
    Alexand looked at his father questioningly. “He wanted to publish it as a booktape on the open market? That falls under DeKoven Woolf franchises.”
    “If you’re wondering if I had anything to do with it coming before the Board, the answer is no. I didn’t hear about it until the judgment was passed.”
    Alexand nodded. The publishing branch of-the House was run by his uncle, Ives, a man whose rigid morals always made Alexand question his ethics.
    “Ives sent the thesis to the Board?”
    “Yes. Then Theron stepped in claiming it as his own—
after
the Board passed judgment on it.”
    Alexand stared out into the midday glare, his eyes aching with more than the light.
    “What about Quiller? What will happen to him?”
    “Nothing. It’s been assumed he laid claim to the thesis for exactly the reason Theron did: to protect a friend. He’ll be reprimanded by the Board, but that’s all.”
    “Lector Theron must have felt very strongly about Quiller to sacrifice himself for him.”
    “Apparently.”
    “I . . . suppose he did what he thought was right.”
    “I’m sure he did. Alex, I’m glad we had a chance to talk this over, and I’m bitterly sorry to lose Theron. But, as you said, he did what he thought was right. If he’s caused us any pain, that must be forgiven.”
    “Forgiven.” Alexand considered the word, gazing out at the sun-jeweled city, but seeing the lined face of Theron Rovere with his patient, cognizant eyes. “There’s nothing to forgive. He did what he believed he had to do.”
    Woolf was silent for a moment, and Alexand was roused by that silence. One of his father’s eyebrows came up almost imperceptibly.
    “Unfortunately, Alex, an action taken out of one’s convictions isn’t necessarily good—or forgivable.”
    He replied levelly, “No, but one must consider the source of the convictions, the kind of person holding them.”
    “True.” Woolf smiled. “A point, and accepted.”
    Alexand called up a smile in response, but couldn’t hold on to it. He noted Woolf’s glance at his watch.
    “Father, I know you’re busy now.”
    “At least I
should
be,” he agreed with an annoyed sigh, but he made no move to leave. Apparently he had something more to say, but seemed uncharacteristically hesitant about it. He turned to face the windowall, hands clasped behind his back, then, “Alexand, you’re fifteen, and it may seem premature, but the time is coming when we must consider your marriage.”
    Alexand studied him. “I know.”
    It was strange that his father seemed more uncomfortable with the subject of his future marriage than he. This wasn’t the first time it had been broached, nor was it surprising that it came up now. The Elite were gathering in Concordia. The week of the Concord Day celebrations saw more economic and political agreements made and more marriages