Read Online The Sun Is God by Adrian McKinty - Free Book Online Page B

Pullen-Burry will go and that is an end to it,” Queen Emma said. “She goes in lieu of Doctor Parkinson who is otherwise engaged in a long-planned expedition to photograph birds for his book. Ha! Is there anyone at this table not writing a book?”
    Will would like to have said that he wasn’t writing a book about his tedious existence anytime soon but Kessler was busy objecting again.
    â€œWe must nip this foolishness in the bud, Frau Forsayth. Only Herr Prior and myself will be traveling to Kabakon.”
    Miss Pullen-Burry and Queen Emma said nothing.
    Doctor Parkinson shook his head and, looking directly at Governor Hahl, he said softly: “I’m afraid we must insist.”
    The port arrived next to Will and he poured himself a generous measure. He passed the bottle to Doctor Bremmer and gave him a fatalistic look. In Queen Emma’s house there always seemed to be some kind of ferment going on. One did not go to the South Seas to seek ferment. One came here to slip slowly into oblivion. Even poor old Jim of the Patna had had ferment thrust upon him.
    Governor Hahl ignored Doctor Parkinson and turned directly to Queen Emma and Miss Pullen-Burry. He took Emma’s hand in his. “Ladies, these matters cannot become known outside of these islands. You must see that it would be entirely inappropriate for a female writer to visit the Sonnenorden, even if there has been no wrongdoing. My duty is first and foremost to protect the good name and reputation of the Reich and our Imperial Majesty from whom all honor flows in the Empire.”
    Queen Emma smiled like a lioness in Regents Park. “I had hoped that we would not find it necessary to raise the legal niceties,” she said.
    â€œThe legal niceties? There are no legal niceties,” Hauptman Kessler muttered.
    â€œKabakon and the other islands in the Duke of York group were bought by the late Mr. Forsayth under treaty from the temporary German administration in Samoa. Under the terms of this treaty no German colonial officer can enter Mrs. Forsayth’s domains without her express permission, or unless acting under a direct decree by the Governor of Samoa,” Doctor Parkinson said.
    Governor Hahl looked at Kessler who had no clue if this was true or not.
    â€œI can show you the documents if you wish,” Queen Emma said.
    â€œDo you deny us permission to go to Kabakon?” Governor Hahl asked.
    Queen Emma laughed. “Surely it will not come to that. I no more wish to deny you permission to go to Kabakon than you would wish to overrule me by telegraphing Governor Solf.”
    Governor Hahl’s smile evaporated. He certainly did not wish to involve Governor Solf of Samoa in these events. The one thing Governor Hahl feared more than Brigida’s frosty expression was Solf’s duplicitous wife Catherine and her boundless capacity for making mischief.
    Governor Hahl stared for a moment into the purple blackness of the port. “Emma, what is it that you want?” he asked at last.
    She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I wish to have a witness to what has happened on my island of Kabakon. Herr Doctor Parkinson who normally acts as my factotum has made himself unavailable,” she said.
    â€œWhat about Evans?” Kessler asked.
    â€œThat dog! I would not trust him to bury me.”
    Governor Hahl looked at Miss Pullen-Burry and slowly his face creaked into a tiny grimace, like the dry smile of a tortoise. “This must not become the subject of a book, Miss Pullen-Burry. You must give me your word that nothing that happens on Kabakon will ever appear in print anywhere.”
    â€œOh, my word of honor,” Miss Pullen-Burry said.
    â€œYou must go at your own risk; we cannot accept responsibility for any injury which may befall you on this trip,” Governor Hahl insisted.
    â€œI am quite capable, Governor Hahl. However, if an accident does befall me, I assure you that it is my