Read Online The Sword and the Plough by Carl Hubrick - Free Book Online
Authors: Carl Hubrick
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space warfare, romance adventure, romance sci fi, science fiction action adventure, warfare in space, interplanetary war, action sci fi, adventure sci fi, future civilisations
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can I be the queen’s spy without knowing
all there is to know?” Mata Hari enquired petulantly. “I have the
queen’s trust too, and I am charged to be aware of anything that
might jeopardize her rule.”
“ Yes quite,” the man agreed. “We are both
accountable in this, but we must always proceed diplomatically.
What you found is probably something of interest only to the Megran
government and not for publication throughout the Commonwealth. It
may be the governor’s palace accounts. Perhaps he’s overdrawn and
embarrassed about it. Alternatively, it could be plans for a
surprise celebration to honour our queen’s birthday. Whatever it
is, it is likely being kept quiet because it’s Governor Ferdinand’s
private business and none of ours. It is a question of trust, Mata
Hari – trust .
“ So, in the future, unless you have
something more substantial to report, I would ask that you not bother me, or
you’ll end up getting both of us into trouble. Anyway, you should
be far too busy for such meddling; what about your responsibilities
for the planet’s communications, defence, space traffic control,
finances, robot management and the rest? Leave the cloak
and dagger stuff to the
queen’s agents – that’s their job!”
“Cloak and dagger?”
“Look it up where you found your name.”
“I still think we should tell the queen,
Cecil.”
“Nonsense, there’s nothing to tell, Mata
Hari, and I don’t want to argue any further about it.”
At this point, a male android garbed in royal
livery sidled into the room bearing a cup of tea and biscuits on a
tray. The robot looked human in every respect, save for his hair,
which was a dark metallic blue and his skin colour, which was
silver.
“Ah…thank…thank you very much,” Cecil
murmured, then shook his head in self-reproach for wasting his
thanks on a machine. Talking to machines was a foolish habit he
could not seem to break.
“You’re very welcome, sir” the android
answered, its mouth widening in a smile to reveal ultra-white
plastic teeth.
“What time is it?” Cecil enquired, this time
rather brusquely.
“Just after 8 a.m., sir,”
“Ah, I must have slept in.”
“Yes sir, would you care for some breakfast?
I would be pleased to make you toast or eggs, or perhaps something
a little more filling?”
“ Why thank you, that’s very kind of…” Cecil
began, and then remembered again that the machine’s civility was
merely an electronic response. “ No, nothing! Go!” he finished in annoyance.
He turned to the queen’s computer.
“And you , get on
with your tasks – and not another word today. Not one
word!”
“But I have something else, which might be
substantial…” Mata Hari started.
“ Hah!” Cecil shot up his hand. He had had
more than enough of machines today already. “I warned you – not one
word. Not one word !”
“Yes Cecil,” Mata Hari replied dutifully.
Her green glow quavered for a moment or two,
for she was muttering under her electronic breath.
“ But there is something else too,” she was
muttering. “We lost contact with the other Commonwealth planets for
over 180 minutes earlier this morning – New Terra, Lumai, Theti,
Trion – all the planets, except Megran.” A splutter of indignant
green incandescence followed. “But I know that’s not very substantial …”
Chapter 11
Planet LUMAI –
Governor’s Palace – “The Ball”
Greenwich
date: January 30, 2175 – 22:35 hours
The mirror ball, lit by twenty magnificent
crystal chandeliers in the high vaulted ceiling, sent a dizzy
display of luminous rays around the vast ballroom.
Below, the dance floor was a whirl of
colours, like a paint wheel spinning. Young women’s bright eyes
flashed, red lips laughed, ball gowns swished and dainty shoes
tapped the polished wood boards in time to the music. The shiny
black boots of the queen’s soldiers made their own bold, staccato
rap, pivoting in step with their
all there is to know?” Mata Hari enquired petulantly. “I have the
queen’s trust too, and I am charged to be aware of anything that
might jeopardize her rule.”
“ Yes quite,” the man agreed. “We are both
accountable in this, but we must always proceed diplomatically.
What you found is probably something of interest only to the Megran
government and not for publication throughout the Commonwealth. It
may be the governor’s palace accounts. Perhaps he’s overdrawn and
embarrassed about it. Alternatively, it could be plans for a
surprise celebration to honour our queen’s birthday. Whatever it
is, it is likely being kept quiet because it’s Governor Ferdinand’s
private business and none of ours. It is a question of trust, Mata
Hari – trust .
“ So, in the future, unless you have
something more substantial to report, I would ask that you not bother me, or
you’ll end up getting both of us into trouble. Anyway, you should
be far too busy for such meddling; what about your responsibilities
for the planet’s communications, defence, space traffic control,
finances, robot management and the rest? Leave the cloak
and dagger stuff to the
queen’s agents – that’s their job!”
“Cloak and dagger?”
“Look it up where you found your name.”
“I still think we should tell the queen,
Cecil.”
“Nonsense, there’s nothing to tell, Mata
Hari, and I don’t want to argue any further about it.”
At this point, a male android garbed in royal
livery sidled into the room bearing a cup of tea and biscuits on a
tray. The robot looked human in every respect, save for his hair,
which was a dark metallic blue and his skin colour, which was
silver.
“Ah…thank…thank you very much,” Cecil
murmured, then shook his head in self-reproach for wasting his
thanks on a machine. Talking to machines was a foolish habit he
could not seem to break.
“You’re very welcome, sir” the android
answered, its mouth widening in a smile to reveal ultra-white
plastic teeth.
“What time is it?” Cecil enquired, this time
rather brusquely.
“Just after 8 a.m., sir,”
“Ah, I must have slept in.”
“Yes sir, would you care for some breakfast?
I would be pleased to make you toast or eggs, or perhaps something
a little more filling?”
“ Why thank you, that’s very kind of…” Cecil
began, and then remembered again that the machine’s civility was
merely an electronic response. “ No, nothing! Go!” he finished in annoyance.
He turned to the queen’s computer.
“And you , get on
with your tasks – and not another word today. Not one
word!”
“But I have something else, which might be
substantial…” Mata Hari started.
“ Hah!” Cecil shot up his hand. He had had
more than enough of machines today already. “I warned you – not one
word. Not one word !”
“Yes Cecil,” Mata Hari replied dutifully.
Her green glow quavered for a moment or two,
for she was muttering under her electronic breath.
“ But there is something else too,” she was
muttering. “We lost contact with the other Commonwealth planets for
over 180 minutes earlier this morning – New Terra, Lumai, Theti,
Trion – all the planets, except Megran.” A splutter of indignant
green incandescence followed. “But I know that’s not very substantial …”
Chapter 11
Planet LUMAI –
Governor’s Palace – “The Ball”
Greenwich
date: January 30, 2175 – 22:35 hours
The mirror ball, lit by twenty magnificent
crystal chandeliers in the high vaulted ceiling, sent a dizzy
display of luminous rays around the vast ballroom.
Below, the dance floor was a whirl of
colours, like a paint wheel spinning. Young women’s bright eyes
flashed, red lips laughed, ball gowns swished and dainty shoes
tapped the polished wood boards in time to the music. The shiny
black boots of the queen’s soldiers made their own bold, staccato
rap, pivoting in step with their
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