Read Online Young Rissa by F.M. Busby - Free Book Online

sequences staggered on the ABC contingency patterns.”  
    Frieda nodded. “That’s sound.” She looked at Rissa. “Are you sure you understand how those progressions work? Over the light-years, they can get complicated.”  
    â€œI think so,” Rissa said. “As an example, if the mutual lag is fifteen years and my chart begins with AB7, then my first message upon landing would start with — ”  
    She continued the explanation through the first two changes; then Frieda waved a hand. “All right; you’ll manage.” She stood. “I’m expecting a call. Another time, then.”  
    When she had left, Erika said, “You don’t like Frieda, do you?”  
    â€œIt’s as I said — we’ve never had cause to become acquainted.”  
    â€œShe’s a little hard to know, I realize. But are you sure that’s all?”  
    â€œWhat more could there be?”  
    Erika frowned, but only briefly. “Quite a lot. And if you were staying here much longer I’d find out, too. You’re a good bluffer but I taught your teachers. Well, it’s not important — over umpteen light-years, personalities don’t matter much.”  
    â€œNo.” And Rissa left to see to her preparations.  
    Â 
    Waiting while certain financial arrangements were completed, she overstayed her year by three weeks. Her investments had prospered; her net worth after all expenses — including the Newhausen contract — was well over 25,000,000 Weltmarks. Part of her wealth she would take off Earth; the rest would work for her in several countries, each group of assets held jointly in the names of two or more manufactured identities. Sometimes, though not usually, her own name also appeared. The network was arranged so that she could reach any holding from any identity in not more than two stages.  
    Nonexistent personae , she had found, cost money and required supporting paraphernalia. She had three — Lysse Harnain, Tari Obrigo, and Cele Metrokin — and none of them, in speech or appearance, would be mistaken for any other or for herself.  
    Except for three items, she had stayed clear of North America. Theft and delivery of the fertility-control device was as expensive as Erika had warned, but finally the thing arrived. There was, of course, the Newhausen contract. And Lysse Harnain, Tari Obrigo, and Cele Metrokin, between them and jointly, held nearly 4,000,000 Weltmarks in UET voting stock. That holding was Rissa’s leverage to get her off Earth.  
    So it was Lysse Harnain, aged twenty-eight, attractive but not pretty, who said good-bye to Erika. Lysse spoke in a shrill little-girl voice. Plastic inserts widened her nostrils; a removable cap gave her a crooked front tooth. Her hair, temporarily reddened, she wore in tight curls pulled to the crown of her head. Thin, indetectable plastic lenses changed her gray eyes to green and would mislead any retinal-pattern check. Tissue-thin appliqués on her fingertips carried the fabricated print patterns on file for Lysse Harnain. Duplicates of these accessories, and their counterparts for Tari Obrigo and Cele Metrokin, were well hidden in her handbag and luggage. The magnetic “faucet handle” masqueraded as part of her hair dryer. Thus equipped, she reported to Erika.  
    The older woman reached to take both her hands, looked closely at her and nodded. “You’ll do,” she said. “Now — sit down — I’m glad I got back from the city before you left. Are your plans still the same?”  
    â€œAlmost. I’m not risking North America at all; UET’s subsidiary in Japan seems a safer bet. About a month from now a ship leaves Hokkaido base for Terranova by way of Far Corner. I’ll book all the way through, of course, but — ”  
    â€œI thought the Twin Worlds was your goal.”  
    â€œMy