Jason came awake to find the Sun shining in his eyes. He was lying in Vidal’s bed, fully clothed, except for his shoes. But there was no sign of the Channel.
What had happened? The last thing he remembered was sitting down on the floor in the cellar. How did he get back here?
Suddenly, a familiar sound drew his attention to the communicator beside the bed. It was just a little too far away for him to reach. Sighing he rolled off the bed and picked it up as he rubbed his eyes with his other hand.
‘Yes?’
‘Jason is that you? It’s Neil. Is it safe to talk?’
Jason came instantly awake as he recognised the familiar voice. ‘Yes it’s me, and I’m on my own. As to whether it’s safe to talk, who knows? We’ll just have to take that chance. What’s up?’
‘I’ve found Alex Judy.’
‘What about the others?’
‘Them, too.’
‘Where are they?’
‘Not far from Eaglestone. From what I understand Alex is really mad that his little scheme went wrong. So I take it that that means you neutralized the device?’
‘Laurie did. I only helped,’ Jason said at once, and then asked again, ‘So where are they Neil?’
‘They’re holed up in a Trudi House midway between Loughton and Great Holm,’ and he gave the Gen the address, ‘It was pure luck that I found them, I went in for a little relaxation, and there he sat not two tables away from me. It was obvious from the way the staff treated him that he had been there before. The Gens weren’t in there of course, but I caught sight of them through the staff door, so they’re obviously staying either there, or close by.’
‘Shen. If it’s a Trudi House, then Laurie and I can’t go inside, which means the Channels will have to handle it on their own. That’ll please Vidal.’
‘Sorry about that. But whatever you intend to do, you’d better do it quickly. I can’t guarantee how long they’re going to be there.’
The Sime warned him, and then went on, ‘I’m leaving for Moon Base this afternoon.’
‘Hey hold on. I thought I was going with you?’ Jason said at once.
‘You are. If you’re still certain you want to go. I’ve had a funny feeling in my tentacles for the last few hours. I’m sure I’m being watched. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s either the Tecton or Zeor, which means I have to get away from here as quickly as possible.’
‘Don’t start being paranoid.’
‘I’m not. But my tentacles are usually right.’
‘Are you booked on a scheduled flight?’
‘Shen, no. I have my own way of getting there.’
‘How long can you give me before you have to leave the Moon?’
Jason asked.
‘I can give you three days, and then I must go.’
‘How do I get hold of you when I arrive there?’
‘You’ll be travelling under your own name and on a scheduled flight I take it?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then I’ll contact you. Good luck with Alex and the others. See you soon.’
‘Thanks for everything, Neil, take care.’ Jason broke the connection, then made his way to the bathroom to shower. It was long overdue.
He had just finished dressing, and was brushing his hair when Vidal arrived. The Gen studied him in the mirror before he said, ‘Have you had any sleep at all?’
‘Of course. How are you feeling?’
‘Fine, thanks. What’s been happening? Have I missed much?’
‘Rich Bradley deactivated the device, and it has been removed from the premises. Jordan has got rid of all the agency staff, and has replaced them with people from Zeor and the TIB. Apparently, it took a lot of organising to free up so many people at one time, and get them here by transmuter. But you know the Sectuib, once he sets his mind to something he usually achieves it,’ Vidal said with a smile.
‘A shame that couldn’t have been done in the beginning,’ Jason retorted.
‘Perhaps, but better late than never. Besides, no one envisaged that the Organisation would try something on this scale. They must be desperate.’
‘Am I to take it that we’ve finished here?’ Jason asked.
‘It would seem so.’
‘Good, because we’ve got a cleaning up job to do,’ Jason informed him.
‘What are you..?’ Vidal began, when the chime on the door interrupted him and he moved to answer it, before he asked again, ‘What are you talking about, Jason?’ He stood back, and allowed Jordan and Laurie to enter the room.
‘I’ll tell you in a minute,’ Jason promised.
‘Tell us what?’ Laurie asked as he sat down. Jordan also sat down and was quickly joined by Vidal, leaving Jason standing between them.
‘I know where Alex Judy and his friends are staying.’
‘How do you know that?’ Laurie demanded before either Channel could voice the same question.
‘It doesn’t matter how I know, I just do, okay?’
‘Neil Heyer told you,’ Vidal stated.
‘Jason, do you know where Neil is?’ Jordan asked quietly.
‘You know I’m getting the distinct impression that both you and Vidal are more interested in a lone Sime, who has been doing all in his power to help us I might add; rather than Alex Judy and his gang, who are doing the exact opposite! What is it with you people?’ Jason demanded angrily.
‘Who’s Neil Heyer?’ Laurie asked.
‘No one, he’s no one you have to be interested in!’ Jason snapped back.
‘Jason, I did warn Neil what to expect if he ever came back to Earth, you know that.’ The Sectuib said softly.
‘And if he hadn’t come back here,’ Jason said not bothering to even try and deny that Neil Heyer was the Sime who had been helping him. ‘The first we’d have known about Alex Judy was when the bomb went off.’
‘Jason please. I know Neil has helped us a great deal, and I am grateful, believe me. But it does not alter the fact that he is junct, and he’s on Earth right now moving freely among millions of innocent Gens, who are totally unaware of the danger he poses.’ The Sectuib replied. ‘I’d never forgive myself if he attacked and killed while he was here on Earth, especially knowing that I had done nothing to try and stop him. How would you feel?’
‘He won’t kill anyone Jordan. I trust him.’ Jason said firmly.
‘One can never trust a junct, Jason. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way, many years ago.’ Jordan said almost sadly. ‘As for Neil, I treated him for five years, so I think I know him slightly better than you. And yes, I agree, he does honestly believe that he can control himself around Gens, but I know he can’t.’
‘Jason, listen to the Sectuib.’ Vidal pleaded.
Jason sighed and then said bluntly, ‘Look, neither of you have to worry any more about where he is, or what he’s doing! He’s leaving Earth today.’
‘To go to Moon Base, I suppose? Where is he going from there?’ Jordan demanded to know.
‘I have no idea.’
‘You’re lying,’ his partner stated unequivocally.
Jordan sighed. ‘Well at least I can tell my people to start looking for him on Moon Base.’
‘He’s leaving the planet for shen’s sake. Why can’t you just accept that?’ Jason asked as he stared from one Channel to the other.
‘Because he may decide to return here,’ Jordan pointed out.
‘Why? Why would be do that? He knows he can live a much better life as a junct, off world. Why would he want to stay here where he’s treated like a pariah?’ Jason yelled defiantly.
‘You forget, Jason, that Jordan is still Sectuib in Zeor.’ Vidal reminded him.‘Have you any idea what they would do to him? Not just the Tecton, but his own people, and the media, too; if it ever got out that he knew there was a junct Sime running loose either on the Earth or the Moon, and did nothing about it? His reputation, everything he stands for on Earth and beyond, would be ruined.’
Jason threw up his hands in exasperation as he almost shouted, ‘Shen it. You’re ungrateful lorshes both of you. Let him leave in peace, why can’t you?’
Laurie suddenly interrupted, as he said, ‘Look I don’t really know what all this is about, and I don’t think I want to know either. If Jason is correct, and Alex Judy and company are holed up near here, you can bet they won’t be staying there long. So, if we don’t move fast they’ll be gone before we even get there.’
Vidal held up his hands tentacles outstretched, calling for calm as he said, ‘Laurie is correct. We have to get our priorities right Jordan. Alex Judy, for the moment, is top of our list. Neil Heyer will have to wait for the time being.’
Jordan nodded slowly, ‘You’re right, of course.’ He conceded as he looked across at the angry Gen, and then said coldly. ‘I’ll give him forty eight hours to leave both this planet and the Moon, Jason. After that I’ll be sending in Zeor’s special force to find and apprehend him before taking him to our base on Mars. Agreed?’
Jason nodded his agreement almost sullenly. He did not really like the Sectuib’s concession. He knew it was the best compromise he was going to get, and could only hope that Neil would be clever enough to stay out of their clutches till he could join him.
As hostilities were postponed for the time being, at least, the two Channels looked at each other with obvious relief, as Jason told them the address he had been given by Neil.
Jordan finally stood up saying, ‘If we’re going to visit this Trudi House, I’d better go and arrange for a flitter for us to use.’
Jason looked across at his partner as he asked, ‘Do Laurie and I have to go with you? It seems a bit of a waste of time since neither of us can even step inside the place.’
Both Gens knew that Trudi Houses were Tecton licensed drug houses that catered exclusively for Simes, whose metabolism, unlike Gens, was not influenced in the same way by these drugs. This, of course was the reason why Gens were not allowed by law, to enter such establishments.
‘They might try and leave through another entrance,’ Vidal pointed out after a moment’s consideration. ‘I’d rather the two of you were there to stop them doing that.’
‘All right. If you think it’s worth the effort,’ Jason agreed, while Laurie just looked from one to the other, wondering what the undercurrent was between these men.
Halting the flitter a short distance from the discreet façade of the Trudi House, the two Channels climbed out and walked towards the entrance.
Once they had disappeared inside, the two Gens also climbed out and made their way towards the side of the premises. They took up a position that enabled them to keep an eye on both the front and rear entrances of the building.
After a few minutes Laurie suddenly said, ‘If you don’t mind my asking, what was all that about?’
Jason knew what he was referring to, but to give himself a little time to decide what, if anything, he should say to the other Gen. He said quietly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘For starters you asked Vidal if we should bother to accompany them here, seeing as how we can’t go inside. Did you expect him to agree?’ The other Gen asked and then went on, ‘I have to admit it was the look that passed between you that interested me more, rather than the question itself.’
Jason sighed deeply before he said, ‘Vidal and I work for the TIB as you know. We’ve been partners for some time now. Vidal, for want of a better word, is a typical Sime. He hates the thought of me going into danger, so when he gets the chance to leave me behind, he goes in alone. He’s so cock-a-hoop you’d think it was his birthday! You know I’m sure that if he could just keep me safe somewhere, say locked up in a shed; only letting me out when he needs transfer! That would suit him just fine.’
Laurie laughed quietly. ‘Believe me, all Simes are like that, some are able to hide it better than others, that’s all.’
‘I know, but I just wonder how much longer I can put up with it. It’s like being smothered in cotton wool.’
The other Gen digested this for a few seconds and then said, ‘In some ways, you know when a Sime would rather put his or herself in danger, rather than one of us. It’s a compliment of sorts, because what they’re actually saying, without words, is this – your life is more important than mine, and means more to me than my own!’
‘Sounds good, except we both know it’s our selyn that they really covet, not us.’ Jason said cynically.
‘Yes, I concede that. But the selyn is only a by-product of us, so in a way, it’s us as well. If you see what I mean.’
‘Yeah, deep down I suppose you’re right, but it still rankles.’
Laurie studied what he could see of the other Gen’s face in the near dark before he said quietly, ‘I envy you. I’m never likely to have anyone wrap me in cotton wool, or anything else for that matter.’
‘I don’t understand.’
Laurie smiled almost sadly as he said, ‘When Jordan had me thrown out of Zeor, I had nowhere to go but the Tecton. After being brought up in a Household all my life, it was quite a culture shock, believe me.’
‘But I thought all Households, including Zeor, work with the Tecton?’ Jason asked.
‘They do. I’ll try and explain. In recent years the Tecton have taken over much of the work that the Households used to do. Indeed, even in Zeor a majority of the "new thinking Gens" donate to the Tecton and not their House. But there are still a large number of Gens and Simes who still cling to the old ways. My family was one of them. Consequently, I had never given transfer outside my House before.’
‘I think I understand.’ Jason acknowledged.
‘Unfortunately, when I went to the Tecton, I found that my reputation had preceded me. Whilst they didn’t turn me away, nonetheless they refused to allow me to give transfer unless it was fully monitored.’ Laurie paused for a moment and then went on, ‘After a few months of that, and accepting the fact that things weren’t going to change, I decided I had to act.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I made up my mind to quit. I took my name off the rolls and volunteered to try out their latest drug, Steremin, instead of the older drugs.’
‘That was a bit drastic, wasn’t it?’ Jason ventured.
‘Not really. I’d thought about it for months. At first, I thought once I’d proved I was trustworthy, things would change. I was only fooling myself. To be honest, I haven’t really regretted leaving, not once I got used to it.’
‘But you still donate, don’t you?’
‘Yes. Nothing like transfer of course. A Channel drains me each month, and just like a general donor, I don’t feel a thing.’
‘I don’t know how I’d feel if I had to do that,’ Jason confessed.
‘Saying I’m sorry for you, just doesn’t seem enough some how.’
‘There’s really no reason for you to be sorry. It was entirely my own fault. I brought it on myself.’ Laurie admitted ruefully.
‘I got the impression that you blamed Jordan for most of your troubles.’
‘Sometimes I do.’ The Gen shrugged and smiled sadly. ‘We’re strange creatures aren’t we? It’s always so much easier to blame someone else, rather than ourselves.’
‘I agree, but what did you do to warrant being thrown out of Zeor?’
For a brief moment Laurie looked across at the other Gen and then seemed to make up his mind as he said quietly. ‘I hit a fellow Gen in the course of a robbery, and left him brain damaged.’
Jason stared at him in shock.
Laurie opened his mouth to say more, then closed it again quickly as he grasped Jason by the arm and hissed in his ear, ‘Someone’s coming out. She’s Gen!’
‘What shall we do, follow her?’ Jason breathed back.
‘Ssh. I think it’s all right. She’s only brought out some trash. Look, she’s going back in again.’ He whispered.
The two Gens relaxed once more. Jason returned to their last conversation as he asked again, ‘I can’t believe you’d do something like that.’
The other Gen hesitated only a moment before he said wryly. ‘I was thrown out of Zeor, so I must be guilty.’
‘And were you?’ Laurie merely shrugged as he turned back to watch the door.
After a few moments Jason realised he was not going to get anything more out of the Gen, and they both fell silent.
***
The two Channels, meanwhile, had entered the Trudi House. Surprisingly the Sectuib, while he knew all about these places, had never actually been inside one before. It was, therefore, left to Vidal to do all the talking, as they walked from the small reception area into one of the main rooms.
A small female renSime led them to a table in an alcove and they sat down opposite each other, Jordan looking around with interest. Vidal had already warned him that he must not zlin in this room. It was considered bad manners to intrude on those Simes who were actually taking the various drugs on offer.
The room was decorated in blue, white and silver, while the only illumination came from a small candle on each table. All around them, the air hung heavy with the smell of herbs, but he could not tell exactly what they were. Recorded shiltpron music throbbed almost seductively through the ambience of the room.
Just as he was about to speak, the same female renSime approached them again. This time she placed a small mat before each of them, together with a silver spoon, a tiny glass and an equally small bottle that contained a liquid that looked suspiciously like water. With a smile she then gave each of them a napkin, and walked away.
‘What’s with the smell?’ Jordan asked once she was far enough away not to be able to hear.
‘It’s herbal and mildly narcotic. It’s supposed to make you more susceptible to the various drugs on offer.’ Vidal informed him, before he said. ‘I’m surprised you haven’t been in any of these places before, Jordan.’
The Sectuib smiled, ‘Since we can get whatever we want in-House, what would be the point?’
‘True. But these places are purpose built. I must admit I used to frequent them a lot in my misspent youth. Probably because my Father disapproved of them. Mind you, he disapproved of most things,’ Vidal said reminiscently.
The two Simes chuckled softly.
‘I remember one memorable occasion when I helped my friends to smuggle a couple of Gens into an outer room, similar to this one. We were all Channels, although I was the only first amongst them. There were six of us, and we all worked together to shield the two Gens. We were extremely lucky because there were only renSimes present that night, and, of course,they weren’t allowed to zlin.’
‘Shen, what happened?’ Jordan asked in surprise.
‘The set I was running with at that time were young, foolish, and very, very wealthy. We all knew that most of the drugs would have little effect on our own physiology. Unfortunately, we did not stop to consider how it would affect the Gens. Indeed, if we thought at all about the consequences…it was only in so far as – how amusing it would be!’
‘Did you get caught?’
‘Yes. It was inevitable, really, and utterly stupid.’
‘I understand the punishment is severe when Gens are involved.’
‘I know, but as I said, we were wealthy.’
‘You’re not trying to tell me that you were able to buy off the authorities?’ Jordan asked, obviously shocked at the very notion.
‘Not us – no. But our fathers did.’ Vidal admitted with an eloquent shrug. ‘It was only then that it really came home to me for the first time. That having unlimited resources can buy you out of almost anything.’ He hesitated momentarily and then went on. ‘Strange as it may seem, I found the thought, extremely unsettling.’
‘For a similar offence involving Gens, Zeor would have punished the perpetrators severely.’ Jordon informed him.
After a few moments Vidal gestured with a tentacle towards a door that was set to one side, as he said, ‘The relaxation room must be through there. We’ll go in as soon as we can.’
‘Why not go now?’ The Sectuib demanded.
‘We have to take this, first.’ And he pointed to the small bottle. ‘If we went now without taking it, we’d undoubtedly draw the attention of the waitress; which we want to avoid at all costs.’ Vidal replied.
Jordan held up the bottle and stared at it before he said, ‘I don’t think I’m familiar with this. What is it exactly?’
‘Textraveen. I chose it because it’s the least potent of those on offer, and we have to remain alert.’ Vidal explained.
‘Indeed, but isn’t it usually light blue? I’ve never seen it colourless before.’
‘It’s an inferior grade, probably made here on Earth. I would imagine that Zeor gets their supply from off world?’ Vidal asked.
‘I have no idea.’ The Sectuib admitted, and opening the bottle he drank the liquid straight down without recourse to the glass.
With a brief smile, Vidal followed suit.
Replacing the bottle on the table, Jordan said, ‘I was reading a short while back that the authorities are reviewing the Licences on these places. Apparently, large quantities of drugs are finding their way into Gen hands.’
‘Yes, I read it myself. I can’t believe that Simes would be so stupid as to supply the gangs that sell to the Gens.’ Vidal said and then went on, ‘Did you know that off-world these type of places are often frequented by both Simes and Gens together.’
‘Considering the effect on Gens, that’s extremely dangerous,’
Jordan stated.
Vidal nodded his agreement as he looked around the room and then said, ‘If you’re ready, shall we go?’ Standing, he led the way into the next room.
This room was very different from the one they had just left. It looked like a comfortable sitting room with sofas and large well upholstered chairs in place of tables and chairs.
A glazed glass door directly in front of them said "Private: staff only" in very small letters. Vidal caught Jordan’s eyes and inclined his head slightly, the other Channel nodded his agreement, and they made their way to a couch and sat down to await an opportunity to go through the door.
At the moment there were only a few other Simes in the room. Both Channels were pleased to note that they were all wrapped up in their own thoughts, and did not appear to be interested in the two men who had joined them.
After a few minutes Vidal stood up casually and headed towards the door, quickly followed by Jordan.
Once the door was safely closed behind them, Vidal drew his small blaster and indicated for the other Channel to do the same.
‘Can’t we simply arrest them?’ The Sectuib asked as they both zlinned the corridor and the rooms that led off from it.
Vidal moved forward as he said softly, ‘I wish it was as simple as that, but I know what type of man Alex Judy is. Believe me, he’ll fight to the bitter end.’
‘The insulation is surprisingly good in here,’ Jordan murmured.
‘It’s a Trudi House, what do you expect?’ Vidal said at once.
The Sectuib held up a tentacle and pointed. There are several people in the end room. A Sime, and two, possibly, three Gens.’
‘I zlin them. Come on.’
As they approached the room, they could hear the sounds of an argument.
‘The Sime hasn’t zlinned us,’ Vidal stated, ‘I wonder why?’
‘As you just said a moment ago, the insulation is good. If it is Alex Judy, I would imagine that he is only a renSime and not a Channel,’ Vidal pointed out, ‘Besides, with a row like that going on I doubt if he’s even bothering to zlin. In fact, he’s far more likely to be shielding himself from the ambient in the room.’
As they drew level with the door, it suddenly flew open and a Gen female almost catapulted out into the corridor to fall at their feet, ‘Who the shen are you?’ She demanded, looking at Vidal.
‘We’re here to see Alex.’
‘He’s in there. I hope you can get more sense out of him than I can,’ she stated, and jumping up, almost ran down the corridor and through the back door.
Before Vidal could take another step a red haired Sime suddenly appeared in the doorway zlinning them. He realised at once that both men were armed and immediately darted back into the room and fired his own weapon through the opening, hitting the wall on the other side of the corridor.
Vidal dropped to the floor and rolled across the open doorway firing his blaster into the room as he did so. ‘Get down, Jordan!’ He yelled, as he saw the other Channel edging towards to the door.
Jordan obeyed the shouted command and dropped to his knees but kept moving forward. Biting back an expletive Vidal threw himself at the Sectuib knocking him out of the way, simultaneously firing the blaster at where he zlinned the Sime to be.
A scream told him that he had been successful long before he could zlin the fact. But it was not Alex Judy who had screamed. It was another female Gen who had thrown herself towards the Sime as she realised he had been hit.
Remaining low, Vidal rolled into the room to find the male Gen, who he presumed to be Mel Lane standing with his hands in the air. He, at least, did not intend to get hurt, the Channel thought wryly. While the female, Linda Pope, was crying loudly as she held the dead Sime in her arms. Both Gens were unarmed.
‘Don’t move, either of you.’ He warned, and then called out, ‘Jordan, are you all right?’
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ the Channel replied as he too walked into the room, rubbing his shoulder. ‘Did you have to push me out of the way with such force?’
Vidal grinned ruefully as he admitted, ‘I thought you were going to do something stupid, like trying to draw his fire.’
Jordan ignored the comment as he moved quickly to the Sime’s side to ascertain that he was indeed dead, and he could do nothing for him.
Leaving the Sectuib to watch the two Gens, Vidal went outside to find Jason and Laurie waiting for him. Each appeared to be holding a hefty piece of wood in their hands. There was a Sime and a Gen on the floor at their feet. Both were unconscious.
‘We have no idea who they are,’ Laurie said at once, ‘But they came running out. The Sime ran out of the front and the female Gen from out the back, so we thought we’d better stop them.’
‘I would imagine they’ve both been helping Alex Judy and his two partners.’ Vidal said as he knelt down to ascertain that neither of them was badly injured.
‘I take it you got all three of them? None of them escaped?’ Jason asked quickly.
‘Yes, we got them all. I had no alternative but to shoot Alex Judy. Unfortunately, he’s dead, but the other two Gens are still alive.’
‘Is the Sectuib all right?’ Laurie asked.
‘He’s fine. We all seem to be fine.’
Jason felt a wave of relief run through him. It was over, at least for the time being; which also meant he could now take some of the R&R due to him with a clear conscience, and go to meet Neil.
***
Vidal stared at his companion as if he had finally lost his mind. They had all returned to the Tecton’s HQ to be debriefed by Sam Betjeman. Jordan, too, had accompanied them here since Laurence Knight would not be welcome at Zeor. The Gen was still assigned to him for transfer this month.
‘You don’t have to look at me as though I’ve committed some kind of sin. I’m only asking for some of the R&R that’s due to me. Nothing more.’
‘I realise that.’
‘So what’s wrong?’
‘You really have no idea do you?’ Vidal snapped, and then went on, ‘Let us say you go today. When may I expect you back?’
‘I’m not really sure, probably just over a month and… Oh, Shidoni!’ Jason’s eyes opened wide as he realised what his partner was referring to, ‘Transfer! I’d forgotten it was so shenning close.’
‘It’s only two weeks away,’ the Channel pointed out at once, ‘You can take your leave straight after.’
‘But that’s too late!’ the Gen blurted out.
‘Too late for what?’
Jason made an instant decision. He had to tell Vidal at least part of what he intended to do, but obviously not everything. After all, he dare not postpone the trip. It was, after all, the only way he could clear his debt.
‘Have you anything lined up for the next month, Vidal?’
‘No. I shall catch up on the usual things I suppose. But there is nothing arranged, after all I didn’t know how long this assignment would actually take, did I?’
‘I have to go off-world.’ Jason said baldly.
‘Off-world!? Why? Where to?’
‘Do you trust me, Vidal?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Then come with me. I won’t expect you to do anything, just be there so we can take transfer at the normal time.’
‘But I don’t understand. Where are we going?’ Vidal asked again.
‘I can’t answer your questions yet. That’s why I asked if you trusted me.’
As he waited for the Channel to answer him, he mentally added up in his head now much extra it would cost him to take Vidal with him. After all he could hardly expect Vidal to pay for himself, since he was going for Jason’s benefit, and not his own.
The Channel studied his partner for a moment or two and then made up his own mind. ‘Very well, I’ll take what you say on trust for the time being. Later, I shall expect you to tell me everything.’
‘Of course I will,’ Jason said at once, although he knew it would be an edited version of events that he would eventually tell his partner.
‘Right. I’ll go and tell Sam Betjeman that we shall both be away for just over a month.’ The Channel said.
‘Thanks, Vidal.’ Jason said with relief, ‘You’d better pack as soon as you get back. We shall have to leave at once.’
Vidal nodded as he walked to the door and then turned and said, ‘Our tickets?’
‘Will be taken care of. I’ll arrange everything while you’re seeing Sam.’ Jason assured him, and then said, ‘I’ll expect you back in an hour, will that be long enough?’
‘Yes.’
Vidal was in Betjeman’s office for less than fifteen minutes while Sam asked if they had both handed in their reports, and when Vidal assured him that they had. He then wished them both a good vacation, and looked forward to their return.
On his way back to his own quarters Vidal called in on the Sectuib who looked at him in consternation. ‘I was hoping you would at least be close by when I take transfer from Laurence Knight,’ he admitted.
‘Jordan, this isn’t like you. You’re worrying unnecessarily you know. He has a strong and robust field. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.’
‘The strength of his field is not what’s worrying me, you know that; and yes, I do wish I could put everything I know about him behind me, at least for the duration of the transfer, but I can’t.’
‘Jordan, have you ever stopped to consider how he must feel?’ Vidal asked.
‘Of course I have. Besides, you know his history. From what I can gather, he’s not too happy about this either.’ Jordan admitted.
‘You knew that right from the beginning.’ Vidal reminded him. ‘So, I suggest that both of you spend some time together. Try to accept that you have to do this. That it can either be hard or easy, and that, after all, is up to both of you. ’
‘That’s easier said, than done.’
‘True, but it’s worth a try isn’t it? If not, you could always ask for it to be monitored.’
‘I suggested that to him. He refused.’ The Sectuib sighed as he straightened his shoulders resolutely. ‘I’m sorry. You have enough worries of your own without burdening you with mine. I’ll work it out.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes, I’m sure. I have no other alternative do I? I am, after all, Sectuib in Zeor; I can hardly go running to someone else to sort the whole mess out for me. Besides, I knew it would eventually come to this.’ He smiled briefly at his friend as he confessed. ‘Forget I said anything. It’s really only need talking. I had a rotten turnover this time.’
‘We both did.’
‘True. Now take care of Jason, and yourself. I’ll see you when you get back.’
Vidal wished him luck, knowing that, for the moment, he could do nothing more to help his friend. It was, after all, something that both Laurie and the Sectuib had to work out between them.
However, in some ways Vidal was thankful that Jordan was so distracted, for it meant that he did not ask him where, exactly, he and Jason were going, or why. If he had done so, the Channel doubted he could have given his friend a satisfactory answer.
Read Chapter 10
Companion in Zeor is Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Sime~Gen Inc.
The Sime~Gen universe was created by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and is owned by Sime~Gen Inc. and may not be reused without explicit permission of the Corporation. Email: simegen@simegen.com
Feedback about technical problems with this site.
Concerned about your privacy? Simegen Inc. respects your rights,
and the
protection of children. Please read our Privacy
Statement.