by Gian Bordin
* * *
Sunday they attended the Young dinner. She spent a few minutes alone with her grandfather.
"I had a short talk with Pat. He did not want to listen. He stormed out before I could put your case. He insists that you apologize to him publicly."
"Not today," she replied, a faint smile on her face.
"What do you plan to do? This cannot continue like this."
"Monday will show."
"You mean to say that something will happen on Monday? Tell me."
"Today is Sunday. I came here to be with you. Not to talk business."
He searched her eyes for a while.
"Has Aros made such a hard woman of you?"
"No, grandfather. I can be warm and cuddly. Tell me, when will I meet Kwong Fook? My mother was very fond of him."
His face turned into a benign smile that she sensed was trying to hide something. "Kwong Fook is very ill. He cannot receive any visits."
"But I have been told that you visit him."
"Yes, I go and see my son from time to time for a few hours. But even that the doctors find is undesirable because it upsets him."
"Are you willing to tell me what he’s suffering from?"
"No, Yuen-mong, it pains me much to talk of him."
"I’m sorry, grandfather." However, the emotions she sensed were not completely congruent.
The meal passed rather quietly. Yuen-mong felt that a wall had risen even between her and Mai. Talk remained on neutral ground. After the meal, Ming came to her, wanting to be held. She stood with her at the window and they watched the birds on the window sill. Within a minute, she felt Bee behind her.
"Come, Ming. You must not be a burden to Yuen-mong." She held out her hands to take the girl, but Ming turned away and again hid her face on Yuen-mong’s shoulder.
"Bee, I sense that you are angry with me," murmured Yuen-mong. "And I guess why."
"What you did cost me much of my fortune and Dan’s security is suddenly at risk. Why did you do this? We have done nothing to deserve it." As she spoke, her face turned fierce, and Yuen-mong liked that expression of conviction and her openness.
"Bee, no, you have done nothing to deserve that loss, and I cannot tell you yet why I had to do what I did. There will be changes in UniCom, but those with ability who use it for the best of the company will be rewarded and from what I have seen of Dan, I’m confident that he will be one of them."
"I was not trying to beg for him —"
"I didn’t see it that way. Bee, I would like to have you as a friend. Please, let me hold your darling daughter a while longer."
"If she wishes it."
"Do you, Ming, Ming, Ming?" she intonated the familiar chord.
"Yes, Yuen-mong-mong," the girl sang back.
Bee smiled and started to walk away.
"Bee, please stay. I have heard that you trained in psychology."
"Yes, psychological screening."
"Is this used to evaluate the suitability of employees for certain jobs?"
"Yes, that’s one of its main uses."
"Would you be interested in becoming part of a team at UniCom to do this? We need to evaluate hundreds, if not thousands of people, for their suitability to become mediums for instantcom, and you could help us set that up."
"Foundation wives do not work."
"Don’t they? Forget about what the Foundation expects of their wives. Tell me, would it interest you to help setup such a team?"
Bee hesitated for a moment, and Yuen-mong felt the sudden yearning in her. "Yes, but —"
"No but. It can be a part-time job so that you can still be with your children, and maybe sometimes you will bring this little darling along. We can set up facilities so that you can always have an eye on them while you work."
"Are you serious? Really?" She sounded excited and then suddenly seemed to lose it. "But I don’t think that Dan would agree."
"By all means, discuss it with him. But make the final decision yourself. Anyway, Dan might surprise you."
"It has always been my dream to use my training."
"Then take this opportunity."
"Yes, Bee, do," she heard Atun’s voice behind her. "This is Yuen-mong’s secret. She never lets opportunities slip by. It would be good to have you on our team."
"Thanks, Atun, for your support," Yuen-mong said, smiling at him. "It’s still true that the word of a man counts more than that of a woman, but I’m working hard at it to change that."
"Yuen-mong, you know that for me your word is sacred."
"That’s not what I want either." She turned back to Ming. "Is she not a darling. I want one like her." She briefly glanced at Atun and then kissed Ming who had been watching them with big eyes.
"Mami, please work with Yuen-mong. Then I can see her more often."
"She already knows when to grab an opportunity," Atun said, chuckling. "Please, Bee, come in and explore this with us."
"I will think about it."
"Not too long, I hope," replied Yuen-mong.
* * *
The private eye called Atun Sunday night and reported that Jack Hart had bought a one-way ticket to Old Earth and had departed Saturday on the monthly courier.
"That doesn’t look like a ten-day vacation to me," remarked Yuen-mong.
"No, the guy has no intention of returning… It would even be useless to lay a complaint with the Intergalactic Police. By the time it reaches Old Earth, he’s gone underground."
"Is it possible to find out from where he got the funds for the trip?"
"Yes, but that would again involve the police, and I’m not sure that this is wise. What if it’s traced back to Pat or Cor?"
"You’re right. I want to deal with them without police involvement… But you’re the AI whiz. Can you not gain access to Pat’s bank account?"
"I guess I deserve that."
"No, you do not. Come, a kiss." She put her arms around his neck. He let her wait a moment and then kissed her.
"I love you, Yuen-mong, and, yes, I can try, but not from here. At the office I can find out which bank he uses.’
24
Yuen-mong was not looking forward to what she needed to do first thing Monday morning. It could escalate into all-out warfare between her and the top people, but she was also convinced that she needed to take firm action or else she would never be respected. Not much work would be done at UniCom once it became known, and she would need to calm the anxieties caused, not only to bring the employees around to her, but also to avoid her mind from being swamped.
"Courage, love," whispered Atun, as he left her office. She briefly hugged Anouk, and then asked Mrs. Oddell to call security, requesting the chief of security to come to her office with two people, and to let them in immediately when they arrived. Then she checked if Cor Deng had signed in. He had. Five minutes later, the three security people arrived.
Getting up from her desk, she said: "Follow me and I want my orders to be executed without delay and without any questions asked."
She led the way down to the floor below and went straight to Cor Deng’s suite. His secretary got up alarmed when she saw her enter followed by the three security guards. "Miss Shen, I will announce you."
"No need, Mrs. Garmon, just go back to your work."
The woman fidgeted and then sat behind her workstation, watching her nervously.
She entered without knocking. Cor Deng was slumping in his chair, wearing earphones, one foot on the desk. He jumped up, dropping the earphones and quickly bent down to close the left bottom drawer of his desk.
"Miss Shen, how unexpected," he managed to say, his face changing into a slick smile. "What gives me the honor of your visit?" But his mind told her loudly and clearly that his heart was in his throat.
"Mr. Deng, would you please again open that drawer you just closed."
"Oh why? … There’s only an old voice recorder inside. If you need one, I can get you the latest model from our equipment section."
"Security, put the content of that drawer on the desk."
The chief of security went behind the desk. Cor held up his hand to prevent him from coming closer. "Wait, what’s going on? You have no right to look through the drawers of my desk."
"Security, do as you are told."
The man cast a desperate look at her and after a moment’s hesitation shoved Cor’s hand away. The latter tried to prevent him from opening the drawer.
"Mr. Deng, do not interfere with security or I will have you restrained."
Cor stepped back. She sensed that he was about to rush out.
"Mr. Deng, stay where you are. We are now going to listen to that recording."
The chief of security put the voice recorder on the desk.
"Play it."
They heard Atun’s voice.
Cor quickly intervened. "Oh, you’re concerned that I recorded a conversation with Mr. Caruna. I did it to make sure I understood him correctly when he explained something to me."
She did not answer, recognizing the conversation. Her own voice would come up soon. After hearing her response to Atun, she said: "I cannot remember seeing you in Mr. Caruna’s office when I had that conversation with him… Mr. Deng, you had a listening device placed into his office and you also had his and my desk comunit tapped. You are fired. Security will now escort you to your car — I presume you came by car — and will watch you leave the garage. Your personal belongings will be brought to your home later this morning. You will be denied entry to this building and all your electronic files will be sealed until further notice." Turning to the chief of security, she continued: "Did you get that, sir?" He nodded. "Then do your duty. You do not have to talk to Mr. Deng." She turned and left the office.
Cor Deng ran after her. "Miss Shen, you can’t do this. I’ll report it to my father. You’ll pay for that."
She steeled her nerves to remain calm. "Mr. Deng. I suggest you keep your dignity and let security accompany you to your car." Giving the security people a stern look, she left the office. At his secretary’s desk she briefly paused: "Mrs. Garmon, after Mr. Deng has left the office, you will collect all his personal belongings and then lock his office. I will hold you responsible that nobody, and I mean nobody, regardless of their position, is allowed to enter it unless authorized by me. Furthermore, Mr. Deng will not be available for any callers. Take down their name and any messages. If Mr. Deng calls, you tell him that you are not authorized to speak to him. You got that? You will get new instructions tomorrow. Thank you."
"Yes, Miss Shen." Her voice sounded unsure.
Yuen-mong felt that the woman was almost frightened out of her wits. "Mrs. Garmon, there is no need for you to worry. Your job is safe."
"Thank you, Miss Shen," the woman replied, blushing deeply.
As she entered the staircase, she saw Cor Deng come out of his office flanked by the two security guards, the chief walking a few steps ahead. Back in her office, she asked her secretary to connect her with the head of personnel.
"Miss Shen, Mr. Ong-Deng on the line," Mrs. Oddell reported shortly, and her screen showed a nervous man in his late fifties or early sixties of Chinese extraction.
"Good morning, Miss Shen. How can I help?" There was a solicitous smile on his face, but the eyes betrayed his anxiety.
"Good morning, Mr. Ong-Deng. Please arrange for Mr. Cor Young to be paid any salary owed until today, including accumulated leave pay, and then remove him from the register of employees."
The man opened his mouth and blinked several times. He seemed to have lost his voice.
"Mr. Ong-Deng, did you hear me?"
"Hm, hm, yes, Miss Shen… Did I understand you correctly that Mr. Deng is no longer on the staff of UniCom?" He sounded alarmed.
"Yes, you did."
After some more blinking, he said: "But this is highly irregular. Miss Shen —"
"Mr. Ong-Deng, do you question my authority?"
His face went crimson, and he seemed to shrink away. "Hm … no, Miss Shen. It is just that I cannot recall that a member of the Young or Deng families has ever quit employment with us."
"I did not say Mr. Deng quit, and there is a first for everything. Please do as instructed… And, Mr. Ong-Deng, submit to me by tomorrow morning dossiers of potential candidates to fill the vacant position of director of HST research. Note carefully that the main criteria for the position are ability, experience, achievements, and leadership potential. That is all for now. Good day." She disconnected.
Shortly afterward, she had the chief of systems on the line and instructed him to seal all of Cor Deng’s files and cancel his building access codes. These orders were again met with consternation.
Next, she called Xi Deng’s secretary. He was not in yet. She asked her to let him know as soon as he arrived that she wanted to see him urgently. It took hardly five minutes before her secretary announced him.
"Good morning, Mr. Deng, please take a seat," she said, as she came around her desk and sat down opposite him.
"Good morning, Miss Shen. I hope that this will not take long. I have an important meeting coming up."
"That depends largely on you. A rather unpleasant thing has happened. But first, I would like to hear from you what you would do if you discovered that one of your subordinates had planted a listening device in your office, tapped your desk comunit, and recorded all conversations?" As she spoke, she sensed a rise in agitation. Did he order his son to do it?
"What is this? Why are you asking me this question?"
"Because this has happened."
"Somebody planted a listening device in my office? Where?" He got up.
"Please, Mr. Deng, take a seat again. Everything is under control. The culprit has been found. What would you do with him?"
"He should be sacked right away and escorted out of the building."
"Thank you. That is what I was just forced to do to your son, Cor."
"What? … He did this to my office?"
"Not your office. Mr. Caruna’s office and his and my comunit."
"But you said —"
"I did not say he did this to your office. I asked you a hypothetical question."
"But you cannot do this, not to my son."
"Mr. Deng, why should your son be treated any differently?"
"There must be a mistake. He would not do such a foolish thing."
"Unfortunately, he did. The proof sits on his desk and the comunit systems technician who installed the taps under orders from your son has confessed. Mr. Deng, let me assure you that I did not enjoy having to do this to your son. However, I’m sure you understand that if I had allowed this to be hushed up, I would have lost all respect from the people whose respect I value. Something like this is bound to come out rather quickly. Do you wish to see the proofs?"
"No, but I insist that you call an executive meeting today. This needs to be discussed there and a proper decision taken."
She ignored the reference to ‘proper’ and replied: "Since you agreed with me that such an act should lead to instant dismissal, I see no reason for this." She got up. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Deng. I have already requested that personnel submit files of potential candidates to the position of director of HST research and will circulate them to the executive group in due course."
"Miss Shen, the matter of my son is not finished."
"It is for me, Mr. Deng, and I won’t hold you up any longer, since you have an important meeting." She walked around her desk, sat again, and started reading a report.
He stared at her in outrage for several seconds. "Young woman, this —"
She armed herself for the showdown, locked eyes with him, and interrupted him sharply: "Mr. Deng, there is nothing further to discuss."
For a moment she thought he was going to attack her, but he turned abruptly and left the office, leaving the door wide open. It was promptly closed by her secretary.
Only then did she notice that the door to Atun’s office had been a crack open and she fe
lt Atun’s mind, his pride. "Come in, Atun."
The door was pushed open and he entered. She got up and ran to him. "Hold me, hold me," she whispered and allowed herself to let go and be comforted in his arms.
"How could you remain so calm and in control?"
She raised her face. "Because this is the only way to control the savages. Show them that you are in complete control."
"Oh, Yuen-mong, be serious."
"But I am, Atun. They are nothing but savages." She disengaged herself. "And now it’s Ko Young’s turn."
"Are you up to it? I’ve some news for you… Jack Hart got 40,000 credits, but not from Pat. It came from a trust account that I could trace back to Twan Associates."
"That doesn’t exonerate Pat."
"I know. It means that Pat and Syd are both involved."
"I will deal with Pat when I go to Ko Young. Syd will have to wait a bit longer. Think of me, love."
As she walked out of the office, she told her secretary that she would be back in fifteen to twenty minutes. She went straight to Ko Young’s secretary who to her surprise said: "Miss Shen, go right in. Mr. Young is waiting for you."
For a fraction of a second she was thrown, but then remembered that her last conversation with Atun about either being respected or feared had still been recorded by Ko Young’s equipment before they deactivated the listening chips.
"Yuen-mong, take a seat," he said, as she entered. "I was expecting you."
His mind reflected the usual confusion and a sense of resignation, as if he were waiting to be sentenced. Rather than confront him, she decided to change tack. "Uncle, tell me what was your dream when you were a teenager and a young man?"
"What a strange question."
"Are you willing to share that with me, uncle?"
He pondered this for a while and then said: "I dreamed to become a great painter. I was even offered a one-year scholarship at the Androma Academy of Arts."
"And did you go there?"
"Yes." His eyes lit up.
"Was it a good time of your life?"
"I cannot make you out. Why do you want to know that?"
