A Sudden Departure (April Book 9)

by Mackey Chandler

  "I find that. . . encouraging," James said. "He had the highest recommendations of any yard on Home. Do you have any further advice for an. . . outsider?"

  This was the point at which James expected to be told with whom he should do business, or solicited for a bribe.

  Jon thought a bit about it, while making some headway on his cooling breakfast.

  "Dave's place is good. If you need transport Old Man Larkin's line is about the most flexible. He has a lot of pilots on retainer, and will bust his butt to get you a ship at dock on short notice, when the others are all booked up. Just don't expect him to be pleasant. He's an ornery old cuss. If you run into any problems with local supply or funding, talk to Jeff Singh and his partners. He's got connections everywhere and they have their own respectable sources of intelligence too. He's probably aware of you because he does related sub-systems if not whole drives. But he's an honest businessman."

  "I'd be afraid to become too connected to Mr. Singh," James said. "He's too controversial on Earth to want to be identified with him. The public image below is that he resorts to violence on a grand scale far too quickly."

  "You could find a few folks here of the same opinion," Jon admitted. "But most of the complaint that way is going to be from Earth, and other than a few who only manufacture for a Earth market, not many care for what Earthies think anymore. If you need to talk to Jeff do it on the sly and tell him to keep it private. You notice he hasn't bombarded anywhere but China and North America? Why do you think that is?"

  "Nobody else has been stupid enough to shoot at him first?" James asked.

  "Got it in one," Jon said. "You seem to fit the not-stupid demographic if you do ever decide to emigrate."

  "Not likely, but you never know. I might not have any choice if they want to force me to return to Nebraska, the way things are there now. If it becomes plain I'll never inherit the ranch there isn't much else holding me to them," James admitted. "My own folks don't even want me to visit unless things settle down. They're pretty self-sufficient, but traveling there would be an uncertain adventure for me now."

  Jon had as much breakfast as he was going to eat and stood up with his tray.

  "Thank you for answering my concerns. I'll try not to intrude on your time again, but if you have any problems a public servant can address, feel free to come talk to me."

  "Thank you," James said, simply. What he didn't say was how impressed he was that Jon was walking away, and had never even hinted for a bribe. That was amazing.

  Chapter 4

  "Do you know a James Weir?" April asked Jeff.

  Jeff looked surprised. "I know of a James Weir, but I've never met him. I doubt he's your James Weir. I can't imagine you'd know him. He was first author on a rather interesting paper just a few years ago. If I can remember the title," Jeff said, furrowing his brow in thought. "A Model of Quantum Tunneling compliant with Relativity, upon the Interaction of Multiple Forces". I think it had a two co-authors."

  "That's probably the guy," April insisted. "Jon asked me to turn a general inquiry loose in our networks to see what I could find out about him. He's here for a Brazilian company and says he's working on space drives. I hate it when Jon asks me something and I don't already know the answer."

  "I can't imagine applying his research to space drives," Jeff said. "I was looking at it as having more application to electronics. I'll admit I didn't follow his reasoning very well. I might have put more effort into it if I hadn't considered it peripheral to our interests. Did Jon ask you to keep quiet about researching him?"

  "Jon would assume I hold everything closely that has to do with intelligence. But at least now I have something to point him to, like I'm not totally clueless. He said Dave is building hardware for them, so it isn't just theoretical research."

  "Lots of luck getting Dave to tell you anything," Jeff said. "But that's how I expect him to be if anyone comes sniffing around for our projects. I've had him refuse to show me our own stuff until he threw a tarp over other work in the shop."

  "If he's building hardware. . . he'll have to take it out," April pointed out, meaningfully.

  "Yeah, it's not going to be something he can carry out in an attaché case," Jeff agreed. "I'll have Chen set up a permanent surveillance of the north end lift port. We should have done that ages ago anyway. Nothing leaving there should be a surprise to us."

  "It doesn't bother you to snoop on friends?" April asked.

  "Snoop would be spy robots sent in his shop," Jeff said. "Recording what and who comes out a public port isn't anymore snooping than watching the public corridor outside your door."

  April considered that, weighed it against her own tendency to know everything happening she could. . .

  "Agreed. I believe that is a moral, defensible position."

  "Good, then you can call and tell Chen to do it," Jeff said. "He takes orders from you better than from me."

  At April's lifted eyebrow he explained. "He usually figures he knows why I'm asking him to investigate things, and he'll argue with me about using the resources. With you, he's stopped asking why and just expects to be confounded. Chen's still trying to figure out how you connect the dots on things. He still mutters occasionally about you calling him up and asking him to research the succession of ancient Spanish royalty from your club."

  "OK, I'd be happy to do that for you. Have you figured out how I connect the dots?" April asked.

  "I never expected you could explain how you do it yourself," Jeff admitted. "I just assume we think very differently, and it's a plus for both of us to contribute disparate talents. What's bothering me now is that I'd have expected this Mr. Weir and I should think much more alike. I usually understand the reasoning behind physics. It's straightforward, and my sort of thing. . . I need to go back and read his paper again and see what I missed."

  "You do that. And if it still doesn't click, he's on station. Ask him to dinner, or you'd be secure to talk to him over the local net. Maybe he'd explain," April suggested.

  "I'll drop a message to him," Jeff agreed.

  * * *

  April had the filter on her phone set to ask her if she'd take calls from anyone she hadn't spoken with before. She didn't like to do that, but did so after explaining to half a dozen strangers that she wasn't going to make multiple private statements about defending Jeff. When it came up in the Assembly she'd satisfy everybody at once in a public forum. She'd check out the callers first now.

  The last lady had pushed her over the edge to filter her calls. She'd said, "Well, what if it doesn't come up in the Assembly?" April kindly pointed out she could bring the matter up for discussion if nobody else did, as long as she was a registered taxpaying voter. "You are, aren't you?" April inquired. The woman hadn't affirmed she was qualified and ended the call quickly. April didn't need any more of that level of foolishness.

  The next call was somebody she knew, but who rarely called her, Dr. Ames.

  "Hello Jelly, how is the gene business going?" April asked.

  "Surprisingly well. It'll go even better when your friend Jeff gets the extra housing functioning. I need some hotel rooms open for patients. I crammed myself into practically a hot slot to make two guest rooms for patients. Even with the extra fees I get for that I'm anxious to dismantle them and get my own comfortable cubic back.

  April had a sudden thought. "Maybe you should open an auxiliary clinic at Central. Heather is trying to get businesses to move in. Talk to her at least," she suggested.

  "I like it on Home. I hear the moon is still pretty rough. Nobody has any clubs or restaurants open yet. There's still lots of bare tunnel walls and lack of retail. My customers tend to be high income for Earthies, and used to their little luxuries. Just like me."

  "I don't mean for you to move there. Just set up a treatment center. You could even do all your evaluations here and send them to Central for the actual procedures. The difference in housing costs more than pays for the shuttle ride."

  "Oh! I sup
pose I could," but he didn't sound like he had any enthusiasm for it. "We haven't had any problem with adverse reactions. And if we did I'm not sure what I could do to intervene any better than anybody else. I just like everything under my direct control. Chalk that up to my controlling personality," Ames admitted.

  "I think that's useful in a business owner, to a degree," April allowed. "But it limits the size and scope of your operation. There only so much you can personally oversee without delegating."

  "Yeah, the idea of somebody acting in my name. . . off on the moon, is kind of scary," Jelly said. "How would you feel about having a procedure done by a nurse or technician? Because that's why I called, to tell you I have a new mod if you are interested."

  "If it's no more invasive than the others you've done for me I'd be fine with that. It's not like going to China with a language barrier, and if they give you the wrong IV you may end up with gills and webbed hands," April said.

  Jelly grimaced. "And irreversible too. Or at least that's the rumor."

  "So, what are you selling now? Telepathy? Chameleon skin with conscious control? It would be nice to be tartan plaid on demand, or have humming birds chasing each other around as the mood strikes."

  Jelly blinked and looked stunned, trying to visualize that.

  "Alas, I'm afraid it is much more mundane and practical," he admitted. "I studied people who sleep very little and function very well despite that. I was able to identify several contributing genes. It doesn't allow you to function on as little sleep as the best of them, but it knocks off two or three hours of your optimum amount of sleep needed each night."

  "People actually spend money for that?" April asked, skeptical.

  "Well of course! Just think what you can do with a couple extra hours a day." He seemed upset she wasn't as enthused about the idea as him.

  "I suppose if you worked a shift job," April allowed. "You have to be there and give them a set number of hours, so that would expand your own time."

  "Come on. . . have you never stopped reading a book because you were too sleepy to continue? Never left a fun party because you had to go home and go to bed? Surely even with your business life there are things you put off until tomorrow because you ran out of time today?" Jelly insisted.

  "Maybe," April agreed reluctantly. "But I enjoy my sleep too, and feeling recharged and ready to go in the morning after a good night's sleep."

  ""That's the point," Jelly said. "You still get that, but with less time invested. If I were selling it by the hour, instead of the ability all at once, I'd make a fortune. Busy people would buy their additional two hours a day at a steep rate."

  "You're persuading me. What exactly is the 'all at once' rate? I might be a customer if the pay-back isn't years and years forward."

  "A Solar and a quarter, and no quarantine needed after treatment, so you aren't investing any time now. Just a half hour to come by and get a deciliter infused. If you were a semi-skilled shift worker you'd break even at your pay rate within the quarter," Jelly said.

  "OK, I'll do it," April decided. "And just have your tech do me. It'll be good training for you."

  "Am I allowed to poke my head in and say hello?" Jelly asked.

  "Only if you bring coffee," April allowed.

  "Fine. Come by any time," Jelly invited. "We can do this in my office and not tie up a treatment room. But I'll have the tech do the hands on," he agreed, before she could object.

  "Sometime tomorrow," April promised. "I'll ask Jeff if he wants it too. Bye."

  Jelly wasn't offended when she disconnected abruptly. Just amused she no longer tried to negotiate a group deal at a lower price like before. A Solar and a quarter must not be so dear anymore.

  * * *

  Jonathan Hughes examined the access to his cabin critically. It hadn't been much of a thoroughfare before, just two worn ruts from turning off the county dirt road. It never got used enough to kill the weeds between the two tire tracks. There was neither a mailbox nor a sign with a cute name like so many posted for their get-away cottage. Now, he'd made every effort to fill in the dips as far from the edge of the road as you could see. He'd piled the dirt a little higher than the surrounding area, knowing once they had a couple rains it would settle.

  He didn't want any visitors scouting for unused cottages, or worse, outright raiders and outlaws. Worse of all, officials looking to collect taxes they couldn't pay. There were several other places free of trees where he could drive his truck onto the road. He didn't expect to do that often, and he wouldn't use the same place twice to leave permanent tracks. Indeed he intended to eventually obscure his tire ruts all the way to the cabin so they couldn't be seen from the air.

  The exit was still obvious to his eye. But he was standing still and knew what he was looking at. Somebody driving along would have to be looking mighty sharply to see it once it settled a bit. He'd put sod and a few small bushes on his fill. He decided he'd find a small tree and plant it right in the middle, soon. The same needed to be done at the cabin. It was set back in the trees but there was an open area in front that could be filled with young trees. Digging a big enough hole by hand was an all day job. He'd try to do a couple before the ground froze for the season.

  His daughter and son-in-law hadn't shown up in the two weeks since they'd arrived. If they were coming they'd better hurry. The leaves changing color higher up had been obvious when they arrived and now, two weeks later, the Aspen around the cabin were showing signs too. If they were walking and took too long the first snow could catch them. If they did show up things would be tight for food before spring, but then the extra hands would help. They could hunt and there was fishing a couple miles away. In the spring the younger people would be a big help gathering and planting carefully hidden gardens. He intended to do that in thin strips along the southern edge of wooded areas. Not in neat rectangles that would be visible from the air. He wished he had a greater variety of seed, but too late now.

  From what little they could hear on the radio Jon didn't expect to ever go back home. He doubted the Co-op, as such, would ever be operated again, and there was nothing else there for him. This was going to be home now, for better or for worse. He never expected to leave the county again. He was just glad his wife hadn't gotten the idea to go searching for the kids. That would be a dangerous undertaking and likely futile, he was convinced. Circumstances could force them to take any number of routes, and the truth was they may have never started. They could easily pass each other or get into trouble and never make it back. Wouldn't that be ironic if the kids showed up here, wondering where they were?

  * * *

  "Oh yeah. Sign me up," Jeff said immediately when told about Jelly's sleep reducer. April was a little irritated he didn't pause and ask what the down side was to it. He certainly had for every other gene mod they had been offered. It must have shown on her face.

  "What? You don't like it? Are you going to take a pass on this one?"

  "No. I'm going to get it. I just don't understand why you guys are so enthused. It doesn't matter how many hours a day you have, there's always more to be done than the time available and you have to just set priorities and keep plugging away at it. It's a little help I admit."

  "It's a big help," Jeff insisted, looking dismayed. "Look. An extra two hours a day is seven hundred thirty hours a year. That's an extra month of working time tacked on a year." April still had that polite neutral look that said she didn't agree but wasn't going to argue.

  "Think of it this way," Jeff invited. "I'm working on some really long range projects. Assuming everything else is equal then twelve years from now I'll have a full year lead on any Earthie working in the same field. It can make the difference between who files the patents or brings something to market first. Well, unless I just use the extra time to play handball and watch video."

  "I sort of assumed you are off on a different tack, not directly competing with any Earthies," April said, making a veering motion off to the side with her hand to
illustrate.

  "You're sweet," Jeff allowed, "but you give me too much credit. I'm not a great theoretical thinker. I don't have any illusions that way. If I have any talent it's integrating other people's work. So depending on the level of their work. . . I'm never that far out ahead of the broad state of the art."

  "I'm not comfortable competing for everything," April admitted. "People go a bit nuts on it. That's why Earthie sports events look crazy to me. Yes, somebody has to win, but somebody has to lose too. You'd think from the way they act that they'd lost a war and their nation was being dissolved when they lose a football game. It creeps me out. I know competition is the reality we have to deal with, but I'd rather cooperate when it can be done. Competition can waste so much time and resources if you are both just racing to the same goal."

  "You'd think I'd have figured out that's how you think by now, without you explicitly saying it, but I hadn't," Jeff admitted. "I agree, it's nice when people can cooperate, but that not how a lot of things work. Even law is adversarial. Well, Earth law. I'm not sure how to characterize ours yet. But Earthies aren't going to cooperate with us about anything important. Most of them would be laughing behind their hand at the idea. Of course a lot of Earth law and regulation give lip service to competition. They actually just want to maintain the status quo. Look at how their banking system has been treating us.

  "Competition can be very beneficial if you're not sure which approach is going to solve a problem. But only if you give it free rein. That is in fact why central planning fails so often. They pick a winner way too early, supposedly in the interests of efficiency, and back it to the bitter end no matter how badly it's working."

  "I can see all that," April agreed. "I just don't like all the drama associated with it, and the bad behavior and cheating some losers display."