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for a cup of liftea. A melon supplied by hidden means followed the liftea. Nextcame thehygienarium and a complete fresher. After dressing, he settled behind the small console in the private study of his quarters, turning to watch the early morning clouds scatter and the golden sun lifta silver dew off the towers. As he looked out through the wide window, he marveled at the fact that the day was basically his. No matter how he d gotten steamed up about things, the Empire was on its weekend break, and negotiations would not be held.Period. At the Institute, somehow, he d never gotten into the habit of a regular division between work and play. Still& his time on New Augusta would be limited. Should he go sight-seeing?Alone?With whom? Would Sylvia consider showing him some sights? He recovered her card from his pouch and studied it, checking the time on the console.Too early to call anyway. He passed the next hour by studying the figures on the trade balances, mentally calculating the amount of increased Imperial tariffs Accord could absorb and which of its own tariffs Accord could realistically drop below the levels in the proposal to the Empire. The parameters were simple enough, but he d have to wait for the actual negotiations to see what the Empire might accept, assuming that Marcella was right and that he would see some progress in the next few days. He put the papers back into his datacase and stretched. Finally, after letting his fingers stray toward the console and onto the key studs and pulling them back twice, he punched out the New Augusta directory on the screen, requesting the listing for Sylvia Ferro-Maine. A single number was listed.Private Tower Orange. He tapped out the number, wondering if she would stay on the screen once she saw his face. The faxscreen chimed four times, but there was no answer and no recording. Could she actually be at work? He tried the Senator s office. Senator Helmsworth s office. The face that appeared on the screen was another woman, Page 130 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html black, with curly brown hair, strong nose, and flashing teeth. Lord Whaler, from the Accord Legation.I was looking for Sylvia Ferro-Maine. Just a moment, Lord Whaler. Sylvia appeared shortly, wearing her casual yellow-striped tunic, the top two buttons undone, and with her dark hair loose. Workingare you? We work most days, Lord Whaler. Is there any chance that I could persuade you otherwise?To show me a few sights later in the day? I ll be tied up until early afternoon. That would be fine. Early afternoon, I mean. Should I meet you somewhere? Why don t I meet you at your Legation around1400. You have a duty officer who can call you? There is one. Always, he added ruefully. Then at 1400, dear Envoy. Nathaniel found himself staring at a blank screen. He leaned back. In the meantime, what could he do? Why was he so restless? He let his eyes traverse the console. Stir the pot with a few more anonymous tips? He smiled. Snooped or not, his hidden watchers couldn t stop his communications. Sam, he began on the keyboard, have you heard thel atest about the Envoy from the black planet? His staff is losing their minds. At least one did, wiped all the way back to age eighteen, poor fellow. He s the one who visited the Envoy s office just before the fireworks exploded. Rumor has it that he was on three separate payrolls, and only one was Accord s. Nathaniel knew it was weak, but it would keep Sam s mind on the Accord issue and might get a phrase or two in the gossip section. He sent it off and found himself pacing around the study, which felt too small, looking at the time on the console, wanting 1400 to arrive. He debated running through aworkout but rejected the idea. Compromising, he sat down back in front of the console and accessed historical information on New Augusta, deciding to see if he could learn anything new while he waited. Surprisingly, the Empire apparently had no problem with open library files. The index alone was massive. That whetted his interest and encouraged him to dig in. Buzz! He barely resisted the urge to jump before tapping the plate on the screen. Lord Whaler? Heather was on the screen. He looked for the time. 1407. Yes? A lady in the reception area says you are expecting her. Ms. Ferro-Maine? Ah, yes. I ll be there shortly. He shut down the screen. So far he d gotten through the founding of New Augusta and the events leading up to the creation of the Empire from the Page 131 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html wreckage of the Second Federation. Realizing he was still in a set of undress greens, he retreated to his bedroom for a quick change to a tan tunic and matching trousers. Sylvia rose when he entered the reception area. Since the morning, she had changed into ashort-sleeved, dark blue tunic trimmed with white, with [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |