The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

But I think our days of regret are over. Yes? Bring the boy.”

“Thank you, Magnus.”

He pointed his fork at her plate. “You need to eat. It doesn’t taste like much, but it is nutrition. You need a clear mind.”

She followed his advice, vowing she’d never eat from a kiosk again if they escaped Salvation.

“Just so you understand,” he told her, “leaving here and saving that boy will never change what you did. Yes, if you give them enough secrets, the hardliners might try to rehabilitate your history. But you’ll never be forgiven.”

She set down her fork. “I don’t want to be. I saw it happen, Magnus. A nuclear blast cutting through SkyTower end to end. It’s always there. It’s the last thing I’ll see before I die. But if I can do one good th …”

“Excuse me.”

She never saw him coming. Harrison Malwood stood at their table, hands behind his back, wearing a scowl of annoyance – as if he were the one being interrupted.

“Dr. Tomelin. Mr. Levinson. Might I join you?”

“Not now,” Magnus said.

Ophelia added, “I’m sorry, Mr. Malwood. This isn’t a good …”

“Thank you,” Harrison said, taking a seat. “I was surprised to see you both here. In public, I mean. Given your past.”

She turned cold, her eyes frozen on Magnus, who paled.

“I apologize,” Harrison continued. “That wasn’t fair of me. It was a trick I learned years ago. How to confuse and disarm.”

“Or perhaps how to be a cudfrucker,” Magnus said. “You weren’t invited to sit, Malwood.”

“No, I wasn’t. But it’s a moot point. I hope you’re not surprised I know about your past. You do know my role for Brother James?”

Ophelia nodded. “You run intelligence for him.”

“Yes. It’s an unofficial title. I try not to be obvious. I don’t want the crew to think I’m spying on them.”

“Then you’ve succeeded,” she said. “I always wondered why they kept you close, but they never gave me a straight story.”

“It’s been an adventure, I will tell you. Coming and going. I’ve traveled more light-years in the past five months than my entire life.” He turned to Magnus. “I run full background checks on anyone who might serve Salvation’s needs. If not for my report, they never would have taken you from Catalan, Mr. Levinson.”

“Are you looking for thanks?”

“No. But I have been waiting. You two have been a curiosity project. Of course, I already knew your history,” he told Ophelia. “When I researched you,” he turned to Magnus, “I discovered a curious overlap seventeen years ago. The rest wasn’t difficult to find. I’m surprised you took three months to touch base with each other.”

Ophelia held her anger in check. She knew this moment had to be far from coincidental.

“Our lives don’t concern you, Harrison. What’s your game?”

Harrison grabbed Ophelia’s beverage and sipped. He winced.

“No games. I’m aware you’re planning treason.”

She felt disoriented, as if balancing on unsteady wings.

Keep yourself in one piece. He doesn’t know anything.

“Treason?” She rolled her eyes. “Me? I helped Brother James survive SkyTower and I indoctrinated most of Valentin’s immortals.”

“Which makes you the ideal traitor. And now you have your ex-lover to assist you. Yes?”

Magnus silenced her. “No. Enough. We have done nothing but support Salvation’s goals. I’ve said maybe ten words to you in my life, so I don’t know your game. But you need to leave, Mr. Malwood.”

Harrison looked askance. “Voice down, please. If you draw attention, I’ll have to create a scene.”

“No, you won’t,” Ophelia said. “If this was anything other than a bluff, Valentin’s soldiers would have arrested us.”

He sighed. “You misunderstand, Ophelia. I’m not here to arrest you. I’m here to help.”

“With what?”

“You won’t confess. I understand. But consider this, both of you. Most of my time in the fleet involves endless data study. I search holowindows for anything that’s not there. Yes? Brother James demands nothing escape his eye.

“I study every log in this fleet. Every communication. Every entry and exit. Every pattern. I see things where there is nothing. Another trick I learned long ago. In this case, nothing led me to Nathaniel Cay, who is living onboard Haven. He’s very conflicted.” Then to Magnus: “Especially under interrogation.”

Magnus rapped the table. “I’ve had enough. I’m leaving. Ophelia, I’ll speak to you later? Yes?”

“You’re not going anywhere, Mr. Levinson. I haven’t told you how I’m going to help you escape this fleet and become heroes to the Chancellory.”

She saw it in his surviving eye. The man she’d never been able to read came through this time. He’s sincere. I think.

“Why are you telling us this?” She asked.

“Many reasons. The first being that our interests align. You see, I’ll be coming with you. I don’t think any of us will be safe here much longer. Yes?”

“Why? What do you know?”

“More than either of you can imagine. They allowed me into their executive session today. I see the entire picture now.”

“Which is?” Magnus asked.

“In short, they’re going to win. Their plan is more comprehensive than I imagined. I suspect, in the coming days, we will see unprecedented galactic fireworks. And then … well, the farther we are away from Salvation, the better.”

Ophelia bit her tongue. If he really was on to something, he wouldn’t share details in public.

“You sidle up here, mouth off insane accusations, and expect us to trust you, Harrison?”

“No, please. Don’t put yourself out. I haven’t earned your trust. But if this helps, I’ll tell you something even Brother James doesn’t know. I wasn’t a rogue peacekeeper, as I told James. Yes, I did have a tour of duty, but I spent most of my career in Special Services. Learned all my tricks there. True, I did go native after they botched my recursion therapy.”

He pointed to