Dinner With Family by Hiroyuki Morioka (best novels for teenagers TXT) 📕

that far. We used non-exploding irzamh (mass-shells). And extremely lightweight ones, at that.”

“Did the landworld citizens heed your warning to clear out?”

“That, I’m sorry to say, I do not know. I can tell you we gave them six hours before attacking. I judged that to be enough time to properly evacuate.”

Jint thanked him for his time, and dropped the call.

“Were those anti-orbital weapons manned?” asked Lafier.

“No. Or at least, they weren’t before the war.”

“That’s good, then. No lives were lost — only objects.”

“That is a relief, but those cannons were a comforting presence for us. Though I did leave the planet soon after it happened, so I’m not totally in the know...”

“After what happened?”

“Oh, sorry, I mean after you peo — er, after the Empire annexed the Hyde Countdom. My father took the Empire up on a deal — he handed over control of the anti-orbital weapons in exchange for being made the system’s Lord. The most powerful of the anti-orbital weapons were the Forr Da Antohbeeta. The people of the planet had pride in them, I think, not to mention how reliant they felt on them. They were the Forr Da Antohbeeta, the dread weapons even the massive and powerful Empire feared! That they were misconstrued as fake little playthings meant for combat exercises comes as a pretty huge shock.”

“I don’t claim to understand, but surely there’s nothing for you to get so upset over,” she said, trying to be nice in her own Lafier way. “It’s not as though you created them yourself.”

“I didn’t create them myself, no. But it’s only natural I’m upset. My dad became a noble thanks to the Forr Da Antohbeeta. Which means I have them to thank for my being nobility, too.”

“You can look at it that way,” she replied, though not without feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

“Lonh-Dreur,” said Sobash. “Would you care to speak to the landworld administration?”

“I can?”

“Yes. I just got the Commandant’s permission. All that’s needed now is your and the landworld administration’s consent.”

“Well, you know I definitely consent. Please, go ahead.”

Sobash nodded lightly and signaled to the Communications Officer.

“This is the raid ship Flicaubh of the Imperial Star Forces,” started the Officer. “I’m calling on behalf of the Count of Hyde, who would like to speak with the landworld administration. If you wish to speak with the Count, please reply through this frequency. This is the Imperial Star Forces...”

Given the lead-up to this moment, Jint wasn’t holding his breath for a reply. Yet his pessimism was turned on its head quite readily.

“This is the Government of the Hyde Star System,” came a woman’s voice, speaking in eerily fluent Baronh, “calling in reply. Please bring the one who was given the title of Count Hyde by your polity.”

Sobash beckoned, and so Jint now stood before the receiver. “This is Linn Ssynec Raucr Dreuc Haïder Ghintec. May I ask who’s speaking?”

“First, I would like to verify your identity. Are you the Jint Lynn? Son of Former President Rock Lynn?”

“I am,” he said. Man, how long’s it been since I last got called “Jint Lynn”?

“I shall hand the call to the President of the Hyde Star System.”

After a brief interval of silence...

“Long time no see, Jint.”

Jint had no need to ask who this was. That voice made it all too clear.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me I need to say who I am?”

“Oh, no worries there, Till.” Speaking in his native Martinese caused him difficulty speaking.

“Hey, is that really you, Jint? Your voice is totally different, and you’ve got a strange accent.”

“My voice broke, Till. I’m not a kid anymore.” The banter of the man who was a father to him remained as clumsy as he remembered. “And it’s been such a long time since I’ve had to speak Martinese.”

“I’m relieved. Now, the two of us talking are Jint Lynn and Till Corint. Not ‘His Excellency the Count of Hyde,’ and not the ‘President of the Hyde Star System.’ Am I wrong?”

“This call is pretty cost-intensive for a family chat, Till.”

“Are you really Jint? The Jint I know wasn’t the type to be talking money.”

“I’ve lived alone for a long time. I don’t think getting a sense for the economic side of things is too far out of left field.”

Jint scanned the bridge. While it didn’t seem as though anybody was eavesdropping, the place was nearly silent apart from the faint hum of the machines. They’d overhear. Putting aside the standards of Abh culture, engaging in a family chat while getting overheard was not exactly pleasant according to his own standards — despite the fact he knew nobody here would understand what he was saying.

“I think it’d be prudent to shift this conversation to my personal quarters,” said Jint, half to himself.

“I don’t mind,” said Sobash. “However, as the call is linked to Star Forces operations, the contents will be recorded, and later translated.”

“That’s fine. I’m not trying to keep the conversation confidential. It’s more just the mood of the room that’s the problem.”

“Hey, Till,” called Jint, who’d withdrawn into his quarters. “How’s Lina doing?”

“She’s doing great. She wants to see you, you know,” he replied, with nary a pause — as though he’d been anticipating the question.

“Really?” Old memories resurfaced, driving pins into his heart. But he couldn’t sit here and bawl, or cry liar! That was a privilege he lost when he grew up.

“Really,” said Till. “We’ve been looking back ever since it happened. If I don’t get to tell you anything else, know that, at least.”

Jint listened raptly.

“Something had gotten into us. There was no reason to be lashing out at you.”

“It’s okay, Till,” Jint forgave him. “Nobody could’ve come to grips that quickly.”

“Thank you for saying that, Jint, but I fell into a hole of sin. I thought I’d held you in my heart as my own son, but then I went and treated you so shamefully.”

“It’s fine, I’m telling you.”

“Rock was my best friend. I thought I knew every facet of the man. But when I heard his