[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"Icarus."
"Hmm?"
"I don't have a hidden agenda. Nor do I intend to use you or mislead you with my charm."
Despite herself, she smiled, glancing at him. His face was studiously neutral.
"The day you act charming, I'll know something is wrong."
"Good."
Taya watched him as he looked back down at his work. He still reminded her of a crow, his unruly
black hair sticking on end and his black greatcoat wrapped around him. Just like a crow. Loud and
mocking, but not without a sardonic sense of humor.
"It's nice to know that you care what I think about you, she added. And it hasn't even made you do
anything stupid yet."
He looked up and blinked at her once, puzzled. Then he realized what she was saying. He frowned.
"Wanting to avoid yet another unfounded accusation isn't the same thing as worrying "
"Be careful, exalted. You're about to talk yourself into a corner."
"Have you finished looking through all those papers? he asked peevishly, sticking his beak back into the
file he was holding.
They abandoned the office as the sun began to hang low between the mountains. Back in the Octavus
foyer, Taya strapped on her icarus armature.
"Did you find anything useful? Viera asked, holding a sleepy Ariq as they took their leave. Subdued
voices from the parlor indicated that she had more visitors.
"A list of his intended votes on upcoming issues, and a better understanding of what kind of man he
was, Cristof said. He took her hand and held it a moment. Caster thought things through very carefully
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and did his research. I'm impressed."
"I wish you had known each other better. Viera sighed, then leaned forward and kissed his thin cheek.
Good luck, Cris. I'm still annoyed at you, but be careful. Don't let them take anyone else away from
me."
"I won't. He returned the kiss and stepped back as Viera hugged Taya, Ariq squirming between them.
"You be careful, too."
"I will. Taya looked down at Ariq. He stared at her, his cheek against his mother's shoulder. Bye-bye,
Ariq. I'll see you later."
They walked down the estate path to the gate. A cold wind blew past them as they stepped out into the
street, and long shadows stretched across the cobblestones.
"I told Dispatch I was working with you, so I don't need to report back, Taya said, glancing up at the
red-streaked sky. What time is it?"
"A little past four, Cristof replied, glancing at his gold watch.
"I think the bomber was after Alister. A gust of wind tugged her wings, carrying the faint smell of smoke
from the factories far below on Tertius. There doesn't seem to be any reason to target Exalted Octavus,
but Alister was working on all those important programs. Plus, he knew something was going on, even if
he thought you were the one involved. He must have said something to tip off the real spy."
"Unfortunately, any proof of that would be up there. Cristof pointed to the isolated Oporphyr Tower.
Do you know how long it will take to fix the wireferry?"
"A week or two, if they can beat the first snow, Taya said. If it snows, it'll take longer."
"Damn. Cristof stared up at the mountaintop. That's the next place we need to go to search for clues."
"I could fly up."
Cristof paused, then looked thoughtful as he contemplated her metal wings.
"Would you know what to look for?"
"Anything useful, she said, deadpan. He made a disgusted sound and looked back up at the
mountaintop.
"It's too dangerous. We don't know where the killer's hiding."
"I could take you with me. She glanced at the low sun. But not until dawn."
Cristof's expression grew guarded.
"What do you mean, take me with you?"
"Flying. You know, Alister kept joking about going flying. He wanted me to bring him some wings and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
take him aloft. I never did, though. If Cristof hadn't been suspended from the investigation, it would be
easy to get him to the Tower. But doing it secretly posed some problems. She thought through the
problem out loud. We could leave tomorrow morning, as soon as it gets light. Paulo's on
midnight-to-dawn shift. If we're lucky, he'll be dozing and won't notice that we're using the dock. First
shift starts when the sun crests the mountain, so we could be long gone before anyone else gets there. If
we use guest wings, someone might notice, but check-in and check-out are a little chaotic right now. And
it'd be safer than taking somebody's personal wings."
"I'd have to wear wings?"
"Well, it's the only way up. I can counterweight you and keep a safety line between us. You wouldn't be
in any danger. She nodded, satisfied. I think it would work."
"If we're caught "
"If we're caught, you're going to use every ounce of influence you can muster make sure I'm not
grounded for the rest of my life, Taya stated. I'm willing to help you, but not at the price of my
freedom."
For a moment Cristof seemed to debate with himself, taking off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his
nose. Then he sighed, pushing the frames back into place again.
"I'm certain that between Viera and I, we can keep you safe from prosecution. And I can't think of any
other way we'll be able to search Alister's offices in a timely fashion. He shoved his hands into his
pockets, looking down at the street. Tomorrow morning?"
"We'll kick off the moment you can see your hand in front of your face, she affirmed.
"All right."
"By the way, what did you do with those punch cards? Taya asked. Are we going to take them with
us?"
"No. I returned them to Lt. Amcathra this morning. I'd prefer to have kept them, but they're safer under
lock and key. I've also put in a recommendation that the Labyrinth Code be rewritten as soon as
possible."
"Maybe Kyle's team could do it."
"I suggested them."
"That was nice of you."
"I owed it to Alister."
Taya was pleased. Underneath Cristof's prickly exterior and lack of interpersonal skills, he had a sense
of fairness she was starting to appreciate.
They fell silent as they walked. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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"Icarus."
"Hmm?"
"I don't have a hidden agenda. Nor do I intend to use you or mislead you with my charm."
Despite herself, she smiled, glancing at him. His face was studiously neutral.
"The day you act charming, I'll know something is wrong."
"Good."
Taya watched him as he looked back down at his work. He still reminded her of a crow, his unruly
black hair sticking on end and his black greatcoat wrapped around him. Just like a crow. Loud and
mocking, but not without a sardonic sense of humor.
"It's nice to know that you care what I think about you, she added. And it hasn't even made you do
anything stupid yet."
He looked up and blinked at her once, puzzled. Then he realized what she was saying. He frowned.
"Wanting to avoid yet another unfounded accusation isn't the same thing as worrying "
"Be careful, exalted. You're about to talk yourself into a corner."
"Have you finished looking through all those papers? he asked peevishly, sticking his beak back into the
file he was holding.
They abandoned the office as the sun began to hang low between the mountains. Back in the Octavus
foyer, Taya strapped on her icarus armature.
"Did you find anything useful? Viera asked, holding a sleepy Ariq as they took their leave. Subdued
voices from the parlor indicated that she had more visitors.
"A list of his intended votes on upcoming issues, and a better understanding of what kind of man he
was, Cristof said. He took her hand and held it a moment. Caster thought things through very carefully
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
and did his research. I'm impressed."
"I wish you had known each other better. Viera sighed, then leaned forward and kissed his thin cheek.
Good luck, Cris. I'm still annoyed at you, but be careful. Don't let them take anyone else away from
me."
"I won't. He returned the kiss and stepped back as Viera hugged Taya, Ariq squirming between them.
"You be careful, too."
"I will. Taya looked down at Ariq. He stared at her, his cheek against his mother's shoulder. Bye-bye,
Ariq. I'll see you later."
They walked down the estate path to the gate. A cold wind blew past them as they stepped out into the
street, and long shadows stretched across the cobblestones.
"I told Dispatch I was working with you, so I don't need to report back, Taya said, glancing up at the
red-streaked sky. What time is it?"
"A little past four, Cristof replied, glancing at his gold watch.
"I think the bomber was after Alister. A gust of wind tugged her wings, carrying the faint smell of smoke
from the factories far below on Tertius. There doesn't seem to be any reason to target Exalted Octavus,
but Alister was working on all those important programs. Plus, he knew something was going on, even if
he thought you were the one involved. He must have said something to tip off the real spy."
"Unfortunately, any proof of that would be up there. Cristof pointed to the isolated Oporphyr Tower.
Do you know how long it will take to fix the wireferry?"
"A week or two, if they can beat the first snow, Taya said. If it snows, it'll take longer."
"Damn. Cristof stared up at the mountaintop. That's the next place we need to go to search for clues."
"I could fly up."
Cristof paused, then looked thoughtful as he contemplated her metal wings.
"Would you know what to look for?"
"Anything useful, she said, deadpan. He made a disgusted sound and looked back up at the
mountaintop.
"It's too dangerous. We don't know where the killer's hiding."
"I could take you with me. She glanced at the low sun. But not until dawn."
Cristof's expression grew guarded.
"What do you mean, take me with you?"
"Flying. You know, Alister kept joking about going flying. He wanted me to bring him some wings and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
take him aloft. I never did, though. If Cristof hadn't been suspended from the investigation, it would be
easy to get him to the Tower. But doing it secretly posed some problems. She thought through the
problem out loud. We could leave tomorrow morning, as soon as it gets light. Paulo's on
midnight-to-dawn shift. If we're lucky, he'll be dozing and won't notice that we're using the dock. First
shift starts when the sun crests the mountain, so we could be long gone before anyone else gets there. If
we use guest wings, someone might notice, but check-in and check-out are a little chaotic right now. And
it'd be safer than taking somebody's personal wings."
"I'd have to wear wings?"
"Well, it's the only way up. I can counterweight you and keep a safety line between us. You wouldn't be
in any danger. She nodded, satisfied. I think it would work."
"If we're caught "
"If we're caught, you're going to use every ounce of influence you can muster make sure I'm not
grounded for the rest of my life, Taya stated. I'm willing to help you, but not at the price of my
freedom."
For a moment Cristof seemed to debate with himself, taking off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his
nose. Then he sighed, pushing the frames back into place again.
"I'm certain that between Viera and I, we can keep you safe from prosecution. And I can't think of any
other way we'll be able to search Alister's offices in a timely fashion. He shoved his hands into his
pockets, looking down at the street. Tomorrow morning?"
"We'll kick off the moment you can see your hand in front of your face, she affirmed.
"All right."
"By the way, what did you do with those punch cards? Taya asked. Are we going to take them with
us?"
"No. I returned them to Lt. Amcathra this morning. I'd prefer to have kept them, but they're safer under
lock and key. I've also put in a recommendation that the Labyrinth Code be rewritten as soon as
possible."
"Maybe Kyle's team could do it."
"I suggested them."
"That was nice of you."
"I owed it to Alister."
Taya was pleased. Underneath Cristof's prickly exterior and lack of interpersonal skills, he had a sense
of fairness she was starting to appreciate.
They fell silent as they walked. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]