Investments Read Free Page B

eyes. “You’re not taking up tingo as a substitute for the excitement of combat, are you?”
    “Combat’s easier,” Martinez said. He looked at his brother. “That isn’t true, by the way.”
    “I know.”
    A thought passed through Martinez’ mind. “Mukerji wasn’t playing with our money, was he?”
    “You mean the Company’s? No. His presidency is ceremonial; he doesn’t have access to the accounts. He doesn’t even take a salary.”
    Martinez raised an eyebrow.
    “Oh,” Roland said, “we gave him lots of stock . If the Chee Company does well, so does he.”
    “He may have to sell some of his stock after tonight.”
    Roland shook his head. “He can afford a lot of nights like this.”
    “How many, I wonder?” Terza said. She stroked Martinez’ arm. “I should make sure Gareth’s got to bed. If you’re all right?”
    “I could use a drink.”
    “Absolutely not,” Roland said. “Not if you’re committed to an evening of high play.”
    Martinez let go a long breath. “You’ve got a point.”
    Terza smiled, patted his arm, and went in search of the children. Martinez went to the bar with Roland, ordered an orange juice, and poured it over ice.
    Roland ordered champagne. “You don’t have to rub it in,” Martinez said, and turned to find Severin at his elbow.
    “You’re finding your way all right?” Martinez asked.
    “Yes. There’s a Cree band tuning in the ballroom. I’ll dance.”
    “Good.”
    “I hear you’ve done something spectacular at tingo. Everyone’s talking about it.”
    Martinez felt a tingle of vanity. “I made a mistake early on,” he said, “but I calculated the odds correctly in the end.”
    He explained the play as he made his way back to the parlor. They came to Mukerji, who was speaking with Lord Pa. “If the geologist’s report was in error, then it must be done again, of course,” he said. “I’m sure Cassilda will— ” He broke off, then looked at Martinez. “Lord captain,” he said. “Shall we resume the game?”
    “We seem to be without a few players as yet,” Martinez said. “May I introduce Lieutenant Severin? He saved the empire at Protipanu, and saved me a few months later, during the battle there.”
    Pa looked down from his great height, nictating membranes clearing his red eyes as he gazed at Severin with studious intensity. “I don’t recall any of that in the histories,” he said.
    “The wrong people wrote the histories,” Martinez said. Those same people had decided to keep Severin’s contribution to the war a secret. He had used a trick of physics to physically move a wormhole out from under a Naxid squadron, and since the empire depended for its very existence on the wormholes that knit its systems together, the censors had decided not to remind people that such a thing could be done.
    “In any case, lord lieutenant, I am pleased to meet you,” said Pa to Severin.
    “So am I,” Mukerji said. His long mustache gave a twitch. “You wouldn’t care to join us for a game of tingo?”
    “Thank you, my lord,” Severin said, “but I don’t play.”
    “Don’t play tingo?” Mukerji said, blinking with apparent astonishment. “What do you do in those officers’ clubs or wardrooms or whatever you call them?”
    “Mostly I do paperwork,” Severin said.
    “Perhaps we should actively search for a fifth player,” Martinez said. “I’m not certain that Terza will return from putting Gareth to bed anytime soon.”
    He spoke quickly. He knew that, as someone promoted from the ranks, Severin was unlikely to possess the large private income normal for most officers. Very possibly the unfortunate man was forced to live on his pay. A game of tingo played for high stakes wasn’t simply unwise for a man like Severin, it was impossible.
    Best to get him off the hook as quickly as possible.
    Pa and Mukerji went in search of a tingo player, and Martinez asked Severin about his last voyage, several months in which Surveyor had been