Moon Flower Read Free Page A

Milicorp SFC was Carl Janorski.”
    This time Callen nodded. “I know him. He was in charge of the air strikes we ran in the Zaire coup a couple of years ago.” Callen had been there to handle Milicorp’s ground liaison. On that occasion the rebels had been supported by funding from South American drug sources and been able to outbid the government, which had resulted in a regime change.
    Borland nodded. “That’s the one. This time we kept careful tabs, and again everything indicated that they arrived in good shape.... And now the same thing is happening again.”
    “Even with someone like Carl there? I don’t believe it!”
    “He’s still at Revo base, sure enough. But the person they sent as Director — a guy called Emner, who was supposed to find the previous ambassador — is saying he can’t follow the policy directives because whoever dreamed it up at Interworld doesn’t understand the situation. Meanwhile, the scientists have started taking off. It’s the same story.”
    “And no one knows why?”
    “No one knows why — and Interworld are in panic mode. And since we provided the security on both missions, we’re not only involved contractually but our professional image is at stake.” Borland paused. A big part of Callen’s job was being called in as the Mr. Fixit when regular measures failed. He had already recognized the pattern. There was no need for him to say anything. He nodded resignedly and waited for Borland to spell it out. “A ship called the Tacoma is being made ready for a relief mission to Cyrene to see what can be salvaged. We’re putting together a team to investigate what the hell’s been going on there, and I want you to head it up, Myles. Take a day’s break to unwind after this Tiwa Jaku business. Then we want you back here to start briefing on what’s being put together. Liftout from Earth orbit is scheduled six days from now. What kind of situation you’re likely to find when you get there, I’ve no idea.”
    Callen made a face. “If it’s a two-month trip, then if things can deteriorate as fast as you’ve indicated, nobody could have.” He made a so-so shrug and curled his lip cynically. “Okay, apart from the unknowns it sounds pretty straightforward.”
    Borland let things hang just long enough to give the impression that it might be that simple. Then, “There’s one other thing,” he said.
    There always was. “Of course,” Callen replied.
    “Interworld has a considerable investment in the work of a research scientist called Evan Wade, who was one of the scientists who went missing from the first mission.”
    “What kind of work does he do?” Callen asked.
    “Some kind of physics. He did private work on contract before enrolling for Cyrene, but in years gone by he was with the State University at Berkeley. He got himself a reputation there as something of a subversive with left-leaning ideas. Ran off-campus student meetings, organized demonstrations; that kind of thing. Interworld are concerned that he could be working some kind of deal with the Cyreneans to give away know-how for free that would enable them to develop the resources there themselves, which could undermine investment opportunities here. We need to keep relations with Interworld sweet. I want you to find this guy Wade and bring him back — by persuasion if possible, but forcibly if necessary.”
    “It doesn’t sound as if he’s likely to be very persuasively inclined,” Callen commented. “What kind of leverage do I have to use? Anything?”
    “Interworld claims that he still has unfulfilled contractual obligations with them,” Borland replied. “The terms don’t say anything about being nullified by jumping ship. You might be able to make something out of that. If not, as I said, do whatever you have to.”
    Callen got the impression that Borland held little stock in the first option and had mentioned it merely for form. Giving a direct order for abduction by force was not