This Gulf of Time and Stars Read Free Page B

eagerness to come to the Clan’s aid.
    â€œThe Trade Pact has offered every resource,” he finished, pleased to sound normal.
    â€œHave they . . .” murmured Gayle, a perilous smile elongating the legs tattooed beneath her lips.
    These three understood; had hidden themselves almost as successfully as the Clan, acting from the shadows with an effective reach the Board should envy. Everything he had had gone into this toss: to find them, to reach out to arrange this meeting. He’d have their help.
    After that? He’d have justice.
    â€œTheir desperation’s our chance.” Cartnell gestured to themap. “We know where they are—who they are. We can move against them—”
    â€œâ€˜We’?” Fry slammed his hands flat on the table and drove his face through the display, red dots careening into pockmarks and scars. “You mean us, Board Member, that’s who you plan to do your dirty work. Take all the risk and blame. For what?”
    â€œTo put an end to the Clan.” Spiders collided as Gayle scowled at her counterpart. “I didn’t think you a coward.”
    Straightening, Fry yanked down his collar and turned, pointing to the gleam of dull metal where his skull met his neck, flesh ridged in callus along the edge. “We’ve all had these damned things installed just to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Knowing who the Clan are isn’t enough. How can we know whose minds they control?” He took a ragged breath. “I want them gone, but nothing’s worth the risk. If they’re going extinct, I say let them!”
    â€œAgreed.” The Brill’s voice rattled the glasses on the tray. “Grasis-sucking amount of gall, Cartnell, thinking to take on the Clan. Why can’t we wait?”
    He’d prepared for resistance, to bargain, but even as Cartnell readied his arguments, the leader of the Deneb Grays spoke.
    â€œBecause they’re an imminent threat.” Gayle faced the Brill and her counterpart. “Don’t you see? The Clan tolerated us while we had use. Well, now they’ve the Trade Pact. Authority! They’ll want to be seen as law-abiding. How better than to turn on us? How can we know,” her voice lowered, “they haven’t?”
    Cartnell held his breath.
    â€œLess than a thousand,” Fry said after a fraught moment, staring past her into the map. “If we could get them in one place again . . .”
    â€œThat won’t happen,” replied Cartnell. The Clan had been summoned by their own leadership; they hadn’t enjoyed being together. He’d seen it on their faces, in how they’d moved uneasily to keep apart.
    â€œThen it’s impossible.” Fry rubbed a hand over his face, then shook his head. “They’re spread across what, two hundred plus worlds? We don’t have the numbers to hit them simultaneously and that’s the only way, quick and clean.”
    The Brill grunted thoughtfully. “If we did—”
    â€œEven if, forget it. Having Sector Chief Bowman on their side? The instant we struck she’d know exactly who made it possible. Our friend here might consider himself expendable. I don’t.”
    â€œLeave Bowman and the Enforcers to me,” Cartnell said firmly. “It’s the Clan we must be rid of—only then will we be free and safe.” He sat, fighting another gentle wave of dizziness. Expendable, was he? Fry wasn’t wrong. The syndicate leaders were among the lucky ones. Mind-shield implants were risky by nature, being alien tech wired to Human flesh. When that flesh objected—
    He’d time.
    Just not much.
    â€œGayle. Say they give us up. We go low. Wait it out.” Fry spat over one shoulder. “But if the Clan see us coming, we’ll be done, forever. All of us. I say protect what we have. Look to our own.”
    She looked halfway convinced.
    What was that? Cartnell