[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
a story speculating about the possibility.
I stared at him, wishing I could grab hold of his image and shake the
truth out of him. How much do you Seconders know about the
gates?
Not much more than anyone else. We may have a hint of something,
but I d rather not go into it yet.
I want to know. When can I see you? If there was any possibility at
all of a reunion with Russell and Donna, I wanted the information
right now.
Messler grinned. Looking for a re-match?
I think I blushed, remembering our liaison when he was female. His
teasing remark managed to divert my attention, anyway. Sorry, I
don t swing that way.
ABC Amber LIT Converter
http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
ABC Amber LIT Converter
http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Actually, neither do I. My inclinations were canalized too long ago to
change now, though I did get an idea of how the other side operates
while I was a woman. He grinned some more.
Rita s frown had returned. She leaned forward, as if coming closer to
the screen might intimidate him. I have a question. What on earth
did you think you were doing when you started that Church of the
Gates? They almost started a nuclear war, and two of our friends are
dead as a result.
Messler s eyes filled with regret. You ll have to chalk that up to the
folly of an old man. I was trying to help.
Help? I don t call what they did helping, Rita snarled.
Well, it did help at first, and it wasn t that much of a folly, though if I
had it to do over I would try a different approach. After I re-gained my
youth, I was scared that the government would close off the gates, or
make them exclusive, or slap taxes on them so high that only the rich
could afford passage; something along those lines. You know how
governments are. I gave it some thought and came up with the idea of
starting a religion to support free access to them. It worked, too. Look
at how some other countries are regulating access, or trying to.
Unfortunately, the militant branch got out of hand when your friend
discovered a way to get us out to the stars. I had no way to know such
a breakthrough would take place. Russell was brilliant. His
shoulders slumped as he looked down at his hands and I could sense
his frustration and pain even through the screen.
Rita s frown softened and disappeared except for a couple of up and
down thought lines between her eyebrows.
Did you Seconders have anything to do with rescuing us that time we
were attacked? Are you the one who published Russell s notes?
Messler nodded. I wasn t going to mention it for fear you would
think I was trying to absolve myself, but yes, I did. Even after I
resigned from the church, I kept some contacts. I m sorry we weren t
in time to save his friends. We did save you, though.
Yes, I suppose you did. And I know enough about history to realize
the Gaters probably did play an important role in keeping the gates
open. If they hadn t been, Lee and I would probably be dead from
radiation poisoning.
He waved a hand, disclaiming any credit. Might have beens never
ABC Amber LIT Converter
http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
ABC Amber LIT Converter
http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
prove anything. Who knows? If there hadn t been a church, San
Antonio might never have been bombed.
True, Rita admitted. I guess you did what you thought best. Let s
drop the subject. I want to know more about the Seconders.
So do I, I said.
Messler glanced at his thumb watch. In good time. I d better cut this
off for now. Even with the programmer I ve got working, if we stay
connected long enough someone may hack in. Remember, be discrete
about contacting any of us. Any hint that we re organized, even
indirect evidence, and the government will surely crack down.
President Jones is an ex-general, you know, and the military is still
scared shitless of whatever is behind the gates.
All right, I agreed. Get back to us, though. I still have a lot of
questions.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]