Shadow Knight's Mate by Jay Brandon Read Free Book Online

shoulders slumped, while Arden hugged her and spoke soft words of comfort. At the bar Jack made it a double.
    Exit Interview
    I’m sure this circle was quite extraordinary, wielded more than their share of influence over key political figures, made significant contributions that won them favors. Some were even in the diplomatic service, correct? Or had ties there? But now they’re gone, Mr. Driscoll, and I’m quite sure history will proceed without noticing.
    Jack closed his eyes boredly. But the landscape behind hiseyes was so barren, stretching over the horizon without relief, as his future stretched friendlessly. Only he held the Circle’s legacy now. Over two hundred years of the Real History, never written, never recorded, and over now.
    He knew the interviewer was challenging him so he would try to impress her, but he wanted to say something anyway. The reason for secrecy was gone now, since there would be no more secret intrusions into American history.
    We brought down Communism,
he said quietly.
    The interviewer chuckled.
Your group, by itself, ended Communism?
    You’re right, I’m exaggerating. One of us put an end to the Evil Empire. Well, two. Craig Mortenson woke up grumpy one morning, read his morning
Times,
and said, “This is draining valuable resources that could be used elsewhere.”
    His wife, knowing exactly what he was talking about, said, “It provides a good training ground for some of our people.”
    â€œThat’s not reason enough any more. Plus they’re annoying me.”
    So he set about bringing down the Soviet Union. As he sat musing on how to begin, his wife said, “I’d start by getting a list of the College of Cardinals.” “Hmm,” he replied.
    That was the first step, rigging the election of John Paul II. I mean, a Polish Pope? Didn’t anybody get the joke? How many Poles does it take to bring down Communism?
    It took him more than a decade, and he did recruit a few of us to help, but it was primarily Mortenson’s doing when Mikhail Gorbachev announced the dissolution of the Evil Empire. Mortenson was toasted quietly at the next meeting.
    Jack shrugged.
Well, that’s Craig Mortenson. And the amazing Alicia Mortenson, of course. One of these days the trade imbalance is going to piss him off, and then China better watch its ass.
    The interviewer’s voice showed its first trace of humanity as she cleared her throat and said,
Well, China can proceed without alarm for now. Mr. Mortenson—
    I know,
Jack said. Craig Mortenson had been one of the first to die, even before the final cataclysm.
    The interrogation continued quietly, the interviewer politely ignoring Jack’s tears. He doodled more on the paper.

    Denver
    A group of the younger members, including Jack and Ronald, was having a good time near the bar, telling anecdotes about their jobs and recent lunches. People already knew the important facts, but got a kick out of hearing the details that couldn’t be included in an e-mail, the small signals passed when a mind had been turned.
    â€œHe’d been drumming on the tabletop ever since he got there,” Bill Wong was saying of a recent lunch with an undersecretary of state who had been his college roommate. “Just happy with nervous energy, you know, and as I talked about how sick I was of people stealing my ideas, or worse yet stealing them but changing them, leaving out the best parts, he was drumming more and more slowly until he stopped. Then a minute later he was just tapping on the tabletop, with his fingers like this.” Bill made both his hands into the shapes of pistols, the kind small pretend cowboys make as they say,
kew, kew,
his index fingers pointing like barrels. Everyone laughed.
    Some older members had joined the small crowd too, and Jack was startled to find Arden Spindler at his side. She smiled at him and didn’t say a word.
    â€œYou know,” a young man in a