Midnight Harvest by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Read Free Book Online Page A

immediately. You will stay on in the engineering design department, in charge of your three projects, but under supervision; I will only reduce your salary by ten percent. But there will be certain restrictions on you: you will not be permitted to take any plans or papers home, so if you wish to work past the usual hours, you will have to do it here. I am aware that the schematics are all in your head and I cannot compel you to forget the work you do when you leave, but I ask you to honor the terms of this agreement and devote yourself only to Eclipse.” He gave Lundhavn an opportunity to speak, and accepted his silence as an inclination to consider his offer. “You will keep the auto Eclipse provides. You need not give up this office, or your secretary. But you will relinquish all your developmental records not presently in development to me. My attorneys will draw up a revised contract for your signature and you will sign it without revision.”
    “You could put anything in such a contract, and claim that my refusal to sign would excuse your dismissing me.” He propped his elbows on the desk and steepled his hands above them. “It would let you be rid of me without allowing me any recourse.”
    Saint-Germain nodded once. “I have already explained why I would prefer not.”
    “You want me to be grateful to you,” Lundhavn said with conviction.
    “Gratitude can be very unreliable,” said Saint-Germain apologetically. “Say rather that I am hoping you might wish to keep most of what you have enjoyed rather than try to depend on the … loyalty of the generals.”
    Lundhavn tapped his fingers together. “You mean to tell me that because I haven’t been as steadfast as you would have liked, I might be paid by the same coin?”
    “It is a possibility,” said Saint-Germain. “And given your talents, you might not find it easy to leave Spain for another country, as you might intend to do.” It was only a guess, but the flicker of Lundhavn’s eyes told him he had been right. “So. You are planning to go elsewhere.”
    “I have received a flattering offer,” said Lundhavn, a bit too nonchalantly. “The terms are quite favorable.”
    “If you cannot leave Spain to accept it, the flattery means little, and you may discover that the generals will not be willing to let you go as long as they have work of their own for you,” said Saint-Germain with a wry turn of his mouth.
    “I am a Dane. They can’t keep me here,” Lundhavn insisted.
    “You may find that they can, unless you are planning to fly out in one of our test airplanes, leaving your wife and children behind. And do not assume that they would hold your family blameless.” He studied Lundhavn’s face. “You think you can elude the government? Just where were you planning to go?”
    “I have received an offer from … a company in Dresden.” He set his jaw. “I have already agreed to start work there in May.”
    “Then I see my visit is useless.” Saint-Germain rose, picking up his hat. “Very well: since you will not relent—you will not be allowed to take any blueprints or files out of the building, Elias. And since you are so determined to put yourself at a disadvantage, you may do so at once. I will have a check carried to your home by messenger before the end of the day. You may consider yourself dismissed. I will draft a letter to that effect before I leave this afternoon.” He turned toward the door. “You may have your secretary assist you in gathering your things; I will expect an inventory of what you have removed from this office, signed by you and your secretary, to be left on your desk when you leave.”
    “And how you’ll tell your Colonel Senda about my plans,” Lundhavn goaded him.
    “No. I doubt that will be necessary. There are others in the company who report to him regularly.” Saint-Germain pulled the door open. “I will go to the accounting office now. When I return I will expect you to be gone.”
    “If you are