Moment of Truth by Michael Pryor Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m the only one who can understand them.’
    â€˜The security agencies are very clever.’
    â€˜They may be clever, but they haven’t lived eighty-four years of my life. That’s what they’d need to unravel the hints and implications in my correspondence.’
    â€˜I wasn’t aware that you knew Dr Delroy.’
    â€˜For many years. A fine mind. The Gallian government would be lost if it weren’t for his economic guidance. Poor man.’
    â€˜Oh?’
    â€˜He is most unhappy, Aubrey. Family can do that, you know.’
    Personal matters weren’t the sort of thing one should be curious about, Aubrey knew, but it was difficult to ignore such a tantalising hint. Besides, he might be able to help George if he knew...
    Don’t, he warned himself. He could see a slippery slope just ahead. Ask about this matter, then he’d need to know a bit more and soon he’d be a prying, unhappy gossip, keen to know about the private lives of others, but never satisfied.
    â€˜Thank you, Grandmother,’ he said with an effort. He stood. ‘You’ve been most helpful.’
    â€˜I’m sure,’ she said with a wry smile. ‘Don’t you want my advice after all?’
    â€˜Advice? Of course.’
    â€˜Here.’ She gestured to him to bend over. When he did, she kissed him on the cheek. ‘Do the right thing.’

    He left his grandmother, feeling strangely pleased but still confused. Her final words were cryptic, but Aubrey was accustomed to such things. Cryptic comments, enigmatic observations and puzzling responses were commonplace in Maidstone.
    She’d given him more food for thought, but he already had a surfeit of that and could feel mental indigestion coming on.
    He wandered along the gallery, toward his room. His hands were thrust into his pockets and his brow was thoroughly wrinkled as he pondered his future.
    Magical scholarship was mightily attractive. He loved the thrill of discovery and implementation in this field, using his innate talent and building on it through rigorous investigation. He could make a name for himself, and it would be special. No Fitzwilliam had ever shown much magical talent until he came along, so if he could succeed, it would be unique. He could see a life of magical theory, perhaps a chair at one of the universities, or even the position of Sorcerer Royal.
    Magic would always be part of his life. He couldn’t deny it, but he understood now that the lure of something else was more insistent. Politics. He wanted to go into politics – but could he succeed in magic and politics? To make the matter knottier, he had the possibility of pursuing a magical career via Craddock’s people, the Magic Department of the Security Intelligence Directorate.
    He stopped in front of a portrait of his grandfather. His grandfather, the soldier, in full uniform, the defender of his country.
    It may not be a choice between two options. A third presented itself, bursting out of the pack and racing to the lead.
    He turned on his heel to find George mounting the stairs, with the happy smile that came from having completed a sufficient meal. He looked up just as Aubrey seized his arm. ‘George! I know what one person can do!’
    â€˜I’m glad. Can another one do it too?’
    â€˜Yes, of course. It’s something that can make a difference, especially when lots of people do it at the same time.’
    â€˜Well, don’t keep me in suspense, old man. What is it?’
    â€˜We can join up.’

Six

    â€˜I know I’ve asked this question before, in other circumstances,’ George said as they jumped off the bus the following day, ‘but do you really think this is a good idea?’
    They skirted a newsagent that was besieged by customers. Posters announcing the declaration of war were plastered all over the small wooden booth, and Aubrey had to struggle through to buy a paper. He read about his