Morgan's Return by Greta van Der Rol Read Free Book Online Page B

part of town, before they became involved in the brawl. She swiveled her chair and stood.
    "I'm off for a while," she said to the two techs working on the last of the Firebrands. "You should be fine by yourselves."
    An autocab dropped her outside the Conflagration museum. Yes, the guard at the gate told her, two tall men with a woman. They went to the museum. Would she like him to call the curator for her? Yes, she would.
    A young man, who introduced himself as Yamoto, met her at the door to the museum. "Two sets of visitors in two days," he said, as he ushered her inside. "Maybe interest is surging."
    "Perhaps. But your visitors are of interest to us."
    His gaze flicked over her, taking in the black Star Fleet uniform and her commander's bars. "Oh?"
    "You will have heard about illegal entries from Solvaria."
    She could almost see the cogs meshing in his head. He'd make up his own reasons. "Terrorists? But why would they come here?"
    She smiled. "I'm sure you appreciate it's not something I can discuss. What did they want here? What did they look at?"
    "Uh." Yamoto shook his head. "Just asked about history." He took her to see the photo. "I sold them the translations we have of a number of books dating back to the post–Conflagration years." He chuckled. "The men didn't have implants. Beats me how they get on, always having to mess about with sticks for id's and money. Not to mention remembering everything. I suppose, in a way, it's a relic from the Conflagration. Some societies remain fearful of technology that they think might take them over. A bit like those poor saps on Solvaria."
    Ellen wondered what the young man would say if he knew he was talking to a Supertech. "Was there anything in particular they asked about?"
    "Yes. They were particularly interested in Rosmenyo. He was a shadowy, historical figure, dating back to the Conflagration. Asked if anyone at the cathedral would know any more." His eyes widened. "The way they were talking, I think they were going there. You don't think the Cathedral could be a target?"
    "For what?"
    Yamoto frowned at her, his expression wary. "A terrorist attack."
    Oh, yes. She'd forgotten her cover story. "A cathedral?"
    "Yes. It's just a monument now, with some wonderful paintings dating back to the early years. Oh, if that was destroyed it would be awful. A piece of our past blown away."
    Ellen placed a hand on his arm. "We can't be certain. But you've been incredibly helpful. Just keep my visit to yourself, won't you? You never know who might be involved in plots."
    Yamoto looked around, as though searching the corners for shadowy figures, then he leaned closer, as if sharing a secret. "Yes, of course."
    Ellen decided against buying her own copy of the books Selwood and her companions had bought; she'd download them later, when she returned to the base.
     
    ***
     
    "A re you sure we have to go down there again?" Morgan said. "The visuals for the cathedral are all on the data stick."
    "It's not the same." Prasad shoveled another spoonful of porridge into his mouth.
    "It's better. We can stop the motion, zoom in." The idea of another trip into this putrid city didn't sit well with her at all.
    "We can talk to people, maybe see some corners you don't get on the visuals. You never know. It's a different perspective. Some people think they know everything, some people don't know they know something valuable."
    Ravindra put his bowl on the table. "We're here. And Prasad is right. Besides, replenishment won't be finished until late this afternoon. And I don't fancy wasting a day wandering around the space station."
    She sighed. "All right." Like the others, Ravindra had taken his contact lenses out. On this human world, his amber eyes with their slit pupils looked dangerously alien. Or they would to anyone else but her. Interesting how easily she'd slipped back into the human fold.
    Standing, she said, "You might consider hiding your coti . It seems to upset people."
    "Yes. I wondered