THE FOREVER GENE (THE SCIONS OF EARTH Book 1) by Warren Dean Read Free Book Online Page B

tried without much success to ignore the nausea in her stomach caused by the alarming motion of the 'copter.
    A number of the president's aides, two of his senior military advisers, his security detail, and a squad of twenty riot policemen completed the travelling party.  He had apologised to the ambassador for the size of the party, explaining that the policemen and security personnel were there chiefly for the protection of the Faerie Folk themselves.  The ambassador responded with his now familiar reassuring smile, seemingly unaware that its diplomatic effect tended to be offset by the accompanying glimpse of his sharp teeth.
    Qara had not had an opportunity to speak to the president since the press conference ended and was somewhat surprised that she had been included in the party.  She had ignored his express instructions, after all.  Hoping that perhaps facing the music would distract her stomach from its woes, she moved to a seat opposite him and began another apology.
    "Sir, I am sorry I disobeyed you.  I have no excuse; I don't know what came over me.  I take full responsibility and understand completely if you have me replaced at the earliest opportunity."
    He looked up from the tablet he was studying and considered her for a moment.  "Your instincts were spot on," he replied evenly.  "You asked a question that needed to be asked, and the ambassador reacted very positively.  One of the problems I have been grappling with all day is about to be solved.  Ever since he told me that there are more of the Faerie Folk in the park I have been on the horns of a dilemma.  If I send in the army to find them, I risk precipitating a conflict if they perceive that to be an act of aggression.  If I don't try to locate them, they are free to carry out potentially aggressive actions of their own.
    "To compound the problem I have already received veiled threats from both China and Russia, who are predictably concerned about the military capabilities of the strangers.  They have both said that unless I can secure the situation to their satisfaction, they will have no option but to send in their own troops to do so.  I have asked the United States and Northern Europe to guarantee Mongolia's territorial integrity, but I don't think they will risk going beyond diplomatic efforts to prevent an invasion by our neighbours.  Why should they risk a war to defend Mongolia, or the Faerie Folk for that matter?
    "Now, at least, I will soon know exactly where they are and, hopefully, enough about their presence to assure the world that our armed forces are able to contain any potential threat.  China and Russia will then have no obvious excuse to invade."
    Qara's concerns of a few minutes ago suddenly seemed trivial.  "Should you be risking yourself personally, sir?  What if the Faerie Folk are not friendly and intend to kidnap you or harm you?  Why don't you send in one of your ministers instead?"
    "It's not that simple, I'm afraid.  I have assured everyone that the Faerie Folk are here with peaceful intentions.  I can't send a contradictory message by ordering someone else to go in my place.  It would be seen as an admission that I am afraid to go myself.  Besides, who would I send, the prime minister, the foreign minister?  If the Faerie Folk are looking for a hostage, either of them would serve that purpose just as well.  And I can't overlook the possibility that everything the ambassador says is true.  If I had refused to go, he would have known that I doubted him, and it would then have been very difficult for me to regain his trust."
    One of the president's military advisers approached, and he lowered his voice.
    "Part of me is beginning to hope that this is all just a hoax; that some group of scientists has concocted the whole thing to make some bizarre point."
    It was the first time she had seen any form of uncertainty in him.  Curiously, it strengthened her loyalty to him and she resolved to support him in any