To THE LAND OF THE ELECTRIC ANGEL: Hugo and Nebula Award Finalist Author (The Frontiers Saga) by William Rotsler Read Free Book Online

holograms, test holes, sonics, corings, and precise engineering measurements.
    Voss kept everyone under constant pressure, from Blake and the engineers to the security men charged with keeping the site private. Voss even used his charm, and sometimes the pressure of his power, to obtain or hurry artists whom Blake had found difficult to handle. Blake found he admired the drive and decisiveness of the man, though he couldn't stop wondering why anyone as young as Voss was thinking about a tomb. But he shrugged it off. It was an exciting venture, so why should he care?
    At one of their frequent meetings in the designer's office, Blake mentioned Voss's ability to get people to respond and to act.
    The industrialist laughed. "That is one of the reasons I like you, my dear Mason. We are much alike. You, too, get people to do things your way ... and at a profit."
    Blake started to protest, but Voss was already off on another subject. "Come down to Puerto Vallarta this Sunday. Rio should be there by then. I'd like her to look over the plans so far."
    "Who's Rio?"
    "A lady of many beauties: You'll like her."
    "What's this?" Blake laughed. "A blind date?"
    Voss's laugh was short. "No. Rio is mine. But there will be other entertainment. One of my planes will be wailing for you at the Voss hangar Sunday morning."
    After Voss had left, Blake sank into his chair, disturbed by Voss's comment that they were much alike. But now that he thought about it, he had to admit there was some legitimacy to the man's words. For years he bad smoothed over union disputes, wheedled manufacturers into doing research on materials and processes that he could not afford to conduct himself, and persuaded cities and arcologs and cranky individualists to accept his views. He challenged artists to exceed their usual degree of excellence; he created environments that stimulated creativity; and he used the weapons of status, ego, jealousy, money, or whatever he needed to pull together the current dream he was creating.
    But he also realized there was at least one major difference between him and Voss. The financier used people. Though Blake also used people, he believed that his use of them left them enriched in spirit or in money – or both. Voss did not care for people at all. They were pawns and phantoms to him, as a hundred casual comments had proved. Voss just used people – including Blake Mason.

Chapter 5
     
    The helmsman of the launch, a stolid bronzed Mexican who seemed to ignore the crazy naked Norteamericanos, swung the boat into the dock with expert skill, killing the motor and letting the craft touch gently against the stones. Two girls who had been sunning themselves on the cabin roof jumped off athletically, leaving the crew to take off their luggage. They ran across the dock and up the ramp to the first level.
    Blake stepped off onto the warm stone dock and peered up through the thick trees at the red and white glimpses of Casa Emperador on top of the promontory. He could see someone waving but could not tell who it was.
    He thanked the helmsman, who only nodded, and followed a crew member loaded with luggage up the slanting seawall that formed the ramp to the wide terrace closest to the water.
    Two more girls came running down the ramp from the terrace above, laughing and bouncing. Only one wore any clothing, and that was a wide sunhat. They ignored the Mexican crew, who seemed to ignore them; except for the helmsman, who spoke softly to Blake.
    "A convenience for the guests, senor."
    "Hello, hello, hello," the brunette said, grabbing Blake's arm. She looked up at him brightly. "I'm Caren. With a C."
    The blonde shoved back her hat as she clung to Blake's other arm. "I'm Debra!" She snuggled against his arm like a long-lost lover. "Welcome to Misrnaloya!"
    "How was the flight down?" Caren asked. "Isn't Puerta Vallarta quaint? Jean-Michel practically rebuilt it, you know; and it's becoming popular all over again."
    As they walked up the ramp,