Part 80 (2/2)
”Of course not. Of course not. But the Novgorod police did find some interesting doc.u.ments-naming your father as a political martyr in their cause, stating that the new monstrosity in Reseune the new monstrosity in Reseune is a creation of the military-that a.s.sa.s.sinating Ari and creating maximum chaos would lead to a Paxer government-” is a creation of the military-that a.s.sa.s.sinating Ari and creating maximum chaos would lead to a Paxer government-”
”That's crazy!”
”Of course it is. Of course your father knows nothing about it.”
”He doesn't! My G.o.d, -”
”I said-of course. Don't let it upset you. This has been going on for years. Oh, not the Paxers. They're comparatively new. All these organizations are interlocked. That's what makes them so difficult to track. That and the fact that the people that do the bombing are z-cases. Druggers and just general fools whose devotion to the cause involves letting themselves be partial-wiped by amateur operators. That That kind of fools. I thought I should tell you-there are people in this world who don't care anything for their own lives, let alone a sixteen-year-old focus of their hostilities. And they're using your father's name in their literature. I'm sorry. I suppose it kind of fools. I thought I should tell you-there are people in this world who don't care anything for their own lives, let alone a sixteen-year-old focus of their hostilities. And they're using your father's name in their literature. I'm sorry. I suppose it doesn't doesn't amuse you.” amuse you.”
”No, ser.” He was close to s.h.i.+vering. Giraud did that to him. Without drugs. Because in not very long, there would be, he knew that; and not all the skill in the world could prevent it. ”I'm not amused. I know Jordan wouldn't be, if he heard about it, which he hasn't, unless you've told him.”
”We've mentioned it to him. He asked us to say he's well. Looking forward, I imagine, to a change of regime in Defense. -As we all are. Certainly. I just wanted to let you know the current state of things, since there are ramifications to the case that you might want to be aware of. That your father murdered Ari-is not quite old news. It's entered into threats against her successor's life. And Ari will be aware of these things. We have to make her aware-for her own protection. Perhaps you and she can work it out in a civilized way. I hope so.”
What is he doing? What is he trying to do?
What does he want from me?
Is he threatening Jordan?
”How does your father feel about Ari? Do you have any idea?”
”No, ser. I don't know. Not hostility. I don't think he would feel that.”
”Perhaps you can find find out. If this election goes right.” out. If this election goes right.”
”If it does, ser. Maybe I can make a difference-in how how he feels.” he feels.”
”That's what we hope,” Giraud said.
”I wouldn't, however,” Denys said, ”bring the matter up with Ari.”
”No, ser.”
”You're a valuable piece in this,” Giraud said. ”I'm sorry-you probably have very strong feelings about me. I'm used to them, of course, but I regret them all the same. I'm not your enemy; and you probably won't believe that. I don't even ask for comment-not taxing your politeness. This time I'm on your side, to the extent I wish you a very long life. And the committee is agreed: thirty-five is a little young for rejuv-but then, it seems to have no adverse effects-”
”Thank you, no.”
”It's not up for discussion. You have an appointment in hospital. You and Grant both.”
”No!”
”The usual offer. Report on schedule or Security will see you do.”
”There's no d.a.m.n sense in my going on rejuv-it's my decision, dammit!”
”That's the committee's decision. It's final. Certainly nothing you ought to be anxious about. Medical studies don't show any diminution of lifespan for early users-”
”In the study they've got. There's no d.a.m.n sense in this. Ari's on the shots, d.a.m.n well sure she is-”
”Absolutely.”
”Then why in h.e.l.l are you doing this?”
”Because you have value. And we care about you. You can go on over there. Or you can go the hard way and distress Grant-which I'd rather not.”
He drew a careful breath. ”Do you mind-if I go tell Grant myself? Half an hour. That's all.”
”Perfectly reasonable. Go right ahead. Half an hour, forty-five minutes. They'll be expecting you.”
xi Another d.a.m.ned wait. Justin lay full-length on the table and stared at the ceiling, trying to put his mind in null, observing the pattern in the ceiling tiles, working out the repet.i.tions.
Full body scan and hematology work-up, tracer doses shot into his bloodstream, more blood drawn. Dental checks. Respiration. Cardiac stress . . . you have a little hypertension, you have a little hypertension, Wojkowski had said, and he had retorted: Wojkowski had said, and he had retorted: G.o.d, I wonder why. G.o.d, I wonder why.
Which Wojkowski did not think was amusing.
More things shot into his veins, more scans, more probings at private places and more sitting about-lying down for long periods, while they tried to get him calm enough to get accurate readings.
I'm trying, he had said, the last time they had checked on him. he had said, the last time they had checked on him. I'm honestly trying. Do you think I like waiting around freezing to death? I'm honestly trying. Do you think I like waiting around freezing to death?
Complaining got him a robe. That was all. They finally put him on biofeedback until he could get the heart rate down, and got the tests they wanted.
Why? had been Grant's first and only question-a worried frown, a shrug, and a: had been Grant's first and only question-a worried frown, a shrug, and a: Well, at least we Well, at least we do do get it, don't we? get it, don't we?
Which, for an azi, could be a question. He had never thought that it was, never thought that Reseune could go so far as to deny him and Grant rejuv when it was time for them to have it or vengefully postpone it beyond the point when they should have it, to avoid diminished function.
Thinking of that, he could be calmer about it. But he had sent a call through to Base One: Ari, this is Justin. Ari, this is Justin.
Grant and I have been told to report to hospital. We've been told we re to go on rejuv, over our protests. I want you to know where we are and what's happened. ... ...
Which got them nothing. Base One took the message. No one was reading it. They could try for admission to Ari's floor, but open confrontation with Administration was more than Ari could handle. No one answering, No one answering, he had said to Grant. he had said to Grant.
Its only one treatment, Grant had said. Grant had said.
Meaning that one could still change one's mind. It took about three to eight weeks of treatments for the body to adjust-and become dependent.
Nothing permanent, yet.
”You're going to be coming here for your treatments, Wojkowski had said.
”For what?” what?” he had said. ”To have you watch me take a d.a.m.ned pill? Or what are you giving me?” . he had said. ”To have you watch me take a d.a.m.ned pill? Or what are you giving me?” .
”Because this was not elective. You understand-going off the drug has severe consequences. Immune system collapse.”
”I'm a certified paramedic,” he had snapped back. ”Clinical psych. I a.s.sure you I know the cautions. What I want to know, doctor, is what else they're putting into the doses.”
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