Gwendy’s Final Task

42

HE STARES AT HER, eyes slitted. “You’re right. I don’t believe it. You aced the cognitive test they gave you. Dr. Glen was very impressed.”

“I had the chocolates then.”

“If you don’t start making sense, dear, you are going to be very sorry.”

Note to self, Gwendy thinks. Having a panty thief call you dear is extremely repulsive.

“The button box dispenses chocolates. They’re brain boosts.” They do much more, some of it not good, but this is no time for lengthy explanations. “I took a couple before the test. As you see, I can’t do that now because the box isn’t h—”

“I don’t believe you. It’s hogwash.”

“Says the man who believes he’s going to rule an entire planet, complete with pulp novel slave women and a handy nearby diamond mi—”

He slaps her. In zero-g it’s not hard, like a slap underwater, but it shocks her. She has been hit before, but not since childhood. The one who hit her lived to regret it … but not for long. Her eyes flash wide, and he sees something in them that makes him dance-float backwards, leveling the tube at her.

She thinks, I’m not a proponent of the death penalty, but if I get a chance, dear, I’m going to kill you. If you’d been involved in Ryan’s death, I’d try to kill you twice. Luckily for you, that happened before you got involved in this business. At least if I can believe your story. And she does. According to Winston, he met Bobby four years later, and what reason would he have to lie? All their cards are pretty much on the table now.

“You don’t want to make fun of me, Senator. That’s one thing you absolutely don’t want to do.”

“I’m not. I can’t remember where I put it.”

“In that case I have no use for you, do I? I’ll have to find it on my own, with the help of my Chinese associates. After I negate the rest of the crew, that is.” He raises the tube, and she sees in his eyes that he means to do it.

“Give me a minute to think. Please.”

“I’ll give you thirty seconds.” He raises his watch to his face. “Starting right now.”

Gwendy knows Winston thinks she’s faking; Gwendy knows she isn’t. She needs to use Dr. Ambrose’s trick, find a chain of association and follow it to the location of the button box. Only her time is fleeting and she can’t find a starting link. Her mind is whirling.

Yes, Richard Farris says, this isn’t good. You are in dire straits.

That lights her up, and when Winston aims the tube, she raises a hand. “Wait! Wait! I can get it!”

Dire Straits. Not Ryan’s favorite band, but one of them … and he loved that song about how sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re—

“The bug! Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug!”

“What in Christ’s name are you talking about, woman?”

“About the Bug Man. The only person in the crew I trust one hundred percent. The only one who believes in me completely. Adesh. I gave him the button box. I told him to put it in his lab.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know where in the lab?”

Gwendy doesn’t have a clue. “Yes. I’ll show you.”

“I should kill you and find it myself,” he says. He raises the green tube … then lowers it again. And smiles. “But you’ve been troublesome, dear. So troublesome. I think I want you to watch me take possession of your precious box. I might even let you live. Who knows?”

You know, Gwendy thinks. And I know.

“Let’s go, while they’re still all at breakfast.” He gestures with the tube. “After you, Senator.”