Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction

was somebody's son. That my son spent a year at a time in Toronto
without me and I hoped to God that if he got in trouble some stranger
would look out for him.
Two guys from Geir's watch turned up then looking for me, and I
felt my mood get heavier along with the gravity as we sank back to
Level 1. In the office Geir was making calls. He ignored me, so I
slumped wearily in the chair and listened. Kagoshima spaceport was
furious. HQ was incensed. Newsers had just picked up the "escape"
story and they were overjoyed.
The door buzzed and Sam stuck his head in.
"Geir? Themba's awake. Medic says he's fine."
Geir grunted. Sam hesitated and gave me a look burning with
curiosity. Behind him I caught a glimpse of other guys peering in. I
looked away. Sam backed out.
The com chirruped with a coded priority call from the
Consortium's Director of Operations. She sounded mad as hell.
"I very much hope that the rumors of an escape from Montgolfier
are unfounded, Mr. Eldjarnsson."
"There's been no escape, ma'am. Just an... expedited early
release."
I couldn't see the Director's face from where I sat, but her tone of
voice was ominous.
"Release?! And whose initiative was this?"
A heartbeat's pause, then Geir said:
"Mine."
"You've exceeded your authority."
"Ma'am, I believe that if you check all the records very carefully
you might discover that my orders came from the Board of Directors.
Yesterday."
My jaw dropped as I realized that Geir was asking the Director to
bail him out.
"This sounds remarkably like blackmail."
"No, ma'am. Absolutely not." said Geir grimly. "It's simply the
best answer I can come up with under the circumstances."
Another pause.
"I'll call you back."
The link went dead. Geir let out a gusty breath, leaned back and
then spoke to me for the first time.
"Olmstead, as God is my witness, if they don't kill you, I'm going
to string you up myself."
I was staring at him incredulously. "You didn't have to do that!"
He opened his eyes to glare at me.
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