Jack McDevitt - The Devil's Eye

"Okay. How do you know they're on the station?"

"I saw them."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"All right. One moment, please."

The restaurant was about half-full. But I saw no familiar faces either inside or out in the concourse.

"Ah, yes. Here's Wexler. Hmmm. Okay, Mr. Benedict. You have a personal acquaintance with these people, do you?"

"Yes."

"With both of them?"

"That's correct."

"Very good. Are you staying on the station?"

"Yes."

"You're at the hotel?"

"That's correct."

"All right, thank you. We'll keep an eye out. And we'll be in touch."

We sat looking at each other. "What do you think?" I said. "Well, they'll arrest them if they happen to run into them." While we tried our drinks and contemplated ordering some real food, I let the service people know that we'd changed our plans and they should route our bags to the hotel.

An hour or so later we strolled into the lobby. This was the point at which my nerves began to work on me. They'd put us on the fourth floor and I remember half-expecting to find Wexler waiting inside the elevator, or around the corner, as we headed for our rooms. I dug the scrambler out in the hallway. We checked my room. With weapon drawn. We were not going to underestimate the good doctor. When we were satisfied, I put my bags away, turned on the HV, and left the lights on. Tried to make it look as if I was in. Then we went through a similar procedure in Alex's room. If it seems that we were overreacting, please keep in mind that we'd been through a lot. Anyhow, Alex said he had no doubt we'd have visitors within the next few hours.

He said hello to the AI, whose name was Aia. She had a soft female voice. "Aia," he said, "can you do an impersonation of Administrator Kilgore?" "You mean," she said, "can I reproduce his voice?" "Yes." "Of course." She gave us a sample, claiming that liberty was a boon to all persons everywhere. She delivered it in his rich deep baritone. "Good," said Alex. "Perfect. I'm going to want you to do something for me."

"If it is within my capacity, sir."

The rooms were smaller than those you'd get in a hotel of a similar class groundside. But they were as attractive. Everything was done in silk and lavender. We even had a balcony overlooking the concourse. Above us, the overhead was transparent and provided a spectacular view of the outside. At the moment, we were looking out at the rim of the world, illuminated by a setting-or rising-sun. I wasn't sure which. I walked out through a glass door and inspected it. The balconies were connected by a narrow ledge. I looked at it for a long time and decided even Krestoff would not have been able to negotiate it. I went back inside, closed the glass door, and drew the curtains. We talked for a while. Watched a report on the evacuation. Everybody was excited by the help coming in from the Confederacy and the Assemblage. The shield barely made an appearance in the conversations, other than as an example of the desperation of world leaders. "It was never plausible, Jay," said one commentator. "They'd have had to pull the entire evacuation fleet to work on it, with next to no chance of success. I think the route they've chosen, moving as many people off-world as they can, and concentrating on building shelters, is the way to go."

We didn't talk much, and when we did, we kept our voices down. We did not want anyone outside the door to realize there was a second person in the room. We didn't really expect to fool Wexler, but it could do no harm. I eventually drifted off to sleep in my chair. When I woke, Alex pointed out that it was early morning on the station, but we were in dinner mode. "Sure," I said. He picked up the hotel guide. "Maybe we should have it sent up." "Why? I thought we decided we were safer in public places." "We have to go out in the corridor and take the elevator. If they're going to try anything, I want them to have to come to us." "Okay." "And we might try just ordering one dinner. Mine." "Because I'm in my room." "Good. Yes." He called down. Ordered the special, with a glass of white wine, and a cinnamon bun. We waited, heard the sound of the elevator, heard footsteps in the hall. Then a door opened somewhere, and everything was quiet again. We went through another false alarm before finally getting a gentle tap at the door. Alex signaled me to move to the bathroom. When I was out of sight, he opened the door. "Good evening, sir." The voice was not Wexler's. Alex moved back out of the way. An attendant carried a tray and a small bottle of wine into the room. He left the door ajar behind him, and I angled myself to watch. He set the tray on the coffee table, opened the wine bottle, and produced a glass, which he filled. He set down a cloth napkin and the silverware. Alex tipped him, he said thank you, and was gone, closing the door behind him. Alex sat down in front of it. "Well," he said, "that didn't work." "No, it didn't." He looked down at the dinner. Steaming fish, a vegetable, and toast. "I'll split it with you." "Or perhaps with me ." The voice came from the far end of the room. Krestoff.

She stood just inside the balcony curtains. Holding a blaster. I'd underestimated her. "Don't make any sudden moves," she said. "Kolpath, come out here, where I can see you better. Yes, that's good. Right there. "Benedict, get up, do it slowly, and go to the door." Alex pushed the tray aside and got to his feet. I was still standing. "This isn't a good idea," he said. "You're just getting yourself in deeper." "Do as I say. Just turn the knob so you release the catch. Don't try to open the door." Alex complied. "Now step back into the center of the room. With your little sex object." She spared me a brief smile. Alex came back in. The door opened, and Wexler entered. He was carrying a bottle. Hard liquor of some sort. "Alex," he said. "And Chase. It's so good to see you again." He pushed the door shut and took a scrambler from his pocket. "I was afraid for a while that you might not come back." "You're going to get caught," said Alex. "Why go through this?" "I'll get a measure of satisfaction seeing you pay the price." He looked at the sofa and the uneaten meal. "Please, both of you, sit. Finish what you were doing." We stood looking back at him.

"Sit."

We sat. Krestoff strolled in, leaving the balcony door ajar. She was grinning at me. "Kolpath," she said. " You're the one I've been looking for. Mikel, I'd like this one for myself. Can we arrange it?" She kept her eyes locked on me. "How about that, honey? Just you and me?" She put the blaster down on the seat of one of the chairs. "We'll put the toys away and settle things up close." Wexler shook his head. "Maria," he said, "don't get careless. You'll get your chance." She recovered her weapon and took a seat on the edge of the chair. Alex paid no attention to her. "What exactly do you want?" "You were out there when they were loading the Quevalla . You should have a sense by now of the pain you've caused." "Don't be absurd, Doctor. Some of those tears expressed relief. People getting their kids out of harm's way." "I didn't mean them , you imbecile. Those scenes are recorded. Broadcast all over the world. How many people do you think are watching whose kids won't be moved? Who are still going to be sitting in the cities when the Thunderbolt comes? They have three years of misery in front of them. All because you and your partner wanted to go hunting for glory. Damn you." His gaze now encompassed me as well. "Damn you both." "I think you're getting a little overwrought." "Two billion people will not get off-world no matter how big the fleet. Two billion , Alex. You've taken three years of normal living from each of them. Do the math." "Keeping this kind of secret was not your call." I could hear Wexler breathing. "Alex, are you really so stupid that you think I made that decision on my own?" "I know there were others. That's not the point." "It's a democratic government. Or was . I suspect it'll be coming apart now." Alex tried the toast. "You're implying Kilgore knew all along." "Am I really? Maybe you're not so slow-witted after all." He sighed. "Well, I suppose we should get on with it." Alex lowered his gaze to the scrambler. "You're not really going to use that thing in here, are you?" Wexler shook his head. "Of course not. Unless I'm forced to. But you're going to have an accident." "Oh? What did you have in mind?" "You're not aware of it at the moment, but you and the young lady here are having a party. At this very moment. Unfortunately, you're both drinking too much. And, as these things will happen, she's half out of her clothes." He turned to me. "Kolpath, take off your blouse." I hesitated.