Peter Hamilton - Mindstar Rising

That would take a while to sink in, Greg knew. Gabriel without her gland would be interesting. Maybe she'd even get back into shape, take part in life. Nice idea.

"How did you get us out?" Greg asked.

"Oh, Teddy and Morgan Walshaw jumped a Prowler over to Wisbech about twenty minutes after the blast. I wanted to go." Her face hardened slightly at the memory. "They both said no. Only thing those two ever did agree on."

"Teddy? How do you know Teddy?"

Julia's smile was taunting. "You've got a bit of catching up to do. I'll let Eleanor explain. I pulled rank to be here when they woke you, but I'd better not stay much longer or she'll be bashing the door down to get at you. She's good at that."

The smile turned devilish. "I might've known you'd prefer the buxom type. And you're lucky to have her, Greg. We've spent a lot of time talking this last week. I've got to know her quite well. She's a smashing girl."

"You think I don't know?"

Julia nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You'll be quite all right to have children, by the way. The Merlin's isotopes were left in orbit, there was no radioactive fallout."

"You did it. You shut it down."

"Yah. It was all I had, Greg. I told you, I knew it was Kendric who was behind the blitz; somehow, somewhere along the line, he'd be there. I didn't know who to trust. The Merlin was the one global-range weapon which was totally under my direct control, I didn't have to go through anyone, ask anyone's permission. My executive code gave me unlimited access to the Astronautics Institute's memory cores. I pulled the Merlin's command codes, and used them to put it into stasis. I was going to kill Kendric with it. When he was out at sea on the Mirriam , where no one else could get hurt. The Merlin can fly twelve million kilometres and find a rock two hundred metres across; dropping it three and half thousand kilometres on to a sixty-metre target is no problem. All I'd need to do was place a satellite call to Kendric, and I'd have Mirriam 's position down to a metre, constantly updated. Not that I needed a direct hit; even with its isotopes and ninety per cent of its fuel dumped, the Merlin still masses over a tonne. And, well, you saw how big a kinetic punch it packed travelling at that velocity."

"Yeah, I saw. What did happen to Kendric? I survived."

Julia glanced out at the grassland beyond the window, expression neutral. "They only brought you and Gabriel back. I didn't ask. You can if you want."

"No. Not necessary." Not with Teddy in the rescue party. Walshaw too, come to that; maybe especially Walshaw.

Julia bent over and touched her lips to his, a soft dry kiss. "First time," she murmured huskily. "Thank you, Greg." There was a draught of some expensive Parisian scent, then she was standing up briskly. "Memento for you." She hung the St. Christopher on the bedpost. "Don't worry, it doesn't work any more."

"Pity, I'd feel safer."

"Must dash, got a lesson with Royan. He's teaching me to write proper hotrod software."

Greg almost asked. But settled for hearing it from Eleanor instead.

Julia opened the door. Eleanor stood outside, looking grand even in the shapeless white clinic robe she was wearing. There was something not quite right about the way she walked, and the skin on her face seemed to be peeling, except for two patches around her eyes.

The two girls exchanged a glance as they passed. Smiled knowingly.

"All yours," said Julia.