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bet put on the table and play along with every bluff. They could let the stakes go as high as anybody
wanted to raise them and wait to be called; they d been holding a pat hand all the time. Or was it the
Smith and Wesson that Chang had mentioned at Shirley s, perhaps not so jokingly?
We might not be the only ones who ve noticed there s an extra hole on Remus, Jay said at last. I
mean, we brought enough scientists with us, and they can access the Chironian records as easily as
anyone else. The Chironians aren t exactly secretive about their physics.
They could have, Bernard agreed. But have they? It doesn t add up to the way Sterm s acting.
Jay shrugged. Maybe he figures he s got a better than even chance of outshooting them. Maybe he s
just crazy.
Lechat had digested the implications by now and appeared worried. Maybe the Chironians have given
a warning, but nobody realized it. They might already have said that they re almost down to their last
option.
How do you mean? Colman asked.
Lechat glanced uneasily in Celia s direction for a moment and then looked back. Howard Kalens, he
said in a lower voice. Couldn t that have been a final warning? Look at the effect it s having on the
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Army, except that they don t seem to be reading the right things into it. He looked at Jay. I can t see
that they ve got it all figured out. They can t have.
Bernard sat back and drew a long breath. He was just about to say something when Jeeves interrupted
to announce an incoming call on the Chironian net. It was Kath, calling from her place in Franklin. I ve
heard from Casey, she said when Bernard accepted. He s collected his package with Adam, and
they re on their way home with it. I just thought you d like to know.
Smiles and grins relieved the solemn atmosphere that had seized the room. From the direction of the
table, Jean emitted an audible sigh of relief. Bernard grinned up at the screen. Thanks. he said. We re
all glad to hear it. Talk to you again soon. Kath gave a quick smile and vanished from the screen.
Veronica made it! Jean exclaimed delightedly. Steve, I don t know how you handled it all.
It pays to have friends, Colman grunted.
Congratulations, Steve, Bernard said, still smiling. I wonder what those guards are doing right now.
I m very pleased, Lechat murmured. Jay grinned, and Marie smiled at what was evidently good news.
Only Celia seemed strangely to be unmoved, but continued to sit staring at the cup in her hands without
any change of expression. Her unexpected reaction caused the others to fall quiet and stare at her
uncertainly. Then Jean said in a hesitant voice, You don t seem very excited, Celia. Is there something
wrong?
Celia didn t seem to hear. Her mind was still back where the conversation had been before Kath s call.
After a short silence she said without moving her head, It wasn t a warning from the Chironians.
The others exchanged puzzled looks. Jean shook her head and looked back at Celia. I m sorry, we re
not with you. Why
The Chironians didn t kill Howard, Celia said. I did. A silence descended like steel doors slamming
down around the room. Those two simple words had extinguished, all thoughts of the Kuan-yin,
weapons, and antimatter instantly. Every head turned disbelievingly to Celia as she sat staring ahead.
Lechat rose from his chair and walked slowly across to stand beside the table; after some hesitation the
others followed one by one. Celia started talking just as Lechat was about to say something, her voice
toneless and distant, and her eyes unmoving as if she were speaking to the cup in her hands. I couldn t
have spent my life with a man who had closed his mind to reality. You can t know what it was like. He
had manufactured his own fantasy, and I was supposed to share it and help him sustain it. It was
impossible. She paused to gulp some of the coffee. So, the thing with Sterm happened and Howard
learned about it. Celia closed her eyes as if she were trying to shut out a memory that she was seeing
again. He lost control of himself completely there was a fight, and... She left the rest unsaid. After a few
seconds she opened her eyes and stared blankly ahead again. Maybe I wanted him to find
out provoked him to it. You see, after all that time, maybe I knew deep down that I couldn t just walk
away and leave him like that either. What other way was there? Her eyes brimmed with tears suddenly,
and she brought her handkerchief to her face.
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