“Can he do that?”
“That’s the way he operates. He’s snatched half-a-dozen corporations that way. Right now he’s on the verge of taking over Masterson Aerospace.”
“Masterson?” Pancho looked shocked.
Dan said, “Yep. Half the world drowning and the rest cooking from this double-damned greenhouse, and he’s using it to snatch and grab. He’s a goddamned opportunist. A vampire, sucking the life out of everything he touches.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
“Keep his investment in the fusion project to a minimum,” Dan said. “And keep the fusion project separate and apart from Astro Corporation.”
“Good luck,” she said glumly.
Dan grinned at her. “Hey, don’t look so worried. I’ve been through this kind of thing before. This is what the corporate jungle is all about.”
“Yeah, maybe, but I think he’ll get rough if he doesn’t get his way. Real rough.”
With a brash shrug, Dan replied, “That’s why I keep Big George around.”
“Big George? Who’s he?”
Dan had made his quick trip to Nueva Venezuela without George. He didn’t feel the need for a bodyguard once he was off-Earth. In fact, he hadn’t seen the Aussie since they’d arrived together in Selene for his meeting with Doug Stavenger.
“I’ll have to introduce you to him.”
The cart reached the end of the tunnel and stopped automatically. Dan and Pancho got off; he grabbed his travel-bag and they walked to the customs inspection station. Dan saw that the two uniformed inspectors were still checking the quartet of people who had arrived on his flight. On the other side of the area, by the entrance gate, an elderly couple was saying goodbye to a young family with two children, one of them a tot squirming in her mother’s arms.
“So whattaya want me to tell Humphries?” Pancho asked. “He’ll wanna know how you did with Dr. Cardenas.”
“Tell him the truth. Cardenas is joining the team. She’ll be here in a few days.”
“Should I tell him you want to set up a meeting with him?”
Dan thought it over as they stepped up to the customs desk. “No,” he said at last. “I’ll call him myself as soon as we get down to our quarters.”
Humphries seemed surprised when Dan called him, but he quickly agreed to a meeting the very next morning. He insisted on having the meeting in the Humphries Space System’s suite of offices, up in the same tower on the Grand Plaza that housed Doug Stavenger’s office.
Dan accepted meekly enough, laughing inwardly at Humphries’s gamesmanship. He tried to phone Big George, got only his answering machine, and left a message for George to call him first thing in the morning. Then he undressed, showered, and went to bed.
He dreamed about Jane. They were together on Tetiaroa, completely alone on the tropical atoll beneath a gorgeous star-strewn sky, walking along the lagoon beach while the balmy wind set the palm trees to rustling softly. A slim crescent of a Moon rode past scudding silvery clouds. Jane was wearing a filmy robe, her auburn hair undone and flowing past her shoulders. In the starlight he could see how beautiful she was, how desirable.
But he could not speak a word. Somehow, no matter how hard he tried, no sound would come out of his mouth. This is stupid, Dan raged at himself. How can you tell her you love her if you can’t talk?
The clouds thickened, darkened, blotted out the Moon and stars. Beyond Jane’s shadowy profile Dan could see the ocean stirring, frothing, an enormous tidal wave rising up higher, higher, a mountain of foaming water rushing down on them. He tried to warn her, tried to shout, but the water crashed down on them both with crushing force. He reached for Jane, to hold her, to save her, but she was wrenched out of his arms.
He woke, sitting up and drenched with sweat. His throat felt raw, as if he’d been screaming for hours. He didn’t know where he was. In the darkness of the bedroom all he could see was the green glowing numerals on the digital clock on the night table. He rubbed at his eyes, working hard to remember. Selene. I’m in the company suite in Selene. I’m going to see Humphries first thing in the morning.