Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [87]
Farr kicked his arms away. ‘Look at me!’
Thales obeyed, unable to think of what else to do. Let this be over.
Farr was neither perspiring nor out of breath; he was smiling, though, as if he was party to an amusing conversation. ‘There are many, many ways I can find out the truth, Msr Berniere, of which this is the most straightforward and the most civilised.’
Tears collected in Thales’s eyes. He let words tumble out instead. ‘I w-was employed to retrieve the DNA for a businessman on Scolar. A good deed in part to assist HealthWatch upgrades against influenza.’
‘HealthWatch upgrades on Scolar?’ Farr roared with laughter. ‘The planet cannot even organise its own refuse system. What was this man’s name?’
‘Paraburd. Gutnee Paraburd.’
‘And why would you be such a philanthropist?’
Thales told him haltingly about Rene, and her father, and his own imprisonment.
Farr’s expression became solemn. He withdrew a film from inside his suit jacket and spent some time staring at it. Finally, he held it in front of Thales. ‘Is this the man?’
Thales blinked several times and nodded. It was Gutnee Paraburd with less hair and smaller ears. ‘Do you know him?’
‘You are worse than a fool,’ said Farr. ‘Scolar has a dire future if they are breeding more like you. Gutnee Paraburd is Gutnee Fressian, a bio-merchant of the most immoral kind. Did you really believe that the DNA you were to collect was legal? That Paraburd was an honest businessman?’
‘He seemed so.’ Thales tried to suppress his memory of the torn uniform and the peculiar travel arrangements, and find a way to salvage his pride. ‘I might have been naive to trust him, but at least there are some of us left who would do a thing for the good of it.’
‘For the good? Or to improve your kudos with your wife?’
Thales fell silent at that; demoralised by the truth.
But Lasper Farr was not finished with him. ‘Where were you were to receive the DNA?’
‘On a place called Rho Junction.’
“Where are your instructions?’ said Farr.
Thales took the packet from the vest under his borrowed robe and handed it over.
The Commander left the room for a time but the balol remained, guarding the door. Thales stayed on the floor, nursing his physical hurts and his shame at his mistakes. He sought the peace of a meditative state but his Jainist learnings and beliefs seemed to belong to another person, from another place and time.
When Farr returned Thales was unable to rouse himself from his morose state of mind. So mired was he in his troubles that Farr’s simple statement took some time to register.
‘Do you wish to die?’ the Commander asked.
When the meaning sank past the layers of self-pity Thales sat up straighter, his heart thudding.
Farr continued. ‘It is my assumption that you do not. If that is the case then you will continue to your rendezvous on Rho Junction and receive the DNA but instead of returning to Gutnee Fressian on Scolar you will return here. My laboratories will decant it and you will be cleared of any penalty and will be free to go.’
Thales felt a flicker of outrage. ‘I have committed no crime. I deserve no penalty. My life is not yours to govern.’
Farr produced a small tube from his pocket. He did not call for the balol guard but simply took Thales into his arms and held him as an adult would a small struggling child. He squeezed the contents of the tube into the corner of Thales’s eye.
‘I have introduced a bacterium into your body that will break down Gutnee Fressian’s barrier substance within a matter of months and kill you. If you return here in a timely manner with Fressian’s DNA in your system, I will administer the vaccine and all will be well. The choice, Msr Berniere, is entirely yours.’ Farr released Thales and gave a pleasant smile. ‘Now, please, feel free to enjoy the rest of the Trade Fest while I arrange your transportation to Rho Junction.’
MIRA
Mira found Josef Rasterovich both repellent and fascinating.