Engineman - Eric Brown [106]
Dan glanced quickly at Hunter, who cleared his throat self-consciously. They had halted at the foot of the ramp, a tableau stiff with tension. Hunter said, "The third man is your brother."
Mirren shook his head. "I almost told him yesterday," he whispered. "Part of me wanted to. It would have been the right thing to do." He looked at Hunter. "But why Bobby? There's hundreds of other Enginemen in Paris-"
"Ralph," Hunter said, something like compassion in his tone. "This is very hard for me to explain, and even then I doubt you will be satisfied." He paused. "I was instructed by the people I am working for to ensure that Bobby Mirren pushed the Sublime from Earth out to the Rim - the choice of Enginemen to accompany him, as back-ups should anything happen to your brother in the tank, was left up to me. It seemed the obvious thing to do to hire you and your old team. I intended to approach you about Bobby before now."
"They want Bobby to push the 'ship?"
"I honestly don't know why. They were secretive as to their motives. There are many aspects of this mission that they could not trust me with, for fear of my being captured and interrogated. I am merely the middleman in this operation."
"Who are 'they'"? What do they know about Bobby, his illness?"
Hunter considered, his halved expression pained. "I am supposed to tell no-one about my employers," he said. "I know this might sound melodramatic, but I assure you that the consequences of the wrong people finding out would be catastrophic beyond your wildest imagining. You'll learn the reason for everything - my secrecy, why they need your brother - in due course. All I can beg of you is to trust me."
"But the flux might kill him..."
"I'm afraid that's a risk that must be taken."
Dan said, "Like I told you yesterday, Ralph, Bobby would want to flux."
"Where is he?" Mirren asked.
"In the 'ship." Hunter gestured up the ramp. "He knows nothing about the mission at the moment. We thought perhaps you might be able to tell him..."
Mirren closed his eyes. He considered everything Hunter had divulged, balanced the amount of trust the off-worlder required against the privilege of experiencing the wonder of the flux. He knew in his heart that he had to let Bobby flux, knew that Bobby would want nothing else, yet at the same time he balked at the thought of the oblivion to which he might be consigning his brother.
"Bobby is in one of the rear berths," Hunter said. "I'll take you."
Mirren allowed himself to be ushered up the ramp. They took the elevator pad to the 'ship's second level, then passed down a corridor between the half dozen berths, each comprising a comfortable bunk, a vid-screen, computer terminal and a viewscreen through which to watch the swirling cobalt void of null-space.
Hunter indicated the sliding door to Bobby's berth, then tactfully withdrew. Mirren stopped himself from knocking. He palmed the sensor. The door opened. He stood on the threshold, staring at his brother as he swung himself in the sling. He was wearing his customary Satori Line silvers, his hair as unruly as ever.
His expression appeared troubled.
He inclined his head. "Hello? Is someone there?"
Either a draft or the vibration of the opening door had alerted him. Although he could see no one now, he looked in the direction of his visitor, so he would be able to see that person tomorrow. "I know you're there," he said, panic in his tone.
Mirren stepped into the cabin, shutting the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bunk, a matter of centimetres from his brother's swinging legs.
He reached out and touched Bobby's moccasin.
Instantly, Bobby proffered his hand. Mirren grasped it.
"Ralph! What's happening?" he said, his words slurred so that Mirren had difficulty making them out. "They drew letters on my hand to tell me that I was safe. Then they put me in here. It's the