Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant Read Online Free PDF Page A

else. A good business telepath, a good military telepath-as long as you perform to the best of your abilities, it’s all the same.”
    Al could think of no reply, so he said nothing.
    “You don’t believe that, do you?” the director asked.
    “I… no, sir.”
    “Well.”
    The silence stretched so long and thin, Al was afraid something would break. Then the old man sighed.
    “Don’t tell anyone you came to see me, Alfred. You can return to your bed now.”
    He made a sign, and the door opened again. The Grin was waiting for him.
    “Sir?”
    Al asked, as the masked person moved to lead him away.
    “Yes?”
    “Will I get to be a Psi Cop?”
    “That remains to be seen, Mr. Bester. But…” He paused. “Do not think that being the best will make you happy. The very qualities that allow the one, preclude the other.”
    “I don’t understand, sir.”
    “I know. You’re too young. When you do understand, it will be too late, won’t it?”
    His face wrinkled up, oddly.
    “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Alfred. I think - yes, in a way I think you would have made your parents proud.”
    “My parents, sir? You mean the Corps?”
    The ancient face smoothed out again.
    “I mean your parents, your mother and your father.”
    “My mother and father are the Corps, sir.”
    “Quite right.” He sighed.
    “And I knew them all.”
    “Sir?”
    “Never mind me, Mr. Bester. I am an old man, and my mind wanders. In fact, I don’t expect we’ll meet again - I’m going away soon, and someone else will become director in my place. The Corps is your mother and father, as you said. And the Corps is proud of you. That’s all I meant.”
    But it wasn’t, and Al knew it. For just an instant, he thought he had seen a woman’s face-the woman’s face… But he retreated from that thought. If anyone suspected he had read the director’s mind, even accidentally, there was no telling what would happen to him.
    “One other thing, Alfred.” Al’s throat tightened.
    Had he been caught?
    “Sir?”
    “Things may-change… after I’m gone. Remember who you are. Remember how you were raised. It’s important. The Corps is important. It has a purpose more important than anyone can possibly dream. Can you remember that?”
    “Of course, sir.”
    “Remember this, too, then. Watch for the Shadows. Watch, and beware.”
    When the director said Shadows, something seemed to form in Al’s brain, an image, kind of like a spider. Then it sank into something and was gone.
    “Good night, Alfred. And good-bye.”

Chapter 3
    “Hey, Alfie,” Brett called from across the common room.
    “What do you think the Grins really are?”
    Al looked up from his book toward the little knot of kids around the table. He had been trying to tune their conversation out.
    “What? How should I know?” Brett shrugged and Julia giggled.
    “What’s funny?” Julia seemed to sober, but it was Milla that said, “Because you’re kind of like a Grin, Alfie. Nobody can ever tell what’s up with you.”
    Al sighed and laid his book down. He decided to ignore the comment.
    “First of all, they’re called monitors, not Grins…”
    “Vid-flash!” Brett snorted.
    “We all know what they’re called. That’s not the question.”
    “Well, it’s not for us to wonder about who they are,” Al said.
    “They’re Corps, and they’re here to help us. That’s all that matters.”
    “See what I mean?” Milla said.
    “Okay. What do you think they are?”
    Al responded, drawing himself up. At twelve, he was still the shortest boy in the room, and shorter than most of the girls, but he knew some of the others still found him physically intimidating. He had given some of them reason to.
    “Robots,” Julia opined.
    “Humaniform robots are illegal. The Corps wouldn’t have robots.”
    “That’s what I say,” Brett agreed.
    “Besides, who ever heard of a telepathic AI? So what are they?”
    AI considered them all for a moment, then lowered his