Fear God and Dread Naught Read Online Free PDF

sharing their notes.  Given what the Russians had tried to pull ... he shook his head, irritated.  Genetically-engineered viruses had posed a major threat, back during the Troubles, and still would if someone came up with an adaptive disease that defeated all current inoculations.  Henry would have preferred to ban all such research, but he knew it was impossible.  The only way to research cures was to research the diseases themselves.
     
    He sipped his tea and listened, quietly, as Doctor Murray talked about her facility.  Much of what she said wasn't new to him, but there were details he hadn't heard before, including expanded security and under-the-table attempts by various scientists to share notes on alien biology with their foreign counterparts.  All such attempts had been reported, of course, raising the question of just who had authorised them.  Were the Russians attempting to share notes without appearing to share notes ... or were they just trying to get a handle on British progress?  There was no way to be sure.
     
    “We did make some interesting discoveries regarding Unknowns #1 and #2,” Doctor Murray added.  Henry straightened up.  This was the important part.  “And I believe you requested to be briefed personally.”
     
    “By the person who did the research,” Henry said.  He trusted Doctor Murray, but he’d fought enough political battles to know that data could be ... massaged between source and destination.  The bureaucracy was loathe, as always, to push bad news up the chain of command.  “Can you arrange for her presence?”
     
    “Of course, Your Excellency,” Doctor Murray said.  She tapped her wristcom once, then looked back at him.  “I quite understand.”
     
    Henry concealed his amusement behind a practiced mask.  He would have been surprised if Doctor Murray did understand - or, if she did, if she accepted it.  Bypassing her weakened her position in the bureaucratic hierarchy.  But he hadn't given her a choice, not really.  The new aliens were too important to allow bureaucratic bullshit to get in the way.
     
    Particularly if I am to make it back to the estate before being dispatched back to Tadpole Prime , he thought.  I don’t want to leave before saying goodbye .
     
    He scowled at the thought, silently cursing - again - the fate that had made him a prince, first in line to the throne.  His daughters - and his wife - were an object of intensive media attention ... and he wouldn’t be there to protect them, once he was on his way back to the front.  The cockroaches who called themselves reporters might not be able to get into the estate - his bodyguards were armed and had authority to engage anyone crossing the inner wall with lethal force - but some toad of a political representative would probably try to pressure them into making an appearance or two.  And without him, who knew what would happen?  He was damned if he was letting the media ruin his daughters like they’d ruined his sister.
     
    The hatch opened.  “Doctor Song,” Doctor Murray said.  “Thank you for coming.”
     
    Henry rose and held out a hand.  Doctor Song looked to be East Asian, with an oval face, almond eyes and long dark hair that fell to her shoulders.  She took his hand and shook it with a surprisingly firm grip, then held up a datachip.  Doctor Murray nodded to the room’s processor and motioned for her to plug it in.  Henry lifted his eyebrows - didn't they trust their internal communications network - and then sat back down.  Doctor Murray could run her little fiefdom in whatever way she wanted, he knew, as long as she got results.
     
    “Unlocking the alien DNA-analogue has proved challenging,” Doctor Song said.  She had an enchanting voice.  Henry reminded himself, firmly, that he was a married man.  “We don’t believe we have put together enough of Unknown #2’s DNA to make any credible guesses as to their appearance, but we have learned a great deal