Fortunes of the Imperium Read Online Free PDF Page B

departure. Doing errands, running security shifts, debugging files, cross-referencing Infogrid files.”
    “Sounds tedious,” I said.
    “Not really,” Oskelev said. “It’s nice to be in the Core Worlds for a change.”
    “. . . And what about you, my lord?” Nesbitt asked, after shamefacedly pushing away both plates, well scraped. “What have you been up to since we saw you?”
    “Well,” I said, pleased to have a chance to enlarge upon my latest enthusiasm. I leaned forward upon my elbows. “You might already have perceived that I have become interested in how random phenomena impact upon one’s daily life. I am a student of the occult, that which remains hidden to the casual observer.”
    I received a fleering snort from Oskelev. “You know all that is a pack of hooey, Thomas?”
    “Is it?” I countered, gazing at her enormous, white-furred face. “You have to admit there can be a case made for causality when two phenomena occur at the same time, or one immediately ensuing upon another.”
    “Could be. But there’s no proof! Scientific proof.”
    “The possibility of proof under scientific rigor is not possible, because a person’s fortune is as individual as one’s genes,” I argued. “What happens to one person, in one lifetime, will likely not correspond to another. Experience is personal and subjective.”
    “Then why are there only twelve zodiac signs?” Anstruther asked.
    “Oh, that one actually makes a degree of sense,” I said. “Factors that can be associated with the season are something that every baby born during that period have in common. Babies born in winter will perforce have less exposure to sunlight and therefore a lower concentration in their systems of vitamin D.”
    “Then why keep paying attention to horoscopes after infancy?” Plet asked, in spite of herself.
    “For the fun of it!” I said. “And that sense of belonging which herd animals such as ourselves crave. You might feel a kinship to others born under the sign of the Space Traveler.” As this was Plet, I added, “or perhaps not.”
    “Not,” she confirmed.
    “But consider this,” I said. “Whether or not one believes the daily horoscope, why does it not add to one’s luck to take its counsel into consideration when planning one’s activities for the day? Suppose your fortune read ‘be cautious with money dealings today.’ Should you approach an unfamiliar situation in which money is involved, you will think back to it, and perhaps give yourself a chance to think more carefully about the details. Chances are, if a good thing happens, you’ll simply disregard what you read, since it didn’t apply. As random as life can be, any fortune you read is only a guidepost, not a command.”
    “Those fortunes are purposely vague,” Plet said.
    I nodded eagerly. “Of course they are! If you will allow me, I would be willing to tell your fortunes right here and now.” I reached into a concealed breast-pocket pouch for the ancient cards I had brought with me. They felt unusually heavy. I feared I might not be able to lift them or my friends’ hands to read their palms.
    “Most fortune tellers are charlatans,” Plet said, dryly.
    “And I am the most sincere charlatan of them all,” I said. “I offer my findings for entertainment purposes only. I promise to tell you one thing that makes you feel good about yourself, and two dire warnings that will not come to mind until they are needed.”
    “Maybe later,” Nesbitt said, his cheeks turning red, although I could tell he was interested. Other diners peered around to look at us. The others looked a bit embarrassed, as if I might find out secrets about them they would prefer not to have revealed.
    “Fear not,” I said, fanning the cards between my hands. They flew in a twinkling, colorful arc. I had practiced for a month to create that effect. “If I learn anything, it will be as though I was your doctor. All matters remain confidential between