New Earth Read Online Free PDF Page B

weekly basis. Make certain your little bugs are remaining dormant. And in the meantime I’ll see if there’s anything in theship’s medical library that might help us get rid of them.”
    “I’d appreciate that,” said Jordan. And he remembered Miriam’s final days. The pain. The unbearable pain.

 
    BROTHERS
    When Jordan returned to the wardroom, most of the men and women were still there, sitting around the tables, deep in conversations.
    “Who wants to be next?” Jordan asked.
    They all looked up at him, standing just inside the hatch.
    Geoffrey Hazzard, back from the command center, got to his feet. “Might’s well get it over with.”
    As he brushed past Jordan and stepped out into the passageway,most of the others got to their feet, as well.
    “I suppose we should get to our quarters and settle in a bit,” said Harmon Meek.
    “I know it’s a bit daft,” said Thornberry as he headed for the hatch, “but I feel like I need a nap.”
    Meek looked down his nose at the beefy engineer. “That’s ridiculous. You’ve been sleeping for eighty years, man.”
    “Yes. A bit of strange, isn’t it?”
    Brandon startedto leave too, but Jordan touched his sleeve to hold him back. “Wait a moment, Bran, will you?”
    With a glance at Elyse, who looked back over her shoulder at him, Brandon leaned his rump on the edge of the nearest table. Jordan waited until Elyse and the others left the wardroom, then turned to his younger brother.
    “Bran, do you really feel so … so … alienated?”
    “Alienated?”
    “What you said earlier,about us being outcasts, expendables.”
    Brandon didn’t reply. Jordan looked into his brother’s light bluish gray eyes and thought, It’s almost like looking into a mirror. A very flattering mirror.
    “Well?” he prompted.
    Brandon turned away slightly, but he answered, “It’s true, isn’t it? None of us are the best and brightest of their professions, are we? I’m certainly not. There are a dozen planetaryastronomers who are better than I: better reputations, recognized leaders in the field. I’m just an also-ran.”
    “But the IAA picked you for this mission! Of all the people in the field they picked you.”
    “Because I’m expendable,” Brandon repeated stubbornly. “Because nobody’s going to miss me for a century or two.”
    Shaking his head, Jordan countered, “But the honor of taking part in the firsthuman mission to another star! Surely—”
    “Bullshit,” Brandon snapped. “They picked us because we’re expendable. Look at us, Jordan. Aside from you, none of us are leaders in our fields. We’re all expendables. No family ties. Nobody’s going to miss us, whether we come back or not. That’s why they picked us. That’s why we’ve been given this honor .”
    Before Jordan could reply, Brandon added, “Andnow they’ve hung us out to dry. No backup mission. The damned politicians got their glory by sending us out here, they don’t give a damn if we get back or not.”
    “You really feel that way?”
    “Yes. Don’t you?”
    Miriam’s death flashed in Jordan’s memory once more. I killed her, he thought all over again. If I hadn’t insisted on that doomed mission to Kashmir she’d still be alive.
    “No,” he lied.“I really do feel it’s an honor to be picked for this mission. Especially for a non-scientist, a mere administrator.”
    For the first time, Brandon smiled. “Mere administrator,” he said. “One of the world’s most distinguished diplomats. And now head of this mission. They should have given you a whip and a chair. You’re going to need them.”
    Jordan smiled. “Riding herd on eleven scientists and engineersshouldn’t be that difficult, really.”
    “You don’t think so?”
    “I hope not.”
    Gazing straight into Jordan’s eyes, Brandon asked, “Tell me the truth now, why did you agree to come on this mission?” Before Jordan could think of a reply, Brandon added, “And don’t tell me about the honor.