Raising Caine - eARC Read Online Free PDF Page B

against the Arat Kur over ten thousand years ago, but evidently they consider it important to suppress that information for now.”
    Alnduul’s eyelids nictated once, quickly. “Caine Riordan is correct. At this moment in time, you are well-advised to protect the secret of the Ktor. Sometimes, a long-term benefit is derived from maintaining a short-term silence. Accordingly, I encourage you to return the Ktoran ambassador to his ship. But I may not instruct you to do so, since you are not members of the Accord.”
    Sukhinin cocked a wicked eyebrow at Downing. “It might be useful, as well as amusing, to keep this zjulik Shethkador around for a bit longer, hey? Extract some repayment for what he wanted to extort from humanity? And let his comrades shake their fists.”
    “Vassily—” Downing began carefully.
    “Bah, Richard, you take me too seriously.” Sukhinin gestured into the holotank: the red blip and its small cloud of attendant ruby mayflies were still chasing the actinic blue points aggressively. “I know the Ktor have not come just to shake their fists: they will use them, if they become too aggravated. I speak of what I wish to do, not what I recommend we do.”
    Caine sighed, smiled. “Well, that’s a relief.”
    Sukhinin’s eyes moved to meet Caine’s, but his wolfish smile did not change. “I’m glad you feel so, parnishka. ”
    Caine had learned that when Sukhinin used that familiar appellation, the odds were dead even that he was about to drop a bomb on the person so addressed. “I’m not sure I like the way you said that, Vassily.”
    Sukhinin had the good grace to look abashed, and sounded genuinely apologetic. “Caine, surely you must see what this means.”
    “What this means—?”
    Alnduul’s voice intruded. “Unless I am mistaken, I believe Consul Sukhinin is suggesting that you escort Ambassador Shethkador back to his ship.”
    Caine remembered the pasty, nauseous appearance of the hapless security liaison only ten minutes ago and was fairly certain his own face looked like that now. “You’re joking.”
    Downing shook his head. “I’m sorry, but no. Firstly, we can’t let any Ktor on our ships. We have no way of knowing what they might leave behind, and we’ve seen just how much unexplained havoc seems to follow wherever they go. Secondly, while Vassily and I are the only ones who should go, who have the diplomatic credentials, neither of us are permitted. He’s a World Confederation Consul: he shouldn’t even be this close to a potential war zone. And in my case, well, there are a few too many of IRIS’ secrets up here.” Richard tapped the side of his head.
    “I’m in IRIS, too,” Caine offered lamely.
    “Being in IRIS is a great deal different than being in charge of IRIS, Caine. Besides, if we do send you over, that might actually help take any enemy spotlight off you.”
    “Because if you’re willing to send me, they’ll deduce that I mustn’t know anything they’re interested in?”
    “Exactly.”
    “And if they decide to dissect me, just to make sure?”
    Alnduul broke in hastily. “I would not permit that.”
    “Alnduul, no disrespect, but you won’t be there.”
    “No, but we can equip you with a biomonitor. If the data stream from it is in any way obstructed, impaired, or altered, my ship will consider it a hostile act against a person who is acting at the behest of the Custodians.”
    “Does that mean you’re…uh, deputizing me?”
    “Nothing so involved as that. But the twenty-first accord allows me to solicit help from willing parties in accomplishing the mandate of that accord. If you agree to carry out this task, you will have our express protection. Over which I have full and immediate control.”
    For the first time in many months, Caine felt that he had just become more, rather than less, safe. But damn it, stepping foot on a Ktoran vessel? Really? “Look, can’t we avoid all this?”
    Downing folded his arms. “How?”
    “By