The Dreaming Void Read Online Free PDF Page A

cubes of paoviool where he could have sat.
    â€œWe did it together.”
    â€œLet’s not fool ourselves here. I would never be considered even for the Council.”
    â€œOrdinarily, no.” Ethan looked around the sanctum again. The enormity was starting to sink in. He began to wonder what the Void would look like when he could see it with his own eyes. Once, decades earlier, he had met Inigo. He had not been disappointed exactly, but the Dreamer had not quite been what he had expected. Not that he was sure what the Dreamer should have been like—more forceful and dynamic, perhaps.
    â€œYou want to begin?” Phelim asked.
    â€œI think that’s best. The Ellezelin cabinet are all faithful Living Dream members, so they can remain as they are, with one exception. I want you as the Treasury Secretary.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œWe’re going to build the starships for Pilgrimage. That isn’t going to be cheap; we’ll need the full financial resources of the whole Free Market Zone to fund construction. I need someone in the Treasury I can depend on.”
    â€œI thought I was going to join the Council.”
    â€œYou are. I will elevate you tomorrow.”
    â€œTwo senior posts. That should be interesting when it comes to juggling schedules. And the empty seat on the Council I shall be filling?”
    â€œI’m going to ask Corrie-Lyn to consider her position.”
    Phelim’s face betrayed a hint of censure. “She’s hardly your greatest supporter on the Council, admittedly, but I think she’d actually welcome Pilgrimage. Perhaps one of our less progressive colleagues …?”
    â€œIt’s to be Corrie-Lyn,” Ethan said firmly. “The remaining Councillors who oppose Pilgrimage are in a minority, and we can deal with them at our leisure. Nobody will be challenging my mandate. The faithful wouldn’t tolerate it.”
    â€œCorrie-Lyn it is, then. Let’s just hope Inigo doesn’t come back before we launch the starships. You know they were lovers?”
    â€œIt’s the only reason she’s a Councillor.” Ethan narrowed his eyes.
    â€œAre we still looking for Inigo?”
    â€œOur friends are,” Phelim told him. “We don’t quite have those sorts of resources. There’s been no sign of him that they’ve reported. Realistically, if your succession to Conservator doesn’t bring him back within the first month or so, I’d say we are in the clear.”
    â€œBadly phrased. That makes it sound like we’ve done something wrong.”
    â€œBut we don’t know why Inigo was reluctant to Pilgrimage.”
    â€œInigo is only human; he has flaws like the rest of us. Call it a failure of nerve at the last moment if you want to be charitable. My own belief is that he’ll be watching events from somewhere, cheering us on.”
    â€œI hope so.” Phelim paused as he reviewed the information accumulating in his exoimages; his u-shadow was balancing local data with a comprehensive overview of the election. “Marius is here, requesting an audience.”
    â€œThat didn’t take long, did it?”
    â€œNo. There are a lot of formalities required of you tonight. The Greater Commonwealth President will be calling to congratulate you, as will the leaders of the Free Market planets and dozens of our External world allies.”
    â€œHow is the unisphere coverage?”
    â€œEarly days.” Phelim checked the summaries his u-shadow was providing. “Pretty much what we were expecting. Some hysterical anti-Pilgrimage hotheads saying you’re going to kill all of us. Most of the serious anchors are trying to be balanced and explain the difficulties involved. The majority seem to regard Pilgrimage as a politician’s promise.”
    â€œThere are no difficulties in accomplishing Pilgrimage,” Ethan said with annoyance. “I have seen the Skylord’s dream.