The Fifth Civilization: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

and
pulled the throttle to the left, the antigravity cushion tilting the hovercar
at a forty-five degree angle. As Roan held on for his life, David casually set
the craft back down to its horizontal orientation. On the streets you had to
obey the ancient law of the lanes, like some fin-de-millennium cabbie from the holofilms. This is why Roan took
public transit.
    David continued his explanation. “Now, you see, Chairman HETtachoi Velvvo hails from the
southern—”
    “OK, David. I’m sorry the subject came up. I don’t want to
get into a pronunciation match.”
    “Oh.”   David kept
his eyes glued on the street. “You know, your English language is fairly simple
to learn once you figure out all the complex grammar.”
    “It can’t be that strange.”
    “Oh, it’s much more complicated than what we speak on
Nydaya. How it ever became an official language of this planet mystifies me.”
    “Something about empires, if I remember. Now answer me this,
David. How long have you been on Earth?”
    “Earth?” The skimmer made a turn onto an expressway, gliding
alongside Tokyo Bay in the direction of the spaceport. Gargantuan bulk carriers
lumbered along the water. “Let’s see…about fifteen years.”
    “Oh really? And how do you know Aaron?”   And why, thought Roan, had the name
“David” never come up in Roan’s conversations with his friend?
    “I’ve known Aaron for about five years. I was teaching
biology at the University of Port Moresby, and we met when he was looking into
traveling to Nydaya. Apparently he had gotten my name from the Nyden embassy.
We corresponded and met for months and then he decided to employ me as his
assistant.”
    “His assistant?”
    “Yes. The Mizutani Laboratory was eager to have me work
there, in fact. I have found that the scientific establishments of Earth are
far more accepting of other species than political or military ones. Especially
when it comes to xenobiology.”
    “Let me guess. That’s the study of…”
    “The study of alien life, Mr. Roan.”
    “Got it. What did Aaron need an assistant for?”
    David hesitated. It was slight, but noticeable. “A project
he’s working on. Aaron will tell you about it in greater detail.” Ah, a
project. Something the “spies” were after, no doubt.
    “You know, David, you are kind of mysterious for a Nyden.”
    “I just think Aaron will tell it all better.”
    “Fine. What you can answer is why Aaron needed a Nyden for
his assistant. Why couldn’t he trust a human?”
    David’s bulbous head shimmered viridian. Maybe he was
bristling? “It wasn’t a matter of trust. It was a matter of expertise and my
unique perspective on the situation. I’ll have you know, Mr. Roan, that I was
granted my job based on my qualifications, not based on some idea of needing a
token alien in the lab. Many have accused me of being unqualified, sometimes
not so subtly.”
    “OK, I get it. So Aaron recognized some potential in you?”
    “Yes, yes he did. Ah, we’re almost there.”   Roan had an idea of where they were
heading. The area was a wealthy district that catered its resources either to
tourists or rich Tokyo citizens looking to buy seafront property. Roan usually
avoided the waterfront, preferring the dives and clubs of the east side where
the darkness made anonymity easier. But one time many years ago, when he tried
to get something going with Kel, he took her for a walk down by the Bay…
    Kel…
    “Please tell me we’re going to the beach, David.”
    “No, the Yuko Mall.” The monolithic structure came into view
just then, perched on the edge of the harbor near a long pier. Shaped like a
fat, spiraling cone, Yuko Mall teemed with shops on each of its ten layers. At
the top, shimmering like a beacon, was the holographic logo of whichever
company had paid to rent the space this month. Right now it was HiLo Energy
Drink. Just the thought of having to navigate Yuko made Roan quiver. There were
bigger malls on the