The Singularity Race Read Online Free PDF Page B

the sidelines?”
    â€œI’ll get no closer than I need to. I have no desire to be in the line of fire.”
    Brighton realized the deal was the best he’d get from the stubborn bastard. “All right. I’ll arrange it. The agencies will think it’s strange but I’ll tell them it’s out of respect for your past efforts and your heroism for protecting that Li woman and the boy.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    â€œSomeone will contact you.” Brighton turned away and then looked back. “I was always trying to do what I thought was best for my country.”
    â€œYeah? Name me one President that ever said otherwise.”

Chapter Five
    â€œMr. Mullins, it’s time for the game.”
    The voice was so close Mullins felt breath on his ear. He opened one eye and stared into the face of Peter Wang. The boy had the TV remote in one hand and his iPad in the other. Mullins shifted his gaze to the foot of the bed where Kayli and Dr. Li stood, lit by the afternoon sun coming through the room’s single window. Li scowled at her nephew; Kayli grinned.
    â€œI said whisper,” Li admonished.
    â€œBut Miss Kayli said we could wake him,” Peter argued. “The game’s in five minutes.”
    â€œIt’s all right.” Mullins fumbled for the bed control and raised the head to a forty-five-degree angle. “Why aren’t you at the game?”
    Peter’s eyes widened like the answer should be obvious. “We were to watch it together. I didn’t want to go without you.”
    Mullins swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Then he raised his good arm and opened his palm.
    Peter set down the remote and gave Mullins a high-five. “Ready?” he grinned.
    â€œYes. But I have one question.”
    â€œLineup changes?”
    â€œNo. What’s the temperature?”
    Peter gave a thumbs-up. “Eighty-one. Fernandez’s fastball will be smoking.”
    Mullins ruffled the kid’s hair. “Then pull a chair up beside me and find the game before we miss his first strikeout.”
    Fernandez pitched six innings before being relieved in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run lead. The Nats went on to win nine to six.
    â€œYou were right, pal.” Mullins gave Peter another high-five. “From now on I’m taking a thermometer to every game.”
    The boy beamed. “Maybe we can see one for real sometime?”
    Mullins hesitated to promise anything. If Peter was heading back to Beijing, a weekend jaunt to the U.S. wasn’t in his future. “Maybe. Why don’t you go with Miss Kayli to the cafeteria and I’ll treat you to a victory snack? I want to speak to your aunt a moment.”
    Dr. Li frowned and Mullins didn’t know if it was because she didn’t want Peter to go with his daughter or because she didn’t want to talk to him.
    â€œCan I go, please, Aunt Li Li?”
    â€œAll right,” she consented. “But do what Miss Kayli tells you.”
    As soon as they were alone, Mullins gestured for Li to take the chair vacated by her nephew.
    She sat. “I hope Peter didn’t make your afternoon too strenuous, Mr. Mullins.”
    â€œNo, I enjoyed it, and please call me Rusty.”
    She relaxed. “If you call me Lisa. Why do we need to talk?”
    â€œFirst of all, how are you and Peter doing?”
    â€œI’m looking over my shoulder and reliving last night. Peter’s putting on a brave face, but I know he has to be traumatized. We’ll have some counseling sessions back in Palo Alto. I don’t want that experience buried in his subconscious.”
    Subconscious, Mullins thought. Lisa Li’s specialty. “Do you have security?”
    She nodded. “The hotel transferred us to another room last night under a false name. The police put a guard inside the door so as not to draw attention in the hallway. My company flew in a