Treasure of Light (The Light Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF

could still hear her strained voice …
    “What the hell are we doing, Cole?”
    “I’m obeying orders. I’m not sure what you’re doing anymore.”
    “Goddamn it! We’ve just been ordered to kill another planet! How can you sit there so calmly?”
    “It’s only a level two attack, Carey. We’ll destroy all the known habitation centers. The planet’s resources will be intact. Some of the people might even survive. But the nuisance factor will be completely eliminated.”
    “And you can live with that?”
    At the time, he’d wanted to tell her, “No.” But he couldn’t. They’d had orders to carry out. And now, as she lifted a brow and studied him pensively, he wanted to tell her again. Instead, he strode forward and dropped into his command chair.
    “Captain,” Macey informed him, “I have the Councilman.”
    “On screen, Lieutenant.”
    Councilman Oraias’ tanned face formed. His braided beard, sandy hair, and smug smile looked store-window perfect despite the civil war that currently raged across the surface of his planet. Dressed regally in a gold silk robe, he seemed to be standing in some underground rock chamber. Red stone walls glimmered darkly in candlelight. “Greetings, Captain. I understand the Magistrates have considered my offer?”
    Tahn glowered. The bridge crew had gone rigid, eyes glued to the screen. At her console, Halloway cursed. Ornias had outrageously demanded that the Magistrates give him the planet Grinlow in exchange for Baruch.
    “Let’s get this on the table quickly, Councilman. The Magistrates say no to your request for Grinlow. However, they will up the reward for Baruch to five billion notes. Do you accept or reject?”
    The Councilman’s face tensed, his lime green eyes hardening. “Five billion is hardly enough to—”
    “Yes, or no.”
    “You don’t mind if I think about it for a short time, do you, Captain?”
    “I’ll give you five minutes. In the meantime, put Baruch on. I want to see him.”
    Ornias inclined his head cooperatively and Tahn’s stomach muscles tightened as two guards in gray uniforms shoved a tall muscular blond in front of the screen. Standing with his hands bound behind his back, the blond lifted his bearded chin defiantly. He had the most piercing blue eyes Tahn had ever seen. A sheen of sweat matted the man’s hair to his forehead and temples.
    “Baruch,” he said tautly.
    “Tahn.”
    They stared hard at each other and a hollowness boomed in Tahn’s chest. The brain death that awaited this brilliant military commander was less than he deserved—but Tahn couldn’t do a damned thing about it. Feeling trapped and indecisive, he lightly pounded a fist against his chair arm.
    “You’ll be well-treated, Baruch. I give you my word.”
    “Until you get me to the nearest neurophysiology center.”
    “Nonetheless—”
    “Did you give your word to the innocent victims on Kayan? Or Pitbon?”
    Tahn shifted uncomfortably. Both worlds had been devastated by beam cannon fire—almost nothing had survived. “I wasn’t at Pitbon.”
    “No,” Baruch challenged, struggling against the hard hands of the guards who held him. “How about Jumes or Wexlen? I know you were there.”
    Tahn looked up slowly. Baruch had pulled magnificent maneuvers in those battles, slipping through his fingers before Tahn knew what had happened. But not this time, Baruch. Not this time…
    “Councilman?” Tahn called, indicating the discussion with Baruch was over. He sat up straighter when Ornias stepped back in front of the monitor.
    CHAPTER 2
     
    On Horeb, the third moon rose over jagged maroon peaks, washing the sandy plains with a brooding silver light. Jeremiel Baruch shook the cuffs that cinched his hands behind his back and gazed steadily at the dusk sky. Hoyer’s shuttle dove out of the heavens like a deadly lance. How long did he have? Two minutes? Three?
    Rage burned inside him. Ornias had slipped away in the fight that erupted just after