Voyagers II - The Alien Within Read Online Free PDF Page B

disturbance at the outer fence last night?”
    “A disturbance?”
    “Security thinks somebody tried to break into the labs. World Liberation Movement terrorists, perhaps.”
    “How would they…”
    She silenced him by raising one finger. “How many people are working with Stoner now?”
    “Directly?” Healy’s little-boy face pulled itself into a momentary frown of concentration. “There’s Dr. Richards, here, and the medical team that’s monitoring him…that makes seven—no, nine people.”
    “And indirectly?”
    “There’s the commissary crew, they prepare his meals and bring them to his room. And the data processing people, the electronics maintenance people, the—”
    “Stop,” Jo commanded. “I want the monitoring crew cut down to three people, one for each shift. Send me the files on the people who’re working there now and I’ll select the three I want. They will bring his meals to him when they start their shifts. All data processing will be done by our branch in Geneva, I’ll clear a satellite channel for you. If there’s any need for electronic repairs or maintenance, do it yourself.”
    “But I—”
    “This is a burden on you, I understand,” Jo said, her voice still steel-edged. “But security is absolutely imperative. The fewer people who are involved, the easier it will be to maintain security.”
    “But the whole board of directors knows about him!” Healy bleated.
    “That can’t be helped. They recognize his importance to the corporation, though. If they’re smart, they’ll stay quiet.” She smiled, almost to herself. “At least long enough to grab as much Vanguard stock as they can without pushing the price sky high.”
    Healy looked unconvinced. Richards, on the other hand, was watching Jo intently.
    She went on, “You’ve got to understand what we’ve got here. The man has been brought back from the dead. The technique for reviving him is worth billions—hundreds of billions. Do you have any idea how many people will want to have themselves frozen when they discover they have an inoperable cancer, or they’re waiting for a replacement heart?”
    “Yes, I know.”
    “If he’s not sleeping, then there’s something wrong, something not normal. We can’t allow that information to leak outside these walls .”
    Healy nodded. Then, in a near whisper, he said, “But it was only the chairman of the board. He’s entitled to know, isn’t he? After all, he’s the company’s top man. And your own husband.”
    Jo stared at him for a long moment before replying. “If somebody’s leaking information to him, out of channels, without your knowledge or mine, who else might they be talking to?”
    “But I don’t think—”
    “I do! Now get back to your office and implement the procedures I just outlined. I want those personnel files on my screen within fifteen minutes.”
    Healy’s face went white, as if Jo had slapped him. Dumbly he pushed himself out of his chair. Richards got to his feet beside him.
    Jo let them get as far as her door before calling, “Dr. Richards, I almost forgot. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about Stoner. Could you come back here a moment, please?”
    Richards turned back toward her. Healy hesitated, then opened the door and stepped out.
    Jo indicated the chair nearest her own.
    Sitting in it, Richards said, “If he wasn’t your enemy before we came in here, he certainly is now.”
    Raising an eyebrow at him, Jo asked, “You think so? I’m not sure he has the guts.”
    The psychiatrist shrugged. “You emasculated him.”
    She laughed. “And you’re assuming he had some balls when he came in here.”
    Richards smiled and ran a finger across his mustache.
    “What do you make of Stoner’s not sleeping?”
    “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem to be affecting him physically. Of course, I never saw him before he was frozen, so it’s a little difficult for me to say.” His eyes shifted away from her.
    Jo said, “What