2206 : Window Onto A New World
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XI. The Preacher The Teacher
following another pause. « My bodyguard has found a bug on my shoe » the researcher answered, undaunted, « a miniature microphone... right after we met at Pefki Park » he asserted in a severe manner. « And you think I put it there ? » queried the visitor, incredulous. « We know you had the occasion » the project director pointed out, imperturbable. « When ? » wondered the new hire. « When you tied your shoelaces, for instance » remarked the famous public speaker. « I see » first conceded the coder, nodding as he recollected the event, « and why would I do that ? » he asked in exasperation. « I'm sure you can imagine plenty of reasons to infiltrate us » merely stated the scholar. « And why do you tell me this now ? » the assistant countered after more deliberation, « I mean, shouldn't you have stopped me before we even left Ovel ? » he supposed, looking very much puzzled. « We decided to wait for what the lab would say » responded the consultant following a short silence, unwilling to reveal his true motivations, « and... » he hesitated briefly, « and personally, I didn't believe it could be you » he maintained in a friendlier tone, the face of the software expert temporarily brightening with relief, before his dismayed expression returned as fast as it had vanished.
The developer was encouraged by the confidence of his boss, yet he couldn't prevent concerns from once more flooding his mind. How could they imagine that he, of all people, could be a snoop ? He had gone through the screening process ! He had nothing but admiration for the quadragenarian and his team ! What proof could he produce to convince his supervisor of his innocence ? He couldn't think of anything. The idea appalled him, and rendered him powerless. The frustration that had risen in him menaced to bloom into despair. { Calm down Frank... breathe... breathe... wait for the solution to come of itself } he intended. Could it be another masquerade ? Could the space engineer be attempting to make him become aware of something, just as he had done with the notion of world views ? And why was he questioning him so openly ? Why confront him one-on-one without taking precautions ? A spy could react violently, and not simply confess and surrender. Maybe they were being watched ? No, more likely, the former teacher didn't believe he could be a threat. After all, he had told him he wasn't the one who suspected him. The memory comforted him. { Hold on to that thought, Frank } he mused. The anger and the fear were gradually subsiding. Most probably, the chauffeur was behind all this. That made plenty of sense, and it also explained the curiosity the big guy had shown for his past as he had driven him to the spaceport, on the night they had departed the motherland. And then the incoherence of the accusation occurred to him. He had an argument. – –
« Wait, that doesn't make sense » Evans finally objected, « why would I bug you if I were about to leave for Veshtar with you ? » he noted, self-assured and smiling proudly. « I still hadn't confirmed you had the job » replied the grinning physicist, « perhaps that
The Threshold
147
Christopher Stewart