ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) Page 9

  "I am able to scan the log of his message center and cross-check with addresses of females. Please define area and time frame."

  Aster tried to cover Cherry's mouth but failed. "How about the city of Car-Tem One in the last two months?"

  "Scanning." A few seconds passed. "In the last two months, on three occasions, he spent time at the residence of a female named Tarla Yan. No other entries correlate."

  "That will be all, Josephine. Power down," Aster demanded.

  Cherry pouted. "Sometimes you're no fun at all."

  Aster's thoughts ran to safer ground. "This place is made up of such a strange mixture of cultures—jousting, dance halls, mechanical sex. I wonder how it all came together."

  "For once in your life, kid, stop studying and try living. From the look on your face, I just overstepped my nagging limit for today. Okay, let's go walk off that lasagna. I'm sure Perd and Oona will keep us protected from any villains on our block."

  Later that evening, when Aster snuggled up with her new pillow, she was prepared to see Romulus in her dreams and willed herself to let the sequence run its course. Sleep came quickly but instead of the dream she had intended to welcome, gruesome memories possessed her.

  Blood! Oh, Lord, there's so much blood. The sharks are waiting. Harold was not enough. They want Cherry. Isn't she dead anyway? I've got to stop the bleeding. Something sharp stabbed her throat. She turned. Thin lips beneath a narrow black moustache opened into a cruel smile and a white diamond blinded her.

  Once more she awoke gasping for breath, searching her room for the nightmarish threat. Remembering that Victor was incarcerated did nothing to calm her fears.

  Chapter 7

  Aster arose Monday morning with the realization that people on the planet's surface were probably searching for The Baronette's passengers. Out there, only four days had passed since she and her friends had boarded the yacht. Here it seemed like an eternity.

  To keep from dwelling on that unhappy thought, she purposely shifted her attention to her morning's appointment. She created an outfit to impress an employment agent—a white linen skirt, tailored black silk blouse, and a pair of black-and-white snakeskin heels. All that was missing were earrings and the phony spectacles she usually donned as part of her dowdy, intellectual image. She had added the glasses when she noticed how people, especially men, kept staring at her eyes. Using a long, black ribbon, she secured her hair at the base of her neck.

  As she reached the lobby, two women came out of another apartment. Aster smiled and introduced herself but the women stared back at her, looking shocked, as though she had insulted them in some way. They hurried away from her, whispering behind their hands.

  * * *

  "I am your career counselor, Edward. Please sit down."

  Aster shook his limp hand, offered him her best smile and crushed the urge to gawk. He was shorter than she, pudgy around the middle, sallow-complexioned and completely bald. With his yellow uniform, he looked like a large lemon. When she tried to look him in the eyes, she was distracted by his lip movements. He used a translator.

  "As you were told in orientation, it is required that you be productive and enjoy what you do for a living. It is imperative that you integrate into society as quickly as possible. Therefore, today I will present the guidelines and choices available to you."

  His high nasal voice grated on her already-taut nerves but she folded her hands on her lap and forced another smile.

  "Each job has an assigned entry-level income. Trainees, students and positions that require the least amount of education, skill or natural talent earn the lowest incomes. The highest pay goes to those people who perform services that are vital to our existence, such as farmers and miners. You are free to move from one field to another."

  Although Edward went on in great detail, he sounded bored and spoke rapidly, as if in a hurry to be rid of her. He asked her to tell him about her education and career experience.

  "I graduated magna cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley and received my PhD in economics at Harvard. Those are excellent schools in the United States," she added as an afterthought. She briefly explained her position as director of The Mackenzie Foundation. "My primary interest was in research projects involving the protection and restoration of the environment."

  Edward squinted across his desk at the self-centered young female. Why, she not only acted as if she were his equal, her eyes betrayed the fact that she considered herself superior to him. He had opposed the movement to integrate these beings into Innerworld society. The fact that she possessed a degree of intelligence and an exceptionally attractive physical form added fuel to his annoyance. He hated beautiful people, even if they were his own kind. When he spoke again, he did not attempt to hide his distaste.

  "We have nothing like that here but with your economics background, perhaps you would fit in at the Economics Center. They are always asking for help but it is much too dull for most Noronians. You would begin with an overall training period, after which you and your supervisor would determine where you would be of the most use. From the notations in your file, I assume it would not prove too difficult for someone of your potential."

  "I don't understand. You mean someone has made notations about me?"

  "Of course," he stated in a tone that implied she was a simpleton. "Your file was created when you arrived and your test results and responses to various stimuli since then have been recorded." He did not need to feed her ego by telling her she ranked in the highest percentile of all Terran humanoids ever tested. However, he was very curious about something in her file.

  "The most significant notation was made by Chief Romulus. He normally only submits the briefest of impressions on a new arrival. His comment on you was, and I quote, 'a shining star added to our world'. I do not remember him ever waxing poetic before. You apparently managed to gain his notice for some reason. Perhaps he was carried away by your name." Edward snickered at his own little joke, highly satisfied with the blush coloring her cheeks. Could it be the esteemed chief's head had been turned by a bit of forbidden fruit? What an interesting turn of events that could cause!

  "I'm pleased he believes I will be an asset but I truly don't see what his opinion has to do with my getting a job."

  Edward gave her a look of pure disdain. Surely she was not as naive as she pretended. "The chief is a very influential man. Some people believe he could walk on water. Sooner or later you will hear how he singlehandedly prevented a rebellion and put an end to the chaos created by new arrivals. There were undoubtedly many others who were capable of instituting such systems but he was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time... as usual. It got him where he is today and some people say he might be appointed the next governor of Innerworld. Personally, I have always found him just a little too perfect."

  Prevented a rebellion? Aster thought. Good heavens, the man was a hero on top of everything else. The next governor? She had already learned that was the highest authority in Innerworld. And Edward was none too pleased about it. Aster couldn't miss the sarcasm in just about everything Edward had said since she walked in. Why was he sneering at her that way? Jealousy?

  The counselor pushed himself back on track and shifted into overdrive. "Would a position at the Economics Center interest you?"

  "Yes, that would be fine."

  "Such positions fall under the administrative category and therefore you will make a very good income. When will you be ready to commence?"

  Aster could not fathom why Edward should sound so jealous of her prospects but he clearly did. "I'd like to start right away, tomorrow morning if possible."

  "Fine. I will inform them to expect you at 0900 tomorrow. Feel free to return to me if you need additional assistance." Edward's words were kind but lacked any sincerity or warmth.

  Aster thanked him and offered her hand. His sweaty palm pressed against hers. It was all she could do not to wipe her hand on her skirt as she left his
office.

  Edward's rudeness reminded her of the two women in her apartment building. In spite of Karl's angry complaints and Romulus's warning, she had not been prepared for any real hostility. She tried to remember what Romulus had said about the American immigrants but it did little to soothe her discomfort.

  Edward's comments about the file compiled on her was agitating as well. It made her feel like Big Brother was watching. It didn't matter that one of the Big Brothers had waxed poetic over her.

  Immersed in her ponderings, she missed the turn to the lobby and tried to reverse her steps, but only managed to get completely lost. Stepping into the first open door to ask for directions, Aster froze. The nameplate on the woman's desk in front of her read Tarla Yan—the name from Cherry's little investigation. She stole a glance at the words on the door and almost groaned aloud—Romulus Locke, Chief Administrator. Of the thousands of offices in this enormous complex, how could she possibly have ended up here?

  "May I help you?" Tarla asked politely. When Aster didn't answer, she tried again. "Are you looking for someone?"

  Tarla was gorgeous, dark and petite, with an air of mystery about her. Everything she was not. No wonder Romulus was attracted to her. Aster's heart tightened in her chest.

  "I'm sorry. I've lost my way. Could you direct me to the lobby?" She glanced toward the open door behind Tarla, hoping that if the chief administrator was in the rear office, he would not choose this moment to come out.

  "You must be one of the new arrivals." Tarla came around her desk to offer Aster her hand. "I'm Tarla, assistant to the chief administrator. I believe you met Chief Romulus already."

  "Yes. He... spoke at the orientation." Aster quickly returned Tarla's solid handshake. "Excuse my manners. I'm Aster Mackenzie and, as you might guess, a bit disoriented."

  "Come, I'll walk you out."

  They didn't get far. Romulus entered the doorway at that moment and his pleasure at seeing her was unconcealed. "Aster! How nice of you to stop by."

  "Oh, no," she said too emphatically. "I got lost and ended up here. Tarla was about to lead me back to the lobby."

  "That's okay, Tarla, I'll take care of Miss Mackenzie."

  Aster started to object but he had already taken her firmly by the arm and was propelling her down the corridor.

  * * *

  Tarla remained in the doorway after the well-dressed stranger had been whisked away by her boss. She didn't need a meteor to fall on her to know that she had just met the reason for Rom's recent peculiar behavior. Aster was gorgeous, blonde and voluptuous, with an air of innocence about her. Everything she was not. No wonder he was attracted to Aster. Oh, Rom. You of all people should know better, Tarla thought miserably. The problems such a liaison could cause her friend were unthinkable.

  * * *

  "I can walk quite well without your support." Meeting Tarla had dealt a serious blow to Aster's already shaky ego.

  "Only trying to be helpful." Rom released her arm without moving away from her side. "I was about to get an early lunch. Please accompany me. I'd like to hear how your counseling session went."

  Aster's arm still felt warm where he had held it. She started to decline but recalled her plan and Cherry's orders. "All right. Is there someplace here?"

  "Yes. It's nothing special but it is convenient."

  Once situated in the dining room, Aster related the events of the morning, omitting the antipathy she had encountered.

  "You raised my curiosity yesterday when you mentioned your foundation, so I did a little research. It looks like we've added a celebrity to our population."

  "Hah! Some celebrity. My work has generated as many enemies as fans."

  "That's not what the magazine article I read stated. You've certainly received an impressive collection of awards for your contributions."

  She knew he referred to the issue of Fortune magazine, in which she was listed as one of the wealthiest women in the world and one of the most aggressive environmentalists.

  "Tell me about The Mackenzie Foundation."

  This was her opportunity to influence his thinking, and she found herself conversing easily once she ignored the way he made her feel.

  "The Mackenzies made their first million during the California Gold Rush. My grandmother discovered she enjoyed controlling people as much as money. By setting up the endowment fund, she could do both. When I went to work for the foundation, a good deal of money was being donated from business and industry and being directed toward technology. As far as I could see, they had too much to say about who received the grants. I badgered my grandmother incessantly about how much better the money could be used.

  "It was my belief that since the Mackenzies got their wealth from Mother Earth, we should find ways to pay her back. I wanted to donate the bulk of our funds to agencies and individuals who wanted to work toward rehabilitating our environment. Eventually, I got my way.

  "Our planet is dying and not enough people care enough to make it a priority. Sometimes I would get so frustrated, I wanted to chuck the whole thing. Then I would read about another once-beautiful lake being destroyed or another animal facing extinction and I'd be ready to spit fire again."

  Watching the woman as she spoke, Rom could certainly believe that. He was overwhelmed by the glow that lit her eyes now that she was on familiar ground. Under that cool exterior beat a passionate heart. He hadn't analyzed his reasons yet but it was essential that she feel just as passionate about his world.

  "Did you know we've created enough garbage to bury ourselves? Mountain-high landfills of trash spoil the countryside. Our tropical rain forests are being destroyed. Our oceans and rivers are being polluted so badly that our descendants may never see fish in their natural habitat. And the ozone layer— Oh my, it seems I never leave my soapbox far behind. I realize you're not very interested in all this, but I—"

  "Hold on there. You couldn't be more wrong. The condition of Outerworld and the planet's atmosphere is of vital importance to me, to all of us."

  "But yesterday you said you couldn't help with those problems."

  "We can't. But that doesn't mean we're indifferent. You see, we must be able to pass through the doorways to conduct our business with Norona. At one time accidents such as you had on the boat were rare. The contaminants in Outerworld's air and water have a direct effect on Earth's magnetic fields. The worse the pollution gets, the more often vessels and aircraft in those fields go undetected. But that's not the only problem. In some places, the contamination is seeping below the ocean floor, into the crust. We have begun to find signs of deterioration in our tunnels. If the conditions in Outerworld aren't corrected, we could eventually end up being sealed off from the rest of the universe."

  Aster's eyes widened in clear surprise. "But if cleaning up the planet is so important to your world, why haven't you made yourselves known? With your technology and knowledge, you could probably restore everything—even the ozone layer—and instruct everyone on how to keep it that way."

  He was rapidly losing his patience in spite of his attraction to her. "I already told you, it's against our laws to interfere with Outerworld civilization unless the planet is facing imminent destruction. If you ever get around to researching our history, you'll understand better. It has been our hope that the people of Earth will learn how to take care of their home without our stepping in." His thoughts flew to the oncoming asteroid and realized that, if the emissary was not found soon, they may have no choice about interfering.

  Aster huffed. "That's a ridiculous law. You could do so much good."

  "And it could be construed as some sort of alien invasion bent on taking over your planet. We could also start a worldwide panic. Imagine how the people on the surface would react to our presence."

  She pondered that for a moment. "Some would welcome you. But you're right about the fear factor. Way too many movies done on that theme."

  "Exactly. Terrans were never as trusting after the Trojan horse incident."
<
br />   She grimaced and took another moment before replying. "All right. I'll concede your point for the moment. Aliens making themselves known and telling us what to do might be a problem. So, why not pass the information on secretly, say... to a well-known environmentalist, who—"

  "No!" The sharpness of his voice even stunned himself and he continued in a quieter tone. "You don't understand what's involved."

  "I don't understand? You're the thickheaded one at this table. You say you were impressed with my work. If I don't get back there, all my efforts could go down the drain. I left half a dozen viable research applications on my desk that might be rejected now. If you can't see your way clear to revealing any secrets, at least let me go back to continue my work. There are several trustees on the Board who will jump on my absence to put a stop to the grants I was establishing."

  He clenched his fists to keep from reaching across the table and shaking her.

  "I would never tell anyone about your world."

  How was she able to scramble his brain so badly that he couldn't even repeat the standard responses. What the drek was wrong with him?

  "Damn it! This is important!" She paused and took a slow, calming breath. "Okay, look, let me go back, say for one month, long enough to secure the future of the foundation and ensure that the focus remains on saving the planet. Then you can bring me back. You could send Oona with me. What do you say?"

  Romulus struggled against the unreasonable urge to give her whatever she wanted, just to make her smile again. Her emotional begging caused the most peculiar wrenching in his chest. Ordering his mind to get control of his body, he found his voice again. "Let me ask you a question. Why doesn't your government enforce more clean-up programs?"

  "Which government? In the United States, the businesses that cause the majority of the pollution have much stronger lobbies than the people trying to save the planet. In other countries, sometimes mere survival is more than they can handle. I have always thought the only way Earth will be spared is with a worldwide environmental police force, but that's a dream that stands very little chance of happening in my lifetime."