‘There is one thing,’ Deira said.
‘Name it, please.’
‘It would be extremely helpful if you would have a word with the Cthon and get them to stop their continual attacks on us. We don’t have time for them. We need to devote all our resources to this evacuation.’
‘Of course. Consider it done.’
‘One other thing,’ Sol said. ‘Do you think you might arrange for the Eich to go home? I understand their conditioning is wearing off, so they’ll probably be feeling a bit angsty by now. On the other hand, their ideas have prevailed, and there’s no obvious reason the Cthon shouldn’t make up with them.’
‘Micha smiled. ‘I’ll work on that too. We clearly need to return this corner of the galaxy to some semblance of what was normality until we all started poking our noses in. All I would ask is some help with communicating with the Eich. They still have their folded-space shield around them.’
‘Done!’ Sol said. ‘I’m sure we can manage that without taking too many agent-hours out of our workforce.’
‘And, on that note, I think I need to return to my crew and apprise them of the change in circumstances.’ Micha said. They all stood and exchanged handshakes. ‘Can I leave you to show yourselves out?’
That caused laughter all round and, when Micha had left to return to the bridge, Josh and Tao went to collect the other agents. Soon, they were all standing ready.
‘Let’s just do this the easy way,’ Josh said.
There was a flash of yellow and they all vanished.
Chapter 40
Everyone reappeared a split second later in the MacMahon sitting room and Deira duly declared it was party time. After all the trauma of the last few weeks she felt like a party, and she was damned sure everyone else did too. And if they didn’t, well that was too bad, because she wasn’t going to be denied. She passed the booze around and set the kitchen AI to preparing pizzas and individual requests.
She looked round at the laughing agents, feeling happier than she had for a long time. Happy at having Josh and Sol back with her, happy to have a PWC all her own, and happy at being part of a job well done. Then, she realised there was someone missing from this – she wanted all her family round her, and that meant Juliette too. She grinned to herself and folded to Chayka’s lab in England, intending to roust Juliette out from wherever she might be. This time, however, there was no need – Juliette and Gary were both at Juliette’s workstation.
Gary, as usual, was startled out of his wits by Deira’s sudden appearance. He’d been standing behind Juliette, who was poring over her terminal screen, and his hand had been resting lightly on her shoulder. He saw Deira’s look, and removed it quickly, blushing and stammering a welcome. Juliette stood and threw her arms around her mother.
‘Mum! Great to see you! What’s up?’
‘We’re having a party and you’re both invited.’
‘A party? Now?’
‘Yep. Right now. I don’t see Chayka, and to be honest, I wouldn’t care if I did. We’ve had some big successes and I want to celebrate before we get down to work again. And that means you, too, young man.’ Much to Gary’s surprise and considerable embarrassment, Deira grabbed him round the waist, causing Juliette to hoot with laughter. ‘Come on. Let’s go!’
She opened another portal back home and they all stepped through. Gary took one look at all the agent uniforms on display and tried to step back again, but Deira was having none of it.
‘Most of them are younger than you – and a lot sillier. Try and forget about the uniforms. Look at the people underneath.’
Juliette took his hand and led him, strained and awkward, round the room to do the introductions, but it took a couple of stiff drinks from Sol before he began to loosen up and enjoy himself. Soon, he was participating actively in the conversation, and even managed to contribute a couple of jokes that were politely laughed at. Juliette watched him with pride. Much of this improvement in social interaction had been down to her alone. She’d taken a relatively unprepossessing character and turned him into a very acceptable friend – and possibly more. He was a nice guy. He just needed a bit of intensive work done on him.
Then Juliette saw Josh.
She nudged Deira. ‘What’s he doing here?’
Deira took her by the arm and led her over to Josh, who played his part beautifully. He stood immobile, looking as morose as Josh 2 ever had.
‘Juliette, let me introduce you to your brother Josh. Josh, Juliette.’
‘Great to see you sis!’ Josh shouted with glee, grabbing her and rubbing her head with his knuckles. She yelped and backed away, then realised what had just happened.
‘Josh?’ Her eyes flew wide? ‘Is that really you?’
‘Sure is, Jules. Can’t you tell?’
She fell on him and hugged him tight. ‘Mum didn’t tell me you were out of sub-quantal space.’ Her voice was muffled as she pressed into his chest. ‘You look just like the other Josh.’
‘Well I am,’ Josh said. ‘I’m both, actually. And Mum didn’t tell you because we’ve just been on a mission to save The Founders. So, are we good?’
Of course they were good, and Deira beamed as she watched them. Not only was she surrounded by her family once more, but she was now the proud partner of a PWC. She took huge pleasure in introducing everyone to Hope, and the AI charmed them all with her easy manner and tinkling laugh.
Once Juliette had come to terms with Josh being back, she returned to Gary to keep him company. Josh, meanwhile, went to sit with Tao, and the couple spent the evening chatting quietly and exchanging pleasantries with the other young agents, who were almost as excited by Tao’s pregnancy as Josh himself. Sol went around everybody, hugging the women, slapping the men on the back, and thanking them all for their recent help. Following that, however, he seemed to flop, and went to sit on his own. It was most unlike his normal behaviour and Deira couldn’t help wondering what the problem was. When she enquired, however, he was very unforthcoming, so she left him having a companionable chat with Chard while she continued to circulate.
Time wore on, and it wasn’t long before the loud chatter and increasingly ribald jokes subsided, and the post-adrenaline lows, combined with the alcohol, began to have an effect. There were widespread attempts to stifle yawns, and it looked as if some of the agents were having trouble simply keeping their eyes open. Finally, Deira took pity on them and announced that she thought enough was enough for one day.
‘Why don’t you youngsters fold home and catch up with your parents? I don’t think any of us will feel up for much tomorrow, and I’d guess a day off would do us all good. Come back here again day after tomorrow and we’ll get going on the Founders’ evacuation.’
That met with widespread approval and, one by one, the young agents folded away, leaving the remaining six gazing blearily at one another.
‘So, bedtime for us too?’ Josh yawned widely.
‘Just one minute.’ Deira insisted everyone had their glasses filled one last time. ‘I just want to say a few words.’ she had a slightly glazed look in her eyes from the multiple shots of tequila she’d consumed.
‘Oh God. A speech.’ Juliette blushed and looked apologetically at Gary.
‘Only a short one, I promise.’ Deira was on a roll.
‘Go for it, Mum,’ Josh said, smiling.
‘I’ve forgotten what I wanted to say now.’ Deira looked vacant. ‘Oh yes. Well … it’s been a hell of a slog getting to this point – absolutely exhausting – and I know you’re keen to get to your beds, so I won’t keep you long.’
‘Here, here,’ Sol muttered.
‘Shut up, Sol. You know, it wasn’t so long ago that I thought I’d lost you – and Josh too – yet here you both are. I thought I’d lost Juliette, too.’
‘Mum!’ Juliette protested.
‘No, hon, that’s how I felt. I was so proud that you were making your own way in the world, but I was sad too – sad at the thought you were no longer my l
ittle girl.’
Josh exchanged glances with Sol and Juliette. He’d seen his mother get maudlin after an evening on the booze before and felt it would be a shame if this was how the evening was going to end. He needn’t have worried. It was almost as if Deira had had the same thought and had forced herself to reboot.
‘Anyway, enough of that. What I really want to say is that I’m so happy to have everyone around me, and to feel that the family is about to grow. I refer, of course, to Josh and Tao’s son, my grandson, and I’d like you all to be upstanding for a toast.’ Everyone obligingly stood. ‘To the baby!’ she said. ‘No, I can’t say that. Do you have a name yet?’
For the first time she looked fumbling and awkward, and Josh came to her rescue.
‘We’ve had a chat about it and thought Joseph would be nice,’ He glanced at Tao, who nodded her approval. ‘We’ll probably call him Joe.’
‘Then a toast to Joseph – may his life be as full of colour as his biblical namesake’s coat. Long life and happiness!’
‘Long life and happiness,’ everyone repeated.
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Josh planted a kiss on her forehead.
‘May I call you Mum, too?’ Tao said, ‘I know we’re not formally married or anything but …’
‘I’d love it!’ Deira hugged her tightly. ‘You just take good care of little Joe.’
‘Of course,’ Tao laughed, ‘though I think it won’t be long before he’s taking care of me. I can already feel mentalic stirrings.’
‘Yes, there is that.’ Deira murmured, memories of her own pregnancy with Josh flooding back. She didn’t say anything but wondered what such a child would be capable of, born as he was of two such incredibly gifted parents. She gazed at Sol. ‘You’re unusually quiet.’
Sol had smiled during Deira’s toast but was by no means his normal self. He gazed at her with a weary look.
Don’t worry about me. I’m feeling my age, that’s all.’
‘What on Earth do you mean? You’re not old, and you’ve just proved you can function on a mission as well as any of us. What’s bugging you really?’
‘I don’t know – really I don’t. You know how Chard had that minor glitch during the asteroid crisis? Well, he had another one on the El ship. He’s becoming unreliable – and I’ve been feeling a bit like that recently. Minor glitches. Unreliable. Tonight, it feels like we’ve just formally handed over to the next generation.’
‘Don’t believe it for a minute. I’ve got Hope now, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to be put out to pasture until I’ve taken this mentalic development as far as I can. Sol, I’ve been handed a fresh start. I don’t feel like I’m winding down. So that means you’ve got to get yourself together and come with me. Whatever we do, and wherever we go, we’ve always done it together. That’s not going to change.’
‘But, don’t you see, Dee, there are only two outcomes to this. Either we fail to get the Founders out of sub-quantal space, in which case there won’t be a universe to worry about, or we succeed, and there won’t be any new missions coming along. The Eich will be reunited with the Cthon, the El will go home, and the Founders will be on their way. Nothing for us to do anymore.’
Deira put her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear.
‘There’ll always be something for people like us, love. It might not be what we’ve been used to, but you can bet your life there’ll be more crises that need our talents. Come on, cheer up – for Josh and Tao’s sake.’
‘Sorry.’ He forced a smile and stood up. ‘Think I’ll go to bed. I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow.’
Deira watched him as he slouched off, wondering what had got into him. This was so unlike him. Had something happened to him in that El stasis chamber, or was he just sickening for something? Neither was very likely. She saw that Josh and Juliette had picked up on his changed mood too.
‘What’s the matter with Dad,’ Josh asked.
‘Don’t know,’ Deira replied. ‘He says he feels old, and he’s talking as if he’ll be forcibly retired someday soon. I don’t know what’s got into him.’
‘Perhaps he’s just tired. Like you, he’s been developing his mentalics, and that’s a real bummer for knocking the stuffing out of you.’
‘Yeah. That’s probably it.’ She changed the subject. ‘So – bedrooms. Josh and Tao, you know where your room is. Juliette, your room’s obviously vacant. Gary, you can have the guest room. All okay?’
There were murmurs of goodnight all round, then they all slunk off to bed. When Deira got to the room she shared with Sol, she found him apparently asleep and turned away from her side of the bed. She frowned, but took the hint, whether it was intended or not. However, she lay awake for some time worrying about him. In their twenty years of being together, she’d seen his various moods, both up and down, but she’d never seen him like this. It was almost as if he was depressed. Eventually, she dozed off to sleep.
§
They were all up late the following morning, and Juliette and Gary were keen to return to Cambridge as soon as possible. Josh folded them over and took the opportunity to have a short tour of the lab while he was there. Juliette was proudly showing him her workstation, when Chayka appeared, looking somewhat irritated.
‘Ah, Dr MacMahon, I was looking for you earlier.’
This was what Juliette and Gary had been concerned about, and why they’d wanted to return as soon as possible. Chayka may be a strange sort of guy, but he ran his lab like a well-oiled machine, and didn’t take well to unannounced absences. Josh decided to try to deflect any problems if he could.
‘Professor Chayka?’ he said, ‘I’m Josh MacMahon. We met some time ago, if you remember.’
Chayka’s mood changed instantly and he shook Josh’s offered hand exuberantly.
‘Of course. Agent MacMahon’s son. The young man who was stuck in sub-quantal space?’ He gazed at the hand he was holding, then up to Josh’s face. ‘And, if I’m correct, that’s a mentalically-created body you’re occupying.’
‘You’re correct, Professor. It takes some getting used-to.’ He glanced at Juliette and Gary, who were trying to hide behind Juliette’s console. ‘You know, I was in sub-quantal space for some time and got quite familiar with it. Is there anything you’d like to know about it?’
Chayka had clearly been hoping for exactly this, because he took Josh by the arm and guided him towards his office.
‘Please,’ he said. ‘There are a few questions you may be able to answer. I would consider it a privilege.’
The two of them walked away, Josh making small hand signals to Juliette and Gary suggesting that they go somewhere and get stuck into work. They looked at each other in relief and left the lab in a hurry. Josh, meanwhile, went with Chayka into his office and took the offered seat.
‘So, what can I do for you,’ he said.
Half an hour later, he finally managed to extract himself from the Professor’s grasp. They’d covered wide-ranging topics relating to the Founders and sub-quantal space, and Josh had even talked about the way agents could enter and leave at will though their infra-low. Chayka had been fascinated, and would clearly have continued for much longer, but Josh felt he’d done his good deed for the day and wanted to be off.
‘I’m sorry, but I need to leave now,’ he said. ‘We’ve got a lot to do today to prepare for the evacuation of the Founders that starts tomorrow.’
‘Indeed. I understand.’ Chayka stood to see Josh out. ‘I’m continuing to review the data I’ve been provided with and if anything of interest comes up, I’ll let you know. It’s been very interesting talking to you. Perhaps we can do it again some time?’
Josh produced his most disarming grin and shook Chayka’s hand again.
‘I’ll make it a priority. ‘Now, why don’t I demonstrate my upgraded folding to you?’
‘I would be very …’ Chaka began.
Josh had already vanished in a yellow flash.
§
When he
got back home, he found the others sitting round the dinner table discussing the proposed evacuation of the Founders.
‘Hey, what’s all this,’ he said. ‘I thought we were going to have today free.’
‘We tried that,’ Tao said. ‘The trouble is, we’re all quite wired and couldn’t settle to anything so we thought we might as well get on with some preparations.
‘And what sort of preparations are we talking about?’
‘Don’t look at me,’ Sol said. ‘I was all for a few beers and watching a game or two on the tri-vid.’
‘Yeah,’ Deira chipped in, ‘He’s back to normal with a vengeance. Can always put his feet up and waste a day at the drop of a hat. Perhaps Tao should have said that she and I couldn’t settle and needed to get on with things. We thought some sort of scoping exercise would be good, before we start in earnest.’
‘Okay.’ Josh grinned at Sol, who simply shrugged back. ‘And have you decided how you want to proceed with that?’
‘We thought we should run through the extraction process,’ Tao said. ‘If we’re already familiar with it we’ll be able to instruct Victor, Kadir and Dominique that much faster. I thought I might give it a try.’
Josh shook his head. ‘While it’s a good idea, I don’t want to take any risks with my son. I’ll do it.’ Tao started to protest that she wasn’t sick, and this was only a trip to sub-quantal space they were talking about, but Josh wasn’t having any of it. ‘I accept all that,’ he said, ‘and I know you’ll take your fair share of the evacuation work. I just don’t think it’s sensible for you to do the trial run.’
‘So now it starts! That’s a load of crap, and you know it. Damn it, Josh, I’m not going to be kept wrapped up in cotton wool.’
Josh looked helplessly at Deira, but she was watching Tao in admiration and it was clear to him whose side she’d take. He turned to Sol.
Gods of Titan- The Cosmic Constants Page 34