"Now is that any way to speak of your cousin Phillip?" he said to turn it aside. Phillip was a favorite of hers. "He has been the gracious host and you know their lovely home is hardly a barn. He has me put up in the Blue corner bedroom looking down on the gardens. I know you liked it when we were here together. But if you require my attention I can be on the road home in the hour."
"Actually I'm sick of this stuffy place. People keep coming by to encourage me when I'd just like to be left alone. All this cheer gets cloying after a bit. Cardinal Gasco came by and wouldn't be put off. The idiot sat and actually patted my germy hand. He's eighty-four and he acts like he has a straight line to God so he doesn't need any sense. Do you know, we were in the sun room and when a cloud hid the sun he said, "God took the sun away." Like God guides every cloud by hand to bless or punish him. The man is a lunatic. I wanted to ask him who God was shorting when he got his sunshine, but I was afraid he'd give me a list of sinners."
"Michael's thoughts can seem passing strange," Carlos agreed.
"Well I told him to go wash his hands when he left and he just laughed. Off he went to Rome for some Assembly of Cardinals and had to come home early sick as a dog. That'll teach him to listen to me," she complained.
"Indeed, he seems immune to good advice," he readily agreed.
"How about if instead of coming home I join you there at Phillip's?" she asked. "I do find the Blue Room pleasant and I find myself ravenous today. Phillip's chef can lay on a decent table and they keep trying to amuse me with delicate little snacks and cups of broth here like I am an invalid. I might even go for a ride with you if I can get a decent meal in me."
"That would be wonderful," he agreed. "The woods are pretty right now and Phillip said he has some amusing foreign guests coming who ride. I'd be most happy of your company," he said sincerely. He might have to ride slow and easy for her, but it had been several years since she asked to ride with him so it would be worth it. She seemed to have grown afraid of falling and complained that horses were pungent.
"Fine then. I'll be there in the morning, early and solemnly charge my secretary with keeping secret where I've gone. I'm finding all these solicitous people boring. Goodbye my dear," she said and closed.
My dear, is it again? Carlos thought, amused. Well, that is an improvement on things.
* * *
"Aha, Master Santos, has a docking time," Brockman announced. "I'll drop a message on Mr. Mackay and Holt to meet us at the north bearing and we'll need to go soon. We got that set up none too soon. Thank you April for introductions and for everything."
"Tell Papa-san I'll call to get together with him soon. I'd ask him to breakfast but I need to meet Jeff and Heather for breakfast tomorrow."
"Jeff we know, but who is this Heather?" Freidman asked.
"We three go way back. She is involved right now in a real estate deal on the Moon Jeff and I are both supporting. They had a spot of trouble with the Americans and unfortunately there was some fighting. It's still not all straightened out."
"Perhaps it was bad to be too close to Armstrong," Brockman theorized.
Just then Ruby came up and set a couple soft cooler sacks on their table. "I heard you say you are going off to work. You might get a bit empty out there. Here's something to tide you over." They thanked her, but they were speaking to her back already.
"I swear this is a couple kilos," Brockman said getting up eager to go and hefting his. "It should carry a light platoon over a three day," he estimated.
"Ruby is used to me. I tend to eat a little more with the gene mods. But about Armstrong, they are a really long rover drive away and until recently nobody had even beaten a path from one to the other. Jeff wanted them positioned right smack in the middle of the moon. Right in the middle of the near side facing Earth. He has some idea about putting an abbreviated beanstalk up eventually. It isn't near anything, out in the middle of nowhere really I'd say, but they call it Central."
"My family on my mother's side are all German," Freidman said smiling, getting up ready to leave too. "They would say, Wo sich Fuchs und Hase Gute Nacht sagen. Where the fox and the hare say goodnight."
"That's so cute. I can see them out there without any people saying goodnight so politely. I'm going to have Gabriel paint that up for me with twilight woods and a moon behind them. We have a social association that is named, but the nightclub, the actual place we go, is just a door number and that's what I intend to name it now."
"We're off to work, but we'll look forward to meeting your Heather and seeing this club. Thanks again for all your help," Freidman said and he hurried to catch up with Brockman.
- END -
The Last Part - Other Kindle Books by Mackey Chandler
April (first in series)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EOE2C
April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies. It's a good thing because things get very rough and dicey.
Down to Earth (sequel to April)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RGBIVK
April seems to make a habit of rescues. Now two lieutenants from the recent war appeal to her for help to reach Home. The secret they hold makes their escape doubtful. North America, the United States of North America, has been cheating on their treaty obligations and a public figure like April taking a very visible vacation there would be a good way to remind them of their obligations. Wouldn't it? Her family and business associates all think it is a great idea. She can serve a public purpose and do her rescue on the sly too. But things get difficult enough just getting back Home alive is going to be a challenge. It's a good thing she has some help. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Paper or Plastic?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCLW68
Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hypervigilance and ease back into civilian life.
When an unusual looking young woman enters his favorite breakfast place he befriends her. Little does he know he'll kill for her before lunch and start an adventure that will take him around the world and off planet.
When you have every sort of alphabet agency human and alien hunting for you survival is the hard part. But you might as well get rich too.
Common Ground and Other Stories
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050YYVHY
A book size collection of seven short stories by Mackey Chandler.
Family Law
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS
You know people who love their dogs. They put them in their will. They forgo vacations to stay home and take care of them.
Can a dog love back or is it simple self interest? Affection or love? Unconditional or a meal-ticket? What if you dog could talk back? Would your dog be less lovable if he could tell you what he thinks like your spouse? If he complained his kibbles were dry and boring would your affection wear thin? I don't want to touch on what a cat might tell you...
Is the dog part of your family or property? Who should decide that for you? How much more complicated will it be if we meet really intelligent species not human?
Humans don't have a very good history of defending the interests of others. Even variations of their own species. How will they treat 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult question is: How will they treat us? Usually the people who answer these sort of questions have no desire to be on the pointy end of things. They are just minding their own business and it is thrust upon them. This story explores those questions.
Link to full list of current releases on Amazon:
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sp; http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004RZUOS2
Mac's Writing Blog: http://www.mackeychandler.com
April 3: The Middle of Nowhere Page 36