Of course not. But she can't trust me, either, and we've proven that we can exact a terrible price if she keeps after me. She doesn't want to pay that price. The costs are too high for both of us.
That's sad.
Very sad. It's better than the alternatives that were facing us, though. This way, I'll have a chance to keep consulting, to see Charis and Alan get older. Mydra, for her part, will probably take over the Pan-Social Trust. Captain Sudro has already accepted and announced the investigation results. Poor Deng has been blamed for everything, including the attempts to keep Mars and the Belters under MultiCor control. With all the revelations, MultiCor will have to ease control and allow more competition. In a generation or two, Mars will probably be free. This will slow down and maybe stop the worst of legislation ... I broke off. There were too many ramifications to discuss, and I was tired. Damn near dead tired, and I wanted to read to Charis and Alan. I also wanted to hug Paula, but that wasn't possible or practical.
You won.
No. We got an agreement, based on power and respect, and sometimes, that's better. Not really better, not in terms of ideals, but an agreement far more likely to be kept. Mydra clearly didn't know exactly what power I had, but she'd decided that paying off a consultant was far more profitable—and safer—than continuing a subterranean war. After all I'd been through, that was fine with me.
"I've also had three other links from clients with new assignments. Just this afternoon."
"That's good." And sad.
And all too predictable. "It is if things get back to..." I was going to say "normal," but I didn't want things back the way I'd once considered normal."... something more balanced."
Paula nodded.
"I have a favor to ask. I know you feel overwhelmed, but would you consider letting me take you out to dinner, just the two of us, on Saturday?"
"I'll have to say no to Saturday. I'm on duty until eleven."
"How about Sunday?"
Her smile was shy, even before she spoke. "I'd like that."
So would I, even if I still couldn't quite explain why.
"I'll link you later with the details for Sunday. I'm going to have to break off. I need to read to the children."
"I think they need that."
I didn't move until her image vanished. Then I started upstairs. I needed to read to Charis and Alan as much as they needed my reading to them.
As I waited for them in the sitting room, I couldn't help thinking about how things had turned out. In the end, by necessity and accident, three of us had become the check on the NorAm Legislature, the various multis of Earth, and MultiCor. A former Marine, a former cydroid, and a former central intelligence system of the capital's Safety Office.
None of us had planned it, not that way, not even Minerva.
What would happen with that limited power, I had no idea, but, like the ancient checks and balances first created in NorAm, what might happen would depend on what others did, or did not do. We certainly wouldn't start anything. I'd make sure of that.
What would happen between Paula and me, I wasn't certain.
Charis had hinted at it, though, and she was probably right. I've always been slow in dealing with women, with nieces, and even former cydroids and female AIs. We'd have to see.
But, for the first time in a long, long while, although there were sorrows and regrets I would always feel, I was looking forward to the days to come, one day at a time.
Flash Page 46