Chapter 10 - Mullinix Chambers
"So how did the orientation go?" Insegniferro asked the younger man, "Any of them stand out?"
"Two of them didn’t really," Massimaferro said, "But the girl is sharp and I get the vibe that Copeland Steele would be good for this."
"Steele’s intelligence scores outstrip the others," Insegniferro nodded, "Not sure about the personality yet."
"He asked the right questions," Massimaferro shrugged, "I like him. Do you want to see him first?"
"And tell him outright that we’re interested in him?" Iggy said, "Are you mad? Your display probably gave them enough of a fright."
"Tomorrow is a light day here in chambers," Massy told him, "I could bring the class in for a viewing. It’s rare, but we can do it if we want to."
"Let’s hold off on that," Iggy said, "I’m hoping we have a little time left."
"Time is something you don’t have," Medico Rasten said as she walked in, "It’s worse than I thought."
"Welcome, Medico Rasten," Iggy said, "What is wrong?"
"He’s had this for a while," she said, "He confirmed that today. It’s eating him alive, sir. He’s in pain and he wants desperately to let go."
"He admitted that?" Massimaferro asked in surprise, "That’s not like him."
"He didn’t admit it," Rasten said, "I could see it in his eyes. His body should have given out days ago. He’s just holding on for you to make your choice."
"Perhaps we need to go see him," Massy said, "See if we can help any."
"It would be good for him to see you," Rasten nodded, "It won’t help any, but he’d like it. The only thing we can do now is make the end as painless as possible."
Medico Rasten nodded to the two Mullinix and walked out of the room to go up and care for her patient. Massimaferro and Insegniferro sighed and looked at each other. Iggy shrugged his shoulders.
"Let’s go see him," Iggy said, "If he’s as bad as she says, I guess we’re going to have to bring them through tomorrow."
"All right," Massy said, "But it will have to wait about a half hour. You have to meet with the southern representatives before you go see him."
"You can do that," Iggy said, "I’ll take Steele’s file with me and go talk to Tali. You’ve had your break. You need to get used to doing the main job."
"You got it," Massy nodded, trying to hide his disappointment, "I think I’d rather face Tali than deal with Colonel LaPorte."
"Why do you think you’re doing it?" Iggy smiled, "You’re about to be the man. He might as well get used to working with you."
Massimaferro went over to the conference room to meet the Colonel while Insegniferro walked back upstairs to Taliaferro’s chamber. Medico Rasten was going over some charts outside and looked over. Several of the house staff members, especially Taliaferro’s longtime friend and bed partner Julia, were keeping a vigil outside his door. They all knew that it was bad.
"Not letting them in, Medico?" Iggy asked Medico Rasten, "Wouldn’t they be able to help keep his spirits up?"
She shrugged as she continued looking over the chart. Julia, a tall stately woman who was actually a few years older than Insegniferro, stood up and walked over, showing the grace that she had learned as part of the house staff many years before. It was this dignity and grace that had made her a favorite of Taliaferro’s for many years.
"He doesn’t want to see us," Julia explained as she pushed her white hair away from her eyes, "Probably doesn’t want us doing what we’re doing."
"I’ll talk to him about that," Iggy promised, "Don’t fret. We all knew this day would come."
"Doesn’t make it any better, Iggy," Julia sighed, "I’m going to miss him."
"We all will," Iggy said, gripping the older woman’s hand, "I’ll make sure he lets you see him."
Insegniferro walked into the room and it was obvious that Taliaferro was looking even worse than he had the evening before. His grip was failing on his body, but his eyes were as alert as Insegniferro had ever seen them. He walked over and took the seat next to Taliaferro’s simple bed.
"How are the sessions going today?" Tali asked him, "Going well?"
"No cases today, thankfully," Iggy said, "I did some martial work this morning while Massy went and took over an orientation class with some of the prospects."
"Disguised, I hope," Tali said, coughing afterwards, "It wouldn’t do to show our hand too soon."
"Yes," Iggy chuckled, "Marina doled him up really good. I had trouble recognizing him."
"Where is he now?" Tali asked, "Did you sluff off your work on him?"
"He needs to learn to do it," Iggy said, "He’s meeting with Colonel LaPorte about the situation down south."
"You’re right about that," Tali agreed, his haggard eyes staring off a little, "How goes the search?"
"Don’t worry…" Iggy protested, but Taliaferro stopped him.
"I don’t have much else to worry about, Iggy," Taliaferro said hastily, "Now how far have you gotten?"
"Four candidates, Tali," Iggy said, putting the folders on the bed in front of the ailing Mullinix, "All from the Northern section near Siraq. We’re going to be dealing that that king again soon so we figured it would be good to get someone from that area."
"Makes sense," Tali nodded, coughing again, "You’re from the south and Massy has the east covered. The other areas are calm still."
"Massy likes Copeland Steele and the Studebaker girl," Iggy said, "We’re thinking about having Massy lead them in for a private viewing, along with the rest of the orientation class he’s taking."
"When are you going to do it?" Tali asked him.
"We were thinking in a week or so…" Iggy said, trying to push things off.
"Tomorrow morning," Tali said, "I want to see session one last time anyway. It will be good for the kids, even the ones you don’t choose, to see a public session. This will give me a chance to check things out."
"Tomorrow," Iggy said meekly, feeling like a child again, just as he usually did with Tali, "I do have one other bone to pick with you though."
"What’s that?" Tali asked him.
"Julia is out there pining," Iggy told him, "She wants to be with you these last hours. The least you can do is let her sit with you."
"I want her to remember me alive," Tali protested, "Not the half dead corpse I am now."
"That doesn’t cut it," Iggy said, "And you damn well know it. We won’t let you slip away alone. Julia is coming in."
"Very well," Tali acquiesced, "I’ll see you in the morning."
Iggy took his dismissal well, walking out of the room and nodding at Julia, who was still sitting on the chair near the door. She stood up quickly and walked over to him.
"Go on in, Julia," Iggy said, "He just doesn’t want you to remember the way he looks now."
"I don’t care what he looks like," Julia said honestly, "I just want to see him again."
"Go sit with him," Iggy told her, "He could use your good cheer. You’re not doing him any good sitting pining away out here. Might as well keep his spirits up."
"Thanks Iggy," she said, slipping off into the room.
"He wants to watch the session tomorrow," Iggy told Medico Rasten, "Will he be able to?"
"It could kill him," Rasten told the Mullinix honestly, "But at this point it isn’t like he has much time left. Just so long as he watches and doesn’t participate."
"I’m thinking that he should do it from the balcony," Iggy said, "We’ll pipe the sound up there for him so he can watch without being disturbed."
"I know Mullinix Taliaferro," the medico shrugged, "If that’s what he wants, he’ll do it even if I tell him not to."
"I know," Iggy laughed, "That’s why I’m telling you now instead of letting you find out when he tries to drag himself there."
"I’ll have a hospice setup in the balcony," she promised, "Have you made your choice?"
"Not yet," Iggy said honestly, "But we can
do it within hours now if we have to. We’ve narrowed it down."
"I wish you luck," Medico Rasten said, "If I screw up, a person dies. If you screw up…"
"The entire nation does," Iggy chuckled, "I know how it goes. Don’t worry. Massy and I are as prepared as any pair of Mullinix we’ve ever had. Whoever we choose will do just fine as well."
"I’ll go see things get ready," Rasten said, "Good luck to you, Insegniferro."
Insegniferro nodded, knowing that he’d need it.
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 11