before Browing found a way to queer the deal. “We’ll get you access to the database. Be ready to move out in three days.”
He shook Maker’s hand again, said his goodbyes, and then headed to the door. Growling, Erlen raced over and gently raked a paw across Kroner’s shin.
“Of course I didn’t forget you,” the general said, bending down to scratch Erlen’s head.
Next, Browing stiffly shook Maker’s hand before swiftly heading to the door, sidestepping General Kroner, who was still petting Erlen.
“Well,” Dr. Chantrey said, extending her hand, “it’s been a pleasure.”
Maker shook the proffered hand. “Before you go,” he said. “Two questions.”
The doctor seemed intrigued. “Go ahead.”
“First of all, I know you and Browing must have read my file before coming here, so why ask all those questions like you didn’t know my story, my background?”
For a second, Maker didn’t think she was going to answer. Then when it appeared that she was going to reply, her eyes twitched in a way that made her seem sly, shifty even, and he knew that he wasn’t going to get a truthful response. But at that moment, something happened; her demeanor changed and a kind of resolve seemed to settle within her.
“This is why,” she said, and suddenly there was a thin metallic rod in her palm. It must have been some form of prestidigitation, because Maker would have sworn that her hand was empty a moment earlier. He looked at the rod, noting that it was about six inches in length and maybe half the width of his middle finger. At one end of it were a number of tiny lights and diodes that randomly gave off soft flashes of light.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“It’s a cerebral scanner, although a small-scale variant,” she said. “The full-sized version is typically used to try to detect mental activity in the cerebrum of patients who’ve suffered traumatic brain injury.”
“And this one?”
“Our queries were meant to be triggers. I used the scanner to examine your brain activity whenever we asked something that was likely to get an emotional response from you. In short, it fed information back to my databand as to whether or not you were mentally stable.”
“And?”
“You passed,” she said with a knowing smile. “Now, what’s your second question?”
“What’s Browing’s deal?” Maker asked. “I mean, why is he here? I know why you and the general are here. Kroner’s here as a senior and respected officer so I’ll listen to what he has to say. You’re here to evaluate me and overcome any resistance I have to jumping at the carrot you guys are dangling. But what’s Browing’s role?”
Dr. Chantrey gave him an appraising glance, as if seeing him for the first time.
“The general said you were smart, but you’re more astute than I gave you credit for,” she said.
“Thanks,” Maker said. “But I only use my brain every other day, so just come back tomorrow if you’re disappointed.”
A hurt look came across her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.”
Maker sighed. “It’s okay. I guess I’m just a little on edge given everything that’s happened. Now, about Browing?”
“That’s easy enough. He’s the government liaison on Terminus. He represents humanity’s interest there, so he insisted on having involvement in selecting the person to deal with the Vacra.”
“ He’s representing our interest?” Maker asked, surprised. “It’s a wonder we still have a claim on the place.”
****************************************
The back of General Kroner’s staff car was spacious, if not luxurious. The rear compartment held seats for four – two that were back-to-back with the driver and front passenger seats, and two across from those that were forward-facing. Browing sat in the rear-facing seat behind the driver, while Dr. Chantrey sat directly across from him. The general sat in the seat next to the doctor.
Browing waited until they were
He shook Maker’s hand again, said his goodbyes, and then headed to the door. Growling, Erlen raced over and gently raked a paw across Kroner’s shin.
“Of course I didn’t forget you,” the general said, bending down to scratch Erlen’s head.
Next, Browing stiffly shook Maker’s hand before swiftly heading to the door, sidestepping General Kroner, who was still petting Erlen.
“Well,” Dr. Chantrey said, extending her hand, “it’s been a pleasure.”
Maker shook the proffered hand. “Before you go,” he said. “Two questions.”
The doctor seemed intrigued. “Go ahead.”
“First of all, I know you and Browing must have read my file before coming here, so why ask all those questions like you didn’t know my story, my background?”
For a second, Maker didn’t think she was going to answer. Then when it appeared that she was going to reply, her eyes twitched in a way that made her seem sly, shifty even, and he knew that he wasn’t going to get a truthful response. But at that moment, something happened; her demeanor changed and a kind of resolve seemed to settle within her.
“This is why,” she said, and suddenly there was a thin metallic rod in her palm. It must have been some form of prestidigitation, because Maker would have sworn that her hand was empty a moment earlier. He looked at the rod, noting that it was about six inches in length and maybe half the width of his middle finger. At one end of it were a number of tiny lights and diodes that randomly gave off soft flashes of light.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“It’s a cerebral scanner, although a small-scale variant,” she said. “The full-sized version is typically used to try to detect mental activity in the cerebrum of patients who’ve suffered traumatic brain injury.”
“And this one?”
“Our queries were meant to be triggers. I used the scanner to examine your brain activity whenever we asked something that was likely to get an emotional response from you. In short, it fed information back to my databand as to whether or not you were mentally stable.”
“And?”
“You passed,” she said with a knowing smile. “Now, what’s your second question?”
“What’s Browing’s deal?” Maker asked. “I mean, why is he here? I know why you and the general are here. Kroner’s here as a senior and respected officer so I’ll listen to what he has to say. You’re here to evaluate me and overcome any resistance I have to jumping at the carrot you guys are dangling. But what’s Browing’s role?”
Dr. Chantrey gave him an appraising glance, as if seeing him for the first time.
“The general said you were smart, but you’re more astute than I gave you credit for,” she said.
“Thanks,” Maker said. “But I only use my brain every other day, so just come back tomorrow if you’re disappointed.”
A hurt look came across her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.”
Maker sighed. “It’s okay. I guess I’m just a little on edge given everything that’s happened. Now, about Browing?”
“That’s easy enough. He’s the government liaison on Terminus. He represents humanity’s interest there, so he insisted on having involvement in selecting the person to deal with the Vacra.”
“ He’s representing our interest?” Maker asked, surprised. “It’s a wonder we still have a claim on the place.”
****************************************
The back of General Kroner’s staff car was spacious, if not luxurious. The rear compartment held seats for four – two that were back-to-back with the driver and front passenger seats, and two across from those that were forward-facing. Browing sat in the rear-facing seat behind the driver, while Dr. Chantrey sat directly across from him. The general sat in the seat next to the doctor.
Browing waited until they were
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