The Hero Strikes Back by Moira J. Moore Page B

business to discuss?” He barely hesitated before adding, “No? Good. We’re off then.” He grabbed my hand.
    â€œWait, Taro.” Wilberforce latched onto Karish’s other arm. “Some of us are going for drinks to the Giant Nickle. We were wondering if you’d like to join us.”
    In my mind’s eye I saw Karish, distaste curling his lip, delicately removing Wilberforce’s hand from his person. He didn’t, though. “Sorry, old chap, but we promised Lee’s mother we’d head right to the Lion after the meeting,” he lied. “She’s cooking for us. It has become one of the rules of my life never to pass up the opportunity to enjoy anything cooked by Holder Teshia Mallorough.” He yanked open the door. “Later, then,” he said, all breezy and bright.
    â€œAye, I’ve got to—” said Stone, rising from her seat, but Karish pulled me outside before I could watch anyone else take their leave. He then set such a quick pace that it was a good thing I’d resumed my bench dancing while he was gone, else I’d be breathless in moments.
    â€œZaire, Taro, what’s the rush?”
    â€œExcuse me, sir ?” I took a good look at Karish’s face and saw he was a shade away from laughter. “How evil is the thought rattling around in your head?”
    â€œEvil? Eech! Could we be more melodramatic? Please?”
    â€œTalk, Lee.”
    And I understood the reason for the quick pace. He wanted to be out of earshot of the other Pairs, who were traveling the same way. Fair enough. So did I. “I am not going to tell people we’re working on it when we aren’t.”
    â€œAh.”>
    I was disappointed. “You are?” I would have wagered money that Karish had more honor than that.
    â€œIt does no harm, and it’ll make the regulars feel better.”
    â€œIt’s a lie.”
    â€œA harmless lie.”
    I didn’t know that there was any such thing. “Let’s forget things like honesty and responsibility and other such old-fashioned customs.” For the moment. “Speaking out of pure self-interest, it’s too easy for people to figure out we’re lying.”
    He held out his hands, palms out. “How can they find out if none of us tell them?”
    â€œIf this cold snap drags on they’ll figure it out.”
    He shrugged. “It’ll end, Lee. Everything does.”
    I paused a moment. There was something about his tone . . . like there was a message underneath his words, something that had nothing to do with the weather. I wasn’t receiving it, though, and right then I didn’t want to be sidetracked from the current issue. “While I’m always ready to debate the philosophical aspect of the existence of a slice of bread—” Well, no, not really. Who cared whether a falling tree made noise if there was no one there to hear it? “—some things take longer to end than others. What if this cold snap decides not to end for another year or two?”
    â€œIt won’t take that long,” he said.
    Probably not, but, “It might.”
    â€œIt won’t,” he insisted.
    It never failed to astound me, how thoroughly someone could believe something just because he wanted to. “And even if it does, we still say we’re working on it?”
    â€œAye.”
    I couldn’t help feeling frustrated. “Are you even thinking about this at all?”
    He sighed. “What else are we supposed to do, Lee?” he asked with impatience. “People are scared and they’re looking for someone to blame. And in case you haven’t noticed, we’re their chosen targets. And we shouldn’t be. This has nothing to do with us, but we’re the ones they’re blaming. If we tell them we’re trying out a few theories, they’ll feel better, and they’ll leave us alone. And even if we don’t turn up