April 6: And What Goes Around (38 page)

The same agent put
a skullcap with a weave of fine wires on his head and slapped him when he threw
his head around and tried to dislodge it.

"You
will
hold still or I'll tape it on and immobilize you," the agent said, quite
calmly. "I'd hate to hurt you and then find out you're not the man we
want."

"What if I
start yelling for help?"

"In this
cheap hotel in the afternoon?" the agent asked, amused. "If anybody
is even in the adjoining rooms they'll probably just beat on the wall and tell
you to shut up. If it is loud enough to bother me I have a ball gag and other
things in my equipment bag. Why discomfort yourself?" He asked. "We
don't need verbal responses to interrogate you." That shut the churchman
up.

The agent got out
a pad and read from it while the other watched his own pad. First was a
standard text. Several paragraphs from old novels long used to establish baseline
responses. Then custom words.
The list was long and a few words
repeated to not associate them with the words before and after.

"Flu virus.
Mouse flu. Gene modified. Distributed. Epidemic. Pandemic. Institute of
Religion. Payments. Life Extension Therapy. Orbital habitats. Abomination.
Return on investment.
Tribunal of the Holy Office. Bishop. Cardinal.
Pope. Holy See. Holy City. Incubation period. Protein capsule. Rome. Replication.
Guilt. Crime. Innocent. Legal status. Bot. Robot. Secret. Spacers. Conspiracy. Sister."

He
jerked at that word enough the agents looked at each other.

"Patient
zero. Wealth factor. Economic crisis. Secular authority. RNA. Christendom.
Third world."

Next
he read numbers. One through twenty, the tens and a hundred, a thousand and a
million.

"Got
enough?" the interrogator asked the other agent. He nodded.

"Did
you pay for a modified virus to be made?" he started reading from a list.
The churchman said nothing, but it didn't matter. The answers were plain in his
brain patterns and being recorded.

"Is
the virus targeted?

"What
was the intended target?

"Who
was patient zero?"

"Fuzzy,
complex response, elaborate," the other agent said.

"Who
was patient zero intended to be?" the interrogator tried.

That
got an affirmative nod from the other agent.

"How
many initial vectors?

"Any
release outside Rome?

"How
many in the conspiracy?

"How
many helped without knowledge?

"Will
it display persistence?

"Is
there an undo?"

"Rephrase
it," the other agent suggested.

"Is
there a cure?

"Is
there a vaccine?" That got the nod.

"Are
other bio-agents planned?

"Will
the orbitals have virus released?

"Are
you using spy bots?

"Are
secular governments involved?

"Is
this a matter of doctrine?" That got a head shake from the other agent.

"Is
this a matter of religious doctrine?" He elaborated. The other agent sent
him a text.

"Is
this a matter of military doctrine?" He asked instead. That got a nod.

"Are
you acting under orders?"

"Will
you suicide now?" That got a particularly hateful look from their prisoner.

"Will
you return to work?"

"That's
enough. I have what we needed and more. It was his brain-child."

The
other agent looked over his pad slit eyed and added his own ad hoc question.

"Will
you rot in hell you miserable bastard?" He didn't share the churchman's
thoughts on that.

He
said nothing, but he didn't have to. Nothing he
thought
would have been admissible
in court. This had to be for other purposes. None of them could be good for
him.  

The
questioner retrieved his sensor cap, and pulled out a knife. The churchman
showed no more emotion than if he'd pulled out a hankie. There were much worse
endings. He slit the cord holding the fellow's left hand, knowing the man's right
was his dominant hand.

 The
churchman flexed the loose hand a bit though it hadn't been bound tight enough
to hurt it.

"I'm
sure you can pick these other knots loose in ten or fifteen minutes," his
interrogator said. "Your phone is on top of the dresser with the battery
removed. You can put it back in to call for a ride."

The
other agent retreated over by the door. The interrogator  took a small can out
of his pocket holding it carefully at arm's length. It sprayed not a mist that
would disperse, but a directed a thin stream of heavy fluid at the churchman's
eyes and nose. He dropped the empty can on the bed and very carefully peeled off
his outer gloves off by tabs, dropping them.

"I'm
not afraid of the virus!" the cleric sneered at them, wiping the gel away
from his eyes with his newly freed hand.

"My
goodness no. I wouldn't expect you would be," the agent said, retreating
after his partner. "That wasn't the flu virus. That was the very best
basic LET treatment that money can buy."

They closed the door behind them and they left in no
particular hurry.

- END
–

Other
Kindle Books & Links 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, who give them a thin technological
edge in rebellion. 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?

The Middle
of Nowhere (third in April series)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Nowhere-April-ebook/dp/B00B1JJ7RQ

April returns home from her trip down to Earth unhappy with what she
accomplished. Papa-san Santos is finishing her rescue of the Lieutenants, Her
traitorous brother is dead and so many things are uncertain. The Chinese and
North Americans both continue to give her and Home a hard time. But April, Jeff
and Heather are gathering allies and power. China, trying to steal Singh
technology, gets its hand slapped badly by Jeff and the Patriot Party in
America is damaged, but not gone. Their project on the moon is not so easy for
North America to shut down, especially with the Russians helping. Heather
proves able to defend it forcefully. They really didn't know she owns a cannon.
The three have their own bank now, Home is growing and April is quickly growing
up into a formidable young woman, worthy of her partners.

A Different
Perspective (fourth in April series)

http://www.amazon.com/Different-Perspective-April-ebook/dp/B00DFL42PU

Despite winning a war against one of the world's super powers and
undertaking a mission to Earth to try to demonstrate their independence, April
and her new nation still find their freedom tenuous. There are shortages and
hostility and machinations against them behind the scenes. Their small
technological lead on the Earthies is about the only advantage they have
besides courage and sheer nerve. But they are attracting the right sort of
people and if pressed, they still are capable of bold action. Home is growing
physically and maturing. So is April.

A Depth of
Understanding (Fifth in April series)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJ02NK8

April's nation Home has removed itself from orbiting close to Earth, but
problems continue. Their enemies try to use the United Nations to act against
them, as if that isn't a transparent subterfuge. The new Lunar nation of
Central acts to help them, but at considerable cost. Meanwhile Home is
expanding their reach into the solar system and gaining new citizens who
appreciate opportunity and freedom. The things Home citizens decide to do, both
new and old are interesting. The trouble from Earth is contained, but the whole
matter is far from over.

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 hyper-vigilance 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.

Family Law

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS

People love
easily. Look at most of your relatives or coworkers. How lovable are they?
Really? Yet most have mates and children. The vast majority are still invited
to family gatherings and their relatives will speak to them.

Many have pets to
which they are devoted. Some even call them their fur-babies. Is your dog or
cat or parakeet property or family? Not in law but in your heart? Can a pet
really love you back? Or is it a different affection? Are you not kind to those
who feed and shelter you? But what if your dog could talk back? Would your cat
speak to you kindly?

What if the furry
fellow in question has his own law? And is quite articulate in explaining his
choices. Can a Human adopt such an alien? Can such an intelligent alien adopt a
human? Should they?

How much more
complicated might it be if we meet really intelligent species not human? How
would we treat these 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult
question is: How would they treat us? Are we that lovable?

When society and
the law decide these sort of questions must be answered it is usually because
someone disapproves of your choices. Today it may be a cat named in a will or a
contest for custody of a dog. People are usually happy living the way they want
until conflict is forced upon them.

Of course if the furry alien in question is smart enough to fly
spaceships, and happens to be similar in size and disposition to a mature
Grizzly bear, wisdom calls for a certain delicacy in telling him no...

The Long
Voyage of the Little Fleet (sequel to Family Law)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KYA9WTQ

In the first book of this series "Family Law", Lee's parents
and their business partner Gordon found a class A habitable planet. They
thought their quest as explorers was over and they'd live a life of ease. But
before they could return and register their claim Lee's parents died doing a
survey of the surface. That left Lee two-thirds owner of the claim and their
partner Gordon obligated by his word with her parents to raise Lee. She had
grown up aboard ship with her uncle Gordon and he was the only family she'd
ever known. Him adopting her was an obvious arrangement - to them. Other people
didn't see it so clearly over the picky little fact Gordon wasn't human.

After finding prejudice and hostility on several worlds Lee was of the
opinion planets might be nice to visit, but terrible places to live. She wanted
back in space exploring. Fortunately Gordon was agreeable and the income from
their discovery made outfitting an expedition possible. Lee wanted to go DEEP -
out where it was entirely unknown and the potential prizes huge. After all, if
they kept exploring tentatively they might run up against the border of some
bold star faring race who had gobbled up all the best real estate. It wasn't
hard to find others of a like mind for a really long voyage. This sequel to
"Family Law" is the story of their incredible voyage.

Link to full
list of current releases on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004RZUOS2

Mac's
Writing Blog:

http://www.mackeychandler.com