“That’s all you need, then?”
The translator took its usual two-heartbeat delay in showing the reply. “Yes, Your Magnificence. With your digital signature, we can proceed immediately.”
Yellowe nodded, and typed in a question he’d had answered before but wanted to read again. “And my people won’t know it’s happening?”
Another pause. “We can’t guarantee complete secrecy, but we do our extractions very quickly.”
“Good. I don’t need anyone second-guessing me at this point.”
“Thank you, Your Magnificence. We hope the payment will benefit your people as much as this resource will benefit us. If you should ever require any….”
He pressed the tab to cut off the communication. The offworlders were very ceremonious and could go on for pages of text. The last thing he needed was for a journalist to hack into the system and get word of this arrangement out before everything was finished.
Yellowe moved to the window and nodded to himself. The translator had defined the resource the offworlders wanted to purchase was something they drank. Since his people didn’t drink, and he could very much use the economic boost they had given him in return, he felt this was a win-win for all concerned. The broad avenues and tall buildings were busy but peaceful under a clear green sky. With any luck, everything would stay that way.
He moved back to his desk and opened the channel to his executive secretary.
“No comments to the press until tomorrow, Gilbert.”
The reply showed on the screen at once. “Acknowledged, Your Magnificence.”
Yellowe looked out over the city again. The Council might complain he had acted unilaterally again, but when they saw the size of the payment the offworlders had made for an unused resource, all complaints would cease. Everyone would recognize Sticey Yellowe as the greatest chancellor….
He peered along the avenue that stretched beyond his window. Was the sky getting brighter? It hadn’t been overcast this morning. Any clouds….
Things were getting a lot brighter outside, brighter even than the usual noon in the capital. He reached to the computer, but stopped. The roof of the Union League Building had just peeled away. Was the building itself leaning? Workers rushed out of it, moving in swirls of panic. The Elder Library, a much wider building, started to incline toward the Union League.
He pressed the tab that summoned his Chiefs of Staff. His eyes went to the window again and he recoiled. The brightness was growing, invading even his own office. He closed his eyes to slits. The offworlders! There was more to this deal than they’d told him! They had acted as if…but they would learn not to fool with Sticey Yellowe!
He blinked at the message on his screen, suddenly unable to read it. The brightness grew, and with it, a hot, sickening feeling that started at his head and moved across his body. He dropped to the floor, feeling as if his weight had tripled.
The door burst open, and six of his security force tumbled into the room. They rolled forward on the floor, trying to reach him, their mouths open to call to him, but though he could see this, he could not hear a word.
He reached to his desk, trying to climb back to the computer screen, but breathing was difficult, bordering on impossible. The light stabbed his eyes. His research had missed something during the offworld deal. What was this “water” anyhow?
***
“And the Chancellor had no idea they all lived underwater?”
“Nobody did. Apparently, with no dry land and so few things growing to above the surface, hardly any of them even knew there was such a thing.”
“Is it all aboard?”
“Going through the strainer and purifier now.”
“Let’s go. Best sort of deal to make. No complaints.”
Blogsy Babbles 