“Governor Cush.” It wasreturned.
“I am glad you decided to seethings my way.”
“I didn’t have much choice.”
There was no mistaking theconflict between the two men. Each one was as stubborn as the other. Cushcould not penetrate beyond the blank wall John put up. A distinct disadvantagehe didn’t like to be at.
“Since I am here, I suggest thatwe continue where you left off this afternoon.”
“You should not have sent theLieutenant Commander,” Cush fired back.
“I have confidence in her abilityto reach a satisfactory agreement.”
“It was your responsibility.” Cush was insistent.
“And we would have spent theentire afternoon at each other like we are now.”
John waited for an answer. Cushdidn’t have a verbal response.
“Get out of my head!” Johndemanded, shaking his head slightly. “And stay out of hers. You’ve worn herout. Can’t you see she’s completely exhausted?”
Both men looked to McReidy. Johnwith a look of genuine concern for her wellbeing, Cush as though he wasbeginning to see the affect his constant probing had on her.
McReidy was emotionally tired. She wanted her own thoughts back to herself. She wanted to close her eyes andsleep. Alone, without the constant presence of anyone else.
Cush could see this, but he couldnot bring himself to agree with John. “You use whatever methods you have tofind out as much as you can about other races. I use what I have.”
It was John’s turn to be silent. Cush’s statement was true, he knew that.
“I have had discussions with yourEarth ambassador. He becomes very defensive when your name is mentioned. Healso has the power to block me out.”
Cush was fishing. John would notgive him the satisfaction.
“Of course,” Cush relaxedslightly. “That makes everything much clearer.”
John didn’t have to be able toread minds to know that McReidy had given that snippet of information away. His relationship with Mark held many mysteries. Some of which even he couldn’tfathom. The exasperated frown he gave her was not indicative of his mood. Nottowards her anyway.
“Why don’t you go and find theothers,” he suggested quietly. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
She nodded slowly, tiredly.
“Refreshments are available, andmy offer to dine still stands,” Cush told her, then hesitated. “Kanmay willmeet you inside and attend to your needs.”
“Thank you.”
“Your officers are loyal,” Cushspoke quietly when she was out of earshot. “It was not easy to discover whatthey were hiding.”
“Keep away from her,” Johnwarned. He recognised the implication and wondered how deeply Cush had managedto penetrate into McReidy’s thoughts.
“You are very protective,” Cushobserved.
It was John’s nature; he couldn’tdeny it. “Of all of them. Now, are we going to finish these negotiations?”
“Inside. It’s becoming quitechilly out here.”
The sun had set. It was a deeptwilight; a chill in the air was beginning to set in. The heated atmospherebetween the two men would not be enough to prevent this for too long. Theywent back inside and proceeded to the boardroom where negotiations had takenplace earlier.
The empty chairs were linedneatly against the table. An advisor was already waiting with the papers. Cush took his seat. The papers were placed on the table in front of him. Hedidn’t look at them.
“Some adjustments,” Cushexplained.
John graciously took the papershanded to him. He sat down and read through them carefully, skipping the firstpage, which merely outlined the original proposal. He was impressed with theway McReidy had handled things. There were a few conditions where he thoughtshe had given in too easily, others where she had pushed the advantage furtherthan he might have dared.
All in all it was a neatagreement, extremely beneficial to all concerned. They had spent hoursdiscussing it previously: she knew it as well as he did, probably better.
Cush used every opportunity tofind a way into John’s head. He had no great interest in any businessdiscussions, taunting John with questions that became personal. Anything tothrow him off guard and break down his defences.
John met the invasion with openhostility and returned it with a contemptuous glare. The verbal confrontationwas getting out of hand. John felt what McReidy must have been going throughall afternoon. Finally, he had had enough.
“If you’re just going to sit hereand waste my time,” John struggled to keep his voice even, his eyes blazed,“then we can end this right now and I’ll take the original proposal to Sarracan. They have a moon in a position every bit as advantageous as yours.”
He resisted the temptation torise to his feet and attempt to stare down Cush.
“You’re bluffing!” Cush wouldnot be intimidated by the threat. Even so, there was a slight doubt in hisvoice.
“You don’t know that!” Johnsmirked.
He was too relaxed and confidentfor Cush’s liking. Cush had no way of knowing if he spoke truthfully. Therealisation of all the benefits that could be lost was visibly upsetting.
John saw this. It all madesense. “That’s what this whole thing is all about, isn’t it? Control. Youhave to be in control of everyone and everything at all times. And right now,you can’t stand the fact that you’re not. That you have no control over me.”
The shaken look on Cush’s facetold him he was right. He took full advantage of the moment, his voice filledwith confidence.
“It’s fine when you’re dealingwith someone like McReidy. You can poke around until you find the truth. Unfortunately for you, she has no hidden agenda. The only thing she was hidingis the fact that we can’t stand each other. But you still couldn’t leave heralone.”
There was as much contempt forCush’s reasons as there was for his methods. He sympathised with McReidy, heshould never have put her in that position.
“When it comes to someone likeme, you’re back on even ground. There is no advantage. Now, we have threeconditions left. Are we going to finish this now or do I have to go to Sarracan?”
“I have nothing against the lastthree conditions!” Cush roared. He was as upset with himself as he was withJohn.
“Good! Then sign the papers,”John fired back quickly before he could change his mind. He withdrew a penfrom his jacket pocket, leaned across the table and offered it to Cush.
For a moment, Cush hesitated,glaring at John. He made no impression on the determined brown eyes thatstared back. He snatched the pen
