“I really believe we hold the fate of the human race in our hands,” Jordan said.
No one disagreed.
Conflict
Dinner with Adri and Aditi was pleasant, but Jordan felt strains pulling him in different directions. He wanted to believe Adri, he wanted to believe everything Adri and the Predecessor had told him. But it was so enormous! So mind-boggling. And, he had to admit to himself, it just might all be a ploy to manipulate us, for some reason they haven’t chosen to reveal to us.
God help us, he thought, Meek might be right. Then he realized, Meek’s been right all along, about a lot of things. This planet isn’t natural. Adri, Aditi, all the other people here, they were constructed to resemble us. Manufactured.
But is Meek right about their motives? That’s the key to everything. Are Adri and the Predecessor telling me the truth about why they’ve done all this?
Brandon was unusually quiet through the meal, and Longyear and de Falla talked with each other, but had hardly a word to say to Adri or Aditi. So be it, Jordan sighed inwardly. One step at a time.
Then Thornberry announced that he had decided to undergo the brain stimulation, and Adri broke into a broad, beaming smile.
“I’ll set up the procedure first thing in the morning,” he promised.
Before Elyse could speak up, Adri turned to her and added, “And you’ll want to meet with our astronomers at the observatory.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Fine,” Adri said. “Fine.”
“Dr. Longyear, are you ready for a stimulation session?”
Longyear shook his head. “I’ll … wait until later.”
“I see,” Adri said, with a glance in Jordan’s direction.
As they filed out of the dining hall, Jordan took Aditi’s arm. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I missed you,” she whispered.
“I missed you, too.” And he led her down the corridor toward his suite.
Adri said good night and headed off to his own quarters. One by one, the others entered their rooms. Soon there was no one else in the corridor except Brandon and Elyse, walking a dozen paces ahead of Jordan and Aditi.
“Are you sure you should?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m very sure.”
“Your brother…?”
“I don’t care.”
“I don’t want to come between you.”
Jordan smiled at her. “And I don’t want him to come between us.”
She smiled back, but he could still see a flicker of worry in her chestnut brown eyes.
When they entered the sitting room, Elyse was relaxed on the couch, but Brandon was standing in the center of the room, frowning, tense.
“What’s wrong, Bran?” Jordan asked.
“I wish we had something to drink. Scotch or brandy or something … anything.”
“I can get an alcoholic beverage for you,” Aditi offered.
“No,” Brandon said. “I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Turning to the wall screen, she called, “Service, please.”
A pleasant-looking young woman’s face appeared on the screen. “Yes?” she said, smiling.
“Four after-dinner drinks, please. Alcoholic.”
“Certainly.” And the screen went dark.
“Room service?” Elyse asked.
“For our guests,” said Aditi.
Within minutes a handsome young man in a dark tunic and slacks appeared at their door, bearing a tray with four tall glasses filled with a dark ruby-colored liquid.
Once he had deposited the tray on the coffee table and left, Brandon picked up one of the glasses, sniffed it tentatively, then took a sip.
“Well?” Jordan asked.
“Strange. Looks like port, but it tastes … almost like anisette. Or what’s the Greek cordial?”
“Ouzo,” said Elyse.
Brandon sipped again and nodded. “Almost like ouzo, but not quite. Fruitier.”
As the others picked up their glasses, Jordan gestured Aditi to one of the armchairs and sat himself on the other one, facing her. Brandon sat on the couch beside Elyse. They each took long drafts of the liqueur.
“Delicious,” said Jordan.
Elyse asked Aditi, “What is this called?”
She stared blankly at Elyse for a moment, then answered, “Grape liqueur, I believe.”
“Not much of a name,” Brandon muttered.
“Practical,” said Jordan.
They sipped at the pleasant-tasting liqueur, making inconsequential conversation for several minutes.
But suddenly Brandon burst out, “Speaking of things practical, Jordy, that was a nice bit of maneuvering you pulled this afternoon.”
“Maneuvering?” Jordan felt puzzled, but he recognized the look on Brandon’s face. The same pouty frown Bran put on whenever he felt he’d been outsmarted. Or outplayed.
“Our little conference out on the grass,” Brandon said. “You took control of things. Very slick, big brother.”
“Don’t be obtuse, Bran.”
“Don’t call me names!”
Jordan glanced at Aditi, who looked alarmed.
Elyse said, “Brandon, perhaps we should retire for the night.”
But Brandon pointed an accusing finger at Jordan. “I was elected leader of the group. You resigned. You gave up your responsibilities and I took them on.”
“I know,” said Jordan. “I had no intention—”
“You undercut me out there! You just sat there and took over the discussion and took charge. I’m supposed to be the leader, not you!”
“Then why didn’t you lead?” Jordan snapped.
“How in hell can I, when you snatch it all away from me? Before I can get a word in, you’re monopolizing everything and giving orders.”
Jordan stared at his brother. Can a few sips of alcohol break down his self-control so quickly? he wondered. Or is the drink just a convenient excuse for him to speak his mind?
“Bran,” he said softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to usurp your position.”
“But you did it anyway.”
Resentment smoldered in Brandon’s eyes. Jordan’s memory flashed back to other scenes, from childhood and their teen years, into adulthood, when Brandon flailed out in jealousy. That’s why he went into science, to get away from me. To build a career for himself where he wouldn’t have to compete with his older brother.
“Bran, I said I’m sorry. What more can I do?”
“You can stay the hell away from the rest of us. If you want to take their side, fine, go ahead. You can stay here when the rest of us leave, if you want to. That’ll be fine with me.”
Aditi looked stricken, Jordan saw. But in the back of his mind he thought that staying here with Aditi would not be unpleasant. Silently he said to his brother, Go on back to Earth with your tail between your legs. Go on back and face the responsibility for saving the human race from annihilation. Do you have the guts for that, Bran? Do you have the brains and the heart for it?
But aloud he said only, “I think I’ve heard enough for one night, Bran.” Rising to his feet, Jordan held his hand out for Aditi. She got up and stood beside him.
“Good night, Elyse,” Jordan said, as politely as he could manage. “Good night, Bran.”
He turned and walked, hand-in-hand with Aditi, into their bedroom.
Once the door closed, Aditi said, “I had no idea he was so jealous of you.”
Jordan shrugged. “It’s been going on for years. This is Bran’s way of getting what he wants: accusing me of hurting him.” With a sigh he sat on the edge of the bed and began taking off his shoes.
Aditi sat beside him. “What are you going to do?”