Free April 4: A Different Perspective by Mackey Chandler Page B

occasionally.
    "April is also an officer of the bank," Mama-san pointed out. "I think you should have at least two of your board at this talk. I am a little lost to parts of this, but I am very competent in a kitchen. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to help? I realize that one's kitchen is a private matter, but I offer it with every respect."
    "I'd be delighted to have you," Heather agreed. April knew her voice and face and she meant it, which was a great relief to April. When you have valued friends meet there is always the worry they won't hit it off.
    "Thank you," Jeff piped up, "because I have had April doing economic research for me and I'd like her to hear this."
    Yeah, right, April thought and worked at keeping a straight face.
    "My little brother Barak will be coming home soon and joining us for supper," Heather told Mama-san," he makes a good scullery maid and can give us a hand."
    "Barak taught me to make pancakes," April said, defending him automatically. "I fear he's still a better cook than I am."
    "And he has a sweet crush on April," Heather added. "He isn't shy to say so."
    "Then he is a young man of taste," Papa-san declared. "with Life Extension Therapy I think we are going to see that such minor age differences don't mean much anymore."
    That was a very interesting idea. April had never considered it from that perspective before. Barak was smart and fun and could cook, give him six years to mature a bit and he might be very interesting indeed.

Chapter 13
    The airport had a well stocked wireless toy shop and he got the most expensive set of wrap-around spex they had, with all the memory it would hold. They were de rigeur for spacers. He transferred everything from his computer using a different encryption scheme. He also bought the loudest bright Aloha shirt he could find and changed into it in the men's room. Nobody in their right mind would wear such a thing if they had any reason not to call attention to themselves.
    A kiosk was better than dealing with a live agent and he bought a lift ticket direct for Home in thirty-five minutes. There was another in twenty minutes for New Las Vegas, but he could save fifteen minutes at this end and get arrested in USNA territory waiting for the Home shuttle at the other end.
    He used his Safety Associates card because it was a numbered card requiring no ID. It was unrevokable, so people accepted it with just a number on the face. He'd simply have to pay John back when he informed him he was quitting. He had enough to pay cash, but that too raised a huge signal now that would get him scrutinized.
    He killed time until near boarding and then assumed the correct body language, hands held a bit away from his body, very light on his feet like a dancer with his weight forward and a face masked with utter arrogance.
    "ID," demanded the security agent at the gate.
    "I'm going to Home. That is not subject to question or restriction."
    "What ID do you have, sir?" the man asked. He made 'sir' sound like an insult.
    "I have no need of ID," Otis assured him. "Free people have no need of ID to travel, except in so-called free Earth countries."
    "Did you destroy your USNA identification already?" the man asked grinding his teeth.
    "Not everybody on Home was a Norte Americano," Otis assured him. "I was a citizen of the Principality of Monaco," he informed him. "A relatively enlightened Earth government, but one with which the question of dual citizenship has not been settled, so I don’t carry or use their passport until we get a proper ruling on the matter."
    When the man looked like he was going to speak again Otis held a restraining finger up and looked in the upper right corner of his spex and then quickly in the left upper corner.
    "I'd appreciate it if you gave me your undivided attention and didn't entertain calls while I'm speaking to you," the man said angrily.
    "I'm not taking a call," Otis bluffed him. "I logged onto HomeNet, because I don't care for your attitude