Free Cyteen: The Betrayal by C. J. Cherryh

stopped him?”
    “Dammit,” Giraud said, “Ari, I warned you. I warned you.”
    Ari tilted her head, regarding him sidelong. “I’ll tell you one thing: even if he goes, son Justin won’t.”
    “We’ve got five more years of budget to fight through! What in hell are we going to do when Jordie’s out there in front of the cameras?”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    “What do you mean, don’t worry about it?”
    “He’s here, isn’t he? Left his aides, his staff, everyone but Paul in Novgorod. I didn’t confront him about the leak. I just sent Florian to advise him he was wanted. He’s well aware what he’s done and that I know he’s done it.”
    “If you touch him-Listen to me. He won’t have done this without advance preparation. God knows what kind of harm he can do us. Or what kind of information he’s smuggled out of here. My God, I didn’t see this coming.”
    “Jordan and his little feuds. His requests for transfer. His bickering on staff. Oh, we’re still friendly. We have our little policy debates. We had one on the way home. And smiled at each other over drinks. Why not? There’s always the chance I believed Gorodin.”
    “He knows damn well you didn’t!”
    “And he knows that I know that he knows, round and round. So we smile at each other. I’ll tell you something: I’m not worried. He’s sure I won’t move until I know what he’s got. He’s manipulating the situation. Our Education Special thinks he’s the best there is. He’s gambling everything on things going the way he predicts. He’ll make me a counteroffer soon. And I’ll make mine. And that’s how we’ll pass the months. He’s sure he can match me move for move. We’ll see. I’m going to my apartments. I’m sure Florian’s run his checks by now. I’m going to have a shower, put my feet up a while, and read the logs. And have a decent meal. Formal dinner tonight. It’s a session-end, isn’t it? Catlin can approve the menu.”
    “I’ll tell the staff,” Denys said. The thought of food turned Giraud’s stomach.
    “It’s not a total disadvantage,” she said. “Have you seen the news? The Centrist coalition is showing seams this morning. Corain’s made Ianni Merino very, very upset. An old hand like Corain-this is moving much too fast for him. Corain had his people ready to walk, now he shifts stance on them-the Abolitionists will suspect a sell-out … won’t they? Let the Abolitionists peel off and start talking about dismantling the labs again. It’s bound to make the moderates a little anxious.”
    “That’s where Jordan can do us the most damage! If he goes to the press-“
    “Oh, you don’t think the Abolitionists are going to credit a voice out of Reseune.”
    “If he’s saying the right things they damn well will.”
    “Then we have to do something about his credibility, don’t we? Think about it, Gerry. Corain’s going to end up acquiescing-no, voting for-the establishment of a Reseune lab right on the Hope colony route. The Abolitionists haven’t gotten saner, just quieter; and we have our own sleepers in their rank and file. Keep Corain quite busy putting out fires on his own decks. Gorodin may find the whole noise a bit more than he wants: there are always deals we can offer him: he always stands with his feet either side of the line. Lu is the problem, that double-crossing bastard. But we can. persuade him. This facility is exactly the kind of thing that may do it. I want you to look into these things, I don’t need to tell you how discreetly. Use your military contacts. The Science Bureau is dispatching a ship to notify Rubin of his status. They’re also going to take measures to establish him a protective residency in Fargone Blue Zone: the team is on its way Sunday, when Atlantis pushes off for Fargone.”
    “Harogo’s going to be aboard?” Denys asked. “Absolutely. There’s not going to be a hitch. He’ll get our’ staff right through customs, and Atlantis is running