Free Dark as Day by Charles Sheffield

preference.” Prosper Ligon’s bony finger stabbed at the sheet. “I propose that we pursue alliance and merger with the burgeoning empire of Cyrus Mobarak.”
    Alex was surprised, but less so than others around the table. Hector sat with his mouth open. Cora and Agatha muttered, “Upstart,” and “Charlatan,” in unison. Alex’s mother whispered, “The Sun King!” as though the phrase was original with her. Alex knew that it wasn’t. But his mother’s words were echoed in awed tones by Cousins Juliana, Rezel, and Tanya. Uncle Karolus gave a short bark of laughter and said, “Full marks for nerve, Prosper. But Cyrus Mobarak is riding high. Give me one sound reason why he would have the slightest interest in merger.”
    “I propose to do exactly that. Cyrus Mobarak has indeed been successful—”
    “Damn right.”
    “—and he is ambitious. At the same time, he is a self-made man who, although he would never admit it, yearns to be associated with old money and influence. Who, thirty years ago, had heard of the controlled-fusion Mobies, or of Cyrus Mobarak? Did someone here utter the word upstart when I mentioned his name?”
    Karolus nodded across the table. “I think that was Agatha. But you’re missing the point, Prosper. Merging Mobarak’s operation with Ligon wouldn’t give Mobarak himself any status with the Inner Circle.”
    “A simple business merger would not. But what if it was a union of the two families, through shared children? Cyrus Mobarak has two offspring of his own. The elder, his son David, is already committed to a union. However, his daughter Lucy-Maria is young, unattached, and eligible. Lena, we have already had discussions on this matter. If you would like to summarize—”
    * * *
    “Let me get this straight.” Kate had stopped fiddling with the top of her dress as Alex went on with his description of the meeting. Now she was sitting totally still. “All this talk about a ‘family union.’ Do they mean marriage?”
    “I guess so.” When Kate stared at him, he added, “That is what they mean.”
    Alex had been told a hundred times that he was the System’s least perceptive man when it came to reading women’s feelings. But when Kate still said nothing, he went on, “Are you against marriage?”
    “No, no.” Kate’s blue eyes looked away. “I think that the whole marriage business is a bit, well, old-fashioned , especially if people haven’t lived together. But if someone wants to get married, it’s up to them. Maybe Mobarak’s daughter feels like that. But in your family—is this your mother again?”
    “Of course it’s my mother again.” And then he was forced to make a correction. “No, it’s not just mother. It’s the whole damned family.”
    “But what right have they to decide?” Now Kate could not sit still. She was rubbing her hand along the tabletop, spreading a ring of condensation from her glass. “It would be an arranged marriage. You’d think we were in India or Persia, a thousand years ago. Have you seen pictures of this Lucy woman?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well?”
    “She looks nice.”
    “Nice? That’s the best you can come up with? Strawberries and cream are nice . Is she pretty?”
    “Yes, but I think she’s been worked over quite a bit.”
    “I’ll bet. Mobarak can afford the best surgeons and splices. Have you met her?”
    “Not yet. But Hector has, and he says she’s stunning.”
    “Is Hector a candidate to marry her? Isn’t he the cousin with a turnip where his brain should be?”
    “No one is talking about Hector.”
    “They are talking about you . Right?”
    “They want me to meet with her.”
    “And are you going to meet her?”
    “I don’t see that I have much choice.” Alex realized that wasn’t enough. “It’s hard to describe what the situation is like to somebody who has never been in one of the meetings. Family needs take precedence over everything.”
    “Like hell they do. Family needs weren’t considered