Free The Prisoner of Eldaron: Crimson Worlds Successors II by Jay Allan Page B

seconds, an uncomfortable look on his face. Finally, he said, “Would you excuse us for a few moments? Greg and I have some government business to discuss. Privately.”
    “Of course,” she said, standing up and smiling. “As always, I am at your disposal if you need me.” She turned and walked across the room, closing the door behind her as she left.
    “Sir, I don’t think…”
    “I know, Greg,” DeSilva interrupted. “But we may have no choice. We took a risk on this whole Carlyle affair, but we had good reasons. We’re halfway through our third term. Atlantia has never even had a president run for reelection after a single term, much less contemplate a fourth. We’ve moved ahead as quickly as we could, secured control of the media and most of the agencies. But we have to be ready when the inevitable reaction comes. We control the polling places, so we can deliver ourselves any percent of the vote we want. But I don’t think our dear Atlantians are as passive as we assume they are. They are naïve, not interested in politics, and they have been more accepting of restrictive laws than I’d expected. But pressure is building, and when it blows, we’re going to have to be ready. Our stated poll numbers and the actual ones are two very different things.”
    “I understand, sir, but I don’t trust Asha, and I have even less faith in these mysterious friends of hers. Who is she really…and where did she come from?”
    “I’ve asked the same questions myself, but she’s come through on everything she has promised. And we need her help. We can win another election, hang on to power for a while longer, but sooner or later we’re going end up with a revolution on our hands. The time is coming when we need to secure our power more…forcefully. I’ve been president for ten years, Greg, and I don’t intend to retire and retreat to some seaside manor and write my memoirs. We’ve allowed the Atlantians to hang on to democratic pretensions, meaningless though they might have been. But the day is coming when we must dispense with all of it…and rule these people as their true masters. And to do that, we need Asha’s help. And we need the funding from our share of Carlyle’s cargo.”
    Moore sighed. “You may be right, sir, but it still makes me nervous.”
    “Me too, Greg. But we have to be ready to seize what is ours. Do you see yourself retiring to private life? Getting a dog, hanging up a shingle in some sleepy seaside town and practicing law for the rest of your life, writing wills and handling petty lawsuits?”
    Moore smiled. “No, thank you. I like my position…and the power.”
    “The Political Class on Earth had the right idea…but they became complacent, and they let themselves get dragged into pointless conflicts with the other Superpowers. We won’t make that mistake, Greg.”
    The smile slipped from Moore’s face. “Still, we need to be careful.”
    “We will, Greg. But you know as well as I do, we’ll have to get rid of Elias Cain eventually. Could you imagine if he chose to run against me? It’s going to take a long time to wear down the Cain name on Atlantia. But for now, let’s say I’ll be happy when the only Cain on this planet is that statue down in Founders’ Square.” He stared across the desk, his eyes blazing. “Until the day we pull that thing down too…”
     
    *  *  *  *  *
     
    “We leave in twenty minutes, and we’re going to be moving at full thrust all the way, so let your people know, Commander. I don’t want to hear any complaining once we’re underway.” Elias had changed from his uniform into a set of unmarked fatigues. He had a suit of body armor and an assortment of heavy weapons already stowed aboard Zephyr . When he suited up, he’d look a lot more like military than police. But he was chasing pirates now and, he suspected, heavily armed ones. If it came to a fight, he and his people would be ready.
    “Yes, Captain Cain. We’ll be ready.”