Free Ragnarok 03 - Resonance by John Meaney Page B

on-station facilities made themselves ready. This was the Clara that Jed had fallen in love with: hard-edged, with the kind of practical compassion only a tough person can possess.
    Station management gave Pilots a great deal of leeway – the orbital’s total dependence made that a given – which they usually made little use of; but today, several tunnels were closed ‘for maintenance’ to allow Jed and the two autodocs to pass unhindered, all the way to the on-station Pilots Sanctuary. In comparison to the set-up he had enjoyed on Fulgor, the elegant walled enclosure on the edge of Lucis City, this Sanctuary would be utilitarian, but never mind: this was no holiday.
    Jed, along with his colleagues Angus and Al, had destroyed that other Sanctuary’s systems before getting clear of the place when the planet fell, but the superstructure would have remained intact. Now any humans on Fulgor were components of the global gestalt Anomaly. He wondered if they used the buildings, or stood about outdoors in herds, uncaring of physical comfort.
    Ants in a group mind. Cells in a body.
    The Vachss Station Sanctuary entrance folded inwards, and the two autodocs slid inside, Jed following. As things sealed up behind him, the welcoming committee came forward: Clara, not huggable while working, with her boss Pavel Karelin, plus a hatchet-faced woman unknown to Jed.
    â€˜Dr Sapherson will be on hand as we wake them up,’ said Pavel. ‘Tannier has already been conscious for a period after leaving Molsin, so we’ll do him first.’
    â€˜And the other?’ Jed placed a hand on the autodoc.
    â€˜You talked to Leeja Rigelle, not to mention rescuing her. Perhaps yours should be the first face she sees.’
    â€˜I’d only just said hello when everything went to hell. There’s no actual, er, relationship. Although she was more than friendly with Roger.’
    â€˜Friendliness is good.’ The tiny muscles of Clara’s face moved when she smiled.
    â€˜This Roger—’ began Sapherson.
    â€˜Not available,’ said Pavel.
    Clara looked satisfied at the way he cut Sapherson off. No love lost, then.
    â€˜We’ll tell Leeja Rigelle, when she wakes up,’ said Clara, ‘that Roger sent his love. Wishes he could be here, sort of thing.’
    Sapherson said, ‘Why reassure her? The more off-balance she is, the easier she’ll be to question.’
    â€˜She’s not a prisoner,’ said Pavel.
    Clara stared at Sapherson with loathing.
    â€˜I’ll make myself scarce,’ said Jed. ‘Just in case some of thatclassified stuff comes up, things I’m not meant to know.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ said Clara, still focused on Sapherson. ‘That might be best. When people learn a little too much, it doesn’t always turn out well.’
    Sapherson looked away.
    I am so not going to ask .
    Jed headed for an inner doorway, hoping that the on-board systems could produce a decent cup of daistral.
    â€˜Leeja thought Tannier was a bad influence,’ said Clara later, when she and Jed were sitting up in bed together, drinking daistral. ‘When they met first, that is. Tough cop, getting Roger into trouble. But she’s beginning to mellow towards him. To Tannier.’
    â€˜And her world being destroyed? How did she cope with that?’
    â€˜Ah, not well,’ said Clara. ‘Not well at all.’
    They hugged, side by side, careful with the daistral, thinking of all the ways the universe could rip people apart from each other.
    â€˜I’m glad I found you.’ Jed kissed her ear.
    â€˜That’s just what I was going to say.’
    â€˜You want to know how glad?’
    She smiled, putting down her drink.
    â€˜Show me, show me.’
    Pavel and Sapherson departed the next day, leaving Jed and Clara with the opportunity to spend delightful time together – ‘They owe me leave, but this counts as work, which is even