Free Masterminds by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Page A

at the moment, Salehi wasn’t going to agree with Uzvuyiten. Salehi was too annoyed.
    He had expected some territorial issues with Uzvuyiten on the various cases. Salehi just hadn’t expected them to start so quickly.
    “Let us know if anything else comes up,” he said to Wèi. “Otherwise, I expect to hear from you just before we land.”
    “You’re an optimist,” Wèi said.
    “No,” Uzvuyiten said. “He’s just going to give me a good talking to.”
    “Yes,” Salehi said as he headed toward the door. “I am. We’re going to discuss how S 3 is handling these cases, and how you, as a consultant, can help or hurt us.”
    “I am not going to remain on this ship for the duration of your stay here,” Uzvuyiten said. “If you do not like what I’m going to do, then we’ll make that strictly my responsibility.”
    Salehi felt his cheeks heat. Uzvuyiten had outmaneuvered him. Uzvuyiten wanted a case that he could handle for himself and the Peyti government without S 3 involvement, and he had just designed it.
    As they stepped out of the cockpit, Salehi said, “All right, tell me honestly. This is why the government of Peyla insisted that you consult on the clone case, isn’t it? So that you, one of the most upstanding members of Peyti society, can be denied access to the Port of Armstrong.”
    “It’s simply a side benefit,” Uzvuyiten said.
    “It’s the point of the entire trip,” Salehi said. “I’m here on a wild-goose chase for your government. The representative of S 3 , who is handling a case that’s a real loser, while the famous Peyti lawyer creates a case all his own, one that he’ll win easily in the Multicultural Tribunals, should things go that far.”
    “You give us too much credit,” Uzvuyiten said as he headed down the corridor.
    Salehi resisted the urge to grab Uzvuyiten by his thin arm. Salehi was well aware how delicate the Peyti were in comparison to humans. He didn’t want to hurt Uzvuyiten physically, even by accident.
    “No, I didn’t give you enough credit at the beginning of this trip,” Salehi said. “I should have seen that your government had a secondary agenda. S 3 is the perfect cover for you people because we’re so well known as a human-oriented law firm.”
    “You’re well known as one of the best law firms in the Alliance,” Uzvuyiten said. “And you, Rafael, are known as one of the most creative legal minds of our generation.”
    “Flattery and money got you here, Uzvuyiten,” Salehi said. “But you can stop now.”
    “My dear Rafael—”
    “And you can stop that too,” Salehi said. “I would probably have been quite amused by this situation under normal circumstances. But these aren’t normal circumstances. Zhu’s dead, and the Moon’s a dangerous place for all of us—especially you. You’re a Peyti lawyer. Have you thought that through?”
    “Yes, I have,” Uzvuyiten said. “I’m an old Peyti lawyer, with a fantastic reputation all over the Alliance. I’m well liked. If something happens to me here, well, then, it’ll show just how bad things have gotten on the Moon, won’t it?”
    Salehi stared at him. “You think they’ll attack you.”
    “You think they won’t?”
    “I wanted you to stay on this ship for that reason,” Salehi said, “and that was before Zhu died. Don’t do this, Uzvuyiten. You’re taking too many risks.”
    “And I would say that you’re not taking enough,” Uzvuyiten said. “But I think you are taking risks. The wrong kind.”
    “What does that mean?” Salehi asked.
    Uzvuyiten shrugged and then made his way down the hall.
    “What are you saying?” Salehi asked.
    “S 3 On The Moon?” Uzvuyiten said. “Thinking you can ride the backs of a million dead to change clone law? You’re too arrogant, Rafael.”
    “I am?” Salehi said. “What about you?”
    “We’re talking about my people here, Rafael,” Uzvuyiten said. “That’s not arrogance. That’s survival.”
    “The Peyti aren’t