Empyrion I: The Search for Fierra Read Online Free Page A

say. Very rare, sir.”
    Treet wondered whether the Chairman knew that his honored guest had been pursued across three continents and then abducted by a contract nab artist in order to make this cozy meeting possible. Likely not—though he might be interested to know. Treet decided not to play that card just yet.
    “I can't think, however,” Chairman Neviss continued, “that writing monographs on history—excellent though they are— would offer much of a living for you.”
    True, true. No one had much use for history anymore; the present was enigma enough. And though his work was on laserfile with every major library in the world, as well as available through several global datanet services, his royalties from subscriber fees were barely enough to cover necessities. “I manage,” Treet allowed.
    “I'm sure you do. But I am in a position to help you, Mr. Treet. I have a proposition I think you will want to consider.”
    “I'm always willing to listen.”
    “Of course.” The Chairman's smile flashed again, but this time it had a forced appearance. They were getting down to business.
    “Empyrion, Mr, Treet. Ever heard of it?”
    “Yes, of course. From Ptolemy's theory of the five heavens. The fifth and highest heaven, the empyrean, is a realm of pure, elemental fire. The home of God and His angels.”
    Chairman Neviss nodded as he listened, obviously enjoying the recitation. When Treet finished, the Chairman said, “It is also our newest colony—a planet in the Epsilon Eridani system.”
    At first this remark did not register with Treet. He did not believe he had head correctly. Then, when he saw that no one was laughing, he figured the "illness" Varro had mentioned was mental. Now the warning made sense.
    The Chairman leaned forward and said, “You perhaps did not hear me correctly.” A response was necessary.
    “But that … that,” Treet stammered, “would be the first extrasystem colony. Epsilon Eridani is more than … what?—ten light-years from Earth. It's—” Don't get him riled up, he remembered. He'd been about to say something that could upset a man of unstable bearing.
    “Impossible? Was that the word you were looking for?” The Chairman seemed to be taking this in good humor. “I always say that a secret is no good unless you can tell someone, eh Varro?”
    “Yes, Chairman.” Varro, too, was smiling at Treet, apparently enjoying his befuddlement.
    The Chairman raised his hand in an open gesture. “Now you know, Mr. Treet. I won't trouble you with a recitation of the details, although with a mind like yours, I'm sure you would find them fascinating. Only myself and a select number of Cynetics board members know of Empyrion's existence.”
    “Why tell me?” He did not mean the question to sound so terse. It just came out that way.
    “The proposition I have in mind has to do with this colony. I want your help in solving a problem there.”
    Treet's next question was just as terse as the one preceding it: “Why me?”
    From nowhere the Chairman's beautiful administrator appeared and handed him a laserfile reader. Chairman Neviss held it in his hands while it spooled information across its black screen, then began reading what he saw there: “Orion Tiberias Treet… son of Magellan Treet, noted historian and astronomer … conceived
in vitro
at Spofford Natal and engineered by Haldane Krenk on December 30, 2123 … graduated from Blackburn Academy in April, 2149 … received your first degree in anthropology from Nevada Polytechnic in March, 2160 … second degree in history from the Sorbonne in June, 2167 … third degree in journalism from Brandenburg Institute in August, 2172 … joined the staff of the
Smithsonian,
rose through the ranks and, as a result of an unfortunate dispute over editorial philosophy, left as editor-in-chief in May, 2200 … became food critic for Beacon Broadcast System, and quit in 2216 … taught philosophy at the University of Calgary until 2245 when the