Imperial Stars 1-The Stars at War Read Online Free

can't take Earth any more." He grimaced distastefully. "Croquet, Mr. Demaris? Liqueur, Messire? Agh! Our society's like a translucent china dish, overlaid with gilt filigree and wrapped in cotton batting. It's beautiful, it's elegant, and safe—but you don't dare use it to eat from."
    Kaempfert smiled, his eyes sparkling briefly. Then he flicked a hand toward the files on his desk.
    "O.K., then—let's get you out where the red meat is. Briefly, here's the job:
    "Farla's as good as gone. She may not know it, yet, but the only thing that's saved her for the time being is Marak's inability to move in without first slapping down Genis—and vice versa.
    "So, Marak's asked us for a man who'll keep Genis off balance until Marak can move in on Farla and consolidate. That's you. You'll handle strategy, maybe do some on-the-spot generaling."
    Demaris nodded. "Sounds good." He grinned fiercely. "Sounds damn good!"
    Kaempfert handed him a file. "Here's most of your poop. You get a full-scale briefing tomorrow at eight. That's Ante Meridiem, son. You're scheduled for Make-up and Indoctrination at eleven."
    Demaris whistled softly. "Shooting me out in a hurry, huh?"
    Kaempfert nodded, his face grave. "It's faster than I'd like. One day isn't enough to set up an air-tight job. But it's a hurry-up situation. We'll just have to take our chances. If you think somebody's spotted you, you're hereby authorized to take the most logical preventive steps under the circumstances."
    Demaris nodded as though in echo to Kaempfert's expression. The necessity was obvious, but nevertheless, the Agency didn't often work that way.
    Kaempfert broke the silence. "Well. That's that. Where're you staying tonight, Thad?"
    Demaris shrugged. "Hotel of some kind, I guess. I got here straight from the airport. Still got my bags out in the front office."
    "Well, how about staying over with us?" Kaempfert stared down at his fingertips.
    Demaris laughed. "I guess that's one way of making sure I won't get into a fight before morning. Sure, Bill. Be glad to, and thanks."
    Kaempfert looked up at him with the traces of guilt fading out of the corners of his eyes.
    Demaris winked at him. "Where'd you get the idea I was the pugnacious type, Bill?"
    Kaempfert grunted.
     
    Demaris sprawled his bulk in an easy-chair, his feet thrust out atop a hassock. He felt free and relaxed for the first time in weeks. He'd eaten a quick meal, unconstrained by any necessity for making intricate small-talk. No, he had a lazy evening to look forward to; something he hadn't had since the last time he'd known he was going out in the morning.
    He whistled a snatch of "Heroes All" and chuckled softly.
    Leni Kaempfert smiled fondly as she shut the nursery door behind her. "Adding a new verse, Thad?"
    "Me? I never wrote that thing."
    Leni's tongue bulged her cheek. "No?"
    "Why, no."
    She shrugged agreeably. "O.K. But if Old Man Sullivan ever proves his suspicions, you'll be in deep trouble." She looked at Demaris with mock-solemnity. "The Agency is a serious business enterprise. Let us not go around making snide remarks."
    Demaris took a gulp of his drink. "To Hell with Old Man Sullivan!"
    "It's his outfit, Thad," Bill Kaempfert reminded him. "We just work there. He runs things the way he wants them."
    Demaris reached out spasmodically, as though unconsciously trying to seize hold of his fleeing peace. For an hour, he had forgotten the habitual tensity of his muscles. Now his jaw was hardening again.
    "Yeah!" he spat out harshly. "He sits in an office somewhere, where nobody ever sees him, and he runs it. I just go out and bleed dollar bills for him." Demaris coiled his body into a tense crouch on the chair's edge.
    "Now, come on," Kaempfert said, "it's not as bad as all that."
    Demaris lashed out savagely. "Isn't it? If there were still a TSN—if there were even the faintest chance of working for Earth instead of messing up the stars for Sullivan's profit—would you stick with the Agency? Would