Scaevola's Triumph (Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

asked curiously.
    "It is where the ship is controlled from," the Tin Man said. "You will not be able to control the ship, but if you command, 'View!' you will find the walls, ceiling and floor go transparent, and you can see everything. In about two of one of your hours, we shall pass a large planet, which you might find interesting. Don't worry about doing damage. You cannot."
    After the Tin Man left, Lucilla stared balefully at Gaius. "He was lying!" she wailed.
    "I rather suspect not," Gaius said slowly.
    "But that's impossible!"
    "So is flying to the stars," Gaius said softly, "but according to him, that is what we are doing."
    "It must be . . ." she stopped, and sobbed.
    "If it's a lie," Gaius shook his head, "it is the strangest one I've ever heard."
    "But . . . but how?"
    "I don't know how," Gaius said softly, "except by travelling in this ship."
    "But . . . to the stars? That's impossible!"
    "It's as sensible an explanation as anything," Gaius shrugged. "Remember what those so-called zookeepers looked like? Have you ever seen anything like them before?"
    "No," she admitted.
    "They're like nothing else we've ever seen," Gaius shrugged. "All I can suggest is that we must have gone a very long way to find something so strange. If we've gone that far, we could just as well have gone to the stars." He paused, and saw her doubtful expression, so he continued, "I've just been invited to go look at a planet. Why such a lie? What's to be gained? Especially if there's no planet. And a planet is hardly something that you would have well-prepared as a lie!"
    "It's . . ." She sobbed again, louder, as at least part of the truth began to sink in.
    "I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll ever see Quintus again," Gaius said softly, and he hugged his sister again. "Nor anybody else we ever knew." He felt so strangely flat. The situation was so utterly inconceivable, and yet he remembered watching the stars on Rhodes, wondering what was there. He was going to be the first man ever to find out.
    "What?"
    "They'll be dead too," Gaius said, "by the time we get back home."
    "You seem so sure we'll get back," Lucilla said in a tone that showed she did not believe it.
    "Yes, I think we shall," Gaius replied, with confidence he really did not have.
    "How?" Lucilla asked simply. "We don't even know where home is?"
    "I don't know," Gaius admitted in a flat tone.
    "Lucilla," Vipsania said, quietly taking her hand, "if we're going to survive this, we have to believe that eventually we shall return home."
    "We have to have hope," Gaius added. "We have to be brave . . ."
    "That's easy for you to say," Lucilla howled. Vipsania was about to say something to comfort her, but Gaius held up his hand.
    "Trust me on this," he said to his sister. "Now there's going to be four of us and millions of them. Of course, weep for Quintus, and if you want to blame me, do it now."
    "Blame you?"
    "The argument with Quintus and the corn," Gaius explained. "Quintus got mad with me, and that's probably why he ended up in a different cell, which, in turn, is why you're here and not a slave somewhere else. If you want to blame me, do it now, because when we get to wherever this flight takes us, we have to stand together."
    "I agree with that," Timothy added.
    Lucilla sobbed, then said to her brother, "I don't blame you, but . . ." She started again.
    "Lie down and rest," Gaius tried to soothe her. "Timothy, I'll show you how to work the weapon. You guard the women, and I'm off to explore."
    "You don't trust the Tin Man?" Timothy frowned.
    "I don't trust the alien," Gaius shrugged. "If we represent a likely death sentence, he may well try to get rid of us, on the basis he can't get any worse off."
    "Is it wise to wander off?" Vipsania asked. "We should stay together, and . . ."
    "I think we need some independent information," Gaius replied. "Yes, there's a risk, but there may be a bigger risk sitting here doing nothing. Either we trust the Tin Man or we do not. If we do, the