Spears of the Sun (Star Sojourner Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

systems are no longer backed by gold at Alpha's depository. Haven't been since the Twelve-Year-War with the BEMS. Before your time.”
    “I've read the history books. Before your time, too.”
    We called them BEMS for bug-eyed-monsters, because the human tongue couldn't pronounce the real name of this highly technological, highly expansive race of beings with the largest eyes in the known star systems. BEMS reproduced like the proverbial rabbits and had run out of resources on their home world. The war had reduced them to a pre-technological level. Their reproductive habits reduced them even further down the technological rungs.
    I heard laughter and realized it was the women at the far table. The children were fidgeting.
    “But the depository is a fortified vault building,” I said. “Christlotus, it's supposed to be impenetrable!”
    “Yeah, and Titanic couldn't sink.”
    “What's Titanic?”
    “Before your time, kid. There's a big hole in the ground where the depository used to be. Blown to smithereens and hell. We still don't know the technology behind the weapon the BEMS used. They destroyed it themselves when the Alliance Forces invaded Kybrargrothga…Kybrargreatka – Ah, whatever the hell. Their home world.” He put down his fork. “Now I'm not hungry, either.”
    “What about Earth's Federal Reserve banks? They've got more gold bullion than the Worlds Depository…had. Don't they?”
    “That's old history, kid. The reserve banks are spread out across the colonies now, the free planets, and even some friendly alien nations for safe keeping, if you'll pardon the pun. We learned our lesson with the Alpha/BEMS disaster.
    “But we don't have any enemies.”
    “Today's friends are tomorrow's enemies.”
    “From the look on your face, I get the feeling that Worlds Coalition doesn't want to hand over their gold just to save ole Earth.”
    “Their patriotism is to their own home worlds now. Most of the populations were born on their respective planets and have never visited Earth.”
    The waitress brought out Joe's slice of pie and set it before him. I kept my gaze down. I was getting tired of winking back at her.
    Joe took a bite. When the waitress had returned to the kitchen, he stopped chewing. “It's like the United States giving up its financial basis and plunging into chaos to save England.”
    “So a couple of disgruntled, greedy slimetrolls can hold all of Earth hostage? That's hard to believe.”
    “Read your history books. They're full of dictators and rogue militia who ordered the torture and death of millions or started wars that killed millions.”
    The women were taking out their credcards.
    Joe stared at the children. They had finished eating and were playing with restaurant-supplied toys. “Sometimes I think human life is the cheapest commodity of all.”
    “I guess. Cheaper than gold.”
    The women punched their bill into the table check-out unit. They gathered their children and headed for the door. A toddler cried because he couldn't take the restaurant toy with him. A woman scooped him up and carried him outside while he pummeled her shoulder with tiny fists.
    Had things gone differently, Willa might have been among these women, and someday with children of our own.
    Joe checked his watch. “We should get down to the spaceport. I want that shuttle fine-toothed-combed before we board.”
    And so it begins,
I thought. Check out your room for bugs, your vehicle for explosives, your food for poison. And don't talk to strangers. In fact, don't go near strangers, especially if they're carrying umbrellas on a sunny day.
    Joe read me like an open book. “They don't want you dead. They want to use your telepathic powers to find out how W-CIA intends to address Rowdinth's demands.”
    I thought of the Dream Czar and his plans to use me and Lisa as a defense against RECOIL, the revolutionaries who fought the Czar when Laurel's police force was in his pocket. Willa had belonged to the rebel