The Independent Worlds (The Sixteen Galaxies Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: William Drayman
knocked and entered. They did this all the time, in the hope of catching Kestil there, and to let the president know that they knew.
“Hello, Michael,” Maitland said to the agent. “You’ve met Kestil before, haven’t you?”
The agent gave Kestil a brusque nod, and Kestil gave a slight bow in return. “Just a reminder, Mr. President,” the frustrated agent said, “we’ll arrive at JFK in less than forty minutes, sir.”
“Thank you, Michael, I shall be ready. I would like to be undisturbed until then, if you don’t mind.”
Michael gave Kestil a hard look. “Yes, Mr. President.” He closed the door with just a little too much force as he left.
Kestil stretched his legs out with a sigh. “Progress with the UN is on track, Michael. The investigation results were widely accepted.”
Maitland reached for the box of cigars on his desk, but stopped himself short when he caught the look on Kestil’s face. He got up and made for the drinks cabinet instead. “Yes, indeed. Cromby did a fine job with the whole thing, and I told him as much. He’s a good man.” He held up a bottle of Kentucky’s finest. “Bourbon?”
Kestil inclined his head in assent. “Yes, Cromby is a good asset. You have some fine people on your team, Michael, and that bodes well for the future. Donald Vincent continues to make great strides, too.”
The president passed Kestil a glass. “Funny you should mention Donald. I hear that Vincent Technologies has come to the attention of some regulatory bodies of late. It seems that Carter Granfield, especially, is rather disturbed at the amount of trade awarded to Vincent by this administration. He’s made a lot of noise, and I’m under pressure from a few people to rein in on contracts being awarded so readily to Vincent.”
Kestil took an appreciative sip of bourbon and frowned. “Carter Granfield? You’ll have to remind me, I’m afraid.”
“Carter owns Granfield and Porter, a large engineering firm. They were Vincent’s main rival until you put Vincent stocks into the stratosphere with all the tech you gave him.”
“So?” Kestil replied. “Why does he have a problem? I don’t imagine his business is worth less, just because Vincent is now worth more.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how this country sees such matters, Kestil. One company gets too large, and it ends up with no competition. Competition is good for business; it stimulates the economy.”
“Rubbish,” Kestil retorted. “What is the point of two businesses in the same field? Two lots of administration, twice as much management, double of everything and most of it unprofitable. The whole thing is ridiculous.”
The president nodded. “It’s how things are done on this planet, though. Do you have no competition in the Independent Worlds?”
Kestil smiled. “Our society thrives on competition, Michael. However, it is all on a personal level. For every facet of our people’s needs, there is just one department that deals with it. Of course, we have never used monetary systems; such things are terribly primitive. As people rise through the ranks and show their abilities and drive, they are rewarded with greater responsibilities and the privileges that attend such positions. As I have told you before, effort yields rewards, in direct parallel to said effort’s worth.”
Maitland stared at the carpet in reflection. “So, no individual wealth, as such.”
Kestil gave a laugh. “To what end, hmm? If one has all the luxuries and provisions one needs, of what worth are numbers on a readout?”
Maitland fiddled with his glass. “Sounds awfully like communism to me.”
Kestil roared with laughter. He saw Maitland’s look and sobered. “I’m sorry, Michael. Your people’s ideas of government are quite amusing from my perspective. But, I must remember that all we have over you is the advantage of time. Communism, as you call it, bears witness to its value by its own demise.” He shook his head. “No,
“Hello, Michael,” Maitland said to the agent. “You’ve met Kestil before, haven’t you?”
The agent gave Kestil a brusque nod, and Kestil gave a slight bow in return. “Just a reminder, Mr. President,” the frustrated agent said, “we’ll arrive at JFK in less than forty minutes, sir.”
“Thank you, Michael, I shall be ready. I would like to be undisturbed until then, if you don’t mind.”
Michael gave Kestil a hard look. “Yes, Mr. President.” He closed the door with just a little too much force as he left.
Kestil stretched his legs out with a sigh. “Progress with the UN is on track, Michael. The investigation results were widely accepted.”
Maitland reached for the box of cigars on his desk, but stopped himself short when he caught the look on Kestil’s face. He got up and made for the drinks cabinet instead. “Yes, indeed. Cromby did a fine job with the whole thing, and I told him as much. He’s a good man.” He held up a bottle of Kentucky’s finest. “Bourbon?”
Kestil inclined his head in assent. “Yes, Cromby is a good asset. You have some fine people on your team, Michael, and that bodes well for the future. Donald Vincent continues to make great strides, too.”
The president passed Kestil a glass. “Funny you should mention Donald. I hear that Vincent Technologies has come to the attention of some regulatory bodies of late. It seems that Carter Granfield, especially, is rather disturbed at the amount of trade awarded to Vincent by this administration. He’s made a lot of noise, and I’m under pressure from a few people to rein in on contracts being awarded so readily to Vincent.”
Kestil took an appreciative sip of bourbon and frowned. “Carter Granfield? You’ll have to remind me, I’m afraid.”
“Carter owns Granfield and Porter, a large engineering firm. They were Vincent’s main rival until you put Vincent stocks into the stratosphere with all the tech you gave him.”
“So?” Kestil replied. “Why does he have a problem? I don’t imagine his business is worth less, just because Vincent is now worth more.”
“I’m afraid that’s not how this country sees such matters, Kestil. One company gets too large, and it ends up with no competition. Competition is good for business; it stimulates the economy.”
“Rubbish,” Kestil retorted. “What is the point of two businesses in the same field? Two lots of administration, twice as much management, double of everything and most of it unprofitable. The whole thing is ridiculous.”
The president nodded. “It’s how things are done on this planet, though. Do you have no competition in the Independent Worlds?”
Kestil smiled. “Our society thrives on competition, Michael. However, it is all on a personal level. For every facet of our people’s needs, there is just one department that deals with it. Of course, we have never used monetary systems; such things are terribly primitive. As people rise through the ranks and show their abilities and drive, they are rewarded with greater responsibilities and the privileges that attend such positions. As I have told you before, effort yields rewards, in direct parallel to said effort’s worth.”
Maitland stared at the carpet in reflection. “So, no individual wealth, as such.”
Kestil gave a laugh. “To what end, hmm? If one has all the luxuries and provisions one needs, of what worth are numbers on a readout?”
Maitland fiddled with his glass. “Sounds awfully like communism to me.”
Kestil roared with laughter. He saw Maitland’s look and sobered. “I’m sorry, Michael. Your people’s ideas of government are quite amusing from my perspective. But, I must remember that all we have over you is the advantage of time. Communism, as you call it, bears witness to its value by its own demise.” He shook his head. “No,
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