The Timeweb Chronicles: Timeweb Trilogy Omnibus Read Online Free Page B

his father over environmental issues, the young man had been the heir apparent, the favored one. In those days Noah had even dressed like his father, in a cloak, brocaded surcoat and liripipe hat, while she was expected to remain in the shadows and say very little. She was, after all, only a female in an interplanetary society run by men, for the benefit of men.
    Now her bête noire had entered the building only a few floors down. She wished their father had consulted her about such an important matter, for she might have used her considerable wiles to steer him away from making the invitation. Recently, though, the old man had seemed distant and had been making excuses to avoid or delay the appointments she had requested with him.
    He would regret that soon, because Francella had set in motion a new and climactic plan … one that would take both her father and brother out of the picture, while allowing her to obtain everything she so richly deserved.
    A two-pronged attack.
    She wished it didn’t have to be this way, and her conscience had been giving her some trouble over it. But she had been driven to do this, with no other choice. Events … and people … were conspiring against her, and she needed to strike fast, in order to protect her position.
    Hearing familiar noises behind her, she felt her pulse quicken. Francella flipped off the telebeam and turned to see her aged father opening the door and lurching into the room in his stiff-jointed way, tapping the hardwood floor with one of his ornate walking sticks. He had arrived only the day before from Timian One, where he had been attending to his duties on the Council of Forty, a powerful clique of noblemen who ruled with the Doge.
    Prince Saito Watanabe had a large collection of fancy canes, many of them carved in the images of animals. This one, of canopa white teak, had a bull elephant head carved on top of the handle and the end of an elephant snout at the bottom.
    All around the CorpOne complex, as well as in his lavish homes and vehicles, the obese old man had representations of the grand, extinct beasts. Images of the pachyderms were on wall hangings, pillow cases, and statuary; even articles of furniture were carved in their likeness. In addition, Prince Watanabe had commissioned paleontology expeditions to Earth and other far planets where the creatures used to roam … scientific ventures that brought back remains of elephants for genetic testing.
    “You requested an urgent conference with me,” the industrialist said to her, in a coarse tone. “I grant you five minutes, before my appointment with Noah.”
    “ Five minutes?” She felt her face flush, and noticed her father looking at her closely with his intense, dark eyes.
    “My schedule is very tight,” he said.
    “Too tight for your own daughter?”
    “I’m sorry if it appears that way, but I have been planning for this important rendezvous with Noah, going over what I will say to him.”
    “Are you certain it is wise to do this now?” she asked, already knowing his answer.
    Saito Watanabe studied his statuesque, redheaded daughter, who wore a white lace dress with gold brocade, and a high, star-shaped headdress. For an additional fashion statement, she had shaved off her eyebrows and hair at the front of her head, creating a high forehead.
    He heard the displeasure in her voice, saw it etched on her face … and wondered what had gone wrong with the relationship between her and Noah. For years Saito had not failed to notice the raw hatred between them, the destructive sparks and flames that flared whenever they were together.
    “I will see your brother alone,” he said to her. “It is best for the two of you to remain apart.”
    “Daddy, Noah hates us. Don’t you realize that?”
    With deep sadness, the heavyset man looked away. He felt his eyes misting over, and didn’t say what had been in his heart for a long time, a primogenitary hope that Noah would take over for him.
    A son should