Read The Rising Sun: Episode 5 for Free Online Page B

postures
straight and confident. A faint musical tune played through the
speakers on the ceiling. The only sounds disrupting the musical
silence were the murmurings of the people around as they talked,
and the clatter of knives and forks on china.
     
    Since the newsflash with Redgarn had
occurred, everything in this planet had come to a near standstill:
the crowd he was now witnessing in the restaurant was a meek
fraction of what it would have been in any other normal day. But
even here, as those willing to brush aside what had happened and go
on with their lives sat about the restaurant, an atmosphere of
suppressed panic could be felt stretching across the air like a
dark shadow.
     
    But Ranor saw no reason to worry about that.
He knew he was right in being least bothered as could be, about
this whole grave scenario. Feeling mildly bored, he lay down his
fork and watched the proceedings about the restaurant. The waiters
strolled around carrying trays of well cooked, steaming food high
on their hands, serving the scarce customers about the large place.
As the night scrolled by, the crowd grew in the restaurant.
     
    Ranor’s mind was still faintly dwelling over
the reason he had made this short trip to Armono, one which he had
now fruitfully fulfilled and would be leaving soon. He ran over
everything he now needed to do, now that this hectic trip – one
which he had anticipatively awaited for long – was over.
     
    Bringing himself back to the present, Ranor
twiddled with the fork on the plate again, growing aware that the
restaurant was now more crowded than when he had entered. Although
not nearly as crowded as it could have been on any ordinary day.
The seat opposite to him had been taken a newcomer, and the
chatters of the crowd was now drowning the music played.
     
    Stretching his hands in a wide, yawning
gesture, Ranor sat straight and smiled at the man ahead of him. And
he realised who this man was.
     
    “Well, well, well,” said Mantra, an impressed
look in his face. “A Xeni smiling at a Nyon.” He nodded. “What are
the odds?”
     
    “The smile was for a civilian here, whose
facing his last hour alive,” replied Ranor, quickly overcoming the
shock of seeing that face. “And I thought you were one.”
     
    Mantra placed both hands on the tablet,
allowing a moment’s thought. “I presume you’ve come here to set the
trigger to the bomb you’ve placed on this planet?”
     
    “There’s no need for that.” answered Ranor,
in a tone that suggested that the two of them were really doing
what they seemed to be doing – chatting casually in the middle of a
restaurant. “All ten bombs have been placed and triggered to
detonate at the exact time as we promised: one every ten hours. The
only two people who have the power to trigger the bomb before the
allocated time are Zardin and Redgarn.”
     
    “What are you here for, then?” asked Mantra,
his tone just as casual.
     
    “I was just sent to check it.” replied Ranor,
sliding a hand over the seat next to him. “Zardin and Redgarn
thought someone needed to check just this particular bomb: it was
the most important one for us. The Majestron republic is the most
powerful and the most thriving republic there is. And this, its
capital, is the most populated planet, and the greatest one in the
entire spectrum.” He gave a humorless smile. “We thought it we
would start with it, and give the people of the spectrum a bit of sizzle .” He stopped smiling and grew serious. “And the
Majestron’s police forces are annoyingly sharp. So I was sent to
make a double check on the bomb.” He leaned forward towards Mantra.
“You see, the Xeni don’t leave any loose threads … nothing to
chance.”
     
    “Except the survival of four of your Nyon
enemies,” said Mantra. “Which will prove to be your most costly
mistake.” His tone sharpened, and his hazy eyes bored into Ranor.
“You will now tell me where the bomb of Armono is. Along with all
others.