Part 46 (1/2)

”Not since the evening after your debriefing.” Corwin winced at that sudden revelation. Four days, it had been now, without talking to anyone in his family except his father. He wasn't used to getting so far out of touch. ”I haven't had much time lately.”

”Well, I think you'd better find the time for this. Soon.”

Corwin frowned. ”Why? Something wrong?”

Joshua's phone screen image hesitated, shook its head minutely. ”I don't know.

It's nothing I can put my finger on, but... well, he hasn't come back from the

Academy yet, you know.”

Corwin didn't. ”Medical observation?”

”No, but he's spending almost all his time alone in the room they've given him out there. And he's doing a lot of computer library searches.”

Corwin thought back to Justin's report, which he'd hurriedly skimmed and filed away two days ago. His brother had gone through h.e.l.l's own porch out there...

”Maybe he's just killing time while the emotional wounds heal over a bit,” he suggested. But even as he said them the words rang false in his ears. Justin simply wasn't the type to lick his wounds in private.

Joshua might have been reading his mind. ”Then those wounds must be a lot deeper than he's letting on, because he's never holed up like this before. And the library search stuff bothers me, too. Any way for you to get a list of what he's been researching?”

”Possibly.” Corwin scratched his cheek. ”Well... did you remind him we're having a Moreau Family war council this evening?”

”Yes,” the other nodded. ”He said he'd try to make it.”

”Okay,” Corwin said slowly. ”Okay. I haven't talked to you, so of course I don't know he's been reminded. I'll call him up like a good big brother should, and while I'm at it I'll see what else I can get out of him. All right?”

”Fine. Thanks, Corwin-this has been driving me just barely south of frantic.”

”No problem. See you tonight.”

Joshua disappeared from the screen. Scowling, Corwin punched up the Cobra

Academy and asked for Justin. A moment later his brother's face came on.

”h.e.l.lo?-oh, hi, Corwin. What can I do for you?”

It took Corwin a second to find his tongue. Seldom if ever had he known Justin to be so coolly polite, so-the term businesslike leapt to mind. ”Uh, I was just calling to see if you'd be coming to the family round table tonight,” he said at last. ”I presume Dad told you about it?”

”Yes, a couple-days ago, and Joshua again today. I understand Aunt Gwen's going to be there too.”

Nuts, Corwin thought with a mental grimace. He'd been planning to drop that tidbit on Justin himself as a surprise bonus incentive to attend. Aunt

Gwen-Jonny's younger sister-had been Justin's favorite relative since childhood, but her visits had been few and far between since her move to Palatine six years earlier. ”That's right,” he told Justin. ”She's one of the geologists working on the Qasama data.”

Justin's lip might have twitched at the name Qasama; Corwin wasn't sure. ”Yes,

Dad mentioned that. Well, as I told Joshua, I'll try to make it.”

”What's to keep you away?” Corwin asked, studiously casual. ”You're still off-duty, aren't you?”