Page 100 (1/2)

“Nothing,” Avasarala whispered “He’s just followingat it”

Bobbie stood up Her expression of incredulity was eloquent

“This really is how government works, isn’t it?”

“Welcoo get drunk”

“And I’ll get back to work”

At the doorway, Bobbie paused She looked small in the wide frame A doorfra s about the yacht that wasn’t tastefully obscene

“What happened with her?”

“Who?”

“Your daughter”

Avasarala closed her ter to her until she stopped It took about three hours He sat on the counter and went through all the songs we’d sung to them when they were little Eventually, Ashanti let him lead her to her room and tuck her into bed”

“You hated hi able to help her when you couldn’t”

“You’re catching on, Sergeant”

Bobbie licked her lips

“I want to hurt so to wind up being rieve in our oays,” Avasarala said “For what it’s worth, you’ll never kill enough people to keep your platoon froh people that one of thehed the words Avasarala could al the ideas one way and then another Soren had been an idiot to underestimate this woman But Soren had been an idiot in a lot of ways When at length she spoke, her voice was light and conversational, as if her words weren’t profound

“No harh”

“It’s e do,” Avasarala said

The ht be going to salute, but instead, she lumbered out toward the complimentary bar in the wide common area There was a fountain out there with sprays of water drifting down fake bronze sculptures of horses and underdressed women If that didn’twould

Avasarala thuain

“This is Jaain

“At least you lost that fking beard,” she said to no one