Page 37 of Escape Clause

“I’m fine. How are you? What brings you to the market today?” Hesoundednormal.

“I came to check on you,” she said.

“On me? Why?”

“You didn’t talk to my husband yesterday, right? He didn’t contact you?”

“No, why would he?”

“No news is good news,” she said with a sigh of relief. “If he didn’t call you, then everything is okay.”

“I still don’t understand—oh! Are you referring to the stasis pod malfunction?” he asked. “I got a message yesterday that some of the pods had malfunctioned, but my wife’s wasn’t involved. It is every man’s worst nightmare. We’re all hanging on, living day by day, trying to stay positive that a cure will be developedsoon.” He shook his head. “I’m going to visit my wife as soon as I can. I know she’s okay, but I need to see her.”

“Why don’t you go now?” she suggested. “I’ll watch your booth.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive!”

He needed no other encouragement. He bounded out and hugged her. “Thank you! I won’t be gone long.” He left the market.

Chapter Seventeen

All hell broke loose at midday. The chief of security rushed into Krogan’s office. “We’ve got a problem.”

Another one?They were still verifying that the rest of the stasis pods were in good working order.“What is it?”

“Protestors have blocked vaporators all over the city,” Blakk said. “They won’t let people board the transports. In some cases, they won’t let people off. As of an hour ago, at least twenty-five sites were involved, mostly public areas, but some private buildings, too. We’ve been arresting them for disrupting public operations, but as soon as we leave, more protestors arrive and fill in.”

Citizens had the legal right to voice their opinions and criticize government actions, but they were prohibited from infringing upon the rights of others by disrupting public operations, hindering access topublic or private spaces, or preventing other citizens from going about their business.

He stifled a curse. “What are they protesting? What do they want?”

“They’re demanding your resignation.”

“That’s not going to happen. You have vid?”

Blakk tapped his wrist. “Yes. As soon as we realized we weren’t dealing with an isolated incident, I sent out surveillance drones.”

Silent images beamed to a corner of the office. Arms locked, men formed a solid wall barring access to transports at the spaceport, hospitals, cozis, and the Stasis Pod Center.

“Is there sound? Turn it up.”

Shouted chants filled the room.

“Krogan plays while women die! Krogan plays while women die!”

“Feel our pain! Feel our pain!”

He watched security clear the area and drag agitators away from a school. As soon as the security force vacated, new demonstrators rushed in. Images shifted to another site. Protestors surrounded a cloudtopper. He sprang out of his seat. “That’s my building!”

Hope!No one could gain access inside, but there shouldn’t have been anyone outside. The selection of his residence might have been a coincidence, but he doubted it. “My wife is home alone. Get those people out of there.”

“Right away!” Blakk fired off an order to his team.

Krogan shot a message to Hope. “People are protesting outside. Stay in the apartment today. Don’t go anywhere.”

She would be safe inside his unit. No one could get in. Should the impossible occur, Don Juan would protect her. Besides cooking and cleaning, the android was programmed to protect the domicile and the persons in it. Confronted by Don Juan, the agitators would wish they’d been arrested instead. Most likely Hope was all right, but a sliver of possibility caused him to worry. “Please reply and let me know you’re okay.” All he could do now was wait for her answer.I’m sure she’s fine.

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