Page 29 of Skinwalker's Bane
These people all knew each other and appeared to like each other immensely. She listened to the chat, hearing a lot of technical shop talk mixed with personal business. It seemed that everyone liked to spend social time with each other, too, although it sounded as though some of them hadn’t seen the others for a while.
When Captain Owens and Magorian stepped into the room a few minutes later, the chatter didn’t halt abruptly as Devin thought it might. Everyone included the Captain and Magorian in the conversations as easily as if they were the same sort of friends as everyone sitting at the table.
Magorian and the Captain replied just as easily. It seemed they were used to this casual approach to business and didn’t mind it at all. Everyone who spoke directly to them called the Captain by her title. There was respect there, despite the casual demeanor.
Magorian patted the table with his hand, softly drawing everyone’s attention to him. “Right on the hour,” he said. “Let’s begin. First of all, has everyone met Devin Bronson?”
Everyone looked at her. Devin nodded back.
“That’s why we’re here,” the short man with black hair and a sharp chin said.
“Yes, indeed,” Magorian said. “Ten years ago…” He shook his head. “I can’t believe it wastenyears ago, but there we are. Ten years ago, after we had recovered from the first holings, the assay on the shard was finished and we, Zsoka and I, decided that the findings should be suppressed for fear they would spark the very hysteria we’re witnessing today. Now the news is out, we have to decide what to do about it. I asked you all here as you’re the closest to experts in this field that we have.”
Haydn snorted. “If we’re all you have, you’re in trouble.”
Everyone laughed. Even the Captain smiled.
Magorian shook his head. “You’re the son of the original Caver, Haydn. Do you have any idea where Dhaval Bull got the information?”
Devin looked at Haydn, startled, as he sat back, considering. “I don’t think being my father’s son has anything to do with what I think. It’s clear to me that the Cavers didn’t spontaneously trip over the information. They’re not that smart. Someone gave it to them, then carefully coached them on how to spread the news with maximum impact.”
“Bullwasusing phrasing that was too sophisticated for a man like him,” Devin said.
“He was rehearsed and was parroting phrases,” Magorian said in agreement. “No one seems to know or can even guess who gave them the information. Devin assures us that coming at it through Bull isn’t going to get us anywhere. He values his secret too much. We need to work it from the other end. Who had access to the information? Who knew, apart from us in this room? Paderau?”
A woman with a mop of unruly blonde hair jumped. “Nothing at our end. There was only me and the technician who ran the assay and he didn’t know what he was working on because I gave him the scrapings and kept the shard locked up. So really, just me at the Institute and it wasn’t me who told them, because that would involve spending time with Cavers. No offence, Haydn.”
Haydn shrugged. “I feel the same way, times two hundred.”
Captain Owens stirred. “I don’t want to waste time discussing who the scapegoat in all this is. Not right now, when all we can do is speculate. We have a bigger issue. Haydn, Noa, can I leave the investigation into the leak with you?”
“We’ll figure it out, Captain,” Noa said firmly.
“Good. In the meantime, let’s focus on what to do now the whole ship knows about the shard.”
“Is there anything thatcanbe done?” Bannister asked. “I mean, they’re going to think what they want. Fear tends to drive away reason. Right now, everyone is pretty scared. I’ve had some sleepless nights myself over this and I knowallthe facts.”
Everyone looked grave.
Devin filled her lungs to speak, then clamped her jaw together. She had been invited to listen, not talk.
Lizette, who was sitting next to her, turned to look at her. “You were about to say something?”
Devin shook her head. “It’s not my place.”
“You’re at the table, Devin. Speak up,” Magorian said.
She pressed her lips together, marshalling her words the way Bishan always insisted. “The problem you have is that everyone has a few of the facts and a lot of gossip and speculation to back up those few facts. They’re scared and might spill over into hysteria with little more encouragement. Their fear is increased because of their ignorance. It seems to me that the cure is knowledge. Tell them everything you know about the shard. Hide nothing. Encourage them to discuss thefacts. Then—and this is the important thing—you have to listen to whatever they say. I guarantee that what you will hear will be at the very least interesting and may even give you some ideas about how to deal with the shard’s implications.”
Silence.
Devin cleared her throat and sat back.
Captain Owens smiled. “Listen to them?” She seemed amused.
“I’ve learned that listening to people, toanyone, reaps unexpected information,” Devin said defensively. “Did you know that the Bridge Guards feel they are generally shunned on the ship? They feel utterly unappreciated and wonder why they are working so hard for people who care so little about them.”
Owens’ eyes widened.
