Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

“No, I suppose not. But this work needs to be finished, Benesh. Get on with it.”

“I will, sir. Right away.” Phillips started to turn away. “Ah, sir, I wondered if you’d had a chance to look at those scan results I gave you?” Even just a glance. Surely if he took even a glance he’d see the implications.

“I’ll look at them once we get the reports out of the way.”

“But, sir, I think there is some urgency. If I’m right, then—”

“After the reports.” Phillips left. Zach turned back to his desk, snatched up a piece of paper, and crushed it into a ball before tossing it across the room, hoping to knock over something expensive.

He didn’t, and then he had to go and retrieve the balled-up paper and smooth it out, realizing he’d made some important notes on it. He slapped it back down on the bench and gripped the edge with arms spread wide, leaning in, head down.

Damn. If only someone else would see the importance. He’d tried every other member of the geology and geophysics department, but everyone was too busy, promising they’d get to his scan results in a few days. These damn quarterly reports. Urgent yet not important was the bane of Zach’s life. So what if the Terraforming Authority had to wait a few more days for reports on mineral surveys? They had a hundred-year-long plan for Ethris. A few days here and there meant nothing.

And if his scans meant what he thought they meant, that hundred-year plan might be about to change radically.

Did he dare go over Phillips’s head? Could he go right to Dr. Morrison, the head of the Institute? It went against every protocol in the book and could damage Zach’s reputation and career severely if he turned out to be wrong. Would Morrison even listen to him if he came without backing from Phillips?

How the hell did he get someone to listen to him?

A soft chime from his Link reminded him of lunchtime and his promise to meet Adam in the cafeteria. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, head pounding. He wanted to meet Adam for sure, but he should really work through his lunch to have any chance of getting those reports done.

Screw the reports. He had to eat. He’d go for half an hour.

* * * *

Adam smiled when Zach came into the cafeteria. He’d feared he wouldn’t show, that he would be too busy again. He waved, and Zach returned the wave before heading to the counter to grab some food. A few minutes later, he joined Adam at the table, carrying a plate of sandwiches and a glass of juice. Not nearly enough, Adam thought. He’d feed Zach up good tonight.

“I can’t stay long,” Zach said. “I have to get back to the lab.”

“Okay. I have to get out on my visits to the test farms too. Damn quarterly reports, huh?”

“Yes. Reports. Dammit! There are more important things. More urgent things, and I can’t get anyone to see that!”

Adam looked at him with alarm. His face had flushed, his brow furrowed in a deep V. And there were dark shadows under his eyes.

“Are you okay, Zach? Didn’t you get any sleep last night? Is this about that personal project?”

Zach sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be snapping at you. It’s not your fault. And I’m probably wrong, but if someone would just check my results, I could know that for sure. Because if I’m not…” He trailed off into silence, looking into the distance.

“If you’re not?” Adam prompted. Zach turned back to him and shook his head.

“Forget it. I don’t want to worry you if it’s not necessary, which it might not be. I hope it’s not.”

“But it might be something for me to worry about?”

“It’s something for everyone to worry about, but only if I’m right. And I…I might be wrong.”

Adam saw hope in Zach’s eyes. What kind of scientist hoped he was wrong?

One who’d discovered something frightening. He leaned in and spoke quietly.

“Zach. Tell me.”

Zach glanced around. “I can’t. My results are still preliminary and haven’t been peer checked. I don’t want to spread panic. But it might be a good idea for you to pack a bag and be ready to leave at short notice.” He looked across the room. “I have to go.”

“What?” Adam glanced around to see Professor Phillips giving them a glare from a table full of senior faculty members. When he turned back, Zach had wrapped the rest of his sandwich into a napkin and stood up. “Wait. What do you mean, panic? You can’t just tell me that and run off.”

Zach finished his glass of juice. “Can you bus my tray, please?”

“What? I, yeah, sure, but…will I still see you tonight?” He started to founder in the wake of this conversation.

“Yes.” Zach looked torn for a moment, then suddenly resolute. “Yes, definitely. Your place at twenty hundred. I remember. I’ll talk to you later.” Before Adam could answer, he turned and hurried from the cafeteria. Adam leaned back in his chair, feeling like he’d been caught up in Hurricane Benesh.

Pack a bag? What the hell had Zach discovered?

* * * *

Adam would have gone to Zach’s lab to question him about his mysterious warning, but after the reprimand from Wilson that morning, he figured he’d better get out on his farm visits, so he could return the truck on time. He’d see Zach later and get it out of him then.

Meanwhile, he headed out. The sun shone brightly that afternoon, the sky a light violet, clouds scudding over it. Being out in that, gossiping and chatting to the farmers, it should have been close to a perfect day, but his mind kept wandering between what Zach had said and his plans for later. If something bad was going on, then the perfect evening he had planned might not be so perfect after all.

Zach could be crazy, of course. The