Wildeblood's Empire

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Brian Stableford. Wildeblood's Empire

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CHAPTER ONE

I left the house by a small door at the back that had been left on the latch. I guess it was what they’d call the “tradesmen’s entrance.” I was glad to find it—climbing out of windows is so undignified. It let me out into a part of the grounds that were tastefully hidden from the front drive—the kitchen gardens, stocked and laid out for function rather than for show. I set off between the cabbages and the runner beans, heading north until I could veer east without wreaking havoc among the plants.

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“You could put it that way. We came to help—to find out what problems the colony has faced in adapting to Poseidon and to help solve any that looked dangerous. We’ve been looking at the crops in the field, the health of the people—all areas of endeavor. Philip has co-operated fully...even to the extent of providing very efficient guides.”

The last comment was ironic. Our guides were also our keepers. They were with us at all times. We were followed everywhere. Philip was co-operating all right, but he was also watching our every move like a hawk. In all probability, if we hadn’t been such good, innocent outworlders this last month the vigilance might not have relaxed sufficiently for me to slip away that night.

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