Rufsur couldn’t say more without giving out clues as to Kalugal’s grand ambitions, but he didn’t want Edna to think that his boss was blind to the suffering of so many people, or that he didn’t care.
“Kalugal is a smart guy, and he is also extremely knowledgeable. He is not oblivious or uncaring about the world's problems, but what can one man possibly do?”
“Not much. But he can join the fight.”
Rufsur chuckled. “Does he seem like the joiner type to you? Kalugal is not a team player, which is why selling him on the idea of a federation is not going to be easy.”
Edna cuddled closer to him. “You might try the same tactic that you suggested I use on Kian. Tell him that you are in love with me and that you can’t live without me.”
“I could try that. And I can also tell him that we want to have a child together.” He smiled. “It would be even better if you were pregnant already.”
She chuckled. “We can pay Merlin a visit and give his potions a try. Except, you are leaving tonight.”
“Nothing needs to happen today. I’m thinking long term.”
“With our low fertility rate, even Merlin’s potions will not do the trick if we have sex only four or six days out of a month.”
“What if you come to visit me on the off weekends? Then we will have eight to twelve days. That makes the odds of conception much better.”
“Kian won’t allow that. As a councilwoman, I know too much, and he wouldn’t want Kalugal to have access to me.”
“Right. I didn’t think of that. Perhaps I could come by myself.”
Edna smiled. “That would be nice.”
“Do you think Kian will allow it?”
“I don’t see why not. He doesn’t consider you a threat. Only your boss.”
“Are we really considering making a baby? Or is it just hypothetical?”
Edna let out a long breath. “I don’t know, Rufsur. Perhaps we need the two additional weeks of separation to cool off and think things through. At the moment, our chances of convincing our bosses are not good.”
“I need to talk to Kalugal.” He took his arm off her shoulders and pushed to his feet.
“What, now? You don’t have anything to sell him yet. Wait at least until I talk to William and pick his brain. You need more than just emotional stuff with Kalugal. You said so yourself.”
“True, but we are leaving tonight, and I need to know where he stands. Whether it’s a categorical no, or a maybe.”
Edna’s eyes looked worried. “Don’t do it, Rufsur. I can call William right now and go talk to him, and perhaps we will have something by dinnertime. You can then throw out a few hints and see how Kalugal responds.”
“He’s too guarded to say anything in front of Kian. I need to ask him in private.”
“What’s gotten into you? Why the sudden urgency?”
“Because I hate the idea of leaving. I don’t want to go, and with each visit, it’s only going to get worse. I’ve dedicated my life to Kalugal. He owes it to me to at least hear me out.”
52
Edna
As the door closed behind Rufsur, Edna groaned.
Perhaps she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. Going to talk to Kalugal without any concrete suggestion was such a hot-headed move.
Usually, Rufsur was so easygoing, careful, even calculated. Was he really so distraught over leaving her for two weeks that he wasn’t thinking straight?
Or did it have more to do with Kalugal than with her?
Obviously, the two were more than boss and subordinate, and the relationship between them wasn’t as straightforward as hers was with Kian. If Kian refused to compromise, she wouldn’t take it personally, but apparently, if Kalugal did the same, Rufsur would.
Was it a test of their friendship?
She hoped Rufsur would choose his words wisely and not alienate Kalugal, predisposing him negatively to the idea of a federation before they’d even had a chance to formulate a reasonable proposal.
Damn, he was rushing things, and that was never good. Now she felt rushed as well, but the only thing she could think of was calling William. Perhaps he would come up with something that would help her salvage the situation.
Right. And she could win the lottery while she was at it as well.
Lifting her phone off the charger, she placed the call.
“Edna, what an unexpected surprise. Do you have a problem with your computer again?”
She chuckled nervously. “I’m afraid that my problem is much bigger than a laggy computer. Where are you now?”
“I’m at the lab. Do you need me to come over? What happened?”
“Nothing yet. It’s a preemptive measure, and I’ll come to you, if that’s okay. I need to pick your brain.”
“By all means. My brain is at your service.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll see you here.”
“Thanks, William.”
After disconnecting, she wondered whether she should change. She was wearing yoga pants, a T-shirt and flip-flops, and her hair was loose. William would think that she was having a nervous breakdown, and he wouldn’t be too far off, but her casual attire wasn’t a symptom of that.
It symbolized something else, though. Something good. It was part of a healing process, not a mental disease.
Deciding to go as she was, Edna grabbed a bag of cookies so she wouldn’t arrive empty-handed and stuffed it in her bag before heading out the door.
When she got to the lab, William wasn’t alone. Roni was also there working at his station. “What are you both doing here on a Sunday?”
“I’m working on a private matter,” Roni said without turning around.
“And I’m building cuffs for Kalugal’s men.” William pointed at his worktable and the boxes of parts arranged in a row like a mini production line. “What can I help you with, Edna?”
He hadn’t even noticed the change in her appearance, and if he had, he felt no need to comment on it.
Good. She wouldn’t have known what to say.
Edna pulled the bag of cookies out of her purse and put it on his worktable. “Can we talk somewhere privately?” She glanced at the back of Roni’s throne-like swivel chair. “It’s a private matter.”
“Oh?” William arched a brow. “I’m the last person who can give you advice on that. I’m not good at relationship stuff.” He pushed away from the table. “But I’ll help in any way I can. Follow me.” He led her to a small office on the other side of the lab.
The place was even dustier than the main room, and it didn’t look like William did any work in there, but there was a desk, two chairs, and a door, which William closed behind them.
Edna pulled a handkerchief out of her purse and cleaned the chair before sitting down. “I’ll get straight to the point. If you had two autonomous groups living in the village, how would you handle the communication issue so each would have their privacy and feel safe that the other one is not spying on them?”
He sat on the other chair and crossed his legs. “Easy. Two separate systems, each with its own proprietary encryption.”