Harpies of Planet Sutherland

  Chapter 4 - Magic Eyes

  Emissary Stevens remained unsatisfied with the knot of his tie as he considered himself in the mirror. He was the United Systems' highest representative on the day the settlers of Zeb gathered on Sutherland to celebrate the completion of their construction contract. Emissary Stevens believed it was important to present the rough and temperamental settlers with the trimmest image a United Systems dignitary could offer.

  Yet the emissary's attention instantly turned away from the mirror to answer the soft knock upon his door. That knock arrived unannounced and without schedule. There was only one person who would have such small regard for an emissary's schedule.

  "You look very prim," Operative Sheridan winked as Emissary Stevens opened the chamber door. "I've always been impressed by the attention the diplomatic corps gives to its uniforms. A detail is never overlooked." Operative Sheridan didn't wait for an invitations and slipped across the threshold. "How have Zeb's people accepted our gifts?"

  The emissary sighed. "Though they took every gun, I'm afraid it seems only a handful of settlers took the lenses."

  Operative Sheridan surprised Emissary Stevens with a smile. "I expected as much. Honestly, I wasn't so sure those followers of Zeb would claim any of the lenses. They're so suspicious, and they love nothing as much as they love a gun. But all it takes is for a few of those settlers to look through those lenses."

  "So what happens now?"

  "We just wait," winked Operative Sheridan. "It will only take a little time before we've domesticated the volatile settlers who call Zeb Griffin's ghost their mentor."

  "You're kidding."

  "I am not. I have a pair of enhancement lenses for the both of us. Wear them with me as we watch the parade thrown in celebration of the completed construction contract. You'll better understand with the proper kind of vision." Operative Sheridan offered the lenses, but Emissary Stevens hesitated to accept the gift. "The settlers' suspicion rubs off on you. Not necessarily a bad thing. I promise that your eyes will not burn, and that your brain will not boil. I've already told you my secret. Now let me show it."

  Operative Sheridan opened a hand, and Emissary Stevens saw a glimmer of light reflect upon the pair of nearly invisible enhancement lenses cupped in the operative's palm. Operative Sheridan carefully set the lens upon a finger before carefully pressing the lens to his eye. He blinked and then repeated the process with the other eye. The emissary watched closely, and yet he still wondered if the operative had indeed placed the lenses upon his pupils, or if his careful gestures were only slight of hand designed to convince him to accept the lenses.

  Operative Sheridan removed a black box from his pocket and pressed it into the emissary's hand. "Until you wear the enhancement lenses, you'll always wonder what you might be missing. It would be best to try them on now, because, sooner or later, you'll not be able to resist your curiosity."

  Emissary Stevens decided it was foolish to act so suspicious. He decided it was foolish not to press those enhancement lenses to his eyes, that refusing the gift only gave Operative Sheridan reason to scrutinize him. He decided it would be best to quickly place those lenses upon his eyes so that the operative would depart from his chamber and leave him once more to his wardrobe. Most of all, Emissary Stevens placed the lenses to his eyes to satisfy his curiosity. The lenses stung a moment as they touched his pupils. He blinked, and then the world around him changed.

  "You will understand very soon, Emissary Stevens."

  The operative made no sound as he left the chamber. Emissary Stevens faced the mirror and smiled. The cut of his suit suddenly, somehow, appeared to better frame his shoulders. The knot of his tie appeared in perfect proportion and place. He could not spy a single wrinkle to mar his attire. As the emissary blinked at his reflection in the mirror, he realized his face looked ten years younger. Never had he felt so handsome.

  It was as if a kind of magic had settled over his vision.

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