Chapter 16
There followed nearly three weeks of negotiations with the TIA before the agreement was finally set. Details had to be ironed out and mutual responsibilities had to be defined. Every word could be important to the future of the telepathic race, and Richard concentrated on each minute item as though his life depended on it. Director Shostokov appointed Bian Nguyen and Phyllis Rokowsky as chief negotiators for the TIA and seemed perfectly content to go along with whatever they recommended. Richard could see it wouldn’t be long before Bian eased him out of his job and took it over herself. He was sure, though, she would do it in a nicer way than Gibson had intended.
These weeks were a time for growing and strengthening relationships. As Richard worked more and more with the two o
