Caliban's War (Expanse, #2)

by James S.A. Corey

Avasarala’s terminal chimed. She glanced at the new message. A note from Admiral Souther. Avasarala had sent him an utterly innocuous note about having lunch when they both got back to Earth, then coded it for high-security clearance with a private encryption schema. It would take her handlers a couple of hours at least to crack it. She tabbed it open. The reply was plain text. LOVE TO. THE EAGLE LANDS AT MIDNIGHT. PETTING ZOOS ARE ILLEGAL IN ROME. Avasarala laughed. It was real pleasure this time. Bobbie loomed up over her shoulder, and Avasarala turned the screen so that the big marine could peer down at it. “What’s that mean?” Avasarala motioned her down close enough that her lips were almost against Bobbie’s ear. At that intimate distance, the big woman smelled of clean sweat and the cucumber-scented emollient that was in all Mao’s guest quarters. “Nothing,” Avasarala whispered. “He’s just following my lead, but they’ll chew their livers out guessing at it.” Bobbie stood up. Her expression of incredulity was eloquent. “This really is how government works, isn’t it?” “Welcome to the monkey house,” Avasarala said.