Fortunes of the Imperium (45 page)
Read Fortunes of the Imperium Online
Authors: Jody Lynn Nye
Tags: #Fiction, #science fiction, #General, #Action & Adventure, #Space Opera
“What?” I demanded, not believing my ears. “You know Nile Bertu is here?”
Parsons’s countenance might as well have been a still picture as a tri-dee transmission, so little did it move.
“Naturally. I have the records of every ship that passed through Way Station 46 up to six months before the regrettable incident on Starling Island.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“It was not important enough to tell you, sir.”
“Important?” I echoed explosively. “My cousin is terrified! I am going to demand satisfaction for her.”
Parsons’s voice became preternaturally calm. “Where are you, my lord? Precisely.”
I sent him the coordinates from my viewpad.
“Dismal location,” I added, turning the video pickup of my viewpad toward the hostelry. “We have by far the better view, and a much nicer neighborhood. Tell Plet to bring the crew here. I will summon local law enforcement!”
“You cannot, my lord.”
“Why not?”
“Because as distressed Lady Jil is at his presence, he has not done anything yet to require the presence of the authorities. Do not invade the premises.”
I was frustrated. My soul demanded I rush into the building and turf out the ruffian for the honor of my cousin. How dare he frighten her while she was innocently shopping?
“Then what should I do?” I demanded.
“For now, my lord, I think it would be politic to withdraw.”
“But he is here, now!”
“For
now
, my lord,” Parsons repeated, with emphasis. “Later, it might become useful for you to strike up an acquaintance with the Bertus. As fellow humans in a foreign locale, you may have an opportunity to befriend them. Offer to tell their fortunes, perhaps. But not at this moment, while your mind is not in a fit state.”
I could not express the outrage I felt, nor the idea that I was battling through webs and swags of impenetrable obscurity that would have put the Room of Trust to shame.
“Parsons,” I said, with ineffable calm that belied the turmoil underneath, “it is not lost on me that I spent some time in the
Bonchance
pokey because you asked me to tell the fortune of a crewmember whose intentions you doubted. I found that she was more harm to herself than to others, but the captain obviously did not know of your kind intent toward her, whatever that may have been. In other words, I believe that you set me up. Would it serve any purpose for me to ask you why?”
“None at all, my lord. At this time.”
“As I thought. In the way of what manner of harm am I placing myself by communing with these common criminals?”
“For information and a personal connection. Does it seem reasonable to you that they have come all this way merely to interfere with your cousin? It required of us six jumps plus the combined efforts of the Imperium Navy and various resources to come here, and our mission is on the emperor’s behalf.”
It made sense. I ordered my car to retreat to a point out of sight of the hotel windows.
“When you put it that way, I suppose not, though a close cousin of the Emperor is a valuable prize. But all he had to do was wait for Jil to make an appearance at a public event, which she is prone to do. Jil, as they say, would attend the opening of an envelope. But what would be gained by having me lower myself to offer them a peek at the infinite?”
“This would give us a means to discern the direction of their efforts here. Your reading of them would provide valuable information. Should the opportunity avail itself, of course.”
I knew my eyes shone. “When you put it that way, it is hard to refuse.”
“I thought so, my lord.”
“But it would seem too obvious to approach them with that offer.”
“Leave that to fate, my lord.”
“Fate?” I asked, astonished to hear the word from his lips. “You believe in fate?”
“I believe in inevitability. There are few humans in the city. An opportunity will surely arise when you will be thrown together. At that time you can make use of your unique talents to allow us to interview them.”
“And why would we want to do that?” I asked.
“Do you recall what the crew of the
Moskowitz
said to us?”
“In great and memorable detail. Why . . . ? Ah,” I said, as enlightenment dawned. “The Bertus are responsible for that unusual shipment of food concentrate that was installed in the dispensers on Way Station 46. This can’t be a coincidence.”
“Quite right, my lord. I believe in light of the Bertus’ presence here that the sample merits further investigation. It would be illogical not to assume there is a connection.”
“Shouldn’t we keep a closer eye on them?”
“That matter is under control, sir. We do not have the power to investigate in this venue.”
“Have you not called in the local constabulary? Is there an Uctu equivalent of Mr. Frank?”
“Not precisely, sir, but I have informed Lord Rimbalius as to the Bertus’ presence. The Autocrat is not in any immediate danger that he knows of. His agents will study our dossiers upon them and any contacts that they have made while they are here. Action on
our
part requires more evidence. But you have been active as well. May I ask, how did your meetings go?”
I described the meeting with the High Protector, and the conclusions I had come to regarding that conversation.
“. . . Therefore, somehow I have to convince the Autocrat to loosen up the regulations, Parsons. I believe that by making use of our shared enthusiasm I may help her to let go of her many superstitions. She is afraid, Parsons. She is so young to be a ruler. She needs a mentor, and is frightened of trusting anyone, so, I believe, she trusts everyone. I believe I can be that mentor.”
A tiny wrinkle appeared on Parsons’s brow, which for him meant deep concentration.
“Parsons?” I asked. “You have the air of someone who is listening to more than one conversation at the same time. Is someone else there? I can return and speak with you in person.”
“No, sir. It is not that. A thought has struck me, though. I wished to inform you that the lucky circuits were well received by the prisoners . . .”
“Were they?” I felt a warm glow in my heart. “I am glad.”
“. . . Though not so well as the beer and other offerings.”
“Well, that’s to be expected,” I said. “The circuits’ beneficial working grows upon one. They will come to love them in time. In the meantime, beer and other more ordinary comforts will have a salutary effect. I will visit the prisoners again to ascertain other needs. But back to the Autocrat and . . . my other conversation, I believe that I can come to influence her toward what it is everyone needs.”
The gimlet eye fixed upon mine.
“Do you not believe that behaving in such a manner is just as bad as what she has experienced?”
I smote my forehead in contrition.
“You are right, as always. In that case, I will use my specialized knowledge to try and help her see reality on her own. But she doesn’t want to, yet.”
“Few like to release the comfort of preconceived notions, my lord.”
At that moment, I received a ping on my viewpad. The seal of the Autocrat herself opened in a corner of my screen.
“Will you hold a moment, Parsons? The Autocrat is summoning me.”
Parsons nodded.
“Of course, sir.”
I switched over to the message. The pleasant, ridged face of Ema looked up at me. She crossed her palms under her chin.
“Lord Thomas, Her Serenity requests your presence. Will you join her at the Second Levee and stay for dinner?”
“It would be my greatest honor,” I said, returning the gesture. “Will I be required to change?”
“No. Please come as you are.”
“I will be there as soon as my conveyance can bring me,” I said. “Please give Her Serenity my compliments.”
Ema dropped her jaw. “Of course.”
I switched back to Parsons.
“I must go, Parsons. The Autocrat commands my presence once more.”
“All else is well, sir. I will speak to you later, sir. Her Excellence must not be made to wait.”
“I agree. Be seeing you.” The epicene image vanished behind the disconnection graphic. I put my viewpad away.
“Very well, then,” I said. “Driver, please take me to the palace. The kitchen entrance, if you please.”
“Yes, sir. It shall be done.”
The car lifted and smoothly moved into a gap in the traffic.
With regret, I watched the House of Deep Welcome recede over my shoulder.
CHAPTER 40
Skana heard the squeak of the window frame. She glanced up from the fruits of her shopping spread all over the broad green divan just in time to see a band of Uctus in dull brown robes and trousers leaping into the hotel suite one by one. They spotted her and strode toward her, hands out. She leaped to her feet.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded.
When they didn’t answer, Skana reached into her shoulder bag and came up with the pulse pistol she never traveled without. She let off two bolts. One took the leader right in the forehead. His face collapsed inward. The second bolt missed and burned a hole in the window frame. She rolled over the couch and came up running.
“Nile! Tuk! Invaders!”
The nearest bedroom belonged to Nile’s girlfriends. She threw herself inside and slammed the heavy, white-painted paneled door. She slammed the latch down, regretting that she had had her bodyguards disable the other locks so the ladies couldn’t barricade themselves in the room. The two women, wrapped in white silk bathrobes until they had to dress for dinner, looked up from their own shopping in alarm.
“Get into the bathroom,” Skana ordered them. “There are intruders in the suite.” They sprang up and rushed through the second doorway. She picked up the nearest pocket secretary and flicked it on. “Nile, where are you?”
There was no answer. Instead, she heard the stentorian bellow of her brother’s voice in the sitting room.
“Dammit, what’s the matter with you? Don’t you lay a hand on me!”
The sounds of struggling were followed by a loud hissing noise. Skana started back from the door in alarm. Wisps of pale tan smoke came wafting underneath the door. She had just enough time to register its presence when her knees buckled and her mind went blank.
Her eyes flew open. It seemed as though it was only a second later, but the ceiling she was looking up at was not in the ladies’ bedroom. Under her fingertips, the surface she was lying on was covered with rough, nubbly cloth. Her knees and jaw felt bruised. She sat up. Enstidius stood beside the couch. Behind him, Nile’s girlfriends huddled together. A big Uctu with pumpkin-red skin and a pronounced ridge on his head menaced them with a knife as long as Skana’s arm.
“What the black hole did you do to us?” she demanded.
“An emergency,” the male said, helping her to swing her legs around. “You came to the attention of our enemy. We had to remove you from Memepocotel before you could be questioned.”
“Why did you have to drug us?” she asked. “How about just coming to us and telling us we needed to get out of town?”
Enstidius shook his head. “No time, when the moment of our liberation is so close at hand. You might have questioned. Or argued with my emissaries. Now we are all safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“From exposure.” He wrung his hands together. “Oh, why did I have you come here to see? Now I have jeopardized the entire coup. Toliaus told me that it was foolish to take humans into my confidence.”
“Whu—? Where—?”
Skana recognized Nile’s voice and looked around for him. He was lying on a heap of cushions close to the couch on which she had woken up. She jumped down. Her bare feet landed on a sand floor. She picked her way to her brother’s side.
“They took us out of the hotel, Nile,” she said. Tuk was on the floor, already awake and glaring. Four Uctus stood in a circle around him with their pulse rifles aimed at him.
“Why?” Nile asked.
“Because our movements could be detected by following you,” Enstidius said. “You made contact with other humans, friends of the Autocrat.”
Nile looked embarrassed.
“How do you know that?”
“It was reported by the High Wisdom’s spies. You were seen. Lord Toliaus has decreed. Those other humans will be present at the accession feast, so you must stay here until the power of our enemy is broken. We can’t risk drawing attention. No one must know until the moment of the attack. I will make certain you can watch our triumph from the nose camera of my craft.”
“You’re not keeping us away from that feast,” Nile said, angrily. “Especially if
she
is going to be there. I can’t let anything happen to her.”
“Her?” Enstidius blinked. “The Autocrat? I will spare her, of course.”
“No! Lady Jil Nikhorunkorn. The lady I talked to.”
“She is your loved one?”
“He wishes,” Skana said, in exasperation. “I’m with him, but for a different reason. There is no way that you are keeping us away from the dinner when all hell is going to break loose. We didn’t come all this distance to watch the action on digitavid.”
“It’s been decreed by the High Wisdom,” Enstidius said. “It will be safer for all of us if no one can connect you with us. If they find us, the coup will never take place!”
“How can they?” Skana asked, reasonably. “We’ve never been seen with you.”
“But what excuse will you give for appearing at the accession feast?”
“We’re big businesspeople in the Imperium, with lots of connections. We’re in town to talk trade with influential importers. We heard about the party and wrangled an invitation. How can they connect that with your patron taking out his rival?”
“Anything might create a chain of events in their mind. The High Wisdom reads the portents, and he is worried that you might tip the balance against him. We will have no second chance.”
“Whatever is going through that spooky mind of his, we’re on your side,” Skana said. “All he wants to do is remove his rival. Obviously, the other guy is too well protected for an ordinary assassination. We provided you with the means. We’re on your side.”
Enstidius was clearly torn. “We are likeminded souls, you and I. You will understand that the attempt might have unforeseen effects? I do not wish you to be injured or even killed. I will do my best to avoid harming the lady, or our ruler, but I make no promises.”
“Listen, my friend,” Nile said, his eyes burning. “‘No promises’ is insufficient assurance. We are going, and your High Wisdom is going to have to deal with that.”
“I am sorry. You’re not. When it is over, if nothing goes wrong, we may permit you to return to your lands, with our thanks, of course. There is nothing more that you can say.”
A bitter look from one of Nile’s girlfriends told Skana she was thinking ‘see how you like it?’
“The irony is not lost on me, ladies,” she said. “I’ll keep my word.”
“You are so wrong if you think we’re done negotiating,” Nile said. He plunged his hand into his pocket. It came up empty. Skana felt for her own pocket secretary and her other electronic devices. She turned desperately to Tuk, who shook his head.
“Where are our devices?” she demanded.
“We had to leave them in the city. Your location must not be traced. We are far out in the desert, away from the city.” He smiled. “I couldn’t risk you activating the destruct codes, either. I knew you would be displeased.”
“You must think that we were born yesterday,” Skana said, folding her arms.
Enstidius blinked at her.
“You are not newborns, that I know.”
Skana exploded in exasperation.
“It’s an expression! Look, I’ll lay it out for you. You’re afraid we’d talk. We won’t. But we get to see our goods in action, or there will be no coup. I can activate the destruct codes on your ships from here.”
The master looked aghast. “But you have no device! There is no signal here! How could you possibly do that? You would not dare.”
“Are you kidding? We imported five warships to this planet. We’ll dare a hell of a lot.”
“We will kill you, then you can’t activate your codes,” Enstidius said.
“They’re set with a failsafe,” Skana said. “And not the same one every time. If we don’t do certain things at certain times, they’ll activate, and you’ll have a pile of dust. You need to get us back to our personal electronics or our ship, and you have just about two hours to do it before the first combo goes into effect. Do you think you’re the first people ever to threaten us with torture or death? You amateur. You don’t really know who we are, do you?”
The Uctu master vacillated, shifting from foot to foot in worry. He stared at Skana and Nile, trying to decide if they were lying or not. She gave him a smug smile, which made him even more nervous. He threw up his hands.
“Very well. You leave us no choice. I will ask the High Wisdom for his decision. You will stay here. My people will make you comfortable.”
“Hurry up,” Skana called as he scurried away. She sat down on the couch. Nile put his arm around her, chuckling to himself. She was heaving mad, but also shaking with reaction.
The girls came up to her.
“What?” she demanded, more sharply than she intended.
“Ma’am?” said the cost analysis specialist, her face shining with shy admiration. “Some day, I want to be just like you.”
Skana patted her on the hand. “Thanks for the compliment, honey, but no, you don’t.”