The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (43 page)

“I believe that at one time Landrew did recognize Urzel. Medullans are shrewd people. I believe that the Medullans sanctioned this love affair with the approval of Landrew, who again would have been chief security officer when the Medullans approved this affair on Medulla. It was in Landrew’s department that all interplanetary immigrations were sanctioned. Yet even the immigration of Phendal Lok remains obscured.”

“Can I speculate?” Lyanna asked. “You believe that Landrew knew of the marriage of Phendal Lok to Nedilli, had knowledge of the genetic catastrophe that ensued, and erased all the documentation so that it would not be uncovered by his opponent during the last slanderous political campaign for High Council.”

Deacon sighed. “Unfortunately, that may be the truth. Landrew’s last election raised bitter pasts for all the candidates. One more blemish and he would have been denied the credibility that he alleged in his speeches.”

“Why did he visit the ship?” Chubby asked.

“Landrew fears the mental power that killed Geor and Como and caused the fatal journey of the
Sleigher
. He guessed that the being responsible for the ill-fated
Sleigher
could well be the product of that experimental birth that he sanctioned years ago. He thought the incident of the Medullan child was completed with its banishment to Nix. He now fears differently.

“Only when the
Sleigher
docked back in Aralia did Landrew begin to fear that condemning evidence may lie on the
Sleigher
. He had to arrive first to either erase that evidence or confront it. You said Urzel accompanied you on the journey back to Aralia, right, Chubby?”

“Correct.”

“Where is his voice in the voice logs? Where is the heartbeat pattern that we witnessed on Nix? Where is there any evidence of Urzel’s presence on the
Sleigher
?”

They stared at Deacon in silence. “The only possible answer, if Chubby is telling us the truth, is that Landrew marked the ship off limits until all that evidence of Urzel Lok was destroyed.”

Lyanna shook her head. “These are serious charges, Deacon.”

“I realize the consequences if I am right or wrong. However, consider that Landrew may have done us all a favor to prevent mass panic. There is even a more frightening aspect to this case that I will share with you when we reach Liberty City. Our plan from this point on becomes clear. First, we must go to Liberty City in disguise so that Lyanna and I can surprise Landrew and converse in private. We cannot take any chances of having our presence known.”

Lyanna nodded in agreement. “I will go with you. Why did Landrew not trust you with this story of the sanctioning of the birth?”

“His political survival. One scandal might be enough to remove him from office. What better way to cover up an unpleasantness than to cover another unpleasantness. Greater politicians than Landrew have misused their power to execute crimes on humanity. I think that Landrew truly believes, just as Travers and Chubby did, that he has a good chance to rectify the situation without alarming the Alliance, and I do honestly believe that he wanted me to investigate without being influenced.”

Lyanna continued. “Why did Landrew lie to you about who were investigating the crimes?”

“He didn’t. If I remember his exact words, he wanted me to investigate the crimes of the Union of Space Traders independently of all other deployed resources. He desired my unbiased opinion, to direct him to unprejudiced actions. He wanted me to confirm or deny Urzel as the villain. For that, I admire Landrew, for unlike others, he left me alone to uncover the facts.”

Lyanna strolled to beside Deacon and placed her arm around him. “No use irritating the boss. I guess you have to go to Liberty City and tell the boss that his suspicions were correct.”

“I am certain, Lyanna, that Landrew wants a different answer than the one I am about to deliver. The positive result is that we can now direct all our resources toward beating Urzel.”

“I am so proud of you, Deacon.” She planted a kiss on his cheek.

He replied, “Thanks for the compliment. I shall accept it while I can. I told you and Chubby that there is a horrible reality that I must hide from you until the time is right to reveal it. It can only be confirmed by Landrew. Until this happens, I can’t in confidence share it with you, but I have placed the file in the last Owler off of the assembly line for protection and preservation.

“Chubby, you and Gem must remain here to await the docking of the
G’uillger
. Meanwhile, Lyanna, Jim, Quobit, and I will travel to Liberty City to confront Landrew. Quobit, I must ask you to accept the role of bodyguard for us. Chubby, the
G’uillger
is armed, isn’t she?”

“Yes, it is one of a handful of armed trade ships.”

“With force fields and subneutro rockets?”

“Yes. And she is mighty fast. Why?”

“The
Heritage
is quick but underarmed for the next leg of our adventure. She has quickness but not protection.” Deacon paused and then asked, “Will the
Heritage
fit inside the cargo bay of the
G’uillger
?”

“Ah, I see your wisdom. With your faithful Owler Gem, we could do that calculation.”

“If the calculations are favorable, then proceed to Liberty City in two days with the
G’uillger
and get Gem to obtain the necessary papers to load the
Heritage
inside her cargo hold.”

“The extra weight will slow us down, and think of the extra fuel expended and needed.”

“We will need the
Heritage
to escape with our lives,” Deacon said.

“Where are we going?” Chubby asked.

“Medulla.”

Chubby chuckled. “Ha, how ironic. I finally get to transport a cargo to Medulla, and it is an empty spaceship that they can’t use.”

Deacon was aroused. “What did you say?”

“I said how ironic it is that the
Heritage
is the first cargo ever to go to Medulla.”

Deacon rose to his feet. “Are you saying that there is no previous record of a trade ship transporting cargo to Medulla?”

“As far as I know, the trade ships travel to Medulla empty.”

Deacon beamed from ear to ear. “In the history of trade ships traveling there, there is no cargo transported? Unloaded? Only loaded?”

“Affirmative!”

“Never?”

“For the last time, Deacon, it has never happened. We only ever pick up cargoes there. Medulla provides valuable ores, mostly.”

Deacon was flabbergasted. He sat down. “Thank you for that enlightening tidbit of information. So that’s the game.”

“What game?” Lyanna asked in a demanding tone.

“The last clue to the puzzle, dear. This is scary. Now I
know
we are all just pawns.”

“Why wait to tell us what you are thinking?”

“I have to put my hypothesis to the test. Then, if I am right, you shall be told what is brewing in my mind in front of Landrew. Patience, my dear, I don’t quite have the last few chess moves calculated, but Chubby just provided another great clue.”

“Let’s pray nothing happens to you, for the Owlers can’t take up this case.”

“Then I will take the liberty of recording my theory in the data banks of both Gem and Jim. Meanwhile, our arrival into Liberty City has to be incognito. We must not expose ourselves, or we will be detained and lose precious time. Therefore, Jim, you will have to succumb to donning a wig, dress, and shoes so that we can disguise you too. Or as on Aralia, you will be spotted.”

“Objection,” Jim said humorously.

“Place your human engrams aside, Jim. I also want a small, extractable plaster cast placed around your ankle to disguise your walk.”

“My gait is elegant.”

“Such a problem child,” Lyanna said.

“And for me, I want sunglasses, a flowing robe and gloves, high heels, a hat, a shawl, a wig—red hair, I think—and makeup as you please, Lyanna. Gem, I need a force field to alter my heartbeat if the scanners at Liberty are set to detect my entry.”

Lyanna was taking notes. “I see that I need to set out shopping. I’ll take Gem to assist me.”

“Sure. Jim can stay here with Quobit, Chubby, and me to finalize our plans. Quobit, you can travel undisguised and remain within view of us. Lag behind; look for spies on us. After our short visit to Liberty City, I am positive that Landrew will agree that Medulla must be our next destination.”

Chubby asked, “Do we travel there to interrogate Nedilli?”

“Precisely.”

“Then on to Nix with Alliance forces and fight him!”

“No, Chubby, we would lose. That it is why it is imperative to talk to Landrew. I have a better idea. Design a perfect, devious trap to catch him.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“All the clues to his demise must be gathered. We don’t have them all yet.”

“What clues?”

“Who better to know her own child than his mother, Nedilli. Also, Urzel feels remorse toward his counter half. This may also be a clue to his downfall. And consider what I said earlier, that he had three opportunities to exterminate me and failed to do so. We have to find out why. Then there is Landrew, who knows more than I have divulged to you. He owes the truth to me. Landrew must be interrogated in the presence of the High Council to make our plan work. Then there is a terrible thought that I carry as a burden until the time is right to expose it to all. Finally, I believe that you, Chubby, have inadvertently shown me a seed of Urzel’s destruction.”

Lyanna interjected into the conversation. “Yes. From your return to Brebouillis, I knew that there were limits to the power. Why else would Urzel need weapons?”

Chubby leaped up. “Urzel needs military support to conquer us. Correct. One-on-one he is fatal. Even within certain distances, as evidenced by Travers’s death, he is dangerous. But there are limits to his power, and we need to define them. And then we must make him so mad that we push him to the extra step, causing him to spread himself thin.”

“Exactly, Chubby. You talked of bribed officials. That means an impermanent mental power. You are absolutely correct. We must stretch his powers to the absolute limits.”

As Chubby and Deacon conversed, Lyanna excused herself. “Well, Gem and I must be off. Do I have permission, Deacon, to purchase you something more colorful than the normal garb you wear?”

“I want to be inconspicuous. Just remember that!”

“You will look deeeevine, I promise.” With that, she left hastily.

Quobit, Jim, and Deacon huddled to devise plans in Liberty City.

Disguises

After Lyanna’s return, that night resembled a costume party, with Deacon and Jim modeling garments that Lyanna had purchased, while Chubby was hysterical at the notion that they would wear these disguises. “A photo of this moment for the records of our adventures,” he said, and he snapped a shot, to everyone’s objection. “No one will make a pass at Jim, not even a drunken Aralian trader.”

Jim chortled. “And what a surprise if they do.”

Lyanna slapped extra makeup on Deacon, bringing out a rose color in his cheeks. The dresses were selected while the interest of the audience waned, so they rested for the night in anticipation of the departure for Liberty City the next day. Deacon reminded everyone that this was not a departure but step one of the arduous plan to destroy Urzel Lok.

Later, Lyanna finally had the chance to corner Deacon with her caress. With seductive suggestions and a series of slinky moves, she lay down beside him. “It’s just me. Don’t be nervous.”

“You know me—the last to fall in love. But because it’s you, I am nervous.”

“Then just follow my lead.” She kissed him and proceeded to pour out her love and admiration for him, prompting a response. It was a night for him to remember, for his mind shut down and concentrated on her affections and beauty.

The morning brought mixed feelings as each member of the group in turn pondered over the dangerous passages ahead. Lyanna could not keep her eyes off of Deacon. Chubby noticed Lyanna’s gaze and reminded Deacon of the undressing eyes of his friend. Jim recited a poem in which love became the downfall of a starry-eyed general.

“True!” Deacon said. “I read that poem. But, Jim, find me a poem about a strong detective who melts in battle from love.”

Jim drew a raucous bout of laughter as he replied, “Just a minute, sire, while I search the literature files.”

The comic badgering broke the tension until the time came to leave. The three “sisters,” with Chubby snorting up a comic storm, departed. Lyanna was stunning in her sleek red dress, cut knee-high; Deacon was less than beautiful in a bulky, flowery green dress with hints of rose makeup. He held his head high as they strutted to a shuttle to take them into the city. Once there, he was ignored by all male passersby. Jim strolled along as best as possible given the ankle cast, clad in a loose dress, wearing dark oval sunglasses that covered most of his face. Quobit delayed five minutes and took up her position as rear scout.

The trip to Liberty City was uneventful except for Deacon’s suggestion to an officer that Lyanna was not as beautiful as on first glance. There were looks in port from curious onlookers. The adventure to date had worn Lyanna and Deacon down, so they slept for most of the trip. Upon arrival, an underground metro car delivered them to primitive secure accommodations, which Jim had arranged. While Jim stood guard inside the door, the little detective lay cuddled up with his desired mate.

“What attracts you to me?” he asked. “It certainly isn’t my portly physique.”

“I see you as a breath of fresh air, an exciting cavalier, a person who respects me for what I am. Besides, I like the fact that I am the singular person in the entire galaxy that has seen you undressed.”

He blushed. “Please. Not so loud.”

The clandestine dinner

It was a murky fall day; the sun was totally obscured by nature’s summoning of sleet. In the late afternoon, in a private booth, in an exquisite city restaurant, a man slurped down his hot soup, unwinding from a day fraught with impossible decisions. This was the evening of solitude, a time to drown frustrations in culinary delights and gulps of alcohol.