don’t expect much. Uh, my authority, access to funds and secret data and
whatnot … better be kept secret itself.”
“Right.” Hans knocked the dottle from his pipe, a ringing noise through
a moment’s silence. “Is this why you refused admiral’s rank? You knew
sneaking off someday on a mission would be easier for a mere captain.”
Flandry shrugged. “If you’ll tip the word to–better be none less than
Kheraskov–I’ll contact him as soon as may be and made arrangements.”
“Have you any idea how you will begin?” Hans asked, relaxing a trifle.
“Well, I don’t know. Perhaps with that alleged Dennitzan agent. What
became of … her, did you say?”
“How can I tell? I saw a precis of many reports, remember. What
difference, after the ‘probe wrung her dry?”
“Sometimes individuals count, sir.” Excitement in Flandry congealed to
grimness. I should think the fact she’s a niece of the Gospodar–a fact
available in the material on her that my son could freely scan from a
data bank–would be worth mentioning to the Emperor. I should think such
a hostage would not be sold for a slave, forced into whoredom except for
the chance that I learned about her when she was offered for sale.
Better not tell Hans. He’d only be distracted from the million things
he’s got to do. And anyhow … something strange here. I prefer to keep
my mouth shut and my options open.
“Proceed as you wish,” the other said. “I know you won’t likely get far.
But I can trust you will run a strong race.”
His glance went to the picture of the young man. His face sagged.
Flandry could well-nigh read his mind: Ach, Otto! If you had not been
killed–if I could bring you back, yes, even though I must trade for you
dull Dietrich and scheming Gerhart both–we would have an heir to trust.
The Emperor straightened in his seat. “Very well,” he rapped.
“Dismissed.”
The festival wore on. Toward morning, Flandry and Chunderban Desai found
themselves alone.
The officer would have left sooner, were it not for his acquired job.
Now he seemed wisest if he savored sumptuousness, admired the centuried
treasures of static and fluid art which the palace housed, drank noble
wines, nibbled on delicate foods, conversed with witty men, danced with
delicious girls, finally brought one of these to a pergola he knew
(unlocked, screened by jasmine vines) and made love. He might never get
the chance again. After she bade him a sleepy goodbye, he felt like
having a nightcap. The crowd had grown thin. He recognized Desai, fell
into talk, ended in a small garden.
Its base was cantilevered from a wall, twenty meters above a courtyard
where a fountain sprang. The waters, full of dissolved fluorescents,
shone under ultraviolet illumination in colors more deep and pure than
flame. Their tuned splashing resounded from catchbowls to make an
eldritch music. Otherwise the two men on their bench had darkness and
quiet. Flowers sweetened an air gone slightly cool. The moon was long
down; Venus and a dwindling number of stars gleamed in a sky fading from
black to purple, above an ocean coming all aglow.
“No, I am not convinced the Emperor does right to depart,” Desai said.
The pudgy little old man’s hair glimmered white as his tunic;
chocolate-hued face and hands were nearly invisible among shadows. He
puffed on a cigarette in a long ivory holder. “Contrariwise, the move
invites catastrophe.”
“But to let the barbarians whoop around at will–” Flandry sipped his
cognac and drew on his cigar, fragrances first rich, then pungent. He’d
wanted to end on a relaxing topic. Desai, who had served the Imperium in
many executive capacities on many different planets, owned a hoard of
reminiscences which made him worth cultivating. He was on Terra for a
year, teaching at the Diplomatic Academy, before he retired to
Ramanujan, his birthworld.
The military situation–specifically, Hans’ decision to go–evidently
bothered him too much for pleasantries. “Oh, yes, that entire frontier
needs restructuring,” he said. “Not simple reinforcement. New
administrations, new laws, new economics: ideally, the foundations of an
entire new society among the human inhabitants. However, his Majesty
should leave that task to a competent viceroy and staff whom he grants