Flandry said. “The Imperium thinks not–thinks Dennitza concocted the
whole business to justify mobilization. The Merseians would’ve been
delighted to co-conspire, a behind-the-scenes arrangement with your
uncle whereby they play intransigent at the conference. Any split among
us is pure gain for them. From the Imperium’s viewpoint, Dennitza has
done this either to put pressure on it–to get the disbanding decree
rescinded and other grievances settled–or else to start an out-and-out
rebellion.”
He puffed on his cigarette, latest of a chain. “From your uncle’s
viewpoint–I assume he was honest with you about his opinions and
desires–if he believes Merseia may be readying for combat, he dare not
fail to respond. Terra can think in terms of settling border disputes by
negotiation, even after several battles. Dennitza, though, will be under
attack. A tough, proud people won’t sit still for being made pawns of.
And given the accusations against them, the horrible word about you–how
alienated must they not feel?”
The commentator had said: “Is it possible the connivance is between
Emperor and Roidhun? Might part of a secret bargain be that Merseia rids
the Imperium of troublesomely independent subjects? It would like to
destroy us. To it, we are worse than a nuisance, we are the potential
igniters of a new spirit within the Empire, whose future leadership may
actually come from among us. On the Terran side, the shock of such an
event would tend to unite the Empire behind the present bearer of the
crown, securing it for him and his posterity … ”
Flandry said: “I’m pretty sure that by now, throughout the Dennitzan
sphere of influence, a majority favors revolution. The Gospodar’s
stalling, trying to bide his time in hopes the crisis will slack off
before fighting starts. Wouldn’t you guess so, love? I suspect, however,
if it turns out he doesn’t have to resist Merseia, he will then use his
assembled power to try squeezing concessions from Terra. His citizens
won’t let him abstain–and I doubt if he wants to. And … any wrong
action on the part of the Imperium or its Navy, or any wrong inaction,
anywhere along the line, will touch off rebellion.”
“Well go straight to him–” she began.
Flandry shook his head. “Uh-uh. Most reckless thing we could do. Who
supplied those Intelligence reports that scared Miyatovich and his
staff–reports contradicted by findings of my Corps in separate
operations? If the Merseian fleet is making ominous motions, is this a
mere show for the Dennitzan scouts they knew would sneak into then:
space? How did the news about you get here so speedily, when the sale of
one obscure slave never rated a word on any Terran newscast? Could
barbarian activity in Sector Spica have been encouraged from outside,
precisely to draw the Emperor there and leave his officers on this
frontier to respond as awkwardly as they’ve done?”
He sighed. “Masks and mirages again, Kossara. The program we heard
showed us only the skin across the situation. We can’t tell what’s
underneath, except that it’s surely explosive, probably poisonous.
Zorkagrad must be acrawl with Merseian undercover men. I’d be astonished
if some of them aren’t high and trusted in the Gospodar’s councils,
fending off any information they prefer he doesn’t get. Aycharaych’s
been at work for a long time.”
“What shall we do?” she asked steadily.
Flandry’s glance sought for Dennitza. It should be visible here, soft
blue against black. But the brightnesses which burned were too many.
“Suppose you and I pay a covert visit on your parents,” he said. “From
there we can send a household servant, seemingly on an ordinary errand,
who can find a chance to slip your uncle a word. Meanwhile Chives lands
at Zorkagrad port and takes quarters to be our contact in the city.
Shalmuan spacers aren’t common but they do exist–not that the average
person hereabouts ever heard of Shalmu–and I’ll modify one of our spare
documentations to support his story of being an innocent entrepreneur
just back from a long exploration, out of touch, in the Wilderness.”
“It seems terribly roundabout,” Kossara said.
“Everything is on this mission.”
She smiled. “Well, you have the experience, Dominic. And it will give us