army had been the work of Lumian criminals after all. If so, had they been
working in league with Frennclech or with Kleippur?
“What manner of reception was this imposter accorded at the city?” Eskenderom
asked. In his absence, the policy would have been decided by Frennelech.
Mormorel pressed the button to activate the Lumian plant, and repeated the
question. After a brief exchange of queries and answers, the plant responded
that as far as the Lumian eyes in the sky bad been able to ascertain, the
imposter had been arrested. “Then does this not tell us that our culprit cannot
be Prennelech?” Eskenderom said to Mormorel. “He would hardly welcome his own
agent thus.”
Mormorel considered the proposition dubiously for a few seconds. “An agent who
has passed forever beyond the point of further usefulness,” he pointed out.
“Readily expendable, perhaps, if such a sacrifice would establish Frennelech’s
blamelessness in Kroaxia’s eyes?”
“Hmm.” Eskenderom sounded disappointed. “Observation of this impostor’s
treatment will therefore tell us nothing of Frennelech’s complicity or
otherwise,” he concluded.
“Not necessarily,” Mormorel agreed.
Eskenderom scowled to himself, and then slammed his open hand down on the table
angrily. “Then by the Lifemaker I will have this Enlightener’s head boiled in
acid! Let both Frennelech and Kleippur read the warning, whichever of them was
behind him . . . and anyone else who might be contemplating a compact with
Lumian criminals to overthrow the Kroaxian Crown.”
“Attention please. Colonel Wallis here for Ambassador Giraud,” a voice said
inside the Terrans’ helmets.
“Yes, Colonel?” Giraud acknowledged.
“Number three perimeter guardpost has intercepted a mounted Taloid who indicates
that he is known to the visitors. Our records show him listed as James Bond.
Request identity confirmation and your further instructions, sir.”
“One second, Colonel,” Giraud said. Then, “Konrad, did you get that? Pass the
message to Machiavelli, would you?”
Seltzman talked to the transmogrifier, and the transmogrifier talked to the
Taloids. Colonel Wallis sent a view of the new arrival through to a
communications screen on one of the portable compacks beside the transmogrifier,
and Henry verified that the Taloid was known and friendly. Giraud authorized
Wallis to let Bond pass.
A few minutes later, Skerilliane was escorted into the cavern by two Lumian
soldiers. He looked as if he had ridden hard all the way from Pergassos, where,
he informed Eskenderom and the others, the Enlightener had shown himself and
been arrested by Frennelech’s Palace Guards.
“We know as much already from the Lumians,” Eskenderom said. “But who is he? Can
you tell us that?”
“Indeed, Majesty, for he is no stranger to the city,” Skerilhane replied. “None
other than thy chosen one Groork, the brother of Thirg, who departed Kroaxia to
serve the Dark Master’s worldly lieutenant, thine enemy Kleippur.”
“Him?” Eskenderom roared, leaping to his feet. “The hearer that I offered to
install in Frennelech’s palace? … He has come back from Carthogia as
Kleippur’s henchman? He is the one who directed Lumian sorcery down upon my
army?”
“The same, Majesty,” Skerilliane replied.
Eskenderom kicked aside the chair upon which he had been sitting and strode to
the far wall and back again, all the time pounding his fist into his palm with
rage and shouting. “The traitor! The deceiver! Is this the gratitude I am shown?
Is this how I am rewarded for my generosity? Arghhh! The swamp-guzzler!
Corruption and corrosion upon him! May the Reduction Furnace take him! I’ll
slow-melt his casing and leach his eyes! I’ll hang him from high-voltage trees
in the forest! I’ll boil him in acid! Mormorel, find the servants and have them
bring our horses at once. Indeed there will be a spectacle for the citizens of
Pergassos to enjoy before this bright is through!”
“Frennelech has already proclaimed a public execution to take place one-twelfth
of a bright from now,” Skerilliane said.
“Then for once he and I have no quarrel,” Eskenderom declared. “Let us repair at
once, full haste to Pergassos, for this shall be entertainment that I would not
wish to miss.”
Giraud stared in astonishment at Henry’s reaction to whatever Bond had said.
Machiavelli and Caesar stood up, and Machiavelli went over to the doors and