Enriques spoke so softly that one heard the wind whittering off the sea, through the ancient streets outside. “Ensign van Zuyl was killed in action four days ago.”
“Oh, no.” Flandry closed his eyes.
“Conflict has gotten to the point where—we and the Merseians respect each other’s base areas, but roving aircraft fight anyplace else they happen to meet.”
“And still you let them search us.” Flandry paused. “I’m sorry, sir. I know you hadn’t any choice. Please let me finish. It’s even possible my information would be discredited, never acted on. Hard to imagine, but … well, we have so many bureaucrats, so many people in high places like Lord Hauksberg who insists the enemy doesn’t really mean harm … and Brechdan Ironrede, God, but he’s clever … I couldn’t risk it. I had to work things so you, sir, would have a free choice.”
“You?” Enriques raised his brows. “Ensign Dominic Flandry, all by himself?”
“Yes, sir. You have discretionary power, don’t you? I mean, when extraordinary situations arise, you can take what measures are indicated, without asking HQ first. Can’t you?”
“Of course. As witness these atmospheric combats.” Enriques leaned forward, forgetting to stay sarcastic.
“Well, sir, this is an extraordinary situation. You’re supposed to stay friends with the Kursovikians. But you can see I’m the Terran they care about. Their minds work that way. They’re barbaric, used to personal leadership; to them, a distant government is no government; they feel a blood obligation to me—that sort of thing. So to preserve the alliance, you must deal with me. I’m a renegade, but you must.”
“And so?”
“So if you don’t dispatch a scout into space, I’ll tell the Sisterhood to dissolve the alliance.”
“What?” Enriques started. Dragoika bristled.
“I’ll sabotage the whole Terran effort,” Flandry said. “Terra has no business on Starkad. We’ve been trapped, conned, blued and tattooed. When you present physical evidence, photographs, measurements, we’ll all go home. Hell, I’ll give you eight to one the Merseians go home as soon as you tell old Runei what you’ve done. Get your courier off first, of course, to make sure he doesn’t use those warships to blast us into silence. But then call him and tell him.”
“There are no Terran space combat units in this system.”
Flandry grinned. The blood was running high in him. “Sir, I don’t believe the Imperium is that stupid. There has to be some provision against the Merseians suddenly marshaling strength. If nothing else, a few warcraft orbiting ‘way outside. We can flit men to them. A roundabout course, so the enemy’ll think it’s only another homebound ship. Right?”
“Well—” Enriques got up. Dragoika stayed where she was, but closed hand on hilt. “You haven’t yet revealed your vast secret,” the admiral declared.
Flandry recited the figures.
Enriques stood totem-post erect. “Is that everything?”
“Yes, sir. Everything that was needed.”
“How do you interpret it?”
Flandry told him.
Enriques was still for a long moment. The Tigeries growled in Shiv Alley. He turned, went to the window, stared down and then out at the sky.
“Do you believe this?” he asked most quietly.
“Yes, sir,” Flandry said. “I can’t think of anything else that fits, and I had plenty of time to try. I’d bet my life on it.”
Enriques faced him again. “Would you?”
“I’m doing it, sir.”
“Maybe. Suppose I order a reconnaissance. As you say, it’s not unlikely to run into Merseian pickets. Will you come along?”
A roar went through Flandry’s head. “Yes, sir!” he yelled.
“Hm. You trust me that much, eh? And it would be advisable for you to go: a hostage for your claims, with special experience which might prove useful. Although if you didn’t return here, we could look for trouble.”
“You wouldn’t need Kursoviki any longer,” Flandry said. He was beginning to tremble.
“If you are truthful and correct in your assertion.” Enriques was motionless a while more. The silence grew and grew.
All at once the admiral said, “Very good, Ensign Flandry. The charges against you are held in abeyance and you are hereby re-attached temporarily to my command. You will return to Highport with me and await further orders.”