Merdon walked up slowly, alone except for a single Komani escort.
“It was a stubborn fire,” Merdon said.
Okatar looked down at the young rebel. Though tall for a Shinarian, Merdon barely stood as high as the Komani Kang’s shoulder.
“Several cases of Terran thermal grenades made the fire difficult to fight,” Okatar said.
“This was an unfortunate time for such an accident,” Merdon said. “With the attack …”
Okatar cut him short. “This fire will have no effect on our attackAnd it was no accident. It was deliberate sabotage.”
“Deliberate? You can’t mean it.”
Okatar said nothing.
“But who would do such a thing?” Merdon asked.
“I was hoping you might be able to tell me. Obviously no Komani would destroy his own tents and some of his precious ammunition.”
Merdon nodded and remained silent for a few oments, his mind racing. Then he asked, “Wasn’t the Watchman quartered near here?”
“Yes,” Okatar said, gesturing toward a patch of charred earth. “That was where his tent stood.”
“Where is he now?”
Okatar shrugged. “We have found no sign of him.”
“Then it must have been him! He knew he was going to be executed, so he somehow set this fire, trying to cause damage to us. He probably died in his own flames.”
Okatar’s yellow eyes flickered with amusement. “An engaging theory. However, there are three flaws in it. First, we have not found his remains among the ruins.”
“His body could have been totally consumed …”
“Second,” Okatar continued, ignoring Merdon, “one of my warriors saw die Watchman inside his own tent after the first explosions. The fire had already started.”