by Alma Boykin
“Yes, in that we lost all our central seismology coordinating computers, which eliminated the main alert system. The data center was at New Southdown, in our overflow facility. So when the next volcano in the Unnumbered Islands erupts, we will have less warning.” Kirlin took more notes and Sharlin winced a little.
After obtaining all the information that Seetoh had demanded, Kirlin posed a question of his own. “Where are you and the other Makers going, Maker Tsae?”
“We are staying here.” The scientist rumpled his tail and coughed. “Excuse me,” he choked out, coughing more before catching his breath. “Too much dust. The few of us still here are staying in order to record what we see and to try and salvage as much data as we can, and to keep others out. For example, my lord, we’ve shut down the fission test reactors but the materials remain. Do you want some ignorant person trying to salvage the pretty blue metal?”
“No.” Kirlin recalled the vividly clear lectures about fission and fusion safety from his cadet days. Just because the Azdhagi did not use nuclear weapons or dedicated bioweapons against their enemies did not mean they failed to study them.
“Or to have some noble decide to try a private salvage operation, dragging out containers full of unlabeled chemicals and materials? Such as Lord Shu?”
“He didn’t.” Sharlin’s jaw dropped open. “No.”
“Yes, he did, young my lord,” Tsae affirmed in a tight snarl. “We had to use robotic defenders to stop him.”
Someone really needs to accelerate the Shu succession, Kirlin decided. But not me. Maybe the others could arrange a hunting accident? He filed the thought far away. Aloud he agreed, “Excellent points, Maker Tsae. I believe that I have all the information his Imperial Majesty wanted. Is there anything in terms of supplies or materials that you need from me?”
Tsae pulled a data disk off the top of a pile. “This has a list and tentative schedule. Mostly foodstuffs, as you can imagine. We are rather well set for water.” Sharlin twitched at the black joke as Tsae continued, “Please deliver what you can to the edge of the exclusion zone and we will collect it from there. Oh, and rinse your vehicles after you leave the exclusion zone, so you don’t carry anything back. There are so many compounds in the dust and water that we have not been able to isolate all of them and we can’t tell you what they might do to the plants and livestock yet.” Again, the matter-of-fact tone raised Kirlin’s spines. An Azdhag noble prized himself on emotional control and detachment, but Tsae’s attitude and detachment far exceeded what Kirlin considered normal behavior.
Sharlin shared his sire’s feelings. That night he picked at the meal, then ventured, “Honored Sire, is Maker Tsae sane?”
“I do not know.” Tarkeela would know, Kirlin realized. He understands behavior better than any noble outside the merchant lineages. Well, Kirlin was not going to call and ask. “I have seen a similar form of madness among those too long in combat, Sharlin: extreme focus, detachment from the rest of the world, and a sense that the mind and body live but the spirit has fled.”
After several minutes of thinking and chewing, Sharlin decided, “We Azdhagi have a real problem before us.”
His sire gestured agreement. “Several. We are stalking dangerous prey while recovering from a major wound. And our pack has lost many good hunters. But we will finish the hunt and capture our prey, and the pack will survive. Later it will prosper again.” That would be for Sharlin and his siblings, Kirlin knew. His year hatch had to make it possible by keeping the packs and Clans alive long enough for the next generations to raise up new hunt leaders.
The next day Kirlin assembled his report for the King-Emperor, then listened to Keeshti and Shartee outline their plans. After she finished reciting the proposed schedule for preparing the lineage household to evacuate, Shartee asked a question that had bothered her for several sixts. “My lord mate, why Bluewater?”
“Pardon?”
“Why are we using Bluewater rather than the Clan facilities at Sea Gate? Sea Gate seems closer and larger,” she pointed out.
He rolled his head and tail in opposite directions, stretching and wincing a little at the twinges and pops he felt. “Precisely because Sea Gate is larger, my lady. That is where all the refugees have gone and will continue to go, especially those who need to reach the western parts of Likhala.” Kirlin reached over and called up the map projection. “We are not the only ones leaving, and I do not want to cause problems or run into them. Moving Kirlin Lineage is not unlike herding shootee: the males can move faster, but we must protect the females and whelps.”
Her tail flicked into irritated rigidity at being compared to a shootee. “In that case, my lord, I will change the order of departure, sending the heavy and slow loads and groups first, with food stuffs scattered among the parties rather than in a single batch.”
“I will download my logistics files into your system so you can see how the Imperials move overland,” Kirlin told her, ignoring her snippy tone. He had other matters of greater import, such as the problem of Lord Shu.
The regional council plus lord Blee met via conference, minus lords Shu and Beesh. “Beesh sends regrets but he’s trying to coordinate distribution of the Makers’ equipment salvage with the Crown,” Peitak told the others. “He remains on reserve duty and, well, he sends his regrets and heartily wishes that he were ten moons older.”
Blee laughed at the last and the others at least smiled. Then Blee raised a talon. “My lords, the pack faces a difficulty caused by Shu’s behavior. Not that of the Clan, but of the individual,” he grated. “Tarkeela, your report first, then Kirlin, then Peitak. I suggest that questions and comments wait until we have all heard from these three. Agreed?” No one argued and Blee gestured for Tarkeela to begin.
Grey-brown Tarkeela took a deep breath. “My lords, Shu continues to force out Clan members who have afflicted juniors. Mated pairs are offered the option of separating and trying with new mates. If they do not, Shu insists that unaffected juniors from the mated pair be sterilized, ‘in case they might be carriers’.” Gasps and snarls filled his ears and he waited for the sound to fade. “That was my reaction and I confirmed it with two neutral sources before bringing it to your attention. At first it was just females, but now Shu is requiring males to be sterilized as well. A number of Azdhagi have fled Shu lands, which was probably his intention to begin with, because he claimed their goods for the Clan. He also ruled that any Clan member with afflicted kin in their direct lineage must remain in the south and cannot pass to the new holdings.” Tarkeela forbore mentioning that he’d granted at least a hundred former Shu members sanctuary at Mountains’ Edge or helped with their passage to the out-Clan settlement of Schree’s Rest.
After the muttering stopped, Kirlin added his news. “According to Maker Tsae, who provided me with recordings of the events, Shu ordered employees of his Clan’s corporation to salvage not only from the Clan buildings in Central City but also from the remains of New Southdown.”
“By all that’s holy, is he insane?” Zhi-king blurted as Peitak, Sheedai, and Kaeshiri made warding signs.
“One wonders,” Blee growled. “Continue please, Kirlin.”
“Yes, Lord Blee.” Kirlin forwarded the data file to the others before starting again. “This is a list of what the Makers believe Shu’s people took. I say believe because so many containers have been damaged, discolored, scorched, and lost shipping and storage codes that even the Makers are not certain what is in them, or even if they started in the same location where Shu’s people found them. They’ve been warned to stop, or rather the soldiers enforcing the exclusion zone warned Shu’s employees, but Shu himself intervened on the most recent occasion, forcing the Makers to use robotic defense equipment to drive him out of the most dangerous parts of the ruins.” Kirlin added with great reluctance, “He is not breaking the laws, my lords. Because so much is unmarked, and because Shu owned so many business and buildings in New Southdown and Central City, he is permitted to salvage a gr
eat deal. That said, his stalk threatens many others’ hunts.”
Peitak rubbed under his muzzle with one talon. “As did Kirlin, I must begin by stating that what Shu requires of his people is not illegal. I absolutely disagree with it and believe it to be immoral, but it is legal.” At Blee’s warning gesture Peitak settled down. “Lord Shu requires those wishing to relocate north to pledge thirty year-turns service for themselves and each family member, in exchange for food during the first year-turn, initial temporary housing and I believe for medical care, although my source remains uncertain if that is included. A family with three juniors is obligated to serve one hundred fifty year turns as bound laborers, or to pay,” he glanced to the side, looking at the file. “To pay sixty-thousand Imperial tsus cash. That converts to eighty thousand credits as of this morning, and it must be in currency or on an outside account.”
Sheedai raised a talon. “Shu Clan does not pay its members, does it?”
The reptiles looked at each other, uncertain. After several “uums” and “ahs,” Blee recalled, “The last I knew, which goes back ten year-turns or more, Shu did not unless one was an outside contractor. If memory serves, Shu Clan operates on an internal credit and wage system, and Lord Shu’s companies operate partly outside of that system.”
Tarkeela waded into the discussion. “My lords, I can’t speak for the internals of the Clan, but Shu Corp. uses a tiered pay system. Clan members who work for Shu Corp earn credits to use within the Clan; Azdhagi with other Clan affiliations earn slightly higher wages and are paid in tsus. The few out-Clan workers, mostly unskilled labor, get the same as Shu Clan members but in tsus, and outsiders make reasonably good wages, paid in credits or the local currency.”
“Back on topic,” Blee ordered. “Lord Shu’s behavior shames all of us.” He counted off on age-whitened talons, “He abuses his Clan members, he endangers his Clan members and anyone around them with his ‘salvage’ operation, and he is the only noble demanding payment for migration other than the customary exit payment for those going to Nightlast, SunTouched, Zhangki City or Schree’s Rest. Tarkeela, I know his business practices chafe you, but they are not germane except in a general sense,” Blee added, forestalling the argument. “And before you launch into a speech about exit fees and effectively enslaving his own Clan members, what he is doing is legal.”
Tarkeela limited himself to, “Thank you for using my preferred term, my lord Blee.” What he really wanted to say risked destroying Drakon IV’s satellite comm system, so he quietly shredded a worn-out cushion instead, out of sight of the others.
Kirlin’s eyes narrowed at Tarkeela’s restraint. Instead of goading the other reptile, however, he reminded the council that, “Warning Shu to restrain himself worked before. He’s avoided the towns and cities outside Shu or other Clan properties. We must make him stop trying to salvage from the Deathlands, but is there really anything else we can do without a full Imperial council hearing?”
Yellowy-green Sheedai raised a talon. “We can stop all salvage of unidentified materials by anyone other than the Makers. That violates so many industrial safety codes that even the Traders would think twice when they saw the fines.” Tarkeela made an affirmative tail wave and the others took notes. Sheedai rumpled his tail, frustration plain. “I do not care for what he is doing within the Clan, but unless his people cry for mercy to the throne, or petition the Council, or revolt and kill him, there’s nothing we can do legally.”
Zlee-kae spoke up for the first time. The muddy grey-brown reptile began, “My lords, I hesitate to even mention this, but,” he took a deep breath, “what if Shu destroys his Clan?” The others stared at him and he continued, “I mean, between sterilizing the potentially fertile, driving off others, and causing so much suffering that the Clan collapses. Is there any precedent? The trail has grown so strange and tracks so muddled that normal law might not apply anymore.”
Peitak swirled his forefoot. “The precedent is Raetee, and the Clan underwent voluntary termination at the Clan Lord’s own request. That does not change the law. Shu’s own Clansibs have to bring the challenge to the greater pack.” Peitak made his unhappiness abundantly clear before adding, “Are we willing to change the laws?”
“Not now,” Blee snapped before anyone else could say a word. “This is not the time. Things remain too unstable to be doing anything that might divide the councils against themselves. Not even the Imperial lineage could hold the Empire together if that happened.”
“Empire be damned, Drakon IV would fall apart,” someone muttered under their breath.
“Speaking of Empire, do we want to involve his Imperial Majesty?” Peitak thought he knew what the answer would be.
A chorus of “no,” “absolutely not,” and “don’t give him a tail tip,” flowed through the audio system, with one, “hmmmm, not yet,” for variety. The green-striped noble gestured his acquiescence. He expected nothing else, but needed to know officially, so-to-speak.
After a little more discussion, the council decided that Blee, Kirlin, and Li-kss would corner Shu and force him to stop salvaging, and warn him about the other things. As the group agreed that its business had concluded, Kirlin waved for attention. “My lords, you should know that the Makers lost most of the seismology warning system. The next time a volcano in the Unnumbered Islands goes ‘poof,’ we will have much less warning. The same applies to offshore earthquakes as well. Normally it is not a major problem, especially now that the spaceport has been relocated, but since we are depending on the seaports…”
“What about weather warnings,” Tarkeela inquired. He had not heard this little bit of news before.
“Weather is still good. That was the first thing moved north,” Kirlin reassured him.
“Thanks.”
The meeting ended but Peitak and Zhi-king stayed in conference with Tarkeela. “Tarkeela,” Zhi-king waved a flop-screen. “Your pet story-catcher’s new hunt was a great idea.”
“You mean Cheerka? Whatever he does is on his own. And what’s he up to now? I’ve been a little too busy to read,” Tarkeela admitted. Maybe Cheerka started a new gossip list, he mused.
Peitak filled him in. “Well whoever thought of it, the new stories about good news, famous Azdhagi, individuals and packs that fought through troubles and survived or even throve, they’re great stuff. Keeps people looking forward.”
“Thank you for pointing out the trail. I’ll keep my eyes on it,” and with that the others signed off, leaving an amused and bemused Tarkeela staring at the empty projection. Trust Cheerka to find a way to fall into a ferment pit and come up with a platter of pre-shelled sandwalkers and a shootee roast.
The next day, Sarka interrupted Tarkeela’s weapons practice. “My lord, Lord Shu’s gone too far,” the manager announced from the doorway of the practice area.
“How many dead this time?” the noble panted. He hated weapons work, but detested his back fat even more.
“One transport’s engine and Shu’s pride. And I hope a chunk of his finances, with my lord’s pardon,” the grey male admitted. Tarkeela gestured for him to tell the tale and Sarka launched. “Seems the guards warned him about not taking anything unlabeled out, like they always do. But this time when he came out, Blee and Li-kss met him with a pack of their personal guards and reservists. And two Makers, who had tracked Shu’s vehicles to locations not on the Shu Corp. property list,” the satisfied reptile told his employer. “When Shu couldn’t explain just what he was looking for there, or why he was forcing his people to work at night and without full sets of protective equipment, Blee had the Makers inspect the vehicles. Shu tried to stop them and the other lords held him at blaster-point until the Makers finished their inspection and testing.”
“Oh, that must have stung,” Tarkeela gloated. “I take it my lord Shu’s loads had a few permit problems?”
“Enough that they are still inside the exclusion zone until a hazard disposal crew can replace them at the original site. At Shu’s expense, m
y lord. My lords Blee and Li-kss ordered him to obey the law and keep the peace, but my lord Shu, well, apparently he said a few unkind things regarding my lord Blee.” Sarka couldn’t hide his glee. “Blee put a shot into the engine of Shu’s personal vehicle, said if Shu wanted to challenge him that Blee was ready, and Li-kss offered Shu’s people jobs and land in Li-kss holdings on Pokara or Drakon IV, their choice.”
Tarkeela wanted to fall onto his back and roll with laughter and evil happiness. “Did Shu have to walk home?”
“No, because enough of his employees quit to take up the offer from Li-kss that Shu had a seat in one of the remaining vehicles, the ones with his legal and safe salvage in them.” Sarka swept his tail side to side. “My lord, why does Lord Shu not just take the loss and go from there? Half the out-Clan blame him for the Disaster anyway.”
“Do they?” Tarkeela stopped laughing.
“It began in his warehouse, one with hazardous cargo. With his current disregard for safety and his greed, well my lord, two legs plus two legs makes one fast-walking rumor.”
Damn, Shu, do you really want to burn down the Empire? Tarkeela asked silently. “Ah, Sarka, while you are here.” Tarkeela summoned the manager closer and hissed in his ear, “Start dividing our departures, people and cargo both. Some through Bluewater and I don’t care what you have to pay Kirlin. Send some via Eastport if it’s closer, and the rest through Sea Gate, starting now.”
“Trouble, my lord?” Sarka sounded grim.
“Not yet, but it is very possible. I have a strange feeling, Sarka,” Tarkeela confessed. “As if we are stalking a talkak while a shardi sniffs our trail.”
The feeling continued for several days, nagging Tarkeela. Sea Gate in particular bothered him and at his behest Sarka redirected the next two shipments from TeerClaw to Bluewater, along with the next group of refugees and settlers. Tarkeela’s accountants and managers combed through everything dealing with Sea Gate, looking for what might have irritated their lord’s hindbrain, but found nothing other than a few late payments from a contractor. Cheerlak sniffed around but found nothing new to report, aside from the usual tensions of an overcrowded city. Storms offshore to the north delayed some of the departing passenger ships, causing a bit of a lizard pile.
