Isolate

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  “For me, too.” She lowered her voice. “Ulrich screwed us as well. He never let her know he was going to keep all the Kraffeist-related matters in hearings before the Military Affairs Committee. Maastach didn’t tell her, either. He still hasn’t.”

  Dekkard almost broke stride. “Just because she doesn’t like Eastern Ironway?”

  “I told you before. Some things go back a long ways. We need to talk sometime. But you and your boss need to know that mine isn’t that happy with all this, and she’s not the only one. That’s all I should say right now.”

  “I’ll let him know … and thank you.”

  Amelya smiled. “We’ll talk later. We’re both in a hurry right now.” With that she angled away from Dekkard as they crossed the drive in the light rain.

  On his way inside and up the staff staircase, Dekkard considered what had just happened. Detauran’s councilor—Kaliara Bassaana—was the second-ranking Commerce councilor on the Transportation Committee, likely to become chair after the next election, because Chairman Maastach was senior enough that he couldn’t run for reelection. Yet Transportation was the oversight committee for railroads and highways, and Maastach and Ulrich had essentially bypassed Bassaana without telling her, at least partly because of her animosity toward Eastern.

  Dekkard just wished he knew more, but Detauran had indicated she just might tell him … most likely for a future favor. Most likely? Definitely!

  As soon as he stepped into the outer office, Karola just turned to the half-open door to the inner office and said, “Steffan’s here, sir.”

  “Good!”

  Dekkard kept moving, walked into the inner office, and closed the door.

  Obreduur looked up with a slight frown.

  “There’s something you should know…” Dekkard relayed Amelya Detauran’s words.

  The councilor nodded. “Keeping other committees out of the investigation was always a possibility, but to strong-arm Councilor Bassaana, with her wealth and connections … there’s something more there than the obvious.”

  “Doesn’t that also mean that there won’t be a Public Resources Committee hearing over the Kraffeist Affair?”

  “What do you think, Steffan?”

  Dekkard smiled wryly. “Not if Premier Ulrich can avoid it. I’d guess he’ll claim that using a Naval Coal Reserve and overcharging the Navy puts the matter under the Military Affairs Committee.”

  Obreduur’s smile was sardonic. “I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Premier Ulrich will announce just that when he opens the hearing. In the meantime, we both have work to do.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dekkard inclined his head, turned, and made his way back to his desk with the small stack of letters and petitions that awaited him. As he seated himself, he considered again the one aspect of Detauran’s wording that had struck him as slightly odd. She’d said “you and your boss.” Did she also know that he’d been promoted?

  As Dekkard worked through the letters on his desk he did notice that, in response to the bronze messenger flag that Karola had lowered outside the corridor door, a Council messenger appeared and collected quite a few envelopes, presumably to other councilors. About what Amelya said? Or something else about the hearings?

  Just before noon, Obreduur stepped out of his office. “Steffan, we’re off.”

  Dekkard immediately stood. “Where to, sir?”

  “The councilors’ dining room. You can eat at the staff cafeteria. Councilor Ulrich is most fastidious about stopping hearings for lunch, as if he were truly a Ritter. So if you see Svard and Avraal, you might join them, but don’t linger. The Waterways Committee meeting starts at first bell, and I’d like you to escort me. There will be newssheet reporters and … there might be others.”

  Dekkard understood. Obreduur worried that word about the Kraffeist hearings had leaked or been leaked for various purposes, some of which might result in intrusions of either would-be influencers or worse.

  On the walk from the Council Office Building to the Council Hall, Dekkard saw more Council Guards stationed within and around the courtyard gardens, but no sign of demonstrators, possibly partly because of the rain, although it had almost stopped and was more of a light mist.

  Once he saw Obreduur safely into the councilors’ dining room, Dekkard walked to the staff cafeteria, looking for Ysella and Roostof. He saw neither, not until he’d gotten his meal, when Roostof called out, “Steffan! Over here.”

  Dekkard joined them. “How is it going?”

  Roostof snorted. “Ulrich gave an opening statement saying that all aspects of the ‘so-called Kraffeist Affair’ will be addressed before the Military Affairs Committee. Kraffeist was the first witness. He claims he knows nothing and that the leases he signed didn’t indicate they were on Naval Coal Reserve lands … and that he had no idea—”

  “Did he say why he later said it wasn’t a problem?” asked Dekkard, quickly taking a bite of his basil-lime empanada.

  “Oh, yes. The same shit as before … that the Navy hadn’t used it in a hundred years, so that it didn’t seem to him to be a problem. He claims the payments were standard, and that he knew nothing of the bribe … I mean the commission to the nonexistent Kharhan Associates, or the disappearing director of logistics or the missing files…” Roostof shook his head. “Ulrich and several of the councilors said that all that seemed improbable, but they didn’t press him. Ulrich did say that if proof surfaced to indicate that Kraffeist had lied or misled the committee, he would face criminal charges. Then there were four other Eastern Ironway bureaucrats who also knew nothing. The morning ended with testimony from Admiral Gorral, the head of Naval Logistics, who admitted to later discovering the price gouging by Eastern Ironway. That didn’t go well, because Ulrich and the other Commercers attacked him for accepting overpriced coal. They didn’t seem to care that he had no way of knowing Eastern’s costs or sources. They just blamed him. This afternoon we’re supposed to hear the details from Naval Supply officers.” Roostof shook his head.

  Dekkard swallowed a mouthful of café, then said, “It sounds like it will be a long afternoon that won’t tell anyone much.”

  “Isn’t that what Ulrich wants?” asked Roostof sardonically. “He’ll have another long day of hearings tomorrow, lasting long enough so that the newsies miss their deadlines, and hope the whole thing will die down over endday, and that very few people will read the official report … and given that most people aren’t that interested in the price of coal paid by the Navy … unless the Navy can’t pursue Sargassan pirates because of excessive coal prices at foreign ports.”

  “No one’s saying anything about the missing Eduard Graffyn?” asked Dekkard.

  “Ulrich said that his absence was regrettable, but didn’t change the nature of the offense,” added Ysella. “The committee will recommend and the Justiciary will support a hefty but affordable penalty to be paid by Eastern, and life will go on … while certain unpleasant details vanish.”

  Dekkard winced, even knowing she was correct. He looked down at his empty plate. “Anything else I should tell the councilor?”

  “That’s pretty much it … so far.”

  “Do you know who he’s lunching with?” asked Ysella. “You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

  “I have no idea, but he sent out a batch of messages soon after he got to the office.”

  “Likely an informal Craft caucus, then,” she replied. “You’d better go wait for him.”

  “You’re right.” Dekkard stood, then looked to Ysella. “You haven’t sensed anyone who feels out of place, have you?”

  She shook her head.

  “I’ll see you both later. I hope it’s not as late as you think.”

  “Optimist,” replied Ysella, her voice cheerfully sarcastic.

  As Dekkard hurried away from the staff cafeteria, he was careful to study those in the corridors. He’d only had to wait outside the entrance to the dining room for perhaps a sixth when Obreduur emerged, followed by several other counc
ilors. Dekkard recognized two immediately, Harleona Zerlyon, because she was one of the few female Craft councilors, and because he knew Zerlyon’s waiting empath, Chavyona Leiugan, through Ysella. The other councilor was Gerhard Safaell, and his isolate, Emile Fharkon, appeared seemingly from nowhere.

  Obreduur started toward the farther committee rooms, but said nothing until they were away from the others. “Did you find them?”

  “We found each other…” Dekkard quickly briefed Obreduur as they walked.

  “That’s about what we expected. Wait outside the committee rooms. I shouldn’t be that long.”

  “That long” turned out to be almost a full bell. For a moment, Dekkard had the feeling the councilor might actually shake his head, but Obreduur merely offered a pleasant smile. “Water-shares apportionment on the Rio Doro. There were more concerns to be addressed than the chair realized. Have you seen anyone you shouldn’t have?”

  “Not so far, sir. I asked Avraal if she’s sensed anyone who seemed out of place. She hadn’t.”

  “Good thought, but you can’t always rely on her.”

  “I know that, sir, but…”

  “You like to have all the advantages you can?”

  Dekkard nodded. He’d almost said that he’d use all the tools he could, except Ysella wasn’t a tool, and he hadn’t been able to come up with a quick change of phrase.

  22

  … Premier Oskaar Ulrich’s investigation of the Kraffeist Affair began yesterday with a hearing before the Military Affairs Committee. The Premier opened the hearing by stating, “All facets of the matter will be heard before this committee and no others.”

  After the Premier, the committee heard from the former Minister of Public Resources, Jhared Kraffeist, who continued to insist that he had been misled and that he had signed standard lease forms that held no references to the fact that the lands leased were part of the Eshbruk Naval Coal Reserve. The original leases were presented in support of his testimony …

  … subsequent witnesses included First Marshal Karl Bernotte and Admiral Gorral, who found himself criticized by the Councilors for allowing Eastern Ironway to charge excessive prices for coal mined illegally out of a Naval Coal Reserve …

  … absent from the hearing was the Director of Logistics for Eastern Ironway, Eduard Graffyn, likely the only person who could explain the possible bribe paid as a “commission.” Graffyn vanished weeks ago, and despite efforts by the Ministry of Security, has not been located …

  … near the end of the first day of hearings, Premier Ulrich stated that, if the hearings uncovered factual evidence that any specific individual employed in any fashion by Eastern Ironway had engaged in illegal actions in obtaining the lease, the Council would request that the Justiciary Ministry seek punitive damages for violations of law and file criminal charges against those individuals …

  Gestirn, 29 Springend 1266

  23

  THE first thing Dekkard did on Quindi morning was to borrow Hyelda’s copy of Gestirn, waiting as usual on the side table for others to peruse, and read the story on the hearings. The second was to shake his head. After that, he replaced the newssheet on the side table and seated himself at the staff table. Once again, there was no quince paste, just tomato jelly.

  That’s annoying, but scarcely the end of the world. He smiled, then poured himself a mug of café before reaching for the jelly.

  Ysella settled into the chair across from him. “What was in Gestirn?”

  “Just what you and Roostof told me. One thing I didn’t think about yesterday … Premier Grieg appointed Kraffeist, but even when the scandal became public, Grieg didn’t remove him. Then, when the Imperador removed Grieg, and the Council chose Ulrich as his successor, there was only the smallest mention of Kraffeist’s removal, and only by Ulrich, not the Imperador, as if to minimize it…”

  “Why do you think there would be?”

  The hint of the sardonic in Ysella’s words made Dekkard think. “Oh…”

  She raised her eyebrows, then took a sip of café. “Yes?”

  “That way the Commercers minimize the scandal, and the Imperador isn’t forced to call new elections, which he’d rather not because that could lead to an awkward political situation, especially if the Craft Party were to pick up just one or two seats.”

  “That would be my guess. It’s only a guess, though.”

  “Your guesses are never just guesses,” replied Dekkard dryly. “I learned that in the first month I worked for the councilor.”

  “That’s true. I wondered why it took you so long.” The hint of a mischievous smile followed her words.

  “Because I’m a slow learner,” he replied, deadpan.

  “We’d better go,” Ysella said abruptly. “He’ll want to leave early again this morning.”

  “Do you have to accompany Roostof again today?”

  “I do. It will be longer and even more boring, I suspect.” Ysella stood and carried her platter to the kitchen.

  Dekkard finished the last bite of his second croissant and then followed her example.

  Less than a sixth of a bell later he was in the garage lighting off the Gresynt. Then, when he opened the garage door, the warm and almost steamy air oozing into the garage and the heavy haze of the pale green sky reminded him that the first day of summer was little more than a week away, although it already felt that hot and humid.

  Three minutes later, he had the Gresynt under the portico, and only a few minutes after that he turned the steamer onto Altarama. By then, Obreduur was busy writing.

  “Have you heard anything more about Mathilde Thanne?” Dekkard asked Ysella quietly.

  “Nothing.”

  “How strong an empath was she?”

  “Adequate but not overpowering.” She paused. “Is it possible that Mathilde is just very ill, and Jaime was using her illness to get a reaction?”

  “She’s definitely missing,” interjected Obreduur from the back. “Since Ulrich’s isolate is known for subterfuge, I thought about that possibility and asked Mardosh. He wasn’t happy that Ulrich knew. She went out shopping on Findi and never returned.”

  “Sir…” began Dekkard deferentially, “has this sort of thing happened before?”

  “It was more common a century ago, when the Landors controlled the Council. There hasn’t been an incident since before the last election … until now … and if we count the attempts on Steffan … and on me and possibly on Freust, that’s rather ominous. It’s also why you two shouldn’t be going anywhere alone for a while. Now … if you’d talk about something pleasant or inane, preferably quietly, I do have some missives to write.”

  “Yes, sir.” Ysella offered an amused smile to Dekkard.

  In turn, he concentrated on driving.

  After dropping them off and parking the Gresynt, Dekkard tried to be more aware as he made his way toward the office, although he thought it was unlikely anyone would be attacking him with Council Guards all around.

  But sometimes the unlikely offers the best opportunity.

  He reached the office without anyone even coming close to him, only to find that Roostof, Ysella, and Obreduur had already left for the Council Hall.

  “The councilor said that you were to be outside the Waterways Committee Chamber at a third before noon,” Karola informed him as he neared his desk. “There’s also a letter for you from the Council Clerk on your desk. Don’t let it get lost in all those other letters.”

  A letter from the Council Clerk? “Thank you.”

  Dekkard found that letter by itself and immediately opened it, then smiled. It was a standard letter informing him that his promotion to Security Specialist/Assistant Economic Specialist had been entered on the Council payroll, effective 25 Springend 1266.

  He slipped the letter into his personal file, and then began to sort through the letters and petitions. Before that long, he was drafting responses. That continued until he left to meet with Obreduur in the Council Hall.

  Clo
ser to a half before noon, Dekkard stood waiting outside the Waterways Committee hearing room, his back to the wall. By the time Obreduur walked toward him, he’d been able to pick out two councilors he didn’t know except by name as a result of his continued nighttime study of the volume Ysella had given him.

  “Did you see anyone who you didn’t think should be here?” asked Obreduur.

  “Sir?”

  “You were studying everyone. That’s good when you’re in uniform. When you’re not, it’s best to cultivate an expression that suggests your mind is elsewhere. You’d be amazed at what you see then. Now … we’re headed to the councilors’ dining room. You’ll have almost a full bell for lunch. Don’t join Avraal or Svard or sit near them. Talk to anyone who approaches you, even invite them to join you if it appears they have something in mind. But don’t make any approaches to others, even by recognizing them.”

  “What don’t you want me to say?” asked Dekkard wryly.

  “Just follow the rules for normal caution. Nothing at all may occur.” Obreduur shrugged. “Sometimes, silence indicates more. Meet me outside the dining room at a sixth before first bell, and we’ll walk back to the office.”

  After making sure Obreduur was safely inside the dining room, Dekkard walked to the staff cafeteria, where he decided on a cheese-stuffed fowl breast placed carelessly on jasmine rice, along with café, then made his way to the only empty table for two. Ysella and Roostof’s absence suggested that the hearing was running late, or at least to noon sharp.

  Dekkard immediately addressed the fowl breast and the rice, which was at least moist and tender, and the Havarti and pepper cheese gave it a little character. When he was about halfway through he slowed down and tried to adopt a distracted look. That wasn’t difficult because he was feeling somewhat distracted. After possibly a sixth of a bell, he caught a glimpse of Roostof and Ysella leaving the cafeteria serving line and making for the other end of the room.

  At that moment, a balding older man with spectacles stopped at the table, and said in an apologetic tone, “Steffan … we only met briefly last year. In case you don’t recall, I’m Avraam Pietrsyn. Councilor Hasheem’s economic aide. He mentioned that you’ll be dealing with economic issues. If I can ever help with forestry and anything in the entire timber industry, just drop by. I just wanted to say hello and make the offer.”