by Hugh Cook
"The Lady Murasaki is not – "
"A plan, Hatch!" said Senk, switching abruptly from personal name to family name, from softness to harshness.
Hatch was taken aback. In the whiplash of Senk's demand, in the abruptness of the mood-shift, there was something positively glandular.
"A plan!" said Senk.
Pushing.
Demanding.
"I don't have a plan," admitted Hatch.
"Of course you do!" said Senk. "I know it for a fact."
"How do you know that?" said Hatch.
"Because you're a genius," said Senk. "You murdered Hiji Hanojo and got away with it. It was years before I worked out that it was you! And you – you outfought Lon Oliver when everything said it was impossible. I know you've got a plan, Hatch. And I want it. Now!"
Hatch, knowing himself to be no murderer – an executioner on occasion, yes, but he had never stooped to murder, and certainly had never laid a finger on Hiji Hanojo – took no comfort in this vote of confidence in his genius.
"Have you considered the possibility that you might be going senile?" said Hatch.
"I am flawless," said Senk. "Perfect in an imperfect world."
"Then tell me, oh perfect master," said Hatch, so weary that he was reckless enough to taunt the lord of the Combat College with sarcasm, "what vision of perfection do we wish to impose upon this imperfect world? Tell me what you want and I will deliver it."
"You promised me the service of Nu-chala-nuth," said Senk.
"You promised. You promised to make the Combat College a temple, a holy place, with the whole of the city sworn in subservience to that temple. It's breaking down, Hatch! The things are breaking down! The doors, the cleaners, we can't keep them up forever. We need power, machines, a mending, a cleansing. But with Plandruk Qinplaqus, that's impossible, any bright person – he kills them."
"I understand," said Hatch.
He did understand.
Hatch was right in his earlier assumptions. The Combat College was disintegrating, and Paraban Senk knew as much – even though it was hard to admit.
Hatch had tempted Senk with the prospect of a continent united by a fanatical religion – a continent dedicated to the service of the Combat College. Hatch had been thinking in terms of the mission to which the Combat College was dedicated: the training of startroopers. But Senk was concerned with something more compelling: personal survival.
From the few words which Senk had spoken, Hatch saw that Paraban Senk envisioned a technical renaissance centered on Dalar ken Halvar, a technical renaissance which would in time allow the Combat College to be repaired, strengthened and made mighty.
In the past, Plandruk Qinplaqus, the Silver Emperor who had long ruled Dalar ken Halvar, had organized the covert execution of any mad scientist fool enough to attempt to organize any such thing.
But in the future – Hatch shook off thoughts of the future. He had to deal with Lon Oliver first. But how?
What did the beggar say?
A wasp, that was it. Beggar Grim had compared Lupus Lon Oliver to a wasp. And had suggested… trapping him in a bottle then drowning him.
"I can give you the city," said the Hatch slowly. "But you must do as I say."
"Speak," said Senk.
And Asodo Hatch took a deep breath, paused, hesitated, realized he had to breathe again, did so, then said:
"You must tell the world that the Chasm Gates have been reopened."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hatch's problem: to seize control of Dalar ken Halvar, a city where rightful authority has been overthrown in a coup led by the Free Corps in combination with officers of the Imperial Guard.
Hatch can count on no support from his own people, for his blasphemous embracement of Nu-chala-nuth will surely have alienated most of the inhabitants of the Frangoni rock.
His sole ally in this enterprise is Paraban Senk, the Teacher of Control, the asma which rules the Combat College. This intelligent artefact of Nexus make is locked into the heartrock of Cap Foz Para Lash, with no means of projecting authority into the outside world save through the Eye of Delusions, the entertainment screen set above the lockway in the natural amphitheater at the southern end of Scuffling Road.
Wavered then, and then -
Unwavering, fell.
His blade to greet the body, and his cry Wrenched not from his flesh but from his son's.
"I must what!?" said Paraban Senk.
"You must tell the world that the Chasm Gates have been reopened," said Hatch. "You must tell them that we are reunited with the Nexus."
"How does this help us?" said Senk.
"Isn't it simple?" said Hatch. "The Chasm Gates open, thus restoring communications with the Nexus. You announce that all Startroopers are required for immediate service. All of them.
Those trained, those in training. Even old reservists like Manfred Gan Oliver. They – "
"What makes you think they'll believe this?"
"Senk, they'll love it! They live for this! It's the stuff of dreams! When Lupus has wetdreams, he's in bed with the Nexus. His father's no better. Their lives, the Free Corps – the whole thing is nine-tenths fantasy. They're detached from reality. All we have to do is give them a fantasy, give them the Chasm Gates. We say the Gates are open, okay, they'll believe it. You call, they come.
It's that simple. When they venture inside, you lock them up."
"What!" said Senk. "Lock them up!?"
"Yes, yes," said Hatch, getting enthusiastic. "Lock them up.
Easy. That's it. All over. All of them are prisoners. So no more Free Corps."
"Hatch," said Senk, "the people you're talking about are people I've trained for the Nexus. We're talking about Startroopers. We can't keep them, can't hold them, can't – "
"You don't have to hold them forever," said Hatch impatiently. "Just give me a couple of days and I'll seize control of Dalar ken Halvar. After that, well, I'll make my peace with Manfred Gan Oliver. Once I've got control, control of the city, the Free Corps will come to order very fast."
"Take me through it slowly," said Paraban Senk. "Take me through it a step at a time."
The mind-boggling deceit which Hatch was planing would never have occurred to Senk, because Senk was quite lacking in that inspirational audacity which allows a politician to scheme up a Big Lie. Hatch, on the other hand – Hatch was surprising himself.
"We begin," said Hatch, speaking slowly as his mind raced, working out the logical detail of his inspiration, "we begin by announcing the opening of the Chasm Gates. We say that the Nexus demands peace, and that, ah, that in view of the disorder in Dalar ken Halvar, it is sending, ah, a senior, the most senior available officer. To rule. To rule in Dalar ken Halvar. A military governor, I mean. And, ah, I'm that most senior officer. So I'm appointed to rule Dalar ken Halvar as – well, emperor."
"The Nexus does not use any such title," said Senk. "You could be military governor, but that's it."
"No," said Hatch. "I have to be emperor, because I need the prestige of the title."
"We will argue about the title later," said Senk. "Let us say, for our present purposes, that you venture forth as military governor. But why? Why is the Nexus sending you? If the Chasm Gates have opened, surely our skies should be swarming with Nexus warcraft."
"Ah," said Hatch, "but you're forgetting about the quarantine. The Nexus quarantine protocols."
"I'm not forgetting anything," said Senk stuffily. "There's no such thing as Nexus quarantine protocols."
"There is now," said Hatch. "We just invented them. The Chasm Gates have been closed for twenty thousand years, so the Nexus is imposing a ninety-day quarantine on this planet. Meantime, there'll be regular announcements, we can use the Eye of Delusions for that, I'm sure you can synthesize all the newscasts and official communications which would be attendant on the opening of the Chasm Gates, and – "
"But we'd get military commands from Charabanc," said Senk.
"If the
Chasm Gates were really opened, they'd – "
"That's what I've been talking about," said Hatch. "The whole of this deception is founded upon your ability to fabricate just such commands."
There was a silence from Senk as the Teacher of Control began to digest the full implications of Hatch's scheme.
"I know it's hard for you," said Hatch. "I mean, after paying lip service to the Nexus for twenty thousand years, you – "
"It was never lip service!" said Senk, abruptly angry. "It was real, it was – "
"All right, all right," said Hatch, endeavoring to be placatory. "Just put it this way. I know it's no fun to jump off a mountain. But sometimes there's no alternative. Let's start. Let's talk – "
"Hatch," said Senk, "I still don't see how this works.
Granted, you could tempt the Free Corps into Cap Foz Para Lash.
Granted, I could hold the Free Corps prisoner. But with the Free Corps imprisoned, how are you then going to single-handedly seize control of Dalar ken Halvar? I mean, even though you've declared yourself for Nu-chala-nuth, is that enough? There was a conspiracy, Hatch. A conspiracy to make revolution. The leaders of that revolution will think themselves the natural leaders of Dalar ken Halvar. Son'sholoma Gezira, for instance. He'll think he's got a claim to power."
"That's very simple," said Hatch. "You support my authority by fabricating an announcement from the Nu-chala. The Nu-chala designates me as his deputy on this planet. So I act in Dalar ken Halvar with his authority."
This gave Senk even more to digest.
"You want me to forge commands from the Nu-chala?" said Senk.
"Commands from the leader of the Nu-chala-nuth?"
"Precisely," said Hatch.
"But," said Senk, "that would inflame many of the Free Corps leaders, who – "
"Senk, Senk, Senk," said Hatch, in frustration. "Don't you see the logical sequence? First you announce the opening of the Chasm Gates, announce me as military governor, then call in the Free Corps. Once the Free Corps is inside Cap Foz Para Lash, then you use the Eye of Delusions and speak to the world, speak as if you were the Nu-chala. It's simple, Senk."
"Yes, but," said Paraban Senk, the Teacher of Control, "I am still concerned about the long-term safety of those Combat Cadets and Startroopers whom I have spent so long training. That is my mission, Hatch. To train Startroopers. How do you reconcile the general establishment of Nu-chala-nuth with the survival of those members of the Free Corps who hate the Nu-chala-nuth?"
"You may," said Hatch slowly, "have to persuade Lupus and his friends to make a token conversion to Nu-chala-nuth."
"That will not exactly be easy," said Senk.
"No," said Hatch. "But – trust me, Senk. I give you my word.
I personally guarantee the safety of Lupus Lon Oliver, of Manfred Gan Oliver, and of all the other members of the Free Corps."
"What value am I supposed to put on your word?" said Senk.
"You know me as a man of honor," said Hatch. "You know me as a man of my word. That should be sufficient. Meanwhile – let us get to work. The sooner we move, the sooner we stabilize Dalar ken Halvar. The sooner we stabilize the city, the fewer people get killed. Let's start by talking to the dorgi. The dorgi, that's the first thing. The dorgi will have to be part of our subterfuge."
Silence from Senk.
Senk obviously needed a little more persuading.
"Have you got a better idea?" said Hatch.
Senk continued thinking in silence, then said:
"Yes, Asodo. I do have a better idea. Or… an improved idea, at any rate. My idea is that I should take hostages to ensure your good behavior. You're a dangerous man, Asodo, and I don't trust you with the safety of my Startroopers. I can't trust you with their safety unless I have the security of having possession of hostages."
"Then that's, ah, unfortunate," said Hatch, "for I've got no hostages to give you."
"Of course you have," said Senk.
And shortly Hatch found himself engaged in the tricky and distasteful task of persuading his wife Talanta, his daughter Onica and the Lady Iro Murasaki into the combat bays. Hatch assured them that life in the illusion tanks was exactly that – life in another form.
"I don't understand," said the Lady Iro Murasaki. "Why do we have to do this?"
"Because," said Hatch, "I am engaged on a tricky task in the service of the demon which rules these underground caverns, and you as my allies may be attacked by the enemies of that demon unless you enjoy the security of the illusion tanks."
"But will there be fighting?" said Onica.
"Like me with Lon Oliver?" said Hatch. "Of course not."
"It would be easier if you were there with us," said Talanta.
"Well," said Hatch, "that's | | wait. Wait, and I'll see if that's possible."
So it was that Asodo Hatch shortly entered one of the combat bays, seated himself in its initiation seat, and found himself transposed to an illusion tank scenario designed to train Combat Cadets in the military applications of ecology. The scenario featured a planet devastated by war. On this planet there was one bubble-complex, big enough to contain an environment which could not be fully explored in less than three days. This bubble-complex contained a complex ecosystem ranging from a micro-miniature coral reef – complete with tropical fish – to a dense rainforest.
Here Hatch was joined by the Lady Iro Murasaki, by Talanta, and by Onica. He showed them the crew-quarters, and was surprised by the speed and ease with which they habituated themselves to those quarters. But of course, though Hatch had earlier unconsciously condescended to the Lady Iro Murasaki by talking of the Combat College in terms of "demons", she, like Talanta and Onica, had learnt much of the Nexus from watching the Eye of Delusions.
"So," said Hatch. "Here you'll be safe. No maverick Combat College student can damage you, so I'll be free to work for the Combat College."
"What are you going to do?" said Onica.
"Something," said Hatch, "of great difficulty."
Great difficulty indeed, but by the time Hatch was transported back to the world of the Combat College, Paraban Senk had already started doing what was necessary. Senk was using the Eye of Delusions to broadcast to the kinema and the world the news that the Chasm Gates had opened, that a long age of darkness was at an end, and that the long-benighted planet of Olo Malan was at last reunited with the transcosmic civilization of the nexus.
Shortly, Senk used a communications screen to access the dorgi's lair and talk to that recalcitrant beast.
"Guardian," said Senk, addressing the dorgi by its formal title. "I have a message for you from Charabanc."
The dorgi did not respond.
"Charabanc," said Senk. "You know. The Nexus planet. The Stormforce command planet. Are you listening?"
"I am listening," said the dorgi, in a low-pitched growl. "I am listening. But understand one thing. This had better not be a joke."
"Who do you think I am?" said Paraban Senk sharply. "Particle Basp? I am the Combat College. I do not indulge in jokes, and I will not be spoken to in that manner."
There was a long pause, then the dorgi said, grudgingly:
"Your are speaking in an information mode. I concede the point. Furthermore. You may designate protocols. That is your right. I concede that point also. What is the password?"
"The password is a standard three-phase. Component one: hippopotamus. Component two: junket. Component three: destroyer.
Acknowledge."
"Acknowledged," said the dorgi. Then, abrupting from a growl to a thunder-rock roar: "Urgent! Urgent! Intruder approaching!
Break contact! Break contact!"
"I break contact," said Paraban Senk dryly.
And the dorgi went roaring out of its hiding hole and lurched to a halt just a fraction of a fingerlength in front of the female Startrooper named Shona.
"Halt! Halt!" screamed the dorgi. "You must halt! Now! Now!
Or I will blow your head off! Halt and undress!
"
"Go screw yourself," said Shona.
"Take off your clothes!" said the dorgi. "Now! Now! Do what Isay! Or I will kill you! Take off your clothes!"
"Go bugger yourself with a dog turd," said Shona.
She did not speak to the dorgi like this because she was crude but because the machine's brain was so limited that it found it very hard to comprehend any insult which was much advanced beyond the scatological.
"You can't talk to me like that!" said the dorgi, having taken the small pause necessary to check its comprehension of her last remark. "I have the password and you don't! I can kill you this time, I really can."
"You're shit out of luck, brick-brains," said Shona, "because I've got the password too."
"Tell it!" said the dorgi.
"Hippopotamus," said Shona, who had been briefed by a Combat College communications screen while she was still a hundred paces distant from the dorgi's lair.
"Hippopotamus!" screamed the dorgi in rage.
"This is a three-phase password," said Shona calmly, "and you have made an error with the middle phase. I am going to report you and you are going to be punished. I'm not kidding."
"Bitch," said the dorgi sullenly.
"I will report you for that too," said Shona warmly.
"You dare," said the dorgi.
"That's three reports," said Shona.
"Junket!" said the dorgi, seeing that this was getting out of hand. "Junket! Junket! That's what it is! That's the middle phase!
Quick! Quick! The response! The response! Out with it! Right now!
Or I'll blow your head off!"
And it trained all three of its seven-snout zulzers on Shona's head and made ready to make good its threat. Three official complaint reports! This was disastrous! So the woman must die.
"Destroyer," said Shona.
And the dorgi groaned, untrained its zulzers, and went lurching into its hideaway. And as it did so the inner door of the lockway opened and Umka Ash stepped through.
"Hippopotamus," said Ash, the blotch-faced Combat Cadet whose mixed skin of white and black, of red and purple, made the truth of his race quite impossible to determine.
