They were greeted cordially at the door of the old red building and escorted to an office where Shan sat waiting for them.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Please, make yourselves comfortable."
Vagnu took a seat across the desk from Shan while his two guards, arms folded, remained standing on either side of the door.
“Where is the Delta?” Vagnu demanded.
“Please, please, bear with me a moment while we discuss a few things. For example, who are the two shagrats at the door?"
“My personal guards, Mr. Shan. You did say I could bring an army if I wanted. As you can see, they hardly represent an army."
“Yeah, I did say that, didn't I? Fine. Allow me to present my personal guard so we may all get acquainted."
The false wall behind Shan accordioned back, revealing ten men brandishing weapons of a type Vagnu had never seen.
“What is this? You said twenty million and Kaznov was mine. Why all this ... this—"
“Insurance, Vagnu. Your reputation is well known, and you don't have a record of being reasonable, trustworthy, or honorable. Such a history forces others to respond accordingly. Gentlemen,” Shan said, addressing the two at the door. Please, remove your weapons and place them here on the desk."
“This is unacceptable. I came here in good faith, and you have betrayed me."
“Listen, Vagnu, I happen to know you don't do a damned thing in good faith. Oh, thank you, gentlemen. My, my, my, don't these look vicious,” Shan said, as he turned the pistols over in his hand and tossed them into a drawer. “Now, GoL Vagnu ... I didn't tell you I'd meet you like a shako going to slaughter."
Shan crossed the room and opened the door between Vagnu's guards. Several more armed men filed in, their weapons leveled at Vagnu.
“It must be apparent to you now, GoL Vagnu, that I lied."
“Yes, yes, you certainly did,” Vagnu said, resigning himself to a situation in which it was obvious that escape was no option. “We have established that neither of us is trustworthy. So, Mr. Shan, would you care to explain this deception—tell me why am I here?"
“Well, sir, one part of what I told you was true. You are here to see the Delta. You are to be our guest of dubious honor for the next three days, after which you'll be free to do whatever you want."
“There is a flaw in your plan, Mr. Shan. Tomorrow, if I am not seen at Council, a Pazwide search will begin, you will be found, and all of this elaborate scheme will have been for naught."
“No, Vagnu, we won't be found. Your ticket purchase shows in the record as Nutroit, and I believe that is at the other end of the Continent. You also left a message for your colleagues that you would be gone for a few days while you personally chased down some new information on the Paz Cadre. You're a thoughtful, ingenious man, Vagnu, and but you're not the only one who knows how to get into the system and manipulate it."
“I am not going to ask how you accomplished that, Shan, but I hope you have a good reason for this charade. I can have you hanged, you know."
“That's true. You could do that, but I think you'll have a tough time doing it while you're kicking on the end of the Terminator's line. If this goes badly, I'll be looking at the soles of your shoes in the New London DetCenter on the fourth day, maybe the fifth day, after Halfyear."
“Mr. Shan, please—do you honestly believe anyone will accept your word against the word of a GoL? You, a reporter, a meddling shagrat, who has not been necessarily kind to any of the Council in your reporting and editorial commentaries in the Journal, bringing charges against a GoL? You seem to have forgotten how the Book of the Law reads in such matters."
“I know how it reads well enough."
“Apparently not this part, Shan. You cannot bring an accusation against a member of the High Council until your request to do so has passed through three layers of lower law tribunals. Before you could get one hearing, I would have you filed against, apprehended, and convicted—and hanged. I fear there would be air between your feet and Paz before you had your first hearing. I think you have seriously overestimated the strength of your position. Perhaps you would like to reconsider what it is you are getting yourself into—before it is too late."
“By all the true Ancients—you really are as arrogant and pompous as he said. Would you like to know how I got your name—maybe just a little interested in how I was aware of poor old Kan Haber?"
Shan seated himself more comfortably and rested his chin on his fists, glaring at Vagnu.
“I suppose it would be of some academic interest, yes. So, Mr. Shan, how did you stumble upon that information?"
“Brand Harko. You know, Law Apps?"
Vagnu, stunned, sank slowly back in his chair. He felt defeated—completely and utterly defeated.
“Your case file,” Shan continued, obviously taking delight in Vagnu's discomfort, “is already in process and is growing thicker by the minute. So, Vagnu, I think it's you who should take this opportunity to reassess your predicament. Don't you?"
* * *
Chapter XXIV
The main chamber of the Ganeden communal shelter was in readiness. A large, circular table, surrounded by twelve chairs spaced evenly around it, dominated the floor. Each place at the table was supplied with a small screen, chipcorder, and a pad for those who preferred to write their notes. If all went well, the participants would begin arriving at first light and by second hour the proceedings would commence—if all went well.
Niki, unable to sleep, could wait no longer to see if Shan had been successful in rounding up their final guest. He lifted Pasha's arm off his chest—slowly, carefully so as not to awaken her—and placed it by her side, then rolled out of bed directly into a large floor lamp and sent it crashing to the stone surface.
“What ... what's happening?” she said, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.
“Sorry, love. I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep and I'll be right back."
“No, Niki. It's after sixteenth hour. What's the matter?
“Nothing, really. I guess I'm just a little anxious, that's all. Go back to sleep now, and I'll be back in a few minutes."
“No. You need your rest, Niki. Now, what's wrong?"
“Okay. I'm worried about Shan, and I want to know if we're going to have a full meeting tomorrow—er, this morning."
“Sweetheart,” she said softly, “even if he's not successful there will be a meeting and you need to be at your best for them. Delegation, Niki, remember—you can't do it all."
“I know. I just want everyone here."
“Don't trouble yourself with it. Bo has done well, so far, right? He'll do all right this time, too. Getting this story means everything to him, so he'll do whatever is necessary to get it. Now, come back to bed and warm my back—or something,” she said with that giggle he found so hard to resist.
A half hour before first light, Niki and Pasha arrived at the chamber and walked arm in arm to his spot at the table. Looking around the room, second thoughts and hindsight began gnawing at his confidence. Was it too austere, the seating arrangement acceptable, the lighting right?
“Niki, why so much worry? Everything's going to be all right, you'll see."
Did his troubled mind make that much noise, or was he that transparent? He couldn't say if all women were so perceptive, but all the women in his life were. His mother had always known the silent inner workings of his father's mind—and his. Pasha, Trina, even little Lira sensed things unspoken and often predicted incidents and outcomes with uncanny accuracy. Maybe it was because of the Fathers’ genetic tinkering, but he didn't think so. No, it was probably a natural function of the female psyche, but, whatever it was, it was usually accurate, frequently useful, and always unnerving.
“I understand all that, Pasha, but I can't help thinking there might have been some other way. Maybe we should have gone to Astro and Biotech directly—they understand these things."
“Sure they do. They understand the technical and scientific aspect
s better than the others, but that's not the side of it that's going to affect the people. It's social, moral, ethical, and legal affairs that are going to turn everything upside down for them, and that's what needs to be addressed. The technofolk can work out the science of it on their own—later."
She was right, but it bothered him when he thought about the disparate group that would be coming to the table. Would he be able to keep them on track, or would their individual concerns, hatreds, and prejudices cloud and confuse?
“I'll do as we planned, Pasha. I hope the Fathers gave me enough spine to stand up to the pressure, so I won't double over like wet sacweed."
“There's nothing wrong with your spine. Remember what we're about to do and present the issues. You can't dictate the outcome here—only they can do that.” With that, she gave him a gentle kiss and started for the door. “Luck, my love."
Luck. Luck was what it was going to take. In this meeting there would be no one at the helm, and the boat was going to go wherever it wanted, based on their response to what he had to tell them. And what he had to tell them was sure to surprise, disturb, and infuriate all of them, until they could see the true meaning of it all. He hoped they would arrive at that level of understanding before they termed each other right there at the table.
Niki took his place to wait for the rest. They had decided it would be best to bring them in one at a time, with five minutes between each to reduce the potential stress and confusion that would be generated through reacting to the presence of a couple of highly controversial people in their midst.
“Niki, I have good news,” Luto said on the com.
“I could use some good news. What is it?"
“The La Paz is entering orbit—right now."
“That is good news. Monitor Astro communications and let me know when they discover it. Frankly, I'm surprised they haven't already picked it up.
“Right. Three minutes, Niki. You ready?"
“As ready as I can get. Thanks, Luto."
Niki was amazed that Astro hadn't detected something as big as the La Paz. During most of the year observation from the surface was sporadic at best, but now that the new orbiting space telescope had been launched and, surprisingly, stayed in orbit, they were constantly monitoring the sky. It had been tried several times in the past and none of the satellites had remained in orbit long enough to be considered successful. But the new one was equipped with greatly improved active systems to survive Perigamia and to stabilize its highly eccentric orbit against the distorting tugs from Echo. So, how was it that such a huge object had escaped Astro's constant vigil?
Oh, it was a big sky, that was true enough, but the size of the La Paz should have been adequate to attract their attention. But, again, if his dreams were even close to accurate, and he had reason to believe they were, it might well have been the color that kept it invisible to prying eyes. Something that had been done by design by the Fathers to keep its presence unknown to other intelligent species.
The door opened, and the first of the guests entered. A slight woman in a conservative suit, she seemed apprehensive as she moved stiffly into the room.
“Hello,” she said in a small voice. “Are you Mr. Kaznov?"
“I am, but you may call me Niki. Please, take a seat anywhere you would like. According to my list, you are Hana Laski. Welcome. May I get you anything?"
“No. No, thank you,” she said and took a chair two places to his right. “The others?"
“They'll be here soon, and we'll begin the formal proceedings in about an hour. You are the Historical Director from Records, is that right?"
Laski appeared uncomfortable, and he wanted everyone to be at ease, so he continued in his most gentle tone.
“Much of what we do here today will be of vital interest to someone in your capacity, Hana—oh, I'm sorry—may I call you Hana?” She nodded and Niki continued. “I'm about to reveal pieces of our history previously hidden, but I must advise you that it will be controversial and the discussion may get—intense."
Laski smiled one of those little nervous twitches of the lips that let you know someone was trying to be calm in a strange environment but just couldn't quite manage it, and said, “When you work with the government, you develop a callous over your feelings to lessen the damage petty bureaucratic friction can cause."
She drew a chip case from her bag and set it on the table in front of her. “So, Mr. Kaznov, I don't recall hearing your name associated with any of the historical societies. Are you an amateur historian, or just what is your background?"
Niki chuckled softly and smiled at her. “Hana, I'm no historian of any kind—but I've always had an interest in history, especially as it relates to the Ancient Record. As for my personal background, I was a fisherman on a small island in the Southern Sea. I assure you, though, what I have for you today is of major historical and social importance—the sort of thing that will change life here—"
He was interrupted by the door swinging open to admit a tall, distinguished gentleman in the uniform of the High Council Guard. From Niki's experience, he was a bit old to be twelfth generation. The man surveyed the room quickly, professionally, with eyes trained to notice small things in and out of place, then fixed his gaze on Niki.
“You are the Delta?"
“Yes, I am. Please, take a seat, sir. Oh, General Bagdel Frank of the High Council Guard, allow me to present Miss Hana Laski, Historical Director of Records."
Frank nodded curtly at Laski and took the seat at Niki's right, just as Pasha had said he would. He took another quick look around the room, appeared to be satisfied there were no hiding places for anyone to step out of, wrinkled an eyebrow, and said, “You have no idea how much I have been looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Kaznov, though I have to tell you I expected someone older. How can anyone so young stir up so much trouble overnight?” Frank leaned over the table, and swiveled his head to Laski. “What tremendous weight did he hang over your head, Miss Laski? I did not think Records—"
“General Frank,” Niki interrupted tersely. “Most of the people here today are here of their own volition, because of their interest in the subject."
“I, too, am here out of interest in the subject, but my interest was propelled along more than a little by external pressure, would you not agree, Mr. Kaznov?"
“Yes, General, it was,” Niki replied. “But this meeting is related only peripherally to our personal situation, and it's my sincere hope the results of this day will eliminate any further need for such crude tactics being employed by anyone—myself included."
“Niki,” Luto said from the com. “Are you busy?"
“Not yet. Go ahead."
“Communications have gone crazy."
“They saw it?"
“Saw what?” Frank asked and Niki waved him off.
“Spotted it at first hour and eleven—all Astro frequencies are carrying information about nothing else—and it sounds like they're ... nervous."
“I expected that. Set up a constant monitoring of those frequencies—get more people if you need them—and let me know the second it sounds like they're getting ready to do something stupid. At the same time, tell Twenty-three to send instructions for ISCU-9 to activate its defensive systems. I need to get back to our guests, but don't hesitate to call me if anything important happens."
“What is I-S-C-U Nine?” Frank inquired.
“It's one of the main reasons we're here. As I tried to tell Tazh, most of us have been misinterpreting the messages we've been given."
“That does not tell me what—"
The door opened and Lisha Trak, Director of Enforcement, entered the hall. She nodded to each, and her gaze lingered a bit on Frank but revealed no emotional reaction. Frank, conversely, tensed and his expression turned even tighter. Trak took a seat directly opposite of Frank's position and set a large case on the table. And so it went, each guest entering the room, exchanging greetings in one way or another, then taking a place at the table.<
br />
The fact that only a couple of the participants didn't elicit some reaction from Frank when they entered the room was interesting to Niki. When Vagnu came in he paid no attention to Frank at all, and General Frank took no particular notice of Vagnu, which Niki found to be a little curious. Only the GoL Tomas appeared surprised by Vagnu's arrival. No one spoke directly to anyone aside from their brief salutations, and, once seated, each became busily engaged in something, fumbling through chip cases, toying with their monitors, writing little notes and stuffing them into attachés—anything to avoid looking at the others.
The two who had Niki concerned were late, and it was already time to begin. He wanted Shan to be there, but his presence was not necessary to conduct the meeting. The man he was bringing, on the other hand, would be vitally important for the psychological advantage his being seated at the table would give Niki over Vagnu and Frank.
Antaris sat quietly to Niki's left, head held high, her attention focused on Shanah Andromodi, who had brought some kind of sewing thing with hoops of wood. Cloth was stretched tightly over the hoops. Sitting quietly to Niki's left, she was applying bits of colored thread to the cloth with a long, thin needle.
Marcos Sheel was reading from an official print copy of the Ancient Record, and Jamal Fein occupied himself with stock reports scrolling across his portable link. It crossed Niki's mind that Fein had quite a shock coming when he found out what was going to happen to the precious metals trade, iron and copper in particular.
If Niki was going to be able to gain their interest and get anything productive from the meeting's first half, he would have to begin soon. He stood, activated the screens around the table and rapped lightly with his knuckles.
“If I may have your attention, please,” he said. “Before I begin this presentation I believe I owe an apology to two of you. One of you was coerced and the other duped into being here, and for that I'm truly sorry. Niki was stalling for time and hoping desperately no one would notice. “To the rest, my most sincere thanks for accepting my invitation on such short notice. My first thought was to provide this material to the scientific community, but, after much debate and discussion with my colleagues, it was unanimously decided that the social, psychological, legal, and economic elements of Pazian society would be the most severely impacted. Each of you holds an important position relative to the basic infrastructure of our society, and that is why you were invited—you represent expertise in ethics, law, organization, history, economy, and so on."
Seeds of Memory Page 32
