by Moulton, CD
"It sounds good, but I still think it's a trick," Tab insisted stubbornly. "Tell you what. Strip down and let me check you, then do it when I say."
They sat around a few minutes making normal little noises and comments such as friends would make (knowing there was no visual sensor in the room), such as Kit saying at one point, "Now I see why the women chase after you so much!" and Tab asking how he got a scar on his ass like that one.
Tab suddenly said, "Now! Do it now, by the gods! I know for a fact there's no trick now!"
"See? I told you!" Kit exulted a moment later. "Is it a real flame? Is it hot or ... OW! DAMN! I'll say it's hot!"
They were grinning at one another, knowing how the aliens were reacting to that. Give them a lot to think about. Kit winked, then asked, "Larj? Where's that power thing that moves between Savaraj and the moons now? Could that be a trapped elemental who escaped and is ... here? Could the socalled scientists here have found a way to bring a sky elemental to ground? Could they hope to control such a being?
"Listen to me! I don't believe in elementals!"
There was a long silence, then Z replied, "It's still there. It, too, is a not-natural power. It, too, moves in a not-natural path. I detect no evil from it, quite the contrary. I sense it is a benevolent power, actually a very protective power. If it's an entrapped elemental it is one of crops or streams. A benevolent one, not a stormbringer."
If the aliens thought Z could sense the restrictor satellite, which no one on Savaraj could possibly know about, it would give them one more puzzle to solve. Z hoped to freeze them from acting by throwing many things at once at them that were beyond the norm here. Always keep one or two little nagging questions that must be answered hanging out there to forestall action such as simply having the soldiers kill them all.
"We should sleep for the night," Kit suggested. "I think I prefer to do without the attentions of the local whores here. What Larj said about their not bothering to cure such a simple thing as the rotting scab disease makes me think that perhaps there are other things here no effort is made to cure, if you get my drift."
"Yeah," Tab said. "I'm glad we have the arsenic salve and the brownsting from the seaweed, though neither is much good against those things. Even the mold cure doesn't help with the shaky-crazy-slowdeath sickness you can catch from whores! This evil place probably has a lot of that kind of thing, too! I'll be glad to get out of here!"
They made more noises like they were going to bed, Z and Thing actually doing so, though the robots would silently use their sensors and would even make contact with the floaters the ships sent out. Particular attention was being paid to the palace's underfloor rooms and a sophisticated network of sensors was deployed during the night to detect every sound or energy use in the place. Maita planned to use a sonic mapping device to locate the size and shape of the ship there. It was able to place sonic pickups against the glass on the windows to use them as large reflecting microphones. That device was simply a matter of putting a highly reflective "dust" on the panes and focusing a low-power laser at an angle to be received at a differentiating pickup. The glass vibrated with sounds inside and the laser was sensitive enough to detect the movements of molecules if tightly focused.
In the morning Kit asked Z and Thing to go back to the boat to bring them the remainder of items they were to sell. Z knew there were things he must be told so replied that he would be glad of anything to take him away from the city. They had dawnmeal together, then Z and Thing headed down the road toward Dockside Station. They remained close to two other walkers for a good part of the way, talking about various bits of gossip with Z staying in character by telling a story, but the two turned along another road after about an hour. Thing was on Z's shoulder and remained silent when Z said something. By that, Z knew there was some kind of listening device near them so he told a long and complicated story to Thing from Larj's memory about a woman in a far city who was playing three powerful men against one another, but her scheme came apart when it turned out all three men were using her to keep abreast of what the other two were doing.
When they were near the boat Z stopped to "repack" the cart and "found" a strange device in it. He looked it over, then started talking to Thing again.
"I kept feeling power moving, little guy," he said musingly. "I didn't know what it was or where it was coming from. It seemed a rather strange, small thing, but was constant in moving power and didn't diminish as we traveled along so I felt it had to be someone moving along just out of sight with us, which wasn't reasonable because we would have been able to see them at various points. That, or it had to be moving along with us itself.
"This must be one of those science things. It has power moving in it with some even moving away through the air. It's made of strange material isn't it? Hard and shiny, but not metal. So very white!
"How does such a small thing move so much energy?
"Now, this thing sticking out here is metal, but it's more shiny than even silver so I don't know what it is. The power is coming from it to go into the air. I sense that. I feel the power like that of a thunderstorm, but much less.
"I know what these are. They have them in Sorghut and Droostus. They're called metal screws and they hold things together. If you turn them they come out and the things fall apart – so let's do that! I do wonder what's inside of this evil contraption!
"Where's my blade? Ah! See? They do turn! And they come out! Look, little guy! All metal and wire and this stuff the thing is made of outside in small planks inside! These are such strange colors, and look at the threads of metal worked into them! Little round things and little cylinders and this square thing and a wire to this little nub on the shiny metal thing. There are small screws in the top of those two square things and this one has a little wheel that sticking partly out. There is certainly art and craftsmanship in these small things, but why would I sense that nothing here was made with hands? Why are there things written on the parts in a strange very square script?
"I feel the power coming from this round thing here and going through this. It's a power that flutters when I speak. How odd!
"I'll take the round thing out and take this metal wire – it looks like poor silver, but how light – off of this.... Okay. It's off!"
[ It's just the standard-component transistorized transmission crap. I'm not so sure it can reach the eight kilometers back to Royal City, but didn't want to take a chance. Maita has some things to say to you about what it found with the floaters at the palace. ]
*And something else. The aliens have a relay pickup for the transmitter about halfway back and received it all, right up to the point when you took the battery loose. I located the ship. It's an escape pod, as Thing theorized. There's little happening near the windows so I still don't have much there, though I hope they speak in their native tongue somewhere close so I'll know where they're from. That could tell us a hell of a lot. We still have to plan what we're going to do to get these people out of the mess they've created here.*
"Then you'll look for a ship that had trouble in this area," Z suggested. "That's what it breaks down to. The minute you find that ship you'll find who they are and where they came from. Maybe we'll be able to figure out what they're doing here. It isn't reasonable to think they're simply lost. They could reach the satellite with that transmitter right there."
[ They would be looking for rescue in that case, I'm forced to agree. They definitely wouldn't be deliberately hiding out here. It has to be something else. We're missing something important. ]
"Thing, Maita, it could be a simple shipwreck where the ones marooned decided they could have a very easy and luxurious life here by making themselves kings or something such," Z said. "They may have reasons they don't want to go home. Maybe they were running from a criminal charge when they wrecked or maybe.... Maita! Maybe they were criminals being taken somewhere for trial and they jumped ship in the emergency pod or blew the ship up or something on the order!"
*Nothing
possible in the past sixty years. It could be local lawbreakers being taken home. The empire wouldn't know about that under certain circumstances. We simply don't really have much to go on. If I can find out where they're from I can trace it.*
[ We still have to get in to see them. I have a plan of sorts. It'll need your help, Maita. Maybe T Six and TR, too. Maybe all of us. ]
"I think I have some idea of what you plan," TR agreed. "We'll have several options. I think we can use a hypnotic on the people and won't have to get them out of the city for it. It'll become a legend in a few years. We'll have to get rid of the locomotives and a lot of motorized equipment they've strewn around the nearby countryside. Tab and Kit are locating where everything they made is so we can dump it. We'll keep some of the things they'll naturally invent soon anyhow in a repairable state. We can take out that diesel equipment and make it unworkable, but leave the parts that would work as well with steam intact because they have a small steam engine in a couple of places. They use them to run looms to make those tapestries.
"I've shown holovids of some of the tapestries the floaters studied to Hars and Gills on Parf and they're amazed. They're protesting that they should be allowed to come here to view them in person so I've promised to find a way to buy a few things to send to them."
"Tab and Kit are being watched very closely now," TR threw in. "There's some activity in the palace since you turned off the transmitter. They can buy some tapestries in the guise of buyer. I think you two may meet somebody on your way back to the city. I'm going to keep a floater close in case they decide to get rid of you. They could lay it to bandits."
*Get the stuff and head back to the city – and Z! Please don't be too personal in your attacks on Narum and Hisla. I think even Thing will agree they're in a trap and don't know how to get out of it. They meant well, but it has turned on them.*
"What the hell!" Z snapped. "They sold their own people into this!"
[ Don't turn into an asshole now, damn it! Put yourself into their place! Some ship lands at your little dirt farm hovel in some backwater poor town and people come out of it saying they're scientists who invented the ship. It can do many things. It can make this a thriving city and can make life easy for everyone. The scientists give you a way to make a city of gleaming marble. Everything is going fine, but people are starting to come to the city and the increase in population is causing the troubles that always follow that density of people. Also, the scientists are very powerful and have weapons that can threaten the lives of everyone in the city! It's all turning sour! There are more and more people coming into the city and things are deteriorating fast, but these scientists are keeping it all together. Maybe everyone isn't always so well fed, but no one actually starves. Maybe there's sickness, but that's to be expected in dense populations. If you try to get rid of the scientists now what do you do for all of those people? What happens then? You know my talents, Z. Narum and Hisla are good people. They're terrified. It isn't them we're fighting. They're desperately trying to do what they think is best for the people. ]
"Okay. I'll take your word for it," Z said. "I just hope we can get this settled without a bunch of innocent people getting killed. Let's get the stuff and head back.
"I wish I knew who they are and why all of this!"
They talked about everything they could think of that may be important while Z packed the cart with the wares the ships had placed on the boat, then headed back. He placed the transmitter parts in a reed basket atop the load in plain view.
The floater told them they would soon be joined by someone in flowing robes. He was waiting a few meters past the bend where the two parted from them on the trip out.
*I can't get a usable view of what's in those robes! It's generally the size and shape of the Saj, though.*
"Can you get a sensor close enough to analyze the smell?" Z asked. "THAT would tell us what race they are!"
*I get far too much on the odor sensors. They're deliberately hiding their odor. They found these people react badly to them if they smell them. I've seen only glimpses of the eyes, which could be anything except Acnian, and the nose tip, which isn't so flat as the Saj. Still not nearly enough. It will be much better if you don't communicate anymore with me or use the floater aloud.*
Z started in the middle of a long story and was telling it to Thing as they were passing the road entrance. The robed figure stepped out to join them. He spoke with a thick accent that really told little of his origins.
"May I join you?" he asked. "I'm going back to Royal City. I'm the scientist, Lugac."
"An odd name," Z replied. "I'm called Larj, and this perfect audience is called Zonn."
"Yes," Lugac said. "I'm not of here. I travel far away. Very far."
He was peering at Z from the coverings over his face, but Z could see nothing but the shine in his eyes and the fine nose tip. Thing moved from the shoulder near Lugac to the other one and was watching him closely.
"Why do you hide your face?" Z asked.
"I suffered a terrible accident in my youth and became badly disfigured," Lugac replied. "I find most people are bothered by such things so cover the scars."
Thing was waving two tentacles at him.
"Zonn detects a lie, but that's your business," Z chided with the slightest stiffness. "It's merely conversation, but I assure you, you can't deceive me while Zonn is here. There's certainly no reason you can't cover your face if you so wish.
"I was summoned to the king's palace evening last where I was supposed to speak with you scientists – but you failed to appear. If you wished to speak with me, this wasn't necessary."
He turned to hand the basket with the transmitter parts to Lugac.
"I believe this might be yours," he continued. "I have removed the power thing. Without the wires there is no path, yet it sends power into the air when the power thing is in the path. How odd. Will you tell me of its purpose?"
"Hah! I think you know perfectly well what a mobile transmitting unit is," Lugac said in Maitan.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't recognize the language," Z replied serenely. "I have traveled much, but have not heard such a pleasant-sounding tongue! I would like to learn it!
"I was wrong about one thing though, I see. It isn't the language of the magicians. That one I know well."
"Queen Hisla has spoken of your magic," Lugac said. "Would you show me?"
"Show you? What? Do you mean the 'Flame of Thought'?" Z asked.
He cupped his hands and made the blue flame, then disposed of it the way he had at the court.
"You're a T-K! Telekinetic!!" Lugac cried in some language Z didn't understand, but Thing tightened a tentacle so Maita knew.
"What?" Z asked.
"I said you're able to make the energy ... make things move with thought," Lugac said. "A rare talent!"
"It's a magic I was taught, not a talent," Z corrected. "Why do you scientists not find a way to cure the typical sicknesses overpopulation is bringing to Royal City? Why do you allow the filth to accumulate in the streets? The Saj are clean people. Why do you teach them to be not clean?"
"And why do you come here to stir up trouble?" Lugac asked. "There are always some difficulties in developing civilizations. They will usually work themselves out in time."
"Only if things are following their normal evolutionary path," Z argued. "There is nothing normal about your science at the stage of development of this culture! You're wasters! You're destroying these people!"
Lugac whipped a phase shifter from under his robes. "Before I fry you where you stand you're going to tell me who you are and what you're doing here!" he snapped. "No savage Saj would use those terms!"
"I am speaking Saj so I am using only words which obviously WOULD be used by them.
"I thought there was something not right about you," Z said. "So now I know."
"For all the good it'll do you!" Lugac shouted and fired just as a spy floater swooped down and fired at him. Z dropped and rolled, but still
suffered a painful burn on his arm. Thing was flung free and bounced onto the cart, but it was all over.
*Are you all right, Z?*
"Yeah. I got a burn, but it's more painful than serious," Z replied as he pulled the cowl back.
[ He's a Jornian. He was speaking Jornian when he said you were telekinetic. What do we do, Maita? ]
*The floater will bury him. You and Z have to come here quickly. I'll get you back to the city before dark. I want Z in the medical box.*
"I can handle the burn, Maita," Z protested. "I've been hurt a lot worse than this before."
*But you can't explain it in Royal City. You'll have to go back in complete ignorance of Lugac. They'll think bandits must have gotten him, then they'll really have to worry because he doesn't look all that much like a Saj outside of those robes. Let's get moving! This might be the break we need to be able to stop the severe societal trauma this sort of thing can cause. I'm beginning to form a plan. You do the same. We may be forced to move fast – and soon!*
There was no argument there. Z was taken on board Maita and was out of the medical box and back outside of Royal City with an hour to spare before sunset. The floater delivered them at the same spot where first delivered Z. They came in behind the two bandits waiting there in the trees to watch the road. Z grinned and shot them with the stunner, then took their weapons and other items of value they carried. He put the valuables by the roadside, melted the weapons into slag, tossed them aside and went on into town.
Kit and Tab acted worried when they met, then said Narum and Hisla had invited them to the palace. Right away. Now.
Z nodded, then took the transmitter parts from the basket and hung them around his neck. Tab, Kit, and Thing all wondered if he had gone crazy, but he felt he knew exactly what he was doing. "Let's not keep our host and hostess waiting!" he suggested brightly, walking out of the room. "I'd hate to keep them and their scientists in undue suspense! I still want to know what they're doing here."
