"Alice," Roon said, "activate sector-wide public address."
"Activated."
"This is Edsard Roon. Due to the medical emergency, we must evacuate immediately." His voice echoed from the loudspeakers as he spoke. "All personnel are hereby directed to move immediately to the escape pods. Repeat: move immediately to the escape pods. Do not stop for possessions. You will be picked up as quickly as possible. There is no need to worry--the virus has not yet reached the ventilation systems. Deltas, remain with your Alphas and Betas. Alice, deactivate public address."
Kendi tried to fight as the guard clamped shackles on his wrist and ankle, but his muscles refused to respond. For a moment he was twelve years old again, torn out of cryo-sleep and shackled in a slave ship. Then he was being jerked to his feet. Pain marched through every nerve, and he was only vaguely aware of Martina beside him.
"Evan," she was saying. "Evan, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were coming. It's my fault. All life, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"We'll speak again, Father," Roon said as the guards hauled them away. "At great and painful length."
The evacuation was quick and quiet. Only the Alphas, Betas, and Deltas actually lived in the Collection's sector. Most of the food service, research personnel, clerical workers, and other such employees were off-shift, meaning only about a hundred people were present and therefore obliged to evacuate. They moved swiftly and without panic to a particular corridor on the outer wall of the Collection, where dozens of small airlocks lay open. When three or four people had filled one of the little, rounded capsules, the airlock cycled shut and a small charge shoved the pod away from the station. Kendi let himself be half-dragged toward one of the airlocks, and he was aware of people speaking in hushed voices around him as they boarded their own pods.
"I'm sorry," Martina whispered beside him over and over. "I'm so sorry."
The guards dragged them, brother and sister, across the threshold of the airlock. There was barely room for the four of them, and they crowded against the pod's rudimentary control panel. A single round porthole looked out into empty space. Already several dozen other pods were drifting away from the station. The female guard cycled the lock shut and her male counterpart hit the activator. A heavy thump, and stars began to move slowly past the porthole. Martina slumped to the floor and put her hands over her face.
The male guard put a hand to his ear. "Yes, Mr. Roon, we've evacuated." Pause. "One moment." He tapped the control panel and a small vid-screen winked to life. Edsard Roon's long, serious face appeared.
"I've boarded my ship, Father," he said. "If you will look out the portal to your left, I'm sure you'll find something worth seeing."
Kendi couldn't help but obey. An enormous hulk of a vessel was drifting slowly toward a clump of escape pods. The words Kalopolis Intergalactic Traveling Emporium of Wonders was painted in large, fancy letters along one side. A much smaller, sleeker vessel rushed toward it and opened fire. A dozen missile trails streamed forward like hungry fingers. Kendi stared as the big, defenseless ship exploded in a dazzling fireball that dwarfed the sun. Debris pinged off the escape pod's hull. After a long moment, Kendi turned to the male guard and held up his hand. The shackle gleamed, silver and heavy, at his wrist.
"Take this thing off me," he said.
"It would be my pleasure," said Prasad Vajhur.
CHAPTER TWELVE
--Drew Fleming, Investigative Reporter
Prasad ignored Roon, and a moment later, Kendi's shackles thudded to the floor. Vidya, the female guard, knelt next to Martina and released her shackles as well.
"I apologize for the slaps," Vidya murmured. "There was no other way."
"Evan?" she said. "What's going on?"
"You silly goose." His throat was thick and hoarse. "You were supposed to wait and let us rescue you."
And then, for the first time in fifteen years, he hugged his sister. Kendi's cheek brushed hers beneath the wimple. The Silent jolt rocked him to his heels, but he didn't let go.
"You're Silent," she whispered. "All life. I'd always wondered."
"I told you I'd find you," he said. Warm tears ran down his face. "I told you I would."
"I remember." She pulled back. "What about Mom? She was sold with you. Is she here, too?"
Kendi shook his head. "We were separated. I don't know where she is. I'm sorry."
"How about Keith? He was in that place with me."
"Taken care of." Kendi got up and swiped at the salt water with one sleeve. "We'll talk soon, once I get the rest done. Don't worry."
"I muted the sound for you," Prasad said. His eyes were a little shiny. "I did not think you would want Roon's shouting to disturb you."
"Thanks." Kendi faced Roon on the vid-screen and tapped the mute control.
"Shut up!" Kendi snapped. "I've won, and in a minute I'm going to tell you how to salvage your sorry ass, but not if you keep yelping like a dingo with its tail in a twist."
Roon glared at him. "What do you mean?"
"First of all, I need to tell you that the rest of the station doesn't even know about this little fiasco. Yet. We used Mallory's access to sever all communication with the station proper, including the distress calls sent out by these pods. Right now 'Ms. Mallory' is contacting SA Station to tell them about the accidental explosion of a derelict ship. No rush to investigate. By the time they figure out what happened, we'll be long gone."
"We had to provide something for you to waste your missiles on. We'll be picked up by the real Emporium ship in few moments, along with the rest of the pods. The Silent you kidnapped will stay with us, and your non-Silent employees will be set adrift in the escape pods for you to pick up. Everybody wins."
"I said, shut up," Kendi snarled. "I'm getting to your worthless hide. Is Isaac Todd there with you?"
"Have you ever scanned his genes?"
"Pity. You had a treasure all along and didn't know it. Don't let him get away--I went through a lot of trouble to ensure you could have him. Think of him as the gift that could save your career."
"Isaac Todd isn't Silent himself," Kendi said, "but he always fathers Silent children."
All the blood drained from Todd's face as Roon gave him a speculative look. Kendi broke the connection without another word.
At that moment, the pod shuddered. Kendi glanced out the porthole and saw the Emporium's ship--the real one. A gravity beam was gathering the scattered escape pods and bringing them into a wide hold like a mother duck gathering ducklings under her wings. Then the Poltergeist, swift and trim, swooped into view.
"We're fine here," Kendi replied. "And I've got someone for you to meet."
The moment Kendi stepped out of the escape pod and into the cargo bay, a pair of strong arms engulfed him. All the air rushed out of his lungs.
"Oxygen! Oxygen!" Kendi protested with a laugh. "All life, I love you, too."
Ben released him. "Okay, where is she? Val said she has your brother on the Emporium ship, but your sister--"
"Right here." Kendi reached into the pod and helped Martina down. Vidya and Prasad followed, still in their Security uniforms. Kendi turned to his sister and said words he had been rehearsing in his head for months.
"Martina," he said, "this is Ben Rymar. We're partnered. Ben, this is my sister Martina."
Martina extended a hand and Ben shook it. Both of them gasped.
"Sorry," Kendi said. "I forgot--you're both Silent."
"It's a day for surprises," Martina laughed. "Yesterday I was the prisoner of a weird cult. Today I learn my older brother is a Child of Irfan, he's still Silent even after the Despair, and he's partnered with a Silent . . . man."
"When Kendi is involved," Ben said, "you learn to expect surprises."
"Kendi?" Martina asked, puzzled.
Kendi put one arm around Martina and the other around Ben, then held on tight in case he floated straight up to the ceiling. "There are a lot of long stories to tell, sis. Got a few hours?"
"I have a
lifetime," Martina said. "And it's finally my lifetime."
Vidya and Prasad went off to change clothes. The three Weavers trooped down to the galley, where Harenn was laying out a hastily-assembled meal of chicken salad and fruit. Bedj-ka was at the table, sipping a glass of juice.
"So you made it back from the Emporium ship," Kendi said as they sat down. "Where are Gretchen and Lucia?"
"On the bridge," Harenn said. "We have entered slip, and the Emporium is behind us. We will arrive at Bellerophon in two days, exactly in time to return the Poltergeist to the Council. Valeta expects that you will aid her in arranging several performances there to help pay for the time she has lost."
"Gladly," Kendi said, and introduced Martina to her and Bedj-ka. "Once we're a safe distance from SA Station, though, I'll want to stop for a bit so we can transfer Utang over here."
Martina's expression clouded. "I have to warn you--it might not be pleasant. Keith--he prefers that to Utang these days--was buying into Roon's whole Dream cult thing."
"Dream cult?" Kendi asked.
Martina gave a short description of "Dreamer Roon" and his methods of indoctrination. Kendi's mouth fell open and his blood boiled. Ben and Harenn seemed to feel the same way. The food lay on the table, untouched.
"What's a cult?" Bedj-ka wanted to know.
"I will explain later," Harenn said in a flat voice.
"At any rate," Martina finished, "you've shattered the cult for Keith--and a lot of the others. They may not take it kindly."
Kendi's face fell and Ben took his hand under the table. "We'll get into the Dream," Ben said, "and tell the Council we'll need therapists who can deal with this kind of thing. We'll get Keith through it, Kendi, don't worry. You don't have to do everything yourself, you know."
But Kendi couldn't help worrying.
"That's the second time he's called you that," Martina said. "Is that your name now? Kendi? The trickster lizard?"
"I chose it after I became a Child," Kendi told her. "Like I said, it's long story and I'll tell you and Ut--Keith at the same time." Assuming he'll talk to me.
"I have to ask you something else," Martina said. "About that man Isaac Todd."
"Bedj-ka," Harenn said, "go up to our quarters. You may play on the sims."
Bedj-ka gave his mother a look, then slid out of his chair and left without arguing.
"Ask away," Kendi said.
"You told Roon he always fathers Silent children," Martina said. "And you arranged for Roon to take Todd prisoner. I don't know what he did--"
"He sold children into slavery," Harenn interjected.
"--but the babies he fathers will be enslaved by Silent Acquisitions. They're innocent, but they'll suffer for what their father did. Is that what you intended?"
Kendi smiled. "Harenn?"
"Isaac Todd will father no more children," Harenn said. "He thought I was injecting him with gelpox to make him a test subject for the plan, but he received another injection entirely."
"What did you give him?" Martina asked.
"A form of the mumps virus genegineered for slave owners who want to castrate their slaves." Harenn gave a rare smile. "It is not contagious, but by tomorrow morning, Isaac's testicles will have swollen to the size of oranges. There is no cure. The disease causes erectile dysfunction and permanent sterility."
"Poetic justice, I'd say," Kendi put in. "Roon's going to be furious."
"And fired," Ben said. "That was mean, raising his hopes like that and then destroying them."
"Yeah," Kendi said happily. "And I'm sure Silent Acquisitions will be pretty mean to Isaac, too. He's failed them twice now, and he blabbed about the Collection."
Kendi tensed again. "We'll meet him in the entry bay."
Kendi felt Ben squeeze his hand and he tried to squeeze back, but he had no strength. Martina stood next to them. She had removed the ridiculous wimple and gloves, but still wore the green robe. It was all the clothing she had. Harenn and Lucia waited a short distance away. Kendi had almost asked the two of them to leave, but then he had realized he drew comfort from their presence, from Harenn's strength of will and from Lucia's calm serenity. So he said nothing.
The entry bay airlock cycled with a rushing sound and slowly slid open. Keith looked exactly like the holo Kendi had seen back on Drim, though he was wearing a yellow robe and was a centimeter or two shorter than Kendi. The latter surprised him. He always remembered Keith as the taller one.
"Evan?" he said. "My god, I'd know you anywhere." Keith ran forward and clasped Kendi in his third hard hug of the day. The Silent jolt snapped through him. Martina joined her brothers. Keith gasped as she touched him--another jolt.
"You aren't angry?" Kendi said after they parted.
"Angry?" Keith said. "Why would I be angry? God, you got me out of that place. And you're a Child of Irfan? You have a lot of explaining to do."
"You believed in Roon," Martina said. "I thought I'd lost you to him."
Keith ran a hand over his face and Kendi noticed he had few silver hairs. "I figured I'd have a better chance of escaping if they thought I was a believer. It was starting to work--they promoted me to Beta."
"Why didn't you say something?" Martina demanded. "I was worried sick."
"I thought you had bought into it. All those things you said at Confessional and the way you always worked so hard?"
"That was just a trick so I could escape."
Kendi laughed and gave them both another hug. "That's us," he said. "A family of tricksters."
Ben watched Kendi's reunion, feeling happy and, oddly, jealous. It suddenly occurred to him that he would have to share Kendi now. Then he shook his head.
After a moment, Kendi broke away and brought Ben forward for another introduction. This brought about another handshake and another Silent jolt. Then an uncomfortable silence fell. There was so much to say, but no one knew where to start. Harenn came to the rescue.
"There is still food up in the galley," she said. "Why don't you go up there and talk where it is more comfortable?"
The Weavers agreed to this and headed for the door. Ben started to follow, but Harenn caught his sleeve. "Ben," she said, "Lucia and I wish to talk to you up in the medical bay."
"What about?"
"We'll explain up there," Lucia told him.
Mystified, Ben followed the two women. The soft blue corridors, with their rounded corners and soft machinery hum, felt calm and homelike after the frenzy of the last several days.
"Don't you have to pilot the ship, Lucia?" Ben asked as they went.
"Gretchen is still overseeing the transfer of the SA employees back into the escape pods," Lucia replied. "She's also launching a signal beacon to make sure SA can find them. It shouldn't take more than two or three hours for them to be rescued. But for now I'm not needed on the bridge."
They reached the medical bay, the place where Isaac Todd had singsonged his way through several interrogations. It seemed as cold and sterile as ever. Ben's little star-shaped cryo-unit sat on one of the counters, lights winking quietly.
"Where did you get that?" Ben demanded.
"Kendi asked me to run some tests," Harenn explained. "He also told me that the two of you want to raise them as your children."
Ben flushed. "He told you that?"
"Why shouldn't he?" Lucia said. "I think you've made a wonderful decision, Ben. That's why we brought you down here."
"I don't understand."
"You will need host mothers," Harenn said. "I would like to volunteer."
Ben stared.
"You and Kendi have reunited me with my child," Harenn said simply. "In the process, Kendi lost his own family and had to risk his freedom to get them back. I can never fully make that up to him--and you--but this thing would be a start."
"I'm volunteering, too," Lucia said. "It would be an honor. Both of you have been touched by Irfan, and I don't mean because you're Silent. Besides, these children need parents, and I want to help."
&nbs
p; Ben cast about for something to say and came up empty. At last he only said, "Thank you. Thank you both."
"There is more," Harenn said. "Lucia doesn't know this, but if she bears one of these children, she needs to be informed."
Alarm thrilled through Ben. "Is something wrong with them?"
"Not at all," Harenn said. "Something is merely . . . interesting."
"What do you mean, Harenn?" Lucia said. "Don't be cruel by keeping him--us--in suspense."
Harenn nodded. "Ben, Kendi said you don't know where the embryos come from, that your mother found them on a derelict ship. Do you know how old the embryos are?"
"Only vaguely," Ben said. "The cryo-unit was something over thirty years old when Mom found it, so that would mean the unit is close to sixty years old now, but that doesn't say anything about the embryos. They could be a lot newer."
"Or older." Harenn took a deep breath. "Ben, did you or your mother ever have a comparison done with the monastery's genetic database?"
"No. What would be the point?"
"Curiosity," Harenn said. "I ran such a check with the database carried on this ship. You should sit down, Ben. You too, Lucia."
Nervously, Ben took up a rolling stool. Lucia did as well, a mystified look on her face. Harenn leaned against the counter next to the cryo-unit.
"What's this all about, Harenn?" Ben asked. "What did you find?"
"I ran the check three times," she said. "Every test came back with the same irrefutable result. Those embryos--and you--are the direct issue of Daniel Vik and Irfan Qasad."
Lucia gasped and realization stole over Ben like a cold hand. "What are you saying, Harenn?" he whispered.
"I am saying, Ben, that Daniel Vik was your biological father and Irfan Qasad was your biological mother. In every sense of the word, you are a true child of Irfan."
Table of Contents
Trickster Page 31
