by D. D. Chant
Senator Burton almost spat his tea across the room as he reflected that Councillor Ladron’s ears must have been burning. He tried to picture the look on Ladron’s face as he heard Rachel denounce him and his people as ‘cranky’.
“Well?”
Rachel looked at him expectantly, as though demanding that he agree with her.
“You know I’d never argue with you, Rachel.”
“Yeah, yeah: don’t bother using that sweet talk on me, you know it won’t work.” She wriggled again. “What’s with this couch anyway? Must have been made from a seriously unhappy cow, that’s all I can say.” She paused looking around the room. “Where’re the cushions?”
“There aren’t any.”
“Well, I need a cushion. Lester, go get me a pillow off Phil's bed.”
Lester hesitated, looking toward Senator Burton for guidance.
“What are you waiting for, sonny? Get going!”
Lester scurried away, and Rachel relaxed back into her chair grimacing.
“So, what are we gonna do about Ben?”
Philip wasn’t surprised by her blunt question, he knew better than to expect any softness from her. He paused for a moment.
“There doesn’t seem to be much we can do. The Una have made no demands; they haven’t even taken responsibility for his disappearance.”
Rachel shook her head.
“You think he’s alive?”
“They have no reason to kill him. In fact, killing him can only harm their position politically.”
Lester returned, holding the requested pillow. Rachel smiled at him, reaching out for it and stuffing it behind her back.
“Ahh… that’s much better. What about Ladron?”
“What about him?”
“Come on, Phil, you’ve been here longer than me: what do you make of him?”
Philip felt acutely aware of the listening ears.
“He seems very clever.”
“No kidding,” drawled Senator Fredrickson sarcastically. “You’re not being very helpful.”
Senator Burton rubbed his eyes tiredly.
“Then you’ll have to be more specific.”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Phil, I’m asking for your opinion.”
Philip paused, trying to phrase a response. Over the rim of her glass, Rachel Fredrickson watched him with sharp eyes. He experienced a sudden flash of understanding.
“You’ve already made up your mind.”
Rachel looked away, her eyes fixed on the liquid in her glass.
“He’s dangerous.”
“But?”
“We need him.”
“Do we?”
Rachel tossed down the last of her scotch and handed the glass to Lester.
“Top her up, sonny.”
“Rachel, what are you thinking?” asked Pillip.
“You’re no idiot, Phil; we both know that the Free Nation needs the Tula.”
“At what cost?”
“At any cost! We can’t fight them, they’re too strong. So we’ll have to make peace with them.”
Senator Burton leant forward to put his teacup on the table in front of him.
“So we only abide by our principles when it’s easy to do so?”
“Oh, grow up, Phil. Nothing is ever that black and white. Sometimes our principles have to be flexible so that we can survive.”
“You’re wrong, Rachel. Sticking to our principles is what makes us who we are. If we can’t stay true to ourselves, what is the point of living at all?”
Rachel groaned, and flung out a hand to silence him.
“You see, this is your problem, Phil: you’re just so damned stubborn. Enough with all the psychobabble. You’d send us head first into a war we couldn’t win!”
“And you’d send us head first into servitude under a dictator!”
Rachel got to her feet with an irritated growl.
“So dramatic. Ladron might be a little…”
“Despotic?” supplied Philip.
Rachel glared at him.
“Whatever he is, he’s a necessary evil.”
“Nothing that evil is necessary!”
She ran a hand through her hair, distractedly pulling it from the carefully constructed chignon that sat high on her head.
“I knew it! I just knew it! We should never have sent you as the leader of this diplomatic mission.”
“You made that patently obvious when you voted against me.”
“Oh, that’s right: be little about it.”
Philip sighed heavily.
“Rachel, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but at least give this a little more thought?”
“Now you’re implying that I'm not going to give this due thought?”
“This isn’t a game.”
“You think I don’t know that? Phil, you’ve gotta look at this the right way: we can’t fight. That means we have to make peace.”
“Do you really believe that will keep us safe? The second he has managed to wipe out the Una, he’ll turn on us.”
Rachel shook her head.
“Not if we’ve managed to form a peaceful alliance with him.”
“You think he’ll honour the alliance when it gets in his way?”
Rachel shrugged.
“We'll just have to make ourselves indispensible. If we don’t antagonise him, he won’t bite. We should be clever enough to manipulate the situation in our favour.”
“You underestimate him.”
“You underestimate me! I was sent here to make peace, and you can be sure that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“I’m not sure what scares me more: his hunger for power, or your blind intent to form an alliance whatever the price. For what, Rachel? For the Free Nation’s safety? No. All you’re really interested in is getting your grubby little hands on the Tula’s technology.”
Senator Fredrickson had gone white, and when she spoke her voice was so low that Philip had to strain to hear it.
“I’m warning you, Phil; don’t butt in. I like you and all, but if you get in my way, I’ll get rid of you. Understand now that there is no way I’m going to war just because you won’t bend your precious principles for the sake of peace.”
Rachel bent and picked up her shoes before turning to Philip again.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Philip watched her leave the room in silence, wondering if he had been a little harsh. Maybe Rachel did just want peace. Maybe she thought this was best for the Free Nation. Lester hovered anxiously in the background.
“I think it’s time we all went to bed, Lester.”
“What about Senator Fredrickson?”
“What about her?”
Lester paused awkwardly.
“What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
“But, sir…”
Senator Burton shook his head.
“There's nothing I can do, Lester. She’s already made up her mind.”
“But, sir, you can’t just leave it like that!”
“What do you want me to do, Lester? She is the head of the diplomatic mission now. I no longer have any say in what happens.”
“But…”
“Enough, Lester. I’m tired and I’m through with arguing about it.”
Lester nodded slowly, and left with a worried slope to his shoulders.
Philip picked up his pillow from the settee, and made his way to his bedroom. He was rather pleased with how he had handled the situation. He had no doubt that Ladron was watching them all, and when he listened to tonight’s contretemps he would be satisfied that Philip Burton was no longer a problem to him.
Philip grinned and threw the pillow on to the bed. All in all he would soon be ready to launch his counter attack. He pulled back the covers on the bed and climbed in before turning his face into the softness of the pillow. He inhaled deeply, regretting the action almost immediately, and pulled back coughing. The pillow smelled strongly of Rachel Fredrickson’
s perfume. He cast it away from him and made a mental note to have Lester get rid of it in the morning.
Philip had waited patiently for Senator Fredrickson’s arrival before he set his plans in motion. Partly he’d waited to give Ladron the belief that Ben’s disappearance had robbed him of his strength. He’d wanted to be sure there was no other way.
Rachel had shown him clearly that there was no other option; the Free Nation would not hamper Ladron’s plans.
In a way, Philip understood why Rachel was so determined to make peace. The Free Nation couldn’t afford to be at war with a nation as technologically advanced as the Tula. The sensible course to take was to form an alliance and save the Free Nation from Ladron’s wrath.
Yet Philip knew that if they gave in to Ladron’s demands they would be agreeing to the extermination of the Una. Ladron was hungry for power, for domination. The Free Nation couldn’t allow themselves to be the means for him to achieve his goal. He had to be stopped, whatever the consequences, and it would be better to stop him sooner rather than later. Prevention was better than cure.
Senator Burton knew what his next step would be: Councillor Sendel.
He had no illusions regarding Sendel. He was dangerous, double dealing, and a deeply treacherous man. He was also ambitious, and his desire for Councillor Ladron's power was obvious. Philip knew Sendel would turn on Ladron if he thought the Free Nation would reward him for his help.
Sendel was perhaps the only person ruthless enough to take Ladron on. He would do whatever it took to bring him down. Philip would support him fully in that endeavour, but he had no intention of replacing one despot with another. Ladron had to go, but Sendel could not be allowed to take his place.
Philip shifted restlessly. In taking Ladron down he would be going against the Free Nation; he would be classed as a traitor.
However, he would rather be a traitor than a coward.
Chapter Thirty-One
The air was cool, it had rained in the night and the muggy oppressiveness of the last few days had disappeared. It was also very busy, Philip Burton was used to seeing the city deserted, and the sheer magnitude of those rushing to work was quite overwhelming. He emerged from the shaded path and into the open paved area that ringed the park with small cafés.
The library loomed before him, a cold black unfriendly edifice. Philip made for the café in the corner of the square that faced it. A large black and white sign, with a leafy motif, proclaimed it simply as ‘Jayn’s’.
As he entered, a generously framed woman, wearing the prerequisite dull silver skirt and jacket, broke away from the small group of employees chatting behind the counter and made her way toward him.
“How do you do, Senator Burton? I’m Jayn.” She smiled briefly, her expression a little anxious.
Philip waved toward the name advertised around the café.
“As in…?”
She smiled again.
“That’s me. Councillor Sendel is in a private tea room on the first floor, if you’ll just follow me?”
She indicated that he should accompany her through a port and out of the main tea room. The hall it led onto was deserted and quiet.
Jayn's low voice broke the silence.
“I’m sorry about your son, Senator.”
Philip felt a familiar tightness develop in his stomach at the mention of Ben.
“Thank you.”
Jayn paused, her hand resting on the stair newel. She hesitated, biting her lip and looking vaguely harassed.
“He was a nice boy, polite and friendly. It’s such a pity that…” She broke off suddenly and met his eyes. “Astra would never have hurt him. I know that everyone’s saying that she and the Va Dic Toban’s are all some sort of Una activists, but it’s not true. Astra would never do anything like that.”
“You met my son?”
Jayn nodded anxiously, twisting the corner of her jacket.
“He came here for lunch once with Astra.”
Philip shook his head.
“I didn’t know that.”
“A lot of people did,” returned Jayn.
“What do you mean?”
Jayn looked uncomfortable, shifting from one foot to the other.
“I can’t tell you anymore; I shouldn’t have told you this much. It’s just that I liked your son, and I hate to see Astra blamed for something she didn’t do, just because she’s Una.”
She turned sharply, starting to make her way up the stairs again. Philip reached out, taking a hold on her arm and restraining her.
“Why are you speaking up for Astra?”
“Because no one else will.”
“Why not? Because she’s Una?”
Jayn worried her bottom lip, and cast a panicked look toward the corridor above.
“Partly. Mostly they keep quiet because people who speak up tend to disappear.”
“You’re not afraid of ‘disappearing’ as well?”
Jayn’s eyes widened in fear.
“Don’t worry, I’m not threatening you,” soothed Philip. “I just need to know what I’m up against.”
Jayn’s rapid breathing slowed a little at his assurance.
“You want to know what you’re up against, Senator? The Devil incarnate, that’s who, and him up there.” She jerked a thumb indicating the tea rooms above. “He’s the Devil’s apprentice! He’s got too arrogant and wants to challenge his mentor for control, and me and you Senator, we’re stuck between them.”
Philip was taken back by her vehemence, and for a moment both of them stood quietly in the cramped corridor.
“We have to go up. He’ll have seen you coming, and he’ll wonder what we’re doing. If he guesses that we’ve been talking, I’ll get into trouble.”
Senator Burton nodded, and followed Jayn as she made surprisingly quick time up the stairs. She buzzed the bell on the port once, and opened it before stepping aside so that Senator Burton could precede her into the room.
Councillor Sendel sat on a large sofa playing absently with the cup at his elbow, he turned as the door opened and smiled, getting to his feet.
“Good morning, Senator Burton. How nice to see you.” He held out his hand Free Nation style. “For a little while you had me worried that we had misunderstood each other that day at Senator Fredrickson’s welcoming ceremony.”
Sendel turned to Jayn.
“What took so long, Jayn? Senator Burton entered the café at least ten minutes ago, was there a problem?”
Jayn froze in the act of clearing Councillor Sendel’s used cup away. Philip watched as her hand began to shake, making the cup rattle.
“My fault I’m afraid,” he interjected smoothly. “I had to stop and tie my shoe lace.”
Sendel frowned, obviously disbelieving. Yet he had no way to refute the statement without giving offence, so he allowed the matter to drop.
“We’ll discuss this later, Jayn. For now, bring us some tea.”
Jayn nodded and cast a harried but grateful smile toward Senator Burton. Sendel gestured that he should take a seat, and settled himself into the chair he had occupied just a few moments before.
Both men waited in silence for the other to make the first move. After a moment’s hesitation Councillor Sendel raised his hand in a gesture that encompassed the whole room.
“This is what I like to call a safe space. It’s one of the few places that Councillor Ladron can’t overhear every word.”
“And why is that?”
“No doubt you have seen the computer in Ladron’s private office?”
Philip nodded, and Sendel continued.
“We call it The Eye. It’s the most technologically advanced mainframe in the Tula Strongholds, and has a direct link to The Heart.”
“The Heart?”
“It’s the server that stores the information shared by every computer in the Strongholds. However, it has a weakness. Its systems are too advanced to process the outdated software that private homes and small business use. Hence our
safety.”
Philip nodded slowly.
“And just why have you invited me to speak to you in this ‘safe space,’ Councillor?”
Sendel smiled.
“Senator Burton, you know already! We both want Ladron gone, the most logical thing to do is work together to achieve our shared goal.”
“And what will I get in exchange for lending you my assistance?”
“Come, come, Senator. You make it sound as though it would be you doing me the favour.”
“Isn’t that exactly what I would be doing?”
Sendel leaned back in his chair.
“You cloud the issue, Senator. Whether I benefit or not does not change the fact that you need my help.”
“I would be a fool if I didn’t question whether your motives in helping me are entirely philanthropic, Councillor. What’s the price for your cooperation?”
Sendel inclined his head.
“Very true, but I think we both know what I want.”
“And if I don’t think it prudent to give you access to that kind of power?”
“I don’t think you have that option, Senator.”
Both men stared at each other, having reached a stalemate. A buzz at the port heralded Jayn’s return with a tray. She set it down on the table between the two men, inclining her head and placing her hand over her heart. Councillor Sendel stilled her retreat as she made to leave the room.
“Pour the tea, Jayn.”
She hesitated, looking uncertainly from one to the other of the men seated in stony silence. The atmosphere was unpleasant, and they continued to glare at each other with the watchful eyes of predators, thinly disguised beneath a brittle overlay of pleasantness. The air was thick with menace and unspoken threats. Philip saw Jayn shiver out of the corner of his eye. No doubt she was wishing she could withdraw, but obediently she began to serve the tea.
However, her concentration was shot, and she paused, staring down at the milk she had poured into both cups.
“What’s wrong, Jayn? How did you come to be so thoughtless, you know I never take milk?”
Jayn looked up guiltily, but Sendel’s eyes regarded Philip without wavering.
