TNE 02 To Dream of Chaos Page 11

  "Yes, the domainof Lord Leon An-Wing. The junior technarchs in question are his niece and an economist on retainer to his family."

  "They might not need to rush," Coeur said. "Our ship has taken structural damage, and I haven't heard an estimate of the repair time. Assuming other ships are ahead of us, It might be several days...."

  "Perish the thought," Mestrovic said, smiting. "My engineers have already begun their inspection and report that your ship will be fully repaired and refueled within the day."

  In reply, Coeur summoned her most diplomatic smile.

  "That Is unexpectedly generous. Thank you."

  "Please, you embarrass me. Are we not allies in a common cause?"

  ■ r t "Say, Snapshot, got a minute?"

  Alone on Ho,net s bridge, where she was standing watch while repair crews started to work topside. Snapshot started at the question from an unexpected visitor, "SergeantGarfer," she said, turning aroundin the pllofschalr, "what do you want?"

  "Well, it doesn't have anything to do with Badger," the sergeant said, sensing Snapshot's piercing stare as the aft bridge hatch closed behind him. "And believe me, I wouldn't have bothered you if I didn't think you were the one person who'd understand my problem."

  Despite herself. Snapshot was intrigued by that thought—that the big dork should actually need her help for something.

  "What's the problem?"

  "Well, first, let me get something straight. Your mates tell me there were some bad feelings between you and the ship's last Hiver adviser. Is that right?"

  "What If It is?"

  "Well, like I said, you might be the one person who can understand my situation. Snapshot, I've got concerns about Newton." "So join the dub," Snapshot offered. "Everybody knows the Hivers are always up to something they don't want you to know about."

  "Yeah, right, manipulations. But I'vegoi evidence—evidence— that Newton is actually threatening all of our lives."

  "Co on."

  Lifting hissmall camera out of its belt pouch, C after continued. "In this, I've recorded suspicious activity from Newton around the ship's water supply. I think he's been trying to monkey with it— maybe to alter our basic behavior with some kind of drug."

  "Alter our behavior?" Snapshot asked.

  "Well, hell, I don't know what he's trying to do exactly, but he is up to something suspicious."

  "All right," Snapshot said, "let's see the tape."

  Obligingly, Caffer handed over the camera, and Snapshot— who was familiar with the operation of such a device—activated its playback feature.

  "Well, I've got to admit," Snapshot said a minute later, "it is peculiar. Any idea what's in that bottle of his?"

  "No," Gaffer said, "he always locks it away in hisstateroom—or an equipment locker in the engine room—lifter he's through with it"

  "Yeah, well, it is suspicious," Snapshot said, handing the camera back to Gaffer, "It shouldn't be necessary to add much of anything to the water supply, since It's an automated system."

  "That's right. I asked Gyro and Crowbar about that."

  "Did you tell them you were suspicious about Newton, too?"

  "No," Gaffer said. "I figured I'd better confide In somebody I can trust."

  "Assuming that's me," Snapshot said, "what's your plan?"

  "Simple. Basically, I'm going to confront Newton the next time he has the bottle with him. and take the bottle to Physic so she can analyze what's in it- I'd like to have a member of Hornet s crew with me, though, incase he tries to run. That way, when I track him down, I won't look like a tone nutcase harassing the ship's adviser."

  "True. The captain would probably lock you in the brig."

  "Yes, there is that possibility, But the captain knows you better than me. She'll respect your opinion."

  "I don't know about that," Snapshot said, leaning back In her seat. "And besides, have you considered the other possibility— that Newton is trying to bait you into doing just what you're planning to do?"

  "Bait me? But why?"

  "I don't know; I'm not a starfish. But It'll be a cold day in hell when a Hiver isn't up to something sneaky."

  "So are you willing to help me or not7"

  Cod, what a decision, Snapshot thought, remembering all-too-well her attempts to out-think Homer's last adviser. Scissor. With effortless subtlety, Scissor had achieved no less amazing a manipulation than making herself and Drop Kick friends, when before they'd been icy and a too I to each other.

  Which only supported Snapshot's core thesis about theHivers. As master manipulators, the Hivers almost certainly must have a self-serving objective in human space—perhaps to alter the fundamental character of humankind and make Snapshot's species into a race of pliant sheep.

  "All right," Snapshot said, "I'll help you. But the question Is when to do it."

  "He is very punctual," Caffer observed. "Every day at 1415 hours, he visits the water supply."

  "Yeah, well, all the same, I'd rather confront Newton sooner than later, like this afternoon preferably,"

  "Why?"

  "Because the skipped! be old the ship this afternoon, picking up the junior technarchs, and Gyro will be less likely to throw us in the brig if you're wrong."

  Since Honfestung was well to the north of Dobroye, suffering the full force of planetary winter, the executive jet laid in for the use of the junior technarchs did not arrive at Dobroye's Blitzbeleidigen Marine Air Station until the afternoon of the next day after Hornet landed, by which time the freighter was fully mended and certified fit for travel, "Good work," Coeur told Crowbar and the chief of the work gang from the shipyard. "All that's left is for Drop Kick and me to pick up the junior technarchs, and we can get underway. Crowbar, notify Gyro to prepare the ship for launch."

  "Aye, sir," the engineer said. "Pity about Snapshot, though. Didn't have any time to visit her folks."

  "Well," Coeur said, "barring a catastrophe. Oriflamme will still be here when we get back."

  "True."

  The work gang then departed, and Coeur joined Drop Kick in a last sortie with the ship's air-raft.

  Mere minutes after launch, Coeur and Drop Kick negotiated passage through the traffic net to the tightly restricted airspace around the Marine base. Setting down at the main gate, they found security procedures similar to those at Government House— with the exception that the attendant MPs here were consciously more polite—and the air-raft was permitted to set down at the edge of the tarmac. Seeing the Jet from Honfestung already taxiing to their position, Coeur left the contra-grav field of the air-raft engaged before debarking, allowing the craft to remain floating a half a meter above the ground.

  Having seen personnel dossiers on the two Junior technarchs, Coeur nevertheless learned Tittle from them except how to recognize the individuals as they descended the airplane's landing ramp, so edited were the documents that they portrayed exclusively positive Information, Lord An-Wlng's niece was a 27-year-old woman named Liu An-Wing—second in line to rule Honefestung—a tall and striking woman made even taller and more striking by her coal black eyes, black shoulder length hair, close-fitting black tunic, culottes falling Just below the knee, and black stiletto pumps.

  Bela Masaryk, the young man of 26 following An-Wing down the ramp, was the other junior technarch—not likely to rule any territory soon, but a noted local scholar all the same, already infamous for a paper proposing the Institution of market reforms on Oriflamme. Wearing the severely tailored business suit and puffy blouse that seemed to pass for formal wear among most of the technarchs male and female, he appeared average In stature and build, wltn rumpled wavy brown hair suggesting he'd fallen asleep during the flight and neglected to comb it. His most distinctive features were his eyes, though, brown and squinting as he studied the readout on a bulky TL$ hand computer worn on his left forearm. So intent was this study that he nearly stumbled when he hit the tarmac leaving the ramp.

  To his credit, though, Coeur noted hewasoneof the very few men in t
he area not diverted by his partner's distinctive appearance.

  "Captain 0' Esprit, I presume?" An-Wing asked, extending a hand toward Coeur.

  "Yes, Your Ladyship. And this is Sergeant Major Escher, my ground tactics chief."

  "Charmed, I'm sure," An-Wing said, shaking DropKick's hand in turn.

  "Yes, Your Ladyship."

  "Please, Ms. An-Wing."

  Drop Kick nodded and let go of her hand. Coeur, meanwhile, extended a hand to her oblivious companion. Intent on the study of his computer, he only took note of Coeur after a long moment.

  "Mr. Masaryk?"

  "Oh, sorry," he said, shaking her hand. "You must forgive me. I was just noticing some remarkable market activity—probably correlated to news of our hasty departure."

  "Market activity?" Drop Kick asked. "But I thought this was a nonmarket economy."

  "Actually, it's just a computer simulation," Masaryk said, "of a commodities exchange market lhal might develop here soon. Just as I anticipated, the simulated cliles are buying up oil futures with the news of our launch, gambling that we'll uncover a relic cache and cause a local boom in industrial production."

  "You must forglve 8eia," An-Wing said. "He does tend to go on about his numbers."

  "Numbers arecnlita! to the future of Orifiamme, Liu." Masaryk retorted, "as in the number of credits we should be Investing now in a reformed market economy. Unless we revise our view of land, labor and capital, we wilt fall behind Aubaine forever."

  Coeur coughed to Interrupt Masaryk.

  "Perhaps we should be getting underway," she offered.

  "Quite right," An-Wing agreed, fishing stylish black sunglasses out of a purse on her hip and flipping them on as she turned to the forklift just then driving over from the plane.

  "Ah, good, our luggage, Porter, deposit those in the rear of this air-cart here."

  "That's air-raft," Masaryk corrected her.

  "Whatever."

  Drop Kick, meanwhile, studied the bulk of the baggage with alarm—two large chests and a heavy packing crate—as the forklift driver deposited it in the rear of the alr-rafL

  "Good Gaia," Drop Kick said, crawling into the cargo bed to lash down the load, "what is all this stuff?"

  "Just necessities," An-Wing said.

  "Like a few dozen dresses," Masaryk added.

  "You should talk. Your computer junk takes up a whole crate."

  "Hey, that's key equipment."

  "Well, my ward robe is key, too; it'll be key if we need to impress some local potentate."

  "Oh, I'm sure you'll be impressrve," Masaryk countered, regarding An-Wing's outfit "rf you dress like that."

  Goio, Coeur thought sighing. I'm sure glodwevion'l bebunkingon the some deck. I hope Coffer can keep from jhooting them.

  Eventually, Drop Kick finished securing the cargo in the air-raft and Coeur opened her door to let the Junior technarchs board before herself.

  Although their dossiers gave no clue to their relationship. It was evident toCoeur that the junior technarchs had shared along association, and she pondered the extent of that association as Drop Kick returned to his seat.

  "You two aren't related, areyou?" she asked over her shoulder, once they were airborne.

  The Junior technarchs, seated side-by-slde behind Coeur and Drop Kick, appeared offended by the question.

  "I should think not," An-Wing said.

  "But we do go back a ways," Masaryk added. "Lady An-WIng and I were Instrumental In financing Zero's last expedition,"

  "Worst decision I ever made," An-Wing commented icily. "Cost me my position as director of frontier surveys "

  "It cost both of us, actually. I was assured a pos'Uon at the Zentrum Pofytechn'.k, If Zero returned alive."

  "Wat a minute," Coeur interjected. "Did you say expedition? I assumed he was out on his own,"

  "There you go," Masaryk chided. "Giving away state secrets."

  "Listen, you..."

  Since irte air-raft was presently steered by remote control, Coeur spared a long glance at the pair behind her.

  "About this expedition," she said. "Wnatwas it after?"

  "I'm afraid that's...classified," An-Wing said.

  "It's just become declassified. Or you can keep your secret and slay here."

  An-Wing was reluctant to answer, but Masaryk gave in without further encouragement.

  "Actually, if s not that amazing. Liu and I correlated data from other expeditions and old records, suggesting that Mexit might be the location of the Golden Cache."

  With a sympathetic grimace, Coeur turned back to her controls. The Golden Cache was just the latest manifestation of humanity's overactive imagination contemplating the unknown: a supposed hoard of magnificent artifacts stashed by the Imperials in anticipation of a restoration of the old order, To Coeur it sounded like so much wishful thinking—the same sort of pie-in-the-sky fantasy that led her Terran forebears to waste their fortunes seeking The likes of Atlantis and The Fountain of Youth.

  "And somebody put up money for that?" Coeur asked.

  "13dmit it was far-fetched," Masaryk replied, "but the Council of Technarchs knows it can't compete with Aubaine In the long rvn. When they asked Liu and Uo come up with some proposals to rectify the situation, they rejected conversion to a market economy and went for a hunt for the Golden Cache."

  "So how d>d you get in trouble for that?" Coeur asked.

  "Well, Crazy Jane had a lot of damage from her last cruise," Masaryk said, "so we talked several technarchs into footing the repair bill personally to avoid the Lord Technarch's red tape. When Crozy/G.iewent missing, so did our careers."

  Pity, Coeur thought.

  Momen ts later, the air-raft was back over the Lord Tethnarch's field, and Coeur took back active control. Having advised the field of her desire for a launch within the hour, Coeur found the armored roof over Hornet retracted and the path clear to dock in the freighter's air-raft berth.

  "By the way, Ms. An-Wing," Coeur said, pausing between opening the air-raffs starboard door and opening the berth hatch, "you might think about staying away from the spike heels in space."

  "Why?"

  "incase we evei sose gravity. I didn't see it myself, but I once heard about a noblewoman who put a guy's eye out when they lost gravity on their liner."

  "She wasn't hurt, was she?"

  Coeur silentiy glared in reply.

  "Oh, I see."

  The point having been made, Coeur opened the Inner hatch and let herself out. There she planned to help Drop Kick get the Oriflammen aboard, but a stern-faced Cyroin the middle of the loft derailed that plan.

  The moment Coeur caught sight of the sidearm on Gyro's hip, Coeur knew something was amiss—even the Marines did not routinely wear weapons aboard ship. Meanwhile, the doors of the forward port and starboard staterooms—the ones ordinarily unoccupied and intended for the junior technarchs— were guarded by the largest Marines, Fubar and Whl; Bang, with gauss rifles.

  "What the hell's going on here?" Coeur demanded, "Over here, sir," Cyro answered, motioning Coeur Into a corner as she saw the civilians emerging from the air-raft. Drop Kick, meanwhile, inferred that a crisis had developed and escorted the puzzled junior technarchs down to the lower deck through the loft elevator.

  "All right," Coeur said, after they were gone. "Explain."

  "Well, sir, it's a little complicated. Snapshot and Gaffer claim they caught Newton trying to doctor the water Supply, but he escaped to his stateroom before they could grab him. Since all this appeared to be getting out of hand, I went ahead and put everyone under detention until you got back."

  "I see."

  "Physic has the bottle right now—the bottle they claim Newton was pouring into the water supply."

  Mystified, Coeur scratched her head.

  "Snapshot, you say?"

  "Yes, sir. But she was very good about being detained. She and Gaffer agreed it was reasonable."

  Just then the elevator door reopened, admitting both Phys
ic and Drop Kick Into the loft—the former holding an unlabeled one-liter bottle.

  "...Well, I'lt be damned,* Drop Kick said. "Red Sun, you won't believe what was In this bottle."

  "What?"

  "As near as I can tel," Physic said, handing ttse haf-fllled bottie to Coeur, 'It's some sort of breath freshener. I ran it through the bioscarvier, and it couldn't find a trace of anything exotic."

  "Exotic?" Coeur asked. "Like what?"

  "And why was Newton putting breath freshener in the water supply?" Drop Kick added "If it isn't too radical an Idea," Physic suggested, "we might try asking "

  "Right," Coeur said. "Whii Bang, fubar, let them out *

  The big man saluted and moved briskly to open their respective doors. If nothing else, Coeur supposed, it was good to see one of Drop Kick's men and one of Gaffer's cooperating In this uncomfortable duty.

  When released from the port stateroom—the one guarded by Fubar—Newton naturally showed no expression on what Coeur Instinctively thought of as it's lace, although Newton did rapidly shift its weight from side to side and keep four of it's six eyestalks In constant motion. Gaffer and Snapshot, on the other hand, wore masks of firm determination, though Snapshot betrayed concern for her fate with nervous glances at Drop Kick when she thought he wasn't looking.

  "First off, people," Coeur began, "I don't mind telling you that I'm disgusted with the behavior you just exhibited. My first impulse is to charge the lot of you with dereliction of duty and lock you up for the duration of the journey.

  "Your aopalling conduct aside, however, I'm wiling to entertain the possibility that there was some com pel ling reason for 1L Assuming that to be correct, then," Coeur snook the bottle at Newton, "why were you putting tnis stuff, in the water supply?"

  Though It lacked emotions as humans understood them, young Newton shared it's race's extreme fear of violence and confrontation—a fear presently expressed by the wary eyes it kept on the Marine's rifles and the distance ii kept from Gaffer, "I believe I can explain. Some weeks ago, Corpotal Widget expressed the opinion that someone should have come up with a cute for bad breath after millennia of human civilization. I therefore endeavored to determine If I might solve this problem by introducing trace chemicals into the water supply In slowly Increasing amounts."