john dalmas - lizard 03 - the kalif's war

7/30/2019 John Dalmas - Lizard 03 - The Kalif's War

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T he Y ea r o f T he P ro ph et 4 72 5

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Y ea r o f T he P ro ph et 4 72 7

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THE KALIF'S WAR

JOHN DALMAS

T hi s i s a w or k o f f ic ti on . A ll t he c ha ra ct er s a nd e ve nt s p or tr ay ed i n t hi s b oo k a re f ic ti on al , a nd a ny

r es em bl an ce t o r eal p eo pl e o r i ncid en ts i s p ur el y coi ncid en tal.

C op yr ig ht 1 99 1 b y J oh n D al ma sA ll r ig ht s r es er ved, i nclu di ng t he r ig ht t o r ep ro du ce t hi s b oo k o r p or ti on s t hereof i n any f or m.

A B aen B oo ks O ri gi nal.

Baen Publishing Enterprises

P .O . B ox 1 40 3

R i ver dal e, N . Y. 1 04 71

ISBN: 0-671-72062-7

C ov er art b y D av id M at ti ng ly

First printing, June 1991


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O tt o, C ar l, E lain e, A my , B ob & E tt a, L yn n, L ar s, J oh n, A nn a- Li sa, T in a, B er ni ce, E th yl , A gn es , A nn ,

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A nd t o m y o th er f ri en ds i n V as a N or ds tj r na n. H a d et r ol ig t!

Acknowledgments

N ot f or t he f ir st t im e, I 'd l ike t o t ha nk B il l B ai li e a nd Da vi d P al te r f or t he ir h el pf ul c ri ti que s o f a

preliminary draft.

OneYear of The Prophet 4721

K al if G or su A re kn os aa mo s s at i n t he s ha de o f a g na rl ed o ld v oo rw a t re e, r ea di ng b ri ef s. I t w as

s om ew ha t w ar m a nd t he K al if w as f at . He wo re l oos e s hor ts t ha t r ea che d h is k ne es , a nd a c ri sp , s he er ,

s ca rl et s hi rt . H is e xp os ed a rm s a nd l eg s w er e t hi ck w it h c ur ly b la ck h ai r; h is b ea rd , s ca lp , a nd b ro ws

w er e als o cur ly , and g ri zzled.

S ev er al o f h is h ai ry f in ge rs b or e r in gs , a nd a r ub y h ad b ee n s et i n t he c ent er o f h is n ob il it y m ar k, a

3 /8 -i nch p ol ychr om e s tar o n h is f or eh ead. B racelets o f g ol d f il ig ree d an gl ed l oo sely o n o ne f ur ry w ri st ,

a nd a s le nd er go ld c ha in hu ng f ro m h is n ec k, h ol di ng a j ew el ed m eda ll io n i n t he f or m o f a s ext an t. T he

P ro ph et , t he B le ss ed F le ny aa go r, h ad b ee n a n av ig at or f ir st o f s hi ps a nd l at er o f s ou ls .

A s er vi ng g ir l s to od b y t he K al if , a g ir l p er ha ps f ou rt ee n y ea rs ol d. N ow a nd t he n s he w ou ld l if t t he l id o f

a r ef ri ge ra te d bo wl , t ak e a c ube o f m el on f rom i t w it h s ma ll f ing er s, a nd h ol d i t t o t he K al if 's l ip s. H is

m ou th w ou ld accep t i t abs en tl y, and o ccas io nall y h e s tr ok ed t he g ir l' s w el l- dr ap ed b ut to ck s w it h a

chu bb y h an d, app reci at in g t heir con ceal ed cur vatu re. H is p ot en cy h ad l ef t h im y ears b ef or e, b ut h e

enj oy ed t he aes th et ics o f s ig ht and t ou ch .

A no th er p er so n, an aid e, s to od s il en tl y a f ew y ar ds o ff , w ai ti ng f or w hatever o rd er m ig ht com e.

T he K al if 's f ul l l ip s s mi le d s ar do ni ca ll y a s h e r ea d. N ow a nd t he n h e c hu ckl ed . W he n h e f in is he d a s he et ,

h e' d t os s i t a si de o n t he gr as s, f ro m wh ic h a t en -y ea r- ol d p ag e bo y p ic ke d i t up a nd a dd ed i t n ea tl y t o a

s ta ck on a s ma ll t abl e.

Th e p en da nt o n t he K al if 's f at n ec k c onc ea le d a w at ch. I t b eg an t o p ee p a t hi m l ike a ba by bi rd, a nd


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g ru nt in g, h e h an de d t he r es t o f t he b ri ef t o t he p ag e. T he s er vi ng g ir l p ic ke d u p h is s an da ls a nd p ut t he m

o n h is h ai ry f eet, t hen b raced h er self and h el ped h im s tand . S mi li ng , h e f on dl ed h er b ut to ck s again . T he

a ide pi cke d up t he st ac k of pa pe r on t he t abl e.

T he n, w it h t he a id e a t h is r ig ht , t he p ag e a t h is l ef t bo th h al f a s te p b ac k th e K al if s ta rt ed a cr os s t he

private inner garden to his apartment, the girl following.

A t f ir st he d idn 't n ot ic e t he t hr ee m en wa it in g f or hi m t he re , w at ch ing h is a pp ro ac h f ro m t he e dge o f

cur tai ns t hat p ar tl y d raped t he o pen s li di ng d oo rs . H is con tact o pt icals w er e eff ecti ve, b ut h e w as

o ccup ied w it h t ho ug ht s. I t w as t he p ag e' s s mall v oi ce t hat alert ed h im . " Yo ur R ev er en ce"

T he ech o w as b ar it on e: " Yo ur R ev er en ce." T he K al if 's s co wl in g g lance t oo k t hem i n: t wo o ff icer s o f h is

personal guard, and a rather tall prelate, still young, in a light tunic with a miniature sextant, unjeweled, on

his chest.

" Wh at i s y ou r b us in es s?" T he w or ds r um bl ed f ro m t he K al if 's t hi ck chest .

T he y ou ng p relate h el d u p an env el op e. " Th e m es sage i s u rg en t and con fi dent ial. A bo ut R ."

S ti ll s co wl in g, t he K al if h el d o ut an o pen h an d and t he y ou ng p relate s tepp ed f or ward , h an di ng t he

e nv el op e t o h im . A s t he K al if t oo k i t, t he y ou ng m an g ra sp ed t he f at w ri st , t he e lb ow , t wi st ed a nd t hr us t,

jerking the thick hand behind the Kalif's back. Held it there with his left hand while the right swiftly drew

a s yr in ge f ro m a n o pe n b el t p ouc h. M ea nw hi le o ne of t he gu ar d of fi ce rs h ad s ho ve d t he m uz zl e o f a p is to l

u nd er t he a id e' s c hi n. T he K al if 's g ru nt a le rt ed t he t wo i nn er d oo r g ua rd s, b ut t he s yr in ge h ad m ov ed t o

h is j ow l, w here i t chu ff ed s harp ly . T he d oo r g uard s s to pp ed i n m id -s tr id e, con fu sed b y t he s ig ht o f

ano th er aut om at ic p is to l, p oi nt in g at t hem i n t he f is t o f a f am il iar g uard cap tain .

" He i s a lr ea dy d ea d, " t he c ap ta in t ol d t he m. " It 's t oo l at e t o s av e h im ." T he w or ds s ou nd ed s tr an ge lycas ual i n t he q ui et r oo m.

W it hi n s econ ds t he K al if 's w ei gh t s ag ged, b ut t he y ou ng p relate k ep t h im u pr ig ht f or s econ ds m or e, t o

be certain, before letting the heavy body collapse to the floor.

T he a ss as si n, t he y ou ng p re la te , l oo ke d a cr os s t he r oo m a t t he t wo s ho ck ed d oo r g ua rd s. " Yo u w il l n ot

be punished for failing to protect him," he said. "The deed was done at the order of the College of

Exarchs, with the knowledge of your commander."

H e t ur ne d t o t he a id e. T he g ua rd l ie ut en an t h ad r em ove d hi s p is to l f ro m t he m an 's t hr oa t. " I b el ie ve y ouk no w w hy t hi s w as n eces sary ."

D ou gh -p ale, t he ai de n od ded.

" St ay h er e f or n ow . U nt il s om eo ne c om es f or t he b od y. " T he a ss as si n t ur ne d t o t he g ir l a nd t he p ag e.

T he b oy s eemed p ar al yzed ; t he g ir l w as s haki ng v is ib ly . " Yo u s tay h er e, t oo ," t he p relate s ai d g en tl y.

" Bo th o f y ou . A s is ter o f t he F ai th w il l com e f or y ou l at er . E very th in g w il l b e all r ig ht ."

T he n t he y ou ng p re la te a nd t he t wo g ua rd o ff ic er s s tr od e f ro m t he r oo m, t he ir w ea po ns b ac k a t t he ir

belts, passing the door guards, inner and outer, without a look. A gray-haired exarch, white robed,

w ai te d f or t he m i n t he c or ri do r, a nd t he y l ef t t og et he r.

* * *


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T he C ol lege o f E xarchs w ai ted r es tl es sl y i n t heir con ference chamb er , aro un d t he l ar ge o val t ab le t here.

T he exarch t hat ent er ed w it h t he ass as si n w as t he eig ht eent h, com pl et in g t heir n um ber. T he K al if 's t hr on e

s to od u no cc up ie d a t o ne e nd o f t he t ab le , a n o rn at el y j ew el ed c ro wn s it ti ng i n f ro nt o f i t. A G ua rd s qu ad

s to od l in ed u p a lon g t he wa ll b eh ind i t, a n a ff ec ta ti on of t he l at e K al if .

T he y ou ng p re la te , t he a ss as si n, s to pp ed a f ew f ee t f ro m t he t ab le , a nd w it h a s li gh t b ow a dd re ss ed t he

s ec re ta ry o f t he C ol le ge . " Al b D el oo ra ," h e s ai d, " th e K al if i s d ea d. A s y ou o rd er ed ."

T he a ss as si n' s g la nc e t oo k i n w ho w as s ur pr is ed a nd w ho w as n ot . R ou gh ly a d oz en o f t he e ig ht ee n

w er e s ta rt le d a nd s ho ck ed . O f t he f ou r s en io r m em be rs , h ow ev er , c le ar ly a ll h ad k no wn i n a dv an ce , a nd

t hi s p ar ti cu la r s qu ad o f g ua rd s s ho we d n o s ur pr is e. I t t oo k s ev er al s ec on ds b ef or e t he u nw ar ne d e xa rc hs

began to yammer, several at once, demandingly. The secretary raised his hands and spoke, stilling them.

" Yo u k no w w ha t t he K al if h ad b ec om e. A nd w e h av e e vi de nc e, u ne qu iv oc al , t ha t h e h ad b ee n p lo tt in g

t he m os t e no rm ou s o f h er es ie s. H e p la nn ed t o p ub li sh a nd p re se nt w ha t h e w ou ld c al l The Book of

Kargh! To a dd t o a nd ' cor re ct ' The Book of The Prophet , w hi ch t he B le ss ed F le ny aa go r g av e t o

m an ki nd m il le nn ia a go . H e t he n p la nn ed t o s et h im se lf u p a s a h ol y d es po t. H e' d h av e c au se d n ot j us tinsurrection but outright revolution, and quite possibly the fall of the kalifate and College."

H e w ai te d f or a m om en t, a nd w he n t he h ub bu b p er si st ed , b ar ke d t he m t o s il en ce . " We d ec id ed a ga in st

a b il l o f i mp each ment ," h e w en t o n. " Un av oi dabl y w e' d h av e h ad t o m ak e t he w ho le t hi ng p ub li c, w it h

d et ai ls t ha t w ou ld h av e d is gr ac ed a nd w ea ke ne d t he k al if at e f or y ea rs t o c om e. "

He didn't give another, even more compelling reason: successful impeachment would have required

f if teen v ot es i n f av or , f if teen o f eig ht een. A nd i t w as i mp ol it ic t o p oi nt o ut t hat t he K al if h ad f iv e o f t hem i n

h is p ocket cou ld h av e d ep en ded o n t hei r v ot es r eg ar dl ess o f h is h er es y.

" Thu s s om e of u s de ci de d i t s houl d be do ne t he wa y we di d i t."

A c as ua l h an d g es tu re d t ow ar d t he a ss as si n. " We w er e f or tu na te t o h av e s om eo ne o n s ta ff w ho h as

s er ved i n t he m il it ar y, as an o ff icer o f i mp er ial m ar in es . Y ou all k no w h im , C os o B ii lath kamo ro ; h e h as

s er ve d u s w el l i n m or e o rd in ar y w ay s. A m an o f d ec is io n a nd a ct io n. N ot o nl y d id h e s ub ve rt t he G ua rd

c om ma nd , t he m os t d if fi cu lt j ob o f a ll , a nd o n s ho rt no ti ce . H e a ls o p er fo rm ed t he e xe cut io n w it h h is o wn

h an d. W it ho ut h im w e cou ld h ar dl y h av e s ucceeded; h e h as ear ned o ur d eep app reci at io n. "

T he s ec re ta ry g la nc ed a ro un d t he t ab le , t he n s et tl ed h is e ye s o n t he p re la te -a ss as si n a nd b ec ko ne d t o

t he g uard s. " Un fo rt un at el y, s om eo ne m us t d ie f or t hi s act o f v io lence again st t he S uccess or t o t he

P ro ph et . S om eo ne m us t b e s ac ri fi ce d. " H e p oi nt ed a t t he a ss as si n, a nd h is v oi ce t oo k a t on e o f com mand . " Un fo rt un at el y, t he o ne b y w ho se h an d t he K al if d ied. G uard s, s ho ot t hi s m an !"

T he g uard s m ad e n o m ov e; t wo o r t hr ee g ri nn ed n er vo us ly .

" Al b D el oo ra ," t he a ss as si n s ai d d ry ly , " it 's n ot I w ho s ha ll d ie ." Q ui ck ly t he n h e s tr od e t o t he s ec re ta ry ,

w ho f ou nd h im self t rapp ed b et ween h eavy chair and m as si ve t ab le. A b od y b lo w h al f p ar al yzed h im , a

s tr on g h an d g ra sp ed h is h ai r a nd f or ce d h is h ea d b ac k. " It w as y ou r i de a t ha t t he K al if b e k il le d. E ve n

t hi s s yr in ge w as y ou r i de a! " I t d ar te d, c hu ff ed a s b ef or e. " I a gr ee d w it h y ou t ha t t he a ct w as n ec es sa ry . I

a ls o k ne w y ou w ou ld t ur n o n m e. S o I m ad e a rr an ge me nt s w it h t he m ar sh al , w ho c ho se a nd b ri ef ed

t hese m en f or d ut y t od ay ."

H e l et g o t he s ec re ta ry , w ho s ag ge d o nt o h is c ha ir t o d an gl e l im pl y o ve r a n a rm . T he n t he y ou ng p re la te

m ov ed t o t he s en io r r em ai ni ng e xa rc h. " Al b I ko mo , I b el ie ve y ou k ne w o f o ur l at e s ec re ta ry 's p la n t o


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s ac ri fi ce m e. W oul d yo u c ar e t o f ol low h im t o t he j ud gm en t o f Ka rgh ?"

T he g ra y h ea d s ho ok a n eg at iv e. T he y ou ng m an p oi nt ed a t t he t hr on e. " Th en c ro wn m e K al if ."

" Bu t y ou a re n ot a m em be r o f t he C ol le ge ! T he K al if i s a lwa ys s el "

C os o B ii lath kamo ro m ov ed s wi ft ly . I ko mo I iakaso mo 's eyes b ul ged w it h s ho ck as a h an d g rasp ed h ish ai r, t oo , a nd t he s yr in ge f la sh ed a ga in . T he g au nt e xa rc h h ad j us t t im e t o s qu aw k b ef or e h e s ag ge d. T he

y ou ng p re la te t ur ne d t o t he n ex t i n r an k. " Yo u t oo k ne w o ur s ec re ta ry 's i nt en ti on t ow ar d m e. C ro wn

me!"

O ne o f t he o th er s s po ke , a f at m an r el at iv el y p al e a mo ng b ro wn . " Te et hk ar , p ut t he c ro wn o n h is h ea d!

Y ou k no w w hat' s h ap peni ng t o t he emp ir e. I t o ccup ies o ur t ho ug ht s m or e t han any th in g els e; m or e t han

t ha t m ad h er et ic h e j us t k il le d. W e n ee d s om eo ne l ik e C os o B ii la th ka mo ro o n t he t hr on e n ow . H e c an b e

t he s tr on gest K al if s in ce P ap a S am bak. " T he s peak er t ur ned h is clean- sh av en f ace t ow ar d t he k il ler. " If

h e p ro ves r ui no us , w e can r id o ur selv es o f h im l at er ."

A f ew n er vo us l au gh s f la sh ed a nd d ie d, a nd a ft er a m om en t' s s us pe ns io n, t he e xa rc hs r el ax ed a b it .

" Cr ow n h im !" s ai d ano th er , t hen o th er s y et . S ti ll o th er s n od ded. T he exarch o rd er ed b y t he y ou ng p relate

s te pp ed t o t he t hr on e a nd p ic ke d u p t he c ro wn . T he on e w ho 'd s po ke n, t he f at on e, s pok e a ga in .

" Ou r n ew K al if m us t b e f or mall y elect ed . T ho se i n f av or o f C ho dr is ei B ii lath kamo ro as K al if , s ay ' ay e! ' "

H al f a d oz en s ai d a ye a lm os t a t o nc e, t he n a no th er , t wo m or e, t wo m or e a ga in . M or e t ha n h al f.

" O pp os ed ' nay !' "

Three said "nay," defiantly. Several said nothing.

T he s pe ak er l oo ke d a t t he e xa rc h h ol di ng t he c ro wn , o ne o f t ho se w ho 'd a bs ta in ed . " As a lw ay s,

abs tent io ns are n ot cou nt ed . T he ayes p revail . C ro wn h im !"

T he m an c ar ri ed t he c ro wn t o t he yo un g p re la te , w ho ha lf k ne lt , a nd p la ce d i t gi ng er ly on h is s ol di er ly ,

s ho rt - cr op ped h ai r. W hen C ho dr i sei " Co so " B ii lat hk am or o s t oo d again , h e w as t he S ucces s or t o T he

P ro ph et , a nd t he n ew r ul er o f t he K ar gh an ik E mp ir e.

* * *

W ea ri ng t he r ed c ap e o f h is o ff ic e, t he n ew K al if s to od i n h is h ea ri ng r oo m b ef or e t he m us te re d s en io r o ff icer s o f t he K al if al G uard : i ts m ar sh al , t he m ar sh al 's aid e, t he execu ti ve o ff icer , and t he t hr ee b at tali on

commanders.

" I h av e c al le d y ou t og et he r f or t wo m ai n r ea so ns ," t he K al if s ai d. " Fi rs t t he re a re r ew ar ds t o m ak e. Y ou r

c on ce rn f or t he w el fa re o f t he e mp ir e, y ou r u nd er st an di ng o f t he u rg en t n ee d t o r em ov e a d eg en er at e

r ul er , y ou r w il li ng ness t o all ow and even ass is t i n t hat r em ov al , h av e ear ned t he g rati tu de o f t he C ol lege o f

E xa rc hs a nd m ys el f. T he re for e, t he e mp ir e w il l r ew ar d t he G ua rd , e ve ry m an i n i t, w it h a b on us o f 1 00

g ol d s ov er ei gn s. E ach com mi ss io ned o ff icer s hall r ecei ve 3 00 , each o f y ou h er e 5 00 ." H e t ur ned t o t he

m ar sh al . " An d y ou ," h e a dd ed , " ha ve e ar ne d 1 ,0 00 . A ls o, t he t wo o ff ic er s w ho a cc om pa ni ed m e w he n I

performed the deed shall receive an additional 500."

H e s te pp ed c lo se r t o t he m ar sh al n ow , l oo ki ng h im o ve r c al ml y. " As f or t he s ec on d m at te r, " h e w en t o n,

" I a m t ol d b y a r el ia bl e i nf or ma nt t ha t y ou h av e b ra gg ed t ha t t he G ua rd n ow d et er mi ne s w ho s it s o n t he


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t hr on e. D o y ou d en y s ay in g i t?"

T he m ar sh al m an ag ed n o w or ds , m er el y s to od f lu st er ed . I n t hat m om en t h is s ab er , n ot a s yr in ge, h is sed

f ro m b en ea th t he K al if 's r ed c ap e, a nd t ho ug h t he m ar sh al w en t f or h is p is to l, h e m ov ed t oo l at e. T he

s wo rd t oo k h is g un a rm b el ow t he e lb ow , s he ar in g m us cl e f ro m b on e, t he n t hr us t u pw ar d b en ea th t he

r ib s. B lo od p ou re d. T he K al if s te pp ed b ac k, d re w a l ar ge k er ch ie f a nd w ip ed c le an h is b la de .

T ha t d on e, h is e ye s l oc ke d o nt o t he s ho ck ed e xe cu ti ve o ff ic er 's . " Ma jo r, " h e s ai d, " I h av e s ee n o nl y

go od r ep or ts on y ou. I f y ou a re w il li ng, I a m p re pa re d t o pr omo te you t o c ol on el a nd a ppoi nt you

marshal."

Somehow his gaze calmed the major, who pulled himself together. "Your Reverence, I am willing."

" Good. The n ma rs ha l you a re . As f or me I i nte nd t o be t he Ka li f t hi s e mpi re ha s ne ede d f or s o l ong.

A nd o ne o f t he t hi ng s I d em an d i s y ou r a bs ol ut e l oy al ty , y ou rs a nd t ha t o f t he e nt ir e G ua rd . T he re m ay b e

di sor de rs a s a r es ul t o f t hi s da y' s w or k, a nd I w il l be t oo bu sy t o pr ot ec t my se lf . I t wi ll b e up t o y ou.

" No w, a s t he l at e m ar sh al d id n ot l ive t o d ra w h is b onu s, I w il l h av e i t di vi de d e qu al ly a mon g t he s ix o f

you."

F or a m om en t h is e ye s h el d o n t he n ew m ar sh al 's a ga in , t he n h e n odd ed s li gh tl y a s i f t o h im se lf , i n

app ro val. " I w il l r ev iew y ou r r eg im en t o n t he p ar ad e g ro un d t om or ro w m or ni ng at n in e, t o l et y ou r m en

kn ow m e. A nd I d o no t p la n a ny mo re s ur pr is es . I m uc h pr ef er t o op er at e i n a r egu la r a nd or de rl y

manner."

T he K al if t ur ne d h is b ac k t o t he m t he n, a nd s tr od e f ro m t he r oo m.

TwoT he cr ui s er and i ts t ro op sh ip com pani on h ad g en er at ed h yp er sp ace and d is ap peared f r om t he K ar no vi r

S ys te m a s hi p' s w ee k e ar li er , p ro gr am me d a s a cc ur at el y a s p os si bl e t o r et ur n t o i ts h om e s ys te m, n ea rl y

t hr ee y ear s aw ay .

T hey t oo k n o v icto ry w it h t hem, l it tl e b oo ty , and o n] y o ne p ri so ner, f em al e. O ne b ad ly d am ag ed

prisoner , t ho ug ht L ieut en an t C om mand er B av i R al an ko or , H e s tepp ed f ro m a l if t t ub e i nt o t he S er vi ces

S ec ti on , A -D ec k, s tr od e d ow n a g ra y, u nc ar pe te d c or ri do r t o U ti li ty C om pa rt me nt A -S 0 4, a nd o pe ni ngt he d oo r, s te pp ed i ns id e. W it h a ll b ut o ne t ab le f ol de d i nt o t he w al ls , i t s ee me d a lm os t s pa ci ou s b y s hi p' s

s tand ar ds . T wo y ou ng w om en w er e t here. T he s ho rt o ne, s wart hy l ik e h im self , w as i n charg e. S he

glanced questioningly at the officer.

He gestured to continue, and they did, exchanging simple sentencessimple comments and questions by

the specialist, simple replies by the prisoner. The language program could install vocabulary and grammar

i n a m in d, b ut n ot a ll a t o nc e. A nd w it h e ac h i ns ta ll me nt , i t w as n ec es sa ry t o e xe rc is e t he n ew k no wl ed ge

before another acquisition.

R al ank oo r s t oo d b y t he d oo r, l is teni ng .

" Wha t i s t he na me o f t he p la ne t f ro m w hi ch t hi s s hi p c am e? " a sk ed t he d ar k y oun g t ec hn ic ia n.


8/216

T he p ri so ner w as l on g- legg ed , r em ar kabl y s o, and t al ler t han R al an ko or , w it h h ai r t he col or o f p al e

h on ey , and v io let- bl ue eyes. E ven n ew ly cap tu red, con fu sed, and f ri gh tened, s he'd b een

beautifulexotic, interesting, exciting to look at.

" Th e n am e o f t he p lanet f ro m w hi ch t hi s s hi p cam e i s K lest ro n, " s he ans wered.

The sentences and pronunciations were stilted, the delivery awkward.

" Go od . A nd w ha t i s t he n am e o f t he I mp er ia l P la ne t? "

" Th e n am e o f t he I mp er ial P lanet i s V ar at os ."

" Go od . P leas e n am e t he o th er p lanets i n t he emp ir e. "

"Maolaari, Ikthvoktos, Kathvoktos, Niithvoktos, Kolthvoktos, Saathvoktos, Naathvoktos, Chithvoktos,

Veethvoktos."

" Very g oo d. " T he t ech t ur ned t o R al an ko or . H e w as f ro wn in g. " Si r?" s he s ai d.

"Continue. I will listen."

" Tha nk you, s ir ." W hi le he t ook a s ea t t o one s ide , s he t ur ne d ba ck t o t he pr is one r. " If you wi ll c ount t o

te n f or me , I wil l then tel l you a st ory."

T he p ri so ne r' s f ac e t oo k o n a c hi ld li ke e xp re ss io n o f p le as ur e. " Ik , k a, n ii , k ol , s aa , n aa , c hi k, v ee , g aa ,

t ee, " s he cou nt ed.

" Very g oo d. N ow I w il l t el l y ou s om et hi ng abo ut T he P ro ph et , t he B less ed F leny aago r. Y ou r em em ber t ha t i t w as h e w ho g av e u s t he w or ds o f K ar gh t he a ll -m as te r, t he a ll -s ee in g. .. ."

R al an ko or w as t em pt ed t o cut h er o ff . T he com mo do re h ad o rd er ed h im s peci fi call y t o m in im ize t he

information the prisoner was exposed to, consistent with getting her reasonably fluent in Imperial. And

R al an ko or h ad g on e t o con si derabl e t ro ub le t o edi t i ns tr ucti on al m at er ial t o com pl y w it h t hat o rd er . T he

technician was going beyond it.

B ut j us t n ow h e l et h er c on ti nu e.

" Th e B le ss ed F le ny aa go r w as b or n m or e t ha n 4 ,7 00 y ea rs a go i mp er ia l y ea rs . H e w as a s ai lo r, a m anwho tr ave le d on a s ma ll s hi p t ha t w ent upon t he s ea , dr ive n by t he w in d. He owne d t ha t s mal l s hi p, a nd

a t n ig ht , on t he s ea , he w ou ld w at ch t he s ta rs , a nd w on de r a bo ut t he m. H e a ls o w on de re d a bo ut m an y

o th er t hi ng s. I n t im e, K ar gh s po ke t o t he B less ed F leny aago r, ans weri ng m an y o f h is q uest io ns . A nd

began to tell him how men should live on the world, and how they should treat one another.

" He a ls o t ol d Fl enya agor t o wr it e i t do wn. And t he n t o go f or th upon t he la nd a nd t el l t he pe opl e a ll t ha t

Kargh had told him...."

When the specialist had finished her little story, Ralankoor spoke. "Specialist Zoranjee," he said mildly,

" wa it i n t he c or ri do r. A ft er I h av e s po ke n p ri va te ly t o o ur g ue st f or a f ew m inu te s I w il l s pe ak w it h yo u. "

T he t ech n od ded. " Yes, C om mand er ," s he s ai d, and r is i ng , l ef t. R al ank oo r s at d ow n o pp os i te t he

prisoner, the seat warm from the specialist's body.


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" Sp eciali st Z or an jee t ol d m e y es terd ay t hat s he f ou nd y ou d an ci ng . A nd t hat y ou d an ce v er y n icel y. "

T he p ri so ner ans wered i n I mp er ial. " Yes, s ir ."

" Do y ou r em em ber ever d an ci ng b ef or e? B ef or e y ou w er e b ro ug ht o n b oard t hi s s hi p?"

T he v io le t e ye s s li d a wa y, a nd s he s ho ok h er h ea d. " No , s ir ."

" Well . P er haps y ou w il l d an ce f or m e s om et im e. "

T he eyes b ri gh tened. " I w il l d an ce f or y ou n ow , i f y ou 'd l ik e. "

Childlike, thought Ralankoor. According to the chief medical officer, amnesiacs were not ordinarily

chi ld li ke. I n f act, h er s ym pt om s d id n ot m at ch any th in g t hat D AA S h ad o n amn es ia, excep t o f cou rs e t hat

s he cou ld n ot r em em ber. A nd h is i ns tr um en ts h ad ass ur ed h im t hat s he w as n' t f ak in g.

H e n od de d. S he s to od a nd b eg an d an ci ng , h um mi ng t he m us ic . I t w as n ot a t a ll l ik e a ny d an ci ng h e' d

seen before. Her movements were larger, fuller, more athletic, requiring greater flexibility and balance,

t heir app eal m or e p ur el y art is ti c t han s en su al . I t s eemed t o h im t hat m us icians w ou ld add g reat ly t o b ot h

performance and appreciation.

A ft er a m in ut e o r t wo s he s to pp ed , s we at s he en in g h er f or eh ea d. A s mi le p ar te d h er l ip s.

" Th at w as v er y n ic e, T ai n, " h e s ai d. " I' m g oi ng t o l ea ve n ow , t o t al k w it h S pe ci al is t Z or an je e. W e w on 't

be long. Then she'll come back in and continue your lessons."

W it h t ha t h e l ef t, s te pp ed i nt o t he c or ri do r a nd c lo se d t he d oo r b eh in d h im . H e w on de re d i f s he 'd b eg indancing again.

" Sp ec ia li st ," h e s ai d, a nd h is v oi ce w as s te rn , " do n ot t el l h er f ur th er s to ri es a bo ut T he P ro ph et ."

The specialist's face registered brief surprise, then indignation, though of course she said nothing.

R al an ko or k ne w h er p ro bl em : I t w as w ri tt en t ha t t he b el ie ve r h ad a d ut y t o i nf or m t he n on -b el ie ve r a bo ut

T he P ro ph et a nd h is w or ds . W he n o ne c ou ld f in d a n on -b el ie ve r.

" Us e o nl y t he m at er ial I 'v e s peci fi ed i n D AA S, " h e con ti nu ed . " No th in g m or e. D o y ou u nd er st an d?"

" Yes, s ir ." T he w or ds cam e s ti ff ly .

" Go od . A nd s om et hi ng els e: W hy w er e y ou d ri ll in g h er o n t he n am es o f t he p lanets ?"

" Be ca us e t he y, m os t o f t he m, a re b as ed o n t he o rd in al n um be rs , w hi ch s he h ad j us t l ea rn ed ."

" Mm m. I s ee . S pe ci al is t, I ha d y ou a ss igne d t o t hi s d ut y be ca us e I f el t s ur e y ou we re t he be st pe rs on f or

i t. Y ou are i nt el li gent , r es po ns ib le, and con si derate. I w il l n ot p ut y ou o n r ep or t t hi s t im e, b ut t here m us t

n ot b e a no th er ." H e r ep ea te d a n e ar li er l ec tu re n ow . " Th e c om mo do re w an ts h er t o k no w n o m or e a bo ut

K lest ro n and t he emp ir e t han n eces sary t o com pl et e t he l an gu ag e d ri ll s. T hen w e' ll p ut h er i n s tasi s t il l w e

a rr iv e h om e. S he 'l l b e i nt er ro ga te d b y S UM BA A t he re , a nd h er a ns we rs m us t b e a s l it tl e i nf lu en ce d a s

possible by knowledge of our ways and beliefs." His voice softened for a moment. "After she has talked

with SUMBAA t h en s he 'l l b e t au gh t a bo ut T he P ro ph et , a nd K ar gh , a nd n o d ou bt m an y o th er t hi ng s. "


10/216

O nc e m or e h e m ad e a s te rn f ac e. " Do n ot d ev ia te f ro m t hi s p ol ic y a ga in ."

Specialist Zoranjee nodded, contritely now. "Yes, sir."

" Bu t encou rage h er t o d an ce," R al an ko or w en t o n. " It ' s g oo d f or h er , p hy si call y and p ro babl y

spiritually."

H e t ur ne d a nd s ta rt ed f or h is o ff ic e. T a in . T a in F ar o ny a . E ve n t he n am e w as l ov el y. I t w as a ll t he y' d

l ea rn ed f ro m h er b ef or e t he f or ei gn a rt if ac t h ad s tr ip pe d h er o f h er m em or y a nd a lm os t h er l if e.

I t oc cu rr ed t o hi m t ha t s he m ig ht h av e l os t m or e t ha n m em or ie s a nd a tt it ud es . S he m ig ht h ave l os t s om e

reasoning capacity, leaving her like a child, a lovely, agreeable child. Spiritually. Physically she was no

chi ld . S he w as u nd ou bt ed ly t he l ov el iest w om an h e' d ever s een, esp eciall y d an ci ng . A nd t he m os t

desirable.

H e w on dered w hat w ou ld b e d on e w it h h er o n K lest ro n w hen S UM BA A h ad f in is hed q uest io ni ng h er .S he'd b e w it ho ut f am il y t here, a w om an w it ho ut f am il y t o s hi el d h er . E ven i f s he w as n' t n ob le, w hi ch

w as n' t p ro ve n, g en tr y h ad t he s am e v al ue s, t he s am e s en si bi li ti es , a nd i t h ad b ee n w ro ng n ot t o r el ea se

h er b ef or e t he y l ef t. T he re w er e t ho se o n K le st ro n ev en o n t hi s s hi p wh o' d t ak e a dv an ta ge o f h er ,

gi ve n h al f a c ha nc e. An d on K le st ron t hos e wh o' d ma ke t he c ha nc e, wh o' d be i n a p os it ion t o. H e w as

t em pt ed t o h im self , t ho ug h h e w ou ld n' t. C er tain ly n ot w it h t he m or al it y and t hr eat o f t he com mo do re i n

the background.

But he'd allow himself to fantasize occasionally.

ThreeT he n ew K al if s at s cann in g r ap id ly t hr ou gh a b ou nd p acket o f p ri nt ou ts , t hen s lo wed, f ro wn ed , and

t ur ne d b ac kw ar d a p ag e. " Wh at i s t hi s? " h e m ut te re d, t he n l oo ke d u p a t h is s ec re ta ry . " In du st ri al r io ts a t

Chingarook on Saathvoktos, this coming Veethkar." ( Veethkar is the eighth month in the imperial

calendar. ) Mid V eeth kar! P ar ti il , h ow can S UM BA A com e u p w it h a p redi ct io n l ik e t hi s? W it h s uch

seeming precision?"

H is s ec re ta ry b li nk ed n er vo us ly . " It 's w ha t h e w as d es ig ne d t o d o, Y ou r R ev er en ce . T o k no w. "

T he K al if s na pp ed h is r ep ly : " Th at 's n o a ns we r! O bv io us ly h e w as d es ig ne d t o d o i t. B ut how d oe s h e

d o i t? U se fu l p re di ct io n r eq ui re s d at a, a t l ea st f or a c om pu te r. I n m at te rs l ik e t hi s i t a ls o r eq ui re s a n

improbable knowledge of complex, constantly changing relationships."

He paused, frowned thoughtfully. "How good are SUMBAA's predictions?"

" Qu it e g oo d, I b el ieve, Y ou r R ev er en ce."

T he K al if g ru nt ed . " Th at 's b ee n m y i mp re ss io n, b ut I 'v e n ev er s ee n a ct ua l d at a o n i t. " H e g es tu re d w it h

t he r epo rt . " Go. A nd c al l Al b J il so mo. Te ll h im I wa nt t o s ee h im . R ig ht a wa y, u nl es s i t w il l c au se h im

problems."

" At o nc e, Y ou r R ev er en ce ." T he s ec re ta ry , a s ma ll w ir y m an , h ur ri ed f ro m t he r oo m a s i f g la d t o b e


11/216

l eavi ng . T hen, l eani ng f or earm s o n h is d es k, t he K al if con ti nu ed t o r ead. A ft er s ev er al m in ut es , h is

s ec re ta ry 's v oi ce s po ke f ro m t he d es k s pe ak er .

" Al b J il so mo i s h er e t o s ee y ou , Y ou r R ev er en ce ."

"Send him in."

T he K al if l ea ne d b ac k i n h is c ha ir . A l ar ge m an e nt er ed t he e xa rc h w ho 'd u rg ed h is c ro wn in g, a nd t he

o nl y e xa rc h w it ho ut t he m ar k of n ob il it y o n h is f or eh ea d. H e w as r at he r t al l a nd v er y f at , h is w hi te r ob e

t en tl ik e. " Yo u w an ted t o s ee m e, Y ou r R ev er en ce?"

" Ri gh t. " T he K al if h el d u p t he r ep or t h e' d b een r eadi ng . " SU MB AA 's m on th ly s um mary r ep or t o n

i nd us tr ial con di ti on s. T here's a p redi ct io n I w an t y ou t o s ee. H er e. "

A lb J il so mo S av ba ts o w al ke d o ve r t o h im a nd t oo k t he b ou nd p ac ke t o f p ri nt ou ts , h is e ye s s et tl in g o n

t he p lace t he K al if i nd icat ed . H e r ead q ui ck ly . " Yes, Y ou r R ev er en ce?"

" In du st ri al r io ts at C hi ng ar oo k! S ix m on th s f ro m n ow !" T he o bs id ian eyes f ou nd t he exarch' s,

d em an di ng . " Ho w d oes S UM BA A com pu te t hi s? T hi nk o f all t he i nt er acti ng f acto rs i nv ol ved! D o s uch

predictions generally come to pass?"

"Your Reverence, I know littleactually nothingof how SUMBAA or any computer functions. But

i t' s b een m y exp er ience t hat S UM BA A' s p redi ct io ns are u su al ly q ui te accur at e. "

T he K al if g ot t o h is f ee t. " I' m g oi ng t o t he H ou se o f S UM BA A a nd t al k t o t he d ir ec to r. G op al as en tu ,

isn't it?"

" Dr . C hi so p G op al as ent u. H e' s w or ked w it h S UM BA A f or y ears t went y- ei gh t y ears , I b el i ev e. "

"Umh." The Kalif was thinking how little some people learned in twenty-eight years. Including some with

doctor i n f ro nt o f t he ir n am e. W el l, h e' d s ee .

A ft er a c al l t o a le rt t he d ir ec to r, i t w as a s ho rt w al k a cr os s t he b ea ut if ul ly l an ds ca pe d g ro un ds o f t he

q uadr an gl e t o t he H ou se o f S UM BA A a b ui ld in g alm os t t in y b y g ov er nm en t s tand ar ds , i ts l ow d om e

and slender circling pillars marble, its walls of some dark brick: glazed, rough-textured, purplish

n ea r- bl ac k. T he n ew K al if h ad b ee n i nt ro du ce d t o i t e ar li er t ha t w ee k. I ts l ar ge c en tr al r oo m w as t he

Chamber of SUMBAA, containing SUMBAA's numerous modules interconnecting without symmetry

a ro un d a l ar ge c en tr al u ni t. A dj ac en t t o t he c ha mb er w er e w or ks ho ps a nd s to ra ge r oo ms , s om e o f t he mals o l arg e; s ev er al m od es t o ff ices ; a con ference r oo m; and a com fo rt ab le apart ment f or t he d ir ect or .

T he d ir ecto r m et t hem at t he ent rance. " Yo ur R ev er en ce!" h e s ai d b ow in g. " A r ar e p leas ur e. "

Y ou h op e, t ho ug ht t he K al if . " It 's t oo s oo n t o k no w h ow r ar e m y v is it s m ig ht b e, " h e r ep li ed d ry ly , a nd

h el d t he r ep or t o ut , o pe ne d t o t he p re di ct io n t ha t h ad t ak en h is a tt en ti on . " Re ad t hi s. "

T he di re ct or t ook i t a nd r ea d. W he n he 'd f ini sh ed, he l ook ed u p p uz zl ed a t t he K al if . " Si r, i t i s a

prediction. Of labor problems on Saathvoktos. At Chingarook. With a recommended action. The

Saathvoktu Industrial Ministry will no doubt follow the recommendation, assuming that the SUMBAA

t he re h as c om e t o t he s am e c on cl us io n o ur s h as . B ut i f Y ou r R ev er en ce w is he s t o s en d a c ou nt er

recommendation... That sort of thing is sometimes done."


12/216

T ig ht -l ip ped w it h app ar ent exasp er at io n, t he K al if t oo k t he r ep or t f ro m t he d ir ect or ' s h an ds , t hen w al ked

past him through the small lobby and down a length of corridor to the door of SUMBAA's Chamber, the

director scurrying alongside him. Opening the door, the Kalif stepped inside.

I t w as q ui et , w it h w hat f el t t o h im l ik e a l iv in g p resence. T ho ug ht fu ll y h e l oo ked S UM BA A o ver. " I' m

n ot i nt er es ted i n t he r ecom mend at io n, " h e s ai d. " I w an t t o k no w h ow S UM BA A m ad e t he p redi ct io n. "

" Si r? Y ou m ean y ou w an t t o k no w h ow S UM BA A m ad e t he p redi ct io n?" C lear ly t he m an w as

dismayed.

The hard, marine-colonel eyes held him thoughtfully for a long moment. "Can you explain it?"

"No, sir."

"Why not?"

"Your Reverence, it is impossible."

" Damn i t! T hat' s n o ans wer! Why is it impossible?"

T he m an w as alm os t s haki ng . " Si r, S UM BA A i s f ar t oo com pl ex . T he p er mu tati on s o f p os si bl e d at a

s o ur ces an d t r ack s. .. "

" Yo u can 't cal l u p t he d at a and t he com pu tati on s m ad e i n com pu ti ng t hi s p ar ti cu lar p redi ct io n?"

T he d ir ecto r s to od u nm ov in g, l ip s p ar ted, as i f f ro zen.

"Director Gopalasentu," said Alb Jilsomo gently, "I believe the Kalif is interested simply in knowing howSUMBAA draws his conclusions. Apparently you don't know."

T he d ir ec to r' s f ac e r es em bl ed a c hi ld 's w ho 'd b ee n f ou nd o ut b y a t ea ch er . " No , s ir , I d on 't . S UM BA A

i s eno rm ou sl y com pl ex . N o o ne k no ws v er y m uch abo ut h is o perati ng p ro cess es ."

T he K al if f ro wn ed . " Th en h ow d o y ou m ai nt ai n and r ep ai r i t?"

T he d ir ecto r w as b eg in ni ng t o r ecov er a b it . " SU MB AA d oes t ho se t hi ng s f or h im self , Y ou r R ev er en ce."

" Fo r h im , u h, f or its self?"

" He i nf or ms m e w he n s om e p ar t o r m at er ia l i s n ee de d. W it h a s ch em at ic i f n ec es sa ry . I f w ha t h e w an ts i s

not on t he s he lf , I ha ve i t pr epa re d."

"So you simply install it then."

A gain t he m an avert ed h is f ace. " Yes, Y ou r R ev er en ce."

" Wh at i s i t y ou 'r e n ot t el li ng m e?"

T he f ac e s na pp ed u p, b ut t he e ye s s ti ll e va de d. " So me ti me s I i ns ta ll t he p ar t, I o r o ne o f m y a ss is ta nt s.

But more often..."


13/216

"Yes?"

The director shrugged. "Rather often, Your Reverence, SUMBAA simply asks for materials. Chemicals,

y ou u nd er st an d. I n f act, cer tain chemi cals are p ro vi ded h im p er io di call y. H e t hen u ses t hem as h e s ees

fit."

T he h ar d k al if al l ip s p ur sed. " Ar e y ou t el li ng m e t hat S UM BA A metabolizes them?"

" Po ss ib ly . I n a m an ner o f s peak in g, s ir ." Possibly. In a manner of speaking. The Kalif's eyes withdrew

t heir h ar d f ocus , h is att en ti on s hi ft in g i nw ar d f or t he m om en t. T hen t hey f ix ed o n t he d ir ecto r again . " Do es

a ny on e k no w m or e a bo ut S UM BA A t ha n y ou d o? "

" No , s ir . C er ta in ly n ot a bo ut t hi s S UM BA A. T he re a re e le ve n S UM BA As , o ne o n e ac h i nh ab it ed

w or ld , each w it h i ts d ir ecto r and s taff . T heir o ri gi nal d es ig ns w er e t he s am e, b ut t hey h av e evo lv ed o ver

the centuries, altering and enlarging themselves. They've redesigned t hems el ves t o a l ar ge d eg ree. T hu s

t hey p ro babl y d if fer f ro m o ne ano th er , m or e o r l es s. "

"Umh! Has SUMBAA always been soindependent?"

"Somewhat. But apparently not as much at the beginning."

"Apparently? Then you don't actually know."

" I be li eve I do, ye s. SUM BAA wa s not ne ar ly s o l ar ge a t t he be gi nn in g. I t wa s i nt ende d t ha t he gr ow i n

c ap ac it y, a bi li ti es , a nd s iz e. F ro m h is o wn e xp er ie nc e. A t t ha t t im e t he re w as a f ie ld o f s tu dy k no wn a s

q uasi -o rg an ics, n ot w el l d ev el op ed b ut f el t t o h av e p ro mi se f or com pu ters . W hen S UM BA A w as b ui lt ,

h e w as p ro vi ded w it h a cen tr al p ro cess in g u ni t o f t he u su al s em i- co nd ucto r m icro ch ip s p ro gr am med t o

begin the progressive, self-directed development of storage and processing capacity of a so-called 'tank'o f q uasi -o rg an ic g el . S UM BA A' s r eo rg an izat io n and exp an si on o f t he t an k s eems t o h av e b een t he h eart

o f h is g ro wt h, b ut m uc h o f t he i nc re as e i n s pa ce h as b ee n f or v ar io us s er vo -u ni ts , s om e o f t he m

m echani cal. I n t im e h e g rew f ar b ey on d t he d es ig ns o f h is creat or s. "

Grew!A gain t he K al if 's att en ti on t ur ned i nw ar d, as i f h e com mu ned w it h h im self . " Is i t p os si bl e f or m e t o,

ah, communicate personally with SUMBAA? More freely than through office terminals?"

" Yes, s ir , i f y ou 'd l ik e. H er e i n t hi s chamb er ."

" Go od . D o w ha t' s ne ce ss ar y f or m e t o d o t ha t."

T he d ir ecto r t ur ned and w al ked t ow ar d an i ns tr um en t p an el . A f ew l ig ht s g lo wed t here, b ut n ot hi ng

s eemed t o b e h ap peni ng . Q ui zzical ly , t he K al if w on dered w hat S UM BA A d id w hen i t w as n' t i n u se.

B es id es r ecei ve and s to re t he con st an t i nf lo w o f d at a, w hi ch p resu mabl y i t d id as aut om at ical ly as a

h um an b ei ng r ecei ved and s to red p er cept ual i nf lo w f ro m i ts env ir on ment . D id S UM BA A n ap ? D ream ?

O r w as i t a lw ay s c om pu ti ng , p er ha ps o n e so te ri c q ue st io ns o f i ts o wn m ak in g? P re su ma bl y i t a t l ea st

indexed and collated the inflow.

T he d ir ec to r p re ss ed a s in gl e k ey . " SU MB AA ," h e s ai d, " th e K al if w ou ld l ik e t o s pe ak w it h y ou ."

S UM BA A s po ke. " Go od m or ni ng , C ho dr is ei B ii lath kamo ro , Y ou r R ev er en ce. I am p repared t o r ep ly ."

T he v oi ce w as n eu tr al , g en derl es s b ut s om eh ow n at ur al . W it h t he d ir ecto r' s con si st en t r ef er en ce t o


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S UM BA A as he , t he K al if h ad e xp ec te d i t t o s ou nd d is ti nc tl y m al e.

"Iam interested in how you function, and in your growth since your initial construction. Andin your

degree of autonomy."

T here w as a s econ d- lo ng p au se b ef or e S UM BA A r ep li ed , s im ul at in g a t yp ical h um an p au se. " I w il l r ep ly

succinctly. I now store and process data using changes in complex quasi-organic molecules. Initially myfunctioning was totally inorganic. My designers provided me with the necessary data, and certain

programs, templates you might say, to begin my own transformation. From that point I designed and

r ed es ig ne d m ys el f o ve r a l on g p er iod of t im e. I f y ou w il l l oo k i n my n um be r o ne pr in to ut t ra y, I ha ve j us t

provided you with simplified schematics of my initial and current designs. And benchmark intermediate

designs. Simplified because anything more explicit would not be intelligible to anyone today, and would

simply obscure. I will provide more explicitly complete schematics if you want them.

" As f or m y i nd ep en de nc e: I a ns we r w ha te ve r q ue st io ns a re a sk ed o f m e, t o t he b es t o f m y a bi li ty .

E xc ep t a s f or bi dd en b y t he b as ic c an on i mp os ed o n m e b y m y o ri gi na l d es ig ne rs . A nd o f c ou rs e b y y ou r

laws on the invasion of privacy."

T he K al if 's g az e s ee me d t o p rob e t he m ac hi ne i n f ro nt o f h im . " Wh at i s t hi s b as ic c an on ? W ha t

constraints are there on your function? Besides those implicit in your data and understanding?"

" I a m d es ig ne d t o s er ve t he w el fa re o f h um an ki nd . T ha t i s t he F ir st L aw , t he b as ic c an on , t he s ol e

a bs ol ut e f ro m w hi ch I a m no t f re e t o d ev ia te . A ll o f m y o pe ra ti on s m us t c on fo rm t o i t. O th er op er at in g

principles have grown out of that, but none of them are absolute. When any of them produce results at

v ar iance w it h t he F ir st L aw , t he p ri ncip les are m od if ied t o com pati bi li ty w it h t he F ir st L aw , o r can cell ed

entirely. Then the problem whose previous solution was unacceptable is computed anew."

T he r oo m w as q ui et . A lb J il so mo s te pp ed t o a t ra y a nd r em ov ed a t hi n s he af o f s he et s w it ho ut o pe ni ngthem. The Kalif's frown was thoughtful.

"SUMBAA, do you regard yourself as infallible?"

" No. I a m t ot al ly l og ic al , w it hi n t he c on st ra int s o f t he F ir st L aw . B ut w hi le m y d at a b as e i s e no rm ou s,

and u nd er go es con st an t u pd at in g and evalu at io n, I am n ot i nf al li bl e. O n t he o th er h an d, m y accur acy i s

h ig h. O ccas io nall y I p ro vi de an analy si s t hat i s s ev er el y i n err or . S om et im es I d o t hi s w it ho ut any i nt er nal

warning of possible trouble. But that happens infrequently."

"How do you express mathematically your confidence in a computation?"

"There are no mathematics in which I can explain that to you meaningfully."

" Well t hen, h ow d o y ou evalu at e f or y ou rs el f m at hemati call y? I n o rd er t o, ah, g ui de s uccess iv e

computations."

" Math em at ics can b e d es cr ib ed as t he r ig or ou s u se o f d ef in ed and l og ical r el at io ns hi ps exp ress ed i n

rigorously defined symbols. My mathematics are not describable in terms that mean anything to humans."

" Tr y m e. P ri nt o ut a d es cr ip ti on o f y ou r m at hemati cs ."

" As y ou w is h. T he y a re n ow p ri nt in g o ut , a nd c an b e f ou nd i n t ra y nu mb er o ne ."


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T he K al if 's eyes g li mp sed s heet s f eedi ng s wi ft ly and s il en tl y f ro m a s lo t. " St ar ti ng f ro m s cr at ch ," h e s ai d,

" co ul d h um an b ei ng s at p resent d es ig n a n ew S UM BA A com parabl e i n abi li ti es t o t he o ri gi nal

SUMBAA?"

"No."

"Could they come close?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Having SUMBAAs, human beings stopped designing computers, and are no longer familiar with the

technology. Gradually they also stopped using advanced mathematics themselves, depending on

S UM BA As t o f il l t hat n eed. "

T he w hi sk er -b lu ed j aw s et , t he h ar d l ip s t hi nn in g, and t he eyes. " If h um an ki nd h as l os t i ts s ki ll s i n t hem or e, u m, cr yp ti c? E so ter ic? T he m or e advanced mathematics because of SUMBAAs, then

SUMBAAs have been a negative influence on humankind."

" SU MB AA s h av e h ad and con ti nu e t o h av e various negative effects on humankind, as well as positive.

T hu s I , w e, r ep eatedl y r ecom pu te o ur o verall eff ect o n h um an ki nd p lu ses and m in us es . A nd adj us t o ur

s er vi ces accor di ng ly . I f I ever com pu te t hat h um an ki nd w ou ld b e b et ter s er ved b y t ak in g m ys el f o ff l in e, I

wi ll do s o. So f ar m y c om put at ions ha ve ne ve r p roduc ed a r es ul t a t a ll c los e t o t ha t.

" SU MB AA s h av e l es s d ir ect i nf lu en ce o n t he g ro wt h o r l es seni ng o f h um an abi li ty t han y ou m ig ht t hi nk .

W hat w e h av e d on e i s t o m ai nt ai n a l if e- su pp or t s ys tem t hat p er mi ts y ou r con ti nu at io n as a civ il izat io n.

O verall w e h av e b een a v er y p os it iv e i nf lu en ce o n h um an ki nd . M y evalu at io n o f y ou y ou rs el f, b as ed o na dm it te dl y l im it ed d at a, i s t ha t y ou w il l e xa mi ne w ha t I h ave s ai d a nd s ee f or y ou rs el f t ha t i t i s s o, a nd

why."

T he s peak er w en t s ti ll t hen, w hi le t he K al if l oo ked t ho ug ht fu ll y at i t. A t l as t h e s po ke again .

" SU MB AA , d o y ou ever l ie t o h um an s?"

S UM BA A s ou nd ed as i mp er tu rb ab le as b ef or e, and b y h in ds ig ht , h is r ep ly w as i nevi tabl e, g iv en t he

F ir st L aw . " On ly as n eces sary ," S UM BA A s ai d.

* * *

T he K al if r et ur ne d n ot t o h is o ff ic e b ut t o h is p ri va te a pa rt me nt . H e n ee de d q ui et t o c on te mp la te w ha t

h e' d l ea rn ed f ro m a nd a bo ut S UM BA A. A nd w ha t i t m ig ht m ea n t o w ha t h e i nt en de d t o a cc om pl is h a s

Kalif.

S et tl in g i nt o a c ha ir , h e u nf ol de d t he t wo s ch em at ic s o n t he t ab le i n f ro nt o f h im , t he n l oo ke d t he m o ve r.

S UM BA A n ow o ccup ied p er haps t hr ee t im es t he f lo or s pace i t o ri gi nall y h ad , and s eemed s om ew hat

m or e com pl ex . H e h ad n o w ay o f evalu at in g t he q uali tati ve, f un ct io nal d if ference. A cor ner i ns er t

i nd icat ed t hat t he b ui ld in g h ad b een r eb ui lt ; h e h ad n' t r eali zed t hat, and w on dered w hen i t h ad h ap pened.

C en tu ri es ago , w it ho ut a d ou bt , p er haps a m il leni um o r m or e.

W hat, t he K al if ask ed h im self , do I know about my Sentient, Universal, Multi-terminal data Bank,

A naly zer, and A dv is or ? I n a s en se, S UM BA A w as t he o perati on s execu ti ve o f g ov er nm en t. I ns of ar as


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t he b ur eaucracy car ri ed o ut i ts adv ices . A t t he l east i t w as an eno rm ou sl y i nf lu en ti al

consultant-accountant-archivist-predicter. And to find that apparently no one knew how SUMBAA

cam e u p w it h t ho se p redi ct io ns and adv ices , o r o n w hat p ri nci pl es t hey w er e b as ed .. . D is tu rb in g!

" To s er ve t he w el fare o f h um an ki nd ." H ow d id S UM BA A d ecid e w hat h um an ki nd 's w el fare w as ? W hat

w er e i ts cri teri a?

H e t hu mb ed t hr ou gh t he s he af o f S UM BA A' s m at he ma ti cs t he n, b ut g av e i t n o m or e t ha n a g la nc e. H is

o wn m at h w as adequ at e f or n ot hi ng b ey on d aer ial s ur veys and s im pl e b al li st ics. T o h im , t hi s w as

gi bbe ri sh. H e ha d no d ou bt i t w ou ld be t o hi s o ld m at h pr of es sor , t oo.

I t o ccur red t o h im t hen t o w on der w hat " mu lt i- term in al " m eant w it h r eg ar d t o S UM BA A. A s a chi ld ,

h e' d s up po se d t ha t e ac h p la ne t' s S UM BA A w as a t er mi na l o f o ne c om mo n c om pu te r. L at er , w he n h e

app reci ated t he m ul ti - week d at a l ap se b et ween p lanet s, h e as su med t hey w er e i nd ep en dent , and t hat

"multi-terminal" derived from the innumerable limited-access terminals in the bureaucracy's many offices.

H ow m uc h d at a h ad S UM BA A n ee de d, t hi s S UM BA A, t o p re di ct s er io us l ab or p ro bl em s o nS aa th vo kt os ? A nd h ow h ad t ho se d at a b ee n o bt ai ne d? I n t he e mp ir e, d at a f ro m e ve ry c om pu te r, e ve ry

s ig ni fi ca nt r ec or de d t ra ns ac ti on o f a ny k in d, w as s ai d t o b e r ea d a nd s to re d b y S UM BA A. S up po se dl y

and app ar en tl y, m uch o f i t w as t o b e h el d con fi dent ial, u sed o nl y as r aw m at er ial f or com pu tati on s. T hat

h e' d k no wn s in ce c hi ld ho od . B ut h ow h ad S UM BA A h er e o n V ar at os g ot te n t he n ec es sa ry , a nd

presumably voluminous data about Saathvoktos? The two planets were almost four weeks apart by

h yp ers p ace m ess age p od .

P er ha ps i t w as n' t a p rob le m; t he b es t d at a c ub es s tor ed a hu ge q ua nt it y of r aw da ta . P ro ba bl y t he

S UM BA As exchang ed d at a cub es b y p od . P er haps S UM BA A h er e w as as f ul l y i nf or med abo ut t hi ng s

o n S aa th vo kt os a s i t w as a bo ut t hi ng s h er e o n V ar at os . E xc ep t f or t ha t f ou r- we ek d at a d el ay !

K no wl ed ge h er e a bo ut a ny o th er w or ld w as i ne vi ta bl y o ut o f d at e.

A nd S UM BA A h ad s ai d i t a ns we re d w ha te ve r q ue st io ns w er e a sk ed . I f t ha t w as t ru e, h ow h ad

organized crime survived? And destructive rivalries? Even conflicts between planets? Did the potentials

f or t he se g ro w o ut o f p ri va cy l aw s?

O f c ou rs e, S UM BA A h ad a ls o s ai d i t l ie d " as n ec es sa ry ." N ec es sa ry f or w ha t?

T he K al if p re ss ed f ing er s t o h is f or eh ea d; h e w as b eg in ni ng t o h av e a h ea da ch e a r ar it y f or h im . T oo

m uc h p ur e t hi nki ng a nd n ot e no ug h d oi ng , he t ol d h im se lf . H e k eye d t he c om pu te r o n h is d es k t o w ak en

hi m i n ha lf a n hour , the n l ay down on a c ouc h a nd we nt t o s le ep a t onc e.* * *

A lb J il so mo S av ba ts o s at a t t he d es k i n h is o ff ic e. H e h ad n' t y et r et ur ne d h is a tt en ti on t o t he m at er ia l

l og ged i n o n h is d es k t er mi nal; h is m in d w as o ccup ied w it h t he K al if . H e' d k no wn C os o B ii lath kamo ro as

a newly appointed, probational prelate, doing administrative flunky work around the Sreegana. And been

i mp re ss ed b y h im t he n. B ee n m or e i mp re ss ed b y h im a s a s ta ff a id e t o t he C ol le ge . H ad b ee n d ee pl y

i mp ress ed w it h t he w ay h e' d h an dl ed t he ass ass in at io n and i ts d an gero us aft er math , and h ow h e' d t ak en

on a nd a dj us te d t o t he r es pon si bi li ti es of a K al if t he se p as t f ew da ys , j us t u nde r a w ee k now .

B ut t he w ay h e' d q uest io ned t he d ir ecto r o f S UM BA A t hi s m or ni ng , and S UM BA A i ts el f. .. O bv io us ly

t he d ir ecto r d id n' t con tr ol S UM BA A; o nl y S UM BA A d id t hat. T he K al if h ad q uest io ned and f ou nd t hat

o ut i n hi s f ir st w ee k; h e h im se lf h ad o ve rl oo ke d i t f or e le ve n y ea rs a s a n e xa rc h.


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T hi s K al if w as f ar m or e t han s im pl y a m an o f act io n. H e w as acu tely p er cept iv e, agg ress iv el y i nt el li gent ,

and as p ow er fu ll y analy ti cal as any on e h e' d ever k no wn . H e w as eno ug h, J il so mo t ol d h im self r uefu ll y, t o

give one an inferiority complex.

H e w on dered w hat h av in g C os o B ii lath kamo ro as K al if w ou ld m ean t o t he emp ir e.

FourYear of The Prophet 4723

T he v an s li d s mo ot hl y alo ng t he s ur faced h ov er way, l eavi ng t he t ree- bo rd er ed s pacepo rt b eh in d. F or a

s ho rt d is ta nc e, t he v eh ic le w as e xp os ed t o t he s we ep o f a s ti ff , c hi ll , e as t w in d b ef or e e nt er in g t he b el t o f

w oo ds s he lt er in g R oy al P ar k. F ro m t he w oo dl an d s tr ip , i t e me rg ed i nt o R oy al P ar k i ts el f, p as si ng a r ac e

t r ack, g ro ves , s po rt s f iel ds , g ar dens w her e p eas an t l abo rers s paded aut um n- cri s ped f l ow er s i nt o t he s oi l .

A he ad t ow er ed a no th er b el t o f t re es , d ar k a nd m aj es ti c ro ya l k ho om s s ta nd in g m or e t ha n 2 00 f ee t

t al l th e h ov er way t un neli ng i nt o i t. T he v an ent er ed t here, t oo . O n t he o th er s id e w er e l aw ns p at tern ed

w it h f ru it t rees and o rn am en tal s hr ub s, and f lo werb ed s t ur ned b y p easant s pades. A w al l enclo sed t he

s ul tan' s p al ace com po un d. V en eered w it h m ar bl e and n ot p ar ti cu larl y h ig h, i ts f un ct io n w as m or e

seclusion than protection.

T he v an s to pp ed b ef or e t he g at e. T he v eh ic le a nd i ts d ri ve r w er e w el l k no wn t o b ot h h um an a nd

electronic security there. After identifying him and scanning the van for embargoed materials, a process

t ha t r eq ui re d p er ha ps a s ec on d, a n e nc lo se d h ov er s co ot er e me rg ed f ro m a n ar ro w s id e g at e. I ts d ri ve r

r ec ei ve d t wo b ag s f ro m t he d ri ve r o f t he v an , t he n t he s co ot er t ur ne d a nd r e- en te re d t he c om po un d.

* * *

M or e t ha n f iv e y ea rs e ar li er , i n t he Y ea r o f T he P ro ph et 4 71 8, R as ht i Y ab ak al oo ng a, S ul ta n o f K le st ro n,

h ad s en t o ut a s ma ll e xp lo ra ti on f lo ti ll a t o s ee k h ub wa rd f or h ab it ab le p la ne ts . I t h ad b ee n d on e u nd er t he

S ul tan' s aut ho ri ty as s up reme com mand er o f t he f leet , w it ho ut t he k no wl ed ge o f t he K lest ro nu D iet.

T ho ug h o f n eces si ty , a h an df ul o f n ob les w er e p ri vy t o t he p ro ject . L ies h ad b een i nv en ted, d ocum en ted,

a nd e la bo ra te d t o a cc ou nt f or a bs en ce s. P re pa ra ti on s w er e m ad e s tr ic tl y u nd er t he " ne ed t o k no w"

policies. Logistics and budget were not a problem; stocks on hand were largely sufficient to supply it;

broad naval allocations financed it by dint of cuts elsewhere.

I t h ad als o b een d on e w it ho ut i mp er ial app ro val, w hi ch w ou ld u nd ou bt ed ly h av e b een r ef us ed . K lest ro nwa s o ne of t he t hr ee mot he r wo rl ds i n t he e mpi re , a nd t he re for e b ol de r t ha n mo st t o a ct a s i t s aw f it .

B es id es , K le st ro n w as t he p la ne t w it h t he m os t s ev er e o ve rp op ul at io n. I f a n ew w or ld c ou ld b e f ou nd t o

t ak e t he m or e cri ti cal s ur pl us .. .

A ncient ly , t he B less ed F leny aago r h ad w ri tt en t hat K ar gh h ad creat ed eleven w or ld s f or m an t o l iv e

u po n. T hat h ad b een l on g b ef or e s pace t ravel, b ef or e even t he I nd us tr ial R ev ol ut io n. A nd event uall y,

s hi ps f ro m V ar at os h ad accou nt ed f or eleven. A ft er ward , exp lo rati on con ti nu ed f or a t im e, b ut t he

additional planets found were unfit for colonies.

T hu s F leny aago r' s s cr ip tu res h ad b een con fi rm ed o n every cou nt , even t o t he exi s tence o f t hr ee w or ld s,t he m ot he r w or ld s, o n w hi ch h um an s w er e f ou nd t o l iv e. A s f or t he o th er e ig ht , h e' d w ri tt en t ha t o nc e,

h um an ki nd h ad l iv ed o n t hem, t oo , b ut h ad s in ned b ey on d f or gi veness , u nd er taki ng t o creat e l if e f ro m


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non-life. Especially, they had undertaken to create humans in great kettles! Therefore, "Kargh punished

t he e ig ht w or lds b y s la yi ng t he ir pe opl e w it h g re at r ai ns o f f ir e, s o t ha t n o o ne w as l ef t a li ve on t he m. "

A nd w hen t ho se eig ht w or ld s w er e d is co vered, m or e t han f if teen h un dr ed y ears aft er F leny aago r' s

d ea th , o n e ve ry o ne o f t he m, t he r em ai ns o f c it ie s c ou ld s ti ll b e f ou nd h er e a nd t he re , o ve rg ro wn w it h

f or es t o r h al f b ur ied i n s ed im en t.

These verifications of The Prophet's ancient writings had resurrected Karghanik, the religion of Kargh,

a nd i n t im e i t b ec am e t he s ol e r el ig io n p er mi tt ed i n t he e mp ir e. F in al ly, i n t he t er ms of t he Pe ac e of 3 24 3,

t he e mp er or w as d ep os ed a nd t he K al if t oo k t he t hr on e. W he re up on t he K al if d ec la re d t ha t t o s ee k

f ur th er h ab it abl e w or ld s w ou ld s ho w d is beli ef - do ub t at l east i n t he w or ds o f T he P ro ph et . I n t he f ace

of earlier unsuccessful explorations, no one had tested the injunction implied by the first imperial Kalif.

U nt il , a ft er m or e t ha n 1 ,4 00 ye ar s, t he S ul ta n of K le st ro n, w it h n o f an fa re , h ad q ui et ly s ent o ut h is s ma ll

flotilla.

S ul ta n R as ht i h ad l on g b ee n a s tu de nt o f t he C hr o ni c le s o f t h e D i sc i pl e s . I nclu di ng t he f ou r r ej ecteds cri pt ur es, b oo ks j u dg ed ap ocr yp hal and t her ef or e n ot r esp ect ab le. T hes e apo cry ph a h ad t w ice b een

banned, but each time the ban had been lifted. For where they did not conform with The Book of The

Prophet , t he y d id n ot c on tr ad ic t i t b ut s im pl y w en t b ey on d i t.

A nd aft er all , t he d is ci pl e S ho ser h ad w ri tt en i n h is h ol y chr on icle, " Fl en yaag or w en t apart f ro m u s t o t he

h om e of a m il le r na me d K re n, a nd t he re s at f or t wo da ys , i mm er se d i n t he r um bl in g of m il ls to ne s,

c om mun ing w it h K AR GH a nd w ri ti ng , a s h e d id f ro m t im e t o t im e. W he n he r et ur ne d t o u s, h e c ar ri ed

wi th hi m a s cr ol l, b ut he di d not re ad t o u s wha t he ha d wr it te n on i t. The t ime , he s ai d, ha d not c ome ."

(Shoser , C ha pt er 3 .) A nd n o o ne d is pu te d t he t ru th o f S ho se r. A ls o t he d is ci pl es R an ji k a nd P oo rl ok

h ad m en ti on ed T he P ro ph et g oi ng apart t o m ed it at e and w ri te.

So clearly, Flenyaagor had written further divine messages after The Book of The Prophet . M ig ht n ot

t he y b e t he a po cr yp ha ?

A nd w hat d id t he p ri ncip le apo cr yp hu m, The Book of the Mountain say? Summarizing: On the eight

w or ld s w here K ar gh k il led t he p eo pl e f or t heir i ni qu it ies, h e' d all ow ed cer tain r ig ht eo us m en t o escap e

w it h t heir f am il ies i n g reat ark s t hat f lew away " in to t he f ar th es t d ep th s o f t he s ky ."

M ig ht n ot K ar gh h av e creat ed w or ld s f or t hese t o l iv e u po n? T hi s h ad b een S ul tan R as ht i' s i ns pi rati on

and h is t em pt at io n. P resu mabl y t he K al if h ad l earn ed o f t he cov er t f lo ti ll a; h e h ad h is s pi es . B ut as R as ht i

h ad e xp ec te d, h e' d h ea rd n ot hi ng o n i t f ro m t he K al if . W ho h ad n ot c ho se n t o p un is h h im a nd e nd an ge r the sometimes uncertain unity of the empire, nor to admonish him without punishment, which would have

been taken as weakness. And in his turn the new Kalif, though a firm man, had shown no interest in what

t o h im w as o ld b us in es s, y es te ry ea r' s t ro ub le . I f i n f ac t h e e ve n k ne w.

N ow R as ht i h ad b een v in di cated. T he m or ni ng 's m es sage cub es h ad i nclu ded o ne f ro m t he f lo ti ll a, t he

exp lo rers n ow i ncredi bl y d is tant i n s pace. I t s eemed t o R as ht i t he m os t excit in g and com pell in g cub e t hat

any r ul er h ad ever r ecei ved. H e r ead t he abs tr act, t hen cal led h is i nn er cou ncil t og et her, f iv e archp relates,

and i n t he s ecur it y o f t he cou ncil r oo m t hey' d r ev iewed t he f ul l r ep or t, i nclu di ng s om e o f t he app en di ces.

I t h ad t ak en f ro m m id -m or ni ng t il l l at e eveni ng , and t heir m eals h ad b een b ro ug ht t o t hem.

I t c ou ld h av e t ak en l es s t im e, b ut S ul ta n R as ht i p re fe rr ed t o hear re port s a s wel l a s re ad the m, s o

S UM BA A h ad r ead i t alo ud o ver t he cou ncil -r oo m t er mi nal w hi le t he s cr ip t s cr ol led s lo wl y u p t he w al l.

V id eo s h ad s ho wn t he h ab it ab le w or ld t hey' d f ou nd a r ich w or ld , r ich i n w at er , r ich i n f or es ts , r ich i n


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animal life.

There were also humans, though in numbers incredibly small from the viewpoint of imperial worlds.

C om mo do re T ar im en lo ku h ad p ar ked h is s hi ps o ut si de t he r ad iati on b el ts and l an ded h is b ri gade o f

m ar in es o n t he w or ld h e' d f ou nd , t ak en p ri so ners t here f ro m amo ng i ts o ff icials and b ro ug ht t hem t o h is

flagship. DAAS, the flagship's computer, had developed a translation program for their language, andt he y' d b ee n i nt er ro ga te d, u nd er i ns tr um en ta ti on t o a ss es s t he t ru th o f w ha t t he y s ai d. A l ot h ad b ee n

learned from them.

T er fr ey a, T He w or ld t he f lo ti ll a h ad f oun d, w as o ne o f m an y o cc up ie d b y h um an s i n t ha t s ec to r. T he re

w as a con federati on w it h t went y- seven m em ber w or ld s, and m an y o th er w or ld s w er e t ri bu tary t o t hem.

T er fr ey a w as a v er y m in or t ri bu tary w or ld , l it tl e v is it ed b y s hi ps f ro m t he o th er s.

T he C on federati on w as n ot w ar li ke, and t ho ug h n on e o f t he o ff icials i nt er ro gated w as h ig hl y

k no wl ed geab le abo ut t he C on federati on f leet , i t w as n ot l ar ge and i ts t echn ol og y w as i nf er io r. T he

i nd iv id ual m em ber w or ld s h ad n o n av ies o f t heir o wn at all .

T he m ar in e b ri ga de h ad h ad t o f ig ht , h ow ev er . A f or ce o f C on fe de ra ti on c ad et s h ad b ee n t ra in in g o n

T er fr ey a, and t ho ug h t heir w eapo ns w er e i nf er io r, t he cad et s w er e excel lent f ig ht er s. T hey h ad n ot y et

been eliminated when the message pod had been sent back to Klestron. When they were, the flotilla

would return home.

There had been a complication en route to Terfreya, but apparentlyhopefullyit was nothing serious.

The flotilla had passed through a vast sector seemingly occupied byat least containingintelligent

non-humans with advanced military capabilities. In fact, the flotilla had twice emerged within the

n on -h um an s ect or , and t he i ns tr um en t s hi p h ad b een d es tr oy ed b y n on -h um an att ack.

Intelligent non-humans! Every councilman had been shaken by the information. The possibility had never

o ccur red t o t hem w hen t hey' d p lann ed t he exp ed it io n. The Book of The Prophet s ai d t ha t a ll o th er

c re at ur es t ha n m an w er e c re at ed w it ho ut s ou l o r r ea so n, t o s er ve m an a nd b e s ub je ct t o h is m er cy .

O nl y o ne s ou rc e s ai d o th er wi se . A nd w he n t he r ea li za ti on h ad s tr uc k t he s ul ta n, h e' d s to pp ed t he r ep or t

until his chills had subsided.

The re wa s, o r w as s ai d t o b e, a f if th a poc ry phu m: The Book of Shatim , b an ne d b y t he f ir st K al if . R ea l

o r n ot , s ti ll e xi st in g o r n ot , e ve ry s ch oo lb oy h ad h ea rd o f i t, a nd k ne w i n a g en er al w ay w ha t i t

s up po se dl y s ai d: T ha t K ar gh w as n ot t he o nl y g od . T ha t t he re w as a l es se r g od , a n e vi l g od , S ha ti m,w ho 'd b ee n d ri ve n a wa y w he n t he e ig ht w or ld s h ad b ee n p un is he d, f or h e h ad b ee n t he s ou rc e o f t he ir

e vi l. A nd w it h S ha ti m' s h el p, c er ta in e vi l m en h ad e sc ap ed o ne o f t he e ig ht w or ld s. A s p ar t o f t he ir p ac t

w it h S hati m, t hese evi l m en h ad accep ted S hati m' s u gl y s pi ri tu al f or m, j us t as t he r es t o f m an ki nd h ad t he

spiritual form of Kargh.

E very cou ncil man h ad b een s wo rn t o abs ol ut e s ecrecy w it h r eg ar d t o t he n on -h um an s. A ny l eak w ou ld

be tracked down, and the guilty party executed, impaled, along with his immediate family. The reasoning

w as t hat i f w or d o f t he n on -h um an s l eaked, p eo pl e t hr ou gh ou t t he emp ir e w ou ld con nect i t w it h t he Book

of Shatim . A nd t he re w ou ld b e t ho se w ho w ou ld s ay t ha t S ha ti m w as m or e p ow er fu l t ha n K ar gh

because his empire was so vast and its ships so strong.

F or tu nately , accor di ng t o t he r epo rt , t he n on -h um an s cou ld b e avo id ed b y r em ai ni ng i n h yp er sp ace f or a

l on g eno ug h t im e so meth in g o ver an i mp er ial y ear! T he s ul tan h ad s haken h is h ead i n n ear d is beli ef at


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t hat. H ow cou ld an emp ir e, any emp ir e, b e s o l ar ge? T he p ro bl em s o f com mu ni cati on and con tr ol w ou ld

be enormous.

* * *

A s h e p repared h im self f or b ed t hat n ig ht , S ul tan R as ht i Y ab ak al oo ng a w as n' t w or ry in g abo ut t he

n on -h um an s. S tay i n h yp er sp ace, p er haps m ak in g o ccasi on al abr up t chang es i n d ir ecti on , and t here'd b e

n ot hi ng t he n on -h um an s cou ld d o. T hey p ro babl y w ou ld n' t even k no w w hat, i f any th in g, w as p as si ngt hr ou gh t heir emp ir e. T hat' s w hat h is s ci en ce aid e h ad t ol d h im .

The important thing was the potential for conquest and colonization. Although clearly, such conquest was

n ot f easi bl e f or K lest ro n b y i ts el f, d es pi te s up er io r arm am en ts . I t w ou ld b e an u nd er taki ng f or t he emp ir e.

O f cou rs e, t he I mp er ial D iet m ig ht n ot app ro ve t he aut ho ri ty and f un ds f or an i nv as io n. H is o wn

S UM BA A h ad d ec li ne d t o r ec om me nd o r c on de mn i t, o n t he b as is t ha t t oo l it tl e w as k no wn a bo ut t he

C on federati on 's f leet. S UM BA As l acked b ol dn es s . A ls o, i mp er i al p ol it ics cou ld b e a s nake p it , and t her e

w er e a lw ay s t ho se w ho c ou ld n' t s ee p as t t om or ro w. T he re w as e ve n t he p os si bi li ty t ha t t he K al if

w ou ldn 't p us h, t hou gh i t s ee me d t o R as ht i t ha t t hi s K al if w as a lm os t s ur e t o.

W el l, i f t he I mp er ial D iet w ou ld n' t d o i t, p er haps h e h im self cou ld p ut t og et her a coali ti on o f t he w or ld s

that were i nt er es ted. P ol it ical ly i t w ou ld b e b ot h d if fi cu lt and r is ky . T he m il it ar y asp ects w ou ld h av e t o b e

t reat ed as s tr ictl y acces so ry t o t he com mercial, and even s o i t m ig ht b ri ng i mp er ial i nt er vent io n.

T ha t w as a q ue st io n f or t he f ut ur e t ho ugh . T he s ul ta n t ol d t he l ig ht s o ff , t ha n s tr et ch ed o ut on h is

l ux ur io us L G b ed w it h h is h an ds f ol ded l ig ht ly o n h is s to mach . K lest ro n w as o nl y eig ht d ay s f ro m V ar at os

by hyper-space pod, but he didn't expect much more than an acknowledgment from the Imperium in the

n ear f ut ur e; i t w as app ro pr iate t hat t he K al if d o and s ay l it tl e o f s ub st an ce u nt il t he f lo ti ll a r et ur ned. W hi ch

w ou ld b e i n s li gh tl y l es s t han an i mp er ial y ear, ass um in g i t h ad s tart ed h om e a m on th aft er s en di ng t he

pod. That's what his science aide had said.

M eanw hi le h e' d h av e t o r et ur n h is att en ti on t o m or e h um dr um i ss ues: p ar ti cu larl y t o t he b ud get, and t he

f oo d r io ts i n K wa ho ol o. T ha t w as l if e f or y ou .

FiveYear of The Prophet 4724

T he ear ly -aut um n s un w as h ot , and S ul tan R as ht i Y ab ak al oo ng a w ip ed m oi st ur e f ro m h is f or eh ead as h e

w at ch ed t he h eavy cru is er H RS Blessed Flenyaagor s et tl e o nt o t he l an di ng p ad . A t h is c om ma nd , t he

t ro op t ra ns po rt w as s ti ll p ar ke d 3 5, 00 0 m il es o ut , b ey on d t he o ut er r ad ia ti on z on e, w it h o rd er s t o h ol d

t he m ar in es i n s ta si s. H e w as n' t r ea dy t o l et t he m l an d.

T he f lo ti ll a h ad emerg ed f ro m h yp er sp ace w el l b ey on d t he o rb it o f G un weey a, and h ad t ak en n earl y t wo

d ay s t o a rr iv e a t K le st ro n. I ts c om mo do re h ad p ul se d h is f ul l r ep or t t o t he s ul ta n, a nd t he s ul ta n, a ft er

h avi ng S UM BA A r ea d i t t o h im , ha d d ec id ed t o m ee t t he s hi p a ny wa y, w it h t he f ul l S yn od o f

Archprelates.

D ri ve n f ro m t he C on fe de ra ti on w or ld b y f or ce ! B y a n e ne my f or ce a pp ar en tl y s ma ll er a nd m or e

poorly armed!I f t he o pp on en ts o f c on qu es t, a nd t he re 'd b e p le nt y o f t he m, n ee de d h el p f or t he ir c au se ,


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that would qualify.

T he re w er e t ra di ti on s i n t he e mp ir e, s om e o f t he m g oo d, o th er s u nf or tu na te . O ne w as t ha t a c om ma nd er

w ho l os t a w ar s ho ul d b e e xe cu te d. T ar im en lo ku h ad t o b e t hi nk in g a bo ut t ha t; h e w as t ra di ti on al t o a

fault.

The sultan grunted, drawing a surreptitious glance from his aide. In this case there were grounds forc al li ng i t a n e nc oun te r i ns te ad o f a w ar , h e t ol d h im self , or perhaps the first battle of a war not yet

won.

A clo ud i nt er vened b et ween t he s ul tan and t he s un , a w el co me i nt er vent io n, and t he s ul tan' s eyes r ai sed

t o i t. A l ar ge c lo ud , h ap pi ly . I ni ti al ly , h e' d w ai te d f or t he e xp ed it io n' s r et ur n w it h a s m uc h e ag er ne ss a s a

s ix ty -n in e- year -o ld cou ld m us ter. T hat eag er ness h ad t hi nn ed w hen t he f lo ti ll a h ad emerg ed i n r eal s pace

a nd p ul se d i ts r ep or t.

Y et b as ical ly t he s it uati on d id n' t s eem s er io us ly l es s f av or ab le t han b ef or e: T he C on federati on 's f leet w as

i nf er io r t o t he e mp ir e' s, a nd t he w ar w ou ld b e w on i n s pa ce b y t he s tr on ge r f le et . T he s tr on ge r f le et c ou ldg o t o w ha te ve r s ys te m i t w is he d. A nd c on tr ol li ng t he s pa ce a ro un d a p la ne t, o ne c ou ld c on ce nt ra te o ne 's

surface forces wherever advantageous.

A m ov em en t c au gh t t he s ul ta n' s e ye s; t he m ai n g an gw ay op en ed i n t he s id e o f t he c ru is er , a nd a r am p

e xt ru de d. M ar in e g ua rd s s te pp ed s ma rt ly o ut o nt o t he r am ph ea d a nd t o i ts s id es , t he n t ur ne d a bo ut a nd

s al ut ed . A h eavy -s et m an i n an adm ir al 's f ul l- dr es s u ni fo rm s tepp ed o ut and r et ur ned t heir s al ut e, t hen, h is

a id e b eh in d h im , r od e t he r am p t ow ar d t he g ro un d.

Traditional to a fault , the sultan thought watching him. T h er e a r en 't t o o m a n y a r o u nd l i ke yo u .

* * *

D eb ri ef s h ad t ak en f iv e d ay s. T he s ul tan h im self h ad d eb ri ef ed C om mo do re I gs at T ar im en lo ku , t hen h ad

s pe nt f ou r d ay s r ev ie wi ng o th er d eb ri ef s. W ha t h e' d l ea rn ed w as n o s ur pr is e, n o w or se t ha n h e' d

expected.

A ft er t hat h e' d s pent an h ou r q uest io ni ng t he m ar in e g en er al , S aadh ramb acoo ra. T he exp er ience h ad

been unsettling. The general had been a hard old officer. He was a veteran of the Ikthvoktos

S up pr es si on , a nd a s a y ou ng m an h ad l ed a n a rm or ed c om pa ny i n t he c ru sh in g o f t he S an gj ee

Uprisingas much fighting experience as probably any Klestronu officer alive. All of it creditable till this.

B ut h is exp er ience o n T er fr ey a h ad b ro ken h im . O ut ward ly i t w as n' t con sp icuo us h e p ut a g oo d f aceo n bu t y ou cou ld s ee i t i n h is eyes w hen h e t al ked abo ut i t. D ef in it el y u ns et tl in g. T he C on federati on

f or ce t her e s ou nd ed w or se t han t he s tat is ti cs s ug ges ted. S aadh ramabacoo ra m ad e i t s ou nd p os it iv el y

eerie, e sp ec ia ll y i n t he ir a ss au lt o n t he m ar in e h ea dq ua rt er s b as e, t he a ct io n t ha t h ad f or ce d t he m ar in es

to withdraw.

T he o ff ic ia l r ep or t o f t ha t a ss au lt h ad b ee n c om pi le d b y a M aj or K oo ro T ho gl ak av ee ra , t he m an w ho 'd

t ak en o ver aft er t he g en er al h ad b een wo un ded. R em em beri ng t he cir cu ms tances o f t hat w ou nd , t he

sultan winced inwardly. Diabolical!

T ak in g charg e o f a chaot ic, d em or al ized s cene, M aj or T ho gl ak av eera h ad enf or ced d is cip li ne and

carr i ed o ut t he co mm od or e's r adi oed o rd er f or an o rd er l y evacuat io n. M aj or K oo ro T ho gl akaveera. H is

f at he r w as L ea de r o f t he K le st ro nu H ou se o f L or ds , a s om et im es a ll y, s om et im es a dv er sa ry o f t he s ul ta n

i n t he D iet.


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A ft er r ea di ng t he m aj or 's d eb ri ef , t he s ul ta n h ad d ec id ed i t w ou ld b e p ol it ic t o t al k w it h h im . N ow h is

com ms et ann ou nced t he y ou ng m aj or 's arr iv al . " Majo r T ho gl ak av eera t o s ee y ou , Y ou r R ev er en ce."

"Have him brought in."

"Yes, sir."

T houg h t he s ul ta n di dn' t kn ow i t, t he ma jo r w as f or ty y ea rs ol d. Bu t a s s ix of t hos e ye ar s ha d be en s pe nt

i n s tasi s, h e w as eff ecti vely o nl y t hi rt y- fo ur . A h an ds om e t hi rt y- fo ur , and t al l f or a K lest ro ni t. L ik e all

adu lt m al e K lest ro nu l ik e alm os t all adu lt m al e h um an s i n t he emp ir e he w as d ar k, w it h a b eard t hat,

s haved, g av e a b lu e t in t t o a f ace t hat w as o th er wi se m ah og an y. H is eyes l oo ked agg ress iv el y i nt el li gent .

H is t hi ck , br is tl y b ro ws w er e a s tr ai gh t l in e, h is n os e n ar ro w, c he ek s f la t. H is u ni fo rm w as t ai lo re d t o a n

a th le ti c b od y, a nd p re ss ed t o r az or c re as es . H e s to pp ed b ef or e t he s ul ta n' s d es k a nd s al ut ed s ha rp ly .

Rather exaggeratedly, the sultan thought.

" Si t, " s ai d t he s ul tan, g es tu ri ng , and T ho gl ak av eera s at . " I' ve l oo ked o ver y ou r d eb ri ef , and C om mo do reT ar im en lo ku 's r ep or t o f t he, u m, d is as tr ou s n ig ht o n w hi ch t he m ar in e b as e w as ass au lt ed . I 'v e als o

q ue st io ne d G en er al S aa dh ra mb ac oo ra . S o I w on 't r eq ui re a g re at d ea l o f y ou r t im e.

" Ho w, i n y ou r o pi ni on , d id t he enemy t ro op s p en et rate t he h eadq uart ers b as e? A nd t he r ecreati on

compound?"

" By p ar achu te, s ir , w it ho ut a d ou bt ."

" Re al ly ? I r ea d t ha t p ar ac hu te s w er e u se d t o a tt ac k t he t wo f ie ld b as es . Y ou a ut ho re d t he r ep or t, d id

you not?"

"Yes, sir."

" Yo u d id n' t m en ti on p ar achu tes i n t he ass aul ts o n t he h eadq uart er s b as e and t he r ecr eati on com po un d. "

" Si r, w e d id n' t f in d a ny p ar ac hu te s t he re . W e d id a t t he f ie ld b as es ."

" Wh y d id n' t y ou f in d p ar ac hu te s a t t he h ea dq ua rt er s b as e a nd t he r ec re at io n c om po un d i f t he y w er e

used there?"

" Si r, t he e ne my t ro op s t he re w er e e va cu at ed b y f lo at er . T he y t oo k t he ir p ar ac hu te s w it h t he m. T he y h adt o f ig ht t heir w ay o ut o f t he f ield b as es , and l ef t t heir p ar achu tes b eh in d. "

"Hmm." The sultan regarded the officer quietly for a minute. The explanation had not convinced him.

" We are d is ap po in ted i n t he p au ci ty o f i nf or mati on abo ut t he C on federati on 's arm ed f or ces. Y ou w er e

t he b ri gade's i nt el li gence o ff icer . W hy w er en 't enemy p ri so ners t ak en ? I k no w w hat t he d eb ri ef s

s ay y ou rs a nd o th er s. B ut I w an t t o h ea r i t f ro m y ou ."

" Si r, t he enemy cad et s and s ol di er s d id n ot s ur rend er . W hen s ho t, o f cou rs e, t hey u su al ly d ied q ui ck ly ;

w e u se d b ea m w ea po ns t o a v er y l ar ge d eg re e t he re . A nd w he ne ve r p os si bl e, t he ir l iv e w ou nd ed w ou ld

a rm a g re na de , t he n l et i t e xp lo de w he n t he y w er e a pp ro ac he d b y o ur m en , k il li ng s om e o f t he m. O ur

m en r es po nd ed b y s ho ot in g all f al len enemi es n ot con sp icuo us ly d ead. D es pi te o rd er s t o t he con tr ar y. "

" Ah . A s in gl e p ri so ne r o f w ar w as c ap tu re d a nd b ro ug ht h er e t o K le st ro n. O ne p ri so ne r; a w om an . I


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u nd er st an d y ou w er e i n charg e o f h er t rans fer. "

T he m aj or 's e ye s h ad w id en ed f or j us t a m om en t. " Ye s, s ir . I d id n' t k no w s he w as b ro ug ht h er e t ho ug h. "

" Sh e' s s ai d t o h av e l os t h er m em or y. D ur in g an accid en t w hi le b ei ng i nt er ro gated. O ne m ig ht h op e s he

cou ld r eg ai n i t. S he's t ho ug ht t o b e n ob le o r at l east g en tr y, and m ig ht h av e v al uabl e i nf or mati on . D id s he

s ay any th in g t o y ou t hat m ig ht b e u sefu l?"

" No , s ir , I 'm a fr ai d n ot . S he s po ke v er y l it tl e, a nd I h ad o rd er s t o d el iv er h er u nq ue st io ne d f or

interrogation aboard the flagship. Where sophisticated instrumentation was available."

" Hm m. I 'm t ol d t ha t n o o th er f em al e t ro op s w er e o bs er ve d a mo ng t he e ne my , d ea d o r a li ve .

Comments?"

"Well, Your Reverence, in battle they'd be difficult to distinguish, given similar uniforms. Battle kit fits

l oo sely ." H e s hr ug ged. " If t here w er e o th er f em al e s ol di er s t ho ug h, I s us pect t hey w er e v er y f ew .

O th er wi se, g iv en t he s tate o f t he cor ps es , o ft en w it h u ni fo rm s s hr ed ded o r h al f b lo wn o ff , i f t here'd b eenm an y f em al es , t hey' d h av e b een n ot iced and t al ked abo ut ."

" Um m. I s up po se t he y w ou ld ." T he s ul ta n l oo ke d t he m aj or ov er op en ly , i f t he m an s qu ir me d, h e hi d i t

well.

" Te ll m e, M aj or , w ha t w ou ld y ou t hi nk o f a n o ff ic e p os t, h er e i n K ha lo om ?"

T he m aj or l oo ked w ar y. " If Y ou r R ev er en ce w is hes. "

" I w il l n ot f or ce i t on yo u. B ut i f y ou' re w il li ng T he po st i s V ic e Mi ni st er of A rme d F or ce s."

Thoglakaveera didn't fully conceal a flash of joy; apparently his ambitions ran higher than military

command.

" Fo r t he t im e b ei ng ," t he s ul tan con ti nu ed , " yo u' ll b e p ro mo ted t o b revet col on el . Y ou r p ay w il l b e t hat o f

a vice minister, however."

He ga ze d a t t he of fi ce r. " And , M aj or , i t i s qu it e a ll r igh t wi th m e i f y ou s mi le ."

The major smiled, not widely. "Thank you, Your Reverence!"

" Th e m ar in e com mand an t' s o ff ice w il l b e i nf or med t od ay . R ep or t t here t om or ro w m or ni ng at t en t o s ig n

y ou r p ro mo ti on f or m and r ecei ve y ou r col on el 's i ns ig ni a. Y ou 'l l t hen h av e a w eek f ree o f d ut y. O n n ex t

O ne da y, r ep or t t o t he M in is te r o f A rm ed F or ce s t o b eg in y ou r o ri en ta ti on .

"Any questions?"

T he m aj or 's p leas ur e l eaked t hr ou gh h is eyes. " No ne, Y ou r R ev er en ce."

"Then you are dismissed."

T he m aj or s al ut ed, abo ut - faced, and l ef t t he s ul tan' s o ff ice.

F ul l o f h im se lf , t he s ul tan t ho ug ht . We ll , I s upp os e mo st of t he m a re , wh en t he y' re y oun g an d


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ambitious. He chuckled dryly. Perhaps I should have asked Venkat if he wants a vice minister. But

the young rooster should be some good to him, at least. And it should make his daddy happy, and

e as ie r t o g et a lo ng w it h.

SixT ai n F ar on ya s at i n h er cel l, l is teni ng t o m us ic f ro m a s mall g ri d i n o ne w al l. I t w as d if ferent t han any th in g

s he 'd h ea rd b ef or e, c al m a nd s oo th in g. A nd s he h ad n' t t ir ed o f i t, n ot y et a ny wa y, n ot i n h er s ix d ay s

t he re . S he 'd d is co ve re d s he c ou ld d an ce t o i t, t oo , a v er y l im it ed d an ce i n a v er y l im it ed s pa ce e ig ht b y

t we lv e f ee t, c on ta in in g a n ar ro w, s he lf li ke b un k, a t in y t ab le , a s to ol , a nd i n o ne c or ne r a s cr ee ne d

com mo de and w as hb ow l. T here w as n o w in do w; t he l ig ht cam e f ro m t he w al ls and cei li ng .

T he re w as a ls o a s ma ll c on ve x ob je ct a bo ve h er do or t ha t s om eho w s he k ne w w as a s py c am er a. H ow

s he kn ew , s he c oul dn 't ha ve s ai d a nd di dn' t wo nd er a bou t. I n f ac t, s he d id n' t h av e a w or d f or i t; i t w as

o ne o f t he t er ms s he 'd l os t i n h er o wn l an gu ag e a nd h ad n' t be en t aug ht i n h er n ew . B ut m en ta ll y s he ha d

t he c on ce pt ; s he w as w at ch ed h er e, o r c ou ld b e.

D es pi te t he t ra nq ui li zi ng m us ic , T ai n h ad b eg un t o w on de r w ha t w as g oi ng t o ha pp en t o h er , t o f ee l a

s or t o f l ow -g ra de a nx ie ty . W ou ld s he c on ti nu e t o b e k ep t t he re a lo ne ? S he h ar dl y e ve n h ad m em or ie s t o

o ccup y h er self w it h a f ew w eeks ' w or th f ro m b ef or e s tasi s .

T he re w as a s oun d a t he r d oo r, a nd i t op en ed . T wo m en w er e t he re . T he o ne w ho e nt er ed w or e g ua rd 's

clo th in g; t he o th er , w ho s tayed i n t he d oo rw ay , s he r ecog ni zed f ro m h is u ni fo rm as a m ar in e o ff icer . T he

s ecur it y p er so nn el abo ar d s hi p h ad b een m ar in es .

" Co me !" o rd er ed t he g ua rd . H e m ot io ne d t ow ar d t he d oo r, t he n g ra bb ed h er a rm a s s he p as se d,s qu eezi ng t o h ur t. T he m ar in e o ff icer s po ke s harp ly i n a l an gu ag e s he d id n' t k no w it w as n' t

imperialand the guard relaxed his grip, scowling resentfully.

A no th er m ar in e, a c or po ra l, s to od o ut si de t he d oo r. T og et he r, t he t wo m ar in es a nd t he y ou ng w om an

w al ke d d ow n a c or ri do r, r od e a n o pe n, c ag el ik e e le va to r u pw ar d, t he n w al ke d a no th er c or ri do r t o a n

office. An official there signed her out, the marine officer signing after him. Then she left the building

between the two marines, got into a hovercar, and rode with them through a park and a stand of

m ar ve lo us t re es t o a w al l w it h a p al ac e o n t he o th er s id e. M ar in e g ua rd s l et t he m i n t hr ou gh a g at e.

T he y c ro ss ed a f or ma l g ar de n, e nt er ed t he p al ac e, a nd f ol lo we d a h an ds om e h al lw ay t o a n o ff ic e. A m ant he re s po ke a t a b ox , a c om ms et , t o s om eo ne h e c al le d " Yo ur R ev er en ce ." A ft er a m om en t t he m ar in e

o ff icer t oo k h er t hr ou gh an i nn er d oo r.

T wo m en w ai te d i n t he r oo m t he y e nt er ed: a s ma ll m an , ol d, w it h t hi n g ra y h ai r, a nd b ehi nd hi m t he

l ar ge st m an s he c ou ld r em em be r s ee ing , w ho m s om eh ow s he k ne w m us t b e h is b od yg ua rd . T he ol d m an

w or e a s il ve r r ob e t ri mm ed w it h g ol d t hr ea d, t

john dalmas - lizard 03 - the kalif's war

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