She put the cosmetics purse in her jacket pocket and watched Telzey very carefully fit on the second ring.
“That on-and-off husband of mine,” Trigger said then in a normal voice, “is a security gadget nut. He insists I carry what he calls the minimum line around with me when we’re not together. Every so often it turns out to be a good idea. We’re distorted and scrambled now, so I guess we can talk. What’s happened?”
“I’ve found out a few things,” Telzey said. “Better get your O.G. shield closed tight, and keep it tight.”
“Done,” said Trigger. “Psi stuff around, eh?”
Telzey nodded. “Quite a lot of it! I don’t know what that means yet, but it could mean trouble. About what happened to us—somebody seems to have turned a stun beam on the yacht and knocked us out before they grappled and boarded.”
“A rough beam that was!” Trigger said.
“What did it feel like to you?”
“Well . . . let’s say as if my head turned into a drum half the size of the universe and somebody was pounding on it with clubs. But I’m all right now. Do you know who did it, where we are, and what’s happened to the Askab and the navigator?”
“More or less, I do,” Telzey said. “We’re on Askanam, in the Balak of Tamandun—Casmard’s balak. More specifically, we’re in a section of a palace which belongs to the man who’s been Regent of Tamandun in Casmard’s absence. He was presumably responsible for the attack on the yacht.
“To have Casmard kidnapped?”
“Apparently. I’m pretty sure Casmard’s somewhere in the palace, and I know Kewen is. We’re here because we happened to be on the yacht with Casmard.”
Trigger said, after a moment, “From what I’ve heard of Askanam politics, that doesn’t look too good.”
“I’m afraid it isn’t good,” Telzey agreed. “When we’re missed, all anyone will know is that Casmard’s yacht appears to have vanished in interstellar space with all aboard.”
“How does the psi business fit in?”
“I don’t know yet. There’re a number of psis of assorted types not very far from us. Anywhere up to two dozen of them. One had an unguarded mind and I tapped it. But I discovered then that some of the others were screened telepaths. I could have been detected at any moment, so I pulled out before I got as much information as I wanted. I’m not sure why they’re here. There was something about a Glory Day—a big annual holiday in Tamandun—coming up. Something else about arena games connected with Glory Day festivities.” Telzey shook her head. “Those psis aren’t Askanam people. At least, the one I was tapping isn’t. She’s a Federation citizen.”
“They might be helpful then,” Trigger suggested.
“They might. But I’d want to find out more about them before I let them know I’m also a Federation psi who’s probably in a jam. And I’ll have to be careful about that because of the telepaths.”
Trigger nodded. “Sounds like you’re right! You’d better stay our secret weapon for a while. Particularly—are the psis in the building, too?”
“No, I’m sure they’re not in the building. They’re close to us, but not that close.”
“But there’s a connection between them and Casmard’s Regent?”
“I’m almost sure of that.”
“Well—” Trigger shrugged. “Let’s freshen up and change our clothes before we have visitors. What do you wear on Askanam in the palace of a Regent who might be thinking of featuring you in the upcoming arena games?”
“Something quietly conservative, I suppose,” Telzey said.
“All right. Just so it goes with my purse.” The cosmetics purse didn’t contain cosmetics but Trigger’s favorite gun, and was equipped with an instant ejection mechanism. Conceivably, it could act as their other secret weapon here. “The door on the left looks like it should open on a refresher—”
II
In certain confidential Overgovernment files, Askanam was listed among the Hub’s experimental worlds. Officially, it was a world which retained a number of unusual privileges in return for acknowledging the Federation’s basic authority and accepting a few balancing restrictions. Most of its surface was taken up by the balaks of the ruling Askabs, ranging in size from something not much larger than a township to great states with teeming populations. It was a colorful world of pomp and splendor, romance, violence, superstition and individualism. The traditionally warlike activities of the Askabs were limited by Federation regulations, which kept Askanam pretty much as it was, though individual balaks not infrequently changed hands. Otherwise Federation law didn’t extend to the balaks. Hub citizens applying for entry were advised that they were going into areas where they would receive no Federation protection.
Telzey was aware that the arrangement served several purposes for the Overgovernment. Askanam was populated largely by people who liked that kind of life, since nothing prevented them from leaving. They were attracted to it, in fact, from all over the Hub. Since they were a kind of people whose romantic notions could cause problems otherwise, the Overgovernment was glad to see them there. Askanam was one of its laboratories, and its population’s ways were more closely studied than they knew.
For individuals, of course, that romantic setup could turn into a dangerous trap.
Telzey discovered an intercom while Trigger was freshening up, and after they were dressed again, they used it. They were connected with someone who said he was the Regent Tom’s secretary, extended the Regent’s welcome to the Askab Casmard’s yacht guests, trusted they were well rested, and inquired whether they would be pleased to join the Askab and his cousin for breakfast.
They would, and were guided through a wing of the palace to a room where a table was set for four. The Askab Perial Casmard waited there, smiling and, to all appearances, at ease. Three other men were with him, and he introduced them. The Regent Tom, tall, bony and dark. Lord Ormota, with a bristling red beard, Servant of the Stone. Finally a young, strongly built man with a boyishly handsome face, who was Lord Vallain.
The Regent said, “I waited only to meet you and to express my regrets if any inconvenience has been caused you. I hope your visit to the Balak of Tamandun will be very pleasant otherwise. Political considerations made it necessary to bring you here, as the Askab will explain.” He added to Casmard, “Your taste in guests is impeccable, dear cousin!” Then he bowed to Telzey and Trigger and left the room, accompanied by Lord Ormota.
They took their seats, and breakfast was served. When the waiters had left, Casmard said, “I regret deeply that you two are involved in this matter! We can speak freely, by the way. I’m using a distorter, and Toru, in any case, would have no interest in what we have to say. He’s certain there’s nothing we can do.”
“Is it a very bad situation?” Trigger asked.
“Yes, quite bad!” Casmard hesitated, then shook his head. “I would be both insulting you and treating you unfairly by offering you false reassurances. The fact is then that Toru undoubtedly intends to have all four of us killed. He believes you’re my women and that he can put additional pressure on me because of it.”
“Pressure to do what?” asked Telzey.
“To renounce my right to the title of Askab of Tamandun, abdicate publicly in his favor. The reasoning is that my interests are no longer here. That’s perfectly true, of course. It’s been eight years since I last set foot on Askanam. For more than half my life, I’ve been a Federation citizen in all but legal fact. I’ve built up a personal fortune which makes me independent of the revenues of Tamandun. To act as the Balak’s Askab in practice is something I’d Find dull, indeed!”
Trigger said, “Then why not simply abdicate?”
“For two reasons,” Casmard told her. “One is that, while I’ve intended to do it for some time, I also intended to wait another year and then make Vallain, who is my cousin as is Toru, my successor. He would have been of suitable age to become Askab then. He doesn’t share my dislike for the role, and, as Askabs go, he woul
d make a far better ruler for Tamandun than Toru. I still feel some slight responsibility toward the Balak.”
“Which is why I’ve joined you on Toru’s death list,” Vallain informed Telzey and Trigger. He didn’t appear greatly disturbed by the fact. “Very many people would prefer me to the Regent.”
“Well, and there you have my second reason,” Casmard went on. “After my formal abdication has been obtained and announced and Toru has himself installed as Askab, he’ll lose no time in terminating my existence. If any of you are still alive at that time, you’ll die with me.”
Trigger cleared her throat. “You mean he might kill us first?”
Perial Casmard looked distressed. “Unfortunately, that’s quite possible. You three are in more immediate danger than I am. Since I’ve never given evidence of the bloodthirstiness which is supposed to distinguish a proper Askab, Toru feels that fear is a tool which can be used to influence me. He may decide to make object lessons of you.”
“Casmard,” said Vallain, “what difference does it really make? We can’t get off the palace grounds. We can’t get out a message. We’re not even being watched. The Regent is so sure of us that he can afford to treat us as guests until we die. He’ll become the Askab of Tamandun on Glory Day, and none of us will survive that day. Since it’s inevitable, don’t let it upset you.”
“When’s Glory Day?” Telzey asked.
Vallain looked at her. “Why, tomorrow! I thought you knew.”
Telzey pushed her chair back, stood up.
“Trigger and I saw some beautiful gardens from a window on our way here,” she said. “Since the Regent doesn’t seem to mind, I think we’ll walk around there and admire them a while.” She smiled. “My appetite might be better a little later!”
Casmard said uneasily, “I believe you would be safer if you stayed with me.”
“How much safer?” Telzey said.
Vallain laughed. “She’s right, Cousin! Let them go. The gardens are beautiful, and so is the morning. Let them enjoy the time they have left.” He added to Telzey and Trigger, “I would ask your permission to accompany you, but in view of the situation, there are some matters I should take care of. However, I’ll show you down to the gardens.”
Casmard stood up.
“Then be so good as to wait for them here a few minutes,” he told Vallain. “There’s something I’d like them to have.”
He led the way from the room, turned presently into another one and shut the door after Telzey and Trigger had entered.
“All things may be the tools of politics,” he remarked. “On Askanam, the superstitions of the people are a tool in general use by those who seek or hold power—and they themselves often aren’t free of superstition. When I was a child, my father, the Askab, made me promise to keep certain small talismans he’d had our court adept fashion for me on my person at all times. They were to protect me from tricks of wizardry. I’ve kept them as souvenirs throughout the years—and now I want to give one to each of you, for somewhat the same reason my father had.”
He took two star-shaped splinters of jewelry no larger than his thumb nail from a pocket, gave one to Telzey and the other to Trigger.
“Well, thanks very much, Casmard!” Trigger said. “They’re certainly very beautiful!” She hesitated. “Do you—”
Casmard said, “You’re thinking, of course, that the danger we’re in is affecting my mind. However, I can assure you from personal knowledge that superstitions, on occasion, may cloak something quite real. I’m not speaking of technological fakery, which is much employed here. You’ve heard of psis, of course. Sophisticated people in the Federation tend to believe that the various stories told about them are again mainly superstition. But having made a study of the subject, I’ve concluded that many of those stories have a foundation in fact. My parents’ court adept, for example, while he professed to deal in magic and to control supernatural entities, evidently was a psi. And I’m sure that a considerable number of psis are active on Askanam to an extent they couldn’t be elsewhere. The general belief in sorcery covers their activities—is simply reinforced by them.
“I don’t know whether Toru has an adept working for him at present. But it’s possible. It’s also possible that he feels it would be an effective move to have you two appear to be the victims of sorcery. Frankly, I have no way of knowing whether the talismans actually offer protection against psi forces—but, at least, they can do you no harm. So will you keep them on your persons as a favor to me? I feel we should take every possible precaution available at present.”
He left them at the door to the breakfast room, and Vallain showed them the way down to the gardens and told them how to find him, or Casmard, later when they felt like it. A number of other buildings were visible on the palace grounds, and Telzey asked a few questions about them. Then Vallain excused himself pleasantly and went away.
“If I were Toru,” Trigger remarked as they started off along a path, “I wouldn’t trust our Lord Vallain without a guard!”
Telzey nodded. “He’s planning something. That’s why he didn’t want us to be around this morning. I’m not sure about Perial Casmard either. He’s really a tough character!”
“What are you planning?” Trigger asked.
“I want to locate that group of psis as soon as possible—they should be in one of the buildings on the grounds. If I can get close to them, I can start doing some precision scanning. It’s not too likely they’d notice that. Until we know something about them, it’s hard to figure out what we can do.”
“The telepaths could spot you if you went to work directly on the Regent?”
“Well, they might. Especially with a number of them around. We don’t know how the group would react to that.” Telzey shook her head. “But Toru could be too tough a job anyway in the time we have left! He and that Servant of the Stone don’t seem to have any illusions about Askanam adepts either—they’ve imported good solid Federation mind shields of a chemical type and are using them. We might get better results if I don’t waste time trying to work through that stuff. At any rate, we have to find out how the psis fit in first.”
“Do Casmard’s talismans do anything?”
Telzey shrugged. “They could make someone who believes in them feel more secure, of course. But that’s all they can do.”
III
The palace grounds were very extensive and beautifully tended—a varied succession of terraced gardens, large and small. There wasn’t a human being in sight anywhere. They followed curving paths in and out of tree groves, around artificial lakes, up and down terrace stairs of polished and tinted stone. Trigger inquired presently, “Are you working?”
Telzey shook her head. “Just waiting for some indication from the psis at the moment. So far there hasn’t been a sign. What did you want to talk about?”
“Two things,” said Trigger. “I had a notion about aircars—but it seems to me now that aircars aren’t permitted in the balaks.”
“That’s right. No sort of powered flight is,” Telzey said. “They use gliders in some places, and I remember Casmard saying a few Askabs have tried importing a flying animal that’s big enough to carry a man. They’re not very manageable though.”
Trigger nodded. “That kills the notion! I doubt gliders or flying animals would do us much good if we could find them. But then, you know—I’m wondering why no one else seems to be in the gardens at present!”
“I’ve wondered a little about that, too,” Telzey acknowledged. She added, “Did you hear something a moment ago?”
Trigger glanced at her. “Just the general sort of creature sounds we’ve been hearing right along.”
“This was a spitting noise.”
Telzey broke off, and both of them came to a stop. They’d been approaching a stand of shade trees, and, about sixty feet away, an animal suddenly had come out from the trees on the path they were following.
It stood staring at them. It was a short-legged animal some twe
lve feet long, tawny on top and white below, with a snaky neck and sharp snout. The alert eyes were bright green. It was a beautiful creature and an extremely efficient-looking one.
Trigger said very softly, “It may not be dangerous, but we’d better not count on that! If we move slowly off to the left, away from it—”
The animal bared large white teeth and made the spitting noise Telzey had heard. This time it was quite audible. Then, in an instant, it was coming straight at them. It moved with amazing speed, short legs hurling it along the path like a projectile, head held high above the body. Trigger slapped the side of the cosmetics purse at her belt, and the gun it concealed seemed to leap simultaneously into her hand. She turned sideways, right arm stretched straight out.
The animal made a blaring sound as the green eyes vanished in momentary scarlet flashes of light. The long body knotted and twisted, rolled off the path. The sound ended abruptly. The animal went limp. Trigger lowered the gun, stood watching it a few seconds.
“Five head shots!” she said quietly then. “That’s a tough creature, Telzey! Any idea what it is?”
“Probably something they use in arenas.” Telzey’s breath was unsteady. “It certainly wasn’t a garden pet!”
“No. And I suppose,” Trigger said, “somebody was watching to see what would happen, and is still watching. We pretend we think it was an accident, eh?”
“We might as well. It wouldn’t do much good to complain . . . They know about your gun now.”
“Yes, that’s too bad! It couldn’t be helped.”
They walked closer to the creature. From fifteen feet away, Trigger put another bolt into the center of its body. It didn’t stir. They went up to it, looked at the blood-stained great teeth.
“At a guess,” Trigger said, “the Regent wanted a couple of mangled bodies to shock Casmard with. Let’s see if we can find out where it came from.”
They followed the path in among the trees. A metal box stood there, open at one end, large enough to have contained the animal. There was no one in sight.
Complete Short Fiction (Jerry eBooks) Page 228