Heroine of Zenina

by Giselle Marks

  Suzela collected her blue and the silver was also handed out. Charles toned down the silver of his body to a deep tan and his hair lightened to a medium brown with careful silver streaks. Katanya looked at him recognising him as Zigeneev Zablonsky and reddened. She had realised Baraneev was sluggish in his movements, but she could hardly complain as she had spent the whole day dreaming of the man who had filled her bed the night before. How could a Zigan business-man be so damn good? She had thought Baraneev was the best but that other man had destroyed her assurance and she had not desired Baraneev as much as she should have.

  Charles turned to Baraneev and shook his hand, “Well done,” he said.

  “You deserved to win,” Baraneev replied. “You were turning everyone on.”

  “I intended to,” he declared.

  The Zigan Ambassador came forward and congratulated Baraneev and took Katanya to one side. Jazina began an announcement.

  “As you all realise, florettes are only awarded to the female participants of the Zeninan Games. Tonight we have seen the first Non-Zeninan couple for five centuries win a florette in the Games. Princess Plavina has asked to make a special award to the young man who has done so well here this evening.”

  “She asked me to apologize for the lack of sparkle in his performance tonight; she informs me his performances last night at a party which Princess Plavina honoured with her presence amazed her and all her friends. If he had been a little fresher she feels certain he would’ve won. Your applause please! For the gallant losers!”

  The audience rose to applaud this speech. It took after all a lot of honesty to admit they had nobbled the opposition. However if they had tried to keep the matter secret it would have been common gossip. The method of winning was merely one-upmanship but not actually unfair. It was hardly Charles and Nerova’s fault that Baraneev had found Zeninan women too enjoyable to get sufficient rest the night before.

  Plavina stepped forward and a servant carried up an elegant box. From the box Plavina took out a golden badge with the mermaid and lioness upon it. It was very similar to the one Charles wore but the top edge was slightly different. She held it out to Baraneev and he nodded and let her put it over his head. The audience hollered with laughter and applauded, at least the Zeninans present did. The non-Zeninans waited for their companions to explain what had just happened and then a second ripple of laughter went round as they caught on to what Baraneev had been given or given up.

  Marina stepped up from behind Plavina and kissed Baraneev on both cheeks.

  “No hard feelings Bary?” she whispered in his ear.

  “Only that I’d prefer to be your slave,” he replied honestly.

  “Charles wouldn’t have liked it,” she said aloud indicating the man who still held Nerova balanced upon himself.

  “He told me he was called Zigeneev Zablonsky,” muttered Katanya angrily.

  “I believe that was his name. It’s the only ugly thing about him. He has got used to being called Charles. Anyway Zig means something rather crude in Hemithean,” Marina said sweetly.

  “You all cheated! You’ve stolen my man.”

  “If you’d deserved to win, you’d have been able to keep him,” Marina said and turned to Charles.

  “The judges were over generous with your marks, Charles. You weren’t really on form.”

  “I’m very sorry Marina, but I’d have done better with you.” Charles said with mock contrition.

  “I should think so. If you’re ever as bad as that with me I’d flog you. Go take Colonel Bromarsh out of here, now.”

  “Yes. ma’am” he said dropping Nerova callously on the floor.

  Jazina cleared her throat. “It is hoped at the next Zeninan Games, Baraneev will be part of the winning partnership, but will be representing Zenina.”

  A cheer went up from the Zeninan women. Katanya’s face under the paint had gone purple with rage, but the Zigan Ambassador had asked one of his attachés to drag her away and Baraneev had left for the palace.

  Chapter Fifty-Six - Family Wedding

  Padavaneev detained Charles as he was leaving.

  “I want to talk to you in private,” he said.

  “Ambassador, anything you have to say to me, can be said in front of my mistress.”

  “Very well, I’ve had a letter about you.”

  “Wouldn’t be from his mother, would it?” enquired Marina.

  “Yes indeed it is. How did you know?”

  “Charles has had one and so have I. Mrs Zablonsky called me an unfeeling, heartless woman. She demands Charles go home to Ziga for his youngest brother’s wedding. She says the only reason I won’t let him go for a holiday is because I’m afraid he won’t come back.”

  “She didn’t really say that, did she? I’ll have to write and get her to apologize. I’m very sorry she’s caused trouble,” Charles said appalled.

  “Do you intend to let him go to the wedding?” Padavaneev persisted with more courage than caution.

  “I’ve already written to say it’s out of the question for me to go,” said Charles.

  “And I tore up your letter and accepted on your behalf. I won’t have anyone saying I don’t trust you.”

  “But I don’t want to go. Please don’t free me. Don’t send me away. I’m sorry about the money. I won’t do it again, I promise,” pleaded Charles.

  “I haven’t said anything about freeing you. Merely that I’d allow you to go back to Ziga for a couple of months’ holiday. I’ve told your mother the conditions on which I’ll allow you to go.”

  “Which were?” asked Padavaneev.

  “They accept a wedding present from me which Charles will select personally and they don’t prevent him from returning to Zenina.”

  “But I won’t be able to cope with that long away. Ziga is terribly stuffy. Mother will keep trying to find me some girl to marry and I’ll be trying to get back here as soon as possible. You can’t just switch off a sexual drive like mine for months.”

  “Not for a few months, but for a few days you can. You can take sexual suppressants for a few days at a time.”

  “But you’re sending me for a couple of months with two months journey either end on a cargo vessel. That’s six months and I need to have women pretty regularly. It’s not as simple on Ziga. Virginity is prized and there’s little prostitution. Men marry or go without.”

  “What about those doxies you were planning for?”

  “I’d import them specially.”

  “Your mother’s home is in Ziga City itself?”

  “Yes, you know that.”

  “There’s a Zeninan Embassy there. Prevela is Ambassador. She has about thirty staff. I’m sure they’d welcome you with open arms.”

  “And legs, if I remember Prevela,” added Padavaneev.

  “Even so there’s the two months there and back.”

  “Just over 25 days on an Imperial battle-ship. That’s 300 women to enjoy on the way there. Twelve a day isn’t enough? I’d think you might appreciate a rest when you reach Ziga.”

  “There’s more sexual freedom on Ziga now than when you left. The media say we’ve entered an era of permissiveness. I wouldn’t be surprised if you found you had plenty of offers. Zigan women have been vociferous against the sexual suppressions put on them,” advised Padavaneev.

  “There’s still a lot of hypocrisy though, isn’t there?” replied Marina.

  Padavaneev’s deep tan faded a little as he winced at Marina’s directness. He was a distinguished looking man in his early fifties. He had been enjoying a successful career in the diplomatic service until ten months ago. He was lined up to finish his time in the prestigious Kochab posting when a local girl sued him for paternity. He was recalled by his superiors. He hung about in Ziga City while they decided his future. His wife, who had turned a blind eye to his previous affairs, divorced him rather than face the scandal.

  If the Zeninan posting had not fallen vacant, he would have been dismissed but it came before his d
isciplinary hearing and a friend suggested he could not cause trouble there. In Zenina his sexual liaisons would not be noticed. So four months ago he arrived in Hemithea.

  He had not realised until he reached Hemithea how little notice the Zeninan Government would take of the Zigan Ambassador, but his bed was always full and his diplomatic immunity protected him from slavery even after colour change. However, he was not entirely popular with Marina or her mother. He had tried to complain over the enslavement of Zigan men and demanded the extradition of Zigan criminals which was out of the question, their owners would object.

  There were a few minor brushes as he tried to discover Zeninan secrets and set his employees to finding out about the “new weapon” Marina had under wraps. His efforts failed although four of his men made it into the secure establishment where Marina’s new toy was supposed to be housed. None came back. Padavaneev protested about the disappearance of his staff but met a stone wall of indifference.

  His presumption the men had been tortured and killed was far from true but he did not fully understand how things were done in Zenina. One of the lads presently resided in the harem of the Major, who was in charge of the secure establishment, and was perfectly content. The other three were entertaining soldiers at the barracks along with several equally ineffective Kurgian and Markaban spies. This was a very Zeninan way of doing things to publicly build a secure establishment, fill it with troops, all of whom thought they were protecting something important and then put whatever you wanted to hide somewhere else.

  It drew all spies to one place. Some might be allowed to go home eventually, if they were ugly enough. Their Governments would realise the folly and difficulty of prying into Zeninan affairs. Now Padavaneev had been in Hemithea four months and he had visited Vellina to check how soon he would change colour. She did some tests and confirmed he would not become Gold and he was relieved.

  “So I’ll be Silver? I believe most Zigans change to Silver.”

  Vellina tried to tell him tactfully she was practically certain he would be no higher than Blue. He did not take it well. It was bad enough getting the Zeninans to hear him as it was, but if he was only a Blue, they would laugh him out.

  “Even that old reprobate of an earth priest Father O’Flaherty had made Silver. Zigans were far more advanced than earth men. What is wrong with me that I’ll only make Blue?” He thought to himself.

  He was not a happy man and Vellina had found the interview most uncomfortable. If his spies had been successful he could have returned to Ziga in triumph, now he would have to risk change and the derision it would cause.

  Since arriving in Hemithea, he discovered Marina made most decisions, not the queen, not the heir to the throne not even Dalzina the Foreign Minister. If you wanted to know something or get something done, one asked Marina. It might not be going through proper channels but you were more likely to get an answer. The problem was the answer was usually no.

  As he got to know Marina he became obsessed with her. After a few weeks he invited her to dinner. He pictured her as she answered him. She was wearing a deep green skirt and had been sitting down sipping a cocktail at one of those tediously respectable parties the Markabans put on with great regularity. She crossed her golden legs and looked him straight in the eyes.

  “Thank you for the invitation but I must decline. It is my policy not to be involved with Ambassadors of Foreign Governments. Please do not be offended, but it is simpler not to mix business with pleasure.”

  Furious with the rebuff, he did not try to explain he had not meant to imply a sexual invitation and he knew he would not be believed for he certainly wanted her.

  “This is a new departure on your part, ma’am.”

  “That is so but it is because of previous problems I’ve taken this decision.”

  The previous problems she referred to; included the suicide of an Ambassador who publicly read a sonnet to Marina’s eyes before jumping from the balcony of the Hemithean opera house. A previous Zigan Ambassador had written a letter of resignation before being sighted in Zeninan dress in Marina’s company. His present whereabouts were not officially known, but unofficially he had heard he worked for one of the better brothels and was happier than he had been in the diplomatic service. In addition a number of junior diplomatic officials had dispatched themselves when she finished with them.

  The knowledge she was the kind of woman men despaired for was no help to Padavaneev. His love-sick mooning irritated Marina. She even considered bedding him, if only to break the monotony of his misery. It really was too bad of the man. Surely he could see if she bedded him and he was any good, she could not keep him because of his diplomatic status and if he was no good, he would lose face.

  Charles left to take Bromarsh and Riyal to safety. Sebie with only a slight feeling of foreboding sought Kazimira out and they had gone to the palace to practice some newly learnt skills together. As everyone returned to the stadium for the closing ceremony Marina looked around her to see who should be there and who should not. If she got rid of everyone would it still happen? Would it be enough? She could not see how she could protect the child but at least her mother was still wearing the bracelet.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven - Fireworks Party

  Zadina had always loved fireworks and was surprisingly good with her hands. For a time as a young woman she enjoyed some success as a sculptor. It was not difficult to swap the bouquets, but her bouquet was a work of art. The backs of the leaves and every stem were covered with pale green explosive jelly. It stuck to them and by freezing the bouquet over night the flowers would show no signs of handling.

  The design of Zeninan official bouquets was traditional and changed little from occasion to occasion so nothing would be noticed amiss. The silk wrapping hid a larger piece of the explosive and a small vial of potassium which would break on impact and set off the explosion. Zadina could set this off by thought even from a distance, but a slow fuse leading from the main explosive to the leaves and stems of the flowers would set off a second explosion not long after the first.

  Zadina still made her own fireworks and her only complaint about the Kurgian explosive was it did not provide an attractive shower of beautiful sparks when you set it off. The bomb was beautiful in its simplicity there was nothing that could go wrong. It would make a lovely bang. The fireworks would be set off around the same time which would make a nice combination of pyrotechnics.

  Plavina who had read some of the precognitive reports did not really believe it could happen. Still she would not take chances so she wore an old style force shield on her belt and sent Bary to the Palace. It was rather bulky and cumbersome but better safe than sorry.

  Marina noticed Orina had not stayed up. Children were not expected to attend the Sexual Gymnastics event. The reason was not prudery; sex was so public in Zenina the idea of shielding children from it was impractical. It was believed children would be bored watching the event and would fidget, which might distract the competitors.

  Marina had thought she would want to watch the dancing displays, the marches and the fireworks of the closing ceremony and see her receive her florette for the overall gymnastics’ win. She had intended to have her hustled off to bed expecting her to make a fuss, but she was not around. Marina presumed she had been taken home and been put to bed. It was quite late at night.

  Letinza and Lahoda found reasons to leave the Royal Enclosure as Kerina had instructed them to do, as the awarding of the Overall Gymnastics florettes was made. Marina received hers and went inside and put on a deep plum coloured skirt and Neman’s necklace as he requested. The parade started and Marina waved to the crowd and to the young people who marched and danced before her. Prince Ga’Mikkal was no longer in his seat but Zadina was there to receive pink garlands from a large phalanx representing the Fertility Cult. Blazena had left the Royal Enclosure already.

  Marina sent a thought to Fenzela.

  “Have Blazena stopped from leaving the space-port.”

&nbs
p; Fenzela as efficient as ever called back minutes later.

  “Blazena transported herself and two packing cases up to her ship direct within the last half hour. She must have had her transporter illegally modified and could have been using it for smuggling for years. Should I send a fast ship after her?”

  “No,” said Marina, “no point.”

  The army of formation dancers dressed from head to toe in pastel shades formed pictures of flowers and butterflies and a very carefully executed portrait of Kerina, despite the fact that they gave her green hair. Marina turned round and looked at the crowd behind the Royal enclosure. Bromarsh stared back.

  “What are you still doing here?” Marina asked in his mind.

  “I was about to leave with Charles when her majesty ordered me to stay. She said she’d seen me in her dream sitting here and I wasn’t to muck it up by leaving. She made me promise to stay until after the ceremony.”

  “Then there’s nothing I can do about it. Wish me luck”

  “Break a leg,” thought Bromarsh and wished he had not.

  Jazina made yet another announcement. “This year the heroine of the Games is as I’m sure you’re all aware the Princess Marina who has won the most ruby florettes. This is in itself a record. Never before has a Zeninan won the title “Heroine of the Games” so many times either consecutively or cumulatively.” The crowd bellowed its support.

  “I have a special proclamation to make and I hope you’ll excuse me delaying the presentation and the firework display to make it.”

  “Her majesty Queen Kerina in this the sixty first year of her reign has ordained that a Special House of Representatives be built. The crown will fund the building of this Parliament. Representatives of the male population of Zenina will be elected by themselves in order to discuss the problems and rights of men in Zenina,” Jazina paused and the crowd hummed with this unexpected news.