Long Night Of Centauri Prime

by Peter David

  Chapter 15 When Senna had not returned after a week, Londo summoned Lione. To Londo's utter lack of surprise, Durla showed up with him. "I had some matters to discuss with you, Majesty" Durla said, "and since Chancellor Lione stated that you desired to=" Londo was gazing out the window at the city. Without even bothering to turn around, he said to Lione, "I have a little task for your Prime Candidates, Chancellor." "They, and I, are at your service, Majesty," Lione said, bowing slightly. "Senna is out there somewhere. I want her found, and I want you to alert me as to where she is. I will handle matters from there." Lione and Durla exchanged glances, and then Durla cleared his throat and took a step forward. "Majesty" he said politely, "are you sure that would be for the best?" "She is one young woman, Durla. If I cannot save one young woman," and he gestured out at the city, "how can I save all of them?" "That's not quite what is at issue, Majesty. I was simply thinking that perhaps this is a matter that should not be pursued." "Indeed." Londo's voice was carefully neutral, his back still to them. "Obviously, Majesty, the young woman is ... how shall I put this? ... an ingrate, Majesty. After all you have done for 193 her, after all the time she has resided here ... and this is how she treats your hospitality?" Londo was silent for a time. "Majesty?" Durla said carefully. At that point, Londo turned to face them. His eyebrows were knitted in apparent surprise. "Chancellor... you are still here?" "You have not dismissed me, Majesty" Lione said in confusion. "I did not think it necessary. I have given you your orders ... or," and his voice took on a cutting edge, "were you operating under the assumption that I was coming to you as supplicant, putting in a request that you could attend to or disregard, at your discretion?" "No, Majesty, it's just that. . ." "I have told you what to do. Your only response should be to bow, say, `Immediately, Majesty' turn and leave. Apparently you did not comprehend that. So ... we shall try it again. I will give the order. You will respond as expected. And if you do not do so ... I will have you executed within the hour." He smiled and spread his hands as if greeting an old friend. "That sounds fair, yes?" Lione paled, and he visibly gulped. Durla looked in confusion from Londo back to Lione. "I have a little task for your Prime Candidates, Chancellor," said Londo, without waiting for Lione to reply. "Senna is out there somewhere. I want her found, and I want you to alert me as to where she is. I will handle matters from there." "Y yes, Majesty." Londo fixed him with a deathly glare. "You were supposed to say, `Immediately, Majesty.' " Lione's back stiffened so abruptly that there was an audible crack. Then Londo smiled wanly and said, "Close enough. Go to, eh?" Chancellor Lione almost sprinted from the room, and Londo turned his gaze upon Durla. Londo's eyes seemed almost hooded, as if a veil had been drawn over them. "Now ... what business have you, Durla?" "Majesty, perhaps the Senna matter should be examined in more de-" "What. Business. Have. You." It was quite evident to Londo that Durla was wrestling with the notion of continuing the discussion ... but then he very wisely reconsidered. Instead, he said, "You have inquired about the archaeological dig on K0643." "Yes. I have." Londo felt a slight stirring on his shoulder. And he knew why. Several months previously, he had been examining various budget items, and he had come across Durla's fringe world project. The reasons behind it completely eluded him. At that point, he had dictated a computer memo to himself to speak with Durla about it. Before he could follow through, however, the shadows had moved ever so slightly and Shiv'kala had emerged from them. Londo had not known he was there, and by that point had given up trying to figure out whether the Drakh was simply omnipresent, or whether the keeper summoned him and somehow he managed to materialize on an as-needed basis. "That is a worthy project," Shiv'kala had told him. "1 do not suggest you challenge it." "May I ask why?" "Yes." There was a pause, and then Londo had said, "Very well: why?" And Shiv'kala, naturally, had made no response, unless one counted melting back into the shadows as a response. Londo, feeling haggard and weary by that point, had simply signed off on the item, reasoning that any project that got the people of Centauri Prime interested and involved was worthwhile. But now ... now things felt different. It wasn't that they necessarily were different. However, they felt that way. For ever since he had left that urn with Sheridan and Delenn, forever damning not only their unborn child, but himself, it was as if he had hit rock bottom. After the explosive conflict with Senna, though, something within him had simply ... snapped. It was like a mental bone had broken, and now it was beginning to reform, tougher and harder than ever. It was most unexpected to Londo, who had been so accustomed to despair that he had almost forgotten what a glimmer of hope could look like. He still knew better than to go head-to-head with Shiv'kala, for that was certainly a lost cause. But he was beginning to reacquire a bit of his fighting spirit. Major acts of defiance, particularly face-to-face, might well be beyond his capabilities . But smaller such actions or inconveniences ... what was the phrase? Nibbling to death by cats? Yes ... that was it. What a marvelous turn of phrase those Humans had. "Majesty," Durla was saying, "what do you wish to know about the project?" "I do not understand the reason for it," Londo said. He felt the tingle of alertness on the part of the keeper, but he ignored it. "I wish you to explain it to me." "It is all in the original proposal, Majesty, which you appro= " "The report is not here, Durla. You are here. I am here. We can speak to one another, yes?" "Well ... yes, of course, Majesty, but I. . ." "So? Explain." Ohhhh, the keeper was not happy with the direction of the conversation. In a way, the keeper's reaction was of morbid fascination to Londo, for Londo was curious as to whether or not Durla knew of the Drakh's existence. His actions, his attitudes, had led Londo to wonder about it, but he could not be sure. So by pushing Durla, gently but firmly, Londo was taking a stab at answering the question for himself. If Shiv'kala or one of his associates made themselves known right then and there, that would certainly settle the question, wouldn't it. "Well ... unemployment is obviously a serious problem for us, Majesty. A number of key businesses were destroyed during the bombing." Durla shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "So my office felt that reclamation and exploratory projects might be of benefit in terms of building a sense of accomplishment and pride. The salaries paid to the excavators in the case of K0643 are minimal, but they have room and board, in addition to=" "This world" Londo said, tapping some research he had done, "is reputed to be haunted, yes?" Durla laughed scornfully at that. "Haunted, Majesty?" "A place of lost souls. A world of darkness, tainted by evil. Have you heard these things?" "Yes, Majesty," Durla said, his lips thinned nearly to a sneer. "I have also heard tales of Rokbala, the evil soul- stealing monster who hides under beds and swipes the souls of naughty children. My older brother told me of him when I was three. It kept me awake at night at the time. Now, however , I sleep quite soundly." Londo nodded slightly in acknowledgement of the apparent childishness of the concern, but then continued. "Nevertheless ... we certainly have projects that could employ willing members of our race in a fulfilling manner right here on Centauri Prime. K0643 is on the Rim, of all places." "Majesty" said Durla slowly, "we must look for that which no one else knows about. There are other worlds, worlds that the Alliance is not interested in. Remote worlds such as this one. We must mount archaeological investigations. We must dig. We must locate. While we do this, the Interstellar Alliance will laugh at us. They will sneer and say, `Look at the once- great Centauri Republic, rooting around on barren worlds and scraping about in the dirt like the basest of creatures.' " Durla's voice hardened. "Let them say these things. Let them lull themselves into a false sense of security. It will not last, and they will see the error of their ways ... but by then, it will be too late. We must look outside Centauri Prime, Majesty. There, and only there, will we find our true greatness." Slowly, Londo nodded. "That is a very impassioned speech, Minister." "Thank you, Majesty. I believe passionately in the things that I do." "Oh, I'm sure you do," Londo told him. "But I would be most curious to know ... from where you got the idea." "From where? Majesty . . ." And he shrugged. "It just came to me." "Just ... came to you.
" "Yes, Majesty." He felt an even more pronounced stirring on his shoulder that told him all he desired to know. "Very well, Durla. Since you have such passion for your work ... who am I to gain say you, eh?" "Thank you, Majesty. And now, if you wouldn't mind, there are some other-" But Londo put a hand to his temple and sighed heavily. "In point of fact ... I am a bit fatigued. Let us discuss other matters later, if that is acceptable to you, Durla." "I am but here to serve your wishes and the best interests of Centauri Prime," he said graciously, and walked out rather quickly. Londo had the sneaking suspicion that he had been quite anxious to get out of the room. He sat back and waited. It didn't take much time at all. He sensed Shiv'kala's presence , and he turned to face the Drakh. Shiv'kala stared at him for a long moment, and then said quite softly, "What are you playing at, Centauri?" Londo smiled, and said two words: "Quack. Quack." Shiv'kala tilted his head slightly, looking at Londo-for once-with utter lack of comprehension. Then, to Londo's delight, he simply glided back and away into the shadows without another word. "Quack quack," Londo said once more, this time with relish.