“Very much!”
Marina’s laugh in reply rumbled deeply through her mind.
“Do you still take orders from me, Fenzela? Or do you seek power for yourself?”
Fenzela’s horrified reaction to the suggestion she might be disloyal, satisfied Marina.
“I spent years training you and three other possible deputies, hoping one of you would show enough guts to take my place. I was giving up hope when you had Riyal arrested. Vellina thinks you’re doing rather well at the job.”
“I’ve tried to do my best, someone has to do something. Plavina was doing nothing at all.”
“She’s still in shock and is used to others making decisions for her. It will take me four more days to regenerate and another three before I can risk fighting. I wish you to issue another bulletin on my health. You are to say I’ve not regained consciousness and hopes are fading for my recovery. Do not issue the bulletin personally. Write it down and give it to Sexgua, get her to deal with all enquiries. They would find out you were lying - if you were to say anything. Next have the power and water switched back on at the Temple, have the rubbish cleared. It’s unhygienic! We don’t want to make Zadina so desperate she’s forced to escape. Try to keep her in the Temple; it’s easier to deal with her there. Are the arrangements for my mother’s funeral going ahead as planned?”
“There doesn’t seem to be any problems, we’ll bury her majesty in ten days’ time.”
“Good, treble check the plans, please. I will attend the funeral. I wish you to arrange a litter bed for me. I will be carried behind my mother’s coffin.”
“But you’ll be fit by then! Oh, you don’t want Zadina to realise, I can organize that.”
“I’m requiring more power to regenerate than I estimated. Last night I tripped the power out all over Hemithea when I drew on supplies. I wish you to inform the power chief to expect a massive draw on the system at two o’clock in the morning tonight. Imply it’s something very secret and make sure she can deal with it.”
“Divak is touring the islands with Ondiella, the woman I brought back from Qu, and her half Kurgian son, can you discreetly find out where they are and have someone keep an eye on them in case they need protecting? Are the officers I asked to work on the farm still in place? Good, Charles and Colonel Bromarsh have stayed put? You had best go down and speak to Charles. Tell him you’ve spoken with me and I’ll see him after the funeral. No don’t bother I’ll speak to him myself.”
“Do you want him brought here?”
“No. I’ll go down and see him. One more thing, in the safe in my office is a mind tape. It’s dated the last day of the Games. I want it brought here.”
“I can’t open that safe, it responds only to you.”
“I just ordered the computer to let you open it. Shut it again as soon as you’ve found the right tape.”
“Whose name will be on the tape?”
“My own, I want to compare memories to see if I’ve lost anything as a result of the bomb. The damage to my brain was quite extensive which is why I’d prefer to check what has been lost before letting Vellina check me over for signs of dementia.”
“You taped your own mind before the bomb blast? I would never have thought of doing that.”
“It seemed a logical decision at the time, Fenzela. Please don’t read it yourself.There are things I know, I don’t want you to know yet.”
“I promise but please excuse my curiosity. I don’t like talking to you through this sheet. May I see how your regeneration is progressing?”
“If you must, I’m not a pretty sight. The sheet was laid there to prevent your distress.”
Fenzela pulled back the sheet and tried not to be shocked by what she found. Not being medically trained, she failed abysmally. The sheet rippled back up over Marina’s face.
“I’m sorry I shocked you. I took more of the blast than I’d predicted. It damaged every bone and organ in my body. My digestive system is still not functional but my blood circulation is now adequate and I can breathe and even move a little. The appearance of my face was low priority. I will regenerate it tonight so I look more human.”
Chapter Six – Sending
Late that night, Charles was entertaining another of the endless stream of bodies that passed beneath him since his mistress’s tragic fragmentation. A well-known voice whispered in his head. “Charles, send her away.” He looked around the room because he could sense her close, but all he could see was the transparent shape of his mistress.
He told the blue in his bed he was tired and sent her away. She did not notice the shadowy shape in the moonlight and went resentfully to seek other company. With Charles now alone, the sending solidified and put on flesh.
“Tell me you’re not a ghost, Marina.”
“I’m not a ghost, but I’m not yet whole,” she said slipping into his arms.
“Gently or this illusion will break into pieces and flee back to Hemithea.”
He held her to him, she looked like the Marina he remembered, she smelt like his Marina and she felt like his Princess, he had to remind himself this was not Marina, only a product of her imagination, powered by her thoughts sent out from her body. As he examined the flimsily dressed illusion he noticed Marina had improved on nature just a little. This Marina was half an inch smaller than the original. The waist was a little narrower and the muscles a touch less obvious than he remembered. He teased her for her vanity.
She giggled and the solid form in his arms shook with laughter. Charles reacted even though it was not the body of the woman he loved. The false Marina laughed again at his response and read him a lecture on not looking after himself. He ignored her tirade and undressed the manifestation of the few wisps of clothing Marina had hung it with.
“Is it solid enough?” he asked reaching between her legs.
“Only if you’re very careful!”
“Well you feel like the real thing. Let’s see how good your self-knowledge is.” And he picked up the image, surprised to find it weighed nearly as much as the real thing placing her on his bed.”
“You aren’t serious Charles? I only came to reassure you, not to provide you with an aid to masturbation.”
“I don’t care if you’re real or not, you can’t blame me for desiring you, even if the only contact is between minds not bodies in truth. This is better than the last two weeks of abstinence I’ve had to suffer.”
“Abstinence! You’ve had practically every woman on the farm.”
“I never noticed. You’ve made it a bit tighter than yourself, very nice but not quite the same, bit dry too.”
“I stand corrected; you can’t expect an illusion to have sexual secretions.”
“You should work on it you might want to really fool someone one day.”
“And who would I want to pull a mean trick like that on?”
“King Ga’Mishrin, for example…”
Charles took Marina’s diatribe to heart. Now he knew she was improving he could plan ahead. He was riding on a high. Breakfast was wolfed down, he sailed through his exercises. For the first time since arriving on the farm he reported to Kotenza.
“I’ll help if you have something to do that doesn’t involve animal waste products.”
She allocated him to a team weeding between rows of vegetables, a back breaking job which could only be done partially by machine.
Bromarsh curious at Charles’s sudden change of attitude tried to quiz him why his mood had changed. Charles denied anything had changed.
“Perhaps you had a woman last night who is special to you?” Bromarsh suggested. Charles stared at him before replying.
“I can’t remember what the girl was like; I was tired and asked her to leave. The only woman who is special to me is Marina.”
Bromarsh questioned him whether he had news of Princess Marina, but Charles stone-walled denying any knowledge of Marina’s progress. But Bromarsh noticed Charles no longer talked of Marina in the past tense. Bromarsh di
d not believe him but was relieved; though he tried to think about her as dead in case anyone read his thoughts.
Chapter Seven - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Vellina went to her office after dealing with Marina, she fortified herself with a stiff measure of Zeninan brandy, her usual disgust of stimulants discarded. She told herself it was for medicinal purposes and poured herself another shot. “How shall I tell Riyal that Marina still lives?” She sat there staring at the bottom of the glass. Vellina never enjoyed telling patients bad news, but this was not bad news. It was wonderful but for all her love of Marina, Vellina did not feel elated.
When Riyal was told Marina was alive their joy together would shatter and he would return to Marina’s side. Vellina had seen through Marina’s studied indifference that she was very attached to Riyal. “How deep had Riyal’s emotions gone?”Vellina could not tell, but was not confident he would choose her over Marina.
Vellina finally went to face Riyal, her face as haggard as one who has to attend a funeral. She put blocks on her mind so those she passed in the corridors would not realise Marina lived. Riyal rushed to greet her, on seeing her down-cast face, embraced her, offering comfort in her bereavement. Vellina shrugged him aside and asked him to sit. Shutting the door behind her, the flat was sealed against telepathic intrusion; Vellina bluntly told him Marina lived.
Riyal surprised at the sorrow in her face and voice began to question her.
“Is Marina getting better? How soon before she recovers? Can I go and visit?”
Vellina tried to seem happy about her friend’s unexpected re-birth but to no avail. Riyal not understanding the reason for Vellina’s depression, finally asked.
“What is wrong? Have you had bad news? Why are you not rejoicing over Marina’s recovery?”
Vellina stuttered to a halt. How could she tell him that she was afraid he would prefer Marina to her? She would not apply that pressure. If Riyal wanted to be with her it would be for her own sake or not at all.
“No, you can’t visit yet, she hasn’t yet finished regenerating. She wouldn’t want you to see her like that. Goodnight Riyal,” taking herself off to bed. Riyal was confounded by Vellina’s behaviour. He was not an expert cook but he had prepared supper for the two of them and now he ate his supper miserably alone. If he had given up and retired to his room that would have been the end of their romance, but he could hear Vellina moving around her room. He knocked, without waiting for a reply entered to find Vellina pacing up and down, her face wet with tears. He put his arms around her, kissing her tears away. She stiffened in his arms and still he did not understand. Why is Vellina, the woman who’d shared my bed last night so passionately backing off from me? What have I done wrong?
“Don’t you want me anymore Vellina? Would you prefer if I moved out?”
“You’re not mine to keep Riyal. You belong to Marina.”
“Neither of us has made that kind of promise, Vellina. Marina would be happy for us. I’ll tell her myself if that’s the problem. She’ll understand how I feel about you. I love you Vellina, don’t reject me.”
“Are you really sure you know what you’re saying Riyal? Don’t you love Marina? I thought she was all important to you?”
“Marina is my queen and she is the best friend I’ve ever had. I adore her and would willingly die for her, but I’ve never been truly in love with her, not like I love you. She knew that and told me so, but I didn’t believe her. I’m not very good at commitment, I’m not sure if I’m ready to settle down or be faithful, but I want to be with you. I’ve never felt like this about any other woman. Please tell me you still want me.”
Vellina burst into fresh tears and could not answer. Her thoughts were jumbled, incoherent with joy. She clung to Riyal as he smothered her in kisses and after a little while her crying stopped as he made love to her once more.
Chapter Eight - Explanations Avoided
Prince Ga’Mikkal had the cellars of the Temple buildings searched for a way out. A party tried to exit through the sewers but huge crushing equipment breaking up the effluent blocked their escape. Even though they had explosives they would be useless in that position. An explosion down there would bring half of Hemithea down on their heads. One of the oldest acolytes insisted there was a secret way out, but she had never been high enough in the hierarchy of the Temple to know the secret. None of the cult members knew where the tunnel started, after searching everywhere most stopped believing in its existence.
The announcement that Princess Marina had not regained consciousness was treated as a much needed relief from their enemies by the cult followers. There was jubilation in the Temple and imminent expectation of the announcement of Marina’s death. The reconnection of water and power shortly after the news, pointed to the veracity of the bulletin. The acolytes thought Plavina sought to appease Zadina now she feared Marina could no longer protect her. They imagined Marina’s friends were shaking with fear at the retribution Zadina would wreak upon their persons.
A small group of acolytes attempted leaving the Temple by the main gate to parley with the besieging citizens of Hemithea and troops outside. They were repelled by an onslaught of thrown garbage and vegetables, all rotten. The ammunition thrown was from the debris being cleared up so the acolytes did not venture far, promptly locking the gates behind them.
Zadina’s followers gloried in the fresh water; they bathed and washed their clothes. The Temple buildings were scrubbed from top to bottom by enthusiastic cultists and water was stored carefully in case it was cut off again. All this time Prince Ga’Mikkal told Princess Zadina what to tell her acolytes to do. Gradually he was getting control of his mind. Zadina was not gleeful at the prospect of Princess Marina’s death but refused to analyse her feelings about Marina.
Everyone in the Temple was feeling hungry. The food within the Temple was running low and was drastically rationed. Zadina and Ga’Mikkal ate reasonably well, but her followers had their stomachs half filled. In most cities, ten days on a reduced diet would reduce most inhabitants to somewhere approaching their correct weight. In Zenina few of the people carried excess poundage and the Temple acolytes had to conserve energy expenditure and were losing weight.
Calzina and Stenlina did not understand Fenzela’s actions at all. Why should she turn the power and water back on now? Calzina thought she had been bought by Zadina. Calzina still wanted to be High Priestess and Zadina’s execution would make that possible. She did not want Zadina as Queen nor wish to challenge her because Zadina would win.
Fenzela refused their requests for her to attend their meetings.
“She is too busy,” Sexgua informed them. Nor would Fenzela answer their calls. When they sought explanation from Sexgua why Fenzela was acting in that manner, the only answer supplied was that she had been told to say “Fenzela was following her orders.”
Vlama, with whom Kabaneev was residing, caught on first. He gave no indication he knew anything about Marina, but he stopped haunting the hospital and no longer wore the expression of total abject grief he had worn since the death of his wife. He appeared to be grieving, maintaining a solemn demeanour. Vlama knew Kabaneev too well to be fooled.
“The detritus outside the Temple should be cleared up it encourages vermin. The conditions in the Temple must be thoroughly unsavoury with so many people crammed inside. Fenzela is right to order a clean-up.” Vlama insisted supporting Fenzela in her actions. However she did not explain her reasons.
Chapter Nine - Queen Kerina’s Will
The public announcement of the venue for Queen Kerina’s funeral took Calzina and Zadina by surprise. Calzina protested she should be buried according to the rites of the official religion of Zenina, the Fertility Cult of Demina. Vlama and Stenlina pointed out the unreasonableness of insisting on the queen being buried by her own murderer.
“There is no precedent for a Christian burial for a queen,” Calzina held.
“Under Zeninan Law the wishes of the deceased must be followed in
the manner of burial, unless there are insufficient funds or some official reason why the dead woman’s wishes should not be obeyed, such as seeking burial too close to a water course. Catholic interments have been carried out before; there is no reason why a queen should not be allowed the rights of a private citizen,” Stenlina advised.
Kerina’s will was read, it was explicit on the minutest details for her burial. Kerina had even chosen her favourite hymns. The main beneficiary was Princess Marina; most of Kerina’s property was settled upon her. Only the traditional royal estates, jewels and plate were gifted to Princess Plavina, which would go with the crown anyway. Marina was presented with Kabaneev along with Kerina’s other slaves. An adequate portion was left in trust for Divak to be paid to his wife on the proven birth of their first child.
Sebie was left her priceless collection of miniatures in which he had shown an interest. They were to be held for him until he married and could be considered his dowry, but he would not have to wait for offspring to collect the bequest. Small bequests were left to General Stenlina, Lahoda her chamberlain, Duchess Klivina; and Jazina, her Imperial Herald. Servants and officials who had supported Kerina during her reign were remembered by small sums and personal souvenirs.
A large tract of land to the east of Hemithea was left to Father Niall O’Flaherty, Royal Chaplain and Bishop of Zenina, to build a new Cathedral and theological college specifying the composition of religious mind music should be one of the courses on offer. A huge sum of money was left to pay for the erection, furnishing and running the college.The gift caused a storm of controversy but all Princess Plavina would say was that it was her mother’s wish and she would not oppose her will.
Zadina was furious; Kerina in death had snubbed her. She all but forgot she had killed her sister; she would prevent Kerina being buried by Bishop O’Flaherty, so the Catholics would not make capital out of Kerina’s burial. Zadina ordered the Temple put into mourning and prepared to receive Kerina’s body. The pink, purple and gold flag was hauled down and a grey funerary one substituted. The doors and effigies of the Goddess were hung with grey silken drapes.
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