“Leib' God,” he muttered, as awed by the display he had unleashed as the Blues who were its recipients.
Heaving itself from the improvised runway, the shuttle began skipping a complicated course toward the sea. The abandoned tilt-rotor began burning with an incandescent light from a case of incendiary grenades Meiring had dumped on board. “Lightening the nose makes it tough to fly,” Kokovtsov said, as if to disguise his own feelings.
He looked at Aichi with a degree of compassion. “Major, go on back with your people.If we get hit, there isn't anything you can do up here.”
Aichi made his way to the shuttle's cargo bay. Seeing that his men were watching him, he peeled away his face shield and stopped beside Valeska Remmar, who was sitting with her face in her hands. He bowed.
“On behalf of His Imperial Majesty's government, permit me to express my condolences, Juffrou Remmar.” Then he found a vacant seat and sat, absolutely drained.
“Shame about poor, old Prigal,” Private Eloff said to break the silence.
Slowly and deliberately, Thys Meiring began relating all the Prigal stories he could remember: Prigal's Moonshine, Prigal's Island, Prigal's One-Legged Truck, and all the others.
Moments passed. Aichi heard Kokovtsov's voice in his ears. “Kokovtsov here. Aoba says Blues are swarming all over dam A. They've opened the sluice gates, and they're using divers.”
With hours before the bomb was set to detonate, Aichi was anguished by the thought that the Blues might find the bomb and disarm it, that everything they bad done was for nothing.
“It-” He felt himself becoming dizzy. “It would be very unfortunate if the Blues were able to save the dam.”
He heard Kokovtsov say, “I wouldn't worry much. Meri Reinikka built the thing, and Meri doesn't like people messing with his stuff.” There was a break in the conversation. Then Kokovtsov added, “Aoba says the bomb just went off.”
Aichi saw Uborevich looking at him. He rose to his feet. “I have just been informed that dam A has been destroyed.”
A few people started to cheer.
At a nudge from Uborevich, Snack Bar Meier lurched to his feet. “Hey! Don't do that” Meier looked slightly abashed. “A lot of people are dying down there.”
The cheering quieted as abruptly as it bad begun.
“Consistency has never exactly been one of our strong points,” Thys Meiring explained to a slightly shocked Mitsuru Aichi.
Three hours later they reached Aoba.
L-Day plus 480 [6-river Rain 14]
A HUNDRED-METER WALL OF WATER AND MUD CAME SWEEPING DOWN THE VALLEY, scooping up mountains of trash and debris and turning fragments of demolished orchards and bridges into battering rams. Although the cresting wave flattened out and tumbled as it rolled forward, the inexorable pressure of water behind it built it back again.
When the slope of the land decreased, the rolling wave spread and slowed to become a gentle flood, hour by hour, that floated houses away and filled the buildings in the cities and the irrigation ditches with mud. It broke the aqueducts and scoured the village ponds, leaving no source of clean water. The faster shipping in the river escaped out to sea. The water carried slower ships and barges inland and dropped them unceremoniously.
When it ebbed, the flood left undermined levees, washed-out roads, hundreds of thousands of piles of debris, and a gaping hole in the power net. Where the seawalls in the delta broke, the inland sea flowed in to taint the soil. Growing crops were washed away or covered in silt
Having warned a hydraulic society of its vulnerability, Vereshchagin communicated a more ominous warning, advising the Pochteca to check the plants growing on a hillside terrace and warning them not to allow these plants to come into contact with others.
HIMS Zuiho [9-river Rain 14]
“WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE DOWN BELOW MIGHT THINK IT IMPOLITE under the circumstances,” Coldewe commented. “Any idea what we should do for an encore?”
“The next move belongs to the other side,” Vereshchagin said distantly. “Pia Szuba, who incidentally is fascinated by all she has seen, says that our attack is a ritual fight of the kind men once waged with arrows and spears, in that it is merely a medium for impressing upon the Blues how seriously we view their breaches of good manners and how unpleasant the consequences.”
Coldewe held up a wom Imperial coin. “You call it. Chrysanthemum says she's completely right. Crowns says she's compJetely wrong.” He looked at Vereshchagin with a measure of sympathy. “Which one is it, Mika or Mikhail?”
“Both of them. And Prigal. Somehow, losing Prigal is the cruelest blow.”·
Coldewe shrugged. “You know, he probably liked going out this way. In a week or so, somebody will make up a new verse to 'The Whistling Pig' about him, which will counterbalance the four verses about him that are less than flattering.”
“Do you need assistance writing it?”
Coldewe grinned and shook his head. “'f I wait a few days, someone else will beat me to it” He looked at Vereshchagin coldly. “How's your heart?”
“Natasha told you?”'
“Piotr. He doesn't expect you to make it back, and he wants me to start taking the long view of things--the fate of planets and galaxies and that sort of thing.” Although Coldewe's tone was flippant, his eyes were troubled.
“I sometiines wonder whether James Wolfe arranged it best”
“Quebec?”
Vereshchagin nodded. “To die in the moment of victory, in a victory that sealed a war. 'Now God be praised, I will die in peace.'“
“Good man .I read somewhere that he said he would rather be the author of Gray's Elegy than have beaten the French.”
“Do not worry, Hans.” Vereshchagin smiled. “I promise not to die until I am no longer needed.”
Esko Poikolainnen thrust his head through the doorway. “Sir, Aoba reports that the Blues are blowing up missile silos.”
“We've won,” Coldewe said
“Strange that it never feels like winning. Stay with me a moment” Vereshchagin switched on his terminal to page Dr. Seki in the half of the ship set aside as a quarantine zone. “Dr. Seki, I am
told you are well.”
“Quite well, honored Vice-Commissioner.” In truth, Seki looked like bell, but his spirit was defiant.
“I am told that the Blues have begun blowing up their missile silos.”
Seki stared for a moment, then nodded. “During our period of captivity, the naturales believed themselves to be in a position of complete control. This had an interesting effect on the nature of my discussions with Spoagusa. It is even possible that I was able to persuade him of our expedition's continued peaceful intentions.” Seki paused. “Although subsequent events may have damaged this impression.”
Vereshchagin was well aware that Seki deplored the devastation that the expedition had wrought on the planet, believing it unnecessary, and he silently blessed Seki for this. “Our intentions have not changed. Are you prepared to reopen discussions with the Blues?”
“Of course, honored Vice-Commissioner. Who do you wish to accompany me?”
“Dr. Marais, I think, and perhaps Father Bosenac.” Vereshchagin smiled impishly. “I would like him to relate to them the story of Noah and the Flood.”
“I would anticipate success. I would expect that they understand you better now. I am certain that I do.”
“Please make them understand that I want hostilities to end. There is a grief every commander feels at seeing people he has sent out come back cold and stiff. For me, it has happened so often that I have learned to live with it, to tolerate it, but I have never gotten used to it, and I want it to stop.”
“I will faithfully convey your sentiments.”
Vereshchagin paused. “Tell the Blues they must destroy all their remaining missiles and terminate their fusion program until we have a better basis for trusting one another.”
Seki smiled. “And they must retu
rn Brit Smits.”
“And the bodies of the others we had to leave behind. One must always keep faith.”
The best rumor of all was that Simon Beetje finally got back his wife, or possibly vice versa
EPILOGUE_______________________________________________
In Orbit, HIMS Zuiho [6-tetrahedron Rain 16]
DRESSED IN BATTLEDRESS, WITH A READER PROPPED UP UNDER HIS NOSE, HANS COLDEWE found himself plowing through Dickens's Our Mutual Friend, which was an accurate measure of his boredom. He found himself hoping the ending had changed. Unfortunately, it hadn't.
Esko Poikolainnen thrust his head inside. “A shuttle from the frigate Kinugasa just docked Admiral Hoshino is on board.”
“Thanks, Esko. We mustn't keep the admiral waiting.” He made his way to the shuttle bay, and saluted smartly as Hoshino was piped on board “Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Coldewe, acting commander, Neighbor task group.”
Hoshino, dressed in Navy blue, returned Coldewe's salute, seemingly oblivious to the honor guard from Major Aichi's first platoon. He examined Coldewe. “I understood that Lieutenant Colonel Anton Vereshchagin was in command.”
Coldewe gestured. “Perhaps we should go to my cabin.”
“Perhaps,” Hoshino agreed, motioning for his staff officers to remain.
Coldewe entered the compartment and waved Hoshino to a seat “Tea, Admiral?”
Hoshino accepted a cup. “I find myself in a most unusual position.”
“I imagine so. Why Colonel Vereshchagin, not Commissioner Vereshchagin?”
“Commissioner Mutaro has died, so, of course, his temporary appointments have ceased to be valid.” Hoshino stared into his tea. “What is the situation in your estimation?”
“Relations with this planet’s inhabitants are tolerably good, although we had to iron out a few difficulties along the way. In a few decades or so we might actually begin to understand this place. It’s all in our report” Coldewe patted a thick stack of material. “Some of the germs down below have demonstrated a propensity for people, which is a serious nuisance, and I have half the ship in quarantine. Now that your squadron is here, I imagine most of our people would like to go home.”
The word “quarantine” attracted Hoshino's interest, but he allowed little of it to show. He sipped at the tea and then set his cup aside. “I think their desires can be accommodated. My orders are to return Aoba and Zuiho to Earth as soon as possible.”
The tea Hoshino was drinking was warm water with a slight tea flavoring. Coldewe wondered whether the admiral would say anything about it and decided he wouldn't. “It would be prudent to have the ships stop at Suid-Afrika to resupply.”
“Logistical considerations make it necessary to stop at Suid Afrika,” Hosbino agreed without batting an eye. He shifted ground. “I have spoken to Major Aichi and Captain Kobayashi at some length.”
Coldewe smiled. “I know. You were burning up the ship-toship lines. I hope you're authorized to promote Major Aichi. He's earned it. I could write him a recommendation.”
“That will not be necessary.” Hoshino fidgeted. obviously uncomfortable. “We noticed the absence of corvette Jintsu as well as ongoing repair work on the planet’s surface. Major Aichi and Captain Kobayashi mentioned hostilities.”
“Those were some of the difficulties. Is there a problem with this?.”
“Commissioner Mutaro's original dispatch caused the government a great deal of difficulty. As you may perhaps imagine, many persons viewed this expedition as highly irregular. Under these circumstances, I have been directed to return LieutenantColonel Vereshchagin to Earth.” Hoshino did not say “dead or alive,” but his voice implied it.
“Aren't you taking a chance coming here unescorted?” Coldewe said softly.
“I have no great liking for the orders I have been given.” Hoshino tilted his head. “And I rather doubt that an armed escort would afford me any greater security.”
Coldewe nodded. “Good point.”
“Major Aichi and Captain Kobayashi declined to discuss Colonel Vereshchagin. They suggested I speak with you.”
Coldewe hesitated for a second or two. Then he picked up a stoppered porcelain kylix, shook it a little, and handed it to Hoshino. “Anton was suffering from degenerative heart disease when he took this job, you know. As Virgil said, 'All the best days of life slip away from us poor mortals first; illnesses and dreary old age and pain sneak up.' We have a battalion cemetery on Suid-Afrika. We'll be adding a few urns this trip. Hendricka Sanmartin provided this one. It’s an heirloom and it would grieve her to lose it.” He looked Hoshino squarely in the eye. “I think there would be an unfavorable reaction if it went to Earth.”
Hoshino studied the kylix for a moment. then handed it back. He changed the subject. “Major Aichi strongly recommended that I retain certain personnel to facilitate the changeover. He also said something about blue underwear that I am not certain I quite understood.”
“I think people in question will be amenable. I rather suspect they'll keep you from making a few mistakes.”
“He suggested retaining Major Piotr Kolomeitsev. I regret the inexpedience.”
“Things down below are considerably confused. The governing authority we have been dealing with has been displaced. and there's a rebellion or two going on. Major Aichi says that it’s more confusing than the Meiji restoration.” Coldewe paused. “I've been relying on Piotr quite heavily.”
“The situation here does present numerous complexities,” Hoshino reflected. “Allowing him military rank is completely out of the question. Perhaps it might be possible to retain him in a civilian capacity.”
“I don't think he'll mind,” Coldewe said, aware that The Iceman could draw salutes dressed in a loincloth. As long as people chose to fight wars, there would be a place for a Piotr Kolomeitsev. “When do you plan on releasing Aoba and Zuiho?”
“I anticipate retaining them only long enough to transfer records and key personnel. As you might imagine, my government is exceedingly anxious to have firsthand news. You have been here quite a long time.”
“Yes,” Coldewe said distantly, “that’s certainly true.”
When Hoshino returned to Kinugasa, Coldewe made his way to A deck. Stopping in front of a cabin, he knocked on the door. “Anton? The Imperials are here.”
“Please come in.” Vereshchagin, dressed in civilian clothes, was seated with a terminal in his lap. He opened his eyes. '“The Imperials are here? You could have said something.”
“And spoil the suprise?” Coldewe grinned. “A very nice admiral named Hoshino asked about you. I mentioned that you were retired, blissfully cultivating your mind and writing your memoirs.”
“This is work. We should have brought a historian along.” Vereshchagin raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you told him?”
“Well, not exactly, no. Should I call him back?” Vereshchagin cleared his throat. “What did you say exactly?”
“When he mentioned sending you back to Earth, I handed him Hanna's old kylix and implied your ashes were inside.”
“Eventually, but not quite yet. And he believed you?”
“Of course not. It was empty. But the admiral probably suspects that if he did send you back, we'd burn down Tokyo again.” Coldewe winked “Besides, if he's read any of our other reports, he must realize how inelegant it would be for us to close out our Imperial careers on a truthful note.”
Terminus a quo, Suid-Afrika
YEARS LATER, NEAR THE END OF HER SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SUID-AFRIKA, Hendricka Sanmartin-Cillie named her first daughter Hanna Antonia, in memoriam.
For her first birthday, the child was given a music box that played “The Whistling Pig.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROBERT FREZZA was born in 1956 at Bolling Air Force Base and grew up around Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore with a B.A. in history and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the ROTC program. H
e then went on to University of Maryland Law School to learn a trade and avoid ending up as a second lieutenant of infantry in Alabama.
After serving on active duty for three years in Germany as a captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, he went to work for the army as a civilian attorney. He served as Deputy Chief of the Personnel Claims and Recovery Division of the U.S. Army Claims Service and is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College.
A third-generation Baltimore Orioles fan, he enjoys reading, theater, and arguing military history. He lives reasonably quietly in Glen Burnie, Maryland
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