“Compared to the new homes and help you’ve given us, a meal is nothing,” said Mazul, shrugging aside Jerenn’s concerns. “Just let us know tomorrow when you want help with planting, and we’ll be there.”
“I thought we’d start early in the morning to avoid the heat,” said M’Nar. “Then we can take a long midday break and start up again midafternoon.”
Mazul nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. We’ll come for you at six in the morning.”
“We’ll look for you then,” said Jerenn as he, M’Nar, and N’Akoe began to round up the cubs.
* * *
Third meal was accompanied by the villagers teaching everyone their Ch’almuthian folk songs. Later, when the beer was brought out, M’Nar and Jerenn escorted the cubs the few yards to the troop transporter to bed them down for the night.
“You carries me, Brother Jerenn,” Gaylla said sleepily around the thumb she still sucked when overtired.
Jerenn picked her up and began walking to the transport as Gaylla snuggled up to him.
Shaidan walked beside them while N’Akoe took Vazih by the hand and followed close behind.
“You be a good papa. If I didn’t have one, I’d choose you,” Gaylla said. “You only a little broke inside.”
Shocked, Jerenn almost stumbled. “What?”
“You’s only a little broke,” she said again. “Feelings there.” She moved her thumb from her mouth to pat Jerenn on the chest. “Just need to unstick them.” A huge yawn followed this pronouncement, then the thumb returned to her mouth.
Shaidan caught Jerenn glancing at him for clarification, but he schooled his face into the politely blank expression he had learned to use with Dr. K’hedduk.
By the time Shaidan and the other cubs were ushered into the transporter, the seats had been adjusted to form emergency bunkbeds. Tired and full of roasted meats and vegetables, the cubs queued up to brush their teeth, quickly groom each other, then fall into their beds.
* * *
Jerenn, M’Nar, and N’Akoe met in the forward area by the doors that they had reserved for themselves. The seating there only folded up against the bulkhead, but it left plenty of room for them to put down their bedrolls.
M’Nar quickly unrolled his and reached up to the overhead bin where their pillows were stored. “Incoming!” he said, throwing one to each of the others.
“We have pillows?” said N’Akoe happily. “I thought I’d have to use my backpack!”
“I made sure we had all the luxuries I could get,” said M’Nar, flicking his ears conspiratorially. “I even managed to get us some real coffee!”
“Coffee right now would be really good,” said Jerenn, plumping up his pillow before settling down on his bedding. “Did you bring a coffee pot to brew it in?”
“Better,” said M’Nar, eyes twinkling as his tail flicked in pleasure. “I borrowed an electric brewer from the temple kitchen!”
“You didn’t!” said Jerenn, sitting up. “They actually let you borrow it?”
“Well, not exactly,” M’Nar temporized, wiggling his ears back and forth briefly. “But they will never know it was me by the time I put it back.”
“You two are incorrigible,” said N’Akoe with a laugh. “The coffee will go well with the bag of pastries I begged for us from the main kitchen.” She reached for her backpack.
“Pastries and coffee,” said M’Nar. “Just what we need after a hard day herding the cubs.”
“Wait till we have had a full day of them,” said Jerenn, making himself comfortable again. “We’ll be exhausted.”
M’Nar rifled through his pack, pulling out a bag of ground coffee and the coffee pot. Scrambling to his feet, he went forward into the main cabin, looking for a power outlet. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just getting a large bottle of fresh water. The troops forgot to leave us one.”
“All right,” said Jerenn.
“See if you can get at least one plate for the pastries,” N’Akoe called out.
“Large one?” M’Nar asked hopefully, standing in the hatchway.
She laughed. “Yes, large.”
M’zull Palace, Zhal-Oeshi 12th (August)
It had been a stormy Council meeting, and when it was over, K’hedduk demanded that Kusac stay behind.
“You did a good job of inspecting the orbital stations, Nayash,” said K’hedduk. “Your list of the Generals and their affiliations was most illuminating. I’ll admit to some unwelcome surprises, but enough of that for now. I have another job for you. I want the Zsadhi, or whoever is fomenting this unrest, found and eliminated as soon as possible. You seem to have a knack for getting a difficult job done, so this is your next one.”
Kusac suppressed his instant sense of panic. “Majesty, this Zsadhi could be anyone, or be concealed anywhere. Your best troops have been unable to find him in all these weeks, I can’t see how I can be any more successful than they’ve been.”
“You have a different way of looking at problems, an unconventional one. I trust that to guide you now.”
At a loss to know how to answer K’hedduk, Kusac went with the first thought that came into his head. “It will mean going from door-to-door, Majesty, checking every business and residence in the city,” he said. “It will be extremely disruptive of the normal running of the city, but it might be the best chance to catch those with a guilty conscience as well as those harboring publications like the Zsadhi leaflets.”
“Then do it,” said K’hedduk. “It’s past time that these people were brought to justice! They must be getting their leaflets published somewhere. Start with the printing houses in the city. Search them, then close them down until this crisis is over!”
“Yes, Majesty, as you command.” Kusac bowed and began backing out of the office.
Once in the courtyard with Cheelar, M’yikku, and Maalash, he revealed his plan. “K’hedduk wants us to do a door-to-door search for the Zsadhi,” he said, “starting with the printers where the leaflets might be being produced. I need each of you to take two squads of soldiers and start doing that. Arrest any likely people who are either too loyal or obvious insurgents. We’ll each take a compass point of the city. I’ll take the North side, you the East, Cheelar, the South for you, M’yikku, and you the West, Maalash. Take your time and be thorough. Every house and business is what K’hedduk said, but start with any printers’ outlets in your area and close them down after you’re done. Take some workmen with planks of wood to nail up the doors. Meet back at the apartment at eighteen hundred tonight, and we’ll go over what we found.”
There was only one printer in his section of the city, so Kusac made his way there, ordering half his troops to guard the main delivery yard where the blank paper was delivered and the printed newspapers and publications were loaded onto trucks for distribution, while he took the rest in the front entrance.
“Gather your staff in the yard,” he ordered the owner as the frightened male rushed out of his office to see him. “I have a message for you all from the Emperor.”
As they began to file out under his squad’s watchful eyes, Kusac, accompanied by four of his men, began going through the offices.
“Search everything,” he said, standing at the doorway as they began turning over the desks and drawers. “Look for anything resembling the Zsadhi leaflets. You can’t miss them. They are crudely made with the name Zsadhi and the sword symbol on them.”
It was nothing but legalized vandalism, and Kusac was well-aware of that, but he had no option. He consoled himself with the knowledge that if Annuur’s plan worked, none of this would matter in a couple of weeks.
After the first two offices had been dealt with, he left them to continue their search and went outside to join the workers in the delivery yard.
“His Majesty the Emperor, Long Life and Health be His, has decreed that all printers shall be shut down from no
w until the insurgent known as the Zsadhi has been found and captured,” he said, raising his voice so everyone could hear. “Once our search of the premises has been completed, you will be released to return to your homes. You will be notified when the embargo on your business has been lifted.”
A low growl of discontented muttering broke out, mainly from the manual workers. “How will we live in the meantime?” demanded one. “No work, no food!”
“See your Lord about that. It is not my concern, nor that of the Emperor,” said Kusac sharply. “The closure will only last as long as it takes to find this Zsadhi. If you have information that could lead to his capture, I suggest you tell me now.”
There was more muttering, combined with angry looks, but it slowly subsided into a sullen silence until the rest of his squad came outside, their search concluded.
“Nothing, General Nayash,” said the lieutenant, saluting him.
“Get the place boarded up,” Kusac ordered before turning back to the workers. “You are dismissed. Do not return here until ordered to do so by the Emperor, May He Live Forever.”
More grumbling and murmuring, but the crowd of workers turned and filed peacefully out of the yard, heading off into the town. Within a few minutes, Kusac and his platoon stood alone in the empty yard.
“Regroup outside at the vehicles,” said Kusac. “House-to-house searches now. Three men per house. Look for any suspicious behavior, publications, or other items.”
Later that evening
Back at the Palace apartment, Kusac headed for the library and, stripping off his jacket, helped himself to a drink from the sideboard.
Cheelar was already there. “How was your day?” he asked.
“An exercise in futility, obviously, and a great way to get the general population of the city riled up, irrespective of their caste. Help yourself to a drink. Are the others back yet?”
“No, but they shouldn’t be long.”
“Any problems? The mood nearly got ugly at the printers. Thank goodness for the caste scents that prevent them attacking us.”
“Not to mention Annuur’s booster,” said Cheelar quietly, going over to the sideboard to pour himself a drink.
“Indeed,” said Kusac.
“I had two printers. The first was a small one, more of a print shop for the needs of small groups and individuals. That place was fine. It was the larger one that nearly erupted. I left them in their offices as we searched them, which was a big mistake. Next time, I’ll have them evicted first. I did feel guilty knowing I was depriving them of their livelihood.”
“Not you, K’hedduk. He’s the one wanting them shut down until the Zsadhi is caught. I suppose it makes sense.”
There was a knock at the door, and it opened to admit M’yikku and Maalash. “General Nayash,” said Maalash. “Reporting back. Only one printer in my section, and it is now closed down.”
“At ease, Maalash and M’yikku. Help yourselves to a drink if you want one. Anything out of the usual happen?”
“Nothing, Lord Nayash,” said Maalash.
“Just a lot of very pissed-off citizens,” said M’yikku, heading for the sideboard. “Thank goodness for the castes! I’d certainly have been overwhelmed by angry print workers without it.”
“I think we all felt that. The violence and anger is there, very close to the surface in the workers. The only thing keeping it in check right now is the caste scent prohibition. How did your door-to-door go? Anything found?”
“A few contraband items that workers shouldn’t have, but apart from that, nothing out of the ordinary at all,” said M’yikku.
“Anyone have any prisoners?”
“I arrested one man from the printers in my section,” said Maalash. “He picked up a rock and threw it at one of my soldiers.”
Kusac raised an eyeridge at Cheelar. “That shouldn’t be possible.”
“I figure maybe he’s from one of the mountain tribes, not a worker.”
“Did you talk to him?” asked Cheelar.
“Not yet. He’ll be safe enough for tonight.”
“What would bring a mountain dweller down to the city for work?” asked M’yikku.
“One of the insurgent groups?” asked Kusac.
“I hope not,” said Maalash. “Stupid beyond belief to pick up a stone if he was trying to be undercover.”
“I think we should question him tonight,” said Kusac. “I don’t want to risk anyone else getting their hands on him.”
A knock sounded at the door and Laazif opened it. “Dinner is ready, Lord General,” he said.
“Thank you, Laazif. After dinner, then,” said Kusac, finishing his drink.
They’d barely started eating when a message was delivered from the office of the Inquisitor, thanking them for the captive, whom they had now transferred to their cells.
“Dammit!” swore Kusac. “I should have anticipated that! Are you sure he wasn’t a known mountain villager, Maalash?”
“He’s not one I’ve seen, Lord Nayash. Sometimes villagers do get a yearning for the city life and leave, but not often. Likely he is one of them.”
“If he knows anything at all, the Inquisitors will get it out of him,” said Cheelar. “Is there any way you can get him back?”
“None, not with Ziosh breathing down my neck already. The Inquisition cells are in a different place from the regular ones. We’ll just have to hope there’s nothing for him to tell them. In future, no prisoners to be sent to the cells; bring them directly to me. Meanwhile, we might as well eat since there’s nothing else we can do right now.”
* * *
After dinner, Kusac left the others in the library and headed for his office to contact Annuur.
“Ah, Kusac, good it is you contact me,” said the hologram of the Cabbaran. “Urgent news I have for you. You must be on your guard. The Generals plan to assassinate you tomorrow. They believe you are too much a tool of the Emperor.”
“What? How am I supposed to avoid that? I can’t leave the capital right now. I’m conducting this door-to-door search for the Zsadhi.”
“The unrest this is causing is what triggered the planned attempt on your life and that of the Emperor.”
“How did you find out? Do you have any details?”
“Checking in on that youth Telmaar were we. Nothing conclusive we find yet. Attempt will be after the Council meeting tomorrow morning. Suggest you miss meeting. Good news is the nanites have nearly reached saturation in the population. In two weeks we will be ready to trigger them.”
“They told me that at the mountain den. I didn’t think the Generals would be rash enough to act against the Emperor. Me missing the meeting wouldn’t stop him from being assassinated.”
“What you care about that? You want him dead anyway. This way, he gone and you alive.”
“It’s one thing to kill him myself, another to let him be assassinated. He’s the only person that’s keeping me alive right now in that case. All I need to do is avoid being arrested by Ziosh and keep me and the Emperor I hate alive for the next two weeks!”
Annuur spread his forelimbs in a gesture of helplessness. “More I cannot do right now. Perhaps you have a plan to divert the Generals? There is always the translocator. It will take you instantly to safety but will draw unwanted attention to you. Still, so close to final solution, perhaps is wiser you withdraw to safety, let what will happen to K’hedduk happen. Cannot risk losing you.”
“I’ll consider it,” he said. “Let me see what we can come up with in the meantime.”
“Be safe, friend Kusac.”
The call over, Kusac pulled his comm unit out of his pocket to call Cheelar. “Come to the office, I have news.”
When they were all settled round the table, Kusac updated them, glossing over the time before the Cabbaran plan took effect, and concentrating more on
the threat of an assassin.
“Time to do that raid on the Palace Chapel,” he said. “If that doesn’t divert the Generals from an assassination attempt, I don’t know what will.”
“What about the plan to take out General Geddash? Both together would ensure their attention was on themselves and not you,” said M’yikku.
“I’d need a way to draw him out tonight. Not the easiest thing to do when planning a raid.”
Cheelar checked his watch. “Twenty-one hundred. Isn’t he at the Officer’s club in the city now?”
Kusac nodded. “Yes, and he should be there for another couple of hours. We need something to make him leave the club, if not alone, then with only his aide with him.”
“What about offering him information on the Zsadhi, information you refuse to consider?” suggested M’yikku. “Since he already has it in for you, anything you won’t consider, he should want to hear.”
“Get him to come to a meeting in a deserted spot nearby. Isn’t there one of those print works we closed down in the area?” asked Cheelar, pulling the map of the city over and spreading it open. “Yes! There’s one within a block of the club. Close enough for the General not to need more than his aide for backup.”
“You’ll be the contact, Maalash, since you’re the newest of my aides. We’ll get some local worker to go in with the note and you’ll wait at the print shop for the General to approach you. While he’ s preoccupied with you, we’ll take him out. Let’s get moving on this now before it gets any later,” said Kusac, grabbing a piece of paper for the note.
Inside the office of the print shop, Kusac maintained a light mental link with their worker messenger as he was told to wait in the club lobby for the General’s aide. As instructed, he refused to hand the note to him, insisting it had to be given to the General personally. Finally, Geddash came, his aide in close attendance.
“What d’you want?” he demanded brusquely. “I’m General Geddash. Don’t you know better than to come bothering me at this time of night?”
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