He put his hand on my shoulder."Don't be afraid. I wish I could offer you to stay here in Muspelheim so you can be free of the tyranny of your father, but your place is not here."
I relaxed a little."I am sorry...I did not …"
"Don't be sorry, you did nothing wrong in our eyes, this world however is not made for someone like you if it ever comes to light. No one will even try to understand."
I could not stop my tears. "I don't really understand it myself. I know it is wrong."
"Siegfrida said I know human nature, Eric I would have to live twice as many years than I already have to really understand the motivations of a woman. All I really learned in my long life, that there are still many mysteries to this the human condition. I am sure the scholars and experts of the Union have a perfect explanation.
It is not the question why you do this, but finding the answer and accepting it that will give you the peace you must find."
He padded my shoulder. "You do look nice. Let's go for dinner. All this talk made me hungry and there really are dumplings."
"Like this?"
"Why not? "
Siegfrida smiled and offered me her arm."He is always hungry as you know by now."
Interlude: Pluribus
Garry Nu-Chang wore a stylish silver gray tailored suit of Sitaurian brocade with an intricate design of platinum metallic threads. Sitaurian Brocade coming all across the Bridge from the Andromeda galaxy was the latest fashion craze for those who could afford thousand credit suits. Underneath a shirt of olive colored Terran Silk. His shoes came from New York City. Even though he never been to Earth he too wore so called sun glasses , a metal frame held dark lenses of a transparent material before his eyes. Sunglasses usually were a sure trademark for someone from the Sol System. He never really felt the desire to visit Earth and had never really left Pluribus other than per Matter tunnel to visit the pleasure moons circling around the fifth planet of this system, but that did not really count. Everything anyone could possibly want could be found right here. This was where Garry came in, this was his business.
Pluribus, the central planet of the most successful multi culture Trans-galactic society in known history of this spiral galaxy was a place of extremes. Enormous buildings, many billions of beings from all over the Union lived and worked here and unimaginable sums of money in from of Union credits and wares were exchanged every second of every day. True this was no lawless planet like Sin 4 or some of the other planets in Free space and for the most part it was an orderly world. Union Federal Police and Pluribus Law Enforcement had their Head quarters right here to keep it that way, but if you wanted it and had the money it could be found right here. Garry was one of a group of individuals calling themselves Connectors and Garry was one of the best. He tugged at the suits jacket to adjust its already immaculate fit and entered the plush office he maintained on the 345th floor of Soaring Delights, a relative modest sized sky scraper of only 2000 meters near Enroe Park, named after the first Union President, still the rent was astronomical. He remembered how he started in this business twenty years ago with nothing but a Cardboard box set up next to a Junkers Yard in Skid Row Sub level 4. Sullivan Mc Donkin his former partner was as far as he knew still there. He had made it far and he had no plans to stop here. His goal was to have a top suite in Enroe towers, to bad Schwartz Industries did not lease offices in the Needle.
Lillifee his reception girl, he had hired originally just for her looks sat behind her Hover desk sipping a cup of coffee."Good Morning Mister Nu-Chang. "She chirped happily.
Every time he saw he congratulated himself for not opting to get an Apple Syntho I-Assistant. Surely these efficient computronics could do many things and appear in any shape, there was a reassuring feeling to know that these ample breasts squeezed by a skin tight deeply cut copper metal mini dress to a most alluring cleavage were not a holo but quite real. The fact that the blonde girl turned out to be quite competent was an added bonus.
"Good morning Lillifee."
"Vat Gerson is here waiting for you."
Garry who was of Chinese-American-Saresii and Plutonian descent sighed and rolled his eyes he had surgically replaced with golden metallic pupils, not that anyone would see this 40,000 Credit cyber enhancement or his expression since he decided to wear Sun glasses. Vat was the son if his sister. While he was a connector and such things as morals and scruples did rarely influence his judgments, he almost cared about her and agreed to take the young man and introduce him to the business. Besides if he was able and had the skills maybe he could expand a little.
The man in his office was dressed okay for someone starting out; of course he would have to lose that cheap looking cucumber green Gal-Mart suit and get something better if he should keep working for and with him. After all he had a reputation to uphold. Other than that Vat appeared well groomed and the color of his suit was a good match for his reptilian skin. Why his sister chose to get involved with a Shiss was beyond him and their decision to raise an Inbetweener was even less understandable to him.
Since Humans and the reptilian Shiss did were genetically not compatible, they had to go to a Gen Mix facility, get the Federal approval to produce offspring with traits of both species and hope that the product did not turn out to be a Frankenstoner as the botched examples of such trans species mixes were called. On the other hand he actually envied the young man for his slit eyes and rows of sharp teeth as he imitated a human smile. "Good morning Uncle Garry."
"Don't call me Uncle in the office or anywhere during business hours. I am Mr. Nu-Chang for you during that time!"
"Yes Mr. Nu-Chang."
"This has business reasons and if you work out you find out why! Now tell me what do you know about the Connector business and do be frank. Don't mince words. I want to know what you know."
Vat's voice even had the hissing quality of a Shiss as he spoke." Connectors are a group of semi legal usually freelancing professionals, connecting those who seek with those who offer."
Garry crossed his arms and leaned against his own hover desk," what is the semi legal part all about?"
Vat's face did have human characteristics but it translated no easily readable emotions, another thing Garry liked." This is the part I am not entirely sure about. Why would one need a Connector? If you can't find something all you have to do is use GalNet and you find it and if you have the money you can order it."
Garry smiled."Is that so? You are as green as your suit! Where would you go to get a good decent human flesh steak? Where would you order a live sex slave? How about a shipload of Califerm or some other drugs? Where would you go to watch a Death fight? How about buying a Class 4 weapon or a container full of Battle robots? "
Vat shrugged, at least that was quite human." I don't know but I get the idea. You go to a connector."
"Exactly! A good connector knows an answer to all these questions and for a fee will make the connection. The better you are the more unusual are the requests and of course such requests are associated with higher fees. Technically we are doing nothing wrong. Dealing in information is not illegal and the 4th act of the Declaration of Universal rights," Garry pointed to a document framed behind his desk," prohibits the Government and all its agencies from limiting or deciding what information a citizen might seek or give. The trick to survive in this business is to make sure no one can proof you actually facilitated illegal activities and to make sure you never ever ask your customers three questions. If you can answer me what questions you never ask a customer, I make you a partner right now!"
Vat thought for a moment and said."After hearing your explanation what it is you do its actually quite logical never to ask why a customer wants something; who he is and what he intends to do with it."
"Paint me an Ult; you are a smart son of a Crocodile. You're hired!"
Lillifee came in as she always did instead of using tech as she knew her boss liked to see her legs of course the rest of her body." Mr. Nu-Chang we have a client."
Chang motioned his nephew to remain utmost silent and find a seat in the extra chair by the window. Then nodded to Lillifee, who returned in a moment with a huge human dressed in a fur and leather, the fellow wore heavy boots. He had long hair braided and it was as black as its massive beard. An anachronistic helmet was sitting on his head. The strange dress of his customer was nothing that surprised Garry, not on Pluribus. There was nothing any being could wear to really turn heads or raise eyebrows, but usually his customers dressed a subtle and non descript as possible. With a flick of his hand he brushed over the Privacy Field activator. His office was already shielded but this was an advanced privacy field that would not only prevent visual and audio surveillance, but jam all forms of known communication devices and with its Saresii Psi tech prevented any Psionic snooping as well. "What can I do for you?" Chang said then after the readout inside his sunglasses relayed that no bugs or other means of eaves dropping were active or present and that his guest did not have a hidden police ID chip. This part of his scanning sensors was of course highly illegal.
"I want to hire an assassin. I need the Representative of Nilfeheim killed, how much will that cost?"
Chang immediately knew this was no plant and or spy to trick him into something. This was the hick of some colonial world who wanted for whatever reason the representative of that world dead. He had a whole list of contacts he could make who would be able to do that. However killing a rep was serious and would bring the Union Police into the game and they were quite good at their game." My dear customer, I do not want to know who you are from where you come from or who you want dead. I will explain you what a Connector does and then provide you with a few suggestions solely as general information as how something like that could be accomplished. My fee has nothing to do with whatever service you might decide upon. My fee is solely based on the Information I give you and in that case it will be 100,000 credits." Of course that was ten times as much as he would charge usually but he wanted to see how much of the hick was show and how much was indeed genuine."
The human giant pulled a Credit strip." Do you want it as transfer or in Palladium Chips?"
Garry wished he had the same expression less reptilian face as his new partner and he decided to rectify that with a nice expensive surgical procedure he paid for with part of that money, he pushed his Cred Receiver across the desk. "Union credits will be fine."
Chapter 23 Uncle Hogun
The shock of being caught had completely cured me of that unnatural desire, at least that what I thought and I concentrated on the training. Time had no real meaning, Training was not getting easier. A Keeper who listened to the name of Richard taught me how to use a sword. He introduced me to the different types and showed me that there was more than the widely-used broadsword, even though he appeared no older than perhaps fifty, he too was like the others down here over a millennium old. In an offhand remark, he told me that he trained and exercised for almost that long and had fought in clan wars before he became a keeper. His skill with edged weapons had to be unsurpassed merely for that reason. He too was patient with my feeble attempts but his approach was more like a Neo Viking would teach. He was stern and demanding, pushed me and did not mind using the hard wooden training sword to teach me in a painful way when I failed to follow his instructions, but I enjoyed every minute of it and could not wait for the morning to arrive.
One morning however instead of him or Siigfrieda, the Ancient one called me to get up and asked me to follow him. Through one of the dark corridors we reached a dead end, but after he operated a hidden lever part of the rock wall swung open and after he motioned me to follow we stood outside on the very landing I had met him first and I learned that he did not appear there by magic or other supernatural means. The wind felt much colder than I remembered but then I had spent quite a while now beneath the mountain in the warm caves. He said. "Eric, your Grandfather will be here tomorrow to pick you up and take you back to Ragnarsson-Rock, back to school and back to your normal life."
"I gave you my word Ancient One. I will not speak of what I have learned. "
"I have no doubt you keep your word. You are, as I said before indeed much like your grandfather. I wanted to talk to you about your secret. I know you are suppressing it and maybe you can but I want you to be careful Nilfeheim is unforgiving and lacks any compassion and understanding when it comes to these things."
I nodded.
"I also wanted to wish you well and find and achieve what you really want. Try not to see everything in Nilfeheim Neo Viking absolutes, not everything that is not white is necessarily black. I have no powers or abilities to predict the future, Eric. But if you live as long as I have you will see that there are patterns and certain chains of events usually lead to the same outcome. "
I was not sure what he wanted to say but I nodded."Can I come back next Summer Break?"
"I made arrangements for your further education for that time and old friend of mine will find you then and show you a few things, but you can always come here. Only I won't be here then!"
"You said you can't predict the future, Ancient One. Don't predict your own end. They do care about you and I do too."
"I am glad you found some room in that revengeful heart for another old man, but I did not predict my won end. I decided I take your advice and leave Nilfeheim for a bit. I think I want to see how far humankind has developed since I left Earth and I might even apply for citizenship."
That did surprise me and he laughed." I am retired I should be able to travel a little. I have seen everything there is to see on Nilfeheim."
"How come you do know Midril?"
"I travel the islands very frequently in the guise of an old Seer and Arguer. It is the common folks who greet me warmly .while I say some wise things they tell me many things about their clans and what happens in the world."
***
I said farewell to all the Keepers below and was once more in the actual keep. The first Keeper handed me a rolled document and said."This document proofs that you performed all duties well and to our satisfaction. With it you may in years to come make your bid to the Circle of elders should you choose to do so."
"I doubt I will look at them the same way as I have before. To become an Elder was never a wish or desire of mine even before I came here. "
"Your grandfather send message that he is to pick you up today as he must return to Pluribus. You know the stairs well and it takes as long to get down."
He wished me well and then I left the Halls of Hasvik and made my way down the steep stairs. When I reached the landing I looked towards the rock wall where I knew was the secret door and waved not knowing if the Ancient one could see or hear me and said." Take care Old man and thank you for everything. "
I was already on my way down the next flight when he appeared on top of the landing waved and yelled. "You're welcome Eric."
The weather had not changed from when I came here. The same gray sky and the same cold win. Then I could make out a black spot and as I descended the spot grew into the black Volvo flyer and next to it stood Grandfather, as if he had been there the whole time. I made it down the last steps and ran over the hard packed snow atop the ice, stopped at arm's length before him. The wind tugged at his beard and hair." Do you leave the Halls with Honor?" Was the first thing he said.
I held out the rolled paper and he took it opened it and after reading whatever was there he said." The Keepers have bestowed great praise upon you and made you an honorary Keeper of Hasvik with the right to wear the garments. He knelt down and then threw his arms around me." My heart if filled with pride. You have done well!"
I was happy enough to see him, but I already missed the sheltered and fearless environment of the caves below the Halls. I would certainly miss the Ancient one. He was as dignified and honorable as my grandfather, but despite his mindboggling life span and all the knowledge and wisdom he was much more approachable and somewhat more human. Perhaps the prospect to return to the
burg had dampened my mood more than anything else. I followed Grandfather in to the flyer, where he took off his coat, threw it over a seat." You kept your promise and I shall keep mine Eric. One day you inherit all that is Ragnarsson but to day you will receive my most prized possession."
He unbuckled his belt with sword and scabbard.
"Grandfather you bestow me with such a gift of honor, more than the sword I treasure your gesture and the meaning but I shall decline this gift for now. It is so much part of what everyone associates with you. I would not be allowed to wear this sword; it would gather dust until I was old enough. It is Mördaren and it is meant to be worn and I will wear from the day onward you can no longer raise it."
He blinked and there was a tear in my grandfather's eye." You are fourteen years of age but you speak with wisdom and authority. "He girded it back on.
I knew what he meant but the heroes in the old books always spoke using words like shall and though and all the sons of Clan Chiefs in school tried to elevate themselves from early on to talk in this antiquated way, Neo Vikings loved so much. I just didn't want that sword. Father would prohibit me to wear it or take it. I did not want him to put his hands on it.
Grandfather started the flyer and once the Computronic took over he swiveled around." While you have been at the Halls of Hasvik, I have spent time with the Circle of Elders and to put my affairs in Order, before I have to leave again. Your father has promised to let you return to Fight and Heritage classes. You are also allowed to visit your uncle Hogun after school. He is your godfather after all. "
These were good news after all. All this would mean I had to spend only little time at the burg." Thank you grandfather."
"I must return to Pluribus tomorrow but I will be back for Yuletide and the big Hunt in four month."
"I can't wait till it is January then."
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 178