The Harriers Book One: Of War and Honor

by S. N. Lewitt

  "And how will I answer to the ulama when it is known that I permitted such abominations as those to enter this sacred city? No, Harrier, I cannot permit that. It would offend Allah, the All-Embracing, and it would bring shame on me and my sons for seven times seven generations. You will remain in my care."

  Lentzer sardonically thanked the Sheikh for his hospitality without betraying the depth of his fear. He had to save the Nada Solis. Then the mission—however great a failure it was—would not include casualties.

  He motioned Tek and Rasidov aside and explained the situation.

  Rasidov looked grim. "I don't like the sound of that."

  Tek's face was calm. "It is written that the children of Allah the All-Knowing will not have to suffer devils. The Sheikh is a man of understanding."

  This was no time to start a theological dispute between Tek and Rasidov; Lentzer looked from one to the other. "Whatever the Sheikh's reason for doing this, it's putting three Petit Harriers at risk, and that has to be our primary concern."

  The Nada Solis, all three of them, glared at him with pure hatred. Lentzer ignored it. "I'm going to try to get word to the Alliance resthouse," he whispered. "We've already destroyed any credibility or goodwill we might have garnered. So now our only priority is getting out of here with skins intact." This last included the clones, who looked as if they were ready to savage him.

  "Now," Lentzer continued. "What about the Mromrosi?"

  "He followed the Sheikh," Tek said softly, his gaze directed to the highest tower in the city.

  "If you'd release us," the Nada Solis/2 hissed furiously, "we are trained to deal with a situation like this. We could recover the Mromrosi, and settle this entire matter."

  "I'm almost tempted to take you up on it," Lentzer snapped. "I don't care how good you are at unarmed combat, three Nada Solis against the entire population of Moustar is pogging idiotic."

  "We don't know what the ulama will decide," Tek reminded them. "But if you act against them, you will not help your case."

  He was cut short by a blast of static from a mosque loudspeaker. "We are the Voice of the Hidden Imam. Listen, all Moustar. There are abominations in our midst, things that Allah the All-Compassionate does not permit us as His children to touch, for they are unclean devils. You who fear Allah the All-Enduring, listen and obey. We must not accept this filth in our city. Now we are cleansed from the fasting. Now we must make our city acceptable to God. We must find these devils who come with Infidels and punish them, so Allah the All-Merciful does not abhor us because we are slack in obeying His law. For this reason we have captured the Infidel unhuman. It is unacceptable unless it agrees to surrender to His law and most holy Q'ran. This is the Voice of the Hidden Imam, the slaves of God."

  "I'd like to take whoever that was and smash their faces against a wall," the Nada Solis/3 said.

  "We'd better get to the Sheikh's house soon," Rasidov murmured to Lentzer. "People are looking at us already."

  Lentzer agreed. "See if you can explain it to the Sheikh, will you?" he asked, only half in jest. He stared at the mosque, wishing his implant had some information about how these Moslems judged Mromrosio.

  Line Commander Nazaipha stared vacantly at Executive Officer Yuen. "I didn't authorize a shore party," he said uncertainly.

  "It is an investigative mission," Yuen said patiently. "Orders came from the Hub." He was feeling exhausted. Between Yosinero and his Bombards and the precarious condition of the Line Commander, he felt worn to the bone. "You have the record of the briefing in your log, Line Commander."

  "Oh, yes," he said without a trace of recognition.

  "They've missed two check-ins," said Yuen. "The camp where they were taken is deserted according to the latest scan. The village is empty, as well."

  "There is too much emptiness," sighed the Line Commander, and Yuen realized it was useless to continue. He rose, saluted, and left Nazaipha alone with his strangeness.

  Group Line Chief M'kaba responded to his hail on the first signal. "Any news?" she asked without standard formalities.

  "None," said Yuen. "I'd say we ought to lift off and do a planet scan for them, but . . ." He gestured toward the Bombards.

  "Yes," said M'kaba. On the surveill her face was enormous, and her anxiety was undisguised.

  "I don't want to give the Grands an excuse for taking over. Especially since we don't know why they're here." He put his hands up. "I'm open to any recommendations, either from you or Ghano. Or either of your Mromrosi."

  M'kaba lowered her voice. "Yosinero says he's buying rugs."

  "And I've said the Line Commander is suffering from a persistent bacterial infection," Yuen reminded her. "We're all lying."

  Her chin jolted upward. "What do you mean?"

  "The Line Commander's gone strange and we can't admit it. The Grands Strategy Marshal comes all the way to purchase carpets. With nine Bombards because there might be pirates." His disbelief was patent.

  "All right, I take your point," said M'kaba, relieved that this was all he meant. "But we can't do anything about it. You don't have the authority, and if we contact the Semper Alpha Cygnis, the Grands will find out."

  "I know," said Yuen.

  "And Yosinero is the obvious one to take over," she said, irate thoughts directed inward.

  "He might be waiting to assume command," said Yuen, revealing the worst of his fears.

  M'kaba responded sharply. "You can't let that happen."

  "I know," agreed Yuen.

  "But how can you stop it?" she demanded.

  Yuen failed to smile. "I'm pogged if I know."

  "For a prison, it's not too bad," said Lentzer when he had made a complete inspection of the cavernous room the Sheikh had provided to the Harriers. It was cut high up in the street overlooking the Friday mosque, and a few shreds of twilight came in through the rough stone of the cave opening. It wouldn't be easy to get out of.

  "Very neat," said Rasidov. He tapped his hailer. "Can it get through rock?"

  Lentzer shook his head. "But we'll give it a try, a little later. I want Yuen to have some idea what's been going on." As much as he disliked their predicament, he had to admit—if only to himself—that for the first time in years he felt he could do something actually useful. It was an invigorating sensation, one he had forgotten; he remembered who he had become and his confidence sagged.

  The Nada Solis/3 regarded him with contempt. "Do you think you've made things better for us, getting us shut away in here?"

  "I've kept us from getting stoned in the street," Lentzer said. "Thanks to Rasidov. The Sheikh was ready to leave us to the crowd, or didn't you realize that?" He didn't expect an answer.

  The Nada Solis/1 gave him one. "We are going to report you for dereliction of duty and as a possible accessory to the abduction of our Mromrosi observer."

  "You do that," Lentzer said. "Just as soon as we're back on the Kinderkinyo."

  "The Mromrosi went with the Sheikh of his own will," said Tek. "That can't be attributed to Group Leader Lentzer."

  "We were supposed to protect him," said the Nada Solis/2. "You kept us from doing our job."

  "I kept us from getting killed," Lentzer shot back. "Or are you going to protest that, too?" He paced the length of the chamber, bringing his temper back under control. Bickering now would accomplish nothing. "Our first obligation is to escape. If we can make it to the Alliance resthouse, well and good. If we can't, then we have to get out of Moustar and get the Broadswords to pick us up."

  "What about the Mromrosi?" asked the Nada Solis/2.

  "We'll have to find out about this group who claim to be holding him, the Voice of the Hidden Imam. If they are holding him."

  The Nada Solis fell silent, and Lentzer turned to Rasidov. "Has this place been vetted yet?"

  "No listening devices. That doesn't mean they aren't listening." He touched his hailer. "This can't pick up a servant with sharp ears."

  "We'll have to hope the servants don't speak Standar
d Huble," Lentzer said. "Or that they don't use translator packs. What do you think?" asked Lentzer.

  "I think we ought to stick to Standard Huble," said Rasidov, and ignored the scorn of the three Nada Solis.

  "Sounds reasonable," said Lentzer. "Now what about this Hidden Imam? Do you or Tek have any idea who or what they are?"

  "Not really," said Rasidov.

  "It's all ancient legend," said Tek.

  "All right, let's assume it's a faction," Lentzer said pensively. "Is there a chance that the Sheikh would help the Mromrosi? Could we convince him that the Mromrosi must be returned to us?"

  "That doesn't do much about the ulama," said the Nada Solis/3.

  Lentzer just nodded once more. "First things first."

  "I recall something about them," Rasidov said suddenly. "They are one of the older and more famous sects. The Ismailis. The Assassins of Old Earth were Ismailis. They believed not only in the Four Holy Imams, they also believed in the descendants of Ali, which would make them Shi'ite. They believed that Ah never really died, that he was translated into some hidden state and still is the only true leader of the Faithful."

  "So they're the same bogo sect as the Assassins? I always thought the Assassins were myths." Lentzer shook his head. "That doesn't sound very promising for our Mromrosi's health. I don't like this at all."

  "Well, they might claim to be the same sect, but the Assassins have been gone for thousands of years. This group might not be so extreme," Rasidov said, doing his best to be encouraging.

  "But since they are Ismailis, perhaps the Sheikh will help. If those are real Assassins, the government of Zamalah can't like this much better than we do," Tek suggested hesitantly.

  "What about all of us?" the Nada Solis/2 asked reasonably. "We might be able to take on a dozen or so of these Zamalahi. Hand-to-hand, we could beat them."

  "And what if there are hundreds of them, or they aren't willing to face devils like you hand-to-hand?" Lentzer challenged.

  "There must be something we can do," said the Nada Solis/1, and for the first time Lentzer sympathized with them.

  "Once we get out of here and into the resthouse, then we can decide on what to do about the Hidden Imam," he said, more tactful than usual. Then he added the thing that had been bothering him since they were locked in this room. "I don't think we ought to count on any support from the Broadswords. If they were going to come after us, they'd have been here by now. We have to assume that we're on our own for the time being." If he had said that a day ago, he would have wanted to fortify himself first with Standby Hooch. Now he was glad his head was clear.

  "Then you'd better make the best possible use of us," said the Nada Solis/2.

  "And what would that be?" inquired Lentzer without sarcasm.

  Rasidov spoke up. "We could use them as a first attack team. I doubt any of the guards would be prepared to battle them, either as clones, abominations, or women."

  "That's right," Tek agreed with him. "And that is one thing about these people, they don't expect anything from women."

  "No one ever does, not on forty-one of the Alliance planets," the Nada Solis/2 said. "Which is one of the prime reasons we were engineered female. We're always a surprise."

  "That I won't dispute," said Lentzer, then lapsed into silence, wrestling with something that had been nagging him since he heard the announcement: how had the Voice of the Hidden Imam heard about the Nada Solis and the Mromrosi in the first place?

  Strategy Marshal Yosinero bowed deeply to Group Line Chiefs Xer M'kaba and Laeo Ghano, his obsequious politeness more insulting than a slight would be. "I confess I am surprised that your mission has not yet returned."

  "Since you're familiar with Zamalah," said M'kaba tightly, "you know that this is not a place where things are accomplished quickly."

  "Not often, anyway," appended Ghano.

  "Very true," said Yosinero at his smoothest. "But it surprises me, I will tell you, that a routine visit has taken so much time. Is there anything I might do to speed things along? With your Line Commander so ill, perhaps I might advise you in his place?"

  "That isn't necessary, but thank you for your generous offer," said M'kaba, all but choking on her words.

  "You may avail yourself of it at any time," said Yosinero. "In fact, it occurred to me only a short while ago that I ought to lend you my medical support team. From what you have said, the illness of Nazaipha is beyond the skill of most Bunters."

  "That is very kind of you," Ghano answered for M'kaba, for he sensed her fury. "But we have been told there is a high risk of infection from the disease and we would be derelict in our duty if we permitted someone of your position to be exposed, however indirectly, to this disease."

  Yosinero put the tips of his six white fingers together. "How gratifying your concern is."

  M'kaba was so angry that she was close to tears. I will not give him that satisfaction, she ordered herself. It was maddening to spend hours catering to this smooth, insinuating Grand while Lentzer's mission was missing. She hoped that there would be a message from them when she was permitted to return to her quarters. She was so caught up in her worry that she did not hear the next question that Yosinero addressed to her.

  "When I go to select my carpets, is there any message you would like me to carry for you?" he repeated, his smile widening.

  Startled, she answered without thought. "No, thank you. Lentzer relays information when he can."

  Something in Yosinero's eyes got very hard and bright. "Lentzer," he said mildly. "Lentzer."

  Lentzer would be happy enough to leave this place behind forever, city and planet. His fourth perusal of the walls of the cavern was as disappointing as the first. "What about the carpets?" he said, determined not to lose heart now. "We haven't looked there."

  "No, we haven't," said the Nada Solis/3. "What is the point?"

  "There has to be something somewhere," Lentzer declared, trying to believe it himself. "All these caverns ought to connect somehow."

  "They do," said the Nada Solis/1. "Through the corridors."

  Tek spoke up. "There should be other passageways. It's traditional."

  "What if these Zamalahi don't know the tradition?" suggested the Nada Solis/2.

  "Let's just do it," said Lentzer, lifting up the corner of the nearest one to set an example for the others. He was unpleasantly surprised to discover how heavy the carpets were. "Rasidov, give me a hand."

  The Navigator hesitated. "Why bother?"

  Lentzer rounded on him. "Do you want to lie back and wait for the ulama to condemn the Solis? Do you want to wait around while those Hidden Imam sperks do something deadly to the Mromrosi? Do you?"

  Rasidov stared at him. "I thought you were the one who was hanging on to get early retirement. Why get all sproinged now?" Even as he asked, he came and took the other end of the carpet.

  "We'll make a pile of them," said Lentzer, getting down to work. "Right over there."

  "I'll examine the floor there first," volunteered Tek, getting down on his hands and knees and running his thumbs along the tiles. In a short while he got up. "If anything's loose, I can't find it."

  "Thanks," said Lentzer, puffing a little as he and Rasidov moved the first carpet.

  This goaded the Nada Solis into action. /3 picked the largest of the carpets, rolled it expertly and hoisted it onto her shoulder. With one end dragging behind her, she brought her trophy and dropped it on top of the first. "You leave this to us, Group Leader," she said. "We're stronger than you and we can do it faster."

  /2 had already rolled the third carpet and was slinging it onto her back. "Why don't you check the floor," she said, more genially than she had ever said anything to Lentzer.

  "Sounds like a good idea," said Lentzer, feeling relieved.

  A little less than two hours later, Rasidov found the uneven place in the tiles. He motioned to the others to come, and with the help of the Nada Solis/3, raised the trapdoor. The dark maw of the tunnel angled away from th
em down the inside of the walls of the house.

  "We'll need light," said Tek, peering at the narrow, irregular stairs.

  "Nonsense," said the Nada Solis/I. "Let one of us go ahead. We have augmented vision."

  "And we'd better go very quietly," added Rasidov. "We don't want to be discovered, not now." He cocked his head toward the window. "They'll be gathering for another feast in an hour or so."

  "You mean they might check on us," said Lentzer.

  "At the conclusion of the feast if not the beginning," said Rasidov. "They have to feed us—it's part of the law. But they don't have to give us anything but leftovers."

  "Probably just as well," said the Nada Solis/2. "That passage is going to be a tight fit."

  They fumbled their way in the dark, never talking above a whisper. The passage led down past the harem, and then below that to the huge reception chamber where the Sheikh and his family entertained their guests.

  A steady drone of conversation reached them through the walls, and the Petit Harriers were grateful for it, since it made their passage easier.

  They had almost reached the last flight of stairs when Tek signaled a halt. "Wait. There's a debate going on."

  "Fine," said Lentzer. "We can get out of here while they're preoccupied."

  But Tek remained still, listening. "The one with the deep voice is asking about the treatment of Muslim slaves," Tek whispered at last, shocked. "He is asking how one can expiate sins when there are no slaves to be freed."

  "What?" Lentzer was confused.

  "It's very involved. I don't understand the argument," the kitchen clerk said apologetically, trying not to raise his voice.

  Lentzer motioned to them all to halt. "Get as much of it as you can."

  Tek shook his head. "It's . . . not . . ."

  "Not what?" Lentzer prompted when Tek fell silent.

  "He says a virtuous man must have slaves, so that he can free them to rid himself of sin," said Tek very softly. "He does not understand why the slaves must be concealed when they are so necessary for a man to guard his soul." His voice was almost inaudible.