Assault on Cambriol: The Manhattan Trials

by Jerry Borrowman

  Magill looked desperate. The simple truth was that he should do as they ask. It’s as if fate had been preparing him for this moment. Yet, how could he?

  “But, people who marry should love each other and there isn’t room in my heart to do that right now?”

  “Do you already love someone else?”

  Magill looked at PM Richards. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “But, we need you to talk about it. We need to know what opportunities exist. May I ask who this person is you care about?”

  Magill felt hollow inside. How could he open his deepest feelings to all these people? But, their need was urgent. Finally he said, “It’s not that I wouldn’t love to shout her name aloud to everyone, but I’ve never even told her the depth of my feelings. So, how can I tell you before I tell her?” Then, quietly, “I don’t even know if she loves me. She probably hasn’t even thought about it.”

  General Josephs on Kalenden interrupted. He’d kept his peace through all of this. But, he was not a sensitive man and in his estimation, the time for sensitivity had already passed.

  “Lieutenant Commander, get a hold of yourself and tell us who she is. Then decide if you’re willing to consider the need of the Alturians. Thinking about it won’t improve the situation. It’s time for you to take hold and react to your new situation.”

  Magill looked up, angry. “Very well, Sir. Her name is Captain Tara Carling, an Alturian I met on Keswick. I hoped to find her during our assignment on Alturus and tell her how I feel. I even hoped we might receive permission to be married, if she feels about me as I feel about her. But now, I suppose, I’ll never have that opportunity, since it conflicts with the needs of the Alturian Royal Family.”

  Magill failed to notice that PM Richards had settled back in her seat, quite comfortably, and when she spoke, her voice had lost its edge.

  “You say the woman you care for is Captain Carling?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then perhaps you’d like to know what she thinks of our proposal.”

  Magill looked up sharply. “What has Tara got to do with this?”

  At that, Tara Carling appeared on the screen as PM Richards said, “Gentlemen, may I introduce Crown Princess Isabec Carlisle. Princess, this young man has just expressed his interest in Captain Carling.”

  Magill’s legs went weak and Jesik quickly shoved a chair under him. It was Magill’s turn to struggle for breath. This was certainly proving to be the most perplexing day of his life.

  The Princess smiled broadly. “I think it impudent that a lowly Lieutenant from Kalenden could think himself of interest to a Captain from Alturus.”

  Magill smoldered. Recovering his breath, he shot back, “I think it’s despicable that an officer would shield her true identity from someone whose confidence she thought to obtain.”

  “Please, Commander,” said the Alturian Prime Minister, “the Princess occasionally takes on a pseudonym when she wishes to mix with the people. This particular Princess has proven to be a genuine headache for the government in that she demanded to serve in the Alturian armed forces so that she could learn, first hand, how her people feel, as well as share in their sacrifices.” The Prime Minister turned to Isabec and added, “With all due respect, Ma’am.”

  Magill flashed, “I’m sure this second-class royal from Kalenden holds little interest for the Princess, so your proposal for an arranged marriage will fail anyway.”

  “Just a moment, Commander,” Isabec declared, “we already know your feelings in the matter. All that’s left to learn is about my feelings.” Turning to PM Richards she said, “And what are the ramifications if I’m not interested in marriage at this time?”

  Magill scowled for a moment, then broke into a grin and sat back in his chair, and put his hands behind his head.

  “And just what are you laughing at?” Isabec asked.

  “Why Princess, we all know I have a choice in this matter, because I come from the open society of Kalenden. But, the Prime Minister has already explained that for royalty, this marriage is a duty! So, no matter what your feelings are, you have to proceed!” He finished the sentence with triumph in his voice.

  Now it was Isabec’s turn to blush. Then she burst out laughing.

  “So it appears that the Commander seems to have taken this hand. Still, I’ve never been one to complete a duty for its own sake. If this young man wishes to pursue my affections, perhaps I’ll be open to private conversations later. But, I must admit, he does have a certain charm, in spite of being a bit too serious in his politics.” She sighed. “I’m afraid my future may be filled with endless nights talking about water districts, union practices and the oppression of business owners. However, he did indicate his intention of proposing to Tara Carling and I can speak on her behalf, saying that such a proposal would be accepted with love and joy!” She smiled and melted Magill’s heart.

  The crisis was over. Even Brighton, a staunch, avowed agnostic agreed that fate, or God, or something had worked miraculously today to bring all these people together. The call ended on an upbeat note, with permission to announce a royal courtship five days hence.

  Magill asked how the people would feel about the Crown Princess marrying an illegitimate child as the people on Kalenden viewed it as serious flaw, but the folks on Alturus simply laughed it off as adding to the legitimacy of Magill’s connection to the aristocracy. While common people looked down upon such moral laxness, they wouldn’t blame Magill. With everyone in agreement, the only item left was coordinating the time of the announcement. Enough time was needed for Jesik and Magill to convey the information to Helen Wight and the Magills and for the three governments to prepare their people for the change in relationship between the two star systems and Keswick. More than 200 years of silence was about to yield to a flood of new dialogue.

  * * *

  After the conference ended, Brighton offered Jesik and Magill his sincere congratulations on their reunion. As he left Jesik’s room, he wondered aloud why he hadn’t seen the resemblance between them before. Once noticed, it was truly remarkable.

  When they were left alone, an embarrassed silence hung heavy in the air. Finally, Jesik spoke. “So, Lieutenant, how do we proceed from here?”

  Magill became thoughtful. “First of all, I’d like you to call me Sean once in awhile – not while I’m on duty, but I’d like to hear my first name.”

  “I’d like that too, Sean.” It sounded far more natural than Jesik had expected.

  “Next, I’d like to know about my mother. What does she look like, how does her voice sound and what are her interests?” He looked at Jesik and added, “She must be quite remarkable to have won your heart so completely.”

  “Remarkable is not enough to describe Helen Wight. What does she look like…” his voice trailed off as he sought for the best words. Then, sudden recognition lit up his face. “The best way to discover what your mother looks like, is to study the face of your brother.”

  “What?” Magill responded. “My brother?”

  “Kevin Wight—he’s your half brother. You share a mother”

  “I have a brother!”

  “Yes,” Jesik laughed. “You know how deep his eyes are – the darkest blue?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that’s how your mother’s eyes are. She has the same refined facial features and grace of movement. I thought she was like the most perfectly sculpted china doll, with the fairest skin I’d ever seen. Kevin inherited most of his looks from her. It’s probably the reason I’ve enjoyed having him on the ship. He reminds me of her.” Then Jesik looked at Magill and said quite seriously, “I’m afraid that you inherited more of your looks from me.”

  Magill laughed. “That’s okay, I’m used to this face and it really isn’t that bad – particularly since I’m not as refined and genteel as Kevin. Your looks suit my personality better.”

  Jesik continued. “Yet, in spite of her beauty, Helen wasn’t fragile. We loved to play tennis
and she had a fierce serve. At first, when she was just learning the game, I held back to let her win once in awhile. It infuriated her when she realized that. From then on, she attacked the ball ferociously and I found it hard to stay with her.”

  He paused as memories flooded back to him. Magill watched, intently, trying to sort through the conflicting emotions he felt. He’d been quite angry at the fact that his natural parents had abandoned him. Now, as he saw the deep emotion his biological father exhibited, he felt empathy.

  “I hate to open old wounds, Sir, but can you tell me what happened between you and my mother?”

  Having spent over two decades concealing the incident, even from his own thoughts when possible, Jesik decided this boy deserved to know everything. Even about Kensington. So he told him the whole story from beginning to end. When he was done, Magill was able to accept his apology and recognized that Jesik had suffered as much as he.

  “How are you going to tell Mrs. Wight?”

  “I’d like you to join me, if you will. I haven’t spoken to her in more than twenty years and again contacting her is very frightening. It’s not right that her private life will be made public, but if the plan for stabilizing Alturus is to work, it’s vital that your lineage be established. A more immediate problem is when do we tell Kevin? He probably has no inkling his mother has another child. And with what he’s been through, who knows his reaction.”

  After discussing for awhile longer, they decided the best approach was to talk to Helen Wight first and have her decide how to tell Kevin. Jesik contacted Prime Minister Larimore, who offered to initiate the discussion with Helen so that she wouldn’t be taken completely by surprise. During his call he related the needs of the Alturian monarchy and their discovery of a suitable groom for their Princess, as well as Jesik’s involvement. Also that he had already met their son and was prepared to introduce her to him if she wished.

  The Prime Minister called Jesik back and reported that Helen had taken the news with real grace and expressed that she was fully prepared to deal with the social consequences of the revelation of her out-of-wedlock child. She added that she was happy to have the chance to speak with “Pietr” again and looked forward to their conversation. Jesik’s heart leapt and his smile betrayed his joy.

  “I’d call her immediately, if I were you,” Larimore said. “In spite of the confidentiality oaths, this is the greatest event of the century and won’t be kept quiet for long.”

  “Thank you, Sir, for everything. I’ll invite Lieutenant Commander Magill to join me now.”

  The call was more delightful than Jesik hoped for. Helen had grown even more beautiful with age and her smile still left him weak. But, her carefree attitude of youth had been replaced by a more serious tone that spoke of great disappointments. After chatting with Sean and offering to either visit his parents at their home or invite them to hers, she expressed the deep regret she’d felt at losing him. No matter what his feelings were before the call, it was impossible not to be charmed after talking with her.

  When their conversation reached its natural conclusion, Magill was wise enough to excuse himself so that Jesik and Helen could talk privately. As he turned to leave, he smiled as he saw how completely engrossed the Captain was in the video image that hovered before him. It pleased him to think his natural parents were still in love.

  * * *

  “What the blazes is wrong with you?”

  “What?” Magill looked up startled. He’d nearly run over Eaves in the corridor.

  “I’ve never seen you smile like that,” said. “It’s not natural for you to smile. What’s going on?”

  Magill laughed. “I’d tell you if I could, and it’ll knock your socks off when I do. Unfortunately, it’s top secret and Security would have to cut out your vocal chords – not that that would be so bad – but it would complicate things. So, sorry, you’ll have to wait a few days.”

  “Oh, man,” Eaves said, “you politicians drive ordinary people crazy. I think your medication has gone from your feet to your head.”

  “Care for a game of handball?” Magill said cheerfully.

  “Yeah, right. Handball with an invalid.”

  “I have a wheelchair and you’ve got a mouth. Let’s see which one’s more effective.”

  Several hours later, back at the main communications console, Lieutenant Williams muttered to himself, “They could pay for a new starship with the amount of money they’ve spent on high-security Esper links on this voyage. Jesik’s been talking for over two hours. What the devil’s happening?”

  His muttering was interrupted by a sharp, “Kindly keep your concerns for fleet finances to yourself, Mr. Williams!”

  “Aye, Mr. Brighton. Aye, Sir.”

  19– The Distant Sounds of Triumph

  “You wanted to see me, Sir?” Wight appeared very nervous.

  “Yes, Lieutenant, please come in.” After inviting Wight to sit, Jesik offered him a drink, which had the unintended consequence of making him even more nervous.

  “Lieutenant Wight, I’ve been asked by the Prime Minister to establish a communications link for you to speak to your mother. There’s going to be an important public announcement in the next few days for which you need preparation.”

  The color drained out of Kevin’s face and Jesik immediately recognized his mistake.

  “No, no, Kevin. It has nothing to do with you or our conversations with Colonel Kensington. You needn’t worry about that.” Wight relaxed slightly.

  Jesik went on to explain the Alturian situation and its potential solution, without indicating who the new Prince Consort was to be. Of course it left Wight confused, but Jesik felt it only right that Helen finish the explanation. So, he activated the communications console, then excused himself while Kevin and his mother talked. After twenty minutes, he knocked on the door and was invited back in. It was clear that Helen had been crying, but her expression conveyed more relief than distress. Wight terminated the call and turned to Jesik.

  “Even though my mother never said anything, I always felt that there was a deep sorrow in her life. Now, I understand what it was and why.”

  There was an extended period of silence.

  “My father loved me and tried to spend as much time with me as possible, before he died, but he was awfully busy at his cabinet responsibilities…” Wight dropped his gaze for a moment, then looked up again. “I knew my parents were never close and I often envied my friends whose parents were so happy with each other. It was awfully lonesome.” He stopped talking again.

  “How do you feel about learning you have a brother?”

  Kevin brightened considerably. “I always wanted one. The house was so big and it was mostly my dad’s government associates who dropped by. I wish I could have grown up with someone else to talk to.”

  Jesik’s heart ached. “Well, it seems like you and Lieutenant Commander Magill have grown to like each other.”

  “He’s a great guy and I don’t know what I would have done when Colonel Kensington threatened me, if Sean hadn’t been there to talk to.” Kevin smiled the same smile that Jesik had fallen in love with twenty-five years earlier. “You must be very proud to learn that he’s your son.”

  “I never imagined how remarkable it would feel. I’m also proud that you’re related to me, if only through my son. I’ve often felt lonely, too, and it seems that I’m finally being compensated for what I lost.”

  Kevin smiled again and thanked Jesik for his kindness.

  After Kevin departed, Jesik laid back in bed and considered the changes that had occurred in the last twenty-four hours. He hoped that these good feelings would hold together once the glare of the public spotlight fell on his new found family.

  * * *

  By the time the public announcement was made through a simulcast on Alturus, Keswick and Kalenden, the Magills had been told what was coming. As predicted, Sean’s father told him to stand up bravely for “his” people. His mother became a friend of Helen Wi
ght and they decided it would be best to meet the reporters at the Magill home. This pleased PM Larimore and other members of the cabinet immensely, as it sent the precise message they hoped about class unity. It also helped that the Wight name was important enough that the expected furor didn’t materialize over Sean Magill’s birth. The upper class wisely chose to keep reservations to themselves and most of them actually relished the thought that the Alturian Royalty had been humbled enough to turn to Kalenden for help. The ancient rejection was more palatable now.

  Meanwhile, the story of tragic love finally reunited, played wonderfully to the second and third-classes. In the days that followed, there were some columnists who expressed the sentiment that Kalenden society should be ashamed for creating a culture where two young people in love would be kept apart by social prejudice. Fortunately, no mention was made of Kensington’s involvement.

  Mostly, though, the people on Kalenden and Keswick were caught up in the excitement of a royal courtship. The promise of pageantry captured the public’s imagination and reporters quickly figured out that they had a treasure trove of opportunity as they updated daily on what had occurred on Alturus over the past two hundred years. It was also a good time to be an Esper, since the new openness enabled families long separated, to contact one another. The queues for basic twenty-minute links quickly overwhelmed the system and even the upper class had to enter a lottery and await their turn for communication links.

  The reaction on Keswick, however, was bittersweet. With the death of their own monarchy, many felt regret. The more radical elements of the rebels were also disappointed, as this union was likely to defuse their hopes of sweeping reform for the entire system. But the press acted responsibly, providing great insight to the advantages of having two stable neighbors. That appealed to the pragmatists in the crowd, while the promise of the Royal marriage being carried on live video links helped shake off the torpor of the Loyalists as they frantically prepared for the events on Alturus. Great parties were planned for the official announcement, with huge video screens set up in public places as well as private residences. The pain of the rebellion subsided and Jesik and Magill were instant heroes of the lower-classes and their second-class credentials were replayed endlessly on the broadcasting channels. Their role in supporting the Loyalists during the rebellion was downplayed, while their courage and dash on both Cambriol and in helping establish the UCG was projected as proof of the innate ability of the common people. Lansing commented to Wilkerson that the fuss was just what the planetoid needed to shake off the bitterness and bring people together.