Enemy Papers

by Barry B. Longyear

  “Do your tour on Amadeen, Major Nicole, and then come back to me and preach temperance…”

  “…When Tora Soam has carried its butcher ax against the enemy on Amadeen, then its views upon my medications will be of interest…”

  Amadeen. So little of the war had taken place there; but so much of the war owed its existence to the planet…

  …In the Chirn Kovah, searching for her reasons for fighting, a voice from nowhere reciting history…

  “… The planet Amadeen was colonized in a succession of immigrations by both humans and Dracs, attracted there by Amadeen’s vast mineral resources. Numerous private companies based In both spheres of influence were involved in the colonization effort, the two largest being the human Earth IMPEX and the Dracon JACHE companies.

  “Although Timan Nisak, headquartered on the Planet Timan, is the third largest capital investor in Amadeen, there have been no Timanese immigrants. Timan Nisak operates the orbiting ore-processing station used before the opening of hostilities by all the mining companies operating on Amadeen.

  “…After the defeat of the Drac and human Centralist Party, extremist factions took control of the political mechanisms of both races. The Amadeen Front was the political party dominating the humans, while the Ka Mavedah rose to become the most influential political organization in the Drac-controlled areas of the planet. The Centralists of both races were effectively eliminated as political forces, and terrorist raids began…”

  Terrorism on Amadeen. Its victims and witnesses never seemed to talk about it much. The horrors were beyond comprehension. Humans were found still alive, their skeletons shattered with sound waves. The bones had been gone over one at a time. Dracs were found, their bellies ripped open, still living fetuses dangling from their umbilicals-

  “Joanne Nicole?”

  She awakened, warm air entering the car from her side. The door was open. “Baadek?”

  “Yes. Here is your dry robe, and I have dried your sandals.”

  She leaned forward and took the robe and sandals. “Where can I change?”

  “Here in the car will do.”

  “Where can I be alone to change?”

  “Alone?… For what reason?”

  “Because I want to be alone when I change.”

  A puzzled silence. “I suppose you may use the gate house.” Nicole felt the Drac’s hand touch her arm. “Come with me.”

  “What are you going to do with Kia?”

  Baadek helped her from the car, her feet touching soft grass, warm sunlight washing her face. Baadek sighed.

  “What to do with Kia? That is always a good question, Joanne Nicole. Always a good question. Come this way.”

  Nicole had been whisked up a huge outdoor staircase, then through a dizzying complex of halls and passageways. Each door seemed to have a guard on it with which Baadek would exchange hushed whispers. Then they were in a room that was bright with sunlight; she could feel it upon her skin. There were many low voices in the room, then one of the voices became recognizable; it was Tora Soam’s.

  “Here you are, at last, Joanne Nicole.”

  She nodded, her ears straining for every sound as the Ovjetah spoke to Baadek: “And where is Kia?”

  “In its apartments, Ovjetah. Kia was not feeling well.”

  Tora Soam’s silence spoke volumes. “Joanne Nicole, I hope your trip from the Chirn Kovah was satisfactory?”

  “It was a learning experience.”

  “Emmmm.” She heard Tora Soam tum away. “My colleagues, this is the human, Joanne Nicole.” There was an uncomfortable period of coughing, paper rattling, and chair squeaking. “Baadek, come with me.” Tora Soam took Nicole’s arm and led her from the room. “Joanne Nicole, I apologize for my colleagues. However, please understand that you are the very first human as flesh that they have ever seen.”

  “I understand.”

  “Tonight I will have a surprise for you; until then, Baadek will show you your apartments. There are only a few places on the estate that you are not allowed to enter, and the guards at those places will prevent your entrance. Otherwise you have the freedom of the estate. Baadek will act as your eyes for the time being, and it will call for you at the night repast. I would like to have you join us for the repast.”

  Nicole nodded. “I will be there.”

  “Excellent. And now I must return to work.” She heard Tora Soam’s voice change direction. “Baadek?”

  “Yes, Ovjetah?”

  “When Kia is quite recovered, send my child to me. I shall be in the library all evening.”

  “Yes, Ovjetah.”

  Tora Soam’s footsteps faded away and Baadek took Nicole’s arm and led her through a maze of corridors. As they were walking, Nicole let the fingers of her left hand trail along the wall’s cut stone surface, trying to place and memorize all of the twists and turns. “Baadek?”

  “Yes, Joanne Nicole?”

  “Why is this building made of cut stone?”

  “It must have been the desire of Tora Kia-the founder, Kia; not the one you know.”

  “This building is as old as the founding of Draco?”

  “Yes; almost. It is a very beautiful building. The stone is of many kinds and colors.”

  Nicole thought for a moment as they walked down still another corridor. “Baadek, why would a race that can use metals, plastics, and freeform masonry put up a mansion of quarried stone?”

  Baadek walked in silence for a moment then pulled her to a stop. “I have searched your words for a meaning beyond the apparent, Joanne Nicole, but I can find no such meaning. Do you truly find it difficult to understand?”

  “Yes. The time, the expense that must have been involved hardly seems rational with the construction alternatives that must have been available.”

  “I repeat, Joanne Nicole: it is a very beautiful building.” Baadek leaned away from her and she heard a door open. “This is the entrance to your apartments.”

  ELEVEN

  Maltak Di drew upon the slate a circle and a square, and then it connected the two figures with two lines. Of the first student. Maltak Di asked: “Nyath, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?”

  “There are two paths, Jetah.”

  “Nyath, you may not stay; you cannot learn.” Maltak Di faced the second student. “Oura, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?”

  “Jetah, if the two paths are repeated turn-in-turn. there can be many.”

  “Oura, you may stay; perhaps you can learn.” Maltak Di faced the third student. “Irrisa, how many different paths are there from the circle to the square?”

  “A number without finite limit, Jetah.”

  “Irissa, you must stay. Perhaps one day you can teach.”

  The Talman

  The Story of Maltak Di. Koda Nushada

  After taking her on a tour of the greeting, entertainment, toilet, bathing, sleeping, and meditation rooms, Baadek left Nicole to her own devices until the night repast. As it was taking its leave, Baadek again thanked her for not reporting Kia’s behavior to Tora Soam.

  With some difficulty, she bathed and rested. When she reached for her robe, she found another in its place. The fabric was as light and smooth as cobwebs; and when she placed it on it felt as though a warm, gentle film caressed her body. Instead of the open sandals, there were soft, lined slipper-boots. Tora Soam’s castle might have been beautiful, but it was chilly. Joanne Nicole gathered that the Toras dressed accordingly.

  While she waited for Baadek’s call to dinner, she walked the walls of her apartments, beginning the task of memorizing the floorplan and the placement of each piece of furniture.

  The apartment was a circle divided up into six equal segments-each segment being a room that opened onto a central circular accessway. Each segment was shaped like an orange slice truncated on both ends. The only flat surface was the floor. The center of each room contained the article or articles that served the room’s name
. The central accessway had six doors that could be opened in any combination.

  There were some enigmatic Drac phrases that began to make some sense. “Greeted with all doors open” and “Greeted with all doors closed” described the degree of trust and intimacy a host extends to a visitor. The greeting room was bare, providing nothing more than a place to stand and talk. The entertainment room had deep, soft chairs and couches. The central door of the greeting room, and the door to the entertainment room being open was an invitation for a longer stay. A still longer stay was invited by the toilet room being open. Bathing, sleeping, and meditation rooms being open described more intimate invitations about which she could only speculate.

  After her initial inspection, she entered the meditation room, closed the door, and settled on the cushions in the center of the room to await the call to the night repast.

  She had been sitting for a few minutes, quietly trying to relax, when the room seemed to fill with a dim green light marbled with blacks and lighter greens. Her hands immediately went to her eyes, but her hands could not block out the light. The light was inside her head.

  Again she relaxed and allowed the lights to move at random. There was a slightly drugged feeling, then a feeling of all-encompassing calm. One-by-one she could feel tense muscles relax, her body going limp…

  …There were the happy moments with Mallik, seen through a lens that would admit no pain. She opened to it and her being was flooded with love.

  And their child swelling in her abdomen.

  Mallik’s head against the swelling, listening.

  “You can’t hear anything yet, Mallik; it’s too soon.”

  His head burrowed his ear more deeply into her abdomen while his hand stole between her legs.

  “If this is Mallik Nicole’s child, it will be an early riser.”

  She laughed as she reached down to touch his face…

  …there was a moment at Storm Mountain; a moment of love, pride, fierce unshackled joy.

  Death covered the slopes, but the Tsien Denvedah was falling back. Her command hadn’t a prayer of getting relief; they knew that another attack was coming that would crush them; they knew that most of them would be dead before the next two hours elapsed-

  -but the Tsien Denvedah was falling back.

  The hoots and catcalls started in the emplacements to her left. In seconds all of Storm Mountain was shouting insults at the retreating Dracs; her own voice joining the tumult.

  The Tsien Denvedah was falling back!

  It was another-a stronger-form of love than that between a man and woman. They were a blood and mud spattered brotherhood that had met the enemy and had turned them back. They had been dipped in fire and had survived to see the Drac Infantry pulling back.

  Morio Taiseido collapsed beside her, his voice hoarse.

  “Major, I could die content at this moment. We whipped them! Holy son of a bitch, we whipped them!”

  …The lights came back and part of Joanne Nicole’s brain asked another part if this joy was the appeal to battle; to war. If it was the truth, it would be an impossible motivation to treat rationally.

  The rules were out; the ultimate consequences were out; nothing was in mind except the fact that the Dracs were falling back. In that minuscule particle of time, they were victorious…

  …And then, as though it were being played before her upon a stage, she remembered The Story of Lita in the Koda Ovsinda.

  Lita had invented a game for the students to play. One of the students was selected by chance to begin the game, and its first move was to invent the first three rules of the game. And the game-the rules-could be anything.

  The next player could proceed according to those first three rules, or could invent another rule. The rules and rule changes were never communicated except by the nature of the play. The rules and rule changes must be deduced from the actions of those who invented the rules. Even that which constituted “winning” changed from one minute to the next.

  The most successful tactic was to understand all of the rules up until your turn, and then invent a rule or criterion of winning that negated the regulatory advantages invented by the previous players.

  By the time the play came around to Lita there was an impossible tangle of rules, stated, implied, most of them invisible. And then Lita would win the game by stating:

  “I win.”

  A student would always protest. “Jetah, you cannot win. The structure of rules that has been built does not allow it.”

  “It most certainly does allow it. The rule I have invented is that when the play comes to my turn, I win.”

  “But, Jetah, the first player could have done the same. Any of us could have done it.”

  “Yes, but I did-it first.”

  The green lights in her head died and became a warm, soft blackness. And there was a voice. It was Baadek’s. “Joanne Nicole, it is time for the night repast.”

  She sat in wonder for a moment at the things she had seen. She stood up, made her way to the meditation room door and opened it. “Baadek?”

  “I am here.” The voice was very close. “When you use the meditation room in the future, should you not want to be disturbed, close the outside entrance to your apartment.”

  “Thank you. What is in the meditation room that allowed me to see the things that I saw?”

  “Only your own mind. The design of the room is an ancient one, conducive to looking at oneself.”

  “The lights, the green lights were so real.”

  “Usually the lights are blue-for Dracs.”

  Nicole began feeling her way toward the corridor, but Baadek’s hand stopped her. “What is the matter, Baadek?”

  “Understand, Joanne Nicole, that I have no love for humans.”

  “Who asked you to?”

  There was a brief silence. “As an individual, I feel an obligation toward you. Be very careful at the night repast. Tora Soam’s guests tonight include five Talman masters and a human. I cannot even guess at their roles, nor yours.”

  “Baadek, why this warning, from one who has no love for humans?”

  For just a moment, the Drac seemed to laugh. “I am no student of convoluted rules and gaming, Joanne Nicole. I am a simple creature of loyalty. Because of my loyalty to the Tora estate, I look upon myself as the protector of Tora Kia. Tora Kia has my loyalty. Because of your cooperation in this protection, my loyalty is extended to you as well-to a degree.”

  She paused. “Baadek, I appreciate your warning, but I do not understand. What are you warning me about?”

  “It is hard for me to see. But I would not want you to betray yourself-the things that you value. I think that tonight you will be in an excellent position to do just that.”

  After walking the many twists and turns of the corridors, Baadek and Nicole entered a series of connected chambers that were sufficiently large that their footsteps and words caused echoes. It was in one of those chambers that she heard voices and smelled rich cooking. It was there that Tora Soam met them.

  “Does the night find you well, Joanne Nicole?”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “Excellent.” Tora Soam paused and Nicole heard its robes move. “And, as I promised you, here is your surprise.”

  More footsteps. “Hi, Major.”

  “Benbo?” Nicole reached out her hands. “Benbo?”

  “Right here, Major.” A pair of hands touched her shoulders.

  Some great knotted thing inside of her dissolved, making her legs limp. Benbo quickly grabbed her arms to keep her from falling to the stone floor.

  Tora Soam’s voice came very close, an edge of concern in it.

  “Joanne Nicole, are you ill?” Its voice changed direction. “She is just released from the Chirn Kovah.”

  Benbo spoke. “I think she is well, Ovjetah. It is just that we have gone through much together, and that it has been a long time since we met last.”

  “How are you? Damn it, Benbo, how in the hell are you?”
>
  “Fine, Major. Just fine.”

  The direction of his voice changed. “Ovjetah. she will recover in a moment. May we be alone?”

  “Certainly, Amos Benbo. Please use those couches over there.”

  Benbo led her across the chamber and lowered her into a deep, soft couch.

  She felt him sit on the couch beside her. Again Tora Soam spoke: “Joanne Nicole, the next part of your surprise waits with my other guests. He is Leonid Mitzak.”

  “Mitzak. It sounds like old home week.”

  “I… am not certain I understand; but would you like me to send him out here?”

  “No, Tora Soam. I would like to be alone with Benbo for a while. Can you have Baadek call us when the repast is ready?”

  “Of course. Until then. Come, Baadek.”

  Their footsteps left the chamber. She turned toward Benbo. “Amos, why are you here?”

  Benbo laughed. “It sure beats the hell out of me. When I was snagged on Ditaar, I was busy making like a firebug. Right now, I am the special guest of Ovjetah Tora Soam, the grand poobah hisself-itself.” His voice became very quiet. “Major… your eyes…”

  Nicole shook her head. “I’m temporarily blind. It’s all right. What happened to you after the attack?”

  “I put you in a safe place-or thought I did-then I ran back to the V’Butaan field to check up on the troops. Do you know about them?”

  She nodded. “Mitzak told me.”

  “Major, what in hell is going on here?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been the ward of Tora Soam since V’Butaan, from all I can tell. What that means, or why it’s so, I don’t know. What about you?”

  “I was picked up, brought here, and dropped by a couple of characters that it didn’t look too smart to argue with. Beyond that, I don’t know.”

  Baadek’s voice called from a distance. “The night repast is prepared and ready. Will you join the company?”

  Nicole pushed herself up from the couch. “Thank you, Baadek. We will be there in a moment.”

  Benbo was standing, and Nicole pulled him close and whispered, “You wanted to know what’s going on here. I don’t know, but I’ve been warned about this dinner party. You keep your trap shut unless you are asked a direct question, and then be very careful how you answer. Tora Soam’s Drac guests are all Talman Masters-” The hint of a thought crossed Nicole’s mind. Flowers. The slight odor of flowers.