By the end of the week, Shari would be put off no longer.
“But how do we know they’re okay? Do you trust Korr so implicitly now that you don’t question anything he says?”
I was about to retort, when I realized that I was taking too much on faith. “You’re right. We’ll talk to him. I only hope we don’t end up in the cell next to Karsh as a result.”
Korr arrived minutes later. We were to tour Grambala, finally. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask to see Karsh, who, last I heard, was being held on the premises. But I was apprehensive. Who knew how Korr would react?
“Um, Korr?” I struggled to find a diplomatic way to ask the question. But Shari beat me to it.
“Korr, we want to see Karsh and Keldor, to see for ourselves that they’re being treated humanely.”
I cringed, expecting an explosion. I wasn’t disappointed.
The heat of his thoughts beat at my consciousness. “You doubt my word? I already told you they were unharmed!”
I jumped in before the situation could escalate. “You’re right, Korr. We should take you at your word. Please forgive us for not yet doing so. After everything Karsh said to us about you, you have to recognize that we would have some doubts. All it would take on your part is to let us see Karsh for a few minutes. Then we’ll be convinced of your sincerity.”
I held my breath as he thought it through. The longer he deliberated, the more nervous I grew.
“Look, you said you agreed to post a guard outside our tube to appease the Council. How is this any different? It’s only a small thing. Call it a gesture of good faith.”
He reflected a moment longer. “Very well. I should have thought that the very fact you have the degree of freedom you have would be enough of a gesture. However, you may speak with Karsh; but only you, and briefly, with supervision.” His thoughts grew stern. “Do not make me regret this decision.”
“I won’t. Thank you, Korr.”
“We will tour Grambala as planned, but with a detour through the detention facilities. Are you ready to go?”
We assured him that we were. The three of us, plus Bartu, headed for the executive wing of the stronghold.
We saw dozens of what I could only think of as offices, full of people busily going about the business of running the planet. But these offices were devoid of computers, or paper, or telephones—merely Azarti floating together in direct physical contact, holding hands or feet. In this manner, much like in the command center in Galla, they formed a network of telepathic minds. This arrangement allowed them to perform tasks that no one mind alone could manage, much as a supercomputer can be built from a series of interlinked personal computers.
During my time with the Azarti, I was constantly amazed at how they managed to do so many of the things that we do on Earth, but without high-tech equipment to aid them.
After the executive wing, we visited the council wing. It contained the council chambers, where they met to decide policy, plus what I supposed could be described as the grand ballroom. The Azarti don’t have dancing, per se, but they do enjoy a form of organized group swimming. It’s not as structured as synchronized swimming on Earth, however. Each couple or small group is free to roll, twist, flip or paddle as they see fit. Yet somehow, to an outside observer, the entire room seems to weave a complex and precise pattern of motion.
The Azarti “dance” to the sounds of sea creatures moaning, whistling, clicking, and making the hundreds of other distinct and unique sounds found beneath the sea. The sounds are somehow captured and arranged in complex compositions, much as our composers do. The result is a haunting, ethereal experience unlike anything I’ve ever heard elsewhere. It occurred to me that Azarti music was one more item of trade that humans would clamor for.
We were also shown the formal dining hall where visiting dignitaries were feted. The chamber was large and oval, and resplendent with a pearlescent mural of undersea life that encompassed the entire room. As usual, the lack of fixed furniture made the room seem unfinished, somehow. On the other hand, the open expanse made it easier to admire the exquisite artwork. A closer examination told me that the mural wasn’t painted, nor was it tiled, or applied in any other fashion, as far as I could tell. It appeared to be part and parcel of the wall itself. If the Azarti were capable of “growing” rooms with the artwork embedded in the DNA of the creatures, that was pretty amazing stuff, and worthy of even more trade discussions.
The art gallery was simply magnificent, displaying thousands of objects, each more beautiful and intricate than the last. Here we saw examples of carved coral, an art form similar to scrimshaw, an exquisite type of painting done with permanent dyes on fish skin, and mollusk shells inlaid with precious metals. Everything was incredible and unique to Lasharr. Art collectors on Earth would fall all over themselves bidding for pieces like those.
If only the price of artwork was all I had to worry about. Day by day, I had grown more certain that Karsh had deceived us all along and that Korr was everything he appeared to be: an honorable person doing his best to help put his shattered society back together, piece by piece. An effort like that had to come with hard decisions. No matter the good intentions, Korr was bound to make enemies. It shouldn’t have been surprising that someone like Karsh would have crawled out of the woodwork.
During the tour of Grambala, Korr told us of his immediate plans for rebuilding, and of his hopes for the future of Lasharr. The more he talked, the more I grew to like and admire him.
As we drew closer to the end of our tour, and to my meeting with Karsh, I became ever more resentful of him. How dare Karsh use Shari and me like that? All we ever did was try to help him and his people. Hell, we saved their lives, the ungrateful bastards. The fact that they were escaped felons when I met them should have clued me in. I was an ex-cop for godsake. I should have smelled the Azarti’s B.S. for what it was!
By the time the tour was over, I was looking forward to seeing Karsh, so I could tell the SOB what I thought of him.
We arrived in the detention wing. There were no torture devices in evidence, no one being stretched on a rack, no bamboo shoots being sharpened, no cattle prods. Everything was clean and neat, just like the rest of Grambala. There was merely a series of passageways with cells off them. Bartu led us to Karsh’s cell.
“Remember our deal,” Korr said. “Only you, Sunrise, and only for a few minutes. Bartu will go with you. You may speak with Karsh, but you may do nothing to aid him or to help him escape. Afterward, if I am satisfied that you are no longer a threat to this government, I will remove the guard from outside your chamber. In a few days, we will return you to your planet, where you will become my world’s official representative to Earth. Agreed?”
Earlier, I might have thought the latter comment was a bribe to win me over. But no longer. I looked at Shari. She wasn’t arguing.
From our private discussions during the tour of Grambala, Shari had made it clear that she no longer had any doubts about Korr’s sincerity. He had won her over, too. This meeting with Karsh was simply a formality.
“Agreed. I just want to see that the bastard is unharmed, so I can tell him how pissed off I am at the way he lied to us to get us to help his conspiracy.”
“Very well. You may enter.”
Bartu went first and I followed close behind. Karsh hovered inside. He was alone and appeared unhurt. Of course he wasn’t hurt. Korr had said that Karsh was being treated well. This was more proof of his sincerity.
“Sunrise. It is good to see you. I was afraid Korr might have had you killed by now.”
“You look well, Karsh. It doesn’t seem like you’ve been tortured.”
“No. I was interrogated and roughed up somewhat, but not seriously injured. I told Korr nothing.”
“I’m glad you’re not hurt. But tell me something. Why all the lies about Korr? He’s not the monster you made him out to be. He seems like an honorable person, a dedicated leader, genuinely concerned with the welfare of
his people—not the power-hungry madman and cold-blooded murderer you said he was.” Now I was really pissed. The anger grew as I projected hot words Karsh’s way.
“Why go to all the trouble of deceiving us? Why poison our minds with all the stories of conspiracy and torture? Why? Why involve us at all? Just because of my sledgehammer? Is that it? I was only useful to you because of that? I thought we were friends!” I floated there, breathing heavily and thinking dark thoughts about Karsh.
My ‘friend’ took several seconds to respond. “So, he has convinced you, has he? Korr must have told some pretty lies to convert you to his side. As for his honor and integrity, did he tell you that I am to be publicly executed for my ‘crimes against the people,’ along with my accomplices?”
I was stunned. “He said you’d be tried by a jury of your peers.”
“Really. A jury trial. I have had no such trial. Yet I am to be executed in two days, ‘as an example to other would-be traitors.’ Korr told me himself, this morning. He seemed rather pleased by the idea.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, but I bulled ahead. After all, perhaps Karsh was lying to me, still hoping to win me over despite everything.
“If he’s so evil, why would he offer to make me the trade representative for his government in dealings with Earth? Why not just kill me along with you and the other conspirators?” Even as I asked the question, the thought of a bribe crept back into my mind, unbidden.
Karsh snorted. “It is quite simple. He needed someone from your planet to serve as the go-between. Your people might balk at the idea of talking with aliens they do not know. Earth has had no dealings with aliens before, correct? They might be more comfortable negotiating through a fellow human. Do you know any other telepathic humans besides yourself and Lola?”
That thought hadn’t occurred to me before.
“As for my having no use for you except for your sledgehammer, you might recall that Keldor and I came for you all the way from Lasharr. We heard your shout while you were being tortured by Scarpacci and dropped everything to save you. You did not have your sledgehammer yet, remember? We came for you because you were in danger. We left the revolution in limbo to save you—simply because you were our friend. Is this no longer true?”
I sneered in Karsh’s face, with all the venom I could muster. “You’ve got to be kidding! You used us from the very beginning, first to save your lives and then to further the goals of your half-baked conspiracy. You didn’t have a chance of winning, but you went ahead anyway and got a lot of idealistic people killed in the process. You’re every bit the monster you portray Korr to be. In fact, you’re much worse. Instead of simply ordering soldiers on suicide missions, you convince them that they’re working toward something heroic and noble—and it’s all a lie. You make me sick!”
Waves of shock and pain beat against my brain. I sensed Karsh struggling to formulate a response.
“I’m not normally a fan of the death penalty, Karsh, but it seems that in your case it’s warranted. I plan to ask Korr if I can be there to watch you die.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I felt like a real heel, hurting him like that. But I couldn’t take the chance that Korr would think I held any sympathy for Karsh. Karsh’s reaction had to be genuine.
Karsh’s simple words, presented softly and with sincerity, had completely dissolved my anger. Everything he said made perfect sense. Of course Korr wanted us to initiate trade talks with Earth. That explained why he was being so nice to us. Karsh was right; his people traveled all the way to Earth to save Shari and me, even though we offered them nothing at the time but friendship.
What an idiot! I’d made a horrible mistake in trusting Korr. Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to correct my error. Still, how could I save Karsh and the rest of his people from execution? There wasn’t much time, I didn’t know exactly where Karsh’s people were being held, and I had no sledgehammer to use.
Still, there had to be a solution. There just had to be.
Although Karsh had convinced me, I couldn’t let on that I no longer bought into Korr’s ‘grand plan for the future.’ Bartu had listened to the entire exchange and for all I knew Korr had other ways to listen in on our discussion. I had to act like I didn’t believe Karsh, and I had to be convincing.
Before Karsh could respond, I turned to Bartu. “Come on. Let’s go. I can’t stand to be in the same room with the lying bastard.”
By now, of course, I was pretty sure who the real lying bastard was, and who the jerk was who fell for Korr’s line of polished bullshit. It was time for some fancy footwork.
I went first and Bartu followed. I vaguely sensed an exchange between Bartu and Korr. Shari gave me an odd look. I could tell she overheard the exchange and was itching to ask me about it. I sent her a quick thought. “I’ll tell you later, when we’re alone.”
“Are you satisfied that the prisoner has not been mistreated?” Korr asked. A faint smug overtone to his words told me Bartu had done his job and repeated my conversation with Karsh.
“Yes. Quite. I apologize for doubting you. I won’t do that again. The sonofabitch deserves everything that’s coming to him. Look, I know I have no right to ask, but could I be present at Karsh’s execution? It would give me great pleasure to watch him fry.”
This seemed to amuse Korr. I guess he enjoyed turning friends against one another. He didn’t even try to deny that Karsh’s fate had already been decided. That clinched for me who was telling the truth and who was lying.
“Yes, of course. That is easily accomplished. Now, are you ready to begin discussing plans for initiating trade with your planet?
“You bet. I’m looking forward to seeing the faces of some people on Earth when I return the conquering hero, offering the treasures of the universe.”
* * * *
The next two days were busy ones. By day, Korr, Shari, and I discussed the types of Azarti goods that Earth might be interested in, and vice versa. The list was smaller than I would have expected—many Earth products weren’t suitable for underwater use, and many Azarti products were less advanced than their Earthly counterparts. Still, the list of goods that we thought would be of interest to the respective planets was quite large. Undoubtedly other items would be added over time, as each planet had a chance to inspect the wares of the other. There would be plenty to talk about, both now and later.
So why were we going through all this, even though Shari and I were going to do our best to stop Korr? Simple. If Karsh’s revolution was successful, I knew that he, too, would be interested in trade with Earth. Plus, we had to keep Korr thinking that Shari and I were on his side.
By night, Shari and I plotted to free Karsh and the others. We had several handicaps to overcome: one, we had no weapons and no accomplices inside Grambala, two, our psychic abilities were pretty much nullified, and three, we were on a planet where we were about as inconspicuous as a couple of basketball players at a Munchkin convention. But aside from that, it was a piece of cake….
The only thing we had going for us was that Korr kept his word and removed the guard from our chambers. He said we were free to go anywhere within Grambala, except for the detention wing, which was off-limits to anyone lacking special clearance.
In the next two days we had a lot to get done. We had to somehow find the Azarti that were nullifying our abilities and nullify them. We had to find the rest of Karsh’s people and get them out of detention. Then, we had to capture Korr and escape. We had to do all that before Karsh’s execution—and so far we didn’t even know exactly when that would be—without arousing suspicion.
We began by exploring the parts of Grambala that we hadn’t seen on the guided tour. We were as nonchalant as we could manage, chatting and pointing and laughing. We knew we’d be noticed wherever we went, so we had to make sure we appeared to be tourists on vacation rather than burglars casing the joint.
Grambala is huge, which didn’t make our job any easier, but we were able to eliminate
large sections from considerations. It had to take a great deal of mental exertion to blanket entire wings of Grambala day and night. It made sense that those doing the nullifying would be in proximity to the affected area. So we started on one side of Grambala near the detention wing and worked our way across to the other side of the stronghold, looking for chambers that were guarded or inaccessible. We found four such rooms.
“So now what?” I asked when we were back in our room. We focused our thoughts tightly, to foil eavesdroppers. “We need to find out which of the rooms the nullifiers are in. Any ideas?”
Shari shrugged. “How about swimming up to the guards and asking?”
I laughed. “Just ask them?” Then I thought about it. “Hmm. We weren’t told we couldn’t talk to the guards. It’s possible they weren’t told not to talk to us. I guess it’s worth a try.”
“Let’s say we locate them. Then what? How do we get past the guards and disable the nullifiers, or get them to stop?”
It was my turn to shrug. “One thing at a time. Until we know the situation, there’s no way to know how they’re protected or what we can do to stop them. For all we know, there’s an armed squad of soldiers in the room with them.”
“That’s an ugly thought.”
“No kidding. Let’s get a quick bite to eat and go talk to some guards.”
* * * *
We stopped at a cafeteria of sorts at the far end of Grambala from the detention wing. As always, we had a choice of raw fish, raw sea plants, raw mollusks, or a combination of the three. By this time I was really homesick for some good home-cooking. Hell, even some bad home-cooking. Anything—just as long as it was cooked. We picked up a few items to take back to our air-filled quarters.
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