Prisoner's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 3)

by David Feintuch

  “She nearly killed you. She may still.”

  “Yes.” It didn’t seem to matter. I looked around. “Where are we?”

  “In the hauling offices. Different room.” Seeing my puzzlement he added, “A hauling company, owned by Triforth Plantation. It’s where they held us before. Your men are a couple of doors down the hall.”

  I blinked, and the room came into focus. I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

  He shrugged. “I was trying to help.”

  “I don’t need help from your kind.”

  Mantiet retreated. This room had chairs. He took one. “What is my kind, Seafort?”

  I said flatly, “Garbage.”

  He reddened, but held my eye. “Your opinion is based on...?”

  “You know bloody well. You tried to murder us twice. In a sense you succeeded, with Alexi.”

  A very long pause. “Seafort, I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  I wasn’t interested. I closed my eyes, rubbing my aching skull. “Let me sleep.”

  “I didn’t do it.”

  I made no answer. After a time he went to the door, spoke to the brittle wood. “I don’t know why it matters, but I want you to know.”

  “Let me be.”

  “I didn’t blow up the hauler in front of your car; I didn’t fire a missile at your heli.”

  “I have your confession. In fact, it’s in my jacket. You named your accomplices.”

  “Men who were killed when the bomb hit.”

  “I assumed as much. As I said, you’re garbage.”

  “Seafort, look at me.” I kept my eyes closed. He said, louder, “Look at me, or I’ll kick off your kneecaps.” I opened my eyes. Mantiet said simply, “I did not attack you on any occasion. I so swear upon my immortal soul.”

  “And your confession?”

  “Was a lie.”

  “To what purpose?”

  “The obvious one.” He saw my blank look. “To avoid interrogation.”

  I sat up slowly, ignoring the throbbing in my head. “You make no sense. Interrogation would have exposed your crimes. We’d have found out about the bomb and the missiles.”

  “Yes, you’d have found out.”

  “That’s why you avoided interrogation.”

  “Yes, that’s why I confessed.”

  I managed to get to my feet. The room was about the length of a bridge. How could I think without pacing? “If you’re guilty, the interrogation would show it. If you’re innocent, the tests would have shown that, and you’d have been freed instead of hanged. So avoiding interrogation makes no sense if you’re innocent. It does if you’re guilty.”

  He said nothing.

  I paced. What was he up to, another cruel game? Was he so twisted he needed no purpose? If he was innocent, why would he avoid interrogation that would show he hadn’t tried to kill me? No one could hold anything back during interr—

  No one could hold anything back. I turned. “You were hiding something else!”

  “Bravo.” He clapped slowly.

  “What could be so important you’d give your life to conceal it?” He made no answer. Intrigued despite myself, I paced from wall to wall, hands clasped behind my back. If Mantiet hadn’t tried to kill me, someone else had. Who?

  I stopped, swearing under my breath. “Laura made it clear you’ve always been part of the underground.”

  “Yes.”

  “When the bomb went off in front of your manse, you knew you’d be under suspicion.”

  “By the time I figured out what had happened, I barely had time to get out.”

  “You’d have been picked up for interrogation because your hauler was used.”

  “I assumed so.”

  “And you knew...” I raised my eyes. “What? I still don’t understand.” He smiled through a mouth swollen from Tolliver’s beating, and I saw the obvious. “You knew it was Laura Triforth!”

  “No.” At my look of surprise he added, “I only assumed so; she didn’t take me so far into her confidence. But only Laura was devious enough to use one of my own haulers, in front of my own plantation. My confession couldn’t convict her, but I’d been attending meetings of my branch of the underground a long while, and I knew who was involved. If you took me in, you’d break my whole movement.”

  “For that, you risked your life and soiled your name?”

  “For Hope Nation’s future, yes.” He met my gaze. “I am a patriot, you know, in my own way. For all your talk about wrongs that would have been redressed, we’d tried for decades to get the U.N. to listen. To no avail.”

  I snorted. “You’re a society without poverty, without pollution, without crowding; I can’t believe you feel so sorry for yourselves. No, using Occam’s razor, you’re guilty. It’s the simplest explanation.”

  “Yes, it is. But I wanted you to hear the truth.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know.” He turned back toward the door. “Because it no longer matters. Because, as you say, I soiled my name. Perhaps because I admire your bravery.”

  “Goofjuice.”

  He said, “Or perhaps it’s just that I enjoy a good joke.”

  After that, neither of us spoke.

  17

  THE NEXT MORNING MANTIET and I were moved to another room, one that had a cubicle with a toilet. To my relief, Annie and the rest of our party were waiting.

  When we were brought in, Annie cried out with relief. Thereafter, she seemed perturbed whenever I left her side, even for my restless pacing.

  Like our previous cells, the room had no windows, nothing we could pry loose to free ourselves. Laura Triforth had apparently constructed her building with a prison in mind. For three maddening days we slept on damp mattresses, ate meager meals, and walked the confines of our chamber.

  The chill air made my chest ache. With an effort I sat. “Mr. Bezrel.”

  “Yes, sir?” He scrambled to his feet.

  “Get my vapormask, would you?”

  “I haven’t seen it, sir. Not since we changed rooms.”

  I drew my jacket tight. When the guard next brought our food, I demanded my vapormeds. He ignored me and stomped out.

  Alexi had lapsed into a moody silence; he slumped on his cot for hours at a time. Mantiet made frequent attempts to converse, most of which I disdained. However, at one point he inquired, “At the meeting, why did you call yourself plenipotentiary of the United Nations Government?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” I rolled over on my side.

  “Still, it interests me. Why?”

  “Because it was true.”

  “Do you have authorization or merely delusions of grandeur?”

  Stung, I pulled myself up. “Command of Admiralty House can be likened to command of a vessel under weigh.”

  “So?”

  “The Captain of a Naval vessel has unlimited authority. Moreover he is, in fact, the United Nations Government in transit. Whatever powers Admiral De Marnay had, devolved on me when he left, and I’m the senior officer in the Hope Nation system.”

  “Weren’t the Governor’s powers separate?”

  “Yes, until the buildup of forces. Then Mr. De Marnay was given a united command.”

  “Still, plenipotentiary of the U.N.—”

  “It’s a long-settled law.” My tone was irritable. “The Captain of a vessel can do almost anything he wants.”

  “And usually does,” said Tolliver sourly.

  “Shut up, Middy.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Mantiet gestured. “Is he always like this?”

  “Only on occasion.”

  “Why do you tolerate him?”

  “He’s sort of—” I hesitated.

  “A test of your endurance?”

  “More in the nature of a hair shirt.” I regarded Mantiet sourly. “Are you done prying?”

  “If it annoys you. How else would you pass the time?”

  “That depends on why we’re here.”


  Mantiet said, “We’re in storage until Laura decides what to do with us. We’re an embarrassment to her.”

  “How so?”

  “As you so eloquently pointed out, you represent the old, defunct government. And I represent a more moderate wing of her own party. We’re alternatives to her particular brand of republic. While we live, we’re a threat.”

  “I don’t want to die!”

  I turned toward the childish voice. “Steady, Bezrel.”

  “I didn’t do anything! Don’t let her kill us!”

  “Easy, Midshipman. You—”

  “I’ll handle it, sir,” Tolliver said smoothly. “Let’s talk in the head, Avar. Don’t disturb the Captain.” He guided the boy’s arm toward the toilet cubicle.

  “Don’t hurt him.”

  Tolliver looked at me, surprised. “I didn’t intend to.” He shut the door.

  I spoke softly, so Annie couldn’t hear. “You think we’re to be killed?”

  Mantiet looked pensive. “I’d imagine so.”

  “Then what’s Laura waiting for?”

  Mantiet shrugged. “Perhaps she’ll arrange some kind of accident. She still needs the support of conservatives like Branstead and Hopewell.” He added with a smile, “Remember, my advice isn’t worth much.”

  “I’m not sure any longer.” The admission shamed me. Gruffly I added, “I thought she kidnapped us to rescue you, but it appears your position wasn’t much improved.”

  “So it would seem.” He gestured at the bath cubicle. “It’s a pity, but if Laura, ah, eliminates you, she’s unlikely to leave the child behind.” His voice dropped even further. “Or your wife.”

  I glanced over his shoulder, but Annie was lost in some melancholic reverie. “I know.” I hesitated, amazed that I was allowing myself to make him an ally. “There’s nothing I can do.” Mantiet waved me silent as footsteps approached.

  As always, the men entered with pistols drawn and ready. “Seafort, come with us.”

  “Why?”

  “Move.”

  Wearily I got to my feet. Was this how it would end? An innocent summons, followed by an unforeseen shot to the head?

  “This way.” They marched me along the corridor, one man behind, one on either side, a laser pistol in my back. Even if I’d been armed, I could have done nothing. They shoved me into another room, which I recognized as the one in which I’d first awakened.

  Wary, I paced the chamber, glancing at the meager furniture, the barred transom. I swallowed; for some reason, what I wanted most in the world was to hold Annie in my arms.

  The door swung open. I stared at the visitor, turned away. “I’ve nothing to say to you.”

  “Please.” Harmon Branstead looked around, found a chair. “I came to see if you were well.”

  I stared at the wall opposite, determined not to speak. After a moment he came behind me. “Nicholas, I swear before Lord God: if I’d had any idea you were still on planet I wouldn’t have been on that dais. Laura told me the Navy had skulked off in the night, leaving us. She said all U.N. authority was gone, and we were on our own.”

  “You were a party to treason.”

  “Was it treason, if we were abandoned? You’ve seen my plantation; if these people are the government I have to get along with them. Who else is there?”

  “You swore an oath, as have we all.”

  He put his hand on my shoulder; I thrust it away. He said, “Nick, if the Government left us, we were entitled to form another. I thought you’d gone with your fleet.”

  “I would have, if Ms. Triforth hadn’t taken me prisoner.”

  “She thought you were about to question Mantiet; her whole scheme would have unraveled at the last moment.” He paused. “I had no part in that. Believe me.”

  I wanted to, but nobody on Hope Nation was whom he seemed. “It doesn’t matter. You have your Republic, and I my prison.” Uncomfortable at my own rudeness, I faced him. “Why are you here?”

  He closed his eyes, opened them. “Jerence ran away after the meeting. I just found him today, and had him taken home.”

  “I’m sorry. He’s...?”

  “Completely spaced. I don’t know where he found the stuff. Or what he had to do to get it.”

  “I’m sorry.” It seemed so inadequate.

  He drew closer. “I don’t know if they’re listening,” he whispered.

  “And if they are?”

  He shook his head to quiet me, and spoke in a normal tone. “They trust me as much as anyone, but they searched me before they let me in.”

  “Those who live by deceit find it everywhere.”

  “Perhaps.” He sat, toyed with his boot. “I’m sorry for your troubles. There’s nothing I can do to help you.”

  “There is,” I said.

  He glanced up, surprised. “What?”

  “My wife. Get her out of this.”

  He swallowed. “I thought she was at the clinic. They have her too?”

  I couldn’t trust myself to speak, nodded instead.

  “I’ll do my best. You have my word.” He beckoned me closer. Puzzled, I came close. He twisted the heel of his boot, slid it aside. Motioning me silent, he held it toward me.

  Pressed into a hole in the leather was a razor. He whispered, “This is all I could chance bringing. Anything else they’d have found. You’ll have to make it do.”

  I reached for it. He grasped my wrist, shook his head. “I need your promise.”

  “Of what?” Our heads were practically touching.

  His grip tightened on my arm. “Take Jerence.”

  “What?”

  “Laura told us of the call from your Admiral. When your ship Catalonia comes, take my son off-planet.”

  “Impossible.”

  “It’s possible if you do it.” His whisper was fierce. “You must, or I won’t help you.”

  “Where could I take him? We’ll be lucky to make it to home system alive. Do you want to send him to the fish?”

  His hand tightened convulsively. “No, I don’t want to risk my firstborn.” He took several steadying breaths before continuing. “You were right. We’re in terrible danger. I don’t think Hope Nation can survive the aliens. But you’re a survivor. Somehow, you manage. Take my son with you.”

  “Even if I escape, I can’t take a civilian.”

  “You can and you will.” He released my wrist, locked his gaze to mine.

  “It might mean his death.”

  “He may meet his death here, sooner.” He fingered the sharp blade. “It’s a gamble, Seafort. Jerence may be killed. Then my son Roger would inherit. Or Jerence may survive while we don’t. Then, when it’s over, you’ll send him back. Either way the family survives; Branstead Plantation goes on.”

  “You’d sacrifice your son for the survival of a plantation?”

  “I can do nothing to protect my sons. You’re the best safeguard I know. And besides...”

  I waited, realized he wouldn’t finish. “What, Harmon?” I asked gently.

  His face held anguished appeal. “I have to get him off-planet before he destroys himself. It may already be too late. All I know is that I can’t save him.”

  How old was Jerence: fourteen? I couldn’t cope with a sullen, rebellious joeykid along with my other troubles. Yet there was so little chance I’d be in a position to honor my promise that it hardly mattered. Harmon’s razor was a pitiful weapon, but without it, Avar Bezrel’s nightmare would certainly be realized. My duty was to try to save the innocents, no matter how hopeless the effort. “I’ll try, Harmon.” For Annie, for Alexi. For Bezrel.

  “No. Swear.”

  I snorted with contempt. “My word is worthless. Didn’t you know?”

  “No. I trust your word more than that of any man I know. Give me your oath.”

  I regarded him. “Very well. My oath.”

  “That you will take Jerence off-planet when you leave, and to Terra with you on Catalonia, and let him come home when the danger is abated.”


  “I so swear.”

  “And I’ll talk to Laura about Mrs. Seafort, the moment I leave.” He handed me the blade.

  I tore a piece of the lining of my jacket for wrapping, thrust it inside my pants. My grin was feral. “Too bad you couldn’t bring a laser.”

  He twisted the heel back onto his boot, whispering still. “I had to beg Laura for this chance to see you. I told her it was to say good-bye.”

  “It may well be. Who’s in charge, beside her?” I shivered, hugged myself. I hadn’t been warm in days.

  “There are others; Volksteader, Palabee. But she runs the show.” Branstead’s face clouded. “It’s not what some of us hoped.”

  “Revolutions seldom are.” I sat. “Harmon, surely you’re smart enough to see your folly. Hope Nation has hardly more than a quarter million people. If you cut off commerce with Earth—”

  “Not cut off, recast. Our lives can’t be managed from afar.”

  Ludicrous, to argue politics with him, his razor warm against my side. “Do you think for a minute the Church would allow trade with traitors who’ve set themselves against Lord God’s own government?”

  “They—”

  I rushed on. “And without our technology, you’d collapse in a generation. The die-cast fabricators, the medical—”

  “Do you suppose we haven’t thought of that? Our food is every bit as important to home system as your manufactured goods are to us. Have you any concept of the number of barges in the pipeline at any moment? Randy Carr calculated that without us you’ll have food riots inside of three years. No politics, no moral stand would outweigh—”

  It was his very soul at stake. “Harmon, you raise your fist against Lord God! I beseech you, think what you’re doing!”

  “Show me another way.” He raised a hand to forestall my reply. “I’m not proud of Laura, or how she operates. Her attack on your car was despicable, and if I’d known...” He shook his head. “Zack Hopewell is disgusted and outraged, and so am I.”

  For a moment we sat in silence.

  “When did you decide to visit?”

  “After the meeting. When I found Jerence today, I was sure. I’ve talked to...some of my friends. We agreed. We’d do more, but Laura controls the arms and the Governor’s Manse.” Again he touched my shoulder; this time I did not resist. “Godspeed.” He went briskly to the door, hammered on it. “Let me out! I’m done with him!”