He considered his answer, taking another sip to buy himself a moment. “Sometimes,” he said, “We find ourselves reined in, Our freedom to act hindered by the decisions of Our predecessors. It is what has happened in this case.” He met her gaze. “It has to do with the papal ban on the use of the Gifts of the Tourists.”
“I don't understand,” she said. “What does that have to do with a prisoner transfer?”
“While it is true,” he said, “that reliance on the Gifts caused the fall of the civilization of the Ancients, it may have been...a bit of an exaggeration for Our predecessors to label them demonic and prohibit their use on theological grounds.” He finished his goblet. “Certainly it would be a mistake in the long term to place too much reliance on things that will eventually fail. But in the short term, the Honcho needs to use some of them to help the Army become more effective against his enemies. To that end, he requested that We make available to him some of the confiscated Gifts.”
She absorbed that. “And even though you agreed, he hasn't turned over his prisoner?”
“I'm afraid not. Can you keep your ears open, Esmeralda, and learn if he, as you so aptly suggested, has some alternate source?”
“Certainly, Holiness.”
Chapter 59
Xander: “Amongst the rock one cannot stop or think”
Xander was doing push ups when Kristana arrived. Daniels was watching with a disgruntled look. It was clear the doctor thought he was about to lose an argument.
“What do you think you're doing?” the Governor demanded.
Xander did a few more push ups before stopping. “I could state the obvious and say I am doing push ups,” he said. “But hopefully you've spotted that. Since you just got here, I'll be more forthcoming and say I'm proving a point.” He stood up and pointed to his chest.
His chest was bare, so it was easy to see that the scabs had fallen off. The skin near the site of his injury was still reddened, but the wound had closed. More to the point, his vigorous exercise involving pectoral muscles had not torn it open again.
“Yes, I'll conceded that your wound is closed,” said Daniels. “I would hesitate to say that constitutes a full recovery, but it's clear you can do some physical things without reopening it and risking a relapse.”
“In other words,” said Xander, “you have to let me go try to help Lester now.” He turned to Kristana. “Call off your dogs. I can pee by myself now, and I've got to rescue my apprentice, if he's still alive, that is.”
“Oh, he's alive all right,” said the Governor. But she didn't look happy about it.
Xander threw his tunic back on. “Needless to say, I am pleased to be informed of this,” he said. “But how can you be so sure?” And why aren't you happy about it?
“We have spies close to the Honcho,” She nodded to Daniels. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “I see you're reluctantly agreeing that he's fit to travel. In that case, we won't keep you from your other patients.”
Daniels took the hint and left. “I'm sure you'll be back and bleeding in no time,” he grumbled, before the door closed behind him.
Xander waited a few moments after it was shut. “There's something you're not telling me,” he guessed. “Or that you don't want everyone else to know. What is it?”
“You remember those Ancient war machines he found under Abilene?” she asked.
“Yes. As I recall, we worked out that his only problem was coming up with fuel for them. It's been a long time since he or anyone else has found a storage tank that wasn't drained dry after the Fall. Has he found one?”
“No. But it's become clear his people developed a plan for making some, using his remaining oil wells for raw material. The only way he could do that is to re-engineer a refinery, and his fastest route to get there is to use swizzles to pump it out and everflames to supply the heat.”
“Wouldn't that be difficult for him? I thought the Church banned them as 'demonic'. Besides, I don't see what his logistics problems have to do with my rescuing Lester.”
“They're connected,” she told him. “The word is, he was going to trade your apprentice to the Church for some of their confiscated artifacts. He'd get his fuel and they'd get to hold a public execution.”
“All the more reason why I have to get him out of there.” he glanced around the room. “Where are you keeping my staff these days? Is it still up on the roof?”
“The situation has changed,” she told him. “He might not be handing Lester over right away. In fact, he might try to hang onto him permanently.”
He sat down on the cot. “Are you ready to tell me yet?” he asked. “It's obvious you're building up to something I won't like.”
She took a breath, “Lester's learned how to make swizzles. That bought him some time. If he can manage to make everflames too, the Honcho won't have to trade him for them.”
“Good for him!” Then he thought some more. “And bad for us. The Honcho might still get rid of him, eventually, but in the meantime he'll get what he needs to roll out his armored division.” He stood. “I need to get going.”
“It will be very bad if the Honcho gets the fuel he needs.”
He just looked at her. “What are you saying?”
“Don't leave anything behind the Honcho can use against us,” she said. “If you can't rescue him, you'll have to eliminate him.”
He stared. “You can't be serious,” he said, eventually. “He's the best apprentice I've found in years! I've never had one who figured out how to make swizzles all by himself.”
Her eyes were sad but determined. “All the more reason why we can't let the Honcho keep him. The more valuable he is to them, the more dangerous he is to us.”
“No. I won't do that. There has to be a better way.”
“Then find one. Get out of their clutches, one way or another, Before they get what they need Because if you can't end this,” she said, “I have operative in Dallas who will.”
Chapter 60
Peter: “for only the wind will listen”
The visit of His Holiness was as disruptive as it was unexpected. It took slightly a minute for the news of his arrival to travel from spotters on the roof the building down to the Honcho. You could think of it as a wave phenomenon that converted from radiant to visual in put, and from visual input into a memory traveling in a body. The messenger body had to go down two flights of stairs and knock on the door of his office. “Yes?”
“His Holiness's coach is pulling up in front of the building, sir!”
The Honcho mentally said a rude word. “Thank you.” He turned to Jeffrey. “Show him into the study when he gets here. If I'm not there I'll be right out.”
“What do I tell him?”
“Nothing of importance. Say as much as you can without saying anything at all.” While his son digested that, Peter strode into another room and arranged for some chilled wine and tried to think. What could this surprise visit portend? For the pope to be this determined to see him, to show up unannounced, it had to be either to ask a big favor or to deliver some sort of ultimatum.
He could think of no favor the pope needed from him at the moment. It would be nice if he could, but the more he thought about it, the more it looked like the pope was tired of waiting for the prisoner transfer and had decided to exert some leverage.
The question was, what leverage did he think he had and how could it be nullified? He did not have time to dance with the Church at the moment, and if their captive apprentice Lester managed to learn how to make everflames any time soon then he would be too valuable to waste on a public execution.
By the time he stepped into the study he had his game face on. He nodded to the papal bodyguards on his way into the chamber. “Holiness, this is an unexpected pleasure. I do hope you were not fatigued by the climb. My advisors keep asking me to move to a shorter building but I always tell them anyone who invades here will be exhausted by the time they reach my command level. But forgive me, you must be parched, Would y
ou like some wine?”
Enrique sat on one of the chairs next to the desk. “Do you have some? We had thought you were more partial to your whiskey, Excellency.”
Peter moved to the side table and located a bottle of Alaris and poured two glasses of the purple. “Ah,well, you know we Texas men do like our firewater. But I thought perhaps you might want to go easy on it here in the depths of secular depravity that we call government.” He crossed the room and handed a glass to the Pope.
“I'll try not to notice the spiritual dangers all around me,” Enrique said, smiling, as he sipped the wine. “This is a rather nice one. It is simply amazing sometimes how much something can increase in value just sitting.”
“Well on this imperfect world value is usually a relative thing, Holiness. Many things do not improve with age, but wine is fortunately one of them.”
I can see your heir is another,” said Enrique, nodding to Jeffrey. “While I waited for you, he was just telling me of his recent escape from the savages of Rado.”
“Oh, hardly savages, Holiness,” Jeffrey protested. “They have language and horses.”
“So did the Huns,” the Pontiff replied. “But they are gone while we remain.”
“Sure, Holiness, there is more to measure a civilization by than mere survival,” the Honcho said. “Any socially coherent group of humans that still exists survived the Fall of civilization. But some have lost more than others. For example, the Church, which Texas has and Rado does not. We have not lost all of the ways of the Ancients.”
“But Rado does have churches,” Jeffrey objected. “I passed some on the way out.”
“I am sure,” said His Holiness, “that they are considered houses of worship. But they are not part of the Church, and neither are their congregations...although they will be someday. It is a little like saying that people still use silverware just because they eat with their knives.”
“They have forks, too,” said Jeffrey. “But probably most don't have silver ones.”
“Still,” said the Pope, “it is a relief that you escaped. There are not times for the security of government – the succession of leadership – to be in question.”
“An ironic statement, Holiness, considering the recent transition in your TCC that brought you to power,” said Jeffrey. “Isn't everything temporary in an imperfect world?”
“Not at all,” said Enrique smiling. “The cases are different for two reasons. We deal in matters that are eternal, not temporal. First, the Church does not concern itself with the defense of the Empire, so a change in Popes poses no threat to anyone's life.”
Except to the previous Pope's life, Peter thought. “I hope not,” he said.
“Secondly, the Church has had procedures in place for two thousand years to cover this sort of thing. It need not reinvent itself with each change in leadership, as governments often do in times of war or revolution. We have no declarations or manifestos. Life goes on.”
“Policies change, but I take your point,” said the Honcho. “The Lone Star Empire has been stable now for a hundred years. Sometimes we have to fight a war or two to prevent greater instability, but we remain, as you said.”
“Indeed,” said His Holiness. “We are concerned, actually, with the war you are currently contemplating. It was Our understanding that you needed certain resources for that effort, and that we could provide them. But you have yet to arrange for the resolution of that.”
Jeffrey was trying not to scowl. Although he applauded the effort, Peter wished his son were more successful in concealing his reactions. It was clear he was not happy about the suggestion that they'd end up trading Lester for the Gifts.
“You are right, of course,” said Peter. “Be assured, Holiness, I haven't forgotten. There are, however, many details to attend to and so things always take longer than expected, especially with government.”
Enrique sipped his wine. “Much longer,” he said. “I do hope you understand, Excellency, that while We do have some control within the Church proper, Our influence in the population at large is less potent. Surely you must know that word of your magician prisoner has leaked out by now. There may be an outcry for his execution. There is only so much the Church can do to restrain the passions of your citizenry.”
“Particularly when you preach that aliens are demons and magicians are evil,” said Jeffrey.
He should be more silent, thought Peter. But the point, he felt, was valid. Clearly it was in the Church's interest to stir up anger against all manifestations of Tourist technology. It gave them a visible focus for their warnings. And here was the Pope claiming that the Church was only concerned with eternal matters!
“The harm they wrought upon the Earth is undeniable,” said Enrique.
“The Fall of civilization hurt a lot of people,” said Peter. “What is not at all clear is whether it was deliberately caused. Certainly we could have avoided it by declining the Gifts and maintaining our own technology without them.”
“But we accepted them, to our ruin,” said the Pope. “The people who understand what happened will not look kindly on humans who aspire to be like the Tourists.”
“Surely you don't think the people of Dallas will storm the prison and attempt a lynching?” Peter asked him. You really want to go down that road, Ricky?
“One would hope not, your Excellency. But it is possible, We suppose.”
“Everything is possible,” said the Honcho. “But we only worry about the things that are probable. Were the people to do such a thing, it is probable that many of them would have to be killed to stop them. I'm sure we both agree that would be regrettable.”
“Quite,” said His Holiness. “Regrettable...but perhaps not necessary. You could do much to prevent such unrest by merely setting a date for the trial and execution. Such a gesture might, We hope, consign such problems to the realm of improbability.”
“An interesting idea, Holiness,” said the Honcho. “We shall take it under advisement. Forgive me for changing the subject, but have you made any progress on catching the assassin?”
“The who?”
“Holiness, we both know Rodrigo's death was not an accident. It is the opinion of my experts that he was killed with a swizzle. No need to point out how...explosive...such a revelation might be for the Church. Imagine how insecure your flock might feel, knowing that killers are among them with silent weapons.”
“It only underscores how inappropriate it is for humans to have such things.”
“All humans, Holiness? Or only certain humans?”
“What do you mean, Excellency?”
“Well, a crossbow is not the work of demons, surely, but it is just as deadly at close range. But we can't very well go about confiscating all weapons. The defense of Texas depends on having weapons, so we must accept the necessity of people having them.”
“I do not see the parallel,” said the pontiff. “It is impossible to prevent humans from making human-made weapons. Alien weapons, however, fall into a different category altogether. Since they cannot be made, they are limited and can be removed without anyone making more.”
“Yes, Holiness, but do you see the danger of that? If the Church confiscates swizzles because they might be used as weapons, then it soon finds itself sitting on a weapons cache. How long do you suppose it might be before the temptation's greater than some of your flock can withstand? Hoarding such temptations places your own leadership into a situation of temptation.”
“Perhaps,” said the pontiff, “But at least they are controlled by people experienced in resisting temptation. Can you say the same for your army?”
“I'm not proposing to arm my soldiers with swizzles,” the Honcho said. “As you yourself said, there are only so many of them, and we can't make more. We are left, however, with the disturbing image of secret TCC operatives skulking about with them. I would wager you have removed the privacy screens from your audience chambers.”
“Yes,” said Enrique. “And We are sure that
we shall apprehend anyone who misuses Church property. But we are focusing too much on swizzles. You need both swizzles and everflames to distill your fuel, as we recall.”
“True,” said Peter. “But until we have the oil out of the ground we don't need everflames.”
“But you will, Peter” said Enrique, rising to leave. “I hope you'll keep what I said earlier in mind.”
“Oh I assure you, I will, Ricky.”
Chapter 61
Xander: “the third who always walks beside you”
Everyone was surprised when the priest stood up except Xander. From the reactions of the crowd, it was atypical behavior.
“Early bedtime, Father?” The bartender summarized the surprise in the room.
The priest was shaking his head as he pulled on his coat. “Not for me, but early departure all the same, Fred. Duty calls.”
He pushed open the front door and began walking up the street. He did not notice the men in uniform until they blocked his path. He gazed curiously at the red-and-blue uniforms that had suddenly become such an impassible obstacle. Their appearance seemed incomprehensible to him, which was probably why he showed no fear. “Is there something I can do for you gentlemen?”
Their leader grinned at him. “I believe you can, Father Andrews. Is it true, as I'm told, that you are the caretaker at St. Farker's?”
Andrews raised his eyebrows at this. “Indeed, such is the case. Why do you ask?”
“I have heard,” said the officer, “that he died a cruel and unusual death.”
“It is generally conceded to be in the very nature of Saints that they tend to die cruel deaths,” said Father Andrews.
“Forgive me, Father, but I am not Church-going man. Could you refresh my memory as to the manner of his unfortunate demise?”
“I'm surprised you don't ask, instead, why he was canonized at all. It was quite a controversy, at the time.”
Pathspace: The Space of Paths Page 23