“No Sir, Colonel,” Non said in his own defense. “I was merely stating that of all my excellent instructors, you are the one whose guidance on this issue, I would most trust.”
“Ah,” Zheng said. “What indicates that my guidance or opinion on this subject is any more valid than that of, say, your Tactics or Physical Training instructors?”
“Your writings, Colonel, Sir,” Non replied without hesitation. “I have read all of your books, and so have my father and brothers. We find you are quite enlightened about certain historical events and what their impact has been on the League, even though it is obvious you do not have the full story on some things…”
“What events are you talking about,” Zheng asked. “And, just how does my writing about history or current events indicate I might be sympathetic you your father’s cause?”
“Are you not in agreement the Central Government has moved too far left, Colonel,” Non asked. “And have you not written that you feel the socialist Earth government and the early Central Government of the League of Aligned Planets demonized John Chamberlain and his capitalist associates without a full disclosure of all the evidence against them in order to advance their socialist agenda?”
Zheng kept his back toward Non, but nodded in agreement. He gestured for Non to continue.
“Have you not said that until the full story of that period of time is told, you consider the League to have been founded on lies and partial truths,” Non asked. “And, as long as the Central Government refuses to allow a truly free news media it is doomed to ultimately lose what little credibility it has left?”
Zheng was still turned away from Non.
“Yes, Cadet,” he acknowledged. “I have time and again made those statements, both in print and in public forums.”
Zheng raised his arms once more and folded them across his chest. He stiffened again.
“But, that doesn’t necessarily mean I think we’ve moved too far to the left,” he added. “Nor does it mean I am sympathetic to your father’s views. And, I most certainly do not desire to become involved in anything to do with the Ekkidan elections.”
Zheng paused for a few seconds and continued with a particularly haughty air.
“I am an instructor at this academy which is maintained under the auspices of the Fleet, an agency of the League and subject to the Central Government’s administration,” he barked. “For me to give even the appearance of supporting a political candidate running for office would be a breach of ethics.”
“Of course, Colonel,” Non said. “I would never ask you to openly support my father’s election efforts. I was only asking for your guidance on what I should do with certain evidence that my father has uncovered with respect to a conflict of interest in the directorship of the Bureau of Historical Sciences.”
Zheng’s stance relaxed once more. His arms dropped to his sides again.
“Continue,” he said.
Non stood up. “Colonel Zheng, I will try to explain this to you as fully as I can,” he said. “However, there are many things I am honor-bound not to divulge about the dealings of the upper caste and the election.”
Zheng remained with his back turned. “I understand, Cadet,” he replied. “Please continue.”
“My father has proof that members of the Central Government are personally giving funds to his opponent’s campaign,” Non said. “Ethical or not, that happens every election. It is nothing new and once it is revealed publicly, the press will deal with it as they always have…”
“You are getting off topic, Cadet,” Zheng said. “My time and patience are both limited. You mentioned something about a conflict of interest in the Bureau.”
“Sorry Colonel,” Non said. “Over the last five years or so, the Bureau has been sponsoring a so called ‘education’ program that has amounted to little more than socialist propaganda. The people are being conditioned to believe that my father and those who vote with him in the upper house of our parliament are nothing more than capitalist thugs. They accuse my father and his political allies of obstructing Central Government initiatives that would benefit lower caste Ekkidans.”
“Is that not essentially the truth, Cadet,” Zheng asked. “Most of the Ekkidan upper caste abhors the Central Government and would do whatever possible to thwart it at every turn. And, if I’m not mistaken, elections are all about the competition of opposing philosophies.”
“Those points are well taken,” Non replied. “But, is it not a violation of ethics and a clear conflict of interest for an agency of the Central Government to openly espouse an economic philosophy that in order to exist demands a perpetuation of that government? And is it not propaganda to characterize those who have opposed that philosophy in the past as thugs and criminals, as has been done with John Chamberlain?”
“I can see your point, Cadet,” Zheng said. “I do not, however, understand how that could be considered interference in the Ekkidan elections. Now if you actually have evidence of a direct violation of ethics to report… say an official openly telling his underlings to vote a certain way or soliciting credits from them for a candidate’s campaign…”
“We have evidence that an official in the Bureau of Historical Sciences has something to gain personally from my father’s defeat,” Non said. “And, he has been actively supporting my father’s opponent in secret, with the help of other officials of the Central Government.”
Zheng took a more relaxed posture but still kept his back turned away from Non. “Do you have hard documentation to support what you are saying, Cadet,” he asked. He was becoming quite amused at what might be going on at the other end of the open microphone he found before the start of this conversation.
“Yes. My family has such documentation, Colonel,” Non answered. “They have not come forward with it as yet because they are uncertain how to proceed.”
“And you believe I can help with that,” Zheng asked.
“Yes, Colonel,” Non replied. “My family is certain yours is the voice that must be used to bring this into the open.”
“I do not understand how I can be of help to you and your father, Cadet,” Zheng stated. “As I said before, if I even give the appearance of publicly supporting him in his election efforts, it would be seen as a violation of ethics and anything I say would be discounted.”
Zheng turned to face Non. “I would suggest your father release the evidence he has to the public and allow them to draw their own conclusions,” he told the cadet.
“That course of action is ill-advised, I’m afraid, Colonel,” Non answered. “To release the information we have in that manner would appear to be an act of desperation on my father’s part and could ruin his attempt to become the Prime Minister. The Central Government’s news organization would not hesitate to claim that was what was happening.”
“And you think if I release this information, I will be taken more seriously,” Zheng asked.
“The Central Government has not been able to silence you,” Non said.
“Maybe they haven’t tried,” Zheng answered. “Perhaps allowing me to speak somehow works to their advantage. It makes me a voice in the wilderness they can ridicule to make their position seem more reasonable.”
“So are you telling me you do not wish to help us make this information public, Colonel, Sir,” Non asked. “Because if that is what you are telling me, I should not say anything more…”
“What I am telling you, is that my credibility would be put on the line if I were to do this and I will need something of great value to me in exchange for my services,” Zheng replied.
“That is fair enough, Colonel Zheng,” Non replied. “What is it that my family might have that would be of interest to you?”
“Open up the Ekkidan Historical Archives to me,” Zheng said.
“My father can’t do that until he is Prime Minister and even then it is not guaranteed,” Non replied. “He cannot promise you that.”
“Then tell me everything you know about
Aro Zhereveldonne Cozeremi,” Zheng insisted. “Once you do that, I will consider helping your family release the information you have.”
“I am honor-bound not to discuss such things with an off-worlder, Colonel Zheng,” Non said. “The only member of my family who would be authorized to discuss our knowledge of another member of the upper caste or our family’s dealings with him would be my father. Your business is with him. I will contact him for you, Sir.”
Chapter 35
2-November-2409
Zheng stepped off the diplomatic transport and immediately removed his jacket. He broke a heavy sweat as he walked through the arid heat to the automatic doors of the terminal.
Once inside, two men in loose fitting, light tan clothes approached him and offered to take his bags. One removed the dark sun visor from his eyes and introduced himself as Merak Non’s personal assistant, Ori Maximilian Kestar.
“You will need some looser clothing and a good sun visor while you are here, Colonel Zheng,” Kestar said. “If you will give me your sizes, I will be happy to have one of the staff shop for you this afternoon.”
Zheng looked down at the woolen uniform he was wearing. It was suitable for the Academy, where the weather was below freezing most of the year, but he had to agree it would be a liability in the desert heat.
“My tenure as an instructor at the Academy and my status as a military annuitant afford me a uniform allowance,” Zheng replied. “If you will take me to the closest military Post Exchange, I’ll be able to get some lighter weight fatigues and a visor there.”
“As you wish, Colonel,” Kestar said. “We will pass the local Fleet Headquarters compound on the way into the city. They have a PX there.”
The space port was just outside Ekkirizaddeqar, the Ekkidan capitol. The city was three degrees south of the equator of the planet.
Zheng was to find out that even at forty Celsius, the Ekkidans who lived in the capitol city considered this a cool afternoon. The second planet of this double-planet system, Vushmatu, took up a large portion of the eastern horizon.
As they walked through the terminal to the ground transportation area, Zheng looked around for a gift or duty free shop. He had allowed himself five thousand credits to spend on souvenirs for his family and wanted to make note of any shops that looked interesting so he could stop in on his way off the planet.
Zheng’s military retirement was much smaller than it would have been if he had waited just five more years to retire, but he still got full military employed annuitant allowances for clothing, lodging and food because he taught at the Academy. He had also spent little of his teacher’s salary over the last twenty years, and had acquired a modest income from his books. His apartment at the Academy was guaranteed to be his, rent free for life, as a part of his tenure, even if he never taught another class. If Zheng never made another fraction of a credit the rest of his life from any source, he could live out what was left of it comfortably because he had amassed such a sizable life savings.
There were many reasons why Zheng was able to save so much on such a small income. The largest reason being, it was nearly impossible to find anything to spend his money on within the massive territories of the League of Aligned Planets. Most of his needs were supplied already as a part of his stipend. So, Zheng made it a point to lavish his family with gracious gifts on every occasion, even though they had most of their needs and wants, also.
It wasn’t possible at the moment to own more property than the parcel you lived on while a citizen of the League. When you died, the property reverted back to the state. Your children were not allowed to inherit the property, so, in essence you were paying rent.
This encouraged most League citizens to rent apartments in the Central Government housing projects. Rent in the projects was much less than the set monthly mortgage to purchase a single family residence; and all repairs, excluding those caused by abuse, were paid for by the state.
There weren’t many luxuries for League citizens to buy, either. The list of non-essential goods made available for purchase consisted of fairly mundane consumables made more valuable by the fact they had to be shipped up to thirty or more light years in most cases and tended to be scarce.
When he died, the Central Government would recover what was left of Zheng’s savings by way of a death tax. Each of his surviving children would be able to claim a small amount of the estate as a token inheritance, but the maximum allowable amount ended up being less than half a year’s salary for the average worker, even on an unusually large estate.
Even the rights to the books Zheng authored would be assumed by the Central Government upon his death and entered into the public domain.
On the other hand, even if he didn’t have a penny to his name, the Central Government would make sure he didn’t end up a derelict. Not because he was an exceptional teacher, historian or soldier; but, because that was what the government was supposed to do. Nobody was supposed to do without. Nobody would do without.
Zheng and his two escorts entered the ground transportation area of the terminal and walked to a large, black automobile. As Zheng climbed into the back with Kestar, something in his last conversation with Lennart Pedersen came to mind.
“Please tell me something, Kestar,” Zheng asked. “That is, if you don’t mind me asking you a personal question.”
“Of course, you may ask me anything, Colonel,” Kestar answered. “But, what could possibly interest you about my personal life?”
“As you probably are aware,” Zheng said. “I have been either on active duty as a marine or teaching history at that damned academy my entire adult life.”
Kestar nodded in acknowledgement of the fact.
“I have only recently realized I may have been living in a vacuum,” Zheng continued. “It occurs to me I have no real idea how things around the League may have changed since I was in prep school.”
“If you are uncomfortable with handling your personal business while here on Ekkida, Colonel, I would be happy to assign a full time assistant to serve you all hours of the day or night for as long as you are here,” Kestar replied. “You wouldn’t have to deal with the domestic staff or any other Ekkidan locals at all…”
“No,” Zheng said. “That isn’t what I was getting at.” He thought for just a moment before continuing. “I’m sure I will have no difficulties dealing with those around me during my visit here…”
“I have been assigned to take care of any needs you may have, until your meeting with Aro Non this evening,” Kestar told Zheng. “I don’t mind seeing to your personal comfort.”
Zheng didn’t know how to broach the subject he wanted to talk about with this man he had just met. But, at that moment, he needed to hear someone else’s opinion.
“Kestar, are you happy with the life you have within the League,” Zheng blurted out, unceremoniously.
Kestar was intelligent, poised and thoughtful. His demeanor was the perfect balance to the temperament of the haughty upper caste members he had spent his life working for. His answer to Zheng was diplomatic and vague.
“I can’t imagine being any happier living anywhere else,” he said. “If you don’t mind, Colonel, of what value to you could my answer possibly be?”
Zheng chuckled to himself upon hearing Kestar’s reply. “I guess that isn’t a question you would readily answer for a person you hardly know,” he said back to the ori who sat beside him, checking his daily schedule on a personal tablet.
“Or just met,” Kestar replied, without looking up. “I would be quite interested in why you want to know however, Colonel,” he continued. “Is there something I might have said during our conversation or perhaps a quirk in my body language that tells you I am an unhappy individual?”
“Of course not, Kestar,” Zheng replied, apologetically. “I just need an opinion to help me get my mind straight about a few things that have been eating at me lately.”
“Perhaps I’m not the person you need to discuss this with,” Ke
star said. His body language didn’t show any discomfort with the conversation, or Zheng probably would have let it drop.
“No Kestar, I think you are just the person,” Zheng replied. “It is your responsibility to deal with both upper and lower caste people here on your planet; and to deal with those from off this planet who don’t belong to either.”
“You are correct about that, Colonel,” Kestar acknowledged with a smarmy look that bordered on patronization. “I do deal with all types.”
Zheng might have started to dislike Kestar at that point if he hadn’t felt the man would have been within his rights to completely dismiss the inquiries. Kestar had just met Zheng and probably didn’t know anything more about him than what would have been available in his posted biography in the Central Library.
“I feel that my time in the military and my penchant to rarely leave the confines of the Academy have caused me to become out of touch with everyday reality,” Zheng said, hoping that Kestar would understand what he was actually getting at.
“I’m sure that couldn’t be, Colonel,” Kestar replied. His attitude gave Zheng the impression the ori was still trying to humor him. “Your position at the Academy would be an ideal situation in which to keep up on what you are calling ‘everyday reality’. You see hundreds of cadets from various cultures every term.”
He made an attempt to steer Zheng toward a topic he felt more comfortable discussing. “You also write some fascinating material for public consumption,” Kestar stated. “I’m sure that dealing with those who publish your works ensures you are frequently in touch with the universe outside Thosa. Speaking of which, are your writings why you have been invited to visit us? Aro Non and his sons have read all of them. I am sure he will be asking you about them.”
“Still, I feel that my time spent cloistered away at the Academy might have given me tunnel-vision about some things,” Zheng said, seemingly oblivious to Kestar’s attempts to get him to talk about something else.
Zheng turned to look out the window of the automobile. More of Vushmatu was visible above the horizon, but it had not fully risen. It was an imposing presence, however. Vushmatu was nearly the same size as Ekkida and only about half the distance from Ekkida that the moon was from Earth.
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 33