A member of the aro’s domestic staff brought a tray with two short glass tumblers, a bowl of ice cubes and a carafe of clear liquid. Zheng looked at the carafe. He didn’t drink alcohol often and wondered how potent the contents were.
“Would you care for some mineral water, Colonel,” Aro Non asked.
“That sounds like an excellent idea, Aro,” Zheng replied, relieved there wasn’t alcohol in the carafe.
The staffer picked up both glasses, tossed a few cubes of ice in each and filled them three-quarters full of water from the carafe. He handed one to Zheng and offered the other to Aro Non, who politely indicated the staffer should place it on the table beside him. Aro Non then thanked the staffer and told him he was free to leave.
The water was cold and Zheng felt it was an ideal libation for such a warm night. He took a long drink from the glass and set it down on the table. He looked over at the aro and found him staring out at the night, in the direction of the space terminal.
The aro reached for his glass, took a small sip of the iced mineral water and set his glass back on the table without so much as a glance in Zheng’s direction. The aro was in a relaxed posture and remained quiet and facing ahead as Zheng sat on his right with the table between the two.
Zheng picked the carafe up and replaced the water he had consumed from his tumbler. As he sat there in silence, Zheng thought to himself, “So now the fun begins.”
It was more than five minutes before the aro said a word or even indicated he remembered that Zheng was there.
“So, tell me, Colonel,” he asked, still looking out over the lighted cityscape. “Exactly what is it that concerns you so about my decision to run for Prime Minister of Ekkida, rather than waiting for the Central Government’s general elections and perhaps a bid for Secretary General?”
“I’m not so much concerned as puzzled, Aro,” Zheng answered. “It seems to me if you decided to run for Secretary General you would certainly be elected. You have many friends there from your days of serving in the Senate, and your accomplishments with that body are held in high regard throughout the League. Surely it must have occurred to you that you could accomplish much more serving in that capacity than heading a local planetary government.”
“I guess it would depend on what you believe I want to accomplish,” the aro replied. He remained facing forward. “Do tell me,” he implored of Zheng. “What is it you believe I should endeavor to bring about as a member of the Central Government I haven’t already? You yourself just mentioned I had achieved much in my days as a senator.”
Zheng fought to keep from squirming in his chair. The aro was coming at him hard and putting him on the defensive early.
Zheng composed himself enough to attempt an answer.
“I’m sure that new challenges present themselves constantly for one who is concerned with the wellbeing of his fellow citizens,” Zheng said. “I’m sure you are not one to rest on his laurels.”
The aro remained facing forward, staring out into the night, but smiled and emitted a small chuckle at Zheng’s observation.
Zheng seized the opportunity. “Did I say something amusing, Aro,” he asked.
“Everything tends to amuse me on one level or another of late, Colonel,” Aro Non replied. His voice was steady and relaxed as he stared out over the city. He looked as if he were daydreaming.
After a moment, he turned toward Zheng and said, “I did not mean to offend you.” He then turned once more to take in the view.
“I was not offended,” Zheng assured the aro. “I was only afraid I might have said something you took as ironic. Or, worse yet, I feared I had overstated the obvious.”
Zheng took another drink from his water glass. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. He rarely felt out of control of the situation, but this was different. He was on the aro’s home turf.
Every word he said, every nervous twitch he exhibited and any sign he was unsure about something would be cataloged and evaluated for use against him.
Zheng set his gaze on the aro and breathed as deeply as he could without making a sound. A thought came screaming out of his subconscious.
“Eye contact,” he thought to himself. “That is why they turn away until they are ready to close on a pact. The other guy can’t see you flinch if you don’t look him in the eye. But, the aro can’t see you either. Concentrate on keeping your voice steady and stop fidgeting. You have the upper hand here. He brought you here because he wants something.”
Once the realization washed over Zheng’s conscious mind, he became immediately calm. It was one thing to be trained to mimic the ritual behaviors Ekkidans employed during the negotiating process, but quite another to understand them on a gut level.
“This iced water is refreshing on such a warm night, Aro,” Zheng said.
“I’m glad you are enjoying it, Colonel,” the aro responded. “I’m still wondering however; why it is you feel I should forego my desire to become Ekkidan Prime Minister in favor of an attempt at becoming the next Secretary General of the Central Government.” His gaze remained forward as he asked, “Is it your opinion I am making some sort of mistake in judgment, Colonel?”
“I am not qualified to determine whether you are making a mistake or not, Aro,” Zheng replied. He was much calmer now that he realized with the aro turned away from him, he didn’t have to pay as much attention to his body language. He concentrated on keeping a note of confidence and conviction in his voice.
“I was only suggesting you might relish a greater challenge,” Zheng explained. “Although I must admit, governing a whole planet would be no mean feat.”
“So it appears to you I am not living up to my full potential, Colonel,” the aro asked. His voice remained calm. If he was offended by Zheng’s assessment, his voice didn’t betray him.
“Not in the least, Aro,” Zheng fired back. “It only seems to me that a man of your potential to govern must realize he has a much greater calling. Unless, of course…”
The aro wasted no time responding. His voice was still calm and smooth and his body language had not tensed at all. “Unless… What, Colonel,” he asked.
“Unless you are working from some sort a plan,” Zheng replied.
Zheng watched the aro closely. If he started to get under the aro’s skin, he wanted to be able to tell at the earliest possible moment. It would be difficult, however. Zheng knew the aro had been a student of both human nature and the art of negotiation since he could talk.
The aro showed no sign of being phased by Zheng’s comment. “I can understand how you might suspect that, Colonel,” he stated. “And, it would be foolish to try and convince you I have no plan.” The aro chuckled again. “It would also be foolish for anyone to assume that a man can accomplish much at all in life without some sort of plan. I realize that plans are often abandoned due to unforeseen circumstances, but never the less, they are always re-evaluated and put back in motion at the earliest opportunity.”
“Therefore,” he continued. “I must assume by your use of the word ‘plan’, you are indicating you think I am working some sort of ‘angle’ here?”
It was Zheng’s turn to chuckle. “If that is how you wish to characterize it, Aro, you certainly may,” he answered. “However, I am only trying to discern your motivations for doing something that would be considered out of the ordinary or even ill-advised for a talented and ambitious politician such as yourself.”
Zheng leaned back in his chair and waited for the aro’s reply. His mouth was still somewhat dry, from the earlier bout of nerves.
“Could it not just be that I desire to become the Ekkidan Prime Minister and have no other reason for running,” the aro asked. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand my motivations for wanting the office, of course. They are my own and are the result of my life experiences. The most significant being my previous experience in the Senate.”
“Are you saying you did not enjoy your time in the Senate, Aro,” Zheng enquired. “I fi
nd that hard to believe. You served four terms and campaigned tirelessly to be elected each time.”
“The time was enjoyable enough, Colonel,” the aro replied. “It’s just that while I was away on Earth dealing with the bureaucrats and lobbyists, I was always concerned about what I might be leaving undone back here on Ekkida.”
“Well then, I must apologize for my misinterpretation of your actions, Aro,” Zheng said. “If I may be so bold, could you explain to me what you hope to accomplish as Ekkidan Prime Minister? What is it you feel you left undone?”
“Are you only making polite conversation, Colonel, or are you asking me to take you into my confidence,” Aro Non asked.
“Again Aro, it is up to you whether you take me into your confidence or not,” Zheng replied. “I am only trying to discern your motivations. I have been informed you need my assistance with something that has to do with the Ekkidan elections and I must be sure of what it is I am becoming involved in before I commit. I’m sure you would do the same if you were in my shoes.”
“I dare say I would, Colonel,” the aro said. He almost laughed, but caught himself. “May I assume whatever we discuss from here on out is a serious preface to any negotiations we may enter into later?”
“If by serious preface, you mean you are going to tell me why you brought me here and what it is I can expect in return,” Zheng replied.
“Perhaps I should confide in you about some things, Colonel,” the aro conceded. “I don’t mean to sound evasive, but for the truth to be made public about my run for Prime Minister would have serious ramifications for some of my close friends; namely Ano Karos Hetec.”
“The current Prime Minister,” Zheng asked.
“Yes, Colonel,” Aro Non replied. He turned to look directly at Zheng again and said in a softer voice, as if he were afraid to be overheard, “Karos is sick. He should be able to finish out his term, but a campaign as difficult as the one he faced for re-election would have taken a heavy toll.”
“He looks fine to me,” Zheng said. “Quite healthy, as a matter of fact.”
“Appearances are deceiving,” the aro answered. “His doctors have told him he has little time left. You must promise me you won’t mention anything about this to anyone, Colonel.”
“Of course,” Zheng said.
“I was asked to run in his place,” Aro Non explained. “I agreed, of course. Not only as a favor to Karos, whom I respect and admire, but also to my many friends in the House of Peers.”
“These elections are gravely important to them,” the aro continued. “If a Prime Minister unsympathetic to our policies were ever to be elected… Well, let’s just say I could not allow that to happen. I decided it was best for my people to put any political aspirations I had beyond Ekkida aside, at least for the present.”
Zheng thought for a while.
“Forgive me, Aro,” he said. “But, I just don’t believe the situation is all that desperate. In fact, I doubt that things will change much at all. I’ve never seen a solitary election that held any real long-term consequences. Trends take generations to develop, and from what I can tell, Ekkida’s political climate is tediously stable.”
“Perhaps Ekkida looks stable from the outside, Colonel. But, from where I sit, the government is ready to fall into ruins,” the aro protested. “The House of Peers and the House of Commons are both run by coalitions and a change in the direction of the office of Prime Minister could cause a shift that would easily wreck that stability and send Ekkida dangerously off center.”
He looked Zheng in the eye. “Even if the outcome seems inconsequential to you,” he said. “It has great ramifications for my people.”
Zheng backtracked. “I must apologize once more, Aro,” he said, meekly. “Judging by your passion, I must have misinterpreted, not only your intentions toward this election, but I must also have underestimated the importance of it to your people.”
“No apologies needed, Colonel,” the aro told Zheng, trying to assure him he was not upset. “I should not have allowed my emotions to get the better of me. It won’t happen again. Of course, you must accept my apologies to you.”
The aro turned again to stare out over Ekkirizaddeqar.
“Simas tells me you desire information on one of our former prime ministers, Colonel,” he said. “About whom do you want to know, and why are you interested? I must assume we are not talking about one of my ancestors if Simas felt it was unwise to mention the name in his message.”
“I am interested in finding out about a man named, Zhereveldonne Cozeremi,” Zheng replied, in a cautious voice.
“That is quite an interesting coincidence, Colonel,” the aro said. “Quite interesting, indeed.”
He remained facing away from Zheng.
A strange feeling washed over Zheng. He became instantly uncomfortable. Why that was, he could not say, but something about Aro Non’s reply unsettled him.
“Would you care to elaborate on that, Aro,” he asked.
“I’m sorry, Colonel,” the aro apologized. “I was thinking aloud. Pay no attention. My family had past dealings with the man you mentioned, but I can’t tell you much more about him.”
“Do you mean you don’t have the information I am looking for, or do you mean you are honor-bound not to discuss it,” Zheng asked.
The aro’s voice didn’t show any signs of discomfort with the conversation or Zheng’s question. “I meant it would be improper for me to discuss this subject,” he stated. “It represents a dark and embarrassing period in Ekkidan history.”
He turned toward Zheng and asked, “Colonel. Please be honest with me. Have you been discussing this subject with Galuz Cozeremi?”
“I have not discussed this with Director Cozeremi at all,” Zheng told the aro. “I ran across a reference to Zhereveldonne in some historical documents I was recently provided. I need to learn more about him. The League History Archives have little on him. I only know for certain he was a former prime minister. Other than that, I can find no other information about him.”
“So Galuz has never discussed his family history with you,” the aro asked.
Zheng wasn’t entirely convinced that Aro Non was shocked to hear that Cozeremi had not discussed the subject with him even though the aro played the part well.
“That is surprising,” the aro stated. “Galuz never fails to talk about his family history when on Ekkida with anyone who will listen. You might say he has some interesting interpretations of historical events. He has the ear of a few in the House of Peers, but I believe that for the most part, they are only humoring him, due to his position in the Central Government. It is actually a sad situation.”
“This is the first I have heard of this,” Zheng told the aro. “Gus has never mentioned a word about his ancestry to me.”
“Let me say right now, Colonel,” Aro Non said. “I bear no ill will toward Galuz in the least…”
He lowered his gaze and continued, “He is a good man and for the most part he has served honorably in his capacity as Director of the Bureau of Historical Sciences. My advice to him is to be more particular about the company he keeps, but I won’t get into that now.”
“He certainly does not deserve to be cursed with the same name as a man of the ilk of Zhereveldonne Cozeremi,” the aro said. “Zhereveldonne was a traitor and he almost brought about the end of the League of Aligned Planets before the Zunnuki Accord was even drafted.”
“I must admit I was afraid you would say something like that, Aro,” Zheng replied. “I have found something in my research that would be considered unflattering to Zhereveldonne at the very least.”
“I have no doubt, Colonel,” the aro said. “I am afraid there is information in my family’s oral history archive about our dealings with the Cozeremis you would find shocking. Our two families were close for many, many years. We celebrated sacred holidays together, we intermarried…”
The aro paused. “Then came the betrayal,” he added. A look of disgust ove
rtook him as he returned to staring out at the night.
“The betrayal, Aro,” Zheng inquired.
The aro’s reply was heated. “Zhereveldonne Cozeremi admitted to covertly providing information vital to the security interests of Ekkida to agents of another planet,” he said. His face reddened as if he was angered beyond civility. “Zhereveldonne committed what many at that time considered to be multiple acts of treason,” the aro hissed through his teeth. “He almost pulled his closest friend, my ancestor Meqqar Non, down with him.”
The aro pulled a handkerchief from the inside of his suit jacket and patted his forehead. “Forgive me, Colonel,” he begged. “My emotions get the better of me, because I know the truth. I can see my opposition preying on the desperate hopes of our friend Galuz for their own selfish interests and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“I don’t understand quite what it is you are getting at, Aro,” Zheng admitted. “I have been associated with Gus Cozeremi for years, but we are not on the best of terms. I must ask you to elaborate.”
“Galuz Cozeremi is using the resources of the Bureau to produce documentaries and educational materials that are biased against capitalism,” the aro explained. “That can’t have escaped your notice, Colonel.”
“It’s been brought to my attention,” Zheng said.
“Cozeremi’s friends in both the Central Government and the planetary government on Ekkida, have sold him a bill of goods,” the aro said, somberly. “They have told him there is evidence hidden in the official Ekkidan archives that will clear Zhereveldonne of any wrongdoing. They promised to make the evidence public for his assistance in forwarding their socialist agenda, which includes swaying this election.”
“Is the evidence there,” Zheng inquired. Zheng knew the aro would not directly lie to him, but he was capable of spinning the truth to suit his purposes. He studied the aro’s face as he answered.
Chamberlain's Folly (The Terra Nova Chronicles) Page 37