Edge World
Page 26
system. Opening the second door, Liam was taken aback at first at the high number and types of firearms in the room. He knew the Spaceport Customs Office confiscated all firearms at time of entry and delivered them to OSI where their owners could recover them after providing proof of need and if the firearms were legal to own, that is, not able to cause fatalities. Bow and arrows, and crossbows were considered exceptions to this rule as they were both used for hunting and impossible to conceal on one’s person. That left an astonishing variety and quantity of weapons. They ranged from plasma arcs to nerve disrupters and Liam even saw one weapon that looked like it could throw very large projectile great distances. He shook his head over that one but saw the reasoning for maintaining these weapons locked behind multiple steel doors. Apparently every time the City Militia got a new Captain, OSI was requested by them to share these goodies…to no avail.
After making sure the doors were secured behind him, Liam headed for his hotel for a few hours of much needed sleep, which would be much easier now that Amanda had been found. The sleep, however was shorter than he planned. Well before sunset he was awaken but the shrill of his wrist comm unit. Muddled by not enough sleep, Liam first thought he had set an alarm to wake himself, but after trying unsuccessfully to turn off a non-existent alarm, he realized it was the emergency circuit of his comm, not the alarm.
“Smithe speaking,” Liam said more from long habit than conscious thought.
“This is OSI Communications, Sir. Sorry to bother you. Doctor Reyes from Atlanta Hospital is urgently trying to get hold of you. I was told standard procedures applied to you and your comm unit could not be given out, but he insisted that it was a matter of life or death of one of his patients.”
Liam saw the room waver for a minute but his long-conditioned reflexes took hold.
“Give me his comm unit,” he croaked, then had to asker him again for the number a second time.” With a heavy heart he reached Dr. Reyes.
“This is Federal Agent Smithe, Doctor Reyes,” he said when he finally reached him on the Doctor’s hospital rounds, “I understand you have been trying to reach me!”
“Yes, Agent…” he paused at the new, to him, imposing title, “Captain Santos is awake and has been insisting the last hour that she must talk to you or she would walk out of the hospital. While I have no legal way to keep her here, I explained that she would be risking her life if she left in her condition and reminded her that she has two young daughters at home. This calmed her somewhat, but she still insisted that she had to speak with you as soon as you could be reached. Granted, I wasn’t aware of your position and the possible real need she had, but I did promise to get you to come to the hospital as soon as I could reach you.”
By the end of Doctor’s long speech, Liam was awake enough to understand what was going on.
“What is actually her medical condition Doctor and I want neither
your medical mumble jumbo nor the medically conservative opinion.”
Taken somewhat aback, but aware of Liam’s authority as a Federal Agent, he was quick to reply: “Captain Santos is debilitated from the toil her body took from the drugs and her long run through the jungle. She needs high protein food and rest. I was not exaggerating when I told her she could collapse and die if she got up and tried to walk very far. On the other hand, she was in good physical shape when she started and is responding well to treatment. She will also have to regain the muscle mass she lost.
Liam was shocked at the intensity of emotion he felt upon learning Amanda was going to be all right. He pushed it aside for the time and told Dr. Reyes that he would be at the hospital shortly and to relay that to Captain Santos. He was never certain about that trip from his hotel to the hospital. It seemed to last forever and it was over in a flash. But he made it there alright. Approaching Amanda’s hospital room, Liam slowed his walk and tried to control his heartbeat while closing the room door to insure some privacy. Amanda was sitting up in bed this time but she still looked quite pale. It was evident that her ordeal had taken a lot out of her.
“How are you feeling, Amanda?” Liam asked.
Amanda had been looking out the window, but when Liam spoke, she turned to him, a smile blossoming on her face.
“I feel like a whole tribe has been beating on me with sticks. I am feeling a lot better, but I tried to go to the bathroom and found I needed help just walking. They are still pumping nutrients threw my I.V. as well as getting me to drink this god-awful protein drink, as much as I can get down. I know it is helping me but I feel so bloated. You look great.”
“You must be sick if you think I look great. During the last two days I have had maybe two hours sleep and maybe eaten twice, I don’t remember. I must look like something dug from a grave.”
“Well I think you look great,” Amanda replied, “and then changed the subject as she felt her cheeks grow hot. Before I tell you of my escapades, what is going on at the office?”
“A real mess. We are pretty sure this is a wide-spread conspiracy that has been in the works for some time. As of yet we don’t have the slightest idea who all is involved, but I have a pretty good idea what they are after, and I can’t let them have it. Ericson has petitioned the Council to move the Pawassa Tribe to the east to prevent them from hassling the caravans. Of course this would just happen to remove them from the river trade route and guess who would be most able to pick the route up? I am pretty sure Ericson has some involvement in this whole conspiracy but I am not sure how much or if he is aware of the real objective behind it.”
“You keep mentioning some motive for all this. What do you think it is?”
Liam thought long and hard for a minute.
“What is the matter Liam?”
“I am going to tell you this, but you cannot tell anyone, even your daughters, or even hint about it!”
Now it was Amanda’s turn to stop and think. “If it is that secret should you be telling me it at all? And how did you get so involved in OSI operations? You are just an outside consultant, aren’t you?”
“I am going to answer your last question first. I am not just an outside consultant. I have taken charge of all law enforcement agencies and personnel.” With that Liam pulled out and showed Amanda identification after first looking to make sure the door was still closed. “This is something else I wish you would keep secret for the time being. I don’t want to give our opponents any more information as to what to expect from us.”
Amanda’s eyes literally bugged out when she saw that Liam was a Federal Agent. She knew of them, of course, and had even spoken to one during her time on Terra. But that Liam was one shocked her almost speechless.
“You…you…why didn’t you tell me? A Federal Agent. Why are you here? Did you come here because of the conspiracy and how did you know?” Amanda’s words flowed from here in a torrent, her head spun with questions.
“Why I am here is what I am going to tell you that you must keep absolutely secret. I came here because of a rumor, only recently substantiated, that there was a plant that grew on Edge World that could prolong a person’s life. I am sure you are not aware, being the Federation Council considered the whole topic top secret, that this made the most important assignment I have received so far in my career.”
“Why? Why would the Federation Council be against us being able to extend our lives? I don’t get it.”
In a low voice Liam explained the Federation Council’s thinking of the effects of ‘long life’ on the human population. Even as he was talking Liam wondered why he was telling Amanda what was the greatest secret the Federation Council held. He knew why, but was still unwilling to admit, even to himself, that he was in love with Amanda. As Amanda fell back against her pillows, Liam realized that he was tiring her out.
“I am sorry Amanda. I feel I have worn you out. Get some rest and I will come back in the morning to see you. You can tell me about your trials then.”
As got up to go, Amanda stopped him with one hand.
Liam whistled at that. “That would fit in with one of our conspiracy theories. Up to now I couldn’t figure out what the Pawassa were looking to get out of this whole thing. I see now. Your girls are doing fine, I think. Three tribesmen tried to kidnap them from your home.”
“Are they all right? Did they get away?”
“Apparently Tamara and Kristina stunned all three and after securing the house laid all three on your front lawn and called for the City Militia.”
“That sounds like Kristina and Tamara. So are they at home now? We should have a guard for them.”
“After disposing of their would-be kidnappers they went to Chief Onn’s village looking for their friend Charlie. Right now they are staying with Vann Onn and his wife in the village. Apparently they are waiting for a young man that might know Charlie’s location.”
“I am going to tan their hides for that adventure but apparently they can take care of themselves.”
“Well, for now rest Mandy, I will see you tomorrow morning.” Liam had more bounce to his steps as he left the room.
Amanda thought to herself, ‘Mandy’?
When Liam got back to OSI headquarters, he was in an upbeat mood after seeing Amanda, even though he had fudged a little about her girls. He was pretty sure that they were all right, they just had not located them for sure.
The offices were not dark; they never were completely dark, but there definitely was a night-time air to the place. The lieutenants hadn’t returned yet and the night shift had already checked in. Liam snagged a cup of coffee, needing the caffeine, and headed for the conference room that they were using as a war room. Someone had procured a large continent map, a map that covered a whole wall; It was some eight foot by twelve foot. Each caravan attack was marked, as well as general tribal areas, preferred locations that the nomads could be found, and the area of the jungle border that was being covered by OSI patrol aircars. Liam was studying the map when Lt. Baker walked in.
“Did you manage to get any sleep, ah…Agent Smithe,” Lt. Baker asked?
“Not as much as I would have liked, but some. I managed to stop by and saw Captain Santos at the hospital.”
“How is the Captain doing, Sir,” Lt. Baker asked?
“She is feeling better but that drug took a lot out of her plus the chase through the jungle. It is still going to be a couple of days before she gets out of the hospital and I don’t believe she will be fit enough to come back to work for at least a week. But she did provide me with evidence that it is not the Pawassa that are causing the trouble but rather a renegade tribe that wants the area of jungle that the Pawassa current are settled in. Possibly also they may want a piece of the river traded.”
“Wow, that really muddles things doesn’t it?”
“Maybe and maybe not. I couldn’t see what the Pawassa Tribe was getting out of these caravan attacks. They have settled in a good area not too far from a big city, and they have a very profitable trade route on the river. Didn’t make sense. But I could not see some of the other tribes being involved. They are small, and too far away. It all didn’t make sense. But now maybe it does.”
After the other lieutenants arrived, Liam appraised them also of the latest developments. They were in deep discussion when Investigator Townsead knock on the conference room door.
“Yes, Townsead, what can we do for you,” Lt. Baker asked?
“I have some information that might have bearing on what’s going on,” Townsead said.
“Come on in and let us hear it,” Lt. Baker replied”
“Yes Sir,” Townsead said as she entered the room, “I just came from a private meeting with Investigator Yuri Yugoslav of the City Militia. He believes some of the top Militia officers are dirty.”
“He told you that?”
“Uh…Lt. Baker…I, isn’t Professor Smithe just a consultant? Should he be here while I make my report?”
“It’s all right, Investigator; you are not to repeat this but Professor Smithe is a Federation Agent and he has authority over all law enforcement. Now, what did Yagoslav have say?”
“Yes Sir. Sorry Agent Smithe, I didn’t know.”
“That is quite all right Townsead. You didn’t know so, no fault,” said Liam. Speaking to the lieutenants, Liam asked, “are there any other officers that here that need to be included in this meeting?”
“I can’t think of anyone else right now,” said Lt. Baker.
“Now Investigator Townsead, if we could have your report please.”
Yagoslav believes one or more of the top officers in the City Militia is dirty. The reason he believes this, and apparently he is not the only one, is the handling of the investigation of the management of the Spaceport Control Company. This is why.” Sgt. Townsead proceed to repeat all that Investigator Yagoslav had told her in the coffee/santee shop.
They kept Tracy with them as the officers discuss ways and means of dealing with this conspiracy. Almost a hundred officers had arrived at headquarters and were told to eat and get some sleep to be ready for assignment the next day. What that assignment was going to be no one knew yet. The news that there was a large renegade group of tribesmen changed some of their thoughts about Jacob Erickson and the Traders Association. It was possible their only concern was the safety of the caravans. And what about Professor Blake. She was the one that knew about the LL plant but Liam didn’t want to mention that just yet. But had she paid off these renegade tribesmen so she could harvest as much of the plant as possible? Why was the head and one member of the team killed? Liam could have everyone looking for her on the basis of those murders without reference to plants, but Liam had to figure that in his plans. It was well after midnight when they decided to hold everything over until morning and start new then. Nothing had been settled but they all were too tired to think straight.
*****
Tamara and Kristina were too tired to resist as they were dragged back to the village. This time they were stripped down to their underclothes to remove any and all weapons they might be carrying. Two young men assigned this task were enjoying it immensely, taking the opportunity to feel the girls up and even running their hands up under the girl’s underclothes. Being too tired to resist, the girls stood and let the men do as they wish, more concerned that their stunners were taken than anything else. How far the young men would have gone was never known as a tribesman with a silver mask on his face entered the hut. The other men made a rapid exit without a word.
“You are the daughters of Amanda Santos, are you not,” the man in the mask asked in a gravelly voice?
“Yes, and she is probably looking for us right now,” Tamara said with more confidence than she felt.
“I seriously doubt that. I understand that if she hasn’t been caught yet, she will be. And when they catch her they will kill her.”
“Ha, a lot you know,” Tamara said.
“I don’t think I can save your mother’s life, but I know I can save yours if you will promise not to try and escape again.”
“Who are you that you have to hide behind a mask,” Kristina asked?
“I am not hiding behind a mask, as you say. I had a terrible accident when I was very young. You don’t want to see me without my mask.”
“Then why are you taking such an interest in us?”
“I…um, have my reasons. You might say I am a very distant relative of yours and don’t want to see anything happen to the family. I am going to check on your mother and if she has been captured but not killed yet I will attempt to save her life. If this happens then I will let you know. But don’t hold your breath.” With that he turned and walked
out of the hut to two girls had been place in.
When he opened the door, the girls saw that there was a guard sitting outside, this time with a stunner in his hands. Not that it mattered; without their stunners they had no hope of escape anyway. It was late and apparently they were not to be fed this night. Tamara laid down on the single bed while Kristine slouched in the single chair.
“What do you think of that character,” Tamara asked Kristina?”
“I don’t know. Do you think he really related to us?”
“I doubt it. Did you notice his hesitation when he said he was our ‘distant’ relative? I think he may have known our father at some time. Or maybe a distant cousin or something.”
“Could be. I didn’t buy his excuse for not letting us see his face, Tamara. What was that about chasing mother down and killing her? Do you suppose she came looking for us in the jungle?”
“Don’t know, Kristina, and too tired to care.” With that Tamara rolled over and dropped off in sleep.”
“Guess that is the best to do right now. Move over Tamara and give me some room on the bed.
*****
Amanda woke early the next morning, starving to death but otherwise feeling pretty good. After a complete examination, Dr. Freya had the day nurse remove both the I.V. from her arm and several monitors recording a variety of heath data. He told Amanda that she was to eat as much high caloric food that she could stomach and the hospital kitchen had been advised that she could order anything she liked, as much as she liked, and whenever she wanted it.