Clan and Conscience

by Tracy St. John

  Cocking an eyebrow at the man, his single concession to dealing with the disrespect from his employer, Jol answered, “There were a lot of men in there, weren’t there?”

  Ospar mocked him with a comically shocked expression. “It speaks! The creature is capable of communication. How amazing.” He dropped the act and glared with disdain. “And yes, by my count there were at least a dozen men in there who could use a strong Nobek to pull them out. Why are you here?”

  Because Talu is thinking the same thing I am about that explosion. Code One is rarely called unless sabotage is suspected.

  Beyond the cold calculations of his job, Jol was starting to believe the tales of Ospar’s arrogance. It was in every word he uttered, the words of the rich boy handed everything to him on a silver platter. Jol decided he wouldn’t make anymore excuses for the pompous jerk.

  Instead of answering the director outright, Jol indulged his pique at the way he was being treated. He teased Ospar with the conclusion he’d arrived at, starting by correcting him. “There were almost two dozen workers in there with you. That’s a lot of men for a mostly automated job, wouldn’t you agree? But then, the site supervisors do like to put on a show for the director and owners when they come to visit. It looks so much more impressive when you have workers busy digging out ore and minerals.”

  Ospar scowled. “What in the ancestors’ names are you talking about?”

  Jol kept dangling tidbits at him, curious if the blowhard would catch on. “It was known you’d be making a visit, Director. It’s always a big deal when you make a scheduled stop in your mines, isn’t it?”

  “Of course. If you’ve got something to say, Nobek, I’d appreciate you doing so.”

  “How often are explosives used in mines? After the initial opening of a new chamber, that is?”

  Ospar’s eyes narrowed. Suspicion was beginning to occur to him. “Make your point.”

  “It’s obvious why Misru trotted out so many people he didn’t need. He did it to impress you, to make the operation more notable. However, he would never detonate anything to show off to the heir of the Itga fortune. Especially when a blast could squash said heir under a ton of rock.”

  Ospar froze. He stared at Jol, his mouth hanging open. “You’re saying that explosion was no accident. That I have been targeted?”

  At least he was as sharp as Jol had been told. That was good. It might help Talu’s security force keep him alive during work hours, if Jol’s suspicions proved correct.

  Jol told him, “You’ve made a few enemies in the past few months. Particularly Dramok Urt, owner of Pladon Industries? I’m interested in learning what the investigation into this incident digs up—no pun intended.”

  The space between Ospar’s brows creased, driving the mine dust into darker lines. “Hold on a second. I wasn’t the only one in there. There were a lot of innocent men with me. Urt wouldn’t dare—I mean—he couldn’t.”

  Jol shrugged. He was again struck by how Ospar thought first of the others who’d been caught in the blast. He possessed wealth and rank, yet cared for those who worked for him, the men who literally got dirt under their nails. Could a man be a jerk and possess a conscience at once?

  The Nobek shared none of those notions. He addressed the matter of his favorite suspect in the unexplained explosion. “Just in case your competitor or anybody else would attack you in such a fashion, I’ll do as I was ordered and stay right here. I’ll make sure they don’t get another chance.”

  Ospar stared at him, real distress pinching his features. Horror even. Jol felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. Realizing his presence might have placed others in danger was an ugly epiphany for Ospar.

  Maybe he wasn’t such a jerk after all.

  Chapter 2

  After several seconds of stunned silence, the Dramok turned away from Jol without another word. Ospar went to Misru’s desk. He sat down and stared into space for several seconds. Then he shook himself, his expression hardening into determination. He began working on the computer on the desk.

  He occupied himself in that manner for the next hour. Jol stood guard at the door, listening for any sounds of approach. The Nobek doubted an outright armed attack would occur, but who would have guessed some maniac might attempt to blow up Itga’s director in his own mine? Jol knew better than to take anything for granted.

  He watched Ospar, noting how the other man occasionally darted a look in his direction. Every now and then, Jol thought Ospar was about to speak. Each time it seemed ready to happen, the Dramok would shake his head and get back to work.

  Jol wondered what the director wanted to say to him. Perhaps more insults. If so, he could keep those to himself.

  The buzzing of a personal com intruded on Jol’s ruminations about his employer. Ospar pulled the device from his belt and plugged in an earpiece for privacy. “Hello? Ah, Imdiko Rost. What news on Dramok Misru? Excellent. No, I’m still waiting for a report.” He glanced at Jol. “Investigating these, ah, incidents takes time. See to Misru until his clanmates get home. There’s nothing you can do here as far as I can tell. It will wait for you until you return. Yes. Thank you.” He clicked the com off and informed Jol in a businesslike tone, “No physical injuries to Misru beyond a few bumps and bruises. The hit to the head resulted in a slight concussion, but there is no sign of real damage.”

  Jol didn’t miss the relief on Ospar’s expression, despite his matter-of-fact tone. “Hopefully that will be the case with most of them. I’ve received no word on the man who was pinned under the digger or any of the rest.”

  “Nor I.” Ospar stared off into space. Worry, guilt, and anger passed like fleeting storms over his dirty face.

  One moment, he pours vicious insults. The next, he’s conscientious. Who is this Ospar anyway? Which persona belongs to him?

  Through the door, Jol sensed as much as he heard movement. He snapped to attention at the head of security’s voice. “Let me in, Nobek Jol.”

  “Door unlock and open.”

  Talu came in with two other security guards, striding on silent feet. They’d made noise outside on purpose to alert Jol to their presence, in order to not surprise a violent reaction from him. Talu bowed quickly to the director, but he addressed Jol first as Ospar rose to his feet. “Anything to report?”

  “Director Ospar has just learned that the mine supervisor, Dramok Misru, has only superficial injuries.”

  “Good. Has the director been seen by medical personnel?”

  Ospar answered. “I did not want to divert them from the injured in the mine. Do you know if there were any fatalities?”

  Talu approached the desk, standing across from Ospar. “Surprisingly, there were not.”

  “Where any of the men wearing the protective bodysuits I’d made mandatory?”

  “All of them had them on beneath their clothing. That mining armor, along with the helmets, saved their lives. There are broken bones and serious injuries, but no one has succumbed. There is hope all will survive.”

  Ospar’s eyes closed. He sagged for a moment before straightening and smiling at Talu. “I’m glad to hear everyone should recover.”

  Talu got down to business. “Director, did Dramok Misru publicized the itinerary of your visit with others?”

  “I’m not aware of a specific timetable being posted, but I’m sure it can be checked.” He motioned to the computer he’d kept himself distracted with during the wait.

  Jol stepped forward. Computer systems were a specialty of his. “I will check, sir.”

  Talu nodded. “Do so.”

  Jol went around the desk, ending up standing next to Ospar. They were close enough that he could feel the other man’s body warmth. Ospar smelled of earth, but there was the hint of an expensive cologne mingled with it. Jol caught himself inhaling the man’s scent as he tapped on the computer keyboard and listened to the conversation.

  Ospar told Talu, “Your man here voiced some concerns that this might not have been an accident.”r />
  “It is most suspicious. Especially coming a week after your altercation with Dramok Urt during the Natural Resource Oversight Committee hearings.” Talu’s tone said he was more concerned than his mild statement conveyed.

  “Don’t you think an explosion is a rather extreme reaction to me voicing my opposition to his latest scheme?”

  “If you mean his company re-opening the old Ogalra mines, yes.” Talu gave Ospar a look that said he thought the director was deliberately being obtuse. “However, it is the latest in a series of disagreements between Itga Mining and Urt’s Pladon Industries. There are bigger issues between the companies.”

  Ospar snorted. “Urt’s main problem is that he and his backers are foolish upstarts who don’t conduct business like gentlemen.”

  “Speaking of business, what have you heard of Urt’s financial backers?”

  The undercurrent in his superior’s voice grabbed Jol’s full attention. He’d found the file he was looking for and already copied it. He felt justified in listening.

  Ospar glanced at him as he straightened, then directed his gaze to Talu once more. “I’m not aware of specifics. They must be well off. They have to be to file so many injunctions against the contracts Itga has held for years.”

  “They’re also funding Pladon as it competes with Itga for the rights to the Eruz mountain range.”

  “No surprise there. Eruz promises to be a most lucrative undertaking. The cutthroats are out in full force for that contract, but Pladon is the only real competition to Itga.”

  “Cutthroats. What an interesting term to pick.” Talu’s gaze shifted. “Jol, do you have that information?”

  “Yes sir. The itinerary for the director’s visit was shared with most of the workers and officers of this mine, in order to make the best possible impression during his visit. I have the complete roster of all personnel working here.”

  “We will investigate each and every one, although local law enforcement has been called in to do the same.” Talu’s eyes narrowed at Jol.

  Jol dipped his head in the slightest of nods. He went back to work on Misru’s computer, loading information on drive after drive as fast as he could.

  Ospar scowled at them both. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  Talu’s eyebrow rose as he regarded the young Dramok. “You might want to take a look at the names of Urt’s backers, Director. Rather unsavory types whose money is reputed to come from less-than-legal endeavors.”

  “Such as?”

  “Drugs. Smuggling. Slave trafficking. Protection rackets. Among other activities.”

  Ospar’s eyes widened. Jol was schooled his face to reveal nothing, though he’d only suspected who might be behind Pladon Industries’ sudden uptick in fortunes as of late. No doubt Talu had been watching things keenly for some time.

  If his superior suspected what Jol thought, things were a pretty mess indeed. Organized crime was an acknowledged issue in the territory, courtesy of the Syodab Syndicate. And they did like loud, attention-getting explosions.

  Jol didn’t miss that Talu hadn’t spoken the name of the syndicate out loud. Most people in the region didn’t, out of an almost superstitious fear of being targeted.

  Talu continued. “As you pointed out, the Eruz contract is profitable to possess. One that the master criminals would enjoy owning a large share of.”

  Ospar’s fists clenched. “I suppose they would.”

  “If I may be so bold, Director? In the future, you’d do better to not only investigate your opponents, but those who help them become your opponents. May I and my men escort you to your shuttle, sir?”

  “Yes, Nobek Talu. Thank you.”

  Looking shaken, Ospar followed Talu out of the office. Though the other two officers had seniority over Jol, he took up position immediately behind the Dramok. He kept a sharp eye out for more trouble as they accompanied the young director to the shuttle bay.

  * * * *

  Ospar had hoped he could be the one to break the news of the explosion, but Talu had commed ahead to the owners of Itga. The security head gave them a full report of what had happened in the mine and what he suspected. Ospar had barely gotten into the huge office the two Dramoks shared when trouble started.

  After reassuring himself that Ospar was all right, Uncle Tebrok said, “I wonder if we should withdraw our bid for Eruz.”

  Ospar looked at the elder of his two relatives with dismay. “Absolutely not!” When Tebrok’s thick brow rose, driving furrows into his forehead, Ospar stifled his temper. In a far more reasonable tone, he amended, “What I mean to say is that the Eruz mountain range is far too important for Itga to walk away from. You grew this company from nothing to make it the major resource manager in the empire. Handing Eruz over to Pladon Industries would erase that distinction.”

  Uncle Sallid snorted, “Withdrawing would keep you and our workers alive. I shouldn’t have to tell you that, seeing how much you champion employee safety.”

  Sallid’s demeanor was mild, as was usual. He might have passed for a younger version of Tebrok, they were so similar in appearance with those distinctive bushy eyebrows, prominent cheekbones, and squared chins. They were little alike in temperament, however. Sallid shook with emotion as he told Ospar, “Status and riches cannot be enjoyed if a man’s family is assaulted. I don’t need a second attempt on you to make me give up on the Eruz deal.”

  “We don’t know for sure it was an attack.” Ospar appealed to the stronger-willed Tebrok. “Even if that is what’s going on, you can’t give in to intimidation.”

  His uncle crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Itga is not worth your life, Ospar.”

  Ospar would have been willing to argue that point. Maybe he wasn’t happy at Itga, but as its director, he considered it an extension of himself. He didn’t give up anything that important without a fight.

  Choosing his words carefully, he said, “Today’s incident probably has nothing to do with the Eruz contract. It could be because of the insults I’ve traded with Dramok Urt.”

  Urt was a little man in intellect and imagination. Even so, Ospar knew in his gut the owner of Pladon wasn’t the type to stoop to murder. Urt was no killer.

  Syodab, though…the syndicate was another matter entirely.

  Sallid bit his lower lip, unconvinced. “You think this is a personal strike? I’m not sure. You are the public face of Itga, and we have been lobbying hard to add Eruz to our mines.” He glanced at a nearby table model, one of two dozen.

  The model, bright beneath the beam of an overhead light, depicted the platinum mine located in a nearby mountain, with half of it cut away to show the chambers within. The other models were similar, though a few depicted entire mountain ranges. Ranges like Eruz, which would become the centerpiece of Itga’s operations if they won the rights to mine it.

  Sallid’s gaze was fond. Ospar’s feelings were more protective as well as proprietary. “We are the only company fit for that contract. Pladon may have the means and the machinery, but so do we. They don’t have the experience, or our track record for safety.”

  Sallid remained unconvinced. “I don’t know, Ospar. We named you our heir to continue Itga, to keep it the company we envisioned. I couldn’t cope if it turned out to be your end instead.”

  “It won’t be. I’m not willing to back down from this. Don’t ask me to. I’m begging you.” Ospar’s manner was equal parts defiance and pleading. “At least until the investigation tells us why there was an explosion.”

  His uncles exchanged concerned glances. Ospar’s tension eased as he sensed them relent.

  Tebrok told him, “You’re right that we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions, though I trust Talu’s suspicions. For now, however, we’ll stay the course on Eruz.”

  Sallid gave Ospar a piercing look meant to convey that easygoing or not, he wasn’t to be naysayed. “In the meantime, try not to torment Urt so much in committee or court, all right? And you’ll have to accept additional s
ecurity while on the job. Perhaps at home, too.”

  As Ospar opened his mouth to protest, Tebrok cut him off with a clipped tone. “I agree with Sallid. If this strike wasn’t a mere warning, but an outright attack, it could be Urt and his backers will come at you where you’re most vulnerable.”

  Ospar insisted, “I have a security system. I’d hardly say my home is vulnerable.”

  “Until today, I would have said the same for any of our mines. We’ll wait for Talu’s report and reconsider what needs to be done then.”

  Ospar had no choice but to accept his uncles’ decisions. At least they weren’t demanding he immediately acquiesce to at-home security. Maybe it would remain so.

  He was director of operations, but he still answered to Tebrok and Sallid—the owners. Even so, he was determined Urt would not get his hands on the Eruz Mountains.

  And he’d be damned if Syodab Syndicate would either.

  Chapter 3

  Most of Itga headquarters’ employees had left for the evening when Jol reported to the head of security. Talu’s door was open, and he waved Jol into the sparsely decorated room. He sat at a workstation that served double duty as Talu’s desk and support for numerous surveillance monitors. That and a few rarely-used chairs were the whole of the security head’s décor. The earthy smell that permeated the mountain-bound offices seemed heaviest in the lower levels where security was housed.

  The younger Nobek bowed to his superior. “You sent for me, sir?”

  “I’m glad I caught you before you left for the day. Door close and lock.”

  Talu’s order for privacy made Jol wonder. His boss had little problem publicly dressing down underlings no matter who they were. That meant Jol’s first suspicion that he’d done something wrong was in error. He felt relief in that. Disappointing Talu again would have weighed heavy on him. Just the thought of it put the weight of the world on his shoulders.