Robert Sawyer - Foreigner

Afsan ignored that. “Twenty kilodays ago,” he said, “when I was held prisoner in the palace basement, I was visited by Det-Yenalb, who was Master of the Faith back then.”

Edklark still seemed bemused. “Yes?”

“He strongly implied something that shocked me, something I’d never suspected.”

“And what was that?” said Edklark.

“Yenalb implied that some priests, including himself, could lie in the light of day—that their muzzles did not flush blue with the liar’s tint.”

Edklark looked startled. “Yenalb said that?”

“Not in so many words, but, yes, he did imply it. I still remember exactly what he said: ‘Not every person can be a priest. It takes a special disposition, special talents, special ways.’ ”

“And did you believe him?” said Edklark.

“At the time, my immediate reaction was that he was trying to frighten me, but now I must know the truth about this. Tell me, Edklark, can you lie openly?”

“Why, no, Afsan. Of course not.”

“Cadool?”

“His muzzle remains green,” said Cadool.

“Unfortunately, that proves nothing, since if you were capable of lying, you could be lying now.”

Edklark clicked his teeth in what seemed to Afsan to be forced laughter. “Well, then you’ll have to take my word for it.”

“That is the one thing I cannot do,” said Afsan. “Tell me a lie.”

“Oh, be serious, Afsan. I—”

“Tell me a lie.”

“Afsan, I cannot lie inside the Hall of Worship. That would be sacrilege.”

“Then step outside.”

“It would be sacrilege there, too, I’m afraid. Once ordained, a priest promises never to speak anything but God’s own truth, even in the depths of night.”

Afsan pushed his claws out of their sheaths and held his hand in plain sight. “Tell me a lie, you worthless plant, or I will rip your throat out.”

Cadool’s jaw dropped. “Afsan…”

“Shut up, Cadool. Priest, I will hear you lie. Don’t provoke me further; three of us here in this confined space is enough to drive anyone to dagamant .”

“Afsan,” said Edklark, “I cannot lie…”

Afsan tipped forward from the waist and bobbed his torso, slowly, deliberately. It was clearly a mockery of the instinctual movements, but it was also well known that such play-acting often erupted into the real thing without warning.

“ Lie , priest. The very future of our people is at stake.”

“You have no authority to give me orders,” said Edklark.

“I have all the authority I need,” said Afsan, stepping closer to the priest. “You will do as I say.”

The part of Edklark’s tail visible beyond the hem of his robe was swishing in naked fear. “I have every wish to cooperate,” he said.

“Then lie, animal dropping! Tell me—tell me that you are the Emperor.”

“His Luminance Dy-Dybo is Emperor,” said Edklark. “It is my honor to serve—”

Afsan stepped forward again, encroaching further on the priest’s territory. “Claim,” he said, “to be the Emperor yourself.” Afsan left his mouth open after speaking the words, showing serrated teeth.

“Afsan, I…”

“Claim it! Claim it right now or die!”

“I—” Edklark’s voice was attenuated by fear. “I am the Emperor,” he said tremulously.

“Say it forcefully. Assert it loudly.”

Edklark swallowed. “I, Det-Edklark, am the Emperor.”

“Again! With full titles!”

“I, Det-Edklark, am the Emperor of all the Fifty Packs and the eight provinces of Land.”

Afsan swung around. “Cadool?”

Cadool’s voice was full of wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

“What happened?” demanded Afsan. “Exactly what happened?”

“Nothing,” said Cadool. “His muzzle didn’t show even a hint of blush. It’s as green as yours or mine.”

Afsan slapped his tail hard against the marble floor, releasing pent-up energy through the blow, the sound of the impact reverberating throughout the antechamber. “Excellent! Edklark, come with us. There’s a job only you can do!”

Later that day, Toroca caught sight of Cadool in the Plaza of Belkom, Cadool’s long legs carrying him quickly over the paving stones. “Ho, Cadool!”

Cadool turned. “Toroca!” He gave a little bow. “ Hahat dan . It is good to see you again.”

Toroca closed some of the distance between them, but left a large—for him—territorial buffer. “And you. Good Cadool, ah, it is said that there is nothing you will not do for Afsan.”

“It is my honor to be his assistant.”

“And you know that I am his son.”

“One of his sons, yes.”

“I, ah, I know I have no right to ask this, but I wonder if any of your sense of duty to Afsan carries over to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you are a good and loyal friend to my father, and I would like to think that perhaps I, too, can count on you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well, I mean, Afsan and I are related. Since you help Afsan, I thought perhaps you might also be willing to help me.”

Cadool’s tone was pleasant, but confused. “I don’t see what being related to Afsan has to do with anything.”

“I don’t really know myself,” confessed Toroca. “But I need to ask a big favor of someone, and, well, I thought perhaps, because of your relationship with my father, that maybe…”

Cadool held up a hand. “Toroca, if I were to do a favor for you it would be because of who you are, on your own terms. Why would you want it to be anything but thus?”

Toroca nodded. “You’re right, of course. Forgive me.” A pause. “Afsan has told you what we are doing, I presume.”

“Yes,” said Cadool. “I’m not enthusiastic about the idea—despite the efforts of that Mokleb person, Afsan is still blind. What you have proposed is very risky.”

“That it is. But peace must be given a chance.”

Cadool grunted noncommittally. “In any event,” he said, “what favor would you ask of me?”

“I have in my custody a child,” said Toroca. “I need someone to look after him while I am gone.”

“Surely room can be found for him in the creche?” said Cadool.

“No, this child is, ah, not Quintaglio. He is an Other.”

“An Other! Toroca, we are at war with the Others.”

“The child is innocent. He was hatched aboard the Dasheter, just as I myself was. I need someone to care for him while I am gone.”

“Surely you are not asking me to regurgitate meat,” said Cadool.

“No. He’s big enough to swallow hunks whole now, although perhaps you could cut small pieces for him.”

“Wait a beat—if he is an Other, won’t the sight of him drive me to dagamant ?”

“I honestly don’t know if children have the same effect, but, yes. you’ll have to take precautions. See him only in the dark, perhaps.”

“But Emperor Dybo has given me my own assignment to take care of. I’m going to have to leave the Capital, too, in a couple of days.”

“I should be on my way back by then. Taksan—that’s the child’s name—Taksan doesn’t require constant supervision, of course. He’s already used to being left alone. If you could simply check on him a couple of times before you go. He’s in my apartment.”

“Well, if that is all, I suppose I can manage it.”

“Ah, no, that isn’t quite all there is to it. Good Cadool, I find myself facing a problem no other Quintaglio has ever faced. I am responsible for another’s life. I am concerned about what will happen to Taksan if I don’t return from this peace mission. Cadool, I ask you to look after Taksan if I don’t come back.”

“That is a lot to ask.”