Barry Longyear - Enemy Papers

"In answer to your queries, on the seven votes concerning the acceptance of the Koda Nusinda by the Jetai Diea, Estone Falna voted against the acceptance motion the first six times and voted for acceptance on the final ballot. The initial motion was voted on by absentee ballot from Earth, where Falna was in residence at the University of Nations Hospital. The subsequent six motions, including the final vote, were voted on by absentee ballot from Timan, where Estone Falna was attending the Ja Nuos Tavii. That is Timan’s most advanced and prestigious school of medicine. Falna’s course of study there was exclusively on Timan mind fusion techniques, research, and applications."

Muta leans toward the screen, makes an adjustment, and says, "The Ovjetah conducted the investigation you suggested. These are the recordings of the interviews. As the hard copies are being transmitted, I can give you a summary, if you wish."

"Go ahead, Muta. Give me the summary."

As the Ovjetah’s trusted assistant looks at its notes, Muta appears as though someone offscreen is surgically removing its heart. "In the interview with Jetah Tumach Jortiz, leader against the acceptance of the Koda Nusinda, Jortiz revealed that Estone Falna was one of the opposition’s chief strategists in the fight to vote down the human-written book. It was through Falna’s efforts that the process dragged out to seven votes."

Muta looks up from its notes. "Falna’s favorable vote on the final motion that passed should not be mistaken for support. Under the rules of the Jetai Diea, only those who vote in favor of a motion are eligible to make a new motion to rescind it. Because Estone Falna voted in favor of acceptance, it is now eligible to move to throw out the Koda Nusinda."

"I see."

Muta returns its gaze to its notes. "Tumach Jortiz eventually admitted that Falna had alluded to taking some action outside the Jetai Diea to erode support for the Nusinda, but Jortiz claims to believe Falna was referring to things such as further investigation and publicity―"

I hear an involuntary laugh come from the shadows, and I say to the Ovjetah’s assistant, "I think I have enough, Muta. Thank you."

"May you find the peace you seek, Yazi Ro."

"I am far away from that, Muta," I say to the Timan Nisak symbol. I look to the corner of the chamber. "It seems you have made some rather startling advances in mind fusion techniques, Falna. Turning good humans and Dracs into murder-suicides, getting a very happy, self-confident Jeriba Ty to end its own life. Are you planning on publishing a paper on your research?"

"I think not," says Falna as it emerges from the shadows, a smile on its lips, a glittering knife of some sort in its hand. "That fool Jortiz. Did you see how it attempted to distance itself from me? Publicity, indeed." There is a long silence, then Falna speaks, its voice dead calm. "When did you begin to suspect, Yazi Ro?"

"It is not that simple," I answer. "A part of me that I usually do not acknowledge noticed from the beginning a difference―a strange coolness―between you and Davidge. Still you must have some affection for him. Michael Hill’s bungled attempt with the thermal drill shows that. Perhaps it is only affection for Estone Nev and the Jeribas who would be distressed at Davidge’s death. You were trying to scare him off the talma, am I right?"

"Keep going, but deenergize the equipment first. We wouldn’t want some tech wandering in here to see why it’s on and not in use."

I lean forward, cut off the link, and slump back in my chair. "Your affection did not extend to me, though. The attempt on my life was quite genuine."

"Yes. I am very impressed with your reaction time. I didn’t think anyone could run faster than one of those marker missiles could turn."

I nod. "That explains it. It confused me why the killer would go to such trouble to keep Davidge alive yet recklessly fire a missile at the cave in hopes of hitting someone. We all had markers. When I was in the cave by myself, Davidge and Kita well away, your mind-fused killers in the hovercraft fired the missile."

"I still can’t see how you outran it."

I smile and face the last of the Estone line. "I did not outrun it. It was still warm in the cave. I took off my coat―"

"―and left it in the cave," completed Falna, nodding as one of its own mysteries resolves. "The marker was in the coat."

"What happens now, Falna? Another suicide?"

With its free hand, Estone Falna reaches to its Talman. Falna works the catch, but instead of its line’s book of The Talman , a silver cube set with four tiny blue lights drops out. "This is a remarkable piece of engineering," says Falna. "Mind fusion was invented by the Timans. Did you know that?"

"No."

"You still haven’t told me when you knew it was me. Was it before last night? Before we loved?"

"It was when I heard that Jeriba Ty was dead."

"Before we made love?" Falna frowns as it cocks its head to one side. "I don’t understand this. On Earth they would say that you are from the sticks. Straight off the farm. A rube. You’re not that devious. You love me."

I look into Falna’s beautiful brownish-yellow eyes and say, "I am, after all, Yazi Ro 'do Timan, graduate of the Ri Mou Tavii."

"I’ll take that, Falna," says Davidge from the doorway. Stunned, Falna allows Davidge to take the strange knife and the mind-fusion instrument from its hands. Kita and the human Nisak security officer are behind Davidge and they move in. The Nisak security man takes Falna’s arms and shackles them. Kita has a pistol in her hand and it is trained on Falna.

Davidge faces Falna and shakes his head. "I don’t know what to say to you. The loss. My god, Falna, the loss. To Estone Nev, to your line, to the entire Jeriba line, to yourself, medicine, the Jetai Diea, the Dracon Chamber."

"Uncle, it is impossible for you to understand what drives those who would make sacrifices to keep The Talman pure, free from human corruption."

His face sad, I see Davidge’s shoulders slump as the human leans against the link console to steady himself. "I think I do understand, Falna. Remember, thirty years ago Jeriba Shigan’s nameparent and I were on Fyrine IV to kill each other. I understand very well. What I don’t understand," he holds up his hands showing the knife and the miniature mind-fusion instrument, "is this ! You and this. That’s what I don’t understand." He lowers his hands and steps closer to Falna. "Out of all the children I’ve loved and taught, I gave you more than any of the others, yet you resisted at every turn. Why?"

Falna turns its back on Davidge and spreads its three-fingered hands, "Count the fingers, Uncle. Remember my parent and count the fingers." With that Falna leaves the chamber followed by the Nisak security guard. Kita places a hand on Davidge’s arm.

"I better keep an eye on Falna."

Davidge nods and, as Kita hurries after the Nisak security officer and his prisoner, he turns, leans his back against the wall, and slides down until he is squatting. He stares for a long time at the floor until at last he says, "For the first time in my life, I feel old."

"Feeling like a failure?" I ask him.

He snorts out a laugh and looks over his right shoulder into the shadows. "You wouldn’t?"

"No, Will, I would not. I have met some of your successes."

Davidge stares into the shadows for a long time. When he at last faces me, his eyes are glistening. "Thank you, Ro." He closes his eyes and leans his head back against the wall. "Will you answer me a question?"

"If I can. And," I add, "if you will answer a question for me."

Davidge nods and asks, "Is Falna right? Do you love it?"

"Falna is correct about that." I feel the breath catch in my throat, that ache in my middle. To put my focus elsewhere, I say to Davidge, "Now it is your turn."