Barry Longyear - Enemy Papers

He never looked up; simply waited until his fresh drink came. He took the glass, tossed down its contents, and ordered another. He looked at her.

"Do your tour on Amadeen, Major Nicole, and then come back to me and preach temperance…"

"…When Tora Soam has carried its butcher ax against the enemy on Amadeen, then its views upon my medications will be of interest…"

Amadeen. So little of the war had taken place there; but so much of the war owed its existence to the planet…

…In the Chirn Kovah, searching for her reasons for fighting, a voice from nowhere reciting history…

"… The planet Amadeen was colonized in a succession of immigrations by both humans and Dracs, attracted there by Amadeen’s vast mineral resources. Numerous private companies based In both spheres of influence were involved in the colonization effort, the two largest being the human Earth IMPEX and the Dracon JACHE companies.

"Although Timan Nisak, headquartered on the Planet Timan, is the third largest capital investor in Amadeen, there have been no Timanese immigrants. Timan Nisak operates the orbiting ore-processing station used before the opening of hostilities by all the mining companies operating on Amadeen.

"…After the defeat of the Drac and human Centralist Party, extremist factions took control of the political mechanisms of both races. The Amadeen Front was the political party dominating the humans, while the Ka Mavedah rose to become the most influential political organization in the Drac-controlled areas of the planet. The Centralists of both races were effectively eliminated as political forces, and terrorist raids began…"

Terrorism on Amadeen. Its victims and witnesses never seemed to talk about it much. The horrors were beyond comprehension. Humans were found still alive, their skeletons shattered with sound waves. The bones had been gone over one at a time. Dracs were found, their bellies ripped open, still living fetuses dangling from their umbilicals-

"Joanne Nicole?"

She awakened, warm air entering the car from her side. The door was open. "Baadek?"

"Yes. Here is your dry robe, and I have dried your sandals."

She leaned forward and took the robe and sandals. "Where can I change?"

"Here in the car will do."

"Where can I be alone to change?"

"Alone?… For what reason?"

"Because I want to be alone when I change."

A puzzled silence. "I suppose you may use the gate house." Nicole felt the Drac’s hand touch her arm. "Come with me."

"What are you going to do with Kia?"

Baadek helped her from the car, her feet touching soft grass, warm sunlight washing her face. Baadek sighed.

"What to do with Kia? That is always a good question, Joanne Nicole. Always a good question. Come this way."

Nicole had been whisked up a huge outdoor staircase, then through a dizzying complex of halls and passageways. Each door seemed to have a guard on it with which Baadek would exchange hushed whispers. Then they were in a room that was bright with sunlight; she could feel it upon her skin. There were many low voices in the room, then one of the voices became recognizable; it was Tora Soam’s.

"Here you are, at last, Joanne Nicole."

She nodded, her ears straining for every sound as the Ovjetah spoke to Baadek: "And where is Kia?"

"In its apartments, Ovjetah. Kia was not feeling well."

Tora Soam’s silence spoke volumes. "Joanne Nicole, I hope your trip from the Chirn Kovah was satisfactory?"

"It was a learning experience."

"Emmmm." She heard Tora Soam tum away. "My colleagues, this is the human, Joanne Nicole." There was an uncomfortable period of coughing, paper rattling, and chair squeaking. "Baadek, come with me." Tora Soam took Nicole’s arm and led her from the room. "Joanne Nicole, I apologize for my colleagues. However, please understand that you are the very first human as flesh that they have ever seen."

"I understand."

"Tonight I will have a surprise for you; until then, Baadek will show you your apartments. There are only a few places on the estate that you are not allowed to enter, and the guards at those places will prevent your entrance. Otherwise you have the freedom of the estate. Baadek will act as your eyes for the time being, and it will call for you at the night repast. I would like to have you join us for the repast."

Nicole nodded. "I will be there."

"Excellent. And now I must return to work." She heard Tora Soam’s voice change direction. "Baadek?"

"Yes, Ovjetah?"

"When Kia is quite recovered, send my child to me. I shall be in the library all evening."

"Yes, Ovjetah."

Tora Soam’s footsteps faded away and Baadek took Nicole’s arm and led her through a maze of corridors. As they were walking, Nicole let the fingers of her left hand trail along the wall’s cut stone surface, trying to place and memorize all of the twists and turns. "Baadek?"

"Yes, Joanne Nicole?"

"Why is this building made of cut stone?"

"It must have been the desire of Tora Kia-the founder, Kia; not the one you know."

"This building is as old as the founding of Draco?"

"Yes; almost. It is a very beautiful building. The stone is of many kinds and colors."

Nicole thought for a moment as they walked down still another corridor. "Baadek, why would a race that can use metals, plastics, and freeform masonry put up a mansion of quarried stone?"

Baadek walked in silence for a moment then pulled her to a stop. "I have searched your words for a meaning beyond the apparent, Joanne Nicole, but I can find no such meaning. Do you truly find it difficult to understand?"

"Yes. The time, the expense that must have been involved hardly seems rational with the construction alternatives that must have been available."

"I repeat, Joanne Nicole: it is a very beautiful building." Baadek leaned away from her and she heard a door open. "This is the entrance to your apartments."

After taking her on a tour of the greeting, entertainment, toilet, bathing, sleeping, and meditation rooms, Baadek left Nicole to her own devices until the night repast. As it was taking its leave, Baadek again thanked her for not reporting Kia’s behavior to Tora Soam.

With some difficulty, she bathed and rested. When she reached for her robe, she found another in its place. The fabric was as light and smooth as cobwebs; and when she placed it on it felt as though a warm, gentle film caressed her body. Instead of the open sandals, there were soft, lined slipper-boots. Tora Soam’s castle might have been beautiful, but it was chilly. Joanne Nicole gathered that the Toras dressed accordingly.

While she waited for Baadek’s call to dinner, she walked the walls of her apartments, beginning the task of memorizing the floorplan and the placement of each piece of furniture.

The apartment was a circle divided up into six equal segments-each segment being a room that opened onto a central circular accessway. Each segment was shaped like an orange slice truncated on both ends. The only flat surface was the floor. The center of each room contained the article or articles that served the room’s name. The central accessway had six doors that could be opened in any combination.