Barry Longyear - Enemy Papers

"Yes, Nicole?"

"All that I am speaking to you is the truth. Take whatever steps you must to confirm it, but you must say nothing about it. If Hissied 'do Timan’s plan escapes to the news media, that knowledge will do as much damage as the plan itself."

"Who do you think tried to kill you, Nicole?"

"It’s not important. The universe is full of well-meaning beings who would take on such a task if they thought they were serving some brand of justice."

"What about the treaty?"

Joanne Nicole settled back upon her bed-table. "Ambassador Rafiki, Jetah Indeva; as soon as you two can arrange negotiations between only the two of you-Tora Soam, Hissied 'do Timan, and myself observing-things will be made clear. There can be no guards, deputies, or assistants, and the compartment must be made secure from listening and recording devices. Before coming to the meeting, both of you must have plenipotentiary powers to act for your governments, and you must be in direct command of your respective military forces."

Tora Soam spoke. "I bring such powers with me from the Dracon Chamber. Ambassador Rafiki?"

"I will have to discuss this with my government. Nicole, why do I need such powers?"

"You will need the power and freedom to act to resolve the problem."

She held out her hand. "Tora Soam, my anesthetic is wearing off. Have quarters been arranged for me on board this ship?"

"Of course."

"Then bring me back to Natueh Gi."

She felt the bed-table begin to move, then Tora Soam’s words whispered into her ear. "Hissied 'do Timan. Is he responsible for Heliot’s death?"

Nicole weakly shook her head. "No. Heliot Vant’s death is the thing that endangers Hissied 'do Timan’s plan. Heliot’s death caused the negotiations to be reopened."

The bed-table stopped moving. "Then who?"

Nicole held out her hand. "Ambassador Rafiki, can you wait for a moment?"

"Yes."

Nicole’s hand touched Tora Soam’s arm. "Send for your child. Between them. Ana Rafiki and Tora Kia know."

Minutes later, freshly medicated and in her bed, Nicole listened as Tora Soam, Kia, and Ambassador Rafiki arranged themselves on couches and chairs. Jetah Indeva stood beside the compartment’s door. Tora Soam spoke. "Very well, Nicole. Begin."

Nicole nodded slightly. "Ambassador Rafiki?"

"Yes?"

"Explain your relationship with Heliot Vant."

"Explain?"

"What was it like? How did you feel?"

Ambassador Rafiki was silent for a long moment. "At first we could not communicate. There were too many hostilities and false issues. But as we fought over these issues, the hostility, I think, was replaced by a degree of mutual respect. I… I admired Heliot very much."

"And describe what happened the night Heliot died."

"I have given that information to Major Haridashi; and I have authorized the information exchange you requested through Colonel Moore."

"Please describe it. I am more interested in the feelings than in the events."

"Very well. It had been a long, hard struggle working out the terms of the treaty. At one point in the negotiations, Heliot suggested that the two of us meet informally to allow us to discuss and settle upon several points without our respective negotiating teams screaming charges and counter-charges at each other. The meeting was very productive."

"There were more meetings, Ambassador?"

"Yes. We managed to get more done that way."

"And your affection for Heliot grew?"

"I wouldn’t call it affection… Admiration. Respect"

A haunted tone came into the ambassador’s voice. "Perhaps it was affection. I think the feeling was mutual. Just before Heliot died, it told me that it respected me. Heliot was so proud-not only of what had been accomplished, but that we had accomplished it. A Drac and a human. Heliot… was proud of us ."

Nicole heard Tora Soam stand and walk toward the ambassador. "You cry. You cry for Heliot Vant?"

"Is that so odd?"

"Yes, that is odd."

Nicole turned her head toward Tora Kia. "Kia, explain to them what happened."

"How should I know?"

"You know."

There was an embarrassed silence, then Kia spoke. "Yes… I suppose I do. Ambassador Rafiki?"

"Yes?"

"Just before it died, Heliot Vant became very emotional."

"Perhaps. As I said, Heliot was very proud of what we had done." She uttered a sad little laugh. "Heliot .. Heliot even blushed."

The direction of Kia’s voice changed. "My parent, it is possible to feel love… sexual toward a human."

Jetah Indeva snorted. "Preposterous!"

"But possible just the same, Jetah."

Tora Soam spoke. "Continue, Kia."

"Heliot Vant loved her, but did not think in such terms. After all, Ambassador Rafiki is a human. There was no reason for Heliot to think that there was cause for guarding its emotions."

"Kia, do you mean that Heliot’s feelings for this woman caused it to… conceive?"

"Yes."

"How can such a thing be possible? And at Heliot’s age it…"

"At Heliot’s age, the act of conception would result in Heliot’s death. And the empathy, love, sexual feelings… a Drac can have for a human."

"How do you know?"

"It… has happened before."

"How do you know, my child?"

"It has happened to me."

"Kia…" The Ovjetah seemed stunned. "Nicole? You and Nicole?"

"It was a strange moment, my parent. It was dark… and I had no reason to guard my feelings. My mind was burdened by my nightmares, and this creature in the dark offered to listen-to allow me to unburden myself. Later, she… thought of me as her mate, seeking her own comfort."

"But you conceived?"

"Yes. The Tora line continues."

Ambassador Rafiki stood. "Nicole, you are saying that I killed Heliot?"

"No, Ambassador. Circumstance, misunderstanding, age… love killed Heliot Vant."

Tora Soam spoke. "Nicole, what of the poison?"

"Ovjetah, Heliot Vant’s death was an accident. An accident that threw an enormous random factor into Hissied 'do Timan’s carefully, balanced equation. The poison, I think, was a desperate attempt to salvage the equation. Perhaps Londu Peg is a Timan agent. More likely, the poison was introduced later. There are enough secret corridors on the orbiter to enable the Timans to contaminate the evidence at will. The new autopsy, you ordered should confirm what Kia said."

Ambassador Rafiki stood next to Nicole’s bed. "The treaty Heliot and I worked out; why does it play into the hands of Hissied 'do Timan?"

"The treaty locks all sides into the problem of Amadeen. And the treaty does not resolve the problem of Amadeen. Therefore it assures the resumption of the war and that both sides will regard future treaty negotiations as closed paths-unproductive. A continued full-scale war between the USE and the Dracon Chamber is vital to Hissied 'do Timan’s plan."

Ambassador Rafiki stood silently for a long moment, then she spoke to Tora Soam. "There are many things I do not understand. However, I will go now to obtain the powers Nicole thinks are necessary." The direction of the ambassador’s voice changed. "Jetah Indeva, I will keep you informed."

Nicole heard the ambassador leave the compartment. Jetah Indeva grunted and followed the human."

Tora Soam spoke. "Nicole, I feel that I should say something."

"About what?"

"So many things… For one, you and Kia…"

Kia’s voice. "Yes, my parent. It is true."

"Then, my child… then you must be transported back to Draco. There is too much risk here, if what Nicole says is true. The line-"

"If there is risk, my parent, it is not to me but to Joanne Nicole. I think it is clear now that the Timan understands her function here. I will remain here to lessen that risk."