Timothy Zahn - Conquerors' Legacy

Thrr-gilag nodded, his tail spinning with barely restrained excitement as he looked at the map. "What about pictures?"

"We don't have any here," Klnn-vavgi said. "I imagine the Requisite has some, but they're currently out of direct-link laser range."

"Yes," Thrr-gilag said, his mind clearly already elsewhere. "Thrr-mezaz, we need to get a survivor from that spacecraft. My whole theory of Human aggression hinges on there being measurable metabolic changes when two or more Humans are in close proximity. We don't have any of that sort of data."

"I know," Thrr-mezaz said, watching the Elder out of the corner of his eye. "And I know how vitally important it is to the war effort. Didn't you tell me the Overclan Prime himself said that?"

"Yes, he did," Thrr-gilag confirmed, frowning slightly at his brother. Thrr-mezaz blinked twice, the old childhood signal they'd used when trying to con their parents into doing something, and Thrr-gilag's face cleared. "Yes, he said that this was our single best chance of finding a weakness we could exploit," he said, clearly on track now. "Maybe even turn the whole war around."

"We can hope so." Thrr-mezaz looked at the Elder, still waiting to deliver Ship Commander Phmm-klof's reply. "What did the ship commander say?"

"A beat, if you please, Commander," the Elder muttered, and vanished again.

"Nicely done," Klnn-vavgi murmured approvingly. "The Ghuu'rr clan absolutely adores the Overclan Prime."

"It was true, too," Thrr-gilag said.

"All the better."

The Elder reappeared. "Ship Commander Phmm-klof has ordered a transport and warrior team to be prepared," he announced. "They'll leave orbit as soon as possible."

"Good," Thrr-mezaz said. "Warn them to stay out of sight of the Human-Conqueror stronghold."

"I obey."

But here it was different, as different as fog from sunshine. And with all the frustrations and heavy responsibilities of his office, as welcome as a breath of fresh air.

"I trust the beverage is to your liking," Paallikko said as the Mrachani who'd delivered the second glass scuttled respectfully away with the dregs of the first.

"It's quite adequate," VanDiver said, sipping at the claretee and the icy tangyslush that floated on top of it. "Any word yet on Bronski or Cavanagh?"

"Not yet, I'm afraid," Paallikko said, his voice laced with genuine regret. He peered briefly at the terminal on the low table beside him and shook his head. "They're still searching the hotel records. I apologize greatly for the delay."

"Quite all right," VanDiver assured him, waving a hand in dismissal. One could afford to be magnanimous when those around were clearly trying so hard to please. "Actually, I should be the one to apologize to you. One of my agents was supposed to be keeping tabs on Cavanagh, but like an idiot managed to lose him. I appreciate your efforts here—this matter is hardly your concern."

"On the contrary, Parlimin VanDiver," Paallikko said smoothly. "Any matter that troubles a man of your rank and power is most certainly of concern to the Mrachanis. Tell me, have you any idea what sort of scheme Lord Cavanagh might be planning?"

"All I know is that if it involves Cavanagh, it's something that needs looking into," VanDiver said, glowering at his drink. "You have no idea what the man is like."

"Actually, I believe I do," Paallikko said. "Though of course not nearly as well as you do. I had occasion to cross lives with him when he visited Mra-mig a little over three weeks ago."

"Really," VanDiver said. "He was creating trouble, I presume?"

"A little," the Mrachani said, his voice almost purring. "Though not so much as he'd perhaps hoped."

VanDiver grunted. "That's Cavanagh, all right. Mra-mig was where he bumped into Bronski, too, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was," Paallikko murmured. "We are most grateful to you for bringing Liaison Bronski's presence here to our attention, Parlimin VanDiver."

He glanced again at his terminal. "Ah—the hotel search has been completed," he said. "No information on either Liaison Bronski or Lord Cavanagh. They're beginning a search now of vehicle rentals."

VanDiver nodded, glancing surreptitiously at his watch. Paallikko noticed the movement. "I'm sorry this is taking so long, Parlimin," he apologized. "If you'd prefer to return to your hotel, I could phone you when we locate them."

"Thank you," VanDiver said, inclining his head to the other. "Unfortunately, I won't have time to properly appreciate your hospitality. My duties back on Earth require me to return as soon as I have Cavanagh in hand. If it's all right with you, I'll just wait here until you locate him, then go wherever he is and pick him up."

"I would be honored by your presence," Paallikko said. "I'm quite sure it won't be much longer."

"The transport's rolled to a stop now," Kolchin said, his elbows braced on the edges of the aircar's window as he pressed the binoculars to his eyes. "Forward and cargo ramps are coming down."

"Do we need to get a little closer?" Cavanagh asked.

"We shouldn't even be this close," Bronski said. "If anyone's still keeping tabs on us, they're probably already wondering."

"They're starting to disembark now," Kolchin reported. "Three... four... five... five in the first group, all Mrachanis. The hover carriers are on the move—looks like they're forming a line over at the cargo ramp."

There was a sudden whooshing sound from above them. "Lose 'em, Kolchin," Bronski snapped, glancing up. "We've got company."

Kolchin dropped the binoculars out of sight into his lap, just as an aircar swooped past overhead and settled into a parallel course to their left. "I think that's the same one as before," Cavanagh said.

"You're right," Bronski agreed. "Same two Mrachanis; but their Bhurt's not with them anymore. What's that they're holding up to the window?"

"Looks like a plate," Cavanagh said, taking the binoculars from Kolchin and peering through them. It was indeed a plate, with a hastily scrawled message on its display:

Emergency — attempted breakout at western entrance. Follow us quickly.

"Attempted breakout?" Kolchin frowned as Cavanagh relayed the message. "Who's in there to break out?"

"I don't know," Bronski said, waggling their wings in acknowledgment. "But it's going to look suspicious if we don't go along."

The Mrachanis pulled away, heading toward the western edge of the ring cliffs. Bronski fell into formation behind them; and as he did so, Kolchin abruptly grabbed the binoculars out of Cavanagh's hands. "What is it?" Bronski demanded.

"Zhirrzh," Kolchin said tightly, the binoculars again pressed to the window. "Three of them, coming down the cargo ramp."

A chill ran up Cavanagh's back. Somehow, even with all the evidence they'd already seen of Mrach duplicity, he'd never really believed they would make a private bargain with the Conquerors.

"Any dignitary-type Mrachanis on the scene?" Bronski asked. "Or anything that looks ceremonial?"

"Not that I can see." Kolchin lowered the binoculars. "They're out of sight now."

"Then this isn't the first batch to come in," Bronski concluded. "Probably a supply run or a personnel change. And the fact that they're on a Mrach transport means they've set up a rendezvous point for cargo transfers. Saves them the problem of trying to sneak Zhirrzh ships in and out of the system."

"Yes," Cavanagh murmured. "I suppose that establishes who's playing the title role in the Mirnacheem-hyeea One and Two operations."

"Not the Peacekeepers," Bronski agreed. "Kolchin, how's our backtrack look?"

"Three aircars in the distance," Kolchin said, looking out the rear windows. "Could just be more perimeter observers."

"I don't think they'd stay observers for long if we made a break for it," Bronski grunted. "Let's see if we can bluff this through."