Rook Winters - Weight of Ashes

“Kane,” it hissed, “how rude of me to not of-f-fer you any.”

Kane tapped the helmet of his suit. “Translator’s on. No need to make me suffer listening to your English.”

Kantarka-Ta leaned back in irritation and Kane suppressed a smile. Perhaps he’d gotten too comfortable taking shots at this particular Qyntarak. Even though they both reported to the governor, they were not equals. He didn’t want to end up on its feeding tray at some point.

“Genuine suffering in reality I wish on you, ape.”

“Ape? That’s over the line—”

“Shut your talking hole.” The translation didn’t convey the intensity of the message. Through the helmet’s thermal overlay, Kane saw the hot spots at the base of the Qyntarak’s antennae. It was not in a good mood. “We have business.”

Kane dropped his chin and took a step back, a human variation of a Qyntarak yielding the floor. His instincts were telling him to defuse the interaction rather than escalate it.

“Your team has the requirement to investigate a report from the minor city of Alma.”

“Alma? That’s near where Donovan was taken down.”

“Accurate. Donovan is part of the subject of the investigation. Two human males went to Alma with a data vault two days before today. It stored a recording of Clint Donovan. Clint Donovan talked about the improved laws and a subject from the research organization. A local security team searched the area where Clint Donovan was terminated but the body and transport are not there any longer. You are required to go in the company of your staff and sanitize.”

“Two days ago? Why are we just hearing of this now?”

“It took time for the intelligence to ascend the layers of management. A local freelancer sold the information because the two human males did not pay adequate prices for services.”

“Do we have a copy of the recording?”

“No.”

“And what about the research subject?”

“Clint Donovan was the guardian for a human female patient. The location of that patient is unknown.”

“Was she reported missing?”

“No. Not until staff were questioned.”

“So people were covering for Donovan.”

“Data is insufficient to create that conclusion.”

“Did he take her with him?”

“The security staff who tracked Clint Donovan said no.”

“So you have a dead scientist, a missing patient, a video leaking sensitive information, and at least three people who know about it. And you thought my organization wouldn’t be needed anymore. Someone’s got to clean up your messes.”

Kantarka-Ta flung its food tray across the room, spraying Kane’s ambassadorial suit with the remnants of blood mixed with alien mucus. “Do the job you are required to do.”

He looked down at his suit.

Gross.

At least someone else would have to clean that mess.

“Anything else?”

“Yes. The two humans who carried the recording. The older human is called Marsh Lapin.”

“Should that name mean something to me?”

“Marsh Lapin was my staff.”

Marsh looks exhausted , Court thought. The trip to Alma must have been hard on him.

In a break from protocol, Court and Elle were seated at the council table with the council members. The council had only invited Elle, but she’d insisted on having Court with her, so the council had brought in a pair of campfire stools for them. The room was cloaked and Marsh was recounting the details of his journey with Walker.

“His instructions at the end were a little cryptic. He asked if I would have our friend give Elle a tour and ask her how the suit compares to old A2 jackets. To be honest, I don’t know what it means except the part about a friend giving a tour.”

“The tour guide?” Elle said.

“I didn’t understand the reference at first but when Clint said ‘the three of us’ in the recording, I knew he meant Nora. We worked on a research project together. She was an anthropologist and used to make extra money doing tours of the city, showing visitors the historic sites. The tour guide is Nora. That’s the friend Clint wants me to take Elle to see.”

“But why?” Court asked.

“That I don’t know. Elle, what did he tell you about her?”

“He didn’t tell me anything. We left in a hurry. He came rushing in and said it wasn’t safe anymore and we had to leave. That we had to go find the rabbit and the tour guide. The old motorcycle was waiting outside, I don’t know where he got it. He sealed me in the suit and we left. We didn’t stop until—”

Her voice caught. Court had an unexpected urge to comfort her, to hold her hand or wrap his arm around her, but he resisted the impulse. It wouldn’t be appropriate in a gathering with the council, he knew that, and he suspected he’d receive a sharp elbow to the ribs from Elle if he did.

Paul, the bald councilperson, asked, “What are you proposing we do?”

“Clint was my friend, and this was his dying request of me. I need to honor that. But my first obligation is to the ongoing stability of the village. So this is my proposal: I would like a six month leave of absence and the blessing of the council to go with Elle to find Nora Barrett.”

Colleen broke the heavy silence. “Marsh, you can’t be serious. You’re still recovering from your trip to Alma. And do you even know where to start looking for someone you knew forty years ago?”

“It’s been a while since I checked in on her but I know she was a professor at the old University of Toronto until it was closed.”

“That was a dozen years ago, at least,” Paul said. “She could be anywhere now. And not to be indelicate, but she might not even be alive still.”

Marsh did not relent. “I understand there are uncertainties, but doing nothing is a bigger risk to the village than not trying. I don’t mean to be insensitive, Elle, but you are a fugitive from a state-sponsored research center. At some point, they’ll come looking for you.”

“No, I understand. Dr. Donovan was the only family I had. If getting to this Nora Barrett was important enough to give up everything we knew, I want to go.”

“Marsh, you’re chair of the council,” Colleen said. “It’s not as simple as just taking some time off.”

“Ah, but it is. The protocols clearly cover this type of scenario. As vice chair, you’ll become acting chair and the council will elect an interim member during my leave.”

“Yes, but—”

“And I nominate Court as interim council member in my absence.”

“What?” Court blurted out.

“What?” Paul echoed.

“He apprenticed with me so he knows how I see things. He’ll be able to represent my point of view well enough. And he doesn’t have a family to care for so he has the time for council business.”

“He doesn’t have a family because he’s barely of age,” Paul said.

“But he is of age. That’s all that matters for serving on the council.”

Colleen held up a finger to halt Paul’s response. “Court, Elle, I think you two should wait outside for this discussion.”

The two of them waited near the council’s cabin long enough for Court to note the shadows of trees slowly drifting across the wall. When the door swung open, Paul walked past them without saying a word. Councilpersons Anica and Jess spoke to each other with hushed voices. Only Marsh and Colleen stopped.

“The council voted you in as interim member during Marsh’s absence. As acting chair, I will coordinate your orientation activities. We might be a small village but there’s plenty you will need to familiarize yourself with. We’ll start the day after tomorrow. I need some time to prepare and do my own knowledge transfer with Marsh before he leaves. Any questions?”