Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

“You speak ill of the civilization I come from,” said Mistake calmly, “and you are right to do so.”

Dumo’s face registered surprise as Mistake continued, “The problem with Fakara is indeed that is lacks law and order. The country is run by bullies who do kill without reason and take whatever they wish. Would you wish it to be different?”

“No country should exist without law and order,” growled Dumo, “but if you think that by agreeing with me that I will let you go, save your breath. I will not be sweet talked into ignoring our laws.”

“The talk I offer you is not sweet by any means,” continued Mistake. “Fakara is changing right now. You may not be aware of it, but the Jiadin tribe is attempting to unite the tribes under Grulak’s rule. If he succeeds, you had better plan to man your borders once again, for he will not leave you in peace.”

“While that may be so,” retorted Dumo, “my actions have no bearing on that.”

“Oh but they do,” Mistake said. “One of the people you wish to kill here today has made it his life’s work to offer Fakara another solution to their poverty and lawlessness. Rejji has already been in contact with clans in Khadora and arranged to set up a trading port to bring in food and tools to help the Fakaran people rebuild their society. It is a task that will be arduous and difficult, but Bakhai and I have promised to help him. This trip through your land is solely my fault. I insisted that we seek the Sage of the Mountain to learn of my real family before we start the rebuilding effort. When you kill us, you kill the alternative to Grulak’s domination. We can not stop you from killing us. After all, the law is on your side. But before you do, ask yourself one question. Does it benefit the Qubari people more to have Fakarans working in peace to become good neighbors to you, or is it more beneficial to add three young bodies to your graveyard?”

“It is not our desire to kill you to fill our graveyard,” blustered Dumo. “It is to maintain the secrecy of the Qubari Jungle. What you have seen already is enough to aid an attacking army. As the leader of the Qubari, I risk the lives of my people by allowing you to carry word of your discoveries out of the jungle. That is why we have the law and that is why we still exist.”

“Would not our vow of secrecy be sufficient?” asked Mistake. “We have no desire to bring harm to your people.”

“I cannot risk the lives of my people on the vows of strangers,” Dumo shook his head. “Two people have left this jungle in my lifetime. Both ended in disaster for us. I cannot take that chance.”

Anderal rose and asked permission to speak and Dumo nodded and sat down.

“Rejji,” the council member asked, “Mistake has told us of your mission in life and it intrigues me. Having a stable government in Fakara would certainly be most welcome, but I fail to see how simply instituting trade with Khadora would do anything other than create another tempting target for the Jiadin. Can you explain this to me?”

“It will create a tempting target,” agreed Rejji, “but it will also create wealth. The tribes today live off of the surrounding villages. The villages have little to live on and therefore the tribes have little as well. I intend to offer a better life, not only to the villagers, but also to the tribes. I believe that most tribes would gladly give up being bandits if there was a way for them to exist. The wealth we create in Fakara can be used to create more wealth. If we have a market to export the results of our labors, then those labors become worth something. As Fakara exists today, young people from the villages join the tribes because there is no other option. We plan to create that other option.”

“Why won’t the tribes just raid your new wealth?” questioned Anderal.

“Because we won’t let them,” responded Rejji. “I will hire a defense force to prevent attacks and then offer jobs to those I think might try to attack. The one group I know this plan will not work with is the Jiadin. I have not worked out a plan for them yet.”

“In essence, both you and Grulak plan to unite the tribes then?” Anderal asked.

“I guess so,” answered Rejji. “The difference is what the united tribes will do. My tribes will trade with Khadora, and with the Qubari if they wish, the other tribes plan to attack Khadora and probably you as well.”

“Thank you,” nodded Anderal as he took his seat.

“I fail to see where all this talk is heading,” interjected council member Pulom. “While Rejji’s plan is certainly more desirable, it is not the issue here. The issue is our need for secrecy and I think we should limit the discussion to that.”

“I don’t see that any further discussion is necessary,” frowned Dumo. “I think the council should vote.”

“I have one thing I would like to add if I may,” Rejji stated.

Dumo nodded.

“Could an exception to the law be allowed if we could prove that your secrecy would be maintained?” questioned Rejji.

“The council’s decision is the law,” sighed Dumo. “Why waste time on this further? There can be no such proof.”

“I think there can be,” argued Rejji. “I can understand your reluctance to trust our vow of secrecy as we are strangers to you. If you allowed us to leave the jungle, we could run straight to the tribes and tell them everything we have seen. I do see that as a serious threat to your security. I think I can offer you two pieces of information that will allow you to trust us.”

“Very well,” Dumo sighed. “Make your offer.”

“The first piece of information is that my village was totally destroyed by the Jiadin,” declared Rejji. “There is no way I would ever offer them information about anything. What I would offer them is my sword at their throat.”

Rejji could see that his first point had little effect on the council, but he continued, “The second thing I can offer you, to make you believe we will keep our vows, is that we could have already disclosed everything we have seen. We did not do so and will not do so. If we have already refrained form divulging the information, why would we do differently later?”

“How could you have divulged anything?” questioned Dumo. “You have been under guard the entire time you have been here.”

“I am willing to answer that question,” offered Rejji, “only if it will result in our freedom. We too have a need for secrecy. If you trust us, we will trust you.”

The council table was awash with murmurs as the members discussed the case. Rejji could see that there were differences of opinion and he nudged Mistake.

“Use it,” he whispered. “Find out what they are saying and who is willing to trust us.”

Mistake nodded imperceptibly and cast the Air Tunnel. “They appear to be split,” whispered Mistake. “Anderal and Yltar are for letting us go. Dumo and Pulom are not.”

“I think Dumo is a lost cause,” whispered Rejji. “Concentrate on Pulom. When the opportunity presents itself, nudge him.”

Mistake tried to listen to Pulom, but the man kept on harping on the same word, secrecy. The debate seemed to coming to a stalemate and Mistake did not know what that would mean to their future, so she decided to risk nudging him.

She reversed the flow and said, “Secrecy is not the issue. Safety is.”

Rejji fought to suppress his chuckle as the old man whirled around looking for the source of the voice. Pulom glanced over at Mistake and she politely smiled back at him. Mistake started listening again as the conversation resumed. Pulom reverted to his position that secrecy was most important. Mistake again reversed flow and sent the same message. This time Pulom quickly turned and stared at Mistake. Mistake smiled back, but Pulom’s face turned red as he stared at her.