K Parker: Devices and Desires

In a closed meeting, a joint subcommittee of the Compliance and Security directorates interviewed Falier Zenonis of the ordnance factory and commended him for his part in bringing the operation against Civitas Eremiae to a satisfactory conclusion. The subcommittee pointed out that it was not possible for his contribution to be officially recognised; however, a formal commendation would be entered on his personnel record, and the subcommittee felt it was extremely likely that he would reap a tangible reward for his actions in due course. Closely questioned by Commissioner Psellus, Falier Zenonis stated that, in spite of his long acquaintance with the traitor Vaatzes, he could provide no convincing explanation for Vaatzes' conduct in the matter of the betrayal of the city; in his personal opinion, Zenonis added, Vaatzes acted as a result of deep-seated mental instability exacerbated by feelings of guilt resulting from the high level of casualties inflicted by the weapons he had made for the Eremians. Asked if he believed that Vaatzes was still alive, Zenonis replied that he was sure of it.

The Vadani refused to comply with the Republic's demands, as expressed in resolution composite 50979. Accordingly, a written declaration of war was drawn up and delivered to Duke Valens by special messenger.

She heard him; the click of the latch, the sigh of the curtain behind the door that kept out the draught, his boot-heel on the flagstones. She caught her breath for a moment.

'Falier?' she said.

'I'm home.'

She stood up quickly and tucked the letter she'd been reading behind a cushion. He'd be tired after his journey; she could retrieve it once he'd gone to bed. She stirred the fire with the poker; it was dying down and the charcoal scuttle was empty.

'Come through and sit down,' she said. 'You must be worn out.'

The door of the cramped back room opened, and he came in. He looked terrible. Exhaustion didn't suit him at all. He smiled wanly at her and dropped into the chair, still holding his hat in his left hand.

'Moritsa's asleep,' she said. 'She wanted to wait up for you but I said no, she's got school tomorrow.'

He nodded. 'We got held up on the road,' he said.

'I thought that was what must've happened,' she replied. 'Can I get you anything?'

He pulled a face. 'I'm too tired to eat,' he said with a yawn.

'Get an early night,' she said. 'You can tell me all about it in the morning.'

He yawned again. 'I'll just sit here for a bit,' he said. Then he added, 'He got away'

She frowned. 'Oh.'

'We're pretty sure of it, anyway,' he said. He paused. On the way home he'd made up his mind not to say anything about the letter, even to her. 'The likeliest thing is that he escaped over the border.'

'Good,' she said. 'It'll be better for us.'

'Oh, they'll keep going after him,' Falier said. 'Still, there's nothing we can do about it, so the hell with it for now.' He grinned lopsidedly. 'Miss me?'

'Of course I missed you,' she said. 'Was it very bad?'

He nodded. 'I hope I'm home for good now. There's going to be a lot of work on at the factory, they're going to need me here.'

He'd started to mumble, and his chin was down on his chest; any moment now he'd slide into sleep, right on top of that stupid letter. She promised herself: first thing in the morning after he'd left for work, she'd put it on the fire, along with all the rest of them. It'd only cause trouble, no end of it, if he happened to find them. Besides, by now she knew all the good bits by heart, and she wouldn't miss the rest. Especially, she thought, the poetry.

From the sound of his breathing he was asleep. She sat down in the window-seat and looked at him for a while. Then she got slowly to her feet and raked the fire.