Sergei Lukyanenko - The Genome

“Did you kill Zey-So?”

“I won’t answer that,” said Janet firmly. “If I say ‘yes,’ I’ll be extradited to the Zzygou, and Eben will remain under the quarantine field. If I say ‘no’… will you ever believe me?”

“Sey-Zo,” asked Holmes quickly. “Will you be able to stop the Zzygou squadrons? Will you be able to prevent the war?”

The Other was quiet for a while, then nodded reluctantly.

“Yes.”

“Under what conditions?”

“Under condition that I personally administer justice to punishing the murderer, and the punishment is no less horrible than the fate that befell Zey-So.”

Janet pressed her lips together, but said nothing.

“Dear Sey-Zo, do you realize that the war will not be of any use to either your civilization, or to the Human Empire?”

“I realize.”

“If a crew member voluntarily confesses to having committed this heinous crime and hands him or herself over…” Holmes threw a passing glance at Alex. “Will you stop the war, Lady Sey-Zo?”

“If it is the real murderer, and if the confession is truthful. If the evidence of guilt is convincing to me.”

“The life of one person is nothing in comparison to the lives of two civilizations.”

“I will not execute an innocent person,” Sey-Zo repeated. “I expect convincing evidence of the actual murderer’s guilt, Mister Detective-Spesh.”

“Deadlock,” said Janet quietly. Grinned a crooked grin. “How strange… no one wants a war, but it is unavoidable.”

Holmes looked around the recreation lounge.

“Among you, my fellow citizens,” he said softly, “is the person who killed Zey-So. There is absolutely no doubt that he or she represents some very powerful organization that is interested in instigating a war. The murderer hadn’t been motivated by primitive phobias or grudges. His or her actions were calculated, cold-blooded, and selfless. Because whatever happens, this case will be solved, and the murderer will be punished.”

Silence…

“So you’re ready to face death?” asked Holmes. “You still think that this unknown goal is worth the destruction of two civilizations?”

“If Eben is set free, the Empire will not perish,” Janet murmured.

“Do you wish to confess something?” Holmes inquired.

Janet smirked.

“All the evidence points to you.”

“Circumstantial evidence. Well, do what you wish. No one is required to testify against herself.”

“But I can testify in Janet’s defense!” suddenly shouted Kim. Holmes braced himself.

“Really? How curious. And what can you tell us, young lady?”

“Janet and I were in her cabin. For a long time. She has an alibi.”

“Both she and you?” Holmes pointed out. “Tell us the exact time.”

“Twelve p.m. to three a.m. ship time.” Kim looked at Alex and gave an embarrassed smile. “Sorry, Alex…”

Janet sighed.

“You shouldn’t have said anything…”

“Why didn’t you report this earlier?” Holmes demanded. “Some personal problems, perhaps? You had a sexual encounter you didn’t wish to make known?”

“Yeah, right!” Kim snorted. “Sorry, Jannie…”

“Then why were you silent on the matter?”

“We had a private talk, okay? It has nothing to do with the Zzygou! We were… we were gossiping, you know. Girl to girl!”

She looked at Alex again. He nodded, catching on.

No, it wasn’t sex, after all. If there was anything erotic about it, it was in some minimal, trivial form—crying on each other’s shoulder, patting each other, maybe a little kissing.

They had been discussing him. Him! Discussing and dividing him up! The smart Janet who understood everything, and the poor Kim, suffering from unrequited love. The younger asking the experienced woman’s advice. The woman sharing the secrets of sex and flirtation, the secrets that are impossible to graft by any kind of pre-programming…

Alex looked away.

He already seemed to understand what it was not to love.

But it seemed not to have given him the main thing. Love itself.

Or was it simply too late?

Both Kim and Janet had already become his comrades in arms, his sexual partners… but not at all his beloved . Love is a force of nature. From steadily smoldering coals you can rouse a spark of passion, but not the flame of love.

And wouldn’t it be great to fall in love with Kim—she was beautiful, young, smart, and loyal!

What a stupid mechanism of reproduction Nature invented! Why can’t it be controlled?

He looked at Holmes, who began talking again.

“Thank you very much for the information, Ms. Kim O’Hara. Even if the information is somewhat belated. Do you have any documentation to affirm that you were with Janet Ruello from twelve to three o’clock last night?”

“No, I don’t.” Kim shook her head. “But is my word worthless?”

Holmes sighed.

“In this particular situation, it is worthless. You could be covering up for the perpetrator. You could be an accomplice. I have taken your words into consideration, but I cannot rely on them.”

Kim lifted her hand and slapped it forcefully on the table. Plates and silverware jumped up, and a deep dent was left in the polished wood.

“Easy,” said Holmes soothingly. “A fighter-spesh should control herself.”

“Are you deadlocked, Holmes?” Alex asked. He didn’t recognize his own voice. It seemed to him tense and hoarse.

And he probably wasn’t the only one. All eyes were now on him.

“I am deeply convinced that I know the murderer’s identity,” Holmes reported courteously. “But I still have no proof. And Lady Sey-Zo yearns for solid proof.”

Alex silently rolled up the sleeve of his jersey. Then asked:

“Does everybody know what this is?”

“The Demon,” said Kim. “Your little devil…”

“It’s an emotion scanner,” said Dr. Watson, entering the conversation. She was looking at Alex with genuine curiosity. “How strange… Why did you have one implanted?”

“I must be the spesh who seeks out the unusual,” replied Alex with a crooked grin. “I’ve always wanted to see what exactly I am feeling. And maybe… maybe I wanted to see something on the Demon’s face that I couldn’t ever experience myself.”

“It is smiling.” Dr. Watson walked up to him and unceremoniously grabbed his arm. “Captain… what does this mean?”

“It means that everything is going to be all right,” said Alex. “I, too, know who the killer is. And I’m sure his guilt will be proven.”

Dr. Watson’s eyes looked full of doubt. As though what was happening now was an unheard-of violation of natural laws.

“If you can help the investigation…” the detective began.

“I can’t—just yet. But tomorrow morning, everything will change. Believe me, Mr. Holmes.”

“Captain!”

Sey-Zo moved towards him, spreading out her arms, as if to underscore that she wasn’t doing so in aggression. Alex got up, stepped forward to meet her.

“Who killed Zey-So?”

“I will tell you tomorrow.”

The Zzygou’s eyes were peering intently at his face. What was she trying to read on the face of a creature that resembled her race only in appearance?

“Give me the murderer. Give him to me, and I will stop the war. In the name of every one of our race, I swear! I will stop the war!”

“The murderer will be in your power.” Alex looked at the other crewmembers, sitting still as statues. “What will you do with him?”

“I don’t know…” The Zzygou faltered. “I have to decide. What is considered worst punishment in your race?”

It seemed the question was asked sincerely. Unlike Janet Ruello, Lady Sey-Zo had no training as an executioner-spesh.