Stone Blade (22 page)

“Or social release,” added Deil, “That's something that cannot be contained! The harder you try to bottle it up the harder it's going to erupt.”

“Thank you,” said Ferrel sincerely. Deil echoed his theory!

Before McAnders could expound further Kidwell returned. She gave Micah a glass and Ferrel a glass and a sultry look. McAnders and Deil swapped grins.

“Hello Ricky,” simpered Kidwell, “It's nice to see you.” She followed this with a look hotter than her first one. “You know this might go better with some food.”

Ferrel smiled at her, nodded at Micah and took her arm.

“Now that is trouble,” said McAnders once Ferrel and Kidwell left, “Jonas may be nice but that's kinda pushing the limit.”

“Polarize,” said Deil, “They're just having some fun. If you, my so-scholarly friend, would do likewise you might just understand it.”

“As if,” said McAnders, “But speaking of fun, Mike...”

“Why Mikey, dear. How simply wonderful you're here. I had so thought this evening would be dreadfully dull.” Haffenstatler cuddled close to Micah and worked his arm around her. “That precious Meshella told me you were here! I am so very glad you made it.”

“It's good to see you too, Missy.” Micah offered a smile and silently vowed revenge on Kidwell.

“Have you eaten, Mikey? The restaurant here is simply stellar.”

“No. I haven't. Yet.”

Excusing himself to the others Micah offered Missy his arm.

***

“Out of the question!”

Micah let his face show a hint of hesitant defiance.

“But...”

“Unthinkable! You are here on sufferance. Do you wish it withdrawn?”

“No, sir, but...”

“Then that is your answer.” The librarian folded his arms and glared at Micah.

Micah gave Ferrel an appealing glance which Ferrel met with a resigned shrug.

“Sir,” asked Ferrel meekly, “may we access your library from the consulate?”

The librarian transferred his gaze to Ferrel who wilted at it. The man seemed ready to deny even this request but an almost-hidden glance at their shadows changed this.

“That might be arranged. Public information only.”

“Yes sir.”

“Your connection will be closely monitored. Any irregularities will have very unpleasant consequences.”

“Yes sir. I mean no sir! Nothing past what we've studied so far. Your economy is so fascinating...”

“As you have said before,” said the librarian quickly. He then visibly dismissed Micah and Ferrel.

Micah cast his eyes downward and bit back on a chuckle. Within a week of starting here both he and Ferrel had given this librarian in particular and several others in general ample reason to avoid them. They gave anyone with half a minute to listen a complex dissertation on their research and its importance to their project. He and Ferrel left the library nervously.

“On track four-by,” said Micah, “That was almost too easy.”

“Or not,” replied Ferrel with a smug smile, “They think they'll be able to burn the legation from my connection. Maybe if they were me they could. Ready for some exercise?”

“Double-plus!”

Kidwell gave Ferrel a load of information. Between the two of them she and Ionoski had most of a power chart for the Circle of Firsts. Amazingly enough Morr figured significantly. Now they needed subtlety and Ionoski and Kidwell, by the nature of their covers, could not manage it.

Dour Brethren of the Walkers in Light took biometrics on Micah and Ferrel. With a brusque admonition not to leave the League area the Brethren dismissed them. Entry into the legation itself posed no difficulty whatsoever.

“Can you tell me anything?”

After a small show of formality for his few visitors Ramsey led Micah and Ferrel to his office.

“Nothing past what we've reported already, sir,” said Micah, “That plus their librarians are very rude.”

Ramsey grinned at this.

“They're going to try to burn your net,” added Ferrel, “We'll be researching from here and they'll probably try a recursive backtrace on the primary connection. I think they're smart enough not to try a brute-force or hijack but you might watch for those too.”

Ramsey, with a more than passing knowledge of net security, nodded and made a note.

“Why will you be working from here,” asked Ramsey.

“Because they won't let us have an external communication channel,” replied Ferrel, “Not even proxied through here. That is absolutely vital to our project!”

“I see,” said Ramsey.

Micah scowled at Ferrel.

“Jonas wants us to do some sneaking of our own. We can't do that if we have half a dozen shadows ourselves.”

Ramsey smiled and nodded. “You do know the legation is under strict surveillance.”

“We're counting on it, sir. Especially the grounds between here and Anathema?”

“I doubt I could pass a microbe.”

Ramsey tried to keep the questions out of his eyes as Micah and Ferrel both burst out laughing.

***

Sweat rolled down Micah's face unnoticed as he crept slowly toward their target. Sensing his motion the mercury suit adjusted itself to its new surroundings. With a practiced sideways glance Micah could barely see Ferrel's outline but no one outside three meters could; unless, of course, they'd trained as extensively as had Micah.

The secret was not to move quickly. With its advanced holography and emission stealth technology the mercury suit could, in a matter of seconds, adjust its visible and thermal parameters to those of its environment. It did, however, take all of those few seconds. Moving too quickly confused its circuitry and caused it to flash in many spectacular and luminous colors.

“Steady, Charlie.”

“Hush! I saw you blur a minute ago!”

The hair-thin optical fiber connecting their helmets had taken a fair amount of traffic from Ferrel, who complained mostly about the heat.

“So would you rather be doing serious research?”

Ferrel didn't answer. He tweaked and programmed his Intelligence-sophisticated terminal to conduct their research autonomously. Ferrel observed it until the Unitites stopped trying to burn the connection. It functioned well within the parameters of a student randomly querying related information.

“Nah,” said Ferrel, “Too much like real work for me.”

Their objective, an access point into the starport's vast underground infrastructure, crept slowly closer. The hatchway Micah chose lay just behind the Brethren checkpoint and opposite from Anathema in relation to the legation. Once they arrived they'd survey it for possible future use. By Micah's plan they should reach the hatchway not long after nightfall. At first Ferrel laughed; by him they should be there in two or three hours. Micah insisted on slow and steady progress, though.

Once underground their plan depended on what they found. Despite his best efforts Ferrel found no technical details concerning starport security. Not that it mattered, save to assuage his curiosity. Micah felt he could handle the security they'd observed so far, never mind what Ferrel could do.

From there the plan was simple. They'd find a way out, secure it and assume Unity identities for use in the town itself. Ionoski would help as he could. He and Ryan arranged a very visible meeting with several Unity merchants; even as Micah and Ferrel inched away from the legation the staff would be drawing attention there. Micah saw some traffic between the checkpoint and the legation but no one came within seven meters of the mercuries.

“Primitive,” scoffed Ferrel, “They should be ashamed.”

Micah held his peace. They made the access point an hour and a half after full darkness. By now the party in the legation should be in full swing. Perhaps with a merchant or two led to indiscretion by Smit's strong drink. Micah felt uneasy about that but neither Kidwell nor Ionoski agreed with him. Ramsey could certainly mollify any offense and any incidents would only draw attention away from Micah and Ferrel.

Ferrel mumbled derisively to himself as he circumvented the monitors and alarms. He installed a diverter with a standard League key signature. The two of them had quite a few of the things and Ferrel planned to use as many as he could. When the hatch popped open Micah grabbed Ferrel's ankles and braced him. Ferrel slid inside and began scanning.

“Clear. Looks like that was all of it.”

Micah breathed a sigh of relief and lowered Ferrel the rest of the way in. The hatch led to a small underground chamber some five meters down. Micah closed the hatch and descended.

“Power down. I'm scanning for passives.”

The mercury instantly cooled several degrees when Micah deactivated it. He closed his eyes. Even though the chamber was pitch black Micah didn't relish losing what little night vision he had.

After several seconds Micah perceived a flash through his eyelids. It wouldn't be bright but brightness was relative. Any light-sensitive links would show enough electronic activity for Ferrel to detect.

“Clear,” said Ferrel, “There's some circuitry in the wall but nothing offensive. Shall we see what we have?”

They adjusted their mercuries to project light, dim but sufficient for their nightvee gear.

Micah and Ferrel found and modified several security monitors while wending their way through the near-darkness. Their next objective lay three klicks from the port and Micah wanted to reach it before midnight. The objective itself, a sewage plant, made Micah glad of the mercury's chemical filters. They shouldn't have to swim through the muck. Micah hoped.

***

“Phew!” Ferrel wrinkled his nose when he shed the mercury. “Now that I'm out of it I'd almost rather still have it on!”

Micah chuckled, enjoying the cool but malodorous night air. They didn't have to swim through sewage but they hadn't missed it by much. The mercury suits folded into very small bundles so securing and burying them took not long at all. Before long two full and proper Unity citizens stood beneath the stars.

“Game of Imperium before beddie,” asked Ferrel.

“Certainly,” replied Micah, “Shall we?”

They located the narrow road connecting the sewage treatment plant to the town and started along it, eyes and ears alert for traffic. Before long the small road merged with one larger and that one merged with one larger still. The two walkers kept far enough off the road proper to fade into the darkness should someone else happen by.

The hostel's night clerk eyed Micah and Ferrel warily.

“It is late, brothers.”

“We are just arrived from Glory in the Light, brother,” said Micah, “It was a long journey but one blessed with good travel. I am Jacob DuProis and this is my brother Solomon.”

Glory in the Light, the town Ferrel used for their identities, lay a good distance away.

“Be welcome, then, brothers. Matins is at six and Call at five.”

“Thank you, brother. We take honor in your hearth and home.”

The man nodded, piety satisfied if not curiosity.

***

Joachim Frond examined the report before him.

“Page Velvert your suspicion borders on sinful.”

Velvert stood respectfully with hands folded and eyes downcast and devoid of expression.

“Yet not unjustified, I trow,” continued Frond, “You are certain the system has been compromised?”

“As much so as I can be, First. There is no direct evidence but the attempts were made and the ones we blocked were exceptionally sophisticated. I believe our security held but I cannot be certain of it.”

Frond's mouth tightened. “What of the legation's systems?”

“We could not penetrate their outer defenses, First.”

“Even with a locally internal connection?”

“Correct, First.”

Frond pondered this.

“If I might suggest so, First, might it not be well to query the League computers for information concerning their sinners?”

“How do you propose that, Page Velvert, when the League net has you blocked so firmly?”

“By forcing their hand, First.”

Velvert explained and Frond's expression warmed slightly.

“Not yet. Hold your plan ready but do not execute it. For now continue your surveillance and other projects.”

“As you command, First. Blessed be the Unity.”

***

Morr stood before Velvert's desk. He arrived during the Fourth's conference, Velvert's assistant would not say with whom. Morr fretted at the length of his document but Velvert's orders were specific: report all information.

“You have done well, Morr.”

“Thank you, Fourth.”

“And you set yourself a severe penance.”

Morr turned cold inside. He gave himself the lightest penance he could, in good conscience, but still he felt soiled.

“Yes, Fourth. I thought...”

Velvert looked up and Morr knew he'd overstepped himself.

“Your zeal, Morr, is a lesson to all. But you must temper it with the task you have at hand. When we have expunged this foulness from our midst I shall set you a proper penance. Until then, continue your work.”

Morr felt a burden lift from him.

“Thank you, Fourth! Blessed be the Unity!”

***

Morr walked back to his office with a light heart and a happy spirit. He didn't detail the methods he used gathering information or the baseness he endured. He knew it would not shock Velvert but the Fourth had more important matters to attend. Still, the Fourth made time to reassure Morr and that meant a lot. Morr intuited an ocean of information to be had, he'd simply redouble his efforts to acquire it! As he approached the drab building of his Order Morr hummed his favorite hymns. Oh yes, the League scum would pay! Dearly!

***

Micah and Ferrel shadowed Morr carefully. Their erstwhile host seemed surprised to find them awake for Call and even more so when they deferred breakfast until after Matins, an act of piety many deemed excessive. After a long sermon and a short meal they set out for the Order of the Shroud.

“Shadow,” said Ferrel.

Micah nodded and added the man to his mental list. Morr now had two people following him, all with the cold-eyed look of Brethren.

“Cover,” said Micah. Bodyguards. That made their job both easier and harder.

When Morr entered the Order's gates Micah and Ferrel settled into an outdoor refectory nearby. They opened copies of the Writ of Triumph and, to all appearances, joined the dozen or so others meditating upon the words of the Unity.