Interview
: MAIN STORY: The Alembic Plot
Upstairs in the Family section, Odeon turned to Medart. "Thanks for
helping her, Jim. That's one the Brothers hadn't tried before,
tricking her into executing an innocent man."
"It was a nasty frame, all right, for both of them," Medart agreed.
"She seems to take a lot of pride in confining her torture to
criminals; killing someone who didn't deserve it under your laws, even
if it was on false ev
"One that would lessen her effectiveness, and that'd be a major victory
for the Brotherhood." Odeon led Medart to one of the Lodge's guest
suites and showed him in. "This is yours as long as you want to stay.
If you'll authorize one to go aboard your lander, a servant will bring
your baggage."
"Damn--I forgot you don't have fabricators." Medart touched his
throat, activating his comm implant. "Empress Lindner?"
When the ship answered, he went on. "Have a standard travel kit made
up for me, please, for an indefinite stay. Lieutenant DarElwyn will be
up shortly; he can bring it with him when he comes back. Medart out."
"You can communicate with your ship with no equipment?" Odeon asked.
"Not exactly; the equipment's in my throat and behind my ear. It's
called a comm implant, and most senior Imperials have them. Normally I
initiate the contact the way you just saw, but the ship can contact me
if necessary, or I can tell it to monitor full-time if I think there
could be a need."
"Still a lot I don't know," Odeon said ruefully. "I'd recommend the
latter whenever you leave the Lodge." He hesitated, then asked
abruptly, "How do you feel about Joan?"
"I'm not in love with her, if that's what you're asking."
"It was, but how--oh. You felt it when you mind-touched us right at
first. I'm not surprised; you don't seem the type to become an
Enforcement trooper. In case you're worried, that's the only
personality type she has that effect on. I'd say the Sandeman is,
though."
"He is," Medart said, then, "You felt my mind-touch? That's never
happened before, unless I did it deliberately."
Odeon grimaced. "I had some . . . mental surgery . . . a few months
ago. It left me able to release the compulsions Shannon could impose,
and it gave me a strong sensitivity to mental contact. I can't do
anything with or about the contact, unless it's with someone else he
mind-touched, but I know when it happens."
Medart sensed the other's reluctance to pursue that subject, so he
returned to practicalities. "Since you don't have fabricators, and
what I'm wearing is all I've got till Keith gets back with my kit, is
there any way I can get my clothes cleaned in the couple of hours I'll
be napping?"
"Easily," Odeon said, clearly relieved. "We sometimes have unexpected
overnight company, so the guest suites are equipped with robes,
pajamas, and standard toiletries. If you'll change, the servants can
have what you're wearing clean and back to you in about an hour."
"I'd appreciate that."
* * * * *
When Medart woke, his uniform was hanging up inside the bathroom door,
his underwear was folded neatly on top of the clothes hamper, and his
boots and other leather items had been polished. He showered and
dressed, decided not to call DeLayne since he'd gotten the necessary
information about Cortin's odd Talent from Odeon, and checked the time.
He'd slept longer than he expected; it was about 1730 Standard, about
an hour later local time.
He left his suite, followed sounds of talk and laughter to the living
room--and was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a hug and
enthusiastic kiss from the Inquisitor. He returned both with equal
enthusiasm, got a similar greeting from Sis and a more restrained one
from Betty--right, she wasn't a trooper, didn't share their
dispensation, so more wouldn't be appropriate. Then Odeon approached,
his expression inquiring.
Medart shook his head with a smile. "I'm flattered, Mike, and I don't
want to offend you, but I'm afraid you aren't my type."
"Thanks, and none taken," Odeon said. "Too bad, though--does being
around it bother you?"
"No, not at all--it just doesn't do anything for me, either."
Odeon chuckled. "It would if you'd had the plague and been out on
remote patrol. There aren't many women in Enforcement, so all but a
very few troopers go both ways, especially in the field."
"I can understand that," Medart said. "The ones I've seen, on a couple
of worlds where sex is considered an art form, didn't leave any doubt
they were enjoying themselves, either."
"That's all very well," Cortin said, sounding plaintively amused, "but
would you mind going into reminiscence and philosophy later? I, for
one, am ready for supper and after-dinner relaxation."
Her semi-complaint drew chuckles and agreement; the Family and guest
went to the dining room.
* * * * *
After breakfast the next morning, Cortin asked Medart to accompany her
to her ground-floor office. When they were seated in the conversation
area there, she said, "While you were napping yesterday, I called
Colonel Bradford and asked him to go into the details of what you found
out from Shelton. I'm the best in the Kingdoms at third-stage, but
he's the best at first, especially the memory-enhancing techniques we
use with cooperative witnesses. I'd like you to work with him this
morning; you can join me this afternoon, if you want to observe an
execution."
Medart grinned briefly, then nodded. It was almost half a century
since he'd taken orders from anyone except the Sovereign--but he wasn't
in the Empire now, he was Colonel Cortin's guest; he'd go along with
her arrangements, as long as they didn't interfere with his duty. "As
you say, Colonel."
Cortin returned the grin. "Pretty good, for someone Captain DeLayne
told me gave orders rather than taking them."
"That depends on circumstances. One of my colleagues, not quite twenty
years ago, took orders from a fourteen-year-old who'd rescued him from
rebels--but if I may change the subject, did DeLayne and his people
have any effect on your attitude toward the Empire?"
Cortin sobered. "In that they were all proud to be citizens and part
of your military, a little. They got along well with the troopers, and
Spacer Third Class Conley made a very favorable impression on my
Family, so I can say your ordinary citizens would probably get along
with ours. And Mike is convinced that joining the Empire would be good
for us, after a transition period he does think would be difficult--he
says that's the only thing I have any real reason to worry about. None
of the Columbus' people were on a policy level, though."
"And I am. Yes." Medart was silent for a moment. "Our basic policy
is pretty simple, really, though some of the corollaries can get
complex. People everywhere in the Empire have the same basic wants and
needs: a stable environment, a secure home, safety for their family.
Those can be achieved in any number of ways, and a way that's ideal for
one person may be totally abhorrent to another. That's why we try to
preserve cultural diversity, even at the cost of some order and
efficiency, and whatever we may think of some aspects of a given
culture. If it can provide most of its citizens with the opportunity
for those basics, the Empire won't try to change it."
Cortin frowned. That matched what Mike had reported, and Medart
believed it implicitly, but it was still hard for her to believe it
could be true. She started to say as much and challenge him, but was
stopped when Matthew knocked on the door and announced Colonel David
Bradford.
Cortin made the introductions, then smiled. "You two don't need me, so
if you'll excuse me, I have a multiple rapist-murderer I've been
looking forward to."
Bradford chuckled. "I've heard about him--how long do you think he'll
last?"
"I think I can stretch him a day and a half, maybe a little longer."
"Good. I may come down and observe for a bit, if this doesn't take too
long."
"Fine. If not, I'll see you Sunday."
"I wouldn't miss it." As Cortin left, Bradford turned to Medart. "I
understand you actually have Shelton's memories, in full detail?"
"Of that particular series of events, yes. Not of his entire life."
"That series is all we need." Bradford smiled, though Medart didn't
think he meant it. "You should be as relaxed as possible for this
interview; I'd suggest you lean back, or perhaps lie down on the couch."
"In a moment. How long will this take?"
"That depends on several factors, but probably not over two hours.
Why?"
"My new bodyguard team's due down sometime this morning, and I want to
be there when they arrive." Medart touched his throat. "Empress
Lindner, what's Lieutenant DarElwyn's departure time?" Subvocally he
added, "Monitor till I tell you otherwise."
"Yes, Ranger," came the answer only he could hear. "He is preparing
for launch now."
"Ask him to delay for two hours, please," Medart said aloud. "And make
sure he's bringing a shelter for the team; they'd be pretty cramped in
the facilities available here." He paused. "Oh, and program my chrono
to display local time as the primary."
"Yes, sir. Is there anything else?"
"That's it; Medart out." Turning his attention back to the Inquisitor,
Medart settled back in his chair. "All right, Colonel. I'm ready."
* * * * *
Bradford's questioning, Medart thought when it was over, was the most
thorough and probing debrief he'd ever been through. It hadn't been
pleasant reliving those memories of murder, family loss, torture and
maiming--his, even though he hadn't been the one the originals happened
to--and he was relieved when Bradford called a halt, saying he'd gotten
all the useful information Medart had. His smile this time was more
genuine. "You're a good subject, Ranger. You've given me all I need
to have that judge arrested, as well as identify and arrest the rogue
Inquisitor and the rest of those Brothers."
"If they haven't gone into hiding." Medart checked his chrono and
rose. "My bodyguard team should be down in ten minutes or so, if you'd
care to meet some non-humans."
Bradford hesitated, then nodded. "I don't really care to, but if
Colonel Cortin's right, I'd better start getting used to them."
Medart smiled. "If you join the Empire, yes. I'd planned on giving
you a bit more preparation, but Colonel Cortin suggested my bodyguard
be the biggest people we have, and those are Traiti. The Empire
includes standard humans, human variants like the Sandemans and the
Narvonese Dragon-Kindred, and non-humans, like the Traiti and
Irschchans. One of my fellow Rangers is Irschchan, and I wouldn't be
at all surprised if she became Empress some day. Plus there are
occasional genetically-engineered variants who're so far from the human
norm they'd be classified non-human if that weren't their root stock."
"I understand."
Medart was thinking hard as they went outside to wait. He would have
liked to get a reaction uninfluenced by prior information to his
bodyguards' appearance, but from Bradford's response to the mere
mention of non-humans, that didn't seem like such a good idea. He'd
warn the spectators, then, and see about having pictures circulated
before he went out in public with them. Bradford was right: if there
was a chance these people would join the Empire, they'd have to start
getting used to their fellow citizens.
He'd barely finished a brief description of the Traiti when the sound
of null-grav engines made him look up. It was the lander, making a
fast but otherwise sedate approach. Medart hid a grin as spectators
drew back, expecting a crash. Sandeman reflexes made the speed
perfectly safe, and if they thought this was something, they should see
the type of landing a pilot trained at Clan Leras preferred. Given a
choice, especially on a non-Sandeman world, those would stunt a craft
till it was barely a couple of meters off the ground. That usually
resulted in one of the watchers panicking and calling the local
emergency services before a safe, if overly dramatic, landing.
The lander touched down, and moments later the hatch opened. Keith
disembarked, followed by four enlisted Marines. Despite Medart's
caution and description, the massive gray-skinned Traiti drew sounds of
astonishment--and, Medart thought, some fear--from the troopers, and an
exclamation of "Dear God!" from Bradford.
The team stopped about a meter from Medart and saluted. When he'd
returned the salute, Keith introduced the team members. "Do you have
work for us right away," he asked then, "or should I have them set up
their shelter?"
"The shelter," Medart said. "And it might not be a bad idea for them
to circulate, let these people get used to them. You can do that as
well, or join Colonel Bradford and me; we'll be observing Colonel
Cortin at work."
"I'd prefer to join you, sir." Keith turned to the senior NCO.
"You're in charge here, Sergeant Tovar."
"Yes, sir." The sergeant smiled, exposing shark-like teeth. "You need
not worry, sirs. This is not our first time among humans who haven't
seen Traiti before. It's just too bad there are no children here."
"Children!" Bradford exclaimed in disbelief.
"Children," Medart confirmed with a chuckle. "Traiti adore children,
anyone's children--and the youngsters have some way of knowing it.
Five minutes or so after they meet, they're fast friends."
"I think I would like my children to have such friends," a woman said
behind Medart. He turned, to see all of Family Cortin except Cortin
herself, Odeon, and the children. Chang stepped forward, one hand
brushing the bulge of her abdomen. "I do not know why, but I find
these Traiti . . . comfortable."
Medart smiled. Sis had a trace of empathy, not enough to be called
Talent but clearly enough for her to sense the Traiti regard for
children and women--especially pregnant ones--of whatever race.
Betty looked from the Traiti to the Family's senior wife, thought for a
moment, then nodded. "I trust Sis' feelings; they can come out after
lunch."
Breakthrough! Medart thought as all four Traiti smiled and Tovar bowed
to the women. If Cortin's Family allowed their children to play with
non-humans, it would have to have a favorable effect, at least on those
who saw them.
"We thank you, ka'naya," Tovar said. "Not having children around is
one of the most difficult parts of military life; we will treasure this
opportunity."
"They will, too," Medart told Bradford as the three made their way to
Cortin's underground suite. "If they can't be at home, the Traiti
version of perfect shore leave is a park-full of kids."
Bradford didn't have anything to say to that, so the three were silent
until they got to the observation room door, where he paused with his
hand on the knob. "Colonel Cortin says she told you briefly what she
does. I have to add that she's extremely good at both making the
punishment fit the crime, and at making that punishment last. If
you're at all squeamish, I'd strongly recommend that you not follow me
through this door."
"I'm here to observe," Medart said. "I don't expect to like it, but I
can't form an accurate assessment of this society if I only observe the
positive side. Would you mind telling me what this one did?"
"Of course. He's attacked three families, in all cases raping and
killing them one at a time, while the survivors watched. Children
first, then the mother, with the father last. Grandfather, in one
case. He claims more, but Enforcement has found only those fifteen
bodies. Even Colonel Cortin can't make him suffer for that many, so
any more would be academic as far as his punishment is concerned."
Medart grimaced. "I see what she meant about getting the particularly
nasty ones. Do you know what she has in mind for him?"
"That depends mostly on how he reacts to her preliminary examination.
Most people have one major fear, criminals usually more; when she
discovers his, that's what she'll concentrate on. But since he's a
rapist, that'll definitely include sexual pain."
"She'll geld him, of course," Keith said.
"Probably," Bradford agreed, "but not immediately; intact genitals are
too useful for producing both physical and psychological pain to waste
them early. Especially with one like this, where they're powerful ego
points."
For the torture scene:
30a. Cortin's point of view
30b. Medart's point of view
30c. Odeon's point of view
30d. Keith's point of view
31. Explanation
Medart wasn't hungry at all by the time Cortin and her new sworn man
were finished with their prisoner, but he did feel better when they
left the third-stage room, better still when they left the dungeon. As
soon as they got to the main floor, he touched his throat, activating
his comm implant. "Empress Lindner?"
When the ship replied, he went on. "Show Lieutenant Keith DarElwyn
released from Imperial service effective this date; reason is oath of
personal fealty to Colonel Joan Cortin of the Kingdom Systems. All
back pay and allowances are to be sent to her in whatever form she
specifies. Have his personal belongings--and copies of all reference
materials we have pertaining to Sandemans, transcribed into
pre-Imperial English--sent down as soon as possible. And I'll need a
replacement pilot."
Cortin frowned. "Why me? It's his money."
"How to explain best is difficult," Medart said slowly. "I've been in
a 'na's mind, and I'm still not sure I understand it completely. When
you accepted his oath, he became a part of you--literally, by their
reckoning, to the point where Sandemans would consider you the father
of any children he might engender."
"Dear God! I thought the oath was extreme, but I didn't dream . . ."
Cortin trailed off, staring at her 'na.
"Going to extremes is a Sandeman characteristic," Medart said drily.
"As another example, he'll want the tattoo I mentioned on his face to
show he's yours. Their custom entitles him to it--and if he does
anything against their custom with other Sandemans around, it protects
him from punishment or dishonor, because they'll see it as doing your
will."
And, Cortin thought, if their negotiations took the Kingdom Systems
into the Empire, there would definitely be other Sandemans around. She
turned to Keith. "Do you want that?"
"Yes, Thakur, very much."
"It's your face; is there any particular mark you'd prefer?"
Keith thought for a moment. "Since you're an Inquisitor, a question
mark like the one on your badge might be appropriate."
"It would, yes--and since I'm High King's Inquisitor, there should be a
crown on top." She cocked her head. "I don't know much about the
local tattoo artists, but I'm sure someone here does; if you're as
eager as you look, I can find out who's best and have him brought here
to do the job."
"I am eager, Thakur, but not enough for you to go to extra trouble."
Cortin grinned. "Sometimes I enjoy going to extra trouble for my
people. Let's get up to the Family floor and see who knows about
tattooing experts."
"Thank you, Thakur!"
"My pleasure."
On the way upstairs, Keith began to feel something odd. Not really
odd, he corrected himself; just inappropriate in these surroundings and
certainly not the sort of thing he'd expect a proper 'na to feel toward
his thakur! Honor, respect, devotion, of course--but desire? Custom
was silent on the subject--naturally, with almost all such
relationships between warriors--so sex wasn't forbidden, exactly. On
the other hand, it didn't quite seem properly respectful, either.
The feeling subsided a bit as his thakur spoke to her team, then had
Tony call an artist he knew, but it didn't go away completely. And,
oddly enough, he seemed to be sensing her feelings, maybe even a shadow
of her thoughts, in spite of his lack of Talent. That was a blessing
he hadn't expected, and he sent a quick prayer of thanks to the gods
for it; if he could know her thoughts, it would make doing her will far
more certain.
They had supper while waiting for the artist to arrive; Medart excused
himself as soon as the meal was over, saying he wasn't in the mood for
sex and had some thinking to do.
For Keith's experiences: 31a. Tattoo
More
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ON February the First 1887, the Lady Vain was lost by collision with a derelict when about the latitude 1 degree S. and longitude 107 degrees W. On January the Fifth, 1888--that is eleven months and four days after--my uncle, Edward Prendick, a p... Invitation
Monday, 16 March 2572 Sara Blackfeather read the invitation for the third time, still not sure if it was real or a poor joke. Inquisitors were most emphatically not known for their hospitality, and it seemed incredible that the notorious C... Is More Mysterious
I sat and stared at the old man in astonishment. Obviously he was fully convinced that he was giving me an accurate account of what had happened, and equally obviously he was perfectly sane. "That is all," he said presently. "The rock came to me... Is The World Growing Better?
Before daylight on the following morning they descended to breakfast. Mrs. Barton had enjoyed a comfortable night, and Dr. Jones expressed himself as delighted with her condition. "You have everything to hope for," he said to the family. "I leav... Issus Goddess Of Life Eternal
The confession of love which the girl's fright had wrung from her touched me deeply; but it humiliated me as well, since I felt that in some thoughtless word or act I had given her reason to believe that I reciprocated her affection. Never have... It Could Be Anything
Keith Laumer, well-known for his tales of adventure and action, shows us a different side of his talent in this original, exciting and thought-provoking exploration of the meaning of meaning. "She'll be pulling out in a minute, Br... It Is Good To Be Alive
Amongst the letters lying on my breakfast-table a few days after the meeting was one addressed in an unfamiliar hand. The writing was bold, and formed like a man's. There was a faint trace of a perfume about the envelope which I remembered. I open... J T Maston Recalled
"It is `they' come back again!" the young midshipman had said, and every one had understood him. No one doubted but that the meteor was the projectile of the Gun Club. As to the travelers which it enclosed, opinions were divided regarding their ... Jackson's Arm
Little did I dream the fateful part Jackson's arm was to play in my life. Jackson himself did not impress me when I hunted him out. I found him in a crazy, ramshackle* house down near the bay on the edge of the marsh. Pools of stagnant water stood... Jason
Next morning the headlines of the newspapers blazed out the news of the meeting at the Queen's Hall, and the world read the words of Sarakoff. Strange to say, most of the papers seemed inclined to view the situation seriously. "If," said one ... Jesse Pringle 2039
They were after him. The whole world was in flames, and the buildings were falling, the mighty were fallen, the Day of Judgment was at hand. He ran through the flames, blindly. Blind Samson. Eyeless in Gaza, treading at the mill. The mills of th... Jewel's Arrival
When her grandfather had disappeared, Jewel placed Anna Belle on the seat beside her, where she toed in, in a state of the utmost complacence. "I have my work to do, Anna Belle," she said, "and this will be a good time, so don't disturb me till t... Jewel's Correspondence
While Jewel still stood turning over in her mind what she had heard, charming strains of music began coming up through the hall. Cousin Eloise had gone to the piano. "I almost which I hadn't made her tell me," thought the child, "for how can I he... John Castellan's Threat
Lennard's first feelings after the receipt of Mr Parmenter's cablegram, and the casting of the vast mass of metal which was to form the body of the great cannon, were those of doubt and hesitation, mingled, possibly, with that sense of semi-irresp... John Insists On Going Back Again-a Strange But Amusing Incident Occurs
When we rose the next day the moon was a considerable distance away from us, but not so far off as might at first be imagined if one only considered the speed at which we were travelling; for, although moving at our full speed, the earth was ... John Jones's Dollar
Take a board with 64 squares on it. Put a grain of wheat on the first square--two on the second--four on the third. Keep doubling in this manner and you will find there isn't enough wheat in the world to fill the sixty-fourth squ... Joiwind
IT WAS DENSE NIGHT when Maskull awoke from his profound sleep. A wind was blowing against him, gentle but wall-like, such as he had never experienced on earth. He remained sprawling on the ground, as he was unable to lift his body because of its int... Junior Achievement
"What would you think," I asked Marjorie over supper, "if I should undertake to lead a junior achievement group this summer?" She pondered it while she went to the kitchen to bring in the dessert. It was dried apricot pie, and very tasty, I migh... Jupiter And Trouble!
The huge ship circled the planet twice, with the instruments adjusted to detect the metal of the domes. They spread over many miles of the surface, yet were like grains of sand on the enormous globe. When the gauges quivered over a section, hidd... Jupiter Equilateral
For a moment, Major Briarton just stared at him. Then he was on his feet, shaking his head as he came around the desk. "Tom, use your head," he said. "It's as much of a shock to me as it is to you, but you can't afford to jump to false conclusions... Jupiter Somewhat Close
Except as to the time the comet would take to revolve round the sun, it must be confessed that all the professor's calculations had comparatively little interest for anyone but himself, and he was consequently left very much to pursue his studies ... Kar Komak The Bowman
As Carthoris moved through the forest toward the distant cliffs with Thuvia's hand still tight pressed in his, he wondered a little at the girl's continued silence, yet the contact of her cool palm against his was so pleasant that he feared to bre... Kidnaped!
I searched about the spot carefully. At last I was rewarded by the discovery of her javelin, a few yards from the bush that had concealed us from the charging thag--her javelin and the indications of a struggle revealed by the trampled vegetation a... Kulan Tith's Sacrifice
The morning of the second day of her incarceration in the east tower of the palace of Astok, Prince of Dusar, found Thuvia of Ptarth waiting in dull apathy the coming of the assassin. She had exhausted every possibility of escape, going over and... L5000 To Detain The Ship
Brande was asleep when I entered his cabin. His writing-table was covered with scraps of paper on which he had been scribbling. My name was on every scrap, preceded or followed by an unfinished sentence, thus: "Marcel is thinking-- When I was ill,... Lamentations Over Again But Standing Out Here Will Never Do
Out of the way, old Hakkabut, I say! out of the way!" and, without more ado, he thrust the astonished Jew on one side and opened the door of the cabin. Servadac, however, declined to enter until he had taken the pains to explain to the owner of the... Larry And The Frog-men
Long had been her tale in the telling, and too long, perhaps, have I been in the repeating--but not every day are the mists rolled away to reveal undreamed secrets of earth-youth. And I have set it down here, adding nothing, taking nothing from it; ... Larry Farewell!
"My heart, Larry--" It was the handmaiden's murmur. "My heart feels like a bird that is flying from a nest of sorrow." We were pacing down the length of the bridge, guards of the Akka beside us, others following with those companies of ladala that... Larry O'keefe
Pressing back the questions I longed to ask, I introduced myself. Oddly enough, I found that he knew me, or rather my work. He had bought, it appeared, my volume upon the peculiar vegetation whose habitat is disintegrating lava rock and volcanic ash... Larry's Defiance
A clamour arose from all the chambers; stilled in an instant by a motion of Yolara's hand. She stood silent, regarding O'Keefe with something other now than blind wrath; something half regretful, half beseeching. But the Irishman's control was gone.... Last Days
It was near the end of January, 1913, that the changed attitude of the Oligarchy toward the favored unions was made public. The newspapers published information of an unprecedented rise in wages and shortening of hours for the railroad employees, ...