Part 40 (1/2)
A message had come in. A white paper went from an operator to one of Ilisidi's junior security to Cenedi, to Ilisidi.
And to Banichi.
Banichi picked up a sandwich from the table. And pocketed it. And another.
That, Bren thought, that was the action of a man who didn't expect a regular breakfast.
”We've just had an indication from Dur,” Banichi said, ”that the boy did get down safely. One thought you would wish to know. Whether he'll be safe when his parents lay hands on him is another matter, but we do at least have a confirmation that they're being met by his father's staff. Tano and Algini report movement, however.”
That was worrisome.
”The fortress hears at some distance,” Jago said.
”Not far enough to give it another hour,” Cenedi said. ” 'Sidi-ji.”
Ilisidi gave a wave of her hand. ”Whatever one does to make the earth link work,” she said, ”do. How long does this talking to the s.h.i.+p take?”
It took very little time, the director said. And gave the orders.
Then it was a matter of settling Jase at the console in the communications center. Jase was visibly anxious.
It was disturbing for the workers, too, Bren was sure, a human not only occupying that post, but giving his own protocols and codewords to the s.h.i.+p in a language they had, for one reason and another, no translators here to interpret.
The s.h.i.+p answered. The foreign voice went out over the speakers so all the room could hear.
Then with full knowledge that the conversation was going to be monitored by a very similar center on Mospheira, Jase had to inform his captain that things were both better and worse than the s.h.i.+p might have feared.
”Sorry to call at this hour,” Jase said, and his voice steadied. ”But I've thought it over and I really need Yolanda over here.”
”Yes,” the answer came back. ”How are you?”
”Doing very much better, sir. I've received sympathy from the atevi and I've made recommendations to the atevi government which they've accepted. I need Yolanda, though. Everybody means well, but it's hard. I want her here. I'll try to negotiate that myself, but I wonder if you can't explain to the island that I really need her for a while. Urgent persuasion. That kind of thing. Tell Sandra not to worry about me.”
The whole speech was laced with codewords. If he'd had any concern that Mospheiran cooperation was still a possibility, he'd have expected a following and angry phone call. But they knew. He knew. Jase wasn't even taking pains to bury them too obscurely in ordinary conversation. He was just delivering the words and all of them could hope they were the right ones.
”Do you want to talk to your mother?” the captain asked, after hearing all of that with no comment.
”Absolutely no need to, sir.”
”I'm here anyway,” another, female voice cut in. ”I miss you miss you.”
”Good to hear your voice, mom.” This time there was a little shakiness. ”I'm fine. I really am. How are you?”
”Worried about you. When am I not? How are you doing?”
”A lot better. I can't talk too long. I'll call when I get back to the city. I'm on what they call a vacation. You'd be amazed. I was rained on by a weather system and I'm sore from riding. And it's beautiful down here. But I've got to sign off now. I love you. You take care, mom. And you can take a call from me or or from Bren.” from Bren.”
”You take care. - Jase? Jase Jase? Jase?”
”Yes? I'm here.”
”Jase, are you keeping your hours regular?”
Jase ducked his face and wiped a hand over his mouth as if that last was some unexpected and embarra.s.sing item. ”Fine, mom. I'm doing fine. You just take care. All right? I'll call you maybe in three or four days. Tell the captain solid fix and green lights on the report and please please look out for Yolanda. Whatever you hear from this side, rely on the people I've been dealing with to tell you the truth. Good night.” look out for Yolanda. Whatever you hear from this side, rely on the people I've been dealing with to tell you the truth. Good night.”
”Good night, Jase,” was the signoff, and Bren stood there, the most fluent listener to the exchange, on whom all the others most relied.
And he he couldn't tell. There wasn't a way to crack a verbal code, no way but fluency and a specific knowledge of the situation. couldn't tell. There wasn't a way to crack a verbal code, no way but fluency and a specific knowledge of the situation.
”So?” Ilisidi asked.
”I take no alarm, aiji-ma. Codewords were certainly all through it, which I expected. There'd have to be to make a.s.surances valid. He seemed to want his captain to pressure Mospheira to get his partner out. He also asked his captain to listen to his a.s.sociates down here as reliable people.”
”A very good thing,” Ilisidi said, leaning on her cane. ”A very wise thing.”
And they waited, while technicians revised settings and threw switches and consulted checklists.
Jase took out a folded sheet of paper that had already seen a great deal of crumpling, and spread it out on the console in front of him - Jase's own writing, but two paidhiin had collaborated on it to eliminate infelicitous remarks; and Banichi and Cenedi had read it, with one good suggestion, but Ilisidi by her own choice had not.
The director cued Jase, and Jase, smoothing his piece of paper flat on the counter, perhaps because his momentary attempt to hold it in his hands did not produce a steady view of it, began: ”Nadiin of the ais.h.i.+'ditat, this is Jase-paidhi with news of the current situation -” Risky word. Jase p.r.o.nounced it with only a slight stammer. ”I have spoken with the s.h.i.+p and have learned that Mercheson-paidhi on Mospheira has concluded that the unsteadiness of the Mospheiran government and haphazard management make it impossible to continue there. She has appealed to the s.h.i.+p to leave Mospheira and to come to the mainland. The Mospheiran government is attempting to prevent her from doing so and has attempted to stir up political rivalries among atevi of the ais.h.i.+'ditat to cover their own failures. The s.h.i.+p however, on the advice of Mercheson-paidhi and of myself, has concurred: the s.h.i.+p is withdrawing Mercheson-paidhi from Mospheira and calls on the Mospheiran government to allow her to join me on the mainland. The s.h.i.+p is continuing its a.s.sociation with Tabini-aiji and will deal solely with Shejidan. It sends good will to the ais.h.i.+'ditat, and to the aiji, and to the aiji-dowager, who has stated she will take Mercheson-paidhi under her her protection, to preserve the felicity and the wisdom of the arrangement that has established protection, to preserve the felicity and the wisdom of the arrangement that has established three three paidhiin, myself, Bren-paidhi, and Mercheson-paidhi, as representatives. Thank you for your kind attention. I shall now repeat this message in Mosphei' for the information of Mospheiran listeners on the other side of the strait.” paidhiin, myself, Bren-paidhi, and Mercheson-paidhi, as representatives. Thank you for your kind attention. I shall now repeat this message in Mosphei' for the information of Mospheiran listeners on the other side of the strait.”
Technicians scrambled in the silence of a broadcast area. Coughs were smothered. Switches were thrown off, others were thrown on, and a tower aimed at Mospheira punched out the next message at a power level reserved to announce impending war.
Jase got his next cue.
”Citizens of Mospheira, this is Jase-paidhi with news of the current situation -”
Atevi stood very still throughout the whole length of the message. Technicians jumped at one point, and made adjustments. Jase was speaking rapidly and it inevitably took Mospheiran technicians a moment to respond to an electronic provocation.
This version, however, was going up to the s.h.i.+p as well. And if they if they received the s.h.i.+p's support and that message came back down from the sky, there would be receivers tuned to it, and if they jammed every broadcast on the island, received the s.h.i.+p's support and that message came back down from the sky, there would be receivers tuned to it, and if they jammed every broadcast on the island, someone someone in an island full of various-minded and argumentative humans was going to get that message recorded and pa.s.sed out hand to hand on faxes and copy machines. in an island full of various-minded and argumentative humans was going to get that message recorded and pa.s.sed out hand to hand on faxes and copy machines.
This time there was a consequence and a crisis George Barrulin couldn't head off from the President's door.
The President's morning golf game might not take place tomorrow.
Jase finished. A technician cut off the microphone and shut down his console and spoke to him. Then everyone dared talk - and take a breath. Small coughs broke out, held until now.
”He did it exactly,” Bren said to Ilisidi. ”And the University will know know he d.a.m.ned Hanks' numbers in what he said.” he d.a.m.ned Hanks' numbers in what he said.”
”Hanks' numbers and and Direiso's.” Ilisidi was very pleased. Direiso's.” Ilisidi was very pleased.
Jase meanwhile had gotten up and left the console. He looked very solemn and pale as he came down the aisle between the long rows of consoles.
He looked very lonely.
Atevi might not understand two humans embracing in a crowded room. They did understand an offered hand.
Jase took it like a drowning man. Squeezed it hard.
”Just a little shaky,” Jase said. ”Sorry. Did I do it?”