Part 19 (2/2)

”I did not say I could not do so,” came the icy reply. ”I merely was endeavoring to explain...”

”I did not ask for explanations, Captain,” said the Imperior, and although there was no anger in his voice, there was clearly a lack of patience. ”Simply results.”

It was all I could do not to pump the air in triumph with my fist. Looking back, it was a fairly insane thing for me to do, to bait Nogo in that way. But I was already convinced that Go Nogo had it in for me.

So I really felt as if I had very little to lose, and everything to gain. If they all felt compelled to disembowel themselves every time their ruler became impatient with them, I might be looking at Nogo's spilled innards before noon.

”Yes, Imperior” was all Nogo said, this time looking directly at the floor in deference. ”If that is what you wish, the full attention of the Hamunri will be turned to it.”

”See that it is,” the Imperior replied.

”I would be most interested, however,” Go Nogo continued unexpectedly, ”to know precisely whymembers of the Skang Kei family were attacking our esteemed visitor in the streets of the fish market.”

”Yes, that is puzzling,” said Itso Esi, and the others were nodding as well. It didn't seem to me that Esi had any personal agenda in the way that Nogo obviously did. He just appeared curious.

”They said they were working for someone called Ho,” I said after a moment. ”Does the name mean anything to any of you?”

”A legend,” Itso Esi said immediately. ”The reputed leader of the Skang Kei family. If the Ho even exists, virtually nothing is known about him. Or her. It's uncertain even if the Ho is a man or a woman.”

”If this Ho does exist, naturally it's a man,” Go Nogo said with obvious impatience. ”The idea of a woman running an organization dedicated to death and destruction? Why, it is absurd. Ridiculous.”

”Don't be so certain,” I said. ”Some of the deadliest creatures I've ever known have been female.”

But the Imperior was shaking his head. ”Go Nogo is correct. No mere woman could ever achieve such an exalted rank.”

”As you say, O Ill.u.s.trious One,” I said promptly, not wanting to take any chances.

”Discussing a fictional leader is of no relevance, Po,” Go Nogo said intently and fixed his gaze upon me. ”What matters is, why were you singled out?”

”What are you implying?”

”Nothing, honorable Po,” was his gruff response. ”I am merely asking.”

”Well, I thought we had been over that,” I said quietly. ”They were attacking the princess, and I simply happened to be there to defend her.”

”I see,” said Nogo. ”And you had no business dealings with them?”

”I am not in the habit of engaging in dealings with criminals. Why, honorable Nogo? Are you? I'm not implying anything, you understand. Just asking.”

”What are you saying?” asked the Imperior.

”He challenges my honor, Divine One,” said Go Nogo.

Sensing a trap, I shook my head. ”I did not mean to imply wrongdoing on the part of your head of security, O Gargantuan One. I hope you did not think I meant to do so.”

”I think nothing of the sort,” the Imperior said. ”I just couldn't hear you. I'm an old man and my hearing isn't what it was. So I was asking what you were saying.”

Nogo and I exchanged looks and, for a heartbeat, there was a moment of shared amus.e.m.e.nt between us. Then we immediately remembered that we were supposed to be in opposition to one another.

”I was merely pointing out,” I said, ”that one should make sure one's own house is in order beforeembarking on major forays against enemies.”

”Yes! Exactly!” said the Imperior with far more enthusiasm than I would have thought such a casual remark warranted. ”Who told you about my house?”

That stopped me cold. I looked in bewilderment at the others.

”The Imperior is speaking of the new house he desires to build,” Itso Esi explained.

”A new house? May I ask what is wrong with this one?”

”Nothing,” said the Imperior. ”It is divine perfection, as are all things a.s.sociated with me. But I require a house at the outer provinces. In fact,” and his eyes widened in eagerness, ”I am calling upon you, Po, to design it!”

”Wh-what?” I was getting that familiar sinking feeling I typically had when I found myself in a situation that was going to be overwhelming. ”Design... what? A house?”

”Yes,” he said, clearly pleased with the idea. ”A new palace, to provide shelter when I visit the outer provinces.”

This was a situation that called for the greatest of tact. As judiciously as I humanly could, I leaned forward and said, ”That is... a great honor, O Resplendent One, but I have no experience as an architect or designer of buildings. As anxious as I am to serve you, I must wonder why you would--”

”Because you know of designs of other lands,” the Imperior said with growing excitement. ”You would be able to bring a fresh eye and different perspective.”

”Again, Imperior, I am... honored, but certainly I think there would be others who could do a far superior job...”

”There had been,” said Itso Esi with just the slightest hint of annoyance on his face. ”However, their designs had not been up to the Imperior's high standards.”

Which told me all I needed to know: The previous holders of this ill.u.s.trious position had all been asked to remove themselves from this plane of existence due to dishonor.

”I... see,” I said, not liking the direction this was going.

”Of course,” continued the Imperior, ”I would not ask you to undertake such an endeavor without appropriate compensation.”

”Oh?”

”Shall we say... a million yeng?”

I could see from the expressions of the others that this was an unexpected development, and no doubt a fairly healthy outlay of funds to serve as an incentive bonus. Considering the reward for the destruction of the Forked Tong was ten million yeng, this had suddenly turned from a no-win scenario to one that was rife with possibilities. Granted, yes, I had no experience whatsoever as an architect. But I had advantages over my predecessors. For one thing, my mandate would be to design a building that looked like nothing the Imperior had seen. That should not prove difficult at all. And I was confident enough in my ability to manipulate discussions that I was certain I could handle the Imperior. That might have been foolish pride talking rather than a reasonable perspective, but my ability to deceive others was pretty much the only aspect of my personality that I genuinely did take pride in, so I suppose I could be forgiven the flash of arrogance.

A healthy reward for drawing pictures of buildings, while the destruction of the Forked Tong and their criminal a.s.sociates who had killed Ali was being handled by armed soldiers with no risk whatsoever to myself. Yes indeed, matters were shaping up rather nicely at that.

I bowed deeply, so deeply that I almost tumbled forward off the pillow. When I righted myself, I said carefully, ”Imperior, it would be an honor to serve you in this manner.”

Go Nogo looked at me very suspiciously. I could intuit why. He wanted to be pleased over this development. To convince himself that I had just willingly shoved my head into a noose and invited it to be drawn closed around my neck. But my confidence was disconcerting to the point where he no doubt wondered just what it was I had up my sleeve. That was fine by me. The more I could do to keep adversaries off balance, the better I liked it.

”Have you considered taking advantage of my daughter?”

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