Part 27 (2/2)

”Thank you,” Rhani said. ”I appreciate that. But that was not the princ.i.p.al reason I called you. I received another communication from the Free Folk of Chabad. It says, 'You will never be free of us until the slaves are free.' Something like that.”

Tsurada said calmly, ”We would like to have it. I will send a messenger to collect it. I trust you are recovered from your experience?”

”I barely noticed the bruises this morning,” Rhani said truthfully.

”I am glad.” The policewoman cleared her throat. ”I a.s.sume you have seen the PINsheet this morning, Domna.”

”I have,” Rhani said.

”You might be interested to know that Michel A-Rae, now resigned from his post, has dropped out of sight since his interview with the PINsheeters. We are doing our best to find out where he is; we a.s.sume that he is somewhere in the city.”

Rhani said, ”I'm sure he'll emerge as soon as PIN stops printing his name. He seems to like publicity.” But as she said it, she wondered if it was true. The more she thought about him, the more enigmatic he became. ”Officer Tsurada, do the Abanat police have any information about A-Rae's past?”

Tsurada said, ”We know he had an I.D. exchange.”

”Yes,” Rhani said, ”I know that too. Have you any information which predates that change?”

Tsurada shook her head. ”No, Domna. I am sorry.” ”So am I,” Rhani said. ”Thank you, Officer.” The door slid back. She turned, expecting Amri. But it was Dana. He brought the breakfast tray into the room and set it on the footstool. It warmed her to see him.

”Good morning, Rhani-ka,” he said. As he straightened, his hair fell across his forehead. He pushed it back. It had gotten long, she thought, seeing the way it framed his face. She wanted to touch him, to feel his hands on her skin.... She felt drunk. She swallowed.

”Are those people still on the steps?” she said, and was surprised to hear her voice come out as it always did, calm and clear.

Dana went to the window. ”Almost gone,” he reported. ”There are two or three still there, arguing with the police. I think they must be PINsheeters; they have cameras.”

Rhani scowled. She glanced at Binkie. ”Thank you, Bink. That's all.” He went to the door. Rhani licked her lips. ”Dana,” she said. He turned toward her.

A step sounded in the doorway. Zed walked in.

He was dressed in blue-and-silver. His hair was pulled back in a silver clip. He crossed to Rhani. She held her hand out to him, and he took it. His fingers were warm. ”Good morning, Rhani-ka,” he said softly. She wanted to ask him ... but she would not.

”Good morning, Zed-ka,” she said. She glanced toward Dana; he was standing near the window, face and eyes studiously blank.

”Have you seen the PINsheets this morning?” she said to her brother.

”No. Should I?”

She gestured toward the bed. ”Take a look.”

Dana said, ”Rhani-ka, you have a call on the com-line.”

Rhani turned toward the com-unit. The light was blinking. ”Answer it,”

she said.

Dana stepped to the unit. His hands moved over the board: the light ceased flas.h.i.+ng. Imre Kyneth's image appeared on the screen. Rhani went quickly to Dana's side. ”Good morning, Imre,” she said. Dana's hip brushed hers. Behind her, from the bed, she heard Zed exclaim.

”Good morning, Rhani,” said Imre Kyneth. Aliza stood behind him, vast as a pavilion in her immense white robe. ”Have you seen the PINsheets?”

”Yes, Imre, I've seen them.”

”What do you think?” said Aliza.

”I haven't decided,” Rhani said. ”I haven't had my breakfast yet, for one thing.” The words came out with more force than she had meant them to have, but the smells rising from the tray behind her were making her stomach ache for food.

Imre said, ”I am sorry, Rhani. But I have already had my breakfast interrupted by seven people, including Theo and Ferris. I think the Council needs to meet.”

The Chabad Council was made up of two houses: the Lower House, in which sat representatives from the Abanat districts, Gemit, and Sovka, and the Upper House, which consisted of the heads of the Four Families. A place in the Upper House was hereditary. To be a member of the Lower House, you had to be elected by a majority vote of your district: all Chabadese citizens could vote, but to run for the Council, you had to meet certain requirements, including those of residency, previous service to the community -- a vague one, that -- and one having to do with money. Poor people did not attain office on Chabad. But then, there were very few poor people on Chabad, and most of those were transients, not citizens. The Lower House held most of the official power; the Upper one, in theory, simply gave advice and consent. In practice -- since consent could be withheld in more tangible ways than in Council -- few decisions were taken by the Lower House that had not first been approved by the Four Families.

Rhani wondered what the Council would do in this situation. Referendum procedures were fairly fixed. ”Why, Imre?” she said. ”Because,” Imre said, ”I think it likely that A-Rae will find sufficient signatures to ratify his pet.i.tions.”

”Oh.” Rhani rubbed her chin. If that were so....”Do you also think he will win the referendum?” she said. Odd, she reflected, how we speak as if A-Rae were alone in his opposition to slavery. Talk about wishful thinking....

Imre looked grim. ”It's possible. It must be made plain what will happen to Chabad if he does.”

”Not only to Chabad,” said Aliza. ”To the sector. The Council has a responsibility to meet. What do you think?”

Rhani's stomach rumbled. ”I think I need my breakfast, Aliza,” she said.

”I shall eat, and talk to Zed, and call you. Will that be satisfactory?”

Imre smiled. ”Of course, my dear,” he said. ”Meanwhile, you should expect a call from Ferris. He is agitated.”

”Thank you, Imre.” She did not want to talk with Ferris Dur, not now. She waited until the line had cleared, and then instructed the com-unit to hold all calls. Then she turned, to find Dana by the window and her brother seated on the bed.

Zed said softly, ”I would very much like to have one uninterrupted hour alone with Michel A-Rae. Just one hour.” His fingers curled. Dana flinched, and Rhani saw it.

”Zed-ka, that would not help matters at all,” she said.

”It would relieve my feelings,” said Zed. He scowled. ”You know, ever since he first spoke to me while I was still on the Net, I've had the feeling that we've met somewhere, not here.” He shook his head. ”I must be wrong.”

Rhani wondered if he could be right. ”Do we have any a.s.sociates among the Hype police, Zed-ka?”

He laughed. ”I doubt it, Rhani-ka. They have a reputation for being incorruptible and unapproachable.” He slapped the PINsheet. ”Can A-Rae do this?

I know a Federation official has to be of specific rank to make such a call.”

Rhani said, ”I'll ask the lawyers. But I'm sure he can.” She watched the con-line light blink on, to tell her that someone had called and left a message.

She wondered if it was Ferris. ”Imre thinks the pet.i.tions will have enough signatures to ratify a referendum.”

”I heard,” Zed said. ”I hope he's just being cautious.” Shoulders slumping, he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

”Zed-ka, when did you leave the Clinic last night?” Rhani asked, alarmed.

”After midnight.”

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