Part 43 (2/2)

”Fifteen million credits,” he answered. ”Fifty percent.”

Rhani closed her eyes. Fifteen million credits in liquid a.s.sets: she tried to remember the figures Tak Rafael had shown her.

She might just have it. But to deliver it, without contract or guarantee, to the emissary of a criminal consortium.... She wondered what her mother would say to that. ”_Do what you have to do_.” That was one of Isobel's favorite sayings. But then there would be expenses of who knew how much for the plant, for workers, for slaves, for all the equipment....”Citizen,” she said, ”you can hardly expect me to reply to this offer now.”

He squirmed. ”Domna, I will tell you what The Pharmacy told me. They expect an answer in the next four Standard weeks.”

”That's not much time,” she said. She rose. ”Very well, citizen. I will get back to you. A private letter here will reach you?” He nodded. ”Then you will hear from me.” She strode to the door. Gathering up his fallen gown, U- Ellen followed her.

”You understand,” he said anxiously, ”that this offer has not been made?

That if anyone should check, they will find that Loras U-Ellen is in Palaua?”

Rhani smiled sweetly at him. ”I understand, citizen,” she said. She laid her hand on the door's handle and pulled. Dana stepped out first. He walked up the roadway and back.

”It's clear,” he said.

”Good day,” Rhani said. She walked into the narrow, dusty street. Fifty percent of thirty million, she thought again. I wonder if Family Yago can indeed come up with fifteen million credits.

Once out of the courtyard and the alley, Dana relaxed. He glanced down the narrow roadway. Two Hypers lounged on a corner, smoking a dopestick, and a woman sat on the steps, but no one was looking at them. He stretched, trying to loosen kinked muscles. Rhani was muttering to herself, face intent. He caught her arm to steer her around a hole. ”Where to, Rhani-ka?” he said.

She looked at him. Her eyes were very bright. ”You heard nothing of that,” she said.

”Nothing of what?” He grinned at her. ”Hypers get pretty good at keeping secrets.”

As he said it, he thought how stupid it sounded, coming from him. But she did not seem to care, she barely seemed to have heard. ”d.a.m.n, I wish I were home,” she said.

”You will be,” he said. Soon you'll be at the estate, and I'll be gone.

He glanced over his right shoulder at the bright shapes of the shuttlecraft, and a longing hit him for his own s.h.i.+p, for _Zipper_. Resolutely, he shut his mind against it, thinking that if he did not find a way to put a message into the com-unit for Tori Lamonica, he would lose his chance to leave the sector. But Nialle Hamish guarded it like a dragoncat. ”Where do you want to go now?” he repeated.

”The Kyneth House,” Rhani said. They angled toward the movalong. Dana took her arm as they rode, fearful that in her preoccupation she would lose her balance and fall from the moving strip. He wondered what it would feel like to spend fifteen million credits.

They disembarked the movalong on the Promenade. Suddenly, Rhani stopped dead in her tracks. Dana looked. Waddling toward them, with a dreadful, delighted smile on her face, was Charity Diamos.

”Cousin Rhani!” The squeal turned heads for ten meters in all directions.

”Of course you got my letter so you know how I feel about the destruction of your house, it's a terrible thing, just terrible, and of course the entire city feels for you, such a wonderful house, truly a piece of history: do you know, people are saying the most interesting things? Because of that terrible A-Rae and what he did to you now there won't be a referendum, which I think is best although if we had a referendum I would vote to keep things the way they are, after all they've worked all these years and I always say the old ways are best -- ”.

”Charity,” Rhani said, ”I have an appointment.”

Charity Diamos looked from her to Dana, and giggled. ”Oh my,” she said.

”Yes.”

Later, sitting in Imre Kyneth's book-lined study, facing Christina Wu, Rhani wondered what Christina would say if she were asked: ”_Should I spend fifteen million credits to buy the dorazine formula_?” But it was too soon to ask for legal advice. She needed to spend several evenings examining her corporate financial records. ”Well,” she said, ”say I want to marry Ferris Dur, can I do it or can't I?”

Christina's good eye blinked. ”You could,” she said. ”The Founders'

Agreement stipulates only that if you do, you and Ferris must both put fifty percent of your Family capital into a trust for the child, or children, that trust to be handled by some third corporate ent.i.ty.”

So, Rhani thought, what Ferris told me is true. Rising, she strolled to the bookcase. She had to turn her head to one side to read the t.i.tles of the books. _The Time Machine_, said one. _Last and First Men_, said another. _The Dispossessed_ -- she wondered what that was about. ”Would you like a drink?” she asked.

”Thank you, I would,” Christina said.

Rhani tugged on the ornate, antique ribbon of tapestry that the Kyneths used to summon their slaves. A slave pushed open the round door. ”Wine.” she said. ”Christina?”

”Wine would be lovely,” said the lawyer. The slave bowed and went away.

In a moment he reappeared and came at a crouch through the aperture. Setting it on the desk, he poured wine from a carafe into two gilt-lined gla.s.ses.

”Will that be all, Domna?” he said.

”Thank you, yes,” Rhani said. She took one gla.s.s and handed the second to Christina. ”And this placing of money in a trust, Christina, would it have to be done immediately, or could it wait, for instance, until a child actually appeared.”

Christina frowned. ”I don't know. I would have to examine the statutes.”

”I see.”

They drank in silence. Then Christina said, ”Rhani, how long have we known each other?”

Rhani ran her tongue over her lips. ”Fifteen years?” she said.

”About that. You returned from Sovka, and then Domna Isobel died. I had only been practicing my profession for a few years.” Christina rose. She was truly tiny, about one point three meters tall, and weighed perhaps thirty kilograms. ”I like this room; it's almost small enough for me,” she said. ”I wonder who the architect was. Perhaps I can have it copied, though not, of course, with the books. Rhani, do you _want_ to marry Ferris Dur?”

”It's possible,” Rhani said.

Christina said softly, ”Despite the fact that while he is Domni Ferris, he is not the chief financial officer of the corporate ent.i.ty that is his Family?”

”He -- isn't?”

Christina shook her head. Her small hands caressed the gilt-edged gla.s.s.

Chabadese gla.s.s, Rhani thought. ”No. Family Dur is run by a committee which was formed, before she died, by Domna Sam.” She smiled. Her teeth were almost as white as Loras U-Ellen's.

Rhani thought: I wish she had told _me_. She leaned back in the chair.

”You mean,” she said, ”that Ferris does not control Family Dur's money.”

”That's correct,” Christina said. ”Oh, he has the household accounts, and I believe a fairly extensive private account to pay for his hobbies.”

”But why?”

Christina said, ”Because Ferris Dur is not quite an adult. Something in him never grew; he mimics maturity but he's not competent in those matters which you, sweetheart, manage by instinct. Why do you think Domna Sam disliked him so?”

”Does Ferris know?” Rhani asked.

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