137 A Problem (2/2)
In the silence that followed, the woman pursed her lips in thought, and replied in a clear tone while Alex bent forward and the elf inclined his ears in her direction.
”It was obvious that you must have come for the money…but what you did for the slaves is a pleasant surprise, and a welcome one, of course. Others would have killed everybody and just left with the crystals. I believe you, and of course, I would like to help in any way I can. Everything in the vaults belongs to you now, of course, and so does the loyalty of all those free in Larefa. On the island where I was trained, I heard stories about how even a scrap of dirt that someone might have tread on could be used to track anyone that the family wants found. They are people who place too much store in their reputation, and hence, they are known to call upon experts from the Mainland even if the cost might not justify the task. This is a problem, indeed…and I doubt that even with the magic that Sir Elf is capable of, you will be able to erase all traces from such experts. Am I right?”
The way she talked made it seem as if she was someone who had found themselves after a long, long time, and was just enjoying this opportunity to be herself and speak without inhibitions, for once. It was actually liberating to see her in this manner, as before, it had felt as if she had been wound up by many strings the Daneel and, perhaps, she, herself, couldn't see. What she was saying was worrying, though, but expectantly, Daneel looked to Mors…and frowned when he saw the elf shake his head.
”I'm afraid I am not capable of such a feat. I know of those she talks of; there are people who have made tracking their life's work. I've heard that they can even pick up scents left in the air even if they are a year late. If those people come after is…they will find this, no matter where we run to. When we embarked on this mission, we did not know that the family would be involved, or that they are so prideful as to resort to such a thing. So…”
”We're fucked. We have the money, we have the slaves, but after we leave, those hounds will be at our doorstep. We won't even be able to run long. Even in my study of history, I did not hear such a thing about the family.”
Outwardly, Daneel made his frown depend, looking as if he was completely stymied due to the problem. In his mind, though, he was trying to search for a way in which he wouldn't have to expose the capabilities of the system.
He had no doubt whatsoever that if he gave it the task, it would definitely erase any and all signs that even those experts might try to use. In the worst case, even if that was not possible, with its extensive computational capabilities, he knew that it would be able to create enough tracks to confuse anyone who wanted to come for them.
It was too much of a risk to show that he could do these things, though, so with narrowed eyebrows, he began to pace around.
Everyone seemed to be thinking of the problem. Everyone except the old man, at least, who was smiling at the empty air, completely unconcerned, and perhaps even unaware of what they had just talked of.
However…a few minutes later, it was he who spoke, and it was his words delivered in a slow, but steady voice that made Daneel freeze, blink, then stare, feeling foolish about the fact that he had severely underestimated the value of the wisdom that came with age.
”Does no one have any other option? Well, it seems I must step in, then. Before I begin, I must beg your pardon if I end up speaking a lot…it is the first time that I have a chance to just say what I want without being afraid of the guards hearing me and descending on us like wolves. Down below, in the deepest parts of the pits where I hide, there is a part of the island that was left alone. Slaves have been collected here from other islands, bought in auctions or through other means. They carry stories, and I have always been interested in collecting them. There is one particular story about such a place, and something that can be achieved if it is destroyed. So… would sinking this island into the sea solve your problem? If so, I might just have the solution…”