Part 18 (1/2)

You are of my retinue now.'

'Cheers.'

Halcyon stood looking at him. Fitz felt suddenly conspicuous in his new gear. Conspicuous and a bit silly.

'Why demolish a lot of old moons?' he blurted.

'There is HEART in EARTH, Kreiner,' said Halcyon solemnly. 'My business has been to restart that heart. That means providing simple, cla.s.sical models for the people of this mighty Empire and those we would trade with to latch on to.'

'Less is more?'

'You can see it in your mind like I can, eh, Kreiner?' He took a deep breath as if smelling a flower. 'Simplicity. Purity. Perfection.'

You're a nut, thought Fitz. But that wasn't the issue here as far as he was concerned. thought Fitz. But that wasn't the issue here as far as he was concerned.

'So it wasn't Falsh's idea, then?'

Halcyon frowned. 'Falsh?'

'Yes. I was only wondering because '

'Falsh and I discussed it, of course, but the vision has always been mine. He is merely a tool.'

Takes one to know one. 'But he'd listen to you, right? As the hand that 'But he'd listen to you, right? As the hand that works works the tool, I mean.' the tool, I mean.'

'What is on your mind, Kreiner?'

Fitz took a deep breath and launched in. 'I'm honoured to be a part of your retinue, sir. Forgive my impertinence, but I was wondering if I now enjoyed your protection as a result. You see '

102.

'Have you done something to offend Falsh, Kreiner?'

'I Some friends of mine may be in very serious trouble thanks to him.'

Fitz fidgeted awkwardly. 'I mean to talk to him about the situation, sir. May I count on your protection?'

'Wilful boy,' said Halcyon softly, and reached out his hand to touch Fitz's face, brus.h.i.+ng his fingers against his cheek and chin. 'Of course you may. Falsh will be attending the vidcast later today. Go to him and demand satisfaction.'

Halcyon let his hand rest on Kreiner's shoulder. 'I shall see that you are well served.'

Fitz pressed his own hand against Halcyon's. 'Thank you.'

Halcyon inclined his head graciously. 'We shall be touching down on Callisto shortly. I shall remind Sook to requisition a room for you at the Hilton.' He sighed. 'Such an efficient a.s.sistant, and yet strangely distracted of late.'

Fitz mumbled goodbyes and thanks and took his leave. Yeah, she's distracted Yeah, she's distracted all right, mate! all right, mate! he thought. he thought. She's working out how to drop you right in it! She's working out how to drop you right in it!

b.u.g.g.e.r.

What if the OPs barged in before he'd finished speaking to Falsh? Sure, great, they'd cause their promised chaos and Falsh and Halcyon would be left in one almighty flap. Who'd listen to his bleating about the Doctor and Trix then?

He had to find out more. Had to find out how Sook was planning to aid Gaws and Mildrid. That way he could steam in and talk to Falsh ahead of any disruption.

Or tell Halcyon exactly when he could antic.i.p.ate trouble and let him deal with it. . .

No. He couldn't do that.

Could he?

Sook sat slumped in her office chair, tracing her finger along the hand-st.i.tched leather. It was real leather from a real cow, not from a hidehog. And the floor was real wood, the boards pressed into place with resins and nails.

I could give up all this, she told herself. she told herself.

She was about to give into the tears p.r.i.c.kling the backs of her eyes when her computer chimed: a low, foreboding sound that meant Tinya was getting in touch. All she needed. She could barely look Tinya in the eye any more, loathing what she represented so deeply.

'Tinya,' said Sook, settling a professional smile into place. 'What may I do for you?'

'Ah, Sook.' Tinya's smile snagged on her stupid high cheekbones, never reaching her eyes. 'I trust you are well. And I do hope Falsh's gifts have placed Halcyon in a good mood for tonight?'

103.

'I've just had them distributed about the galleries,' said Sook. 'It was a very generous donation.'

'You know how much we all value Halcyon.' A brief pause then, enough to signal the end of the small talk.

Or so Sook thought.

'I wondered,' Tinya went on casually, 'what did Halcyon make of the blue box?'

Blue box? Kreiner's blue box! Kreiner's blue box!

Sook carefully kept her composure. There was more to Kreiner than he was saying, she was sure of that. But she wasn't about to sell him down the river for Falsh's sake.

'What blue box would that be, Tinya?' she asked flatly.

'Oh, just a. . . a magnificent old blue box. Very valuable, I understand.'

Sook called up a sub-screen. 'There was nothing in the cargo manifest about a blue box.'

'Oh. Well, I'm probably mistaken. I'll check the consignment details our end,' said Tinya, acting like it was nothing.

If Sook didn't know better she'd have believed her. Here was a chance to do a little snooping on Kreiner's behalf. 'Oh, Roddle was saying a funny thing, Tinya. . . '

'Oh?'

'He was speaking to one of the guards while they were overseeing the loading of the antiquities. Said something about intruders in the station. Agitators, trying to escape.'

'Did he?' said Tinya. 'Well, you should know Falsh by now, Sook.' She flashed the briefest of smiles. 'No one escapes.'

Sook's smile matched Tinya's for enthusiasm. 'Anything else I can help you with?'