Sliding Scales (29 page)

Try as he might, he could not reconcile the mania this particular AAnn felt with the reality that Flinx knew to be true.

Takuuna's frustration knew no bounds. Initially polite, then formal, he had at last been reduced to ranting and raving and threatening—all to no avail. The senile leaders of this misbegotten Tier of reclusive ascetics had refused absolutely to turn the human over to him. That had left him no choice but to order a search of the premises. In response, his efficient troopers had methodically combed the compound. Their search had uncovered nothing but angry stares and whispered insults.

Could the softskin have recovered its memory and left? It seemed unlikely. No vehicle had been tracked leaving the vicinity of the complex. Would the human, if warned of the approach of Takuuna's aircar, be so foolish as to set out on foot across the intimidating Smuldaar Plateau? That, too, seemed difficult to countenance. Intense contemplation left the administrator with one conclusion: his quarry was still here, somewhere. Was still being sheltered and protected by the ill-advised artisans.

But in the absence of specific information there was nothing more he could do. He had already exceeded his authority by coming here in force, not to mention ordering the search. No doubt he would hear about that later, in response to the official complaint the doddering Elders had declared their intention to file with the Authority. That complaint he could, and would, deal with out of necessity. What galled him was the knowledge that he would have to do so without having accomplished that for which he had risked status and position.

The day was growing late. Re-forming his small troop, he prepared to take his ungracious leave of the compound, the sight of whose neatly groomed grounds and structures he was rapidly coming to hate as well as merely despise. It was on the way out the main entrance that he was approached by a single nye clad in robes of dark blue tinged with silver.

“Your pardon, Respected Adminisstrator. I am Yeerkun.”

“Truly honored,” Takuuna barely grunted in response. He was anxious to be away from this place that had stymied his intentions not once now, but twice.

“You sseek the ssoftsskin who dwellss among uss.”

Takuuna halted abruptly enough to kick dust from beneath his sandals as he turned sharply on the artisan who had fallen into step next to him. “That iss hardly a ssecret among your Tier.”

Yeerkun glanced back toward the compound. No one was following them, no one was watching. Whether the administrator's withdrawal was being tracked or not, he could not tell. It did not matter. He had long since determined to carry out his intent.

“Until thiss one fell in among uss, I had never sseen a ssoftsskin in the flessh. I knew they were alliess of our enemiess the thranx, and that therefore they are our enemiess as well. But I decided to resserve judgment for mysself. After sseeing the human, and being around it for ssome time now, I have done that.”

“I ssee.” Takuuna had resumed walking. “And that judgment iss,
tssasst
?”

“I do not like it.” The artist executed a sharp, first-degree gesture of distaste mixed with contempt. “I do not like the way it lookss, I do not like the way it ssmells. I do not like the ssound of itss voice, or the dissgussting rippling of itss pulpy flesh, or the flatness of itss face.”

Takuuna gestured understandingly. “I had desspaired of ever encountering a ssound and mature attitude in thiss forlorn, issolated place. What do you intend to do about your disslike, most valued Yeerkun?”

The AAnn hissed surreptitiously. “I will take you to where the creature hass been hidden.”

The administrator managed a stealthy glance backwards. The entrance to and the exterior of the compound were deserted. Since the Tier had known of his coming, it stood to reason they would monitor his departure. He kept walking toward the waiting aircar. As he did so, he sidled closer to the subofficer in charge of the half-dozen troopers.

“Veteran Chaadikik, who iss your besst sshot?”

The subofficer motioned one of the troopers to join them. Acknowledging the arrival with a non-degree gesture, Takuuna maintained the pace as he spoke.

“When we reach the aircar, Trooper Qeengat will join me on the other sside. Ssubofficer Chaadikik, you and the resst of your group will depart. Halfway back to Sskokossass you will find a ssuitable place and make a camp. As ssoon as my bussiness here iss finisshed, I will contact you for pickup.”

Chaadikik did not look happy. “Are you convinced it iss ssafe to do thiss, Adminisstrator?” She gestured meaningfully in the direction of the compound. “Finding their judgment dissputed, thesse sso-called artissanss may prove dangerouss as well as petulant.”

Takuuna gestured second-degree confidence. “I am not concerned about the Tier. They can make trouble only with wordss, and thosse do not worry me.” They were almost to the aircar. “Trooper Qeengat, the honorable Yeerkun and I will conceal oursselves in the undergrowth and rockss on the other sside. Once you have departed, I am ssure the place where the vehicle hass been parked
will be forgotten and time will ssoon ssee our obsstinate hermitss returning to their mundane daily tasskss.” He glanced at Yeerkun.

“Can we get to the ssoftsskin without being obsserved by your missguided colleaguess?”

Yeerkun gestured self-assurance. “It will require ssome roundabout hiking, Honored Adminisstrator, but there iss a circular trail that sshould give uss unsseen access.”

“Excellent!” They were almost to the aircar. “I want you to know, valued Yeerkun, that your effortss on behalf of the Authority will not be overlooked.”

The artist hissed tersely. “I am not doing thiss because I sseek advancement, Adminisstrator. The removal of the alien from our midsst will be reward enough for mysself and thosse otherss who quietly sshare my ssentiment.”

Takuuna was most pleased.

There were plenty of places to secrete themselves on the far side of the aircar's shielding bulk. After it had departed, they waited for a long timepart before moving. Following in Yeerkun's wake, they loped a good distance to the south of the complex before the artist felt secure in turning west once again. From there they began to descend a series of narrow, hard-to-discern switchback trails that carried them farther and farther into the depths of a certain canyon.

Nearing their destination, they had to hunker down as two other members of the Tier hurried past on their way back to the compound. Yeerkun was concerned that they might have been seen, but Takuuna was not worried.

“If we are as closse to the place where the human iss sstaying as you ssay, it will not matter. We will conclude the bussiness before anyone can interfere.”

Rising from where they had concealed themselves, Yeerkun led them forward. But he added a gesture of third-degree uncertainty. “Thosse two who jusst passed
here will have communicatorss with them. The AAnn sstaying with the human will be ssimilarly equipped. They could notify her of our pressence.”

“
If
they ssaw us.”

“Truly—if.” Yeerkun hurried onward, plunging down the side trail as rapidly as he dared.

Takuuna glanced over at the trooper. He was a stolid type and a typically admirable Imperial soldier: forthright, obedient, well trained, short on original thinking. “You remember, Honorable Trooper Qeengat, what we disscussed earlier? Your insstructionss?”

“Truly, Honorable Adminisstrator.” He had already unlimbered the slim, shimmering rifle that heretofore had been secured against his back.

“No time musst be wassted. Do not pay any attention to any wordss that may be sspoken. The ssoftsskinss have clever tonguess, and thiss one iss cleverer than mosst.”

“He will not have the chance to lick hiss eye.” Trooper Qeengat spoke coolly, with complete assurance.

It was enough for Takuuna. If Yeerkun let on that he understood the administrator's intentions, he chose not to comment on them. More likely, he had not overheard. It would not matter if he had, Takuuna reflected. His principal intent in coming for the human was to ensure that it would never have the opportunity to tell the story of its abandonment in the Jastian wilderness. The administrator had long since determined not to rely on the prospect that the softskin would never recover its memories.

He was going to make sure that no one else would, either.

S
o spectacular, so overwhelming, was the sight of The Confection when Takuuna and his companions entered the main canyon that he momentarily forgot his purpose in coming. Both he and Trooper Qeengat were unable to keep themselves from lingering to stare at the immense enterprise. Reflected beauty nearly blinded them—but not so severely that they failed to see the small shelter that had been built into the far canyon wall.

“They are in there, Honorable Adminisstrator.” For the last several minutes, Yeerkun had been growing more and more nervous. “As I am ssure you musst understand, desspite my feelingss toward the ssoftsskin, I do not wissh to rissk my possition within the Tier.” He was already backing up. “Therefore, with your permission, I sshould very much dessire to—”

“Truly, truly.” The administrator waved the vacillating artist away. No longer in need of his services, Takuuna magnanimously allowed him to depart. This Yeerkun did so gratefully, pivoting and hurrying back up the trail they had just descended, tail extended out behind him for balance, his powerful legs carrying him higher up the canyon with every stride.

Though they worked their way closer and closer to the refuge, there was no sign their presence had been detected by those sheltering inside. Takuuna began to wonder, and
to worry, that he might have been deceived by the dithering Yeerkun. He would not put anything past these eccentric hermits. Might the pair huddling inside have been warned of his coming, perhaps by the two artists he and his companions had nearly encountered earlier? If so, could they be armed? Impatient though he was to get the business over with, Takuuna restrained himself.

“Position yourself, Trooper Qeengat—and be ready.” The soldier complied. Resting his rifle in a notch between two rocks, he sighted it carefully on the entrance to the shelter. Only when he was ready did Takuuna stand, form a characteristic calling-horn shape with his left hand, and call out to those below.

“The ssoftsskin who callss himsself Flinx! Thiss iss Ssenior Ssecondary Adminisstrator Takuuna VBXLLW! I bring with me the full authorization of the Imperial Authority annexed to the independent world Jasst. I am empowered to detain for quesstioning any and all thosse individualss ssusspected of harboring or contributing to the detriment of thosse AAnn who are living and working on thiss world.” He paused for breath.

“I am ordering you to ssurrender yoursself to my cusstody—now! Truly, make no abrupt motionss or threatening movementss as you come out.” Finished, he remained standing in clear view of the shelter across the canyon.

Both human and AAnn sheltering in the building below had heard the words that echoed off the canyon walls. Rising, Flinx started for the door. “This is a waste of time. This official is never going to let me rest until I answer his questions.” Raising his voice, he shouted toward one of the partially opened windows, “Be content, truly! I'm coming out!”

The clawed hand that gripped his right arm was forceful, but not strong enough to hold him back. He gazed
down into glistening, penetrating eyes. “You sshould not go with him. I have met thiss nye. He meanss to do you ill, and did not sstrike me as the type to allow reasson to get in the way of hiss preconceived notionss.”

“He just wants to talk.” Flinx grinned, careful not to show his teeth. “I may not remember how to do a lot, but I can still talk. Given time together, I'm sure I can disabuse him of these false assumptions of his.”

Chraluuc wavered. “At leasst let me try to reasson with him before you ssurrender yoursself. Perhapss we may come to an accommodation that will not require you to travel beyond the boundss of the Tier. It may be that I can perssuade him to conduct his interrogation of you on our premissess.”

Pip fluttering nervous wings against his shoulders, Flinx reluctantly agreed. “All right. But I don't want to be the cause of any trouble for you, or for the Tier itself. If I have to, I'll go with this one to learn what he wants of me.”

“Agreed.” After activating her personal communicator to send a brief message to the Tier's central command explaining their situation, she moved toward the doorway, adding a second-degree gesture of reassurance that was reinforced by the particular twitch of her tail.

On the other side of the canyon, Takuuna saw the old-style door start to swing wide and a figure begin to emerge. “Now—truly!” he yelled tightly, directing his command to his single companion. Without hesitation, Trooper Qeengat fired once.

For such a tiny object, the concussive shell that streaked from the barrel of the rifle packed quite a bit of energy. Striking Chraluuc's left side, it detonated with dreadful force. The impact slammed her back against the wall of the shelter even as it crushed her ribs and compacted several internal organs.

Across the canyon, a shaken Trooper Qeengat saw that
he had shot not some renegade suspect alien but a fellow AAnn. Jaws agape, teeth flashing, he stared at what he had done while hissing like a broken water pipe.

“You told me to sshoot! You told me to sshoot!” He repeated the obvious over and over, as if by the force of sheer repetition he could somehow undo what he had done.

“He ssaid he wass coming out. The ssoftsskin ssaid he wass coming out.” This was bad, very bad, a confounded Takuuna thought frantically. His mind raced. Could he somehow blame it on the human? The weight of the pistol he always carried with him in his chest pouch pressed heavily against his sternum. Could he shoot the trooper and then the human, plant his pistol on the latter, and somehow blame the entire incident on the softskin? Questions would undoubtedly be raised as to how the human, resident among the Tier, had managed to obtain and conceal an AAnn handweapon for so long. To his annoyance, every viable explanation he strove to construct kept running into a roadblock of reason.