Wrath of Axia (The Arcadian Jihad) (6 page)

“It was the Security Bureau. They said local people should be working in the plantations, not wasting their time selling food on the streets to tourists. They rounded up most of the sellers and sent them to work harvesting burlash.”

“Why did they leave you alone?”

He smiled a tired, weary smile. “I’m almost ninety years of age, too old to work on a plantation. They left me alone so they could argue that food vendors were still allowed to operate in the city. In return, I have to buy all of my foodstuffs from the Burlash Corporation of Hesperia.”

“Pieter Bose?”

“Yes, it’s a subsidiary of the Bose Corporation. They only have one product to sell, burlash.”

They ate as much of the unappetizing food as they could before they arrived at Max Biermann’s house. He smiled when he saw the packaging.

“So you tried eating that muck?”

“For the first and last time,” Blas grimaced. “Have you heard from Admiral Rusal?”

Max looked worried. “Not yet, has anything happened?”

Blas recounted his conversation with Rusal. “He expects to be arrested soon. He also said you’d know what to do.”

Max nodded. “It’s going to be difficult. The Security Bureau watches everything, so we need to be very careful not to arouse their suspicions. In the meantime, I’ve got someone you need to listen to. He has a very interesting tale to tell, he’s due here shortly. He was a prisoner on the plantations but he escaped.”

Blas and Evelyn looked at each other. The same question crossed their minds. Was it possible?

System Standard 2734.1629 Tulum City, Planet Hesperia

Admiral Quentin Rusal came to attention in front of his superior officer, Grand Admiral Rad Bose, Commander in Chief of Tricon military. After the Axian conquest, Bose had been close to the leader, President Merca Gluck. Gluck made him Commander in Chief of the Axian forces. After their defeat and during the formation of the new Republic, Bartok unexpectedly announced his reinstatement as Grand Admiral. It was an inexplicable decision, in view of Bose’s reputation as a brutal and cruel despot, a leader who drove his men on with harsh punishments. He glowered at Rusal.

“I’ve heard rumors that I don’t like, Admiral. Protests, and even sabotage caused by these Hesperian natives. There’s even a suggestion that they’re talking of calling a general strike. That would be disastrous for our agricultural output, you must see that?”

“I’m sure your brother’s plantations will be unaffected by a strike. They all use slave labor, Sir.”

“Prison labor, Rusal, as you well know, not slave labor. It’s a form of rehabilitation. I suggest you be more careful in your choice of words, Admiral.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I’ve decided to make an example of some of these people to show the others that they can’t do as they please. We rule this planet, not some ignorant natives who think they know better than their masters. Come with me, you’re in time to witness the executions.”

“You’re not serious? You can’t execute these people! That would be illegal.”

Bose fixed him with a hard and bitter look. “Two things, Rusal. First, I’m your superior officer, and as far as you’re concerned I’ll do as I damn well please. Your job is to carry out my orders. Second, President Bartok has repealed the old law, so execution is now a legal punishment throughout the Systems. Come with me.”

Rusal followed him out to the parade ground. To his horror, a long, multiple gallows had been erected in the center. Five men were being led out, their arms and legs shackled so that they could only stumble forward. Pieter Bose stood next to the gallows, shouting orders.

“Bring them here, quickly, men. Don’t let the prisoners dawdle. We haven’t got all day.”

They bullied the terrified men forward to the gallows, up the steps and positioned them under the five nooses. Pieter read out the charges.

“You have been found guilty of treason, in that you attempted to subvert the legal authority of this planet. You were all aware that for workers to go on strike is illegal, yet you tried to persuade others to join you in your treasonous activities. The sentence is death.”

One of the men tried to stumble away from the rope, but was stopped by his guards. He shouted out to Rusal.

“Admiral, don’t let them do this. I fought to free this planet, so why are they doing this to me?”

Rusal turned to Rad Bose. “Sir, this isn’t right. That man doesn’t deserve this, none of them do. That man fought for me and helped us win the war.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Bose’s expression darkened. He’d been beaten by Rusal on every occasion when their fleets had clashed, and it was not helpful to remind him of it. The Grand Admiral had a simple philosophy, ‘never forgive an enemy’. He looked up at the scaffold. “Is everything ready for the executions?”

“Yes, brother. We’re waiting for you to give the word.”

“Very well.” He turned to the assembled crowd. Rusal knew that they would have been forced to appear here to watch the spectacle. Their faces were masks of terror and horror, but Bose ignored them.

 
“These men have been sentenced to death for treason. Be aware that anyone who tries to obstruct the lawful government may suffer the same fate.”

He looked at Rusal. “Admiral Rusal, you may give the order for the executions to begin.”

There was a stunned silence. Rusal’s reputation as a man who believed in fair play was famous throughout the Systems. He stared at the Commander in Chief.

“No. I still do not believe these proceedings are legal.”

“Are you refusing to obey an order, damn you?” Bose barked.

“No, Sir. But no officer should obey an illegal order.”

“This is your last chance, Admiral. Give the order, now!”

“I’m sorry, I must refuse.”

“Very well, you are dismissed from your command. Get out of my sight. Pieter, begin the executions.”

Rusal walked away with his head held high, but his heart was heavy. He heard the crash of the trapdoors and the creak of the ropes taking up the strain of their burdens. The crowd that was gathered to watch was almost silent. There was only the odd wail, the sobbing of a wife or mother as their loved one died. He walked into his office and began packing his personal effects. His adjutant, Captain Ban Cantar, knocked and entered the office.

“Sir, I’ve just heard the news. May I say how appalled I am. This is disgraceful. Can’t you appeal?”

Rusal smiled. “No, Captain, Grand Admiral Bose has given the order, so it can’t be appealed.”

“But President Bartok, Sir, he can review it.”

Rusal smiled. “Bartok is good friend of Rad Bose.”

The captain said nothing for a few moments. Then he came forward and saluted. “In that case, Sir, may I say it has been an honor serving with you.”

Rusal returned the salute. “Thank you, Captain.”

“One more thing, Sir.”

“Yes, Captain?”

“We all know how difficult things have become on Hesperia. If there’s anything you need, contact me and I will do my best to help. You know you can trust me.”

“I know that and I appreciate the offer. I’ll bear it in mind.”

He left the office. It was time to make contact with his friends and allies. This planet, perhaps the whole of the Nine Systems, was gripped by a cruel tyranny. It had to be stopped. It was time for the rebellion to begin. Five bodies were swinging in the light breeze that swirled across the parade ground. The crowd had almost dispersed, and only a ghoulish few were left to survey the execution. He pulled out his personal communicator and checked the display. It was still on a secure, private channel. He pressed the button and within seconds it answered.

“Biermann.”

“It happened, Max. I’ve been dismissed from my command.”

“Just as you expected.”

“Yes.”

“You’re still a serving officer in the navy?”

“Yes, I am. They didn’t take that away. Not yet.”

“That’s clever of them, Admiral. It means you’re still subject to military discipline. No matter, will you come to Peria? There’s someone you need to listen to, and it could throw a lot of light on what’s gone wrong since the war ended.”

“Very well. I’ll use my personal ground car.”

They assembled in the living room of Biermann’s house, Max, Rusal, Evelyn Gluck and Blas. Max jumped slightly at a knock at the door. He grinned as he went to answer it.

“I thought this conspiracy stuff was in the past. I’m too old for all of this secrecy.”

When he came back into the living room there were two men with him. One was middle-aged, perhaps the same as Max. The other man looked to be a hundred years old, gaunt and emaciated. His face betrayed a hard life; his hair was unkempt and very long, as was his beard. His skin was dark from the sun and more like that of an agricultural laborer, but it was also etched with the creases of constant anxiety. His clothes were no more than rags, only to be expected of the escaped prisoner Max Biermann had mentioned. He’d clearly been one of Pieter Bose’s slave workers, and they all shuddered to see the physical damage that working in the plantations could do to a man. Max made the introductions, first, the middle aged man.

“This is my good friend, Karn Vansen.”

They all shook hands, but they waited to be introduced to the other man, curious as to his identity. Max asked him to join them.

“Please, my friend, would you tell them your story?”

When he spoke, his voice seemed strangely familiar. “I was on Arcadia I, before the Axians renamed it Axis Nova. It was at the end of the war and we’d just taken the planet. Something happened and I blacked out. Perhaps someone hit me or I was drugged. When I came to I was in the brig of some kind of spacecraft. They kept a dark hood over my head. When the ship landed they took the hood off but they wore masks so that I couldn’t see their faces. They gave me food and drink, but it must have been drugged because I entered a long period of hallucinations.”

Blas, Rusal and Evelyn exchanged glances. They felt sorry for the man, for he was obviously a mental case with his talk of hallucinations. It appeared that Max had invited a lunatic into his house, so why was he giving the man a platform to speak? They had much more important tasks to work on. Blas was disappointed. After the story that Evelyn had told them, he’d hoped that this could be Xerxes Tell. This man looked nothing like him, but the story hadn’t ended. The man went on.

“After that they forced me to wear the hood day and night. I was only allowed to take it off when I ate my food, which was in solitary confinement. Later, they cut holes in the hood so that I could see what I was doing, but obviously no one could recognize me. They must have continued with the drugs because the hallucinations kept returning. I was forced to work cutting burlash on a plantation, always on my own, and a good distance from the other prisoners who worked the fields. I worked day after day, week after week, without a break from dawn to dusk. At night I was locked into my solitary cell. No one told me why they had kidnapped and imprisoned me, although the reason was obvious. Two days ago the guard made a mistake. The lock on my cell door failed to engage properly and I managed to escape. I made contact with Mr. Vansen, who hid me and brought me here so that I could tell you my story.”

They were mystified. Rusal walked over to study his face intently. “Your voice is familiar Sir, but I can’t place it. Your face and your bearing. I’m certain I’ve seen you before, but I don’t know where. Who are you?”

He looked at each of them in turn. Blas was struck with a growing realization, but it was crazy, surely not! Evelyn had told them that he was still alive, could it be true? Could it be this man?

“My name is Xerxes Tell. I last saw you two gentlemen on Axis Nova.”

“Surely it’s not possible,” Blas said automatically. “You don’t look anything like him.”

“All the same, it is true. The current incumbent on Axis Nova, President Fabian Bartok, seized power illegally. I am President Xerxes Tell.”

Blas went to speak again, but Evelyn stopped him. “This man speaks truth, Constantine. He is really Xerxes Tell. What happened to him is exactly what I read in Pieter Bose’s mind.”

The room fell silent as each of them reeled with the enormous impact of the appearance of the ragged creature standing before them. Was he truly the rightful President of the Nine Systems? It would certainly explain a great many things.

“Evelyn Gluck told us of her suspicions,” Rusal said. “It seemed too incredible, and I’m afraid that we doubted her. We doubted you too, at first. I apologize. Welcome back, President Tell.”

He shook Tell’s hand warmly, and the others followed the gesture, but there was still doubt. The room seemed to fall apart in a babble of questions. Tell held up his hand in a gesture they recognized. Yes, it was him. There was no doubt about it, the old, familiar Xerxes Tell. He was back.

“Give me a little time and I will answer all of your queries. First, Max, could I ask you for a shower and the loan of some clean clothes. I’ll need a razor and a pair of scissors, I think.”

“At once, Sir. Come with me.”

When he’d gone, they sat down to discuss the incredible appearance of their President from a Hesperian prison farm.