Темное, кривое зеркало. Том 3 : След на песке

opened and a squad of Narn security officers entered.

'Ko'Dath,' ordered Major Krantz. 'Captain Sheridan and Commander Corwin are relieved of duty as of this moment. You are to escort them to the brig.'

Ko'Dath made a gesture of feigned surprise, and looked at Sheridan. 'Captain?'

Sheridan smiled. 'Major Krantz isn't feeling too well, Ko'Dath. I think he needs a lie down in one of the holding cells. Take him there, will you?'

'Yes, Captain.'

'Oh, and after that, ready your people as much as you can. I think we might need you when we get to Babylon Four.'

'We're always ready, Captain.'

'You can't do this, Sheridan! You….'

'I've already done it, Major.' Sheridan turned his back as the Narn Bat Squad dragged the protesting Major Krantz away from the bridge. None of the technicians stirred as they did so.

'Well, we've done it now,' said Corwin.

'Ah, I've been wanting to do that for a long time.'

Lyta smiled through her pain.

* * *

'You know how to stop his pain, G'Kar. Just tell me.'

The Narn coughed, laughter spluttering through his breath. 'You…. still…. do not…. understand. The Machine can never be yours…. You…. do…. not…. are not…. ready….'

Donne looked at Ta'Lon. He was unconscious, blood staining his face and the front of his clothing. 'Tu'Pari, you idiot! I told you to be careful with him. I don't want him dead.'

'He isn't. At a rough guess, he made himself fall unconscious.'

Donne was surprised. 'You can do that?'

'It was an old trick taught amongst the Thenta Ma'Kur. A trick to protect us from awkward questions if we should be captured. These…. Rangers must have found out about it somehow.'

'Ah. Annoying. Wake him up.' Tu'Pari nodded.

'I will do what I can.'

'And please put that thing away.'

'Thing? Oh, this.' He held up a red orb, thick blood dripping from it. Behind him, Garibaldi's friend was being very sick. 'A trophy of conquest. And please…. lower your tone. I am not your slave, lady.'

You will be whatever I tell you to be, came the thought, but she did not give voice to it. She needed Tu'Pari for the moment, and the humans were growing less and less willing to be here. Sooner or later she would have to kill them, but not until she had figured out how to access all the secrets of this Machine. With all its knowledge at her disposal, she would be able to hold off anything. Without it…. Ta'Lon had nearly defeated her just by himself. What if more like him came?

'This thing has some offensive capability. I know it does. But….' She smiled, alien thoughts buzzing through her mind. The Machine was responding to her. Words, thoughts…. images…. all there.

Weaponry, enough to protect this planet for a million years.

She laughed. 'Well, G'Kar. You didn't tell me about all those long-range missiles this thing has hidden around. Who knows just how vast this Machine is?'

'I did…. but you do not…. you are not….' He coughed again. 'You…. can…. not….'

'Oh yes, I can.' She started, and then laughed again. 'There's a jump point opening. A ship's arriving. I think I have some target practice. Tell me what I need to know, G'Kar, or I'll start filling the skies with as many of these missiles as I can. And I'll turn that precious station of yours into so much scrap metal.

'Well?'

Alone, off to the side, still comatose, thoughts began to race through Susan Ivanova's mind — guiding her, directing her, pushing her. The Keeper's soft words touched her, and sent thoughts into Donne's mind, manipulating her to the desired end.

Ivanova's eyes opened.

* * *

Londo looked out through the window of his transport, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sea beneath him. Unfortunately it was too dark, but he could imagine it there, proud and majestic, knowing nothing of his concerns or his problems.

Timov's angry words still sounded in his memory. He had hated to leave her like that, but if the Gods were willing, then they would meet again.

'It was Malachi. He…. he has invited me to attend him in the capital.'

Timov had snorted. 'Mad, of course?'

Londo had looked at her, realising just how much he had grown to love her recently. 'I will be leaving within the hour.'

He did not know why he had to go. Well, he did know, but he could not put it into words. Vague concepts of friendship and sacrifice and understanding all flitted through his mind, but he knew as well as Timov did that none of that really mattered. What did matter was…. he did not know. But something had to matter. He knew only that if he did not go, he would lose any opportunity to end this without more bloodshed.

Without the sacrifice of another Camulodo.

'Malachi is my friend,' he had tried to explain.

'What sort of friend can he be? Look at what he has done!'

'Malachi has not done everything.'

'He's done enough!'

No, that was it. Londo needed to see Malachi again, to look into his eyes and see, once and for all, if his friend was still there. Malachi had taken in a young and idealistic noble's son and trained him in the ways of politics and the Court. He had told Londo something, once:

'We possess power far greater than that of any others, on any other world in the galaxy. And yet how do we use it? Power is nothing if it is not used, but it is even less if used wrongly. Remember that, Londo.'

What could have happened to him?

Beside him Lennier sat, apparently asleep, but probably just meditating. He had not insisted on coming. There had just been no doubt that he not would be left behind. The two of them had begun this whole quest together after all. They would have to finish it together.

It seemed so long ago, that journey to Kazomi 7 with Delenn. Where was she now? Safe and at peace, he hoped.

Well, safer and more at peace than he was.

The capital, and the Court, drew him onwards.

* * *

Captain Smith had not been sure what to expect from the notorious war criminal Satai Delenn. He had never seen her before in person, although he had been given access to records…. from both before and after her emergence from her cocoon.

Neither of them matched the picture of peace and serenity before him now. She was seated on a narrow bench in the holding cell, hands folded in her lap, head raised, looking him squarely in the eye. She looked very different from either of the images he had seen. Apparently she had gone through a second transformation. Human and Minbari were now blended perfectly in her.

She made him…. uncomfortable.

'It is my place to inform you that you will be taken from here to Proxima Three, there to stand trial for war crimes against the human race. You will be afforded every right to defence and justice according to our laws. Do you understand what I have just told you?'

'I understand,' she said. Her voice was strangely accented, soft, but with layers of steel beneath. 'And we both know, Captain Smith, that my trial will be anything but fair.'

'My Government has assured me that it will be. In any case your trial is not my concern. I am just a soldier. It is my duty to escort you there and hand you over to the appropriate authorities. That is all.'

'Nobody is 'just' anything, Captain.'