Crown of Slaves

He gave Berry a gaze that was much warmer than the one he'd given Thandi. 'I would appreciate it-so would she, I imagine-if you could give Princess Ruth a hand. By all accounts, Captain Oversteegen is a stiff-necked man.' He jerked his head backward, pointing to Imbesi. 'Walter can show you the way.'

He looked back at Thandi. The sense of hurt was gone, replaced by pure iciness. 'So I'll get some sleep. I suggest you do the same. We're all likely to need it, in the day ahead.'

He started to turn, but paused. Then said, very softly and without looking at her:

'I am indeed cold-blooded, Lieutenant Palane. I make no apologies for that. I wouldn't apologize even to those courageous Mantie soldiers who lost their lives, much less you. I'm sorry they died, but-being blunt-I'm a lot sorrier that ten times as many Manpower slaves die every day, year in and year out, while the universe stands by, clucks its tongue, and does exactly nothing to stop it. That doesn't make me a monster, who would…'

He seemed to choke for a moment. 'Yes, I'll risk her life. But no more-look at her- than she'd risk it on her own. No more than those soldiers were willing to risk their lives when they volunteered for the Queen's Own Regiment. But to think that I'd-I'd-drag her like a sacrifice to an altar and sharpen the blade for the priests…'

He said nothing further. Just turned and walked away. Within seconds, he'd left the hall.

'Oh, hell,' Thandi muttered, her heart lower than ever. 'I really blew it, didn't I?'

'Don't be silly,' Berry scolded. 'It's just your first lovers' spat. You accused of him of being an inhuman fiend, and he got a little miffed. No big deal.'

* * *

Berry left then, to have Walter Imbesi show her where to find Princess Ruth, Professor Du Havel, and Captain Oversteegen. Thandi remained behind. Staring at nothing, at first. Then, staring at the only other person left in the huge room. Ginny Usher, who gazed back at her with eyes that didn't seem much less hostile than Victor's.

It took Thandi a minute to make her decision.

Fifty-nine seconds, dithering over a lifetime's disappointments, foul compromises, and crushed hopes. One second, to cast all that experience aside.

She strode over to Ginny. 'Show me where he's staying.'

'Well, it's about time. I was starting to get worried.'

But Ginny was smiling by the time she finished the last sentence, and already tugging Thandi toward the exit.

'He'll be so thrilled to see you! Oh, yes, he will!' Ginny waved a scolding finger. 'Don't let that lousy fish-eyed stare of his fool you for a moment, you hear! It's just an act. Well, sort of. But underneath it all-okay, way underneath-he's got the hots for you way more than he ever did for that no-good rotten-'

Chapter 30

'-highly doubtful, Princess Ruth. I grant you, the Cherwell Convention would give me-'

The speaker broke off and cocked an eye, seeing Berry come into the room. The tall, narrowly built officer in the uniform of a captain of the list in the Royal Manticoran Navy looked dismayingly like a much younger, far more athletic version of the Prime Minister of Manticore. His limbs had that look of the Janviers of High Ridge-as if they were somehow too long for the rest of his body-and she felt her heart sink at the very sight. But then she saw his eyes. Dark eyes, yes, but nothing like the half-slitted, perpetually calculating ones the Prime Minister showed the rest of the world. They were the eyes of a man unprepared to take anything from anyone, but they were also clear and thoughtful.

The corner of the captain's mouth ticked with sardonic humor. 'And this, I take it, is the supposed 'Princess Ruth.' ' He rose and bowed politely, with all the ease and grace of a man born and raised in the highest circles of the Star Kingdom's aristocracy. 'Captain Michael Oversteegen, here. Delighted t' see you none the worse for the experience, Ms. Zilwicki. Don't appear t' be, at any rate.'

Listening to the man's aristocratic drawl and speech mannerisms, Berry was glad that she'd taken time to quickly change before coming to join Princess Ruth and the captain. She strongly suspected that beneath the suave exterior, Oversteegen had all the unconscious attitudes of a Manticoran nobleman, who simply wouldn't have taken seriously a girl who appeared before him in tattered rags-no matter that the rags were of the most expensive material, and that she had a reasonable excuse for their state of disrepair. Appearances were appearances. Captain Oversteegen's own uniform was immaculate.

The lieutenant had risen also. The tall man turned to her and waved a languid hand. 'May I introduce my assistant tac officer, Lieutenant Betty Gohr.'

Rather than bowing, Lieutenant Gohr stuck out her hand in a rather abrupt gesture. She was smiling politely, but there seemed to be some sort of uneasy question lurking in her eyes.

'Pleased to make your acquaintance,' she said. Then, almost blurting the words: 'But I'd like to know how your father knows about me.'

Berry's eyes widened. 'I have no idea, Lieutenant Gohr. But I'd assume it's because you're either very good-or very bad-at intelligence work. My father makes it a point of keeping track of these things.'

Oversteegen chuckled. Although, to Berry's ears, the sound reminded her more of the snort of an aristocratic horse. A high-pitched, sharply ended little neigh, as it were.

'Very good, then,' he pronounced. 'The lieutenant certainly wouldn't fit the alternative description.' He bestowed a sly smile on Gohr. 'I believe you may rest easy, Lieutenant.'

The little question was still in Gohr's eyes, but she no longer seemed uneasy. 'Damn snoops,' she muttered.

She'd probably not meant the words to be overheard, but Berry had acute hearing. She grinned and said: 'Yup. That pretty much describes my father to a tee. Damn snoop.'

With as much in the way of sophisticated aplomb as she could manage, Berry slid herself onto the couch next to Ruth. 'And don't think I haven't started worrying about what will happen once I get myself a boyfriend. Gah. Bad enough my father's a snoop-he's also a very good one.'

Feeling rather proud that she'd managed to seat herself gracefully-not easy, given the fancy clothing she was wearing-Berry segued forward smoothly. 'But I believe I interrupted things. You were saying, Captain?'

Oversteegen had resumed his seat. Before continuing, though, he cocked an eye at Ruth.

'Berry is entirely within my confidence, Captain.' She nodded toward the man seated on her other side. 'As is Professor Du Havel. You may proceed accordingly.'

Oversteegen hesitated before he spoke again, but not for more than a second.

'Very well. As I was sayin', Princess, I think it's extremely doubtful that the Manticoran ambassador here would give her sanction to your proposal. Whether I could proceed without it…' He shrugged. 'Probably. If I were convinced it was the proper course to follow, I would certainly do so. Let the consequences be what they might.'

Ruth smiled. 'A comment which my aunt Elizabeth made recently might interest you, Captain.' She nodded toward Berry. 'The comment was made to her father, in fact. 'I believe I can trust a man who isn't afraid of being on the beach when he has to.' '

Oversteegen returned the smile with a wry one of his own. 'Indeed. I take your point, Princess-but you still have t' convince me that it would be a good thing t' do in the first place. The Queen's not here, after all, and whatever decision I make has t' be made quickly or there's no point t' it at all.'

Ruth began to open her mouth, but Oversteegen raised his hand slightly, forestalling the words.

'The issue's not the idea itself, Princess. Truth be told, leaving aside the undoubted charm of Congo becomin' a planet run by slaves, I can see at least two other advantages t' it.'

He held up his forefinger. 'First-bearin' directly on my duties here-it would make anti-piracy work far easier. No pirate in his right mind-much less a slaver-is goin' t' be playin' around in a stellar backyard with ex-slaves on