concert and remain as one people, despite your supposed split.”
“Hmm,” said Matt, “I’m sorry, Commander. Clearly, you don’t understand. Commodore Jenks is no more British than you are.” For an instant, Okada’s facade dropped to reveal an expression of confusion while Jenks sputtered. Matt plowed on. “His ancestors were British, mostly, from what the princess says, but they came to this world the same way we did before the United States even existed. I’ve tried to persuade him to accept the historical bond that’s existed between our two countries for the last few decades, but he professes not to believe it. If he does, he doesn’t care. So don’t think of him or his people as enemies of your emperor; they’re not. Remember your history. When his people last came through here, Japan was closed to them. They knew it was there, of course, but they knew little of the people who inhabited it. They were too busy in China and India.”
“I am British, sir. I am a subject of the Empire of the New Britain Isles,” Jenks retorted hotly. He glanced at Okada. “But I am no enemy of yours. I apologize for forming my question so tactlessly. Please tell me, in your opinion, how serious is this supposed Grik threat?”
Okada regarded Jenks for a moment, evaluating the sincerity of the question. Finally, he relaxed slightly, and as he spoke, it was clear that evil, shrouded memories marched across his thoughts. “They are a threat beyond imagination. You are familiar with the shape of the world, from your ancient charts?” Jenks nodded. “Besides their recent conquests in Malaysia, they control all of India, the Arab coast, and at least eastern Africa almost to the cape. I believe their imperial capital, where their ‘Celestial Mother’ resides, is on Madagascar, one of their earlier conquests. They have no sense of honor as even an Englishman might recognize it. Their individual warriors have no sense of honor at all. They are voracious predators who exterminate all in their path, feasting not only on the bodies of their victims, but on their very own dead. They eat their young -a practice I have seen with my own eyes-and they have eaten… members of my own crew when we failed to conquer Baalkpan on our first attempt. All failure is considered a failure of spirit, and those who fail are considered prey to be devoured. That is why we aided them, why Kurokawa aided them: through fear of being preyed upon if we refused. Kurokawa may have had other reasons of his own, but for the vast majority”-his eyes drooped-“for me, it was fear.”
“But what of the battle here?” Jenks demanded. “Surely such a defeat must have hurt them.”
Okada looked wistful. “I certainly hope it did. Nevertheless, I have seen. I have been to Ceylon, where their teeming hordes are beyond number. I have seen how they so readily replaced the ships and warriors destroyed in their first offensive against Aryaal and this place. A grace period may have been won, but it will be short. They breed rapidly, and if they do not eat their young, within five years they may return with three times what they lost- and still maintain control of their frontiers.”
“My God,” Jenks muttered.
“Nothing we haven’t told you before,” Alden growled.
“True, perhaps, but…”
“Tell you what,” Matt said, making a decision he’d been pondering for days. “Now that you have a fresh perspective on why we’re in such a hurry and why our expedition to return your princess has received a lesser priority, I’ll take you to the shipyard myself. Just you. I don’t know what other agenda your spies may have, but I’ll let you see what we’re working on and let you decide whether we’re doing it to fight the Grik, or threaten your Empire. All I ask is that, on your honor, you don’t divulge what you see, but I’ll leave the evaluation up to you.”
Jenks seemed flustered at first, but quickly regained his composure. “That is… generous of you, Captain Reddy, particularly considering the previous prohibitions. But I cannot possibly swear not to report what I see if, in my estimation, it poses a threat to my Empire.”
Matt sighed. “I thought that was understood. Look, I don’t really like you very much and I know you don’t like me. But I’d have thought, by now, you’d have accepted the fact that we really do want to be friends with your people. If we become friends-real friends-we’ll share all the technology we show you. In spite of what you may believe, it’s considerable. I wouldn’t let you see it at all if I thought you’d still doubt our preparations are devoted to defeating the Grik.” He paused, deciding to go for broke. “But face it: we’re aware there are… elements of your own crew-officers-over whom you seem to have little control. Elements much more interested in their own political agenda than they are the safety of this Alliance, definitely. Maybe even the safety of your own precious Empire-as that safety is envisioned by the princess. I think given the choice, your vision of your Empire more closely reflects hers than you might be at liberty to admit. All I’m asking is, if you don’t get the impression that our preparations are geared toward striking your country, don’t immediately spill what you see to those other ‘elements’ I spoke about. Keep an open mind.”
Jenks considered. Here was a chance he’d craved-to see what the Americans and their furry allies were up to beyond their guarded barricades. He wouldn’t admit it, but he already knew a little. A few spies had gotten through. But he hadn’t been told everything they’d discovered either. There was much truth in what Captain Reddy said about those “other elements,” just as there was truth in the man’s observation that Commodore Jenks was less than pleased about how those elements operated, or about their influence over his government. He would have to step carefully, but he sensed an opportunity.
“Very well,” he said, “I can give my word to that.” He smiled sardonically, his sun-bleached mustaches quirking upward. “So long as it is not generally known I have done so.”
Matt almost mirrored his expression. “Oh, I don’t think it’ll hurt for folks to know I’ve given you a tour. No way to hide it anyway, so we might as well give them a show. But we won’t tell anyone you promised not to blab if you don’t feel like it. All I ask is, once we enter the secure area, give us the benefit of the doubt.”
“On that you have my word, Captain Reddy.”
Matt nodded and glanced at his watch. “Very well. I have another interview to attend to. If you’ll excuse me for an hour, maybe we can put some of your suspicions to rest.” Matt’s gaze rested on Okada. “Thanks for your cooperation, Commander.” He rang the bell again and Juan reappeared.
“Cap-i-tan?”
“Juan, ask the Marine sentries to escort Commander Okada back to his quarters, if you please; then send in Ensign Laumer.” He stood and extended his hand to Jenks. For the first time, the Imperial took it without any apparent hesitation. “I don’t believe this will take all that long, actually. Juan will see that you’re comfortable and provide any refreshments you might ask for.”
“Thank you, Captain. I look forward to our outing.”
When Juan closed the door behind the three, Matt resumed his seat and took a deep breath.
“You’re sure this is a good idea, Skipper?” Alden asked.
“You got me. I don’t know what else we can do. We can only stall the man so long-and his beef is valid. We’ve been playing him for time and he knows it. If we don’t show him why, the ‘incidents’ will only increase- understandably-and sooner or later, any chance we might’ve ever had for an alliance with his Empire will go over the side.” Matt shook his head. “No, it’s time we put our cards on the table. Besides, Her Highness, Becky”-he grinned-“knows everything we’re up to. It’s not fair to ask her to continue keeping secrets from her own people.”
“Except these political officers, these Company wardens,” Shinya reminded him.
“Of course.” Rebecca and O’Casey had told them about the Company watchdogs aboard Jenks’s ship, and had described their function in a way that brought the Nazi SS or Gestapo to Matt’s mind. Or maybe the Soviet naval political officers Shinya referred to was a better analogy. Either way, they were sinister and apparently powerful figures, and, given the opinions of O’Casey and the princess, dangerous and subversive as well. Matt had been waiting for some sign that Jenks didn’t necessarily work with them hand in glove before he made his earlier invitation. Rebecca was certain he didn’t, and even O’Casey-who had his own reasons to be wary of Jenks-agreed, but Matt had to be sure. After Jenks’s veiled admission, he thought he was. Of course, Jenks could have suspected their concerns and put on an act.. .. Matt shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t like Jenks, but he grudgingly respected him. The few times he’d actually spoken to Commander Billingsly, he’d decided there couldn’t have been more difference between his and Jenks’s character, at least.
Jenks might be an asshole, but somehow Matt sensed he was an honorable, even gentlemanly asshole. Billingsly was just an asshole, with no class at all. He remained as arrogant and condescending as Jenks had been when they first met, and his open, blatant, almost hostile bigotry toward the Lemurians was offensive and unsettling. If all the Honorable New Britain Company was like Billingsly, Matt’s destroyermen and their allies might have as much to fear from them as they did from the Grik. But Jenks was pure Navy, according to O’Casey, and Matt was very glad that seemed to make a difference. For a number of reasons.
“Yeah,” Matt resumed, “we’ll have to convince Jenks to keep them in the dark. I think we can, once we show
