their shoulders. Matt was interested to note that he’d chosen First Sergeant Blas-Ma-Ar, whom the Bosun called “Blossom” for some reason, and the former Aryaalan noble, Corporal Koratin. Matt and Courtney followed them, dressed in their best, with 1911 Colts holstered at their sides. Courtney wouldn’t wear a cutlass-he was more of a menace to himself with one than to anyone else-but Matt had his now somewhat battered but highly polished Academy sword. Bringing up the rear was the Bosun with his Thompson and Stites with a BAR-Browning automatic rifle. Together they stepped briskly up to the mounted official and Chack and his Marines stepped aside.
“Governor Radcliff,” Jenks said to the man on the quite ordinary-looking donkey, “may I present the man who has made our arrival here, bearing this gloomy news, possible? There is no doubt that my ship and I, at least, would have been lost in the recent action without him, and had his people not previously rescued the Princess Rebecca, there would be no hope at all that she might yet live.”
Governor Radcliff slid the short distance to the ground from the burro’s back and peered intently at Captain Reddy. The feat didn’t require much in the way of physical exertion, but he managed it with a certain athletic grace inconsistent with his girth. He touched his immense graying mustache as if making sure every hair was in place. “Please do, Commodore. From our… abbreviated conversation, it would seem the Empire at large owes him and his people a great debt indeed.”
“Very well, then.” Jenks proceeded, bowing slightly and gesturing at Matt. “I present my excellent friend, Captain Matthew Reddy, High Chief of the American Clan, and Commander in Chief of all Allied Forces united beneath the Banner of the Trees.”
Matt glanced at Jenks. They’d considered numerous possibilities regarding how they’d be received here. Apparently, Jenks considered this Governor Radcliff an ally-for now. Matt saluted. “Captain Matthew Reddy, United States Navy ship Walker. I request permission to come ashore, sir.”
Radcliff looked at Jenks with a frown. “Well, what is he? A captain or a chief?”
“Both, Your Excellency. Ah, as I understand it, he prefers ‘captain’ while in direct command of his ship.”
“And he’s standing right in front of you… Governor.” Gray growled under his breath. He too was still holding a salute.
“Boats!” Matt ground out.
The governor of Respite chuckled and Jenks quickly whispered something in his ear. “Oh! Of course!” He sketched a salute and Matt and Gray dropped theirs. “Permission granted, certainly-not that we could deny it, if the good commodore has been remotely accurate in his description of your ship’s capabilities.” He turned to look at Chack and the other Marines. “And what have we here?” An expression of genuine wonder crossed his face.
“They call them ‘Lemurians,’ Excellency,” Jenks supplied. “Descendants of the ancient”-he glanced apologetically at Chack-“ ‘Ape Folk’ that the Founders described in their journals.”
“If I may?” Matt said, not really asking. “As Commodore Jenks is likely about to inform you, they don’t like the term ‘Ape Folk’ very much. I think they’ve figured out what an ape is by talking to us, even though they’ve never seen one. Jenks has told me you do have apes, descendants of pets aboard your old ships. Seeing those apes and being equated with them is likely to cause resentment. Trust me, sir, you really don’t want to create resentment among my crew, and particularly among these Lemurian Marines.”
“Indeed not, I assure you!” Governor Radcliff exclaimed. “These friends of yours seem rather touchy, Commodore,” he said in an aside to Jenks.
“Still standing right here,” Gray said. Matt rolled his eyes.
“Indeed. Please forgive me,” the governor said. “I’m not accustomed to speaking so forthrightly with strangers.”
“I believe you may find, as I have,” Jenks stated in a neutral tone, “that is about the only way to communicate with Captain Reddy and his people. Perhaps it is time, and past, for a serious, forthright discussion about many things, Your Excellency.”
“So it would seem,” Radcliff agreed. “Captain Reddy, please do accompany us to Government House.” He fanned himself with his wide hat. “We have much to discuss, and this heat is most tiresome. I would be honored if you would join me in some refreshment.” He glanced at Chack. “And… charmed… if your Lemurian Marines and other companions would join us as well.”
“Thank you, sir. We’ll gladly attend. But maybe there are a few more pressing matters?” Matt looked at Jenks questioningly.
The governor clasped his hands behind his back and raised his chin. “Forthrightly, then,” he said. “Captain Reddy, even as we speak, the Company Director and all his factors are being placed under house arrest by Commodore Jenks’s Marines. I have personally ordered the territorial constabulary and militia to scour the island for any possible Company agents. My militia is ill-equipped, and while they may not be Marines, I expect they will be highly motivated.” He paused and frowned. “I had never previously met Commodore Jenks before this day, but his reputation as a discoverer, a loyalist, and a man of irreproachable honor is universal within the Empire. With the few brief words we have shared thus far regarding this emergency, I have no doubt that the very existence of the Empire is at risk.” He sighed. “Understand, something insidious has been brewing beneath the surface for a great long time, and the people here, and elsewhere, are not blind. I’m a loyal subject of the Empire, but even I can see that something has gone fundamentally wrong. Some will see this atrocity that you bring word of as the final spark necessary to ignite a powder keg of secession that has long been standing, waiting to explode. It may even be that Respite must finally split from the government over this event, if it does not suppress the Company at last. Perhaps I may repair the rift before the split becomes permanent, but I have a sick feeling that the twisted, almost incomprehensible agenda of the Company might shatter my beloved Empire forever.”
CHAPTER 18
Yap Island (Shikarrak)
“ O kay,” Dennis Silva hissed, “don’t nobody move! There’s one o’ them shit-sacks plopped square on our path ahead.”
Instantly, the rest of the group ceased heaving on the boat and did their best to freeze in spite of the life- sapping heat. It was a good thing he hadn’t told them to be quiet, because they simply couldn’t have stopped their noisy gasping in the sodden air.
“Where?” Sandra Tucker wheezed, trying to clear the burning sweat from her eyes with the back of a grimy hand.
“Just ahead. Larry seen it first,” Dennis admitted. Lawrence was poised, still as a statue, staring straight ahead. “Little booger’s a good pointer. Make a swell bird dog someday.” He was slowly easing the Doom Whomper from his shoulder.
“I still don’t see it,” Sandra said anxiously.
“I do, now that my good eye’s turned thataway. Bastards is like camee-lee-ins. Blend right in. I never seen anything like it!” There was genuine admiration in his tone.
“My God!” Princess Rebecca exclaimed. “I see it! It’s quite close indeed!”
“I see it too,” Captain Lelaa commented. “It must have sensed our approach and positioned itself to intercept us. It takes them some time to blend in so well.”
In recent days they’d all learned far more about shiksaks than they’d ever cared to know. There were more of them all the time, and Lawrence was growing increasingly nervous and upset, urging them on whenever they stopped to rest or sleep a very few hours. The boat was repaired, but it was big and heavy and the move was slow going, even with all of them pushing, pulling, or placing rollers in its path. They’d almost reached the end of the bamboo jungle and the going would soon improve, but their progress thus far could be measured in yards and sometimes feet per hour.
“Nothin’ for it,” Silva groused. “Larry, it’s time for us to do our ‘trick’ again.” Lawrence twitched his growing bristly crest and then, as fluid as mercury, flowed into the thick bamboo beside the trail. Silva looked at Captain Rajendra. “You stay here. If that sumbitch hops thisaway, you better already be dead if any harm comes to any o’ these ladies, you hear?”
“I hear you, Mr. Silva,” he snarled. “Such a thing goes without saying!”
“I hope so, but I feel better with it said.” He was easing toward the trail Lawrence had already taken.
