Changer of Worlds

from whooping with glee.

Durkheim

Victor Cachat reported to work as early as ever the next morning, Durkheim noted. The young officer’s new found vice hadn’t affected him that much, apparently. Quite the little whore-chaser the boy had turned into, according to the reports.

But Durkheim didn’t let any of his amusement show when he summoned Cachat into his office, immediately upon his arrival.

“We’ve got a problem,” the SS commander snapped. “And I need you to fix it.”

In the time that followed, as Durkheim spun his tale and elaborated his instructions, Victor Cachat leaned forward in his chair and listened attentively. Durkheim, though not generally given to humor, almost found himself laughing. Cachat could have made an ideal poster boy for an SS recruitment drive. Young and earnest officer of the Revolution, eager and willing to do his duty.

And though Durkheim noticed the hard, dark gleam in the eyes of the officer across the desk from him, he thought nothing of it. Simply the natural ruthlessness of a young zealot. Ready, at an instant’s notice, to strike down the enemies of the Revolution with neither pity nor remorse.

Anton

By the time Anton reached the rendezvous, he was utterly lost. Not in the sense that he had any trouble following the directions given to him by Lady Catherine’s messenger. Anton had years of experience finding his way through the three-dimensional maze of giant warships under construction, guided by nothing more than blueprints or verbal instructions. But when he walked through the door of the small coffeehouse at the end of an alley in the Old Quarter, he couldn’t for the life of him have told anyone if he was headed north, east, south or west. He thought he still knew up from down, but he was beginning to wonder about that.

He wasn’t entirely pleased, then, to see Robert Tye bestowing upon him that particularly obnoxious grin by which the expert greets the tyro. Tye had taken a different route than he. But, though they had left at the same time, it was obvious the old martial artist had been comfortably ensconced on his seat at the table for quite some time.

But Anton didn’t give Tye much more than a sour glance as he strode up to the table. His attention was riveted on the other two people sitting there. In the case of one, because he was fascinated. In the case of the other, because he was flabbergasted—even outraged.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Lady Catherine,” he added, a bit lamely.

Cathy started to bridle, but Jeremy cut her off.

“Didn’t I say it?” he remarked cheerfully. “The good Captain’s sweet on you, girl.”

That remark caused both Anton and Cathy to choke off whatever words they had been about to speak and glare at Jeremy. The ex-slave bore up under the burden with no apparent effort.

“Those who speak the truth are always despised,” he added, turning to Robert. “Isn’t that so?”

Tye said nothing, but the smile on his face as he reached for his coffee indicated his full agreement. Anton and Cathy looked back at each other. Cathy seemed to flush a bit. Anton didn’t—his complexion was quite a bit darker than her ivory pale skin—but he did straighten stiffly and clear his throat.

“I am simply concerned for the Countess’ safety,” he pronounced.

“Isn’t that what I just said?” asked Jeremy. “Why else would a proper Gryphon highlander give a damn about the well-being of an idle parasite?” He cocked an eye at Cathy. “Well… parasite, at least. You can hardly accuse the lady of being idle.”

Anton restrained his temper. Partly, by reminding himself of his daughter. Partly—

Damn the imp, anyway! But there was a trace of humor lurking under the irritation. Anton could not deny that the impudent little man—like a sprite, he was, both in size and demeanor—had cut rather close to the truth.

Bull’s-eye, actually, admitted Anton, as his eyes moved back to the countess. This morning, Cathy was not wearing an expensive gown made of thin material. She was dressed in much heavier garments—pants and a long-sleeved shirt—suitable for outdoor hiking. The outfit was obviously well-used and fitted her comfortably.

Cathy, Anton knew, was in her fifties. But she was a third-generation prolong, with the youthful appearance that such people carried for decades. Although most people would have said her outfit did nothing for her tall, slim figure, Anton thought it made her perhaps even more appealing than the gown she had been wearing the previous evening. The practical clothing fit her plain, open face to perfection. Young, healthy, vigorous—a woman who enjoyed life to the fullest.

He found himself swallowing, and groping for words.

“I am concerned, Cathy,” he muttered. “This is likely to be dangerous.”

“Not for the two of you,” announced Jeremy. “And her presence here is essential anyway.” He gestured politely to the remaining chair at the table. “Sit, Captain Zilwicki. There is news—and a change in plans.”

That announcement drove all other thoughts out of Anton’s mind. He slid into the chair and leaned over the table, planting his hands on the edge. “What news?” His enormous shoulders, hunched with apprehension, made his square and blocky head look like a boulder perched atop a small mountain.

Finally, Jeremy’s grin went away, replaced by a much kindlier smile. “Good news, Captain. For now, at least. Your daughter has escaped her captors.”

Anton had been holding his breath. Now, he let it out in a rush.

“Where is she?” he demanded, half-rising. He had to restrain himself from reaching across the table and shaking the answer from Jeremy. Fortunately, years of habit as an intelligence officer did not completely desert him. His was the one trade which, along with philosophers, always understood the precedence of epistemology.

So, after a moment, Anton lowered himself slowly back into the chair. “How do you know?” he demanded.

Still smiling, Jeremy shook his head. “I’ll not give you an answer to that question, Captain. Not that I don’t trust you, of course.” The impish grin made its reappearance. “Heavens, no! But after this is all over, I’m afraid you might remember that you are an officer in Her Majesty’s Royal Manticoran Navy and feel compelled to strike a blow on your Queen’s behalf.”

Jeremy was not the first person who had underestimated the intelligence hidden beneath the Gryphon highlander’s thick-headed appearance. It did not take Anton more than five seconds to make the connections.

“I was right,” he stated flatly. He glanced at Cathy. “You told him our conversation?”

She nodded. Now it was Anton’s turn to bestow a grin on Jeremy. And if his grin could hardly be called impish, it had something of the same devilish humor in it.

“It was a rogue Peep operation. And you’ve been in touch with the Peeps. The ones who aren’t pleased with the rogue.”

Jeremy started. Something in the expression on his face led Anton immediately to a further conclusion.

“No,” he rumbled. “I’ve got it backwards. The operation was outside of normal channels, but it was no rogue who ordered it.” His grin was now utterly humorless. A murderous grin, in truth. “It was Durkheim, wasn’t it? That stinking pig. And the ones you have contact with are the real rogues.”