“So, gentlemen,” said Adrian at last. “You see where we stand.”
“What negative aspects?” asked the admin who’d spoken earlier.
Lord Salter looked down at the pen he was playing with. Whatever they were, Adrian clearly did not want them mentioned. The Protector could make life difficult at times, and Salter chose his moments of protest carefully. This was not one of them.
there was a silence at the table. Adrian said at last, “Go ahead, Tal, explain your ‘negative aspects.’ ”
Tal said, “From the point of view of obtaining the Crown, there are none.”
“From any other point of view?” asked the admin.
“It depends on the importance you place on it. As we know, Baret Two is ripe for revolution.”
“Indeed,” said Lord Salter grimly, “if only we had had more current information before we agreed to come here.”
Adrian returned his gaze innocently. “The universe is wide. We’re lucky if our information is only thirty years out of date.”
Lord Salter harumphed.
“You were saying, Officer Diamond?” said Adrian.
Tal’s voice remained emotionless. “Baret Two is under great pressure from Republican agents. Just the knowledge diat Baret One has gone Republican must be enormously stressful to the inhabitants. I understand that those who can are leaving while the option is open to them.”
“Your point?” The admin reminded him of the Arbriths’ terriers.
“I beg your pardon, I thought it was clear. The Diamond has now entered into the politics of Baret Two as a destabilizing factor. Our just being here for trade would add to the general confusion, but now we’re trying to outdo Opal in administering bribes to Duke Peter. Perhaps they go into his treasury to expand the army and weaponry. Perhaps they go into his private account to finance a quick escape. Either way, we’re doing more than our part to push your brother and sister Redemptionists into a bloody war. Which, as we know, they cannot win. Which we are not going to volunteer to assist them with. Not that our assistance would count for much in any case. And which at the first sign of trouble we will leave them to fight, and remove a good distance away to enjoy our profits.”
Adrian’s elbow was on the table, his chin on one hand. “Does that answer your question, Rodney?”
Tal said, “Of course, as a demon, it’s not relevant to me. But I thought it was something you might want to take into account in your own decision making.”
The council members looked at each other, and you could see resentment on some faces: Why is it he get away with saying things like that? What gives him the right to muddle Diamond policy and point out all the reasons why our plans may be wrong?
Adrian hid his smile. Because, he thought, it’s his job.
“You were magnificent,” said Adrian.
They sat in loungers in the parlor of Adrian’s suite. Iolanthe was in the bedroom with a headache.
“Was I?” Tal looked pleased, but cautions. “I thought I’d veered from your recommended path back there.”
“It was bound to come up, and as you can see, they still voted to go ahead.”
“Yes, I did notice that. Greed, or fear of Opal?”
“Perhaps it was patriotism and civic duty.”
“No doubt you’re right.”
Adrian grinned. “You impressed them. You had a complete grasp of what you were saying.”
“Rare in humans. I can see why it made an impression.”
“Oh, don’t be such a snob. Just say thank you. Your first council meeting. They’ll be far more ready to accept you now when it comes to my future plans.” Adrian strained to pull off one of his boots.
Tal was silent, and Adrian said, “Aren’t you going to ask?”
“I’m just going to say thank you.”
The boot wasn’t budging; Tal shook his head and tapped two fingers against an ottoman. Adrian obediently placed his foot there and Tal pulled one-handed from the heel. The boot flew against the wall. The Protector gazed sadly at it where it lay. “You’re being cooperative simply to thwart me, aren’t you?”
Tal said, “You’d be disappointed otherwise.”
Chapter 40
Plots, true or false, are necessary things
To raise up commonwealths and ruin kings.
JOHN DRYDEN
Will Stockton was on his way to meet Hartley Quince in Transport, and he had timed it so he would reach there at the last possible minute and still be able to get into uniform.
He carried a gray bag with that uniform inside, as well as a change of underwear, some toilet articles, and a blue satin hair ribbon belonging to Lysette. On the border of Sangaree he entered Proclamation Square, a public space designed for sermons, state speeches, and the notification of local political events. A statue of Adrian Sawyer’s first Curosa friend was at one end. It was the only alien statue in all the Three Cities, but Will was too familiar with it to be very impressed by it. He cut diagonally through the Square, intending to take the lifts on the following street to C, and catch a train there for Transport.
Between the cleaner’s and the restaurant at the Square’s end was an alley. Will saw a man hurrying down that alley toward him, clutching a little girl’s hand in his own. The man was in his thirties, respectably but rumpledly dressed, and for some reason he reminded Will of his Sangaree neighbor, Mr. Teksa. Maybe it was the strained expression on his face. The little girl wore a blue dress and looked unhappy and confused.
The man’s glance darted all around the Square. He dragged the girl with him as he hurried onward. When he reached Will, he looked quickly back toward the alley and spoke in a low voice. “Please, sir. The EPs are coming for me. I’ve been complained against.”
The voice was intense, demanding. Will took an unconscious step backward.
“Please, sir,” said the man. “My daughter, you know what will happen to her. We need a place to go, just for a while.”
The desperation of begging a stranger in the street for what you know he will not give. “I have no place,” said Will,
