“This is a most unusual situation, ser,” Rolfes protested. “The last time a diplomat was assaulted was over a hundred years ago. This is not at all normal. We’re just trying to discover why it happened.”
“I suggest that you look into the background of the three men. You might talk to their families, their friends and associates.”
“We have, ser. We’ve spent almost three days intensively questioning them, and there’s nothing there.”
Van forced a polite smile. “And what about their deaths?”
“The medical examiners can find no reason for their deaths. Their hearts just…stopped.”
“That’s an interesting datum in itself, I’d think.”
For the first time, Rolfes looked both puzzled and interested.
“There are only three Arm powers with those kinds of abilities, and Scandya, the Keltyr, and the Taran Republic aren’t among them.”
“That’s a serious charge—”
Van laughed again. “It’s not a charge. It’s an observation, and it doesn’t mean that those three had anything to do with it directly. It does mean that the three had to have had contact—if indirectly—with someone with access to those technologies. It also means that someone didn’t want you to discover what they’re doing, and, if I were you…I’d think about the implications of that a lot more than whether I may have used slightly excessive vigor in defending myself against men who were obviously a far greater danger to Scandya than am I.” Van stood. “I wish you the best in your investigation.”
“But…” began Constable Sergeant Bentssen.
Rolfes rose smoothly. “The commander is right, Bentssen. There’s not much that questioning him further will establish.” He bowed to Van, excessively.
“You’re right, Lieutenant. But I didn’t say it.” Van refrained from suggesting that the lieutenant focus on the problem, rather than upon Van himself.
After the two had left, and after he’d spent a good ten minutes trying to cool down, he left his office and headed for the third secretary’s spaces.
“Come on in, Commander.” Emily studied Van as he stood there. “You’re angry.”
“It shows that much?”
“You don’t hide strong feelings well.”
“I’m not angry with you.” Van shook his head. “I just spent the last hour with two very polite Scandyan constables…two very polite and obtuse constables…” He went on to summarize the meeting. “…so, as the embassy’s media expert, I thought you should know. I’ll also have to send a memo to the ambassador, but I wanted you to know before I told him, because he’ll probably come to you immediately.”
“So will Ian.”
“Rogh will tell him?”
“As soon as you walk out of his door—or as soon as he can fire off an implant message without giving it away.” Emily frowned. “I still…that’s disturbing…I’d heard…but…”
Rather than ask, Van waited.
“Like you, I try to maintain contacts around Scandya. There’s a Hyndji consulate, not even an embassy, because they don’t have a presence in the Arm. Sanji is a friend, and he was telling me that he’d noticed people were getting cooler and cooler toward him. He insisted it wasn’t imagination. There have been a few stories in the media, too. And then there was the Liberal Commons demonstration last week against allowing Argenti and Hyndji scientists into Scandya. I’m beginning to wonder.”
“Wonder what?”
“Bias…prejudice.” Emily frowned. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Prejudice never does. But I see what you mean. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“The Argentis…some of them are darker-skinned than I am.”
“But Scandya is already independent,” she pointed out. “The locals don’t need to exploit prejudice for a revolution. They haven’t for centuries.”
“But Scandya needs allies to remain independent. Who benefits from fanning prejudice?”
“You think the Revenants would stoop that low?”
Van laughed. “People have always stooped that low, even when we were all crammed into one planet.”
“I suppose so.” Emily sighed. “I’ll run another search—after I finish the latest follow-ups for Madame Rogh’s luncheon.” Her smile was both rueful and warm. “I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you.” Van stepped out of her office and walked back toward his own. He’d have to tell both the ambassador and Hannigan, but he needed just a few more minutes to prepare himself. He needed to be dispassionate, and he also wanted to think out the best way to ensure that the two drew the same conclusion that Emily had.
Still…it bothered him. He wasn’t sure whether the Scandyan blindness or the apparent easy acceptance of prejudice bothered him more. Then, that choice was simply between one form of stupidity and another.
He opened his own office door and stepped inside.
Even though the Coalition did not have a full embassy, Van thought he ought to pay a call on the Eco-Tech military liaison—if there was one. Before he contacted the Coalition office, he decided to try once more to make contact with Sub-marshal Brigham Taylor, the Revenant military attaché. He’d put in a call almost a week earlier and heard nothing. He’d try to reach the Revenant sub-marshal first, and then see about the Eco-Tech office before he told the ambassador about the morning’s inquisition. By then, he might be calmer.
Chapter 17
The Revenant sub-marshal had again failed to get back to Van—but Van did get a return call from the Coalition liaison office later on oneday, asking if a meeting with a Major Murikami on threeday would be suitable. Van had confirmed it immediately. After he’d accepted the meeting, he had gone back to puzzling over the matter-of-fact attitude taken by the Ambassador Rogh about Van’s treatment by the Scandyan constabulary.
“It’s their planet,” Rogh had said. “You just have to do the best you can.’
Van doubted that Rogh would have been so philosophical if he’d been the one being questioned by the Scandyan constabulary, but he’d just nodded.
Two more mornings had passed without event. By threeday morning, along with everything else, Van found himself still fretting about the Fergus, since he’d seen nothing on the embassy infoservice or anywhere else. Finally, by late morning, he used the
