Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 30

They were too scared to speak, but one of them nodded.

"All right. Go through." The clerk kept his chairleg at the ready "If anything happens, it will be on your head."

"Fine," said Chaney, and followed Tira down the hall.

"That was taking quite a chance," he said to her as they moved out of earshot.

"Those clerks are the ones taking the chance.

We could have killed them." She was very seri- ous. 'They have a lot of courage, staying here, defending the Palace. They could be looting, but the/re not. They're the land of people my rather wanted the Pact for."

They found a relatively isolated lift tube and stepped in, lira in the lead.

'Do you know where we are?" asked Chaney.

"Yes. In fact, if I recall properly, we're headed someplace safe. I hope."

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The lift tube led to the nurseiy.

"I haven't been up here for years. I'll bet Wiley hasn't either," said lira. "Jessine hasn't given my father any heirs, thank heavens; it's probably been forgotten."

The genescan monitor was still working. It politely informed them that it required authori- zation before the doors could be opened. Tira put her hand on the scanner and winced when the machine said, "Missy Tira-Lira. How good to see you again."

"Missy Tira-Ura?" Chaney asked as they went through the door.

"I was a Idd," she answered defensively.

All the furniture was moved against the walls and shrouded in dustsheets. No toys lay on the floor, none of the teaching displays were on.

After the ravishment of the rest of the Palace, these neglected apartments seemed pleasantly serene.

"Forgotten?" remarked Chaney, pointing down.

There were footprints in the dust.

He swung up one of his railguns. "Wait," he said quietly, and followed the footprints. Tira shouldered one other own guns and backed him up.

The footprints led through a doorway and

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behind a giant stuffed gorilla. Chaney stopped several feet from the toy.

"Come out with your hands up," he said.

There was a single shriek, and then a gowned figure appeared from behind the gorilla, hands raised, calling tearfully, "Please, don't shoot."

Tira gave a joyful yelp and let her weapon hang from its strap. "Cousin Helga!" She pa.s.sed Chaney to go to her cousin.

'nro/"exclaimedthe old lady, and openedher arms to embrace Tira. "Oh, my dear," she said, weeping unashamedly. "Oh. Oh, gradous. It really is you."

Chaney stared, baffled.

"She's my cousin, Chaney," explained lira. "I thought you were dead, Helga. What are you doing here?"

The old woman looked fl.u.s.tered, then sighed heavily. "I know I should have stayed in your quarters. But I couldn't... bear to clean it up.

Half the outer wall was gone, and there were bodies everywhere. There was blood on the ceil- ing. I... I couldn't bear it, Tira. So I came up here. Just until things settled down."

That was very sensible of you," said lira.

Cousin Helga shook her head. "No. No, I'm afraid I've been very foolish. If I hadn't given the Treasury men access to your chambers, none of this would ever have happened."

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"You gave the Treasury access -?" Tira demanded, too amazed to be outraged.

"They said you were in danger, you see. They said the Haiken Maru was going to kidnap you.

Or worse. Kitchley informed me of the trouble, and we agreed that the Treasury officers were the ones to protect you. But... but it turned out so very badly." She started to cry again.

lira put her arm around Cousin Helgas shoul- der. "Don't cry, dear. You mustn't cry. Please don't cry."

Chaney came closer to them, looking down at Cousin Helga. "I'm afraid Kitchley was wrong,"

he said as kindly as he could. "It wasn't the Haiken Maru who did this." His eyes turned somber. "It was Admiral Sclerida who killed the High Secretary."

Cousin Helga stared at Chaney in shock.

"Admiral Sclerida?"

Chaney's voice hardened. 'The High Secre- tary was lolled on his order. I'm certain of it."

"Chaney," said Tira, but she wasn't as shocked as she thought she should be.

Cousin Helga began to cry in earnest.

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Chapter 11.

Thick underbrush offered Jessine cover almost as soon as she'd slammed the fire door behind her.