Pliocene Exile - The Adversary Part 60

No. When he left us on Wednesday after the baby's cure he gave no indication when he'd return here. Shall I do a scan of Goriah for you?

Please.

... All clear unless he's put up a mental umbrella.

Are you sure?

Aiken I can't fa.r.s.earch for him as I would an ordinary person. Once he pops through the superficies into normal s.p.a.ce he's free to disguise his aura or even wipe it out so that not even a Grand Master can track him.

But I know he isn't able to carry anything large along with him. Only small objects that would fit inside the armour. Certainly not an X-ray laser. You're safe from him wearing your sigmas. And I really don't think he'd try to kill you ... yet.

Not like his darling son Hagen you mean? Well that one's cooled down nicely! All the same he won't get any rides in those aircraft-granting Basil and the boys manage to bring them back. Both Hagen and Cloud are staying with me on tight leash until further notice. Let 'em work on the Guderian device with old Celo breathing down their necks watching for a false move.

How is the project coming?

Well enough I guess. They've taken apart half the gadgets in my contraband store cannibalizing components and materials.

Have you thought further about whether you'd return to the Milieu?

All I can think about is confronting Marc. Get the d.a.m.n thing over and done with.

He'll pick his own time and place. Unless you do as I suggested.

Meet him at your place? ... Not on your life! He'd have both of us right where he wanted us.

He had the chance to dominate me already when he took over the executive during Brendan's redaction.

And he let me go. I don't think you understand Marc! YouthinkYOUdo?!

Better than you. I've worked with him and I've also done a deep memoreview of some Rebellion history materials that I studied a long time ago. Marc is a man with his own strange code of honour. If he agreed to confer with you on neutral ground with me as monitor he'd do you no harm.

Ha! I'd wallop him without blinking a fewking eye-truce or not!

No you won't. Not if you give your word to me. I know you.

d.a.m.ned if you do Woman! This matter of Marc toting things around with him on the d-jump really tears it. When he gets the program squared away what's to stop him from plopping Kyllikki herself right down in the castle courtyard.

Listen to me Aiken. Try to understand. Once Marc becomes capable of that sort of psychotransport he has no motive left for opposing the reopening of the timegate.

I want to get the two of you together to be sure you realize this.

? ... You mean the Milieu fuzz would be no threat to Marc if he could hop all over the planet-with his geriatric villains and their gear tucked under his metaphorical arm?

Exactly.

[Elation] Woman you could be right. [Dejection.] Oh-oh.

We're forgetting a complicating factor. Those b.l.o.o.d.y Rebel kids. And I use the sanguine modifier with deliberate precision.

Any resolution would have to involve them. Marc doesn't want to let them go.

[Perplexity. Anger. Dichotomous potentialities. Fatigue.] I know dear. Nothing can be done immediately anyway. I'll be too busy watching the situation on Monte Rosa and advising the people there.

You think the Famorel Firvulag will attack tomorrow then?

When the two a.s.sault teams try to take off on their big push over the top?

It's only two days until Truce-and the Famorel Little People are more traditional-minded than Sharn and Ayfa. They'll quit fighting and go home at dawn on October first.

I watched them creeping around the base of the mountain today. d.a.m.n! If only I could do something! But I barely managed to queer the Bessemer converter coup. The drain left me too p.o.o.ped to fly-although Hagen and his crowd don't know that.

You'll regain your strength more quickly now that the integration of your personality is proceeding. Eventually you'll be even stronger than before.

No doubt. If I live so long. But I've an uncanny feeling ...

Do you know we're the only two Greenies left?

?Group Green?

All of them gone. Except the two of us. And now daft Dougal blethering on about Asian and his n.o.ble sacrifice, and the Tanu on my High Table deciding it's Marc Remillard who's the Adversary that will set off the Nightfall War.

Then the only one left will be you.

Aiken dear. You've been drinking too much malt whisky. You're maudlin-and you're wrong. Stein's alive.

I've looked for him. Never found hide nor hair nor horned helm ... You are a bit squiffed. I'll show you him and Sukey and little Thor if you promise me that you'll never try to make contact with them or interfere with them in any way.

They had a kid-? Aw. I promise. On my honour as Nonborn King. Why should I drag them into my troubles?

But w a i t ... are they happy?

Happy as can be.

[Sentimental satisfaction.] Then show me. Please.

Wait. There.

[Image: River island half-moon rushlighted window reflection black water cypresses live oaks cinnamons log house jetty clinkerbuilt dory crocodile fence silvered garden plot thorn-guarded yard thatch roof stick chimney. Open bead-screened summer room work shed main cabin gla.s.s windows wide hearth planked floor A MAN A WOMAN HOLDING A CHILD.

] A boy named Thor you say? How old?

About two months now. He's a lovely strong child.

Sukey looks fine. Stein looks ... older. How do they live?

He hunts and fishes and traps. Sometimes very rarely he goes down the Garonne and sails to Rocilan to trade. Sukey is starting to pester him to take her and the child but he puts her off afraid she would want to settle near the city. Near Tanu and other humans who would find out.

How Stein helped Felice at Gibraltar? ... Does that bother him?He remembers. He thinks it was necessary but he remembers. It would be much worse if you were to come back into his life. Stein must be let alone like a healing wound. Look.