Kahless - Michael Jan Friedman [42]
“All right,” he said. “I was deceiving you. But I had the best of intentions. And I am not a conspirator.”
“There is a Terran expression,” Picard remarked, about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions.
I’d like to hear more before I decide to exonerate you.”
Kurn’s nostrils flared. Obviously, this was information he wasn’t eager to part with. He looked around and made certain they were alone before continuing.
“Very well,” the governor growled. “But this must not become common knowledge, or I’ll truly have become a traitor.”
Worf thrust his chin out. “You know none of us will repeat anything you tell us.”
Kurn thought for a moment, then nodded. “I believe you’re right.” He heaved a sigh before he began. “The reason I wished to dissuade you from investigating the Defense Force is simple. Close scrutiny of its activities would have revealed a significant number of concurrent absences on the parts of two particular officers-a male and a female, each one with a mate outside the Defense Force.”
Picard grunted. The Klingon family was held together by almost feudal bonds. Such philandering was a violation of those bonds-at least, on the part of the male Klingon involved.
The female’s situation was different. She could have initiated a divorce anytime she wanted-though she apparently had her reasons for not doing so.
Kurn turned to Picard. “This is not a thing to be taken lightly,” he explained, just in case the captain didn’t understand. “The response of the cuckolded husband, in this case, must be to seek revengeas if a challenge had been made. Worse, the cuckolded wife in this situation may have her husband slowly drawn and quartered by four powerful burden beasts-while his lover is forced to watch.”
“And yet,” said Picard, “they risked this. And despite the fact that your society frowns on it, you yourself condone it.”
Kurn scowled at the remark. “You must understand, Captain. These philanderers are members of prominent Houses, which have long been allies of Gowron. If their affair became public, it would drive a wedge between their families and severely erode Gowron’s power base.”
Kahless snorted. “So these liaisons must be kept secret?”
“Exactly,” said Kurn. He turned to his brother. “Of course, if you and your companions had proof of your claims, that would be a different story. But until you do, I cannot help you.”
Picard looked to his lieutenant, but Worf said nothing.
Apparently, he accepted Kurn’s answer as sufficient.
Morality aside, the captain wasn’t sure he disagreed, given the importance of Gowron’s survival as Council Leader.
This time, Kurn didn’t bother with niceties. He merely turned his back on them and resumed his progress toward the academy’s main hall.
In other words, Picard thought, they had gained nothing at all. Frowning, he watched Worf’s brother disappear into the building-and with him, their best hope.
Kahless looked to Worf, then Picard. “What now?” he asked. “Who else can we turn to, if not Kurn?”
The words were barely out of his mouth when an explosion ripped through the academy building like a fiery predator, shattering the peacefulness of the grounds and sending debris flying in every direction.
Worf’s eyes flashed with anger and fear. “Kurn!” he wailed-and went running toward the site of the explo IL
sion, where flames were already starting to lick at the ruined masonry.
A moment later, the captain and Kahless took off after him. Picard could hear shouts of fury arising from the building. Also, cries of agony. Unfortunately, all of them were the voices of children.
Before they could reach the building, a door burst open and a gang of students came rushing out, carrying an adult-Rajuc. The captain winced at the sight of the headmaster. The man was half-covered with blood and his arm hung limply at his side, but at least he was still alive.
Brushing past the students and their burden, Picard followed Worf into the edifice itself-or what