Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [132]
The Teacher compy said, "I have noted many instances of the Chairman's extreme and irrational behavior, especially in the past year."
"He broke his own cardinal rule and let himself be blinded by personal feelings. He's thinking more about himself than about the Hansa or the future." Peter turned to the Teacher compy. "OX, we need your help."
They all froze, hearing movement in the hall. Two royal guards outside the door stepped aside to let in a pair of gaudily liveried servants carrying trays of food for an early lunch. Both men wore the colorful cap and flamboyant vest designed for workers in the Whisper Palace. Peter had always thought the impractically quaint costume was for tourists and the media, but the workers dressed the same even in private sections of the Palace.
"We didn't order our food yet," he said.
The men blinked simultaneously. "Sorry, Sire. A banquet is about to start in the east gardens for two hundred Hansa functionaries." The servers set down the trays. "We were afraid that if we did not bring your lunch now, the kitchens could not give your order the proper diligence."
The costumed men looked afraid that the King might reprimand them for their foresight, but Peter just wanted them to go. "It's fine. Now please leave us. My Queen and I were having a private conversation."
The two men scuttled away, their colorful uniforms flapping. The royal guards stationed outside the apartments--supposedly loyal to McCammon--stepped back into position, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Peter sealed the door, blocking them off.
Estarra inspected the savory soup and colorful fruit, and picked up one of the sandwiches made from smoked fish and spicy greens. "I am hungry, but at least it's not one of those strange cravings."
OX stood beside the table, patiently waiting to resume their interrupted discussion. Before the Queen could take a bite, Peter gestured for the compy to scan the food. Basil did not know that the two used OX to guard against poison whenever they could.
OX examined the sandwich, then the plate of food. His optical sensors brightened. "I detect no poison, King Peter. However, there is an unexpected chemical signature, a complex pharmaceutical strain. I am accessing the molecular structure and comparing it to my records."
Peter took the sandwich away from Estarra, glaring at the food, certain Basil had tampered with it somehow. "I don't even want you touching that."
OX finally delivered his summary. "Each of these food items contains a substantial dose of a tasteless abortive chemical. King Peter is not likely to experience any symptoms, but the dosage would surely trigger a spontaneous miscarriage in the Queen."
"A miscarriage! But I'm too far along." Estarra leaned back in the chair as if she'd just received a physical blow.
OX said in an even voice, "A miscarriage at six months, triggered by such a harsh drug, would likely cause severe medical complications in the mother, perhaps even death."
Peter's hands trembled. The back of his head became a hot, dull ache. "That bloodthirsty bastard won't ever let it go."
"Just like the dolphins," Estarra whispered.
He wanted to rush to the balcony and hurl the platters of food into the open square, shouting curses at Basil Wenceslas as he did. But Peter forced himself not to overreact, not to tip his hand. At the moment their only advantage was that the Chairman didn't know they'd detected his sabotage. If Basil thought it was working, he wasn't likely to try anything else. It might buy another day. . . .
Seething, Peter picked up the tray of food, moved it far from Estarra, and then fed every scrap into the waste recycler.
The Queen looked sick. "From now on we need to test everything we eat. OX, if you hadn't caught that . . ."
"I can possibly arrange to bring food to you, Queen Estarra, in small and unobtrusive packages," the compy offered.
"Maybe Captain McCammon can smuggle something to us as well," Peter said, feeling the anger burning hotter inside him. "I tried to make peace with Basil,