Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [161]
"A bluff? You really believe that? The Chairman already had a Roamer trader held in administrative custody to be used as a scapegoat for the assassination. His name was Denn Peroni--look it up. The Chairman was setting up the Roamers so he could move against them. When Peter discovered the plan, he quietly issued an executive order to set the man free."
Sarein's brow creased as she remembered the ceremonial regatta around the Royal Canal, the day they learned that hydrogues were attacking Theroc for the first time. She'd been standing next to Basil, who was tense atop the observation stand, as if anticipating something, counting down moments. He had looked very surprised and frustrated when nothing happened.
"This is all very hard to believe, Estarra," Sarein said.
"Look into the details yourself and see if they all add up. The Chairman has made other threats, even ordered me to get an abortion because my pregnancy isn't part of his plan. He was about to force the issue, but when the rumor leaked about my baby, your beloved Chairman had no choice but to let it alone." Estarra's anger was palpable.
Now Sarein remembered that Basil had indeed mentioned asking the Queen to get an abortion. "He wouldn't really have gone through with it."
"Oh? Two days ago, he slipped a potent abortive drug into my food. If we hadn't caught it in time, I would have lost the baby and probably died during the miscarriage. Fortunately, we'd been in the habit of testing our food for poisons. We discovered the chemical in time."
"You're overreacting."
"Overreacting? What about my dolphins?" Estarra's face looked stricken. "The beautiful dolphins. We used to swim with them." She swallowed hard, and her breath hitched. "He had them butchered. We came into the pool and found them all cut up, the water full of blood and chunks of floating meat. Look into it for yourself!"
Sarein blinked in amazement. Estarra couldn't be making this up.
Her sister continued the litany of accusations. "After Prince Daniel tried to escape, they covered it up and then kept him drugged. The Chairman forced Peter to go look at him, and threatened him with the same thing if he didn't behave. But then Peter acted independently during the compy revolt, so your Chairman revived Daniel after all, and is planning to put him on the throne." Her eyes flashed. "And then they're going to kill us. Mr. Pellidor has made no secret of it."
"That's . . . but that's--"
Estarra looked weary, and distressingly old. Sarein didn't think she would ever again see the wonderstruck young girl who'd loved to climb trees and run through the worldforest. "Sarein, I always thought you were so smart, so sophisticated. You spent years on Earth learning things that none of us on Theroc knew. But all your training has just made you naïve in different ways."
Sarein struggled to convince herself that Basil would never do such a thing, but in the back of her mind where the truth lived without propaganda, she knew he was capable of it. She had seen him make swift and harsh decisions before. After all, she allowed, it was part of what had made him so attractive.
Her voice sounded awkward. "The Chairman already announced a grand banquet for Daniel five days from now, a coming-out party so the people can welcome him."
Estarra nodded sadly. "And afterward, the King and I will ‘quietly retire.'"
"That doesn't mean--" Sarein began.
"Yes, it does!" Frustrated, Estarra began to walk back toward the guards at the door.
"Wait, Estarra!"
The Queen turned. "I don't know anymore if you're my ally or my enemy, Sarein. Which side will you choose?" She made a disgusted sound. "Chairman Wenceslas is going to kill us. His plans are already in motion. Believe me if you like, or live with your delusions. You have that luxury. Peter and I don't."
95
CONRAD BRINDLE
The large scout ship approached Qronha 3. It was similar to the military craft he flew many decades ago as an EDF pilot, able to accommodate