To Storm Heaven - Esther Friesner [85]
“I am.” It was his turn to be surprised when she did not pull her hand out of his gentle hold. She nodded toward the closed door of the briefing room. “Who is in there? The Masra’et? I have some words for them.” “They are there, and my father too.” Hara’el’s joy in seeing Lelys once more faded as he added, “We have had more news from S’ka’rys. More dead and more near death.” “We have failed them,” Lelys said, but with more heat than sorrow. “There is nothing we can do for our kin on S’ka’rys. We cannot create a plant that has vanished from the universe. But we will do some good here before we return home.” Her eyes darted to the briefing room. “Is the witness within?” “Witness?” It was clear that Hara’el had no idea what Lelys meant.
Just then a low murmur of voices came from farther down the corridor and Geordi appeared, accompanied by Ma’adrys and Avren. The Ne’elatian agent looked decidedly uneasy, ready to jump out of his shabby shepherd’s garb at the slightest sound. His hands were no longer bound, and he clutched and fidgeted with the wide brim of his hat so energetically that he was leaving a faint trail of dust behind him from the cockade of dried flowers in the band.
“Sorry we’re late,” Geordi said to the ambassador.
“We wanted to be sure you were fully recovered and able to see this. Avren here has agreed to testify.” “Has he?” Lelys was openly skeptical. “Does it not strike you as strange that this person, who worked so hard to maintain the evil on Ashkaar, is now so willing to help end it?” “I’m not up to any dirty tricks, if that’s what’s bothering you,” Avren said.
“So noble, so suddenly?” Lelys mocked him.
He shrugged off her scorn. “I never pretended to be doing anything but my job. That’s over now. So much for my disguise. I got off Ashkaar with my skin in one piece, I’m not fool enough to risk it a second time, but what about my comrades? Just because the Ashkaarians are savages doesn’t mean they’re stupid. They’ve got the wind up now, and they’ll be looking for spies.
The Masra’et’s got to withdraw us all now.” “Will they?” “Ha! Not likely, left to themselves. It’s not their reverend necks that’re at risk. Well, I’m not trusting the lives of my friends to luck and the mercy of the Masra’et. I’m doing my part now so that those old birds don’t have any choice but to recall every Ne’elatian agent on Ashkaar.” He jammed his hat down hard on his head, releasing another sprinkling of dust and dried flowers. “Let’s do this.” Geordi stepped to one side of the door. “After you, Madam Ambassador,” he told Lelys with a courtly bow. The Orakisan ambassador and Hara’el entered, followed by Ma’adrys and Avren. Geordi heard the sharp, startled gasps that welcomed the Ne’elatian agent, and smiled.
“It’s working,” he murmured to himself. It’s got to work, he thought.
Just as he was about to go into the briefing room, his comm badge beeped. “La Forge here.” Lt. Worf’s voice hailed him. “Mr. La Forge, we have just received a communication from Mr. Data on Ashkaar. It was extremely short. He said that he had arrived and was awaiting further instructions and the… special delivery. When I attempted to question him he only said that he did not have the time for a lengthy interview and that you would know what he meant.” “Thank you, Mr. Worf, I do. La Forge out.” In the transporter room Geordi set the previously prepared package on the pad, then touched his corem badge. “La Forge to Data.” “Data here.” The android’s voice came through hardly louder than a whisper. “Where is the package?” “Coming. Where are you?” “Just outside the chamber where the Na’amOberyin hold their audiences. This is not a very large building, Geordi. The audience chamber is the building, in effect. I have managed to find what appears to be a closet, but I cannot stay hidden here long. I suggest we proceed.” “Right. I’m beaming