Echo (52 page)
“We told them—”
“Hearing about it is not like seeing it. And seeing what kind of trouble it can bring.”
The night after the memorial, Viscenda called a meeting in the dining hall. “For everybody.”
When we got there, the place was already overflowing into the passageways. We picked out a spot where we could probably hear, if not see, what was going on. We sat down, Viscenda and Turam entered from a side door, and she walked over to the lectern. She had to rap for quiet. When she got it, she said hello, looked around, and asked whether
we
were there somewhere.
we
were there somewhere.
People looked our way. A few stood so she could see us, and she asked us to come forward and take seats at the head table.
When we’d gotten to our places, she welcomed everyone. “I think we can be proud of how we came through that experience yesterday,” she said. “Nobody comes here and threatens us or our friends.” That got the entire audience on their feet. “I’d especially like to offer my appreciation to Turam and his team, to Alex and Chase, and especially to Rikki Brant, who sacrificed everything for us.”
She invited Turam to say a few words. He advanced to the lectern, said how proud he was of his people, and turned the floor back to Viscenda.
“We think,” she said, “that the issue is settled. But as a precaution, we’ve posted an enhanced security detail to ensure we don’t get taken by surprise.
“Also, I’m pleased to report that there were no other casualties, which is remarkable considering the nature of the threat we were facing. If I’ve missed anyone, if anyone else was injured, please see Aleska or Dr. Seepah. Both will be in my office when we finish here.
“By now, we’re all familiar with the talking jewelry belonging to Chase and Alex. Chase, I wonder if you’d be good enough to bring your bracelet up here so I can show everyone what it looks like? In case they haven’t seen it.”
I was surprised. I took the bracelet up and handed it to Viscenda. “Thanks, Chase,” she said. She held it up. A few people applauded.
“We’ve discovered,” she continued, “that not everyone is as friendly in that other world, wherever it is, as Chase and Alex. And it occurred to us last night that it might be dangerous to let them know where we live. Without this”—she looked at me and lifted the link higher—“people from your world would have no easy way to find us. In fact, it seems we’d all be safer if this one piece of jewelry simply got lost.” Her voice became quietly menacing. Her fingers closed over the link. She was gazing at me, and she couldn’t have missed the look on my face. Then she broke into a smile. “Just kidding.” She opened her hand and gave it back.
The audience, after a moment’s uncomfortable silence, broke into laughter. I didn’t think it was funny, but I smiled politely and sat back down.
“You all know Alex Benedict, who, with Chase, has been with us through this ordeal. He’s asked if he could speak with us about yesterday’s events. Alex?”
They applauded as he made his way to the lectern. When the room quieted, he thanked them. “I won’t keep you long,” he said. He paid tribute to Rikki. Then: “I just wanted you to know that Chase and I appreciate everything you’ve done for us. Viscenda could have pushed us out the front door, offered us as a sacrifice to the woman in the lander, who wanted only to kill us. It would have been the safest thing for her to do. Instead, she, and you, risked everything for us. I wanted to say thanks. And I want you to know we will never forget.”
He invited me back to the lectern, and I simply repeated the sentiments. When someone asked why “that woman” wanted us dead, Alex replied with the truth. “Might as well tell you,” he said. “You’re going to find out eventually.”
In a somber, pained tone, he laid it out, explaining that he might be wrong on some of the details, but here is what we think: You may already have heard a rumor that we are connected to the Dark Times. There may be some truth to it. If so, it was through a misjudgment, and certainly with no intent to cause harm. I have no detailed explanation because I simply don’t know precisely what happened, but we were here, in this planetary system, when the catastrophe occurred.
“I know,” he said, “that if it’s true that we, in any way, allowed the event to happen, or possibly even
caused
it, there is nothing I can say that will excuse that. The critical thing for the moment is to be aware that we will do all in our power to assist you as you have assisted us.”
caused
it, there is nothing I can say that will excuse that. The critical thing for the moment is to be aware that we will do all in our power to assist you as you have assisted us.”
A few went up and shook his hand. A few, probably unsure what he’d implied, remained in their seats. Most simply filed out of the hall.
When it was finally over, he embraced me. “How you doing?” he said.
“Okay.” I don’t know if I’d ever had more respect for the guy. “You didn’t have to say anything.”
“They were going to find out eventually. Best for it to happen now. I didn’t want them to remember us later as having lied to them.”
“You did good.”
A middle-aged couple told us that Rikki was their daughter and how proud they were of her.
Other people came our way, staring at us. “Were you saying you killed everybody?” a woman asked. “An entire world?”
And an old man with tears in his eyes: “What were you trying to do tonight? Just say you’re sorry and walk away?”
And a young woman, probably no more than twenty: “You two,” she said, “are pathetic.”
Then Viscenda was there. “Keep in mind,” she said, “that Alex and Chase didn’t
do
it. No more than
you
did.”
do
it. No more than
you
did.”
Although it was just after noon, Alex and I were both asleep when the call came in.
“
Belle-Marie
, this is StarCorps. Please respond.”
Belle, of course, wasn’t functioning.
“
Belle-Marie
, this is StarCorps. Please respond.”
Belle, of course, wasn’t functioning.
I used the link to open a channel. “StarCorps, this is Chase Kolpath. Do you read me?”
Static.
Then: “Belle-Marie
, are you there?”
, are you there?”
They were too far out. We needed Belle to relay the signal.
As things turned out, Audree and Robin, riding a leased vehicle with a rented pilot and a friend of Robin’s who happened to be an MD, got there first. They were, they said, glad to see us.
That night, Viscenda threw a party for everybody.
FORTY-FIVE
Truly evil persons do not recognize their own malevolence. They perceive themselves as generous, good-hearted, friendly sorts, who sometimes have to resort to unpleasant tactics for the general betterment of society. Even the historical monsters seem to have had no second thoughts about the damage they were causing. It was that way with Hitler and Oliver Moresby, just as it was with the Greer Avenue Strangler.
—Tao Min-wa,
History and the Moral Imperative
History and the Moral Imperative
“He’s here.”
“Okay, Chase. Let him wait a few minutes. I’ll be down shortly.”
I wasn’t looking forward to this.
The outer door opened, and I heard Jacob’s voice:
“Please come in, Mr. Korminov.”
“Please come in, Mr. Korminov.”
“Thank you.”
“Just go into the conference room. On your right. Ms. Kolpath will be with you momentarily.”
“My appointment is with Mr. Benedict.”
“He knows you’re in the building, sir. Please just go in and have a seat.”
I heard him come into the hallway, heard him moving around in the conference room. I was looking out the window, watching a couple of
goopers
chase each other across the garden and up a tree, but my mind was a thousand light-years away. Finally, I turned back to the exhibition schedule on which I’d been working. Let him sit in there for the rest of the afternoon as far as I was concerned. And that had been what Alex wanted. But the truth was that I really needed to see the guy. So in the end, several minutes ahead of schedule, I marched in. He was sitting there, casually, on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, reading
The Antiquarian
, looking for all the world like a decent human being. He turned the magazine off and smiled pleasantly as I entered. “Good morning, Chase.” Ever the gentleman, he got up. “I’m glad to see you’re back safely from your trip. Did you find anything of interest?”
goopers
chase each other across the garden and up a tree, but my mind was a thousand light-years away. Finally, I turned back to the exhibition schedule on which I’d been working. Let him sit in there for the rest of the afternoon as far as I was concerned. And that had been what Alex wanted. But the truth was that I really needed to see the guy. So in the end, several minutes ahead of schedule, I marched in. He was sitting there, casually, on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, reading
The Antiquarian
, looking for all the world like a decent human being. He turned the magazine off and smiled pleasantly as I entered. “Good morning, Chase.” Ever the gentleman, he got up. “I’m glad to see you’re back safely from your trip. Did you find anything of interest?”
He asked it with such sincerity, with such innocence, that I was taken aback. I’d expected him to be at least mildly nervous. Or defensive. Something.
“Good morning, Mr. Korminov,” I said. “Alex will be down in a minute.”
The smile grew wider. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes,” I said. “In fact, we did find a few things.” I tried to harden my voice. To make it clear my answer was an accusation. But he wouldn’t bite.
“Excellent,” he said. “I’m delighted to hear it. Your message implied that there was a discovery that has something to do with
me
? Do I have that right?”
me
? Do I have that right?”
“You could probably say that. Alex will explain.”
“You don’t seem to want to give me a direct answer.”
“Not at the moment,” I said.
“I see.” He folded his hands. “Has this anything to do with—?” It was as far as he got before we heard footsteps on the stairs. His eyes shifted to the doorway, but somehow I held his attention. “Where did you go, Chase?”
“I was under the impression you knew.”
“No. How would
I
know?”
I
know?”
I smiled. Glanced out at the tree branches, which were swaying in a chill wind. “Well, I’m sure Alex will want to tell you all about it.”
He sighed, the victim of small-minded people, and turned away to watch the door open. Alex came in with a neutral look on his naturally amiable features. “Good to see you, Alex.” Korminov extended his hand. “I understand you have news of some sort for me. How’ve you been?”
Alex ignored the gesture. He glanced at me and propped the crutches against a table. (The doctors had assured him he’d be healed in another two or three days.) “I’ve been well, thank you.”
“Glad to hear it. Hurt your leg?”
“Nothing serious.” He lowered himself into a chair. Korminov’s attention was now focused exclusively on him. It was as if I’d left the room.
“I hate to rush you, Alex, but I
am
busy. Your message said you had something of importance to show me.”
am
busy. Your message said you had something of importance to show me.”
“Indeed I do, Walter. Chase, would you—?”
I retrieved the box and set it down on a table beside Korminov. He looked at it and frowned. “What is it?”
“Take a look.”
He opened it and looked down at a blaster. The frown deepened. He didn’t touch it. “Is this a joke of some sort?”
“It belonged,” said Alex, “to one of Petra Salyeva’s hired thugs. It’s all that’s left of either of them.”
“Petra
Who
?”
Who
?”
“Salyeva.”
“You’ll have to enlighten me.” He sounded puzzled.
Alex’s eyes reflected contempt. “Really?”
Korminov cleared his throat. Looked toward me. Looked away again. “Can we talk about this somewhere that’s a little more private?”
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