Great Kings' War (3 page)

"This Pennsylvania State trooper, after an interpenetration foul-up with another transtemporal conveyor, was able to subdue his Paratime Police host and was dislodged from the conveyor onto Styphon's House Subsector."

There was a murmur of appreciation for his feat. While most University professionals disliked the Paratime Police and their over-zealous regulations concerning outtime travel, they did appreciate their physical training and abilities.

Scholar Danthor stepped back from the podium and a 3-D image of a lanky Paratime Policeman in his green uniform seated in front of a table appeared on the visiscreen. "Here is a recent interview of Araln Folen, the Paratime Policeman who picked up Calvin Morrison and was being prepared for broadcast on the Dhergabar morning news show,
Newsworthy
. This has never been released for public viewing."

Sirna wondered how Danthor was able to access internal Paratime Police documents.
What would Paratime Police Chief Verkan do if he knew?
 

The familiar voice of Yandar Yadd filled the hall. "So, Officer Araln, what were the circumstances of your unexpected pick-up of Calvin Morrison?"

Araln looked sheepishly into the recording lens. "I had finished making a standard pick up on Europo-American, Confederate States Subsector, and was returning to Fifth Level Police Terminal when my conveyor merged transtemporal fields with another conveyor on an unscheduled jaunt to Third Level."

"Then what happened?"

"When the two fields juxtaposed there was a opening created in the transtemporal field—"

"Hold on a minute, Officer Araln, not all of our listeners are familiar with Paratemporal jargon. Just what is an opening in the time field?"

Using his hands, Araln continued, "When two conveyors pass the same spot their fields try to occupy the same time/space continuum," he paused to inter-twine his fingers. "This creates a transtemporal void, or opening. Any objects and/or lifeforms, including humans, that are in the immediate vicinity can be 'accidentally' picked up and deposited into one of the interpenetrating conveyors. This is what happened with State Trooper Morrison. Now you understand," continued Officer Araln, suddenly animated, "sometimes when two fields meet head-on there are a lot of collateral effects—the reactor engines, electronics, control panels, visiscreens get jumbled filling the conveyor with light displays and noise, so I wasn't even aware Morrison was there until he got the jump on me. I tried to shoot him with my needler, but he's fast—very fast. Instead, I ended up taking a slug to the shoulder."

Araln winced, and rubbed his shoulder. "Next thing I remember was I was back at Police Terminal Fifth Level with a medic giving me emergency treatment. I understand Morrison's drop on Aryan Transpacific has caused quite a fracas there, but I don't remember anything after he shot me. Just a shadowy gray figure and BAM! That's it."

"What's going on here, Yadd!" asked a familiar voice off-screen, which Sirna recognized as belonging to Paratime Chief Verkan Vall.

There were some hisses and catcalls from the audience.

"I'm just exercising my rights to question Officer Araln for a segment of
Newsworthy."
 

Verkan's not-so-happy countenance appeared on the screen. He was a tall man with a rangy body. He was wearing his Paratime Police Chief's green uniform and a Vandyke beard. "Yadd, you know full well this is a Police Internal Investigation and I'm going to have to confiscate that recording."

There was a string of Second Level curses from Yadd; a sudden yelp of pain and then the shot rotated showing a scowling Verkan Vall and the newsie being marched off-screen in a come-along hold by a big Paracop.

The visiscreen went blank. Danthor turned back to face the audience with a smirk on his face.

"I doubt very many of us," Dras continued, "would have reacted quite so decisively as State Trooper Morrison in an unexpected, strange and even frightening new environment. That he reacted as quickly and decisively as he did is a testimony both to his quick reflexes and training from the Pennsylvania State Police, which is one of the finer constabularies on that particular Europo-American Subsector.

"When Calvin Morrison dropped off the conveyor, he managed to land himself smack right in the middle of a war between the small Princedom of Hostigos and several of its neighbors, encouraged by Styphon's House, who wanted ownership of a sulfur spring on Hostigos territory—sulfur being one of the compounds that makes up the Fireseed Trinity. On Kalvan's first day, with the help of some locals, he managed to fight off a small sortie from one of Hostigos' enemies and won the love of the local princess."

Someone in the audience let out a whistle of appreciation.

"You do have to keep in mind that while this Fourth-Level policeman was certainly quick on the uptake, he also arrived at a point in time on Styphon's House Subsector where social and political events were coming to a head. That he was able to exploit them so quickly lends credence to Kalvan's initiative and survival skills. However, I do believe that certain personages in the Paratime Police and media have prematurely awarded a mantle of brilliance and superiority to Lord Kalvan, as he is called, that has yet to be earned. His superior knowledge of military tactics and technology is nothing remarkable coming from a man transplanted from a highly industrialized time-line and suddenly tossed onto a pre-industrial time-line.

"What is unusual was how quickly Kalvan realized that he was cast adrift in a 'world' not his own and how swiftly he responded to the situation he was thrown into. His successes in besieging Tarr-Dombra, an important border castle with neighboring Nostor, and defeating Styphon's forces at the battles of Fitra and Fyk demonstrate Kalvan's resourcefulness and military leadership abilities. So far his successes have been those of a second-class man triumphing over third class opponents."

There was a sigh of relief in the auditorium. Maybe Danthor wasn't a proponent of the Great Man in History theory after all, thought Sirna, nor of the University approved view of history as a course molded by vast, impersonal forces and Historical Inevitability.
Could it be that Danthor Dras was that rarity, a scholar who believed in letting the evidence stand on its own?
 

"The true test is yet ahead now that Styphon's House is awakened and is assembling a great army of their own, the Holy Host. Kalvan has awakened the sleeping giant and is about to get mauled. If he is truly the Great Man of his era, he has met his equal and accordingly, for the first time, we will be able to actually see a test, from the moment of divarication, of the Great Man in History Theory, and whether they truly make events happen, or are simply chosen to act out grander social impulses.

"Winning a few battles will not answer the question. Only a total victory over Styphon's House will be acceptable and that is yet to be seen. Let us see if Lord Kalvan—actually Great King Kalvan now—can decisively and profoundly change Kalvan's Time-Line—in comparison to the Kalvan Controls—before we pronounce him in the University and media as Kalvan the Great!"

There was a round of applause from the crowd. Danthor preened before the cameras and did everything but bow.

"The Kalvan Study Teams have their work cut out for them, but I am convinced that with my oversight the Study Teams will be able to find the answers to this question and other profound social issues. I will be joining the Balph Study Team on Kalvan's Time-Line from the Styphon's House Subsector time-line where I've been doing my previous research. My agents have laid the groundwork on Kalvan's Time-Line for a 'transfer' from Hos-Bletha to the Holy City of Balph where I plan to work in the Archives. Within a few years, I should be able to scale the hierarchy from Highpriest to Archpriest of the Inner Circle. My intimate knowledge of their personalities and peccadilloes from the neighboring time-line should aid in my progress.

"As head of the Aryan-Transpacific Academic Oversight Committee I will be in contact with the Hostigos and Harphax Kalvan Study Teams as time and events allow. Thank you all for attending and there will be further updates as we make our findings public." Dras waved his hand to indicate the lecture was at an end. Sirna had seen 3-Ds of Ptolemaic emperors with less panache!

Sirna marveled at her good fortune. She would not only be a member of the most coveted study team in University history, but also be there on Kalvan's Time-Line watching history in the making. Maybe in some small way she could be a part of that history.

As Danthor Dras began to pick up his materials and the audience began to leave, Sirna felt someone slip into the seat next to her. She had to repress her startle reflex when she recognized Hadron Tharn. Something about the cold way he eyed her made her feel like a cold piece of meat. Tharn himself was tall, with regular features, except for a sharp jaw that reminded her of a sturgeon's, and not the least bit physically domineering—until you looked into his eyes. They were the cold measuring eyes of a predator, one who feasted on human weakness.

Tharn grinned. "I'm sure you're wondering how you were selected by the Oversight Committee."

Sirna had a sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach. Her father had been a part of Hadron Tharn's political action group. Even worse her former husband was still working as one of Tharn's staffers. Hadron had an oar in every pond and stream in Dhergabar City. Tharn was also a big financial donor to the University, even though he himself had left the University some 10 years before in some hush-hush incident believed to be connected to a Paratime Code violation. Rumor had it only his sister's pull as a top Paratime Police official had kept Tharn out of the hands of the Bureau of Psy-Hygiene.

She knew that in this case the rumor was true, since her parents had told her about Tharn's antipathy towards both the Paratime Police and its current Police Chief, Verkan Vall—who happened to be Tharn's brother-in-law. And how Dalla Vall has interceded in Tharn's behalf with her husband...

"I was wondering how I was selected for the Study Team." She had the feeling she was going to learn both the how and why very soon.

"I had one of my 'friends' present your name to the selection committee," Tharn said with a smirk. "I need someone to represent the action group on the Team. Your name came to mind as the perfect choice."

"I don't understand..."

"I needed to have someone on the Kalvan Study Team I can trust to report any violations of the Paratime Transpositional Code committed by Chief Verkan"—Tharn fairly spit out the name—"or any of his minions."

That certainly confirmed there was bad blood between Tharn and his brother-in-law.

She thought of telling him to forget it, but the hard look in his eyes told her to keep her thoughts to herself. Of course, if she refused, she could also kiss her dream assignment good-bye.

"What do you want me to do?"

Tharn smiled as if he's just tasted a succulent morsel. "I want you to write nice little letters to your Uncle Tharn telling me all about your new assignment. I'll see that you have an ample supply of message balls. You just report what is going on at the Foundry— No, I guess you don't know. You and all the other Study Team members are coming in as Zygrosi and Grefftscharrer foundry workers and support personnel. I believe your job will be as pattern maker."

"I had no idea."

"You'll be briefed shortly, once all your inoculations are finished and the background check is completed. Don't worry, purely administrative wheel turning. Your appointment has been approved at the top."

"How do I let you know about any Transtemporal Contamination?"

"By using the transtemporal message balls that will go to the target area on Fifth Level. These will be well disguised so there's nothing for
you
to worry about."

Sirna felt her heart thump. Tharn had all the answers; there was no way out of becoming his spy unless she excused herself from the Study Team, which would effectively end her University career—and she wasn't suited for anything else. Sirna didn't even want to consider the consequences of defying Hadron Tharn; her ex-husband had told her some hair-raising stories about his insane displays of temper.

Typical of the man's arrogance, Tharn took her compliance for granted.

"This is the last time we can meet until the end of your assignment on Kalvan Prime. I know you'll do a good job for us."

Sirna nodded numbly. What a terrible end to what had started as the best day of her life... 

"What did you think of Scholar Danthor's little presentation?" Tharn asked.

Sirna shook off the black cloud descending around her. "Fascinating. He is the pre-eminent authority on Aryan-Transpacific."

"He certainly makes that claim. I need to talk with him."

Sirna shrugged. "I can't help you there. I'm an undergraduate. I don't even exist as far as a Scholar is concerned, much less a recognized authority such as Danthor Dras."

"He's been ignoring my calls, too," Tharn said with a pointed glare towards the lectern and speaker that promised future retribution.

After Dras left the podium, Tharn rose out of his seat, saying, "I'll be looking forward to your reports on Kalvan Prime. You know the drill. I'll expect a letter every ten-day. And a message ball every thirty days."

He turned and left, malevolence trailing behind.

Sirna shivered in spite of herself. She noticed how quickly even the most respected faculty members moved out of Tharn's way and the ingratiating greetings they made as he strode by, oblivious to one and all except Scholar Dras.

As Hadron approached the Scholar, even ten rows away she could sense the mutual antipathy. Hadron said something too softly for her to hear, but everyone heard Danthor's reply. "Tharn, I'll have no part of your business! I've said that before and I'll stand by it. And don't approach me again."

Again, Hadron Tharn said something too low for her to hear, but she could see the red blotches on Dras' face. "Stay away from me, or I'll have the University guard remove you."

Thank providence; Danthor hadn't noticed that Tharn had been sitting next to her, she thought
. I wonder what I've gotten myself into...