Shadows of Golstar (69 page)

She
nodded, “I am hopeful as well. I do not want to be forced into the contingency
plan.”

“Yes,”
he agreed. “It would best if the Patriarch was removed from power without
unnecessary complications. However, we have to face the possibility, we may not
discover the code in time. And should that happen…”

“If
that were to happen, then we must extract the information from the Grand
Patriarch himself. As he will not provide such information willingly, a deep
cerebral memory scan should provide the answer, eventually.” She sighed.
“However, the resulting brain damage will drastically alter his personality,
perhaps even render him catatonic.”

“I
know. It saddens me also. In his time, before his sanity deserted him, he was a
great leader and my friend. To reduce him to such a state would be regretful.
But I remain confident such a measure will not be required.”

“I
pray you are right.”

Talin
then turned to look at the antique clock sitting the mantle. “I should receive
word on the Outsider very soon now.”

● ● ●

Sharné
stood dumbfounded, looking at Owens in mute shock. Before she could say
anything, he entered the room, closed her door and threw the inner latch.
Turning back to her, he said, “Surprise.”

She
had not yet prepared for bed. She had been pacing her rooms, still agitated
after the brief audience with her father. She had answered the door, thinking
that it was her father, coming to provide her more bleak news. “Owens,” she
almost shouted, “what are you doing here? How did you get here?”

“It’s
a very short story,” he shrugged and then proceeded to describe the failed
kidnapping attempt.

When
he had finished, she asked. “You encountered no other guards? There was no one
in the hallways?”

“Not
a living soul,” he confirmed. “It looks to me like the corridors near my rooms
were deliberately cleared. My guess is it was done by an insider, somebody with
a hell of a lot of clout.”

Sharné
experienced a sudden feeling of queasiness. “You say they were dressed in
military uniforms?”

He
nodded, “Yeah. The way they entered, they were probably the genuine article, at
least at one point in time.”

Military
personnel were under the control of the Guardian of the Way. It was hard to
believe her uncle was involved with the failed kidnapping. Could it instead
have been an unknown faction within the military? Her attention returned to
what Owens was saying.

“…good
thing that instead of catching me by surprise, I caught
them
flatfooted.
I was lucky, real lucky. Still,” he absently rubbed his leg, “luck aside, it
was a little closer than I would have liked.”

She
looked at him in genuine wonder. “By now I should not be surprised. Owens, I
confess you never fail to amaze me.”

“Yeah,”
he agreed. “I’m kind of amazed myself.” He hadn’t told her about the advanced
warning he had received via the Controllers. He shrugged, “But my current
situation remains untenable. Although I escaped my cell, I’m still in prison.”

“I am
so sorry, Owens,” she looked down at the floor. “It is because of me that you
were imprisoned.”

“Well,
I can’t deny that you certainly played a role, but if not you, I’m sure your
father would have found someone else to do his dirty work. Look, I laid it on a
little thick during our little get-together with your father. I’ll admit I’m
not happy with your role in all this, but I can understand a little of why you
played it. Believe me, there are others who share a greater responsibility for
my being here. For one, my own beloved government was also a key player. It was
committed to satisfying Golstar’s request and a little thing like how I felt
about it didn’t enter into the equation. Believe me, their means of persuasion
are not so far removed from those of your father’s.”

She
finally looked up, her voice still pained. “But Owens, it was I who guided you
on the final leg of your journey. It was I who embraced and kissed you and yet
without a word of warning, allowed you to come here, to end up as a prisoner,
under the control of my father.”

He shook
his head, “No, sorry. One way or the other, with or without your participation,
you and I both know I would still have ended up here as your father’s special
guest. But,” he added, “at least your way was more fun.” He drew her,
unresisting into his arms.

After
lingering kiss, she looked up at him and said, “Even at a time like this, you
can still make light of the situation?”

He
nodded, “Especially at a time like this. It relieves a little of the tension
and Lord knows I’m feeling a little tense right now.”

Her
voice lowered, became serious, “Owens, I believed in the Way. It was faltering
before my eyes and I was told that you were the only one who could save it. But
all the while I was blinded to the underlying decay, the true reality of our
existence. The Founder’s pact… ”

“Hey,”
he put a finger to her lips. “Enough with the regrets; if there’s a later, save
it for that time. I’m here right now because I need your help and I don’t have
a whole hell of a lot of time. If you truly want to atone for your role in all
this, then help me now.”

“But
how can I help you? I do know the palace’s layout intimately, but even if we
were fortunate enough to escape the palace proper, its grounds and perimeter
walls are under close surveillance and foot patrolled. Escape is next to
impossible.”

He
noted the ‘we’ and said, “I’m not looking to escape, at least for the moment.”

“Then
why are you here? What is it that you believe I can do to help?”

“I
had a brainstorm on the way here. I want you to help me find the numerical
access code, the other half of the key to the Primes.”

She
stepped back from his embrace, “The numerical access code? Owens, I do not know
it. Please believe me, I would tell you if I knew.”

“I
already figured that and that’s not what I asked. What I want is for you to
help me
find
it.”

She
started to interrupt.

“Let
me finish, he said. “Remember what your father said. He all but gave us the
code. He said that the numbers were comprised of the birth and death dates of
the Founder’s parents and an aunt, in the order of their occurrence. You’re the
Keeper of the Way and to me it sounds like you’re fairly high placed within the
government. Surely, you know where documents can be accessed or can find them
through your position.”

She
shook her head sadly, “Owens, I am a descendant of the Founder, but even so, I
do not have a clue where to begin. The Founder’s,
our
family records are
not kept in public archives. To my knowledge, as the Keeper of the Way, not
even the official records contain the information. Over the generations, it has
been the tradition for each of the ruling families to keep their own records.”

Owens
frowned. “Surely there are other sources. Don’t you report births and deaths
through your public news media?”

“Of
course, but the ruling families are not required to certificate actual birth
and death dates. Personal physicians preside over such matters in private
clinics. Public hospitals and doctors are not generally used. Whatever the
families decide to provide for public consumption may or may not be totally
accurate.”

“Damn!”

“That
is not the real problem, Owens. The founder’s parents were born and died back
on old Earth. I believe his aunt died enroute, just before reaching Golstar.”

“Well,
then I guess that does it. No wonder your father volunteered the information.
He knew all along, there was no way to access it.”

“I am
afraid so,” she agreed. “Only the head of each ruling family appoints an
archivist from within that…” She stopped.

Owens
watched anxiously as she frowned in concentration. He asked, “What is it? Did
you think of something?”

“As a
matter of fact, I did. I may be able to find the information after all.” She
was smiling now. “Yes, I just remembered. I know our family’s personal
historian.”

“That’s
great,” Owens breathed in relief. “Who is it?”

She
replied, “My mother.”

● ● ●

Talin
fought conflicting emotions. He was torn between rage and incredulity. Moments
before, Captain Collins had contacted him with devastating news. Somehow, Janus
Owens had overpowered Collins and his men and managed to escape. Such news was
completely unexpected. The man had been unsuspecting, weaponless and
outnumbered. His heavy gravity physique notwithstanding, the element of
surprise alone should have assured their success. Yet he still managed to
overcome the odds.

Talin
looked over at Collins across from across his desk. The captain was trying to
stand at attention and not quite succeeding. He was obviously still not
recovered from the effects of the shocker. “Sit down Collins before you pass
out,” he snapped. The man nodded and collapsed into the indicated chair,
grimacing as he settled into the seat. “Do you have anything to add to what you
have just told me?”

 “No,
Guardian. As I stated before, he was waiting for us. Ledman, one of the two men
I left in the sitting area, said they were hit from behind. He swore that the
Outsider had flown. I had a chance to take a quick look at the room before we
left. The molding over the threshold was splintered. I surmise Janus Owens was
standing on it, waiting for us… the molding must have given way when he pushed
off.”

“So,
you are asking me to believe he was forewarned?”

“Yes,
Guardian, it is the only explanation that accounts for his actions. Instead of
taking him by surprise,
we
instead were surprised. He must have planned
his response well in advance. It was all over in less than a minute. I have
never seen anyone move so fast.”

Talin
asked, “How could he have been warned? Who could have possibly warned him?”

Collins
shook his head slowly. “I have no idea. I only know he must been; he was ready
for us.”

“Perhaps
it was one of your men?”

Collins
shook his head gingerly, “No, Guardian. They have been together since you first
notified me of your plan. They have neither had the opportunity nor the motive.

Talin
frowned at the man. “Very well, if it was anyone else, I might look for another
explanation. I might even suspect such a far-fetched story was concocted to
cover simple incompetence.” He watched Collins pale before his words.
“However,” he allowed a sigh to escape, “I know you well. Over the years of
your service, you have never failed an assignment… before now. I have therefore
no reason to question the validity of any of your statements.”

Collins
sagged further in the chair, obviously relieved. “Thank you, Guardian.”

“Oh,
do not thank me yet Captain. No, do not thank me. You did fail to complete the
assignment, the single most important assignment of your career. However, I
believe there remains a chance to salvage the situation. There is still
sufficient time to correct your failure. As the task you were assigned is
unfinished, it remains yours to complete. Do you not agree?”

“It
is my responsibility, Guardian. I will not fail you a second time.”

“Yes,
you certainly must succeed this time,” Talin replied grimly. “The penalty for a
second failure will not allow you to draw the breath for a third.”

“I
understand,” Collins voiced strongly. “I will recapture the outsider.”

The
Keeper allowed a small measure of warmth in his tone, “Very well, back to the
work at hand. Janus Owens cannot remain undetected for very long within the
palace. Eventually, he will be sighted by someone, someone who may not be party
to our endeavor. You will find him before that happens. However, to do so will
require a change in my plan. Listen closely; I want to have him recaptured
before six chimes.”
 
Collins leaned
forward, eager to make amends for his failure.

● ● ●

Owens
said in surprise, “Your mother? You’ve never mentioned her before. If she has
it, do you think she’ll be willing to give you the information?” He rubbed his
chin, “You know she’s going to ask why you want it. What do you plan to tell
her if she asks?”

“Owens,
my mother died as a result of a transport accident when I was a small child. It
was a very long time ago.”

“What?
Oh, I’m sorry. Then how…”

“I
know where she kept hard copies of the records and of a way to gain access to
them without anyone discovering. Nevertheless, we must be quick. I am sure that
a search for you has already begun. It will not be long before my quarters are
investigated. Follow me.”

He
had expected her to lead him out into the hallway, but was surprised when she
instead headed into another room, deeper into her residence. He followed her
and walked into a room with mirrored walls. At its center, was a large
crystal-topped dressing table with yet another mirror attached, this one oval,
with an ornate, gilded frame. Cosmetics and jewelry boxes were scattered
haphazardly across the table’s surface. She stopped and turned toward him.