The Novida Code (16 page)

The prince opened the door of his suite and addressed his guards in Efeghian: “We're going out in my shuttle. Do not follow us.”
  Then he turned back to us: “Come with me, ladies.” He was a good actor. As for me, my hands were trembling but I was ready to press the button if Lauren gave the order.

We followed him in silence to the take-off area, where we came up against a security block. The guards were very nervous about letting the prince leave without his escort and wanted confirmation from Commandant Amar. Lauren gently took the prince's arm and simpered: “Is there a problem, my dear?”

The prince stared down at her. Lauren was giving him a sweet, diffident look. There was no way the guards could have known that she was in fact threatening the prince, reminding him that his life was in danger. For the first time, I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He was beginning to get the measure of the real Lauren and to grasp what she was capable of. He turned to the guards,

“
Do you need someone's
permission
to allow me to get into my shuttle?” he asked icily.

“
But Commandant Amar…”

“
Is my inferior”, the prince interrupted. “And I'm the person who gives the orders. If you feel you need to consult my superior, you'll have to speak to the Emperor on Efeghea. Do we really need to take it that far?”

“
No, of course not, Your Highness”, replied the guard, moving out of our way.

The prince led us to his shuttle and took us aboard. There, I began to relax. For the first time, I allowed myself to think that we might perhaps survive that day.

The prince started the take-off procedures and the shuttle lifted off. Lauren remained at his side, giving him instructions. We were to begin with a tour of the city, and then veer off and leave town as fast as possible. My sole function was to be ready at all times to press the button on the neuro-inductor. But that task was the most important. It was only the certainty that we wouldn't hesitate to kill him that enabled us to control the prince. If he sensed the slightest hesitation on my part, all would be lost.

The prince steered the shuttle in the direction Lauren had given him. Suddenly, the communicator screen lit up, and Amar appeared in front of it, with Oniar and Olden beside him.

“What is happening, Your Highness? Why are you heading away from the town?”

I came up behind the prince and laid my hand on his shoulder: “What's happening is that we've kidnapped your prince right under your nose, Amar!” I replied with a smile. I saw Amar blanch and Olden's eyes popping out of his head with horror. Oniar said nothing and simply gazed at Lauren, who remained silent, beside the prince.

The masquerade was over.