Foreigner - Inheritor. Part 20

"What are you talking about? What are you talking about, Bren? That are you talking about, Bren? That we're we're the enemy, now the enemy, now?"

"I'm saying call Shawn!"

"I'm saying Shawn's number doesn't work anymore and the police won't answer our emergency calls, Bren, try that one! You're not d.a.m.n popular, and they're taking it out on my family and our mother!"

"Wrong. Wrong Wrong, Toby! It's not the whole island, it's a handful of crawling cowards that on a bright day -"

"These are our neighbors, neighbors, Bren. These are my Bren. These are my neighbors neighbors that aren't speaking to me, people I've known for ten years that aren't speaking to me, people I've known for ten years!"

"Then get yourself a new set of friends, Toby!"

"That doesn't work for mama, Bren, that doesn't work in the building she's lived in for all these years and now they don't want her any more. What does that do do to her, Bren? What do you say to that to her, Bren? What do you say to that?"

"It's a rotten lot of people you've fallen for."

"What are you talking about? What are you talking about, Bren? I don't understand you. " are you talking about, Bren? I don't understand you. "

He grew accustomed to silence on his feelings. He was a translator, a technical translator, by necessity a diplomat, by cooption a lord of the atevi a.s.sociation. And he spoke out of hurt and anger on the most childish possible level, maybe because that was the mental age this argument touched, the last time he and Toby had had accessed what they felt. Toby had moved out to the coast. He'd thought then, and still thought, it was to put s.p.a.ce between Toby and their mother. accessed what they felt. Toby had moved out to the coast. He'd thought then, and still thought, it was to put s.p.a.ce between Toby and their mother. He'd He'd gone into University, and apt.i.tudes had steered him toward what the job was supposed to be, which hadn't been this. gone into University, and apt.i.tudes had steered him toward what the job was supposed to be, which hadn't been this.

"Tell mama I love her," he said, and hung up on his brother.

That little click of the receiver broke the vital connection, and he knew there wasn't a way to get it back. The training didn't let expression reach his face. The training didn't let him do anything overt. He just sat there a moment, with an atevi lady's office coming back into focus around him, and the sounds of the party going on above the silence that click had created, and with the knowledge he had to get up and function with very dangerous people and go be sure Jase was all right.

And he had to finish his talk with Ilisidi, somehow, get the wit organized to regain that mood and that moment and do his job.

If you couldn't do anything about a vital matter, you postponed it. You put it in a mental box and shut the lid on it and didn't think about it when there was a job to do.

And once he'd done that, d.a.m.n it! He was mad at Toby, who knew knew things about the government Toby could have told him, critical things, and Toby hadn't, wouldn't, no matter whether peace or war could hinge on it. Toby's peace was unsettled, Toby's life was put out of joint, Toby came at him with things about the government Toby could have told him, critical things, and Toby hadn't, wouldn't, no matter whether peace or war could hinge on it. Toby's peace was unsettled, Toby's life was put out of joint, Toby came at him with personal personal grievances of a sort the family had once known to keep away from him - which Toby could have been man enough to hold to himself this week and handle, dammit, since there wasn't and wouldn't be anything he could do from where he was. grievances of a sort the family had once known to keep away from him - which Toby could have been man enough to hold to himself this week and handle, dammit, since there wasn't and wouldn't be anything he could do from where he was.

But it had been a succession of weeks. Toby was getting tired of holding it.

Jago appeared in the doorway. She had her com in hand. Had been using it, he thought, maybe even following the conversation via a relay from the foyer-area security station. Surveillance here, in these premises, was always close, and lately it was overt, just one of those jobs his staff did to be up on things without having them explained.

Sometimes that was a good thing.

"The aiji is aware, nadi-ji."

Not Bren-ji, not the familiar; but the still-remote formal combined with the personal address. Jago was being official. He was grateful for the professional distance. It was a d.a.m.n sight more consideration than his brother managed.

"My man'chi," he said, going to the heart of what he was sure would worry atevi, "is still to the office and the aiji, nadi. You may tell him that."

"He wishes to speak to you, but cannot leave the breakfast room without notice nor speak to you intimately there. He says, through your security, that though he has said so before, now he urges your acceptance of his offer: at any time of your choosing, you may bring your household to the mainland and he will establish a place and lands for them, nadi-ji, as fits the house of a man of your stature. If you ask, he will make strong request to the Mospheiran government to secure their immediate pa.s.sage across the strait, with all their goods and belongings. He is aware of the demands of those of your house, and your difficult position, nadi-ji, and is willing to take the strongest action to secure their safety."

"Tell him -" The last time Tabini had moved to secure something from the Mospheiran government, he had threatened to shoot Deana Hanks if they didn't get him him back in twenty-four hours. Tabini's offer was not without international consequences. And not without force behind it, though he didn't know what human official Tabini could tell them he'd shoot this time. "Tell him I am grateful. Tell him - I hold his regard as the most important, even -" He almost said - above my family's good opinion; and knew that circ.u.mstances and duty had made it true. Now anger and bitter hurt almost confirmed it. "Even above my life, nadi. Tell him that. And I will come back to the gathering when I have composed myself, which should be only a moment." back in twenty-four hours. Tabini's offer was not without international consequences. And not without force behind it, though he didn't know what human official Tabini could tell them he'd shoot this time. "Tell him I am grateful. Tell him - I hold his regard as the most important, even -" He almost said - above my family's good opinion; and knew that circ.u.mstances and duty had made it true. Now anger and bitter hurt almost confirmed it. "Even above my life, nadi. Tell him that. And I will come back to the gathering when I have composed myself, which should be only a moment."

"I shall tell him that, nadi."

Jago was gone from the doorway, then, giving him the grace of privacy, but he was sure she'd gone no further than the hall outside to relay the message. And to achieve that composed manner he tried to widen his focus, to remind himself how very much was at issue, for three nations counting the s.h.i.+p Jase represented; and what a very extraordinary honor Tabini had offered him.

It was done for state reasons, he had to remind himself. For the same d.a.m.n reasons of state that had put him in the position he was in.

He'd hung up on his brother.

And wouldn't be home.

Fact. Fact. Fact. There was nothing that could change it, nothing that would get the barrier between peoples down any faster than the things he was doing. So it was two deep breaths and back to work.

He got to his feet and walked out into the hall, where as he expected, Jago was waiting; and where, in the distance, the television interviews were going on, with a scatter of the guests down there in the bright lights. He walked with Jago back into the crowded breakfast room, in which alcohol and alkaloids as well as the sweets were beginning to be a factor and the simple noise of conversation was beginning to sound like the subway below the building. Jase was still safe where he'd left him; and, not willing at this moment to talk to Jase or answer human questions, he tended toward Tabini, who was with Damiri, with Banichi, too.

Tabini's regular security was at the moment hovering much closer to Tatiseigi, who was talking to Ilisidi.

"Aiji-ma," Bren said quietly with a slight bow. "I heard your generous offer. I will present it at my first opportunity, but -" His wits unraveled. "I don't know how to persuade them, aiji-ma. I wish that I could."

"It seems to me," Damiri said, "that this is a trap, nand' paidhi. They wish wish you to become concerned and to go there. This attack on your mother's residence is not unrelated to this pressure on the a.s.sociation and the outrageous behavior of your government. I even suspect the death of Jase's father, but I know no design to make of it." you to become concerned and to go there. This attack on your mother's residence is not unrelated to this pressure on the a.s.sociation and the outrageous behavior of your government. I even suspect the death of Jase's father, but I know no design to make of it."

He felt himself increasingly in shock, and willing willing to make patterns where possibly none existed. He dealt with atevi. And to the atevi mind there were patterns he could see, too, dire and threatening patterns; but he dealt so deeply in the language now he feared his own suspicions. "I know none, either, daja-ma, but I shall certainly think deeply on it." to make patterns where possibly none existed. He dealt with atevi. And to the atevi mind there were patterns he could see, too, dire and threatening patterns; but he dealt so deeply in the language now he feared his own suspicions. "I know none, either, daja-ma, but I shall certainly think deeply on it."

Another person moved up to speak to the aiji, a lord of the northwest coast, who was clearly waiting his turn, and he was, he decided, done with the things he could say. To be replaced was at the moment a relief from having to think in atevi complexity. He moved aside with the due and automatic courtesies - And encountered lord Badissuni.

"Nandi," he said.

"Nand' paidhi." The thin, unhappy lord looked sternly down at him. "Your security, one wishes to say, is highly accurate."

What did one say? His heart was racing. "They are are Guild, nandi." Guild, nandi."

"Two of you, now," the lord said. "Does Hanks speak for you?"

"By no means, nand' Badissuni. I disapprove of her adventures and she wishes me dead."

"So one hears," Badissuni said. "7s this faster-than-light a lie?"

"No, nandi."

"Will this s.h.i.+p fly?"

"I have no doubt, nandi. There is no no deception." deception."

"One was curious," Badissuni said, and strayed off without another word.

More than d.a.m.ned curious. People were staring at him. He had the feeling he'd been used for display. A political prop. Talk to the paidhi. Be seen to talk to the paidhi. As he'd been seen seen to talk with Tatiseigi and everyone else available. He didn't see Jago. He didn't think she'd approve his being used; and perhaps neither would Tabini, who'd nevertheless invited the man. to talk with Tatiseigi and everyone else available. He didn't see Jago. He didn't think she'd approve his being used; and perhaps neither would Tabini, who'd nevertheless invited the man.

He retreated to the corner next to the doorway, next to a porcelain stand for abandoned drink gla.s.ses, where Jase, drink in hand, stood talking with his security, Dureni.

"What was that that?" Jase asked. "Is anything wrong?"

A flash of dark and pale green advised him of someone of the house beside him, and he turned to find lord Tatiseigi himself under Ilisidi's relentless escort, bound past them, he was sure, toward the interview area just outside.

"Everything all right?" Jase asked, and in that sense, yes, he was relieved to think.

Then something popped.

Security moved. Everyone Everyone moved. Tatiseigi and Ili-sidi were in the doorway and he didn't think - he just shoved Jase to the floor as Jase was diving toward lord Tatiseigi in the doorway. moved. Tatiseigi and Ili-sidi were in the doorway and he didn't think - he just shoved Jase to the floor as Jase was diving toward lord Tatiseigi in the doorway.

Lord Tatiseigi continued to the floor along with others diving of their own volition - Bren was down, half sheltered by Dureni; everyone was low; and an apparently unarmed security around the aiji had turned into a crouched, gun-bearing battle-line.

"A lightbulb exploded!" someone shouted from the interview area beyond the door, where indeed a deep and startling shadow had fallen. The lily room burst into relieved laughter, and more laughter, amid a murmur of disgust from Dureni and an apology as Dureni hoped he hadn't hurt him.

"By no means," Bren said, accepting a hand up.

Jase, meanwhile, was in very intimate contact with a very offended lord Tatiseigi as lights flared in the doorway, and the television cameras, a live broadcast, swept over the confusion, Tatiseigi, struggling to rise - and Jase, who got to his feet with more agility.

"Nandi," Jase said faintly, edging backward, attempting to efface himself. But the camera tracked him relentlessly as the doc.u.mentary reporter with a microphone turned up at Jase's shoulder.

"Nand' paidhi," the reporter said, "an exciting moment."

"I think dangerous," Jase answered quite correctly, and Bren reached him, seized his arm, and propelled him back out of the spotlight, as lord Tatiseigi also escaped the cameras. "He wishes to convey his apology, nand' Tatiseigi, and his profound concern." He didn't mention that the fall had happened partly because Tatiseigi had shown no reluctance to trample others underfoot reaching the door; and Jase had, indeed, tried to carry an adult ateva to the floor to protect him.

"Certainly it might have been more serious," Tabini said. In the tail of Bren's eye, Tabini came walking cheefully in among those who had hit the floor, including a wryly amused Ilisidi, whom Cenedi was helping to her feet. "Grandmother-ji?"

"Certainly an exciting party," Ilisidi said, and the cameras were still going in the doorway. "What for dessert, nandi?"

There was general laughter. And Tabini, never slower than his grandmother, as the camera's glaring eye carried it across the continent: "Nand' Tatiseigi! Good, good and fast! Our first line of defense, and d.a.m.ned well restrained, I say, of the lord of the Atageini, or there'd be be no cameramen standing. My father used to call you the best shot in the valley, did he not, nandi?" Tabini waved his hand at the cameraman in the doorway. "Out, out, nadiin! You and your exploding lights! Take them out, no cameramen standing. My father used to call you the best shot in the valley, did he not, nandi?" Tabini waved his hand at the cameraman in the doorway. "Out, out, nadiin! You and your exploding lights! Take them out, out out! You've seen the lilies! You've leaned over our shoulders long enough, you! Let us enjoy our evening!"

That was the aiji's word. The aiji's security intervened more directly, and the lights on which the r cameras relied went out, all at once; someone had gotten the fuse. Lights died, cameras retreated.

Bren realized he had a death grip on Jase's arm and let go.

"It's all right," he said to Jase in Mosphei'.

But Jase retorted in Ragi, "I thought they were shopping."

There was an immediate and embarra.s.sed silence. Then laughter from those in earshot.

"Shooting," Jase said, and went red. And fled out the door and hardly got out of sight before security bounced him back, angry and confused.

Lord Badissuni, disheveled and distraught, sat in a chair by a potted plant and looked overcome, possibly with premonition, or a recollection of gunfire.

"It's all right, Jase," Bren said. "You did all right."

"Toward the Atageini," someone near them had remarked. "Did you note that? Toward the Atageini, would you think so?"

Lord Tatiseigi himself was talking and joking, albeit shakily, with Ilisidi, and with Damiri. Tabini was talking with the Minister of Defense, in a very serious mode; and madam Saidin went over to the lord of the Atageini, as did others, to express their hopes that he was unhurt.

Likely the news service was embarra.s.sed, too, and frightened. "Jago-ji," Bren said, "one wishes the news services to mention the matter in a good light. Tell nand' Saidin so."

"One understands," Jago said, and moved over to speak quietly with madam Saidin, who nodded, looked toward her lady's human guests, and then took herself outside, where he trusted Atageini diplomacy was well up to the task of rea.s.suring the reporters. Jago went there, too, and then Cenedi, and Naidiri, of Tabini's personal guard.

Jase was very quiet. But Jago came back to say that the camera crew was greatly rea.s.sured. "We're putting junior security in charge and offering the camera crew the formal dining room. Nand' Saidin has ordered trays of food and drink and asked them not to cross the security perimeter. Nand' Naidiri has a.s.sured them of the aiji's good will and suggested an interview with the Atageini."

The adrenaline that had been running began to settle down. The television coverage had been scheduled to go on only another half hour. It was a consequence of the evening that the lord of the Atageini had not gone on television in in the historic apartment, the historic apartment, in in his planned interview regarding the lilies, but there might have been worse consequences, and his planned interview regarding the lilies, but there might have been worse consequences, and no no one could be at fault for a bad bulb and the reaction in a roomful of hair-triggered Guild. one could be at fault for a bad bulb and the reaction in a roomful of hair-triggered Guild.

Lesser lords and dignitaries began to come to speak to the paidhiin, and one, Parigi of some western towns.h.i.+p, asked the delicate, the almost unaskable question, "One did remark, nand' paidhi, that the paidhiin moved to protect the house."

He'd moved because he thought Jase didn't know the danger; and Jase had dived for the Atageini probably because he'd had it dinned into him how important Tatiseigi was. Maybe it did did say something to atevi how Jase had thought instantly to protect the Atageini lord. But it didn't say at all what atevi thought it did. say something to atevi how Jase had thought instantly to protect the Atageini lord. But it didn't say at all what atevi thought it did.

"He doesn't speak fluently, nand' Parigi, but I think it startled everyone. And Jase-paidhi knew lord Tatiseigi might be intended; remember we're human and draw no conclusions about man'chi - we often startle ourselves with man'chi, isn't that what they say in the machimi?"

"Certainly it startled me," lord Parigi laughed. "And my daughter, who's plagued me for a year to attend a court party, was quite sure we were in in a machimi ourselves - perhaps a little more excitement than we country folk are used to." a machimi ourselves - perhaps a little more excitement than we country folk are used to."

He could almost relax with such people. And with the good will offered. "Is this your daughter?" She was at the gawky stage, all the height, not enough weight yet: all elbows and knees. But excited, oh, very. "I'm very greatly honored. Nand' Jase, this is the - eldest?

Is it the eldest? Daughter of lord Parigi. Caneso, do I remember correctly? From -"

"Laigin, lord paidhi." The young lady was delighted to be addressed by someone technically a lord, but not landed; and he chose not to notice the gaffe at all: refres.h.i.+ng that an ateva could mistake such a thing.

"And this is your first time in Shejidan?" Jase asked her.

If anything, spirits were higher, the alcohol went down faster, and when a (fortunately not historic) gla.s.s dropped and broke on the tiles, there was laughter. The teenager laughed when she saw others laughing, and her father found occasion to steer her away.

"For a party on this floor," Ilisidi said, coasting by, "this is riotous and unrestrained. It will never never equal harvest dances in Malguri. - Ja-son-paidhi, Tatiseigi will survive the rescue." equal harvest dances in Malguri. - Ja-son-paidhi, Tatiseigi will survive the rescue."

"Is the lord angry?" Jase managed to ask for himself, and remembered to add, "Nandi?"

"He will recover, I say." One didn't - ever - press Ilisidi on first acquaintance, even if one did limp through the language, and Ilisidi's reply was curt and less delighted. "Come, Bren-paidhi, I will make you make amends for your importunate a.s.sociate." The latter as she caught Bren by the arm and drew him, perforce, with her.

"I should keep Jase in sight, nand' dowager."

"Oh, he's there." Ilisidi took him, to his dismay, to Tatiseigi himself. "Indulge his lords.h.i.+p, who wishes to ask you direct questions."

"I do no such thing," Tatiseigi muttered, and it might have been time to beat a retreat, or it might be the worst time to do so. Ilisidi did not play pranks on this scale. And Ilisidi, d.a.m.n her, was off and escaped from the confrontation.

"Nandi," Bren said, and bowed and searched the bottom of his resources for compliments. "Your quickness and your forbearance with a young and mistaken person were very apparent to everyone."

"His foolishness was apparent apparent, nand' paidhi!"

"He cast himself between you and expected harm, knowing your great importance to the aiji. Unfortunately - he lacks the grace and the ma.s.s of the Guild."

"Importance to the aiji, is it, nadi? With my niece in bed bed with the upstart of Taiben! And the dowager no better - attaching herself to humans and astronomers." with the upstart of Taiben! And the dowager no better - attaching herself to humans and astronomers."

"I fear my regard in your eyes must be far less, then, since I regard the people you name with great respect and must defend them."

"Humans! Makers of machines! Polluters of the good air! Defilers of the land! The ether of s.p.a.ce itself isn't safe from you!"

"Not defiled by my my work, nandi. work, nandi. Not Not by my work." The lord of the Atageini had raised his voice to him. He came back in kind, which might be a misjudgment, but the dowager apparently got along with this man, and Ilisidi backed up for no one. "I hope for the good of atevi by my work." The lord of the Atageini had raised his voice to him. He came back in kind, which might be a misjudgment, but the dowager apparently got along with this man, and Ilisidi backed up for no one. "I hope for the good of atevi and and humans to come from the work I do, lord Tatiseigi. So does Jase, who humans to come from the work I do, lord Tatiseigi. So does Jase, who wears wears no bulletproof vest. Good no bulletproof vest. Good evening evening, nandi."

Tatiseigi went so far as to seize his sleeve. Unprecedented, and commanding his attention at a disadvantage of size and strength. Atevi eyes reflected, catching the light just so, and Tatiseigi's s.h.i.+mmered gold.

"Defilers, I say."