Chung Kuo - The Marriage Of The Living Dark Part 15

"Forgive me, Governor," Zelic interrupted, stepping up to him, "but I think you ought to read this before you act so hastily."

Rogers blinked, then took the paper Zelic was holding out to him and impatiently began to read. He looked up after a while, his lips parted in surprise. Beside Zelic was another man, Rogers's own Master of Communications. Rogers looked to him, querying the genuineness of the paper. The man hesitated, then nodded. "If s real, sir. The codes match."

Slowly Rogers turned, facing Li Yuan, then, with an angry gesture, dismissed his men.

"It seems you are fortunate, Mister Li," Rogers said, crumpling the paper into a ball and throwing it aside. "Word is you've been recalled." "Recalled?""To Court," Rogers answered. "It seems your son-in-law requires your presence there ... as Advisor."

Li Yuan's laughter was brief and uncertain. "You jest?" "No," Zelic said, as Rogers turned on his heel and left. "I went to try to contact Boston and found that the message had come through an hour back. It seems they did not want to disturb the banquet. But if s true. Egan's ordered you home."

"Home?" Li Yuan jumped down from the table and walked over to him. "Home is Tongjiang. You mean Boston, Captain Zelic Boston, in America, not home." And with that he walked past, letting Chang hurry after him, ignoring Fei Yen's whining shriek as he pushed through the door, making for his rooms.

Mark Egan stood at the window of his private quarters, watching the cruisers set down, one after another, on the floodlit roof of the Kennedy Barracks, half a mile distant, while behind him, General Armstrong finished giving him the latest report from the front Armstrong himself had set down on that same roof only an hour back and had come directly to see him. The news he brought was bad, yet not as bad as it might have been. The good news was that the war with California was over. The bad was that an entire army had been captured and would be slaughtered to a man unless they came up with five billion dollars.

"So?" Armstrong asked. "Will you sign?"

Egan half-turned, conscious of the two princes in the room beyond the General. "Yes," he said wearily. "G.o.d knows where we'll find the money, but it must be done, neh? The alternative... Well, we all know the alternative." "I was surprised they agreed so readily," Armstrong said, candid now that the thing was done. "One more push and they could have been in Denver." "And after Denver?" Han Ch'in asked, coming over and standing by the General.

"No. Coover's no fool. He knows that SIEGE MENTALITY.

to win battles is one thing, to hold territory another. Besides, he has what he wants. Provided we guarantee the Rockies as a border between us, he'll keep the peace."

"And Harding?" Kuei Jen asked, looking up from where he cuddled the sleeping child. "Do you think Harding will go for this package? It will mean heavy taxes. He and many of his friends will suffer."

Egan turned, facing them all, looking in to the brightly-lit room, yet still conscious of the darkness of the night behind him. "He'll go for it, never fear. If 11 cost him, yes, but better to keep something than to lose it all, neh? And if we do not make this peace there's no clearer certainty than utter oblivion." "Even so," Han Ch'in said, "we must keep news of this secret for a day or two.

Until our forces are in place. When news of this breaks ..." All were silent a moment, then Egan spoke again, reaching out to embrace Armstrong, giving him a strong, manly hug.

"You've served me well, John, both on the battlefield and off. Be sure I'll not forget it" Armstrong laughed. "Be sure I'll not let you."

There was a sharp knocking at the door on the far side of the room. A young guard looked round the door, then came smartly to attention. "Yes, Douglas?"

"Your Chancellor is here, Master."

"Okay. Give me five minutes, then show him in." Egan looked to Armstrong. "We'll speak later, John. But tell Coover I'll meet him when and where he wants." Armstrong came to attention and bowed his head. "Sir!" Egan watched Armstrong leave by the side door, then turned, facing the two princes.

"You want us to leave?" Kuei Jen asked.

Egan shook his head. "No. Harding will find out soon enough, and I'd rather he heard direct from me."

"He'll not like it," Han Ch'in said.

"Whether he likes it or no, if s how things are from now on," Egan said, "so he'd best get used to it" The two princes looked to each other."You should take care," Kuei Jen said quietly. "It is not so much Harding as the faction he represents. Such a man cannot be dealt with as an individual. One must look to his friends .. ." Egan turned upon his wife, his irritation clear. "You seek to teach me statesmans.h.i.+p, Kuei Jen?"

"No ... no, my husband." He stood and, after setting the sleeping child down on a nearby sofa, came across to Egan and held his shoulders. "I merely wish to remind you. This is a critical meeting. You know that. So rein in your honest anger. See him not as a man, but as a colour."

"A colour!" Egan laughed, incredulous. "Kuei Jen, what in G.o.d's name are you talking about?"

"It is something that my tutor, Lo Wen, taught me long ago. Something I've always found useful. As a Prince one must deal with all manner of men. Some of them we will like instinctively, others we shall take an instant dislike to. That is quite natural. Unfortunately, such natural responses are inappropriate at the level on which we are forced to function. Personal feeling must always come second to political expediency, no matter the circ.u.mstance. In brief, it is not what a man is, in himself, that matters, but what he represents. Even so, that natural instinct remains and can sometimes colour our response, so it helps to consider each individual not as him or herself - a free agent, acting without responsibility - but as a colour; that colour symbolic of those views or that particular faction he represents."

"And Harding?"

"Pardon?"

Egan smiled. "What colour is Harding?"

Kuei Jen laughed. "Isn't it obvious? Harding is brown. s.h.i.+t brown."

Egan was still laughing when Harding was shown into the room. He looked about him and smiled, clearly wis.h.i.+ng to share the joke. "Master?" "Chancellor!" Egan said, rus.h.i.+ng across to take both his hands in greeting. "I am so pleased to see you. Earlier . .." He shook his head regretfully. "I was not myself... what I said ..."

"It doesn't matter," Harding said, continuing to shake Egan's hands. "Let all that be behind us, neh? We work together from henceforth." "Together," Egan echoed, grinning broadly. Then, turning, he put out an arm to indicate the princes. "You know Prince Han Ch'in, and my wife, Prince Kuei Jen." Harding turned and bowed. "Ch'un tzu," he said. "Good friends are welcome in such troubled times."

The words were unexpected. Taking his cue from his brother, Kuei Jen spoke for both of them. "From adversity comes strength. You can be certain that my brother and I shall give our full support to all your efforts, Chancellor." "It comforts me to think so," Harding answered, half-turning to summon his clerk. "But come. Let us catch up with the current situation. I have much to report, and a great deal to discuss."

"He didn't like it," Kuei Jen said when Harding was gone. "He concealed it well, but I could tell. He was too tense. And that smile..." "Was a mask," Han Ch'in agreed. "It was the one thing he hadn't counted on, Father coming back. It threw him."

"Yet he was open with us," Egan said. "I thought, perhaps, he'd avoid mentioning the meeting with Horton, yet he came clean. That speaks in favour of the man." "If his account of the meeting can be trusted," Han Ch'in said, somewhat sceptically. "He would have known, after all, that Security were tailing him." "Maybe so. But why should he lie?" Egan said. "As for the matter of your father's return... well, perhaps he was put out a little, but he'll come round, surely?"

Kuei Jen sighed. "I counted on him doing so, but now I'm not so sure." "He can accept us as Advisors," Han Ch'in said, "for we have never ruled. We were the seeds that never grew. But Father..." He shook his head. Egan closed his eyes. "Now you say."

"So we were wrong," Kuei Jen said. "The answer is simple. Let us leave our Father where he is. Contact Harding straight away and tell him that you've changed your mind."

"Too late," Egan said. "I sent the summons an hour back." "Then we must make the best of things," Han Ch'in said. "We must convince Harding that Father is no threat That he will have no greater say in Council than any other man."

"You think that will be enough?" Kuei Jen asked, facing his brother, his full, feminine shape contrasting strongly with the angular masculinity of his half-brother.

"It will have to be," Egan said, coming between them and laying a hand on each.

"But we must watch our brown friend carefully henceforth." "Our s.h.i.+t-brown friend ..." Kuei Jen said, and all three roared with laughter once again.

In the corner of the room, the young child, Egan's son, Samuel, conceived three years ago that day, stirred on the sofa and turned, putting his thumb into his mouth for comfort, his jet-black hair falling across his lidded eyes, while in the room behind him his future was decided.

Horton climbed from the bed and crossed the room, pulling on a gown before he answered the urgent beep of the vid-phone.

"What is it?" he asked, as Harding's face formed from the blackness. "Ifs as you said," Harding answered. "He appointed me Chancellor once again. Not only that, but he's appointed both the Han as his Advisors." "You see!" Horton said. "Didn't I tell you!"

"Yes. But all's not well, even so."

"Why?"

"He's recalled Li Yuan."

"Whaff'

"Ifs true. I checked myself. He sent the recall order an hour before he saw me."

"Without consulting you ..."

Harding nodded. "And yet it will seem as if I had a hand in it" Horton considered a moment, then made a sour face. "I don't like this. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d's up to something."

"Yes, but what?"

"Martial rule?"

"Mar ..." Harding's mouth opened like a fish. Now that Horton had said it, the fact stared him in the face. The recall of the armies; the appointment of close family to key positions; the use of Colonel Chalker to subdue the media. It all pointed to the same conclusion. "So what do we do?" Horton smiled. "You do nothing, Jim. Go home and go to bed."

"But..."

"Leave things to me. Okay?'

Harding stared at him uncertainly, then nodded. "Okay. But nothing that comes back to us."

"I promise." And with that Horton reached out and cut the connection. He turned, looking back at Russ, who was watching him from his bed. "What are you looking at?"

Russ smiled lasciviously. "You, you monster. Now make that call to Rogers, then come back to bed. I haven't finished with you yet!"

"Chay Shal Chay SM'

The urgent whisper woke him. For once it hadn't been in his dream. This time he woke surprised, not knowing where he was, nor even who it was who was calling him in so strange a manner.

"Wha...?" He sat and knuckled his eyes as a light came on in the room. "Quickly, Chay Shal" Zelic said, handing him his robe. 'There's no time to explain. We have to leave here now!"

He saw the guards at the door, their automatics drawn, and knew something was wrong. Maybe Rogers had had a change of mind about the incident Or maybe it was something else.

"Where's Fei Yen?" he asked, as he slipped on the robe. "Don't worry," Zelic answered, watching as Chang gathered up Li Yuan's essential belongings and bundled them into a bag, "my sergeant will make sure she's well looked after."

Li Yuan gave a little nod of understanding then, stopping only to glance around the room, followed Zelic out And stopped, staring down at the black-cloaked a.s.sa.s.sin who lay face down in the corridor, a loop of wire pulled tightly about his neck. He felt a jolt of surprise and looked to Zelic, but Zelic was already hurrying on.

"Come on, Chay Shal" he called back to him. "We've little time!" Zelic had stationed his guards at every junction along the way, the men joining them as they ran towards the monorail, falling in to form a tight formation about Zelic and Li Yuan. For a time it seemed that they had made it without incident, yet as they came to the last turn of the corridor that led directly into the terminal, they heard raised voices up ahead. There was a shot, and then a burst of rapid fire, followed by a single explosion. They had stopped at the first sound, the whole party dropping into a crouch. Now Zelic took control. "Green Two!" he barked, standing and waving six of his men through. "Go on ahead! Secure the entrance, then send a man back." They waited, out of sight of what was happening, tensed in the sudden silence. There was a shot A second. Then footsteps hurried back. A visored soldier waved the all clear.

"Quick now!" Zelic said, sending two further men ahead. "Okay," he said, looking to Li Yuan once more. "Let's go."

Around the turn of the corridor was a scene of carnage. There were great gaps in the walls, the edges scorch-burned. A dozen, maybe fifteen men lay dead, most of them mutilated by the blast From the look of it, one of Zelic's men had run at the defenders with a grenade.

Li Yuan glanced at Zelic, reappraising things. Whilst he had always casually a.s.sumed their protection, he had never wholly trusted them. But now he knew just how seriously they took his defence. Serious enough to lay down their lives. The thought gave him strength.

They ran on, picking their way over the bodies and through the great entrance, out onto the ma.s.sive concourse. The monorail was waiting, its doors open, a number of Zelic's men kneeling inside the carriages, their guns raised. But as he made to go across, Zelic took his arm and pulled him back. "No, Chay Sm. Over here. We're going up onto the roof."

"The roof?"

Zelic nodded. "They'll pick the monorail off in an instant. A cruiser makes a far more difficult target, neh?"

He followed Zelic across, into one of the RRs - the Rapid Risers - grateful that at least one of them was thinking straight "How did you know?" he asked, facing Zelic as the door hissed shut and the lift began to accelerate.

"I didn't," Zelic answered, watching the ascending numbers on the wall.

"Then you were lucky," Li Yuan said.

Zelic smiled. "I guess so."

Or d.a.m.n good at your job, he thought, liking the young man more and more by the moment "Why did you do that, by the way?" Zelic asked, looking directly at him.

"Do what? FVpr The smile came back. "You could call it that"

Li Yuan shrugged. "Because I'd had enough."

Zelic nodded. "I thought so."

As the riser slowed and weight returned to their bodies, Zelic took a large handgun from his belt He handed it to Li Yuan, then drew a second gun - a smaller stunner - from inside his tunic pocket "We may have to fight"Li Yuan nodded. The gun felt strange and heavy in his hand. Holding it, he realised that it was some years since he had held a weapon of any kind.

As the door hissed back, the cold night air hit them. They were on the roof, the darkness held at bay by the glare of arc lamps. "Sir!" someone yelled, to their right Looking that way, Li Yuan could make out the shape of a cruiser, its engines already warmed up and humming, its ramp open. Two guards stood at the top of the ramp, one with his arm raised. "Come on!" Zelic said, yet even as they began to run, an automatic opened up from somewhere close.

Li Yuan threw himself down. A moment later there was an explosion. "s.h.i.+t!" Zelic said, from where he lay face down beside Li Yuan. "Crawl toward the cruiser. And keep going. My men will try to pin them down, whoever they are."

There was a second rapid blast of gunfire, then the pop-pop-pop of a gas-launcher.

"Okay!" Zelic said. "Lef s go!"

He saw Zelic get up and begin to run, and began to do the same, but as he got to his knees, something warm and strong seemed to grab him from behind, lifting him up off his feet and throwing him forward.

Zelic woke and tried to sit up, but the pain in his head was too great. He could feel the vibration of the cruiser all around him, Wincing, he put a hand up to his brow. The bandage was wet "Soldier!" he called, keeping his eyes dosed. "ScMet?' Someone came across. He felt a hand touch his arm lightly. "Ifs okay, sir.

You're going to be all right."

"Brevitt?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where are we?"

"In the cruiser, sir. Heading north-east towards Fort Worth." "Ah ..." he swallowed painfully, his throat dry. As if sensing it, the young sergeant lifted his head gently, then held a cup to his lips. He drank gratefully. "And Li Yuan?"

There was a pause. "I'm afraid he didn't make it, sir." "Didn't..." The enormity of it hit him like a hammer blow. He had failed. Better to have died back there than this. He groaned.