God, God, God. He could hear the engine now. And the gunfire was still going on out there.
If Tabini came here to repudiate the deal with Machigi, everything could collapse. If Tabini came here thinking he was going to deal with the Edi, he needed to know where Machigi was. It was a damned mess, was what it was.
He needed to haul his own aishid out of this and let them explain. Right now it was just Tano.
He thought about hitting the truck horn; but they might think he was in jeopardy and risk themselves trying to get back.
But atevi hearing. They were going, any minute now, to hear the bus. Hecould. They were going to know. There was only one motor in all Sarini Province that sounded like that.
He stood beside the truck and listened to Tano say words that made no sense, and all the while the situation was getting closer on both sides, and gunfire and heavier rounds were going off, the latter shaking the earth. Inside the bus, it was so damned soundproofed it was unlikely anybody heard it; but he couldn’t judge. It was getting hot here, getting closer to their position, and from his vantage he didn’t know how many of the Edi had gotten back here and how many were lagging back firing at the renegades or at Machigi. The whistles had stopped. The gunfire was steady.
“Do the others know?”
Tano gave him a troubled look. And then said, “Yes, nandi. One has called them. They are coming back.”
Back. Where in hell were they? Doing what?
He heard the whistles again from off in the woods. And gunfire. Andthe bus. He limped back to the side of the truck, to the front fender, where he had something of a vantage.
More whistles, increasing in complexity. The forest across the road was alive with it. And of all people they could reach with communications, the Edi were not on the list.
Damn, he thought. And heard an alarming burst of gunfire, and saw movement in the trees.
He was not in a good position. A shot kicked up the sand out in the road, and then a volley answered it. He retreated to the side of the truck and saw Lucasi leaning on the roof of the cab, with a rifle, and Tano, one-handed, similarly bracing himself with his sidearm.
He took out his own gun. Thumbed the safety off. More than his aishid had heard the bus.
The opposition must be hearing it. So, depending on distance, might Machigi.
The bus had taken the turn. It was coming up the road now, raising a column of dust above the trees.
A column suddenly interrupted.
“Nandi,” Tano said. “Guild is deploying. They instruct us to hold position.”
Hold position. There was no damned way they could move, except to run the truck straight through the Edi.
Who likewise knew that motor. The bus refueled and garaged in Najida village. They’d think it came from Najida estate. They’d hear it as allies moving in. They’d expect Guild under Cenedi’s orders.
Close. Close enough to let them use common sense. He heard the engine rev up again. It was coming.
“Nandi,” Tano said again. “Banichi has warned Machigi.”
Tano’s partner and Banichi and Jago were out there using short-range to reach Machigi—
spotting for them, it might well be. Doing a little damage of their own if they got the chance.
It made sense. But he wanted them out of there. They were, like him, like Tano, running on empty. They didn’t have it in them to move as fast as they needed, think as sharply as they needed. He wanted them back, dammit, before something happenedc
The bus came around the bend of the snaking road, full tilt, and applied the brakes. He stood staring at it as it sat there, huge, red and black, and shiny under a coating of dust. He couldn’t see through the window tint. But they’d see him.
Then a voice like doom thundered out: “This is a Guild operation. Guild forces are dispersed in the area. All civilians, cease fire and fall back behind this point, for your own safety. This is a Guild operation under the auspices of Tabini-aiji, under the law of the aishidi’tat. Cease fire and fall back to this position.”
Nobody in the woods could fail to hear that. He hadn’t known the bus had a loudspeaker.
He’d bought it already made from Shejidan, he’d ordered it in by rail, he’d traveled on it. He knew it had tinted windows, a refrigerator, and every passenger comfort. But he hadn’t known the driver had a loudspeaker. That was a surprise.
The strength just started to go out of him. The Guild wanted the damned fight? The Guild could have it. Just—if Tabini was going to take action against Machigi, he had to protest it.
He’d agreed to represent Machigi. He had to go do it.
He headed for the bus as the doors opened. He heard a racket behind him—Tano, getting down from the truckbed, his ears told him; but his eyes were for the bus door and the uniformed Guildsmen coming out of it. Tabini’s personal guard, those men.
Tabini came next, in immaculate black brocade, black lace at the cuffs—that pale gold stare that could convince a man he was a damned fool to argue.
He gave his own back, not about to start with any apology for what he’d done. He stopped at the requisite distance and gave a short, correct bow. “Nand’ aiji. One is grateful. One is also obliged to request your forces use caution. Machigi-aiji has engaged the Guild’s enemies.
One also—” He ran out of air, grew downright dizzy, damn the restriction of the vest. “—has Guild deployed in support of Machigi.”
Tabini said, expressionless, “And what outcome does Lord Machigi want?”
“He wants to ally with the aiji-dowager under the terms she has presented him. These terms are—” Another breath. He was aware of Tano at his back and another presence, which had limped there. Somehow Lucasi had gotten down from the truck and come with Tano. Now he heard another. He was not sure which one, but he did not breach etiquette to turn and look.
“These terms are that he take firm governance of the Marid as a whole. By the Guild action, he will hold that position. He will ally with the aiji-dowager in a trade agreement. He will shift his routes eastward. He will expect the Edi people—to become neighbors within the aishidi’tat. Under your governance. That is his position. The Marid—will be a member state—of the aishidi’tatc” Someone else had arrived at his back. Two sets of footsteps. They were all there. He got a breath. He was getting there. “One asks—one asks support—from your office.”
“We want you back,” Tabini said grimly. “And we have you, paidhi-aiji. You have delivered his position. Now, by the same antiquated custom, you represent us. And we want your uncompromised opinion. What do youthink we should do about Machigi?”
“One found him—intelligent. A strong leader. Sensible.” His heartbeat had been going strong. Now it began to get out of hand. “You should deal with him. He has problems in his district. Poverty. Traditions. The aiji-dowager—” He was going to need to sit down. He got a breath. Remembered he was standing there like a fool with a very illegal pistol in hand, dealing with Tabini, whose guard was hair-triggered. He wanted to put it back into his pocket, but any move with it could have Tabini’s guard reacting. He gave a little bow, having completely lost his train of thought. “Deal with him, aiji-ma. His paths go several ways from here. Be careful with him. Treat him well. I want to put this gun away, aiji-ma. I need to put the safety on.”
“Help him,” Tabini said sharply, and immediately Jago was on his right, taking the gun, and Banichi on his left with his hand inside his elbow.
“Get him on the bus,” Tabini said.
“I have not been injured,” Bren objected. “One is just a little dizzy, aiji-ma. One will do quite well—” They paid him no heed at all and took him toward the bus door. “Is the aiji-dowager safe?” he asked.