Strong winced. “Yeah, that made me look pretty foolish. Trawling for excuses. Squirming to get off the hook for things I said. Of course, what’s frustrating is-it’s true.”
Hamish sat up. “You mean you really were-”
“Poisoned? Oh, yes. I have very solid basis for saying that my aberrant behavior was triggered by a mind-altering substance someone slipped into my food, just before that first outburst.”
“Poisoned.” Hamish took a moment to absorb this. “Your health… were you harmed in other-”
“No. I’m still Strong-as-a-Bull-Standing.” The legislator laughed harshly. “It was all psychotropic and temporary, I’m told.”
Hamish nodded eagerly. “This is great news. It makes you a victim. Of course, some of those things you said… well, they cannot be un-said. You’ll never win back the Aztlan or Medi vote, for example. But there’s an Algebra of Forgiveness, Senator. The biggest part of your base, especially the First Nations… they’ll come back, if you can prove it all happened because you were drugged.”
Crandall Strong frowned. “I know that. Alas, it’s not so simple.”
No kidding, Hamish thought. That’s when someone calls me, instead of the cops or security companies.
“Go on, sir. Tell me what you know.”
“It’s plenty. For example, backtracking vid images of last Tuesday, I can be pretty sure when the substance was slipped to me, before a luncheon speech about urban congestion and mass transit in Rapid City.”
“Well, that’s a start.” Hamish nodded. “If you don’t want the feds involved, or Darktide, I know some investigators without apparent political ties and who never joined the Cop Guild. They’ll discreetly analyze every viewtrack and find out who-”
The senator shook his head. “My own infoweb aide already did that, using top-notch surveillance aiware. We know who it was and how he did it.”
“Wow. Then why-”
“In fact, not only is the perpetrator right there, on the vid tracks, but he got in touch with my office, later, to boast and make threats.”
This made Hamish straighten, his back stiff. He blinked a couple of times. “Of course the fellow could just be a braggart, taking credit after the fact. You have to supplement that with means, motive, opportunity…”
“All of which he supplied! I’ll give you a copy. Hell, it’s a g-damn confession!”
“But… but then, why don’t you act on all this? File charges! Clear your name.”
Strong plopped into the bison-hide chair. His brow furrowed. “We plan to do that in a week, maybe two…”
“Why wait?” Then Hamish answered himself. “Because of the threats.”
“Exactly. My poisoner is blackmailing me.”
“Hm. Those two crimes seldom come together. You don’t have to tell me what he’s holding over you-”
“I’d tell you if I knew! It’s about the missing piece of information.”
“The missing- Ah. You mean what the poison was. How it made you behave that way.”
“Right! That’s what the perp is using to blackmail me!”
“I don’t follow-”
“If I prosecute, or take any reprisal, the poisoner will publicly reveal the substance he used against me.”
Hamish stared. “I don’t get it.”
“My reaction too! How could that matter? You mentioned the Algebra of Forgiveness, Mr. Brookeman. There are circumstances that mitigate almost any life mistake, and being a victim stands near the top. Yes, some damage will linger. As you put it, words can’t be unsaid. But much will be forgiven if folks know a mind-altering substance triggered my tirade. And this fellow-Roger Betsby-will suffer massive legal-or private-retribution. Yet he’s smugly sure he holds a winning hand!”
“Because he might reveal what drug he used? That alone?”
“Just that.” The senator leaned forward, elbows on his desk. “Can you see why I turned to you?”
Because imagination is my strong suit, Hamish thought. That, plus a fierce dedication to the Cause. For the first time, he felt some enthusiasm. Unlike his latest book-to-movie project, this problem looked like a worthy challenge.
“I can make some calls. Investigators and technical people who have a knack for the unusual…,” he murmured, ruminating.
“Discreetly.”
“With utter discretion, Senator.”
“Good.” Strong stood up and began to pace. “Then I’ll hold back for a week. More, if you need time.”
“It won’t be me doing the legwork, you understand?” Hamish cautioned. “I have many commitments. But I’ll set a team in motion and I’ll supervise, making sure they’re thorough.”
“Fine, fine,” the senator said curtly. His ebullient mood seemed to slip away. “Of course there are layers. Betsby must be the tip of a bigger spear aimed at the heart of our Movement! There are so many forces hoping to disrupt our fragile civilization! We offer hope, but they’ll do anything to block us!”
It was time to leave. Strong had a reputation for indignant rants, poison or no poison. “Naturally, we hope for an age of-”
“Just look at the last hundred years! From exhilaration, after the defeat of Hitler, then the end of the Cold War… to the Japan and China shocks… through the Great Heist, then Awfulday and the Big Deal… has there been a single moment when we could pause and take stock? Evil keeps changing its face! But the aim remains-”
Hamish stood up. “I’ll keep in mind the possibility of something organized. Conspiratorial.” But the words were automatic. An investigation team was taking shape in his mind… along with a provisional cost estimate. Of course, when it came to matters of political power, price seldom mattered.
Suddenly affable again, Strong came around the desk and took his elbow. “Then, I can be at peace.” Only then, at the door to his office, the senator stopped Hamish.
“There was a time, in living memory, when this nation bestrode the planet like a titan. Sure, it committed crimes-humans do that, when immature people get pumped with ego and power. Most of the nine hundred tribes, ethnicities, and nations who now make up America suffered at its hands, at one time or another. My own ancestors, especially! Yet, faced with such temptations, what mighty power racked up a better ratio of good to bad deeds? Rome? Britain? Any other ‘pax’ power? Or the Chinese today, as they stomp across the globe, throwing their weight around and talking about their solar system, polluting virginal planets with robot probes and claiming everything in sight? If that manned expedition of theirs succeeded…”
“Amen, Senator. Now, if you’ll just have your assistant provide me with all that information about the poisoner-”
“Or the so-called Earth Union,” Senator Strong spat the term, “conspiring to snare us all into a world government, with ten times the stifling bureaucracy-”
“Though, of course, the EU has its uses,” Hamish could not stop himself from pointing out. They do a good job of regulating the most dangerous-”
“Uses! The EU!” Strong pronounced it “ew!” He let go of Hamish’s arm, at last, and swiveled about, his eyes fierce. “You’re close to the Prophet, aren’t you? Then make something clear to him, Brookeman. Tell Tenskwatawa that this isn’t just about me. Something fishy is afoot! It stinks of tidal decay and godmaker madness. We face a decision, a turning point! And I want-I need-to be in a position to help humanity make the right choice!”