‘I understand you were out drinking again this evening,’ he said.
‘I was.’ I considered telling him that I failed to see what concern that was of his, but I already had some idea of where this was going.
‘You met some old friends of yours.’
‘One old friend,’ I said. ‘Or rather one former comrade from the Seventh Belial and two of his friends.’
‘Who were they?’
I gave the names of Konstantin and Mikhail and their descriptions.
‘And what did you think of them?’
‘Their conversation was elliptical.’
‘How so?’
‘They hinted at conspiracies against Macharius. They hinted that they might be seeking rewards. They hinted at a lot of things and in the end said nothing.’
‘Why do you think they did that?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You don’t know, Lemuel, but you can guess. You are a clever man.’
‘I think they were feeling me out, to see how I would react to such talk. I get the impression they are hoping that I will become their agent.’
‘Why would they think that is possible?’
‘I don’t know, inquisitor. Perhaps you can tell me.’ He looked at me for a long time. I felt cold sweat appear on my brow, but I was damned if I was going to say anything more. Eventually he smiled, showing his small white teeth. It was not a pleasant expression. There was no humour in it.
‘Your friends, Konstantin and Mikhail…’
‘They are not my friends.’
‘I would be obliged if you did not interrupt me again, Sergeant Lemuel.’ The words were quietly spoken but there was a world of menace behind them. ‘Your friends, or perhaps I should say, your soon-to-be friends, Konstantin and Mikhail, work for Major Kelly, who is chief of staff, chief intelligence gatherer and some would say master of assassins for General Crassus.’
He paused, glanced at his data-slate, then looked at me directly. ‘You don’t seem entirely surprised.’
‘General Crassus seems a most ambitious man,’ I said.
‘He is. He sees himself as the chief candidate to replace the Lord High Commander when he departs for Terra.’
‘Is he?’
‘That would be Cardinal Septimus’s decision, but my guess is that he is. Or at least he would be, if Macharius actually departed.’
‘The Lord High Commander has already said he would.’
‘What the Lord High Commander says he will do and what he actually does may prove to be two different things, Lemuel. It seems that General Crassus has already begun to think so. He is not alone in this. All of Macharius’s commanders know about his talent for feint and deception.’
‘As you say, inquisitor.’
‘And you are wondering why I am telling you this.’
‘I am sure you have your reasons, sir.’
‘And I am sure you can guess them.’
‘I am a simple man, sir. I like to have my duties and responsibilities spelled out for me.’
He shrugged. ‘If either of these two men approach you again, or anyone else does in a similar capacity, you will agree to whatever they ask, and then report the matter to me.’
‘Even if they suggest disloyalty to Lord High Commander Macharius, sir?’
‘Particularly if they do that.’
‘That would be treason, sir.’
‘You are worried that you might be branded a traitor if you do this.’
I nodded.
‘You will be branded a traitor if you do not.’
I stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’
‘There is already enough evidence to suggest you are part of a conspiracy, Lemuel.’
‘I can assure you I am not.’
‘And I believe you, and I trust you, which is why I am asking you to do this. These are interesting times, and many things hang in the balance. Your duty is to see to Macharius’s safety and I am asking you to do your duty.’
‘You wish me to help smoke out potential traitors, sir.’
‘Precisely so.’ He paused for a minute. I looked over his shoulder at the black flames dancing over the black starscrapers and considered his words. Drake did not really need any evidence against me. He had the power to make me disappear at his whim. I was not sure whether he really believed in my innocence, but I could see that did not matter to him. I was simply a tool he was going to use in his hunt for traitors against Macharius. I was a pawn in his great game.
‘I will do it,’ I said, as smartly as I could, as if I were volunteering for dangerous duty, as if I had any real choice in the matter.
‘I am glad to hear that,’ Drake said, and sounded as if he really meant it. He stood up and I noticed that there was a hypodermic in his hand. He indicated that I should come closer. I wondered what he was going to do.
‘There’s no need to be so skittish,’ Drake said. ‘If I wanted to kill you, I would not need to do it this way.’
‘What is in that?’ I said. The needle was very long and sharp and I did not like the way its point glittered in the glow-globe’s light.
‘It contains a very powerful anti-venom,’ he said. ‘It should increase your resistance to all drugs and poisons for the period of about one moon.’
‘You think someone is going to try to poison me?’
‘I think someone may try to use certain serums on you.’ As he spoke, he slid the needle into my arm. It stung and then an odd coolness spread from it. He reached out and touched my forehead with his fingers. I suddenly felt dizzy. Strange images flickered through my head. He spoke words and I knew I would remember them some day but I could not remember them now. They vanished from my consciousness like mist before a strong wind, leaving only the awareness that I had once possessed the knowledge of them.
I tried to move and found that I could not. My muscles seemed paralysed and I felt a completely stark and utter terror the like I had not felt before. This was what it was like to be totally helpless when danger threatened. My head reeled with the knowledge that something had been done to my thoughts. I glared at Drake, in that moment hating and fearing him in equal measure.
‘Tell no one about this little chat.’
I nodded even as I wondered whether Drake had his own agenda in this. I was beginning to get the sense that my life might be in real peril here.
‘You are dismissed, Lemuel.’
Chapter Eighteen
I met Sergei in the tavern. Konstantin and Mikhail were with him. They were dressed as they had been previously. They greeted me warmly as I sat down in their private booth, which I could not help but notice was in a corner, and commanded clear lines of sight to the exits. Drinks were placed on the table by Sergei and nothing was said except toasts until we had downed a few. All three of them looked at me with slightly glazed eyes that were supposed to hint at drunkenness. I suspected they were less so than I.
‘Things go well in the palace?’ Konstantin asked. He was taking the lead again, but as before I suspected that Mikhail was his superior.
I nodded. ‘Things go as well as can be expected.’
‘The Lord High Commander makes ready to depart?’
‘That is not my place to say,’ I said.
‘Your discretion is to be admired,’ said Mikhail. ‘But everyone knows he has agreed to go to Terra with Cardinal Septimus. Or has he not?’
‘Macharius does not confide his plans in me.’
‘But you are his trusted bodyguard.’
‘And I will remain so as long as I keep his secrets,’ I said. If these men were really trying to recruit me into some conspiracy I was not going to make it easy for them. Sergei smiled and nodded as if I were being very wise.
‘You are also on good terms with Inquisitor Drake,’ said Mikhail suddenly.