"There was no risk. All precautions were taken."
"Did you filter every cubic inch of air between here and there? Made sure you touched no part of the raft? Floated on the ground? How can you claim you took no risk?"
He was becoming foolish. She snapped, "I did what I considered best and that's all there is to it. A ruler has certain responsibilities and I had to demonstrate my concern. Have you correlated all the data? Good. Your conclusions?"
She frowned as he gave them. From the first reported case the increase and progression were frightening. On every estate there were slaves in the terminal period and others were suspect. A natural progression but what had caused the sudden outbreak? And why was it so widespread?
"I suspected a carrier," said Gustav. "Such are rare but not unknown and so I checked on all movements from ten days before the first case until now. A waste of time, I'm afraid; the movements of slaves can be found but not those of overseers and certainly not those of owners and nobles."
"An importation?"
"It would seem it has to be. No disease is suddenly created and there has to be a reason for the outbreak. I checked all ship arrivals and visitors. Most stayed in the city to conduct their business. Tanya Ell had a guest stay with her for ten days and Marion Cope a visit from her nephew. He is still with her as far as I can gather. Aside from the consignment of slaves brought by Hylda Vroom that is all." He added dryly, "Esslin is hardly a tourist attraction."
"Don't make jokes, Gustav!"
"No. I apologize, my dear. Was it bad?"
"Worse than I thought. A sick woman lacks dignity and a dying one begins to lack all the attributes of humanity. The men-" She broke off, shuddering. "Hnaudifida makes no sexual distinction."
And was no respector of persons. Now the slaves, soon the overseers and free residents of the estates, then the nobles and owners. She thought of the city filled with dead and dying, creatures who dragged themselves over the stones, burning, begging for water, rotting even as they begged.
There, but for the grace of God, go I!
"Kathryn?" Gustav was staring at her. "You said?"
"Nothing." She must have sub-vocalized the words or whispered them-what did it matter? "Run the data through the computer again and make sure the technicians are doing their job. Check on all known movements since the ban. Most don't think it applies to any but slaves. Sarah Magill had visits from Maurneen Clairmont, Ina Hine, Arora Kochbar and Tamiras."
"Tamiras?"
"He went out there to test the geological structure for a proposed installation or something. Check it out. All the visits were within the last few days. See if there is a correlation. There has to be a common factor. It's the only explanation for the widespread distribution and increase of the disease. Find it for me, Gustav. Please."
"I'll find it," he promised. "But on one condition." He smiled at her expression. "Nothing too serious. I just want you to promise never to do anything as foolish as visiting the dying again. Yes, foolish," he repeated sharply as she lifted a hand in protest. "What if you fall ill? Die?"
"Would it matter?"
"To me, yes. To Esslin, certainly. And what of Iduna?"
"Perhaps I would be with her."
"But you would have left me." He stepped closer, one hand lifted to touch her cheek, the fingers tracing a path to her lips. Fingers which kissed as they moved. "And if you leave me, my dearest," he whispered. "What have I left? You promise?"
She nodded. It was good to have someone to make decisions at times. Someone who cared.
Tamiras said, "This is ridiculous. Gustav, if we weren't old friends I'd take offense at the implication. To even imagine that I could be responsible for such a thing is beyond reason. Why, for God's sake? What reason could I have for spreading hnaudifida?"
"I didn't say that!"
"You implied it."
"No, I was merely checking out certain data. Looking for a common factor which would give a lead of some kind to the cause and spread of the sickness." Gustav gestured at the papers littering his desk. He looked strained, dark circles of fatigue magnifying the brilliance of his eyes, but held himself with an unexpected firmness. "A job which needs to be done and I am doing it."
"Why you? Why not the technicians?"
"Must we always rely on others? As I remember it, Tamiras, you are always becoming personally involved with your rafts and crews and equipment. Why not leave it to your technicians?"
"A man can only trust himself." Tamiras shrugged, then smiled. "You've made your point, Gustav. And, by doing this, you feel closer to Kathryn, right?"
A man shrewder than he at first appeared. The straggle of beard distracted the attention from the set of the lips and line of jaw, the creases of resolve and the directness of the eyes which, at times, held the impact of spears. A clever man- why did he stay on Esslin? A son of an exile who owned no lands and no fine houses. Who made his way on a pension granted by Kathryn in an effort to heal the breach caused by his rebellious parent. A warped genius who worked in the field of electron magic and who could easily find fame and backers on other worlds.
But he was no longer young and other worlds could never be home and on Esslin he had respect and as much fame as a man could ever be granted. And more freedom than most.
Now he said quietly, "I know how it is, Gustav. The frustration of being always regarded as an inferior. Women think of us as children, irresponsible boys who have no concept of the duties attending maturity. They give us our toys and, as long as we are good, tolerate us and our eccentricities. Even my own mother never really understood the importance of my work. And even though I've proved my ability a dozen times, who will give me their trust? I make field-baths and talk of electronic dirt removers and am allowed to construct household utensils. But when I demonstrate that I have the knowledge to master the climate I am shunned. No man must ever be allowed to become too powerful. Not on Esslin."
"Give it time, Tamiras. Things will change."
"Time? I have no time! I-" Tamiras broke off, lips pursed beneath his beard, looking at hands which trembled. When they were still he said blandly, "We digress, old friend. It is good that a husband wants to help his wife and I am the last to decry your motives. Even though by helping her you set the yoke more firmly about your neck. Now, as to my movements, they are simply explained. I went to check the geological substrata in various areas and to take measurements of the planetary magnetic field at certain selected points. I also took sightings as to elevations and elementary dispositions of any heights in those regions. If you wish I can let you have my scheduled plan of operations which includes dates, times, findings and comments. Had I expected your accusation I would have brought it with me."
"There has been no accusation," said Gustav. "This is an investigation, no more. But I will be pleased to check your records. Would they, by any chance, include details of any others you may have met during your journeys?"
"I keep records, Gustav, not a diary. How do I know what others might have done? One thing I am certain about however is that none of them would have wanted to spread sickness in the land. What could they gain by it? Their own property is at risk; with the harvest so close they will need every slave they can get to work in the fields." He added thoughtfully, "Of course, there is one remote possibility, but I hesitate to mention it."
"Possibility?" Gustav frowned. "You mean you have suspicions of someone who could be responsible?"