Akira nodded as his father helped him to his feet. "Sword . . ."
Yorinaga draped Akira's left arm over his shoulder. "It's back in the brush ... in the other one."
Morgan Kell nodded. "We'll bring it to you. But you better hurry. The next sweep is due in five minutes."
Yorinaga guided his son into the woods. The older man picked his path with great care to avoid low branches or jarring drops. As sensation slowly began to work its way back into Akira's body, he became able to move more freely, and the journey went faster.
"Father . . ."
Yorinaga, his face hidden in shadow, shook his head. "Save your breath."
Akira grabbed his father's shoulder. "How did you know where to find me?"
"Your map. You left it on your bed." Yorinaga glanced back over his shoulder. "Wolf and Kell saw me on the way here—how I do not know—and offered to help search for you."
Akira managed a weak smile. Thank the Dragon, that for once, a mistake did not prove fatal.Then he remembered the nightmare of the ComStar 'Mech legions, and it made him stumble.
Yorinaga caught his son before he could hit the ground. "Akira," he whispered hoarsely. "What is it?"
"Down there, I got a look beneath ComStar's facade." He shook his head slowly, remembering what he had seen and for the first time realizing how much it had struck fear in him. "The Word of Blake is bound with steel . . ."
31
ComStar First Circuit Compound
Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra
19 August 3028
Primus Julian Tiepolo stared at the three unwavering images holographically suspended in the center of his private audience chamber. How can this be happening?He shifted his gaze from the projection of the corpses to the room's only other occupant. "Yes, Jarlath. I do find this most disturbing. How were they killed?"
The ROM chief pointed to the top picture. "Bruises on his body indicate he was kicked and punched in the front of the body. Then, as you can see from the narrow incision in his chest, a blade of indeterminate length was shoved through his chest." Jarlath licked his lips. "We found the spot where he died. The blade had penetrated the ground to a depth of 15 centimeters."
Jarlath indicated the second body. "His neck was broken. Whoever killed him is enormously strong, and I would suppose, very quick."
Tiepolo closed his eyes and massaged his temples to forestall a headache. There were hundreds among the wedding guests who could fit that description . . ."And the third?"
Jarlath swallowed hard. "The Captain actually drowned, Primus. A blow to his throat fractured his hyoid bone and crushed his windpipe, but it did not kill him instantly. When his assailants tossed him and the other two into the ocean, he drowned. We know this because we found salt water in his lungs, which was not true of the others. His assailant must have been very quick because the Captain's neural whip was still fastened to his wrist by a martingale."
The Primus shook his head. "The same man did not kill all three?"
Jarlath shook his head. "From footprints at the scene, we estimate that there were at least two attackers, and quite possibly four to six more. From the angle of the bone break in the case of the Captain, we know his attacker was shorter than him."
Tiepolo waved his left hand at the pictures. "Images off." At his command, the pictures dissolved. "This disturbs me, Jarlath. Why was no alarm raised? Why weren't more ROM agents there to capture these individuals?"
Jarlath cleared his voice. "Primus, our ROM agents have been trained to operate as individuals because so many of their missions demand that they work alone. As you are aware, we recruit them from among some of the most notorious sociopaths in the known universe precisely becausethey do not quibble at possible violence and because few would be missed if they fail. We also encourage competition among them. I assume that this patrol did not call for help because they felt they could handle the situation."
Anger contorted the Primus's face. "They clearly did nothandle it."
Jarlath shook his head. "I would beg to differ with you, Primus. Though you accurately note we lost three people, we can detect no sign of a security breach. The vent grating was welded shut. In addition, I hasten to point out the information any uninvited visitor to our facility would bring out would certainly have caused quite a stir and a commotion by now."
The Primus exhaled slowly. Could we have been that fortunate?"Your point has merit." He narrowed his eyes. "You do realize, of course, that if any word of this gets out, you will be removed." I don't need Precentor Dieron in an uproar about this, too.
The ROM chief nodded courteously. "Our patrol found the bodies before dawn. We are reasonably certain that they had been in the water for under ten hours, so we assume that the only people outside ComStar who know of the murders are the culprits themselves."
A dull ache pulsed up from the Primus's neck into his brain. "Very well, keep this quiet. Report on it only to me."
Jarlath bowed. "As you direct, Primus."
Tiepolo ground his teeth. "And double security, Jarlath. With the Blessed Blake as my witness, I will have no more incidents like this to ruin the culmination of our plans ..."
32
ComStar First Circuit Compound
Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra
19 August 3028
Chu-saAkira Brahe bowed his head as he broke into the small circle of people at the Archon's reception. "Excuse me, please."
Riva's face brightened immediately. "Hello, Akira."
Akira smiled, despite the scowl on the face of Riva's brother. "Good evening, Miss Allard." Akira looked over toward where Colonels Wolf and Kell stood with Daniel Allard and Ardan Sortek. "Colonel Wolf . . . Colonel Kell? Tai-saYorinaga Kurita has asked to speak with you out on the balcony."
Dan Allard stiffened, but Morgan nodded easily. "Lead the way, Chu-sa."He handed Dan his mug of stout. "Watch this for me, please, Dan. Everything's fine."
Akira bowed his head again. "Please forgive my rudeness." He smiled at Ardan and the two Allards. "I will return them very soon."
The look on Riva's face told him he'd be welcome. He winked at her, then escorted the two mercenary leaders back through a glass doorway to the darkened balcony. He closed the door behind them, then looked toward the man gazing out at the ocean. His father looked so tired . . .
Yorinaga Kurita turned slowly from the railing. His face an impassive mask, he executed a deep, respectful bow. Moonlight washed his black silk kimono with silver highlights and the ocean breeze tugged at the ends of the sash, but somehow Yorinaga seemed beyond the effects of nature.
Akira watched with his heart in his throat. The honor he shows them is unnatural—as unnatural as their helping an enemy save his son.