Like solar flares, living arcs of fire sprang from torch tree to torch tree. With a crack like an incandescent bullwhip, another majestic worldtree succumbed to the fiery elementals. Its interlocked canopy of fronds became a ceiling of orange embers; smaller branches caught and transmitted sparks to adjacent ones.
While OX hurried ahead of them, carrying the baby, Estarra kept her head down and ran. But, before they could follow the evacuees into the dense surrounding forest, flames cut them off. The perimeter of the grove formed a burning wall, forcing OX to halt ahead of them.
With a crack and a roar, a thick branch broke loose from above, and a clump of flaming fronds crashed directly down onto the compy in a feathery spray of sparks and embers.
Estarra screamed for the baby. Peter shielded his stinging eyes and dove toward them, but he knew he was too late to save his son.
The little compy pushed his way out, knocking aside the blazing fronds. He kept his synthetic body hunched over, arms wrapped protectively around Reynald. OXs polymer skin was damaged; ash and soot were smeared like war paint on his smooth face, but his systems still functioned.
Estarra raced forward in panic to retrieve Reynald. Peeling the steaming blanket away, Peter checked to make sure the baby hadnt been burned. The little boy was wailing, but very much alive.
Green grass smoldered around them, making the smoke burn like acid in their lungs. Estarra pointed desperately across the meadow to the diamond sphere of the hydrogue derelict, which OX had flown during their escape from Earth. There! Thats our only way out!
With nowhere else to run, they crashed through the embers of underbrush until they reached the small alien ship. Thankfully, the hatch had been left open. As flames flicked at their heels, Peter and Estarra, along with OX and the baby, clambered inside. Peter sealed the doorway behind them, and the sudden silence made his ears pop. They slapped at the ashes burning their garments, wheezing, coughing, frightened, and shaking with exertion. But safe.
Through the transparent curved wall, they watched angry flames engulf the rest of the meadow and then rush over them.
3
Chairman Basil Wenceslas
Outside in the Palace Districts main square, the Archfather of Unison carried an elaborate shepherds crook. He wore golden damask robes ornamented with frills and simulated brocades, and he looked like a jovial old uncle with a long, bushy white beard. The religious spokesman delivered another rousing speech, carefully scripted by Chairman Wenceslas.
People could so easily be distracted without a firm hand to guide them.
When properly motivated, the Archfather, a former actor, could really tug on the heartstrings of an audience. Unfortunately, though, during recent coaching sessions the man had begun to express doubts about the Chairmans agenda. The Archfather had spent altogether too much time reviewing images of the bloody Usk pogrom. Initially, he had been enthusiastic about delivering a stern message to the upstart colony world razing the farming town, crucifying the defiant town elders yet he now questioned the necessity of such actions.
In times like these, Basil expected his underlings to do what they were told for the good of the Hansa and, by extension, the human race. They were not supposed to have second thoughts. With harsh words and overt threats, he had put the man back in his place, leaving him white and shaking.
Making certain the Archfather had learned his lesson, Basil watched the show from the Whisper Palace observation gallery, accompanied by a concerned-looking Sarein and an unusually contemplative Deputy Eldred Cain.
The Archfather is doing well today, Sarein pointed out. You talked to him, didnt you?
I had to fan the flames of his enthusiasm a bit. This time he seems to have gotten the point.
From the square below, the bearded man bellowed his words. Yes, the Klikiss aredemons, but demons cannot help what they are. They may be evil, they may be destructive, but it is in their very nature. Far worse are those whochoose evil people who ally themselves with the Klikiss, with the demons, with our enemies. By this, I mean our treacherous King Peter and his rebellious Confederation.
The sermon was, naturally, being transmitted across Earth. Cargo ships and fast traders would deliver recordings of the Archfathers message to the handful of colonies and industrial worlds that still paid lip service to the Hansa.
In his seat, Deputy Cain looked decidedly uncomfortable, and Basil could tell he wanted to say something. He sighed, waiting. What is it, Mr. Cain?
The deputy answered promptly. Complaints have been forwarded to me by several law-enforcement stations, sir. The police dont know what to do about them.
Basils eyebrows drew together. Complaints? There are always complaints.
These seem to have some merit. It appears that a well-organized vigilante group has taken it upon itself to quell certain public discussions. Cain pulled out a report. For example, here are two incidents in which the group smashed businesses and roughed people up. They target anyone who speaks out against the Hansa. They dont even try to hide themselves. He presented surveillance images and pointed to a young woman wearing a dark uniform. This costume appears to be based on early EDF uniform designs. I have identified one of the ringleaders responsible for these strong-arm tactics, a woman named Shelia Andez, an EDF officer.
Yes, I know. I reassigned her myself, Basil said. She spearheads an elite force to help maintain order and loyalty on Earth. I call these soldiers my cleanup crew, though I suppose they deserve a more formal name.
Youre actually aware of this? Their activities go against any number of laws.
Andez is doing the work Ive assigned her. What you call strong-arm tactics, I view as a last-ditch effort to maintain much-needed order. The Hansa is in an extremely fragile state right now.
The people in the square below suddenly cheered, and the Chairman turned to watch, brushing aside Cains concerns. The Archfather bowed. Basil tried to recall what particular line might have evoked such a reaction; he decided to review the tapes later. That way he could also critique the mans performance.
The Archfather lowered his voice as if he were telling a secret to billions of listeners, delivering the preposterous suggestion with complete gravity the very part of the speech to which the man had objected so strenuously before Basil had vetoed his concerns. King Peter and his fellow traitors in the Confederation may actively be playing into the plans of the Klikiss. Roamer clans may be assisting the demon creatures in their conquests. In an insidious plot to destroy our beloved Hansa, the Confederation rebels and the Klikiss have agreed to split whats left of the Spiral Arm between themselves.