"Tellmewherethechildrenwent!"hedemandedinthemostcommonAsianlanguage.
Tirlalettearsrundownhercheeksa.s.sheglancedquicklyaroundtheroom,asifseekinghelp.Theninoneofthemostobscurelanguagessheknew,sheansweredhiminapiteouslyappealingtone."Don"tbeatme.Idon"tunderstandyou!Don"tbeatmeagain!
""Ofallthe"Flimflamroared,swivelingabouttotheladronesandhittersintheroom."Whatdidshesay?Oneofyoumustunderstandher!JustwhatIneed.Adumbkid!Well?"
Thereweremurmursandshrugsasnooneadmittedtounderstanding.
Dorotea,rea.s.suringly:We"renearlythere,Tirla.Wehavetheyardonthenightscope.
"Where"Flimflamwasmakingludicrouslybroad,pantomimegestures,sounlikehispolishedperformanceasaRIGthatTirlanearlylaughedeventhoughhekeptpokingherpainfullywithhissticktoemphasizehiswords."Wherearetheothers?Cannoonetalktoher?Rousetheotherone.Wecan"twastetime.Thatb.l.o.o.d.yHisHighnesswillbesendingthetransports.Wemusthavethemerchandiseready.Monthsofplanning,everythinggoeswithoutahitch,we"vegotthemoneywherearetheothers?"
AladronepouredwateroverPeter,whodidnotevenmoan.Tirlawatchedhimanxiously.Helookedterriblypale,crumpleduplikethat.
Hehadbeenfineuntiltheyhadbeenrecaptured.Perhapstheeffortofmovingthoseheavyrailcars...Shegaspedasthewhipslicedheragainrightoverthepreviouswelt.Tirlatriedtobackawaybuthandsclampedonhershoulders,holdingherfast.Shekickedbackwardwithherheels,jarringfeetalreadysore,buthercaptorhadheavybootsonandsheonlyachievedmorebruises.
"Let"sreallyputsomefearintoher,"Flimflamsaid,gesturing,andshewasflungfacedowntothehardsurfaceofthetablewhereshehadrecentlyseenpilesoffloaters.Cruelhardhandsgraspedherbywristsandankles.Suddenlypainexplodedacrossheralreadylaceratedfeet.Shescreamedandscreamedagainatthesecondhorrificstabofpain,thenfaintedforthefirsttimeinherlife.
SoshemissedseeingFlimflamviolentlypropelledbackwardtocras.h.a.gainstthewall.ShemissedtheexplosiveentranceofSascha,Rhyssa,DaveLehardt,andtheTalentteams.Andshemissedtheotherexcitementsthatwouldhavegivenherimmensesatisfaction.
Chapter17.
"Commissioner,"Ranjitsaid,"that"sadiplomaticregistration."
"Iwouldn"tcareifitwasG.o.dhimself,Lieutenant,"theLEOcommissioneranswered."LawEnforcementandOrdermeansjustthatfrombottomtotop,andrightondownthelineagain.Orit"sprivilege,notlawenforcementandorder!"Hemeasuredthedistanceonthehugedisplaymap,fromtheSouthSh.o.r.etrainyardtotheRiversideaddress.
"a.s.signthebestdriverwe"vegottoshadowthatCD.AndIwantthatbeehivenotjustthepenthouseliftorthedomesticfloorsb.u.t.thatentirecomplexsecured.Whoeverisinthatcarcouldgotogroundanywhere.Packallentrieswithsensitives.Tellthemtohomeinonanystrongemotionwemaygetalotofwashonthis.Youknowhowhivershatetohavetheirprivacybroached."Heturnedtoanotheraide."Barry,getmethecitymanagerandtellherthisisasensitiveaffair.IwantherforewarnedsoshecanbackuswiththeCorps.FeedthesituationthroughJudicialandgetmefourno,makeitfiveJohnDoesandasearchwarrant.Andlet"shopethatSascha"sefficient."
Heshruggedonhistunictop,resplendentwiththe"braverybars"andbraid,thenstrappedonsidearmsandgesturedforRanjitandhisotheraidestofollowhimtotherooftopgarage.Jetandaircarswerespinningoffalongusualroutes,havingbeeninstructedtomovecirc.u.mspectly.
Sascha?Borislinkedwithhisbrotherashisaircartookoff.
Nearlythere,Bro.Itstilltakestimetodriveacarfromtheretohere.Theotherbirdhasnotflownholyh.e.l.l,what"shappening?Backtoyoulater.
Borisfelttheabruptnessofthementalbreakandcursedunderhisbreathashisaircarplowedontohisdestination.Thepauselengthened,causinghimsomeanxiety.SurelySaschawascompetentenough...ShouldhehavesentmenwiththeCenterteams?Ifthechilddealersattherailyardshouldgetawarningthroughtohisownquarry,thewholeoperationmightbejeopardized.
MyG.o.d,BorisSascha"svoiceburstinonhimlikeabellowifyouletthatShimazslimeoozeoutofthis,Highness,Prince,manager,orwhatever,IpromiseyouthattheTalentswillhandlehimexofficio!
TheLEOcommissionerhadneverbeforeheardsuchvindictivenessinhisbrother"svoice.
Boris:Whathappened?
Sascha:TheVenerableReveredPonsitPrositusedabastinadoonTirla"sfeet.AndPeter"scollapsed!
Boris:Flimflamdidn"tgetamessageoff;didbe?Ifthemanhad,theymightlosethemostimportantcriminal.
Sascha,lividwithrage:No,notwhenbebadalittlegirltointerrogate!Makeitstickonthatotherb.a.s.t.a.r.d,w.i.l.l.you?Or,byallthat"sholy,lwill.Myselfwithnohelpfromanyotheragency,dearLEOBro.
Boris:LEOisonthemove,Sascha.Youbangontoyourtemper.Haveyougottheotherchildren?Haveweanyproofofcomplicity?
Sascha,sarcastically:Idon"tsupposeTirla"sb.l.o.o.d.yfeetcountformorethana.s.saultandGhH.Butwealsotookpossessionofacasefullofmanytoomanyfloaters,readyforanightdeposit,completewithanaccountnumberI"llbetcanbetracedtotheVenerableRevered.
Boris:ThatshouldbeenoughtoconvictFlimflam.Butisthereenoughtocatchthis--whatdidyoucallhim?
Sascha:Shimaz,PrincePhanibalShimaz,whoseemstobeawhizatmorethanJosephsonjunctions.Flimflam"sspillinghisguts:HisHighnesshasratheranextensiveoperationchildlaborinhisricepaddiesandmines,childprost.i.tution,andachildfarmwherethehealthiestarekeptthatwayuntilsomeonecanpayfortheorgantheyneed.
Boris,growling:Getmesomethingtolinkhimtothatyard.Somethingthatwillstick!
TheywerewellonthewaywhenthecomlinkheraldedaconnectionfromCommissionerAiello.Sheappearedonthecabinscreendressedinformalattire.Hoveringbesideherwasherprotocolofficer,Jak,who,forallhisempathy,couldattimesbequitetiresomeaboutdetails.
"Doyouhaveincontrovertibleproof,Roznine?"sheasked.
"Wehaveproofofaconnectionwhichisincompatiblewithanydiplomaticoccupation,"Borisreplied,settinghisjaw.
"Who?Surelynottheamba.s.sador!"Atthatmoment,TeresaAiellowasdepressedwithpessimism.
"Wearenotafterhis.e.xcellency,soJakcanrelax.MembersofhisCorps,certainly,andanemba.s.syvehiclehasbeenidentifiedandtracedfromtheabductionsite.There"snoproblemofprovinginvolvement.
IstheDAthere,too?Well,givetheolddogacomfortingwordinhissh.e.l.llikeear.TheTalentshavecrackedthisabductionring."Thelastheadmittedruefully,fordespiteproteststothecontrary,heandhisbrotherwereinconstantcompet.i.tion.
Thema.s.sivebeehivewasaptlynicknamed.Itsbottomlevelsalongtheblocksquarebulk,whereotherbuildingsobscuredviews,housedmaintenance,storage,andworkeraccommodations.Wherethehiveroseaboveitsneighbors,thereweregreatcurvedplasglaspanelsthatwerepartsolarheating,partprestigiousdisplayofwealth.Eachpieshapedapartmentboastedluxuriantgardensandviewsfromtheouterwall,andwherethehivehadanatriumcore,rareplantsandtreesfestoonedtheinnerwalls.Naturallythetopapartmentswerethemostexclusiveandexpensive,withonewholefloorgivenovertoprivategardenandgaragefacilities,swimmingpools,gamecourts,andwhateverotheramenitiestheresidents.e.xpected,tosecuretheultimateofcomfort.
Isthesurroundcompleteyet,Ranjit?Borisaskedonhishelmetcomunit.
Justnowcompletelyringed,sir.Noonecangetinoroutwithoutbeingobserved.
"Commissioner,"Boris"spilotsaid,"herecomesthesuspectvehiclenow."
Thesleekwhitejetcarswoopedtosettleanddeposit.i.tspa.s.sengersontheroofofthehive.
"Threemen!"
"Icanseethatmyself,"Borissaid."Securethatjetterthemoment.i.t"sgaraged.Seewhatyoucangetthepilottosay.Grabthelog,andanygaragerecords.Andnow"Hecouldnotkeepthesatisfactionoutofhisvoice."Let"sgettheb.a.s.t.a.r.ds."
TheLEOpilotputthemdownonthehiveroof,andBorisRoznineandhissquadmadefortherampdowntotheentrancelevelofthepenthouse.
SeeingtheformalandformidableattireoftheLEOcommissionerandhisaide,thedoorattendanthurriedtoopenit.Hisbowwasrespectfulandnervous.
"Whatareyoudoing,younaga?I"mnotexpectingguests!"exclaimedthemanattheotherendofthemagnificentwhitemarbledreceptionhall.Aservantwasjusta.s.sistingtheremovalofhiselegantbluesuedelongcoatwhileasecondmanwasalsoshrugging,una.s.sisted,outofhisownouterwear."Excludethemimmediately."
"Ithinknot,PrincePhanibal,"Borissaid,steppingforwardwhilesendingRanjitaquickthoughtaboutreinforcements.
Theprince"scompanionmovedwithastonishingspeedoutthenearestofthemanydoorsleadingfromtheentryhallwhiletheparalyzeddoormangaped.
"IsHis.e.xcellencyathome?"Borisasked,someglimmerofJak"sprotocollessonsseepingthroughhisanger.Thedoormanfearfullynoddedbeforetheprinceorderedhimnottorespond.
"Howdareyouwhoeveryouareenteradiplomaticresidencewithoutinvitation?"PrincePhanibaldemanded,his.e.xpressionhaughtyandtotallyconfident.HisgazeignoredthelieutenantbyBoris"ssideandthedetachmentstandingjustoutsidethedoor.
"BorisRoznine,commissionerforLawEnforcementandOrderinJerhattan!"Boristurnedtotheawedandshakingdoorman."PleasebegHis.e.xcellency"sindulgenceandrequestanimmediateinterviewonamatterofgraveurgency."
Theattendant,ignoringtheprince"scountermandsandthreats,openedahiddendooranddisappeared.Hehadnosoonergonetha.n.a.lltheotherdoorsoftheentrancehallswungopenandanumberoflargemenfiledinwithmilitaryprecision.Three,black-robedandturbaned,withsilvermountedbeltsanddaggerswhichwereexactlythelegallengthpermitteddisplayguards,immediatelyflankedtheprince.
BorisdidnotneedtolookoverhisshouldertoknowthattheLEOofficersjustoutsidethedoorway,carryingtheweaponrylegalforthem,outnumberedtheemba.s.syguardsandwerequitereadytoforceanentry.Hewaitedamomentfortheprincetoabsorbthatfact.
"IbelievethatwenowawaitHis.e.xcellency"sappearance,"hesaidwithagrimandungenialsmileand,instudiedinsulttoaroyalperson,seatedhimselfonthenearestdecorativebench.
"Doyounotunderstandtherepercussionsthisunwarrantedintrusion"PrincePhanibalbeganimperiously."IamnotonlyaroyalprinceofmyhousebutamanagerofthePadrugoi.Iamduebackontheplatformonthenextshuttle."
"ThatiswhyI,asLEOcommissioner,amheretoexplainpersonallytotheamba.s.sador,"Borisreplied.Isthistheguywho"sbeengivingRhyssasomuchgrief?Perhapsifwebothtry,wecanprobehismind,hesenttoSascha.lt"snotadmissibleevidenceincourtsinceit"sunderduress,but.i.t"llgiveussomeclues.
Therewasabriefpauseasthebrotherstriedtobreachtheprince"smind.ThenBorispulledback.He"sgotadensemindshield.He"shadcarefulconditioning,andI"dlovetoknowwhere.No,wecan"tbreakit,notwithoutbreakingthelaw.
Theslightestofsmilestuggedatthecorneroftheprince"smouthandhiseyesnarrowed,hidingsmugpleasureatdeflectingthementalintrusion.Heraisedhislefthandbriefly,hisfingersclosingasifonsomeaccustomedpossession.Thenhethrewhisfingersopeninvexationandraisedthearmindolentlyacrosshischest,thesmilebroadening.
"Perhapsyouhavemislaidyourlittlestick,"Borisheardhimselfsaying.Saschawasthere!Savingtimeandeffort,brother?Borisasked.
ThelittlestickwhichmaderawmeatofTirla"sfeet,Saschasaidsavagely.
PrincePhanibalstiffenedinsurprise."Iwhat?"
"Thelittleswitchthatyouarefondofcarryingasanaffectation,foryoudon"townanyanimalsIbelieve,"theBoris/Saschalinkcontinued.
"Theonewiththeivoryhandleandtheratherunusualfiligreedesign."
"Idonothavetoaccountformypossessionstosuchasyou,"PrincePhanibalrepliedasheangledhimselfobliquelyfromBoris,tiltinghischinarrogantlytodisplaywhatmanyprobablyconsideredahandsomeprofile.
Atthatpointtheamba.s.sador,cladinadeeppurplevelvetrobewithexquisitegolddesigns,enteredfromthecentraldoor.Hecastonestartledlookattheprinceandhispose,anotheratthegroupbythedoor,thensignaledfortheguardstowithdraw.BorisRoznineroseandwalkedforwardtomeettheMalaysian.
"Duetothegravityofthissituation,YourExcellency,"hesaid,speakingonhisownalthoughheknewthatSaschawaslisteningavidly,"youwillpermitmetodispensewithformalities.Thisman"hegesturedtothealoofprince"andanotherhavebeeninvolvedinactivitiesincompatiblewithanyfunctioninyouremba.s.sy.ImustaskyoutoinstructHisHighnessandhiscompaniontoaccompanymetotheLEOheadquarters."
"WithwhatcouldthePrincePhanibalbecharged?"theamba.s.sadoraskedwithgreatdignity.
"Thechargeisindeedgrave,YourExcellency,fortherehasbeentrafficinabductingminorsandsubjectingthemtoillicitbondageforthepurposeofslavelabor,unlawfulintercourse,andorganremoval.""Youhaveproofofsuchaheinouscrime?"Theamba.s.sadordrewhimselfmoreerect,buthedidnotappeartobeallthatsurprised.
"Yes,YourExcellency."Borisinclinedhisheadwithanodofregret.
Theamba.s.sadorwastoofineanoldmantobesaddledwithsuchascandal."Therearewitnesses!"theBoris/Saschalinkcontinued,supportingBoris"sreply."Talentedwitnesses."
Theprincesnortedhisdisbelief,hispoiseundisturbed."Suchaclaimtriesallpatience.Youwilldismissthesedeceivers,Uncle."
Sascha:Thisb.u.g.g.e.r"sclever.
Boris:Hehasn"tturnedahairoradmittedathing.
Sascha:DoeshethinkallTalentsareadults?
Boris:TirlaisontheofficialRegister,isshenot?
Sascha:Didn"tyoureadtheIDbraceletyougothersixweeksago?Andtherearefouroftheladrones,spillingtheirgutstoavoidbeings.p.a.ced,confirmingwhatwe"vegotoutofFlimflamforturningState"sevidencehismindtookverylittlepressurewhenheregainedconsciousness.Thatwa.s.somescamtheyhadgoing.Furthermore,itwasthedearprincewhoinfiltratedLEOprogramsandfilchedthestrandformula.Hehadallthespecialclearancepa.s.swordsbecausehewasworkingonPadrugoianddoingallthatneworkwiththeJosephsonjunctions.Hebrowsedandtookwhatheneeded.GothisislandlaboratorytoperfectavariationforFlimflamtouseasaspecialeffectinthoseResheputon.Wehaveallthedetailsneededtoimplicatetheprinceandthatsecretaryofhis.Returnedfromthereligiousinst.i.tutionsandaperiodofmeditationintheFarEast?HewasplanningthewholethingwithPrincePhanibal"sbacking.Sascha"ssnortofcontemptwa.s.sostrongthatBorisgrunted.
Theamba.s.sadorturnedhisheadslightlyoveroneshoulderinPrincePhanibal"sdirection."Iwillnotdismissthem,Nephew.Talentcannotbeforsworn."ThenheregardedBorissteadilyforamomentandbeckonedfortheprincetostepforward."Youwillgowiththem."
"ButIcannotbearrestedlikeacommoncriminal!"
"Oh,indeed,Nephew,youareanuncommoncriminal,fordiplomaticimmunitydoesnotshieldpederasts,"theoldmansaidinavoicethatwasleachedofallemotion.
"Youcannotpermitsuchinsulttoourname,"theprincesaid,slappinghisfiststohislegsinhisbarelycontainedfrustrationandanger.
"Myfatherwillhearofthis.Youwillhearofthis.Youwillbedisgraced!Youwillneverreturntoyourhome.Yourchildrenandyourchildren"schildrenaredogmeat..."
Ignoringhim,theMalaysianamba.s.sadorstrodetothenearestdoorandcloseditfirmlybehindhim.Theguardsmovedtocovereachofthedoorways,subtlyremovingofficialprotectionfromtheprince.
Commissioner?Ranjitsaidpolitely.Thepilothasbeenarrested,andwehavethejetter"slogsandthegaragelog.Also,PrinceShimaz"scompanionwasapprehended,attemptingtoescape."Ifyouwillcomewithus..."Borisbeganformally,gesturingtowardtherooflandingsteps.
Theprincesuddenlyeruptedintoaction,hisfacecontortedinrage,flinginghimselftowardtheopeningBorishadmade.Ranjit,withgreatpresenceofmind,neatlytrippedthemanashepa.s.sed.
Atthat,ittookthreeofficerstosubduetheravingman.
"So,despiteappealsfromhisgrievingfather,andprotestsfromLudmillaBarchenkathatHisHighnessManagerPhanibalShimazmustbereleaseduntilthestationiscompleted,"SaschatoldTirla,sittingontheedgeofherbedinDorotea"shouse,"thatscuzballwillspendtherestofhislifeathardlaboronthemoon."
"AndFlimflam?"Tirla"seyesflashedwithanangerandhatredthatstartledSascha,eventhoughheunderstoodit.
"Oh,turningState"sevidencegavehimachoiceofoccupations,"hesaidwithagrin."HeelectedtotakeajobasasanitationengineerontheBigStation.Notexactlys.p.a.cedout,butnearenough."
"Howmanyofthekidswereillegals?"sheaskedafterrelishingFlimflam"sfutureforalongandsatisfactorymoment.SheandPeterhadbothbeenincourttogivetheirevidencebuthadnotheardthesentencing.Shestillwasnotcomfortablewalkingveryfaronhertenderfeet,anddespitePeter"spatientinstructioninkinetics,shehadbeenunabletolevitateashedid.Peterwasbaffled,surethatshehadsomelatentkineticability;hemaintainedthathehadbeenunconsciouswhenFlimflamhadbeenthrownkineticallyacrosstheroomjustastherescuersarrived.
"Eightysevenchildren,"Sascharepliedbrusquely.
"Inthehostels,huh?"Tirlagavealongsigh.
"JustthinkwhatyouandPetersavedthemfrom,Tirla.Youhadatasteofit."
"Andtherehaven"tbeenanymoredealsorabductions?"
Saschashookhishead.
TheapathythathadsettledoverTirlaafterthetrialworriedeveryoneintheCenter.Obedientlyshehadworkedwiththephysiotherapisttoregainmovementinherdamagedfeetshehadbeenmoreseverelyinjuredthanhadfirstbeenapparent.Shehaddutifullytriedtoimprovehertelepathicrange,butDoroteaandPeterweretheonlyonesshecouldhearatanydistance;evenSaschashecouldhearonlyifhewaswithinahundredmeters.Shedidtesttoanastoundingdegreeofempathy,thesourceofherunusuallinguisticfeats.
Shewasa.s.siduousinfollowinghereducationprogram,optingforaverywidevarietyofcourses,someofwhichDoroteawascertainshecouldnotyetcomprehend.Herreportsprovedthatshewasmoreprecociousthanantic.i.p.ated.ShetooknojoyinthefreedomoftheCenter"sgroundsandplayedwithnootherchildrendespitetheirrepeatedattemptstointeresther.ShehadevenrefusedtogoonshoppingtripswitheitherSaschaorCa.s.s.ShetendedtobecomemoreanimatedinPeter"scompany,butshesawhimonlyrarely,asheandRhyssaweredeeplyinvolvedinhishighlyspecializedtraining.Shewasvirtuallyrecoveredfromtheabduction,buthermoralewas.e.xtremelylow,soDoroteahadinsistedthatSaschacomeforavisit.
"Whatdoesittaketostrandakid?"Tirlaaskedhim.
"Look,chip,"hesaid,layingagentlehandonherkneeandnotingthatshefeltnolessfragiletohim,thoughshehadputonweightsinceshehadfirstcometotheCenter."Youcan"tsavealltheillegals.Andforthemomentthedangerisover."