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It would go much easier and faster for all of us were you
to simply allow us a drop of your blood. A mere drop.
A Matter of Blood 151
Barely visible. Surely that is not in violation of your cultural
mores.
Amount is irrelevant. It is forbidden for me to provide
such a sample. Torri crossed her arms and returned his glare
with impassivity.
Sorreth frowned for a third time since this meeting started. She
guessed he wasn t used to such open defiance. That could either
make him careless or more dangerous. She d know soon enough.
He smiled suddenly. Very well. I hope, then, that you don t
mind being our guest for a while longer.
Guest? If such were true, then the priestess and I would
be allowed to return to Oiros. I hardly think this qualifies as
any sort of hospitality. I therefore assume I am under some
kind of arrest, and the Articles of Detention clearly allow me
representation and open communication with regard to the
circumstances of my case.
The smile remained on his face, but it was forced, now.
Certainly. I ll arrange a commlink as soon as possible. It s
difficult to do so in this part of the province.
Then take me back to Tinsdale, she said, noting that he
didn t deny that she was being detained. What was the point?
And what could she do about it?
The smile disappeared. I m afraid that s impossible.
Weather conditions have made the surface impassable for at
least three hours.
Convenient, Torri thought. That s about how long it would
take to get the High Council to authorize the blood sample.
Bal will take you to more comfortable quarters. Once the
weather relents, you ll be returned to Tinsdale. He turned in
an abrupt motion and left the room, but in the way he moved,
Torri saw irritation. The door remained open, and she
considered her chances if she made a run for it. Not good.
She wasn t quite sure where they were, or that she could get
the conveyor to operate, since she wasn t authorized personnel.
She elected to go willingly with Bal, who said nothing as she
led her down the corridor farther away from the conveyor. The
152 Andi Marquette
walls and ceiling gleamed white, offering no shadows. A
difficult place to go unnoticed.
Bal turned left down an equally bright corridor and stopped
at the first door on her right. She pressed her thumb to the
keypad and motioned for Torri to go in. Once again Torri
debated an escape, but two Coalition soldiers rounded the
corner just then, chatting. Damn. She went into the room, and
the door slid shut behind her, separating her from Bal. She
surveyed her surroundings, a small windowless area, maybe
ten feet square. No furniture, with the exception of a low bench
that ran the length of each wall. A Coalition sign over a niche
in the far wall advertised beverages, but she wasn t taking any
chances with that, though she could have used a bit of water.
She chose a corner on the wall in which the door was set
and leaned back, her legs stretched out in front of her on the
bench. At least it was gelled. Not so uncomfortable as she had
initially thought. She pinged Saryl once, not wanting to take
a chance that the signal would be tracked. How far was she
below ground? That would also affect the ability of Saryl to
get a lock on her. But a chance, however slim, was better than
none at all. She closed her eyes. It would be a couple of hours,
at least, before anyone came for her with the Council s
approval. At that point, she d demand Jann s services. There
was no guarantee she d be granted her request, but she could
at least get another ping to Saryl during what was sure to be
another inhospitable exchange with Sorreth.
Torri opted to conserve her energies and capitalize on her
situation. She sank into a doze.
14
Perhaps I might speak with her, Kai said to Sorreth s
image on the vidscreen in her quarters. I ve worked with some
Radij in a few of my units.
I m not sure that s necessary.
Kai buried a sigh. Must he be so difficult? She checked
herself. Of course he must. Coalition, after all. So she d have
to take a chance, though she d never been much for gambling,
even during her Academy days. But Torri had never been one
of the stakes, either. She opened her wager. Major, if I might
address this matter with you more bluntly?
How so? he said, and Kai heard caution in the question.
I m not entirely certain that detaining a Radij temple
guardian will curry favor with local holders.
He pursed his lips for a second. That is indeed blunt. His
tone carried a warning, even in Coalition. Explain.
I m thinking of appearances. And as I m sure you
understand, I am in an awkward position. After all, I am a
member of a local holding, which means I m privy to
certain . . . rumblings, if you will, about policy decisions.
However, I m also positioned to understand local networks.
She d bluffed a strong hand, she figured. Her first card was a
power card, but not ranked so high that he d think it her only
one.
Rumblings, Commander?
She shrugged, a casual motion designed to put him a little at
154 Andi Marquette
ease but yet warn him that there were rumors afoot that hadn t
grown past the nascent stage.
He pursed his lips. Playing the benevolent, are you? I m
disappointed, Commander, at the transparency of that
approach. He smirked, and Kai wished she could reach
through the screen and punch it off him.
Not at all, she said, glad she still sounded calm. I m
merely offering my services and experience with a member
of a particular cultural and ethnic group. And working to
ensure that there isn t any fallout that could damage the
project. Which is exactly what she wanted to do. Not just
damage it. Blast it beyond recognition. But that was a card she
wasn t going to play. Not yet.
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zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plcs-sysunia.htw.pl
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