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of assent. "We'll go with you, but only if you can prove you're really from
Jindigar."
Again Krinata looked to Rndeel, expecting him to reveal himself. But perhaps
he wouldn't to spare Trassle's wife the embarrassment, after what she'd said.
Rndeel quietly men-tioned the sum of money the family still owed Jindigar.
Krinata paled. He certainly hadn't earned that much from Oliat fees. But then
he was a prince.
Decisively, the merchant extracted a viewer from a water-tight pack. "No
matter what, get this to Jindigar. It proves Rantan Zinzik himself caused the
food shortages on space stations and conspired with the Tri-Species Combine to
set up their 'secession' from the Allegiancy so he could 'solve' the problem
and be acclaimed Emperor."
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"What?" Rndeel triggered the reader display and stared.
Krinata stared over his shoulder at the affidavits. They seemed genuine. Could
this be why Zinzik was so intent on creating domestic chaos? So he could
accuse anyone who came forth with this evidence of being a Dushau sympathizer
and have them executed? No! It would mean the Allegiancy had fallen into the
hands of a criminal.
"Be it he unhas sanity," commented Rndeel, glumly. "Where 'ur be find this?"
"The Interstellar Merchant Trust began investigating be-cause we were accused
of causing the shortages by not deliv-ering on contracts. There are ten
copies one of them has to come to public "
Just then a roar shook the house. The female clutched her young children to
her while Trassle and his eldest, a male,
dove down a spiral ramp. Their voices rose up the well. "Six of the Count's
armed landers are settling in front of the house!"
Rndeel glanced hesitantly at Trassle's wife, then shot down the rampway, tying
the viewer to his harness. Krinata was close behind. Below, a room lined with
instruments was filled with light. The image of the front of the house from
outside was projected on a round platform, and Krinata could see clearly the
six military vehicles converging on them. The first to ground was already
disgorging Cassrians.
"Be a river exit?" asked Rndeel.
"And a bottomship we'd planned to use."
"They be blocking our car," Rndeel said. "We to use your ship."
Stricken, Trassle stared at Rndeel. Then he tore up the ramp and threw down
packs, sending his family down after them. The eldest son picked up a pack,
and set off towing the youngest son. In moments, they were in a dark,
down-spiraling, damp tunnel leading into a boathouse where a small submersible
was tied beside a sailing craft. Trassle pushed his family into the
bottomship, and turned to Krinata. "Quickly, Lady Captain."
They could hear shouts as the upper door was broken in. Rndeel grasped
Krinata's elbow and propelled her into the submersible where the oldest son
already had instruments sing-ing in audible Cassrian code. As Trassle secured
the hatch, Rndeel shoved Imp into Krinata's hands, swung into the helms-man's
seat and set them to sinking.
The craft was a mere pleasure boat: transparent domed, plushly appointed.
Krinata held her breath as water burbled up over her head, then forced herself
to breath the flower-scented air now laced with Skhe stink.
Trassle moved to the-helm. "Thank you, I'll take it."
Rndeel turned to look up at the Cassrian. "With your per-mission, bottomship
Captain, I'm being greatly experienced with such craft, and no pleasure jaunt
be facing us."
"But how can you read..."
Rndeel turned back to the helm and whistled something in the clicking shrieks
of Cassrian language. That stopped Trassle, but Krinata could see how sorely
puzzled he was. A Skhe wouldn't have hearing in the Cassrian range.
Apparently, the
onboard Sentient wasn't smart enough to switch navigation codes, so Jindigar
had to talk to it in its own language. Perhaps Arlai was helping? Trassle sat
beside Krinata, clicking to his wife who huddled shaking.
Again Krinata eyed the transparent dome. One hit would rupture them. "They'll
question the house Sentient," Krinata said. "They'll find out we just left,
and where we went."
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