Island of Darkness (61 page)

“I apologize,” Lyra said to the colonel. “I expected him to attack me. I did not suspect that he would try to kill as many as he could before he died.”

“You saved them well enough,” nodded the colonel.

Lyra realized that the colonel thought the shield had been hers. She did not try to correct him. She bit her lower lip and turned to face the huge crowd of citizens.

“He is your false Katana,” the Star of Sakova said loudly. “What do you want done with him?”

“Kill him,” shouted a multitude of voices.

The crowd roared with calls for the false Katana’s death. The Monitors stood still as they could not bring themselves to harm a Katana, even a false one. Eventually, a tall broad-shouldered man left the crowd and marched to the fallen body of the Katana. He reached out to take the sword that Colonel Zanta was holding. The colonel balked at first and stepped away, but the citizen was insistent. He stepped close to the colonel and gently took the sword from his hand. He turned and viscously decapitated the false Katana. The crowd cheered as the man wiped the sword clean on Karnic’s robe and handed the sword back to the colonel. The man turned and bowed to Lyra before returning to the crowd. Lyra waited a few minutes before speaking again to the crowd of citizens.

“These men,” she said pointing to the Councilors, “have been the backbone of Omunga. They are supposed to guide the Katana towards policies that are best for the people of Omunga. Do you think they have failed you?”

“Wait,” shouted the First Minister. “We did not know that the Katana was false. You cannot blame us for this fakery. We have always tried to do what is best for the people.”

“Best?” echoed the Star of Sakova. “Do you consider trying to annihilate the Sakovans as something that is best for your people? We have always striven for peace, and many of you on the Council know that. We sent food to your starving cities, and you knew that also. You have not served the people of Okata well. You have not served anyone but yourselves.”

The crowd roared in agreement with Lyra. They called for the death of the Councilors, and the members of the Council began to sweat nervously.

“We were wrong,” admitted the First Minister, “but that does not mean that we do not care for the people. We want what is best for them.”

“And what is best for them?” questioned Lyra. “Should they allow this Council to once again choose a false Katana as they have too many times? Or should they be allowed to join with their Sakovan brothers and sisters, and prepare for the invasion that Karnic promised?”

The crowd started shouting, “Sakova,” over and over. The First Minister looked at the crowd and shook his head. He turned to face Lyra.

“The Omungan system of government has failed,” he admitted. “Not once, but twice. If you would allow it, I think this Council would be willing to surrender the country of Omunga to the Sakovans, just before we retire from public service. Surely, that is a better ending than killing us.”

“Are the other Councilors agreed to this?” asked Lyra.

Each of the Councilors tried to nod without disturbing the magical garrotes. Lyra had to work hard to control her emotions as she watched the spectacle. The urge to laugh at their movements was strong, but she kept a straight face.

“Remove the garrotes, Colonel,” commanded Lyra. “I do not want them to harm themselves.”

“How do we do so?” asked the colonel. “I know nothing of magic.”

“Just remove them,” Lyra smiled.

While the colonel was removing the garrotes, Lyra turned to the crowd of citizens.

“You have heard the offer of the Councilors,” she said loudly. “What do the people of Okata want?”

The crowd was torn. Some called for their execution, while others wanted to spare them. Finally, an old woman separated from the crowd and approached the Councilors. The crowd fell silent.

“I think that joining the Sakova is our best path,” the woman said loudly. “Were the Council to make it official, it would be a fitting end to Omunga. I would urge my fellow citizens to allow this. I would also like to stipulate one condition. Each of the Councilors must swear under the threat of death that they will no longer seek public office, or seek to influence the public in any way. They have led us down a poor path and must not be allowed to ever again.”

The crowd roared with approval and Lyra nodded to the First Minister. He cleared his throat and turned to face his fellow Councilors. In as dignified a manner as he could muster, the First Minister called a meeting of the Katana’s Council to order. He put forth a motion to surrender the country to the Star of Sakova. It passed unanimously. He also gave the oath required of him by the citizens and waited until each Councilor did likewise. He then formally ended the meeting with an announcement that the Katana’s Council was disbanded. He turned and bowed low to the Star of Sakova.

The entire Council mimicked the manner of the First Minister and bowed to the Star of Sakova. The people cheered wildly, but Colonel Zanta shouted orders to his men. Each of the Monitors suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads to the Star of Sakova as the colonel pledged himself and his men to her service. The crowd suddenly realized that the country had indeed changed hands. The people in the front row bowed to the Star of Sakova. With a rippling effect, the entire plaza bowed to their new leader. Tears came to Lyra’s eyes as she raised her face upward and issued a prayer of thanks to Kaltara.

THE END

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