Reclamation (10 page)

Ivale was as bald and slender as Basq, but even seated, he towered over the rest of the committee by fifteen centimeters. “Contractors Avir and Kelat, how long have you held Basq’s name?”

“By time measured in the Hundredth Core, five years, ten months, four days, and seven hours. Renewals have been specifically requested four times,” said Avir

Ivale nodded and opened his mouth again, but Uary signaled for speaking time.

“I have a security issue,” he said as Avir acknowledged him.

“Please outline this issue, Bio-technician Uary.” There was an edge in Avir’s words. Basq suppressed a smile. Uary had been the one to discover the genetic evidence in Eric Born’s blood that had solidified Basq’s claim that Born had come from the Home Ground. As a result, Uary’s words carried weight, but evidently, not that much.

“Basq permitted Stone in the Wall to regain the composite globes she carried and use them as weapons. He is thus directly responsible for the loss of the human-derived artifacts as well as the globes. I submit that the Ambassador does not know enough about the artifacts to make real-time predictions of their behavior or provide adequate compensation for such behavior.”

So that is why your eyes burn,
thought Basq.
I lost you those globes.

“Further,” Uary went on, “it is still unknown why the floor restraints were not activated soon enough to prevent their loss.”

“A true statement and a fair issue,” said Kelat.

Basq almost broke then, to make obeisance to the Contractors, to shout it had been a mistake and there would be no repetition.
Do not deny me this chance. Do not remove me from this work.
Fear underscored the thoughts, because the issue was real and the criticism too well deserved.

Trust those who hold your name. Trust that they have seen this, too. Trust that they have an answer,
Basq told himself firmly, but another, older, ever-present fear began to crawl into his thoughts.
No. Even Uary would not try to hold me accountable for Jahidh.

Avir nodded in agreement with Kelat. “But let it be remembered alongside the facts regarding Ambassador Basq that you authorized the release of the globes to Ambassador Basq without providing proper security or oversight of their disposition. The video record of the transaction shows that you sent only one Intership Ambassador with the globes and did not give him instructions to remain with them and ensure their safe restoration to your laboratory.”

Avir’s words hung heavy in the air and all the people at the table turned their attention to Uary.

“I acknowledge my responsibility,” said Uary calmly. “My Contractors have my report and my detailed admissions of the fault in my procedure. But that fault was in trusting the knowledge and experience of Ambassador Basq. I am concerned about trusting him too much when the Reclamation of the Home Ground is at stake.”

Basq didn’t know whether he wanted to scream or simply fall down and die.
Trust, trust, trust,
he ordered himself.
Avir and Kelat will not let this go unchallenged. They will not. How they are remembered is bound up with how I am remembered. Uary will not mention Jahidh, even if there is no way I can make a good answer about his defection. He was removed from my supervision. He is not my fault. He has nothing to do with this.

Kelat rested his fingertips against the tabletop. “Bio-technician Uary, can you here before formal Witnesses cite flaws in Ambassador Basq’s research?” he asked.

“I cannot,” admitted Uary.

“Can you cite errors in the conclusions he has drawn based on that research?”

After a long pause, Uary said, “I cannot.”

“Then the issue is not organic to the contract we propose for Ambassador Basq. The issue is procedural. If the Ambassador’s contract is approved by this committee, I propose an additional contract will be drawn up with a Formal Witness agreed upon by the committee. Bio-technician Uary will have veto powers of the choice of Witness. The Witness will have final say over any and all security decisions regarding Ambassador Basq’s work and will have the authority to subcontract other Witnesses and services as may be required to enforce prudent and reasonable security for that work.

“Will that satisfy your issue, Bio-technician Uary?”

Uary considered the matter.

He’s going to do it. He’s going to remind them about Jahidh. He will lay the faults of my child, my child I was not allowed to supervise, at my feet. He’ll cast doubts upon my memory any way he can to keep me off the committee because I lost him those globes and his chance for promotion.

“Contractor Avir, it will satisfy my current issue,” said Uary.

A flood of relief washed through Basq and he had to work to keep it from showing.
Even if I must endure a Witness, it’s all right,
Basq told himself.
If the Witness watches me, the Witness also watches Uary, and I believe it is Uary who will provide the more … entertaining show.

“Are there any other issues to be raised regarding the contracting of Ambassador Basq?” inquired Kelat.

The silence stretched out and with each heartbeat Basq felt hope grow stronger.

“Then,” said Avir, “I invoke the name I hold. Ambassador Basq Hanr Sone of the
Grand Errand.”
Basq turned to face her as she recited the conditions of his contract. At last she said, “Do you understand the responsibilities to be laid beside your name?”

“Contractor Avir, I do.” Basq hoped his voice was full of calm assurance. He couldn’t tell. His heart was pounding too loud for him to hear anything properly.

“And do you believe you possess the skill necessary to complete this contract?”

“I do.”

“And do you agree to the appended contract that will place you under the authority and eye of a Formal Witness for the duration of this contract?”

“I do.”

“Then we bind your name to this contract,” said Kelat. “Ready your resources for the work you are assigned.”

Basq made the half obeisance his invocation required. He let all the pride he felt show in his face. It was appropriate now. He was officially part of the committee, and Uary could dine on his objections in silence.

“This committee shall join the Reclamation Assembly in fifteen days as measured in the Hundredth Core,” said Avir. “In six core days, this committee will reconvene to compare information and initiate such procedures as are in its sphere of authority so that we may report to the Assembly that we are moving ahead expeditiously.” Avir smiled warmly at her committee. “Now, my friends, the real work begins.”

“The real work begins,” chorused the committee. When the sound of their voices died away, the Witnesses closed their eyes and bowed. The meeting was ended.

Still dazzled from the turn of events, Basq forgot to move. Avir reached out and shook his shoulder.

“The time for dreaming is when we walk on the Home Ground, Ambassador,” Avir laughed.

Basq felt his cheeks heat up. “I was not dreaming, Contractor, I was … readjusting.”

Avir nodded. “I can understand the need, but there is not much time for that. Let me give you Ivale’s name formally.”

Basq followed Avir around the table to where Ivale stood talking with Uary. As they approached, Uary looked up from the conversation. A spasm of distaste crossed his features.

“Ambassador Ivale,” said Avir. “With your permission, I shall present your full name to Ambassador Basq of the
Grand Errand.”
Ivale nodded his acknowledgment. “Ambassador Basq, I present to you the name of Ambassador Ivale Muirfinn Bren of the Hundredth Core.” Basq timed his obeisance to match Ivale’s. “I leave you to arrange your work,” said Avir, and she left them there to join Kelat, who was speaking with the Historians.

“I’ve never seen a Contractor show such faith in the work of a Beholden,” remarked Uary. Basq could hear the forced casualness in his words. “I must access your files, Ambassador, and look into your previous work.”

“Should you choose to do so, you will find that I accept both credit and blame as they are due me,” Basq replied smoothly. “I do not shirk one while seeking the other.”

“Listen to me, both of you,” said Ivale coolly. “Do not permit these differences to grow into a quarrel. We cannot afford to be divided in this committee. The Imperialists are making themselves heard in the Reclamation Assembly. The successes the Unifiers have been enjoying over the past years are making many of the Assembly members uneasy. If the Imperialists appear more united and reasoned than we do, they may just get their way and then the Vitae will become nothing more nor less than a race of warmongers.”

Basq instantly bowed his head and pressed his palm against his mouth to seal in any more foolish words. Uary remained unmoved.

“Ambassador Basq,” said Ivale. “In addition to the tasks specifically outlined when your name was invoked, I would ask you to place the cases of the artifacts Eric Born and Stone in the Wall into perspective with the larger group of artifacts. Specifically, you are to determine as far as possible how dangerous they are to us and the Reclamation, under what circumstances they would become most dangerous, and what precautions should be taken to prevent those circumstances. My files from the direct observation of the artifacts on the Home Ground are open for your review. You will add the information gained by Bio-technician Uary to your assessments.” Ivale glowered at Uary. “And you will cooperate fully, Uary.”

Uary’s mouth twitched. “Ambassador Ivale, I wish to walk with my children on the Home Ground. The work is what is important to me, not who does it or who orders it.”

“As it should be,” said Ivale. “I will expect you to take the relevant conclusions that Ambassador Basq discovers into account with your work. We will convene our subcommittee in seventy-two hours with all available current information correlated and ready for presentation. Do you have any issues or additions to raise against this plan?” Formality flattened out the emotion in Ivale’s voice.

“I have none,” said Basq immediately.

“I have none at this time,” said Uary. “I reserve the right to raise any that occur in the future for your attention, Ambassador Ivale.”

“You have that right in perpetuity.” Ivale straightened a fold in his sleeve minutely. It was a dismissive gesture and Basq took a small measure of satisfaction from the sour look it brought to Uary’s face. “Ambassador Basq, your real work begins now. Technician, you must be present as the Contractors assign a Witness to accompany the Ambassador back to the
Grand Errand.”

Dismissed, Basq bowed and left the room as quickly as dignity would allow. He didn’t spare a glance at any of the artworks or core inhabitants as he hurried down the spiraling corridor toward the core’s center.

The Hundredth Core followed the layout of all the fourth generation cores. At the end of the spiral spread a public annex. Pillarlike communication booths broke up a domed space that rivaled the Home Hall for size and grandeur. The murals of Vitae ships in flight that covered the walls here had all been painted with hand tools and unaugmented skill.

Basq shut himself into one of the booths and activated the control pad as he sat down. Before the list of his options had a chance to solidify in the display space above the pad, his fingers flashed across the controls, opening the lines to the
Grand Errand
and his quarters, and Caril.

Less than five seconds passed before the full-body image of Caril seated in front of her own terminal appeared above the keypad.

“The formal copies of the contracts just arrived,” she said, breathless with pride and triumph. “I knew all would be well, but …”

“I know, I know.” Basq felt himself smile. “But we must leave our celebration for when the work is done. I will be under the eye of a Witness before I arrive back home. Listen, I have been grouped on a subcommittee with Bio-technician Uary. He is determined to minimize my effectiveness, and maybe to disengage me from the direct Reclamation work. Eventually, I may need a way to combat him publicly.”

Caril nodded. “Then you may need information about his activities. I can make that my work and I will. I’ll have the quarters ready when the Witness arrives. We will be remembered well, Basq. I swear it.”

“I swear it as well, Caril. I will see you with unaided eyes within the hour.” She smiled at him and Basq shut the lines down.

Basq realized how lucky he’d been to find Caril. Most contracted support staff would not go beyond official duty and would move on as soon as a better contract came their way, but Caril had abiding ambitions and love as well as duty in her soul. Basq had offered to make her a permanent part of his life gladly. She had accepted at once, even though permanent subservience to one person meant a relative demotion. She had known Basq would rise, even when he had doubted it. She would rise with him and she truly deserved to do so.

Basq did not let himself think about what she would have done if the contracts had not come and the white robe had become a reflection of his permanent status. Instead, he opened the lines to the transport coordination section and requested a shuttle back to the
Grand Errand.
The display informed him that the shuttle was available and the Witness was awaiting his arrival at the Home Hall.

Good to know,
Basq thought as he closed the lines and shut the terminal’s power off.
I will be ready to receive them into my life.
He savored the thought. The Reclamation of the Home Ground was first and foremost, of course, but it would not be a bad thing to assure a good place for Caril and himself when the Rhudolant Vitae walked there. Being favorably remembered by a Witness was the surest course to such a place, especially if his Contractors and Ambassador Ivale could say they shared that memory.

The Home Hall was filled with activity when Basq got there. Members of the committee were being escorted down the docking corridors by entourages numbering between six and ten Beholden. Residents of the core greeted arrivals from the encampment’s ships.

The only still figure in the room was the Witness. A dark-skinned woman several centimeters taller than Basq and at least ten kilos heavier, she stood like a single-phase statue. The movements of the other people in the hall did not so much as ruffle the hem of her jade robe or the ends of her black hair. She had a soft-sided case slung over one shoulder. The lens of her camera’s eyepiece glinted with reflected light.