The Power of Gnaris (2 page)

“So, have some
of the embryos been stolen?”

“No. That we
could handle ourselves. We have many systems in place to pursue and
bring to justice thieves of embryos. This is much more serious.
Embryos, some of them almost ready to emerge from their pods, have
been killed.”

“Killed,
how?”

“They were
butchered, like some primitive animal from another world. The
method used was very crude.”

“Do you have
any suspects?”

“No, but I
believe that this was an inside job. A Karavec has done this
thing.”

“How do you
know?”

“None but a
Karavec could have passed the retinal scan test.”

Forster opened
his eyes wide. “Oh?”

“Our eyes are
different from those of any other race. They are very sensitive to
the light.”

Forster
already knew this, but probed Barrow for more information. “I see.
So, how exactly can I help you?”

“I need
someone who is not from Arion to investigate this abomination. Your
reputation as a detective is known throughout the galaxy.”

“Reputation or
not, you are very fortunate that my ship was in the vicinity. It
would have taken months for me to arrive if I had been on
Earth.”

“Maybe it is
not just a coincidence. Perhaps the gods called for you.”

“Unlikely I
have no knowledge of your gods, and have no interest in
religion.”

Barrow
nodded.

“I will need a
suite of rooms.”

Barrow waved
in acquiescence. “Yes, anything you say. The accommodation will be
provided.”

“When I have
rested a little, I will begin. Firstly, I will need to view the
crime scene. I take it nothing has been disturbed.”

“Nothing.”

“Then I will
make some preliminary enquiries, interrogate the witnesses and
interview all those who work at the centre. But, there is one more
condition.”

“Your
fee?”

“My fee is
twenty thousand kar. But that is not what I meant. There is another
condition apart from the fee.”

Barrow tugged
at his sleeve. “The fee is not a problem, but what is your . . .
condition?”

“After I
finish here, I need your permission to visit Hikon.”

“Impossible.
No one visits Hikon except the Karavec.”

“Those are my
terms.” Forster stood up, and prepared to depart.

“Wait. What is
your interest in Hikon?”

“All will be
revealed.”

Barrow patted
his bald head, as the Karavec do when they are thinking.

“Very well,”
he said with a sigh. “But I will accompany you, and you must not
leave my sight.”

Forster smiled
and nodded his approval.

* * * * *

Jethrow tapped
on the arm of his chair while he waited to be interviewed by the
strange human. He had never left Arion, and his experience with
visitors from other planets had been very limited. So, when Forster
called him into the interrogation room, he paused before hauling
himself to his feet, and then ambled through the door. He sat,
slowly raised his head to face Forster, and twiddled his
thumbs.

A female
Karavec sat next to Forster.

“I am Elena.
Lord Barrow had assigned me to be Captain Forster’s assistant and
interpreter. I will speak on his behalf. I have been chosen because
I have lived for three years on Earth, and have studied the English
language, the common language spoken by the people of Earth. I will
assist in the interrogation and serve as interpreter when
required.”

With Elena’s
help, Forster began interrogating Jethrow. “You were the one to
discover the crime?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell
me everything you know?”

Jethrow
related all that had happened from the moment he dropped the key
card to the time he sounded the alarm.

“Was there any
indication as to how the perpetrator had accessed the centre?”

“None at all.
I did not detect anything unusual until I smelt . . . the stench
was unbearable.”

“I have
examined the bodies of the nurses and the remains of the embryos.
They were all mutilated with a sharp object

probably a knife. Did you see anything that might
have been used as the murder weapon?”

“I saw
nothing. The perpetrators must have taken it with them.”

“Perpetrators?
Was there more than one?”

“I don’t know.
I am just guessing. How could one Karavec have overcome the four
nurses at the same time using such a primitive weapon?”

“Unless they
knew him, and trusted him.”

Jethrow’s face
turned a deeper shade of green. “You’re not suggesting . . .”

“All employees
at the centre are suspects. That includes you.”

Jethrow
studied the face of the detective. He had a pale complexion and a
beard. His grey short-cropped hair gave him a distinguished look.
Jethrow wondered why the Great Savant trusted this man.

“I would not
do such a monstrous thing. It was my job to care for and tend those
embryos. It was the job of each one of us working at the centre.
These embryo Karavec were the future of Arion. Without them, there
may be no future.”

“I understand.
Thank you, Chief Jethrow, that’s all the questions I have for you
for now.”

Next Forster
interrogated the first of the nurses who had been off duty at the
time of the crime, a female Karavec by the name of Trena. Forster
used similar tactics to the ones he had used with Jethrow.

He continued
his investigation by interrogating each of the other off-duty
nurses, followed by maintenance staff and cleaners who were also
employed at the centre.

When he had
completed his preliminary investigations, he reported back to the
Great Savant.

“I have
inspected the crime scene, and interviewed all the employees at the
centre. I do not believe any of them is the culprit.”

“So, who do
you suspect?”

“As you told
me when we first met, the perpetrator is Karavec. He or she must
have somehow got hold of a key card, known the PIN, and passed the
retinal test?”

“How is that
possible?”

“That I have
yet to determine. But of one thing I am sure . . .”

The Great
Savant widened his eyes in anticipation.

“. . . he or
she did not act alone.”

“You mean more
than one Karavec was involved?”

“No, I mean he

let’s just call the culprit ‘he’ for the
moment until we know their identity

I
think he had outside help.”

The Great
Savant looked puzzled. “You mean . . .”

“Yes, this is
not just a criminal act. I believe this could be an act of war, and
perhaps one of our enemy races is behind this. This has been done
to provoke your people into an act of aggression in
retaliation.”

“But,
who?”

“It could be
the Cerds, the Previns, or even the Anzous.”

“They are all
possible. Our enemies are many, and they do not forget. What about
the Singalites?”

“No, I do not
suspect the Singalites. They are not yet ready to wage war.”

“Did you find
any clues at the scene of the crime?”

“Not much that
will help us. The killer was very careful to leave no clues, and he
must have taken the murder weapon with him. There were no
footprints, and no hair samples.”

“Karavec do
not have much hair.”

“ However, I
did find this.”

Forster
snatched a sample bag from his pocket. It contained a curved
finger.

“One of the
nurses must have fought back, and managed to use the perpetrator’s
weapon against him. This finger does not belong to any of the dead
nurses. I have already done some tests. It must, therefore, belong
to the murderer. We may be able to match the fingerprint.”

The great
savant frowned. “This is no use.”

“Why?”

“The Karavec
live for many centuries, outliving the other races in the Milky
Way. This is mainly due to our ability to replace damaged limbs or
body organs. If this sample is from the killer, then the finger
would have been replaced already, and the new finger will have a
different print from this one. This will not help us identify
him.”

Forster
smiled. “However, we could match this sample to the DNA of a
suspect.”

“But first you
must find a suspect. So what will be your next move?”

“First we must
find the Karavec who has committed this crime, and match his DNA to
this sample. Then we will use some . . . er . . . methods of
persuasion to discover who he is in league with.”

“You have my
permission to use whatever means you have at your disposal. We must
find this traitor and prevent this from happening again.”

Just at that
moment the Great Savant’s communication device came to life with a
jingle of music, and an image appeared on the screen.

“Excuse me,”
he said to Forster. “This message has come through on my most
urgent channel. It is my deputy on Hikon.”

Forster nodded
in acquiescence while the Great Savant turned his attention to the
screen.

“Yes, Mallow,
what is it? You have interrupted a very important meeting.”

“Forgive me,
my Lord Barrow, but this cannot wait,” he said breathlessly. “The
Embrycultural Centre on Hikon has been violated. All the embryos
are dead!”

Chapter 2 – The
Speed in Darkness

“
Where
light abounds, we are limited; but in the absence of light . . . ah
. . . we are limitless.”

 The Book of
Karavec (36, 51)

“We must leave
at once for Hikon,” said Forster.

“Not so
hasty,” said the Great Savant. “My first consideration is the other
Karavec colonies. If this murderer has struck twice, once here on
Arion, and now on Hikon, he will surely try to strike again. We
must warn the other colonies, step up the guard at all the
Embrycultural Centres and change the security codes. So, if you
will please forgive me, I must attend to this as a matter of great
urgency.”

“Of course,”
Forster replied, bowing his head slightly, and turning towards the
door.

“Your
accommodation is ready,’ the Great Savant added. “Our transport to
Hikon will arrive in two days.”

“In two days,
but . . .”

“I regret that
my personal ship is under repair. We must wait for the ferry ship
to return from Hikon.”

“My ship is
available.”

“Out of the
question. I have already conceded that you may accompany me to
Hikon, but I cannot allow your ship, which is not Karavec, to enter
Hikon orbit. It would displease the gods.”

“I understand,
but every day’s delay could make the task of finding the killer
more difficult.”

After Forster
had left the room, Barrow instructed his communications officer to
send urgent messages to his deputies in all the Karavec colonies.
He could not allow even one more Karavec embryo to die. The future
of the race depended on it.

Barrow then
passed through another door into an adjacent room which was in
darkness. This was his private chapel, where he prayed every day to
the gods.

He collapsed
onto one knee and began his intonation, the first part well
practised after many centuries.

“Oh, mighty
gods of the Karavec,” he began, “hear me from across the great
darkness. You dwell far away in another galaxy, which is our home.
We are waiting for the day you come to claim the Milky Way. Our
main purpose, our only purpose is to establish an empire in the
Milky Way ready for your arrival. Our loyal warriors and servants,
each one of us, is working towards a better future, for a place
where the Karavec gods will rule.”

Barrow stood
and raised his head in anticipation. Almost at once a hologram
appeared on the dais. The creature in the hologram had the
appearance of a very old wizened member of the Karavec race.

“What news do
you bring me, Barrow?”

“Oh, great and
mighty Kingirow, leader of the gods, creator of the Karavec and of
the Council, I have very sad news.”

“Are you sick,
Barrow, or is there sickness among the Karavec? Has there been some
kind of accident?”

“No, oh Great
One, it is more terrible than that. All our embryos are dead; dead
at the hands of one of our own. Please forgive me and my people,
Lord Kingirow, if we have displeased you. We are as always loyal to
you and to your will, and that of the other gods. Tell me how I
might appease you and all the gods.”

“This is grave
news indeed. You have failed us, Barrow.”

“It was not .
. .”

“Barrow, you
are the leader of the Karavec. The responsibility is yours. If
others have failed you, then they are answerable to you. But you
are answerable to us, and you have failed us.”

“We will find
the perpetrator of this crime. I have hired the best detective in
the galaxy.”

“Oh, who?”

“It is Captain
Jim Forster.”

“This is a
strange name, and unfamiliar to me.”

“Captain
Forster is a human from the planet Earth.”

Kingirow, who
had remained calm until now, raised his voice. “An outsider is
investigating this crime? An ally, yet still one from an alien
race.” The hologram flashed on and off several times before
flickering to life once more. “Why?”

“Did you not
hear me, oh Great One, the murderer is one of our own. I deemed it
necessary for an outsider to investigate this crime. Forster is
renowned as a detective, and was in the area. Did you and the other
gods summon him?”

“Perhaps we
summoned him; perhaps we did not. What the gods do or do not do is
none of your concern. Do you think we foresaw this
abomination?”

Barrow waited
in silence for several seconds before Kingirow spoke again. “How
many embryos are dead?”

“Sixty, and
four nurses.”