The Alembic Plot: A Terran Empire novel

  20. Lesson

  Odeon woke, a scream caught in his throat, pain knifing through hishead. When it eased, he found himself gasping, staring around in thedark. "Who--"

  *Do you always ask foolish questions, priest? You belong to the oneyou call Cortin; you should be able to sense who I am. And you neednot speak aloud; survive, and this will be only your first taste ofmental speech.*

  *With that clue, I think I do know who you are.* Odeon braced himself,wondering what Shayan wanted with him.

  *A service that will be to both my benefit and Cortin's--and soindirectly to yours. And you're right--I do not generally do thingsfor others, especially enemies. Nor am I changing that policy; this isprimarily for myself, if that will relieve your mind enough to listen.*

  *Do I have any choice?* Odeon asked.

  *About listening, yes, though only because I choose to give you thechoice. About doing what I ask, the choice is totally yours. Will youlisten?*

  *In that case, I don't see any unavoidable danger; go ahead.*

  *You're so kind. I gather you're one of Cortin's holy staff?*

  *Of her core group, if that's what you mean,* Odeon replied cautiously.

  *The same thing. Is the group complete?*

  *No comment.*

  *It isn't, then. So you have room for my protege, who will be arrivingthis coming Saturday.*

  *What!* Odeon was startled, though only briefly. Because someone hadserved Shayan didn't mean that person was beyond redemption;theoretically, Shayan himself could be saved, as he'd once commented toJoanie. *I'll consider her when she gets here, but that's all I'llpromise.*

  *That'll be adequate--you'll be surprised, I think, at her spiritualstate. She's committed few sins.*

  That statement was almost as surprising as the Hell-King'speculiar-seeming chattiness. Odeon knew better than to relax his guardtoo much, but his investigator's curiosity was aroused. *That's hardto believe.*

  *Nevertheless, it is true.* Shayan gave the impression of a sardonicsmile. *I'm called the Father of Lies, priest, but that's to salve thefeelings of those who don't want to believe me. The truth is a muchmore versatile and useful tool--and usually a far more painful one.Sara has acted under my compulsions most of her life, so most of whatyou'd call her sins are chargeable to me instead. And the fact thatshe's been taking the Sacraments from me doesn't alter their validity,which I find highly amusing.*

  It was a good thing for the girl that was true, Odeon thought. *Andwill you remove those compulsions before sending her here?*

  *I think not,* Shayan told him. *I could, easily--but if I have tolose her to you, you must be willing to pay my price. You will be theone to remove my compulsions, if you want her.*

  *You know I don't have any choice,* Odeon replied. *You'll have toshow me how--and tell me the price.*

  *Showing you how is the price. Giving you that ability involvesrestructuring part of your mind, which I promise will make you pray youwere enduring Inquisitor Cortin's professional attentions instead. Iwon't injure you--for reasons you do not and cannot now understand,that would not be to my benefit--but I can and will make you suffer.I'd suggest you find a place where you can't be heard screaming, andwhere you won't injure yourself. It might also be a good idea to userestraints.*

  It went against Odeon's grain to take anything from Shayan willingly,but as he'd said, he didn't have a choice under the circumstances,either as law officer or as priest. He'd take the instruction--and thesuggestions. *What about another of the team, to help?*

  *If you wish. You'll feel me again when you're ready.*

  Odeon shivered as he felt the contact snap. He'd known he'd have toface Shayan eventually, and he'd been sure it would be an unpleasantexperience--but he hadn't expected it this soon, for even a remotelysimilar purpose, and he'd underestimated the unpleasantness. Thisdefinitely classified as something he'd much rather avoid, even thoughhe knew he wouldn't. He prayed for the strength to do it right, thentried to decide who he should get to help.

  Joanie was out for obvious reasons, he didn't care to have Sis see himscreaming, and Chuck didn't have the experience to handle a situationlike this promised to be. That left Tony, Dave, and Tiny--withPriest-Inquisitor Bain the most logical choice.

  * * * * *

  "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Mike?"

  Odeon tested the shackles that held him. Dave had padded them, butotherwise he could have been the Inquisitor's subject instead of hissenior officer, spouse, and friend. "Of course not--got analternative?"

  Bain shook his head. "No, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.Okay, you're as ready as I can get you."

  Odeon stiffened when he felt Shayan's mind-touch, but the promised paindidn't come immediately. *I had intended to show my lady the lesspleasant aspects of my realm,* the Hell-King told him, *but shebelieves it to be an illusion. So I will show her this operationinstead. She will also believe it to be an illusion--until you removemy compulsions. Then she will know the truth, that they could beneither imposed nor removed by a normal human agency. And beneath itshe has considerable empathy. Enough to fit into the group you--andyou, Priest-Lieutenant Bain--are part of.*

  *Get on with it!* Odeon sent.

  *Such impatience for torment! Would that I could promise you eons ofit--but hours will have to suffice.* Both men were fully aware ofShayan's regret at that--and his anticipation. *Still, I can make itlast that long, though it isn't truly necessary; the procedure needtake no longer than seconds, and would be equally effective if you wereunconscious. Either would rob it of what little pleasure I can extractfrom my lady's loss, however. So, priest--suffer my pleasure.* Alltrue, Shayan thought, as far as the ability to remove compulsions wasconcerned--but Odeon's pain, including that of believing the anguishunnecessary, was essential to the tempering process. Seizing theother's mind, Shayan began his mental surgery.

  Odeon screamed, convulsing. Bain shuddered as they continued, going onand on, pausing barely long enough for Odeon to inhale. The Inquisitorwas sickly grateful to Shayan for recommending restraints; withoutthem, Mike's struggles would be breaking bones. There was no skillinvolved here, no subtlety, no hope for the subject to end it byconfessing when the pain became unendurable--which it did, as quicklyas Shayan had promised. Though Bain was no longer sharing their mentalcontact, his Inquisitor's training let him know when Odeon reached hisbreaking point and was forced beyond it, to agony no drug could keep aman alive through, much less conscious.

  But Odeon did remain conscious, with full awareness that it wasShayan's power keeping him that way--and the understanding, at last,that this was what Joanie and Sis had suffered from the Hell-King.Rape was rape, be it physical or mental--and horrible as the pain was,the worst part was the degrading violation.

  Bain prayed. There was nothing else to do until, eventually, it ended.With a final convulsion like he was being shaken, Odeon went limp.Bain hurriedly freed him from the restraints and carried him into thebathroom. Mike'd need a hot soak to relax strained muscles, then daysof recuperation--God, what would Joanie think when she saw him?

  * * * * *

  Cortin didn't sleep well. Her dreams were troubling, nightmares ofShayan tormenting her team in ways she couldn't stop, gloating overthem, taunting her with her helplessness. And it didn't improve whenshe woke; the feeling of something wrong with her people wouldn't goaway, even when she told herself it was nothing more than a bad dream.

  After a quarter hour of being unable to get back to sleep, Cortin gotup and put on a robe. Foolish as it was, it looked like the only wayto settle her mind was to make sure everyone was all right.

  It didn't worry her too much that Odeon wasn't in his room, though,when she checked there first; he was probably with Sis or Betty. ButSis was in with Tiny, Betty with Chuck, and Tony was sprawled outalone, with a contented expression on his face. It wasn't until shechecked the common-room withou
t finding either Mike or Dave that herworry got serious. Dave hadn't said anything about having a subject heneeded to work on overnight, and Mike didn't have any plans she knewabout. Their not being in their rooms or the common-room didn't proveanything, necessarily--but she couldn't help being concerned. She wentback to her room for her dungeon keys and gunbelt, then went belowground.

  Her worry got worse when she saw the "In Use" light at Bain's suite.She went into the observation room, which didn't help--padded shacklesin the third-stage room?--but still nothing of the missing two.

  She left the observation room and stood before the suite's main doorfor several seconds, debating with herself. If Dave was conducting aninterrogation with Mike's help, she'd feel foolish intruding--but ifone or both of them was hurt, she'd never forgive herself if shedidn't. Deciding, she opened the door. "Mike? Dave?"

  "Oh, God," a muffled voice said. More strongly, she heard, "In thebathroom, Joanie. Sis with you?"

  "No." Cortin covered the distance to the bathroom in record time,appalled at what she saw when she opened the door. "What happened? Ishe alive?"

  "Yeah--but he needs help. Take a look."

  Cortin did, and crossed herself. There were no apparent injuries, butMike looked horrible--so pale the scar across his face lookedbloody-fresh, his muscles spasming in tiny tremors. It was obvioushe'd been severely tortured, though she couldn't imagine how, with nowounds. She still wanted to know what had happened, but that desirewas nothing next to her need to remedy whatever had been done to hersecond-in-command and heir. "Go get Sis--she and Tiny are in his room.Have him bring down as many blankets as he can carry. Then call Ivan,he may have information I need."

  "Right." Bain hurried out.

  Praying as hard as she could, Cortin knelt beside the tub, touchingOdeon's forehead. He wasn't chilled, so Dave was treating him forshock rather than cold. Wrists and ankles were bruised, consistentwith the padded shackles--but it didn't make sense! Even if sheignored the impossibility of Dave interrogating one of the team, hewouldn't use padded shackles, and his subject would certainly have moreserious injuries than simple bruises! Yet Mike had been terribly hurt,despite his lack of wounds, and Dave had been there--watching, ifnothing else. What was going on?

  At least Mike didn't seem to be in immediate danger, as far as shecould tell. His pulse was weak but steady and his breathing wasregular, not labored, though also not as strong as she'd like. Themuscle tremors were slowing too, which was a good sign.

  Moments later she heard the door open, and turned. "Sis? We're inhere."

  "Dave told me." Cortin moved aside, making way for the medic to kneelbeside her patient. Chang opened her kit and began checking Odeon'scondition. "What was done to him?"

  "I don't know," Cortin said, controlling her frustration with aneffort. "I can't even make a realistic guess--didn't Dave tell youanything?"

  "He was too upset to tell me more than the basic information Irequired--that Mike had been hurt, but only minimally injured." Changcontinued her examination for a few minutes, then stood. "He isexhausted, and there may be some muscular strain in addition to thebruises; otherwise, he is well. He requires only warmth, rest, andtime for complete recovery."

  "He'll get all he needs." Cortin turned to Pritchett, who'd come inwhile Chang was working. "You brought the blankets?"

  "In the office."

  "Good. Sis, how soon can we move him someplace more comfortable?"

  "When he stops trembling--a few minutes, I should say."

  "Will it be safe to take him upstairs, or should I have a bed broughtdown?"

  "It will be safe." Chang smiled. "His hurts are not life-threatening,though he will be easily fatigued and probably uncomfortable for threeor four days. Possibly longer, though I would be surprised if he isnot fully recovered within a week."

  They had Odeon upstairs and settled in his own bed by the time Illyanovarrived, and the entire Family--the rest awakened by the commotion--wasgathered in the common-room. Bain had told them he'd really rather nothave to go through the story more than once and Cortin had agreed--hisdistress was obvious--so it wasn't until she'd apologized for gettingIllyanov up on what now looked like an unnecessary errand that Bainexplained.

  As Cortin listened, she got coldly angry. Shayan was Evil personified,true, but that gave him no right to torment one of the Protector'spriests! Kill him, yes--they'd all die, and Service personnel didn'texpect an easy death--but not subject him to agony for no reason exceptthe sheer pleasure of it! She was the one who was supposed to faceShayan--and while the thought frightened her, she'd prefer it to havingher people do so.

  When Bain finished, she said as much. "Not that he had any choiceunder the circumstances, of course," she added. "But try not to getinto similar circumstances, would you all?"

  "We will try," Chang said. "However, we may have no more choice in thematter than Mike was given. And you should be in no hurry to face him."

  "I didn't say I was in a hurry," Cortin said. "It might be a good ideato get it over with, though. I won't win, but I might weaken himenough the Protector will."

  "You must not act prematurely," Illyanov cautioned, frowning. "Youhave not found all the Protector's staff yet, and there may be otherthings equally necessary to prepare His way."

  "Not act prematurely!" Cortin snorted. "At this point, I don't reallyfeel like I'm acting at all, much less prematurely!"

  "If you consider leading an attempt to completely restructure society,extracting information vital to fighting terrorists, and preparing forthe Final Coming, to be not acting, I will agree. Otherwise, I wouldsuggest you remain cautious; direct action against Shayan, unlessunavoidable, is the Protector's prerogative."

  Cortin grimaced. Illyanov's quiet, level words stung; she knew she wasdoing useful work. It was just that it didn't feel like enough,and--especially after Mike's gratuitous torture--she wanted to take thesort of direct action Ivan said she shouldn't. It would be sosatisfying to go into the Vatican during a major public event andchallenge Lucius with his real identity, force him to take some sort ofaction that would prove it! He'd kill her, of course, but it'd beworth it to bring him into the open. "I'll behave, I promise--eventhough I'd rather not. Isn't there anything I can do for Mike?"

  "There is a possibility," Illyanov said thoughtfully. "According tosome of our writings, the Herald may be granted the use of some of theProtector's powers--your truthsense may be one. Another should behealing--though as Michael's problem is not life-threatening, thatmight not come into play."

  "It might, though, since it's due to Shayan's direct action." Cortinstood. "I've got to give it a try--if it works, I'll be back with him."

  For Shayan's reaction: 20a. Decision