Trullion: Alastor 2262 (27 page)

“Well, yes.”

“And who is the irreproachable source?”

Filidice hesitated, then made a weary gesture. ”The secretary of the Order of Lords convinced me that Akadie knew the whereabouts of the ransom money. He recommended that Akadie be imprisoned and threatened with the prutanshyr until he agreed to relinquish the money.”

“The Secretary of the Order of Lords … That would be Lord Gensifer.”

“Precisely so,” said Filidice.

“That ingrate!" hissed Akadie. “I will have a word with him.”

“It might be interesting to learn the rationale behind his accusation,” mused Shermatz. “I suggest that we undertake a visit to Lord Gensifer.”

Filidice held up his hand. “Today would be most inopportune for Lord Gensifer. The gentry of the region are at Gensifer Manse to celebrate Lord Gensifer’s wedding.”

“I am concerned for Lord Gensifer’s convenience,” declared Akadie, “to the exact extent that he is concerned with mine. We will visit him at this moment.”

“I quite agree with Janno Akadie,” said Glinnes. “Especially as we will be able to identify the true criminal and take him into custody.”

Ryl Shermatz spoke in a quizzical voice. “You speak with peculiar assurance.”

“Conceivably I am mistaken,” said Glinnes. “For this reason I feel that we should take Sagmondo Bandolio with us.”

Filidice, with affairs slipping beyond his control, became correspondingly assertive. ”This is not a sensible idea. In the first place, Bandolio is most supple and elusive; he must not cheat the prutanshyr. Secondly, he has declared himself unable to render any identification; the criminal’s features were concealed by a mask. Thirdly, I find questionable, to say the least, the theory that we will find the guilty person at Lord Gensifer’s wedding ceremony. I do not wish to create a tomfoolery and make myself a laughingstock.”

Shermatz said, “A conscientious man is never diminished by doing his duty. I suggest that we pursue our investigation without regard for side issues.”

Filidice gave a despondent acquiescence. “Very well, let us proceed to Gensifer Manse. Constable, confine the prisoner! Let the shackles be doubly locked and a trip-wire fastened around his neck.”

The black and gray official boat drove across Fleharish Broad toward the Five Islands. Half a hundred boats clustered against the dock, and the walk was decorated with festoons of silk ribbon, scarlet, yellow and pink. Through the gardens strolled lords and ladies in the splendid archaic garments worn only at the most formal occasions, and which ordinary folk were never privileged to glimpse.

The official party walked up the path, aware of their own incongruity. Chief Constable Filidice in particular struggled between pent fury and embarrassment, Ryl Shermatz was placid enough, and Sagmondo Bandolio seemed actively to enjoy the situation; he held his head high and turned his gaze cheerfully this way and that. An old steward saw them and hastened forward in consternation. Filidice gave a muttered explanation; the steward’s face drooped in displeasure. “Certainly you cannot intrude upon the ceremonies; the rites are shortly to take place. This is a most outrageous proceeding!”

Chief Constable Filidice’s self-control quivered. He spoke in a vibrant voice. “Silence! This is official business! Be off with you no, wait! We may have instructions for you.” He looked sourly at Shermatz. “What are your wishes?”

Shermatz turned to Glinnes. “What is your suggestion?”

“One moment,” said Glinnes. He looked across the garden, seeking among the two hundred folk present. Never had he seen such a gorgeous array of costumes the velvet capes of the lords; with heraldirc blazons on the back; the gowns of the ladies, belted and fringed with black coral beads, or crystallized merling scales, or rectangular tourmalines, with tiaras to match. Glinnes looked from face to face. Lute Casagave — Lord Ambal, as he chose to call himself — would necessarily be on hand. He saw Duissane, in a simple white gown and a wisp of a white turban. Feeling his gaze, she turned and saw him. Glinnes felt an emotion to which he could put no name the sense of something precious departing, something leaving, to be lost forever. Lord Gensifer stood nearby. He became aware of the new arrivals and frowned in surprise and displeasure.

Someone nearby turned on his heel and began to walk away. The motion caught Glinnes’ attention; he jumped forward, caught the man’s arm, swung him around. “Lute Casagave.” Casagave’s face was pale and austere. “I am Lord Ambal. How dare you touch me?”

“Be so good as to step this way,“ said Glinnes. “The matter is important.”

“I choose to do nothing of the kind.”

“Then stand here.” Glinnes signaled the members of his group.

Casagave once again sought to walk away; Glinnes pulled him back. Casagavess face was now white and dangerous. “What do you want of me?”

“Observe,” said Glinnes. “This is Ryl Shermatz, Chief Inspector of the Whelm. This is Janno Akadie, a formerly accredited mentor of Jolany Prefecture. Both witnessed Vang Drosset’s confession that he had murdered Shira Hulden. I am Squire of Rabendary and I now demand that you depart Ambal Isle at once.”

Lute Casagave made no response. Filidice asked peevishly, “Is this why you brought us here, merely to confront Lord Ambal?”

Sagmondo Bandolio’s merry laugh interrupted him. “Lord Ambal, now! Not so in the old days. Not so indeed!”

Casagave turned to depart, but Shermatz’s easy voice checked him. “Just a moment if you please. This is an official inquiry, and the question of your identity becomes important.”

“I am Lord Ambal; that is sufficient.”

Ryl Shermatz swung his mild gaze to Bandolio. “You know him by another name?”

“By another name and by many another deed, some of which have caused me pain. He has done what I should have done ten years ago — retired with his loot. Here you see Alonzo Dirrig, sometimes known as the Ice Devil and Dirrig the Skull-maker, one time master of four ships, as adept among the starmenters as any you might find.”

“You are mistaken, whoever you may be.” Casagave bowed and made as if to turn away.

“Not so fast!” said Filidice. “Perhaps we have made an important discovery. If this is the case, then Janno Akadie is vindicated. Lord Ambal, do you deny the charge of Sagmondo Bandolio?”

“There is nothing to deny. The man is mistaken.”

Bandolio gave a mocking caw of laughter. “Look across the palm of his left hand; you’ll see a scar I put there myself.”

Filidice went on. “Do you deny that you are the person Alonzo Dirrig; that you conspired to kidnap three hundred lords of prefecture; that subsequently you killed a certain Lempel?”

Casagave’s lips curled. “Of course I deny it. Prove it, if you can!”

Filidice turned to Glinnes. “Where is your proof?”

“One moment,” said Shermatz in a voice of perplexitv. He spoke to Bandolio. “Is this the man with whom you conversed on the beach near Welgen?”

“Alonzo Dirrig calling on me to implement his schemes? Never, never, never — not Alonzo Dirrig.”

Filidice looked dubiously at Glinnes. “So then, you are wrong, after all.”

Glinnes said, “Not so fast! I never accused Casagave, or Dirring whatever his name is. I merely brought him here to clear up an incidental bit of business.”

Casagave turned and strode away. Ryl Shermatz made a gesture; Filidice instructed his two constables; “After him! Take him into custody.” The constables ran off. Casagave looked over his shoulder, and observing pursuit, bounded out upon the dock and into his boat. With a surge and thrash of foam he sped away across Fleharish Broad.

Filidice roared to the constables, “Follow in the launch; keep him in sight! Radio for reinforcements; take him into custody!”

Lord Gensifer confronted them, face clenched in displeasure. “Why do you cause this disturbance? Can you not observe that we celebrate a solemn occasion?”

Chief Constable Filidice spoke with what dignity he could muster. “We are naturally distressed by our intrusion. We had reason to suspect that Lord Ambal was the accomplice of Sagmondo Bandolio. Apparently this is not the case.”

Lord Gensifer’s face became pink. He glanced at Akadie, then back to Filidice. “Of course this is not the case! Have we not discussed the matter at length? We know Bandolio’s accomplice!”

“Indeed,” said Akadie in a voice like a saw cutting a nail. “And who is this person?”

“It is the faithless mentor who so craftily collected and then secreted thirty million ozols! declared Lord Gensifer. “His name is Janno Akadie!”

Ryl Shermatz said silkily, “Sagmondo Bandolio disputes this theory. He says Akadie is not the man.”

Lord Gensifer threw his arms up in the air. “Very well then; Akadie is innocent! Who cares? I am sick of the whole matter! Please depart; you are intruding upon my property and upon a solemn ritual.”

“Accept my apologies,” said Chief Constable Filidice. “I assure you that this was not my scheme. Come then, gentlemen, we will — ”

“Just a moment,” said Glinnes. “We haven’t yet touched the nub of the matter. Sagmondo Bandolio cannot positively identify the man he faced on the beach, but he quite definitely can identify the mask. Lord Gensifer, will you bring forth one of the Fleharish Gorgon helmets?”

Lord Gensifer drew himself up. “I most certainly will not. What sort of farce is this? Once more I require that you depart!”

Glinnes ignored him and spoke to Filidice. “When Bandolio described horns and the lolling tongue of the mask I instantly thought of the Fleharish Gorgons. On the fourth day of Lyssum, when the meeting took place, the Gorgons had not yet been issued their uniforms. Only Lord Gensifer could have used a Gorgon helmet. Therefore, Lord Gensifer is the guilty man!”

“What are you saying?” gasped Filidice, eyes bulging in astonishment.

“Aha!” screamed Akadie and flung himself upon Lord Gensifer.

Glinnes caught him and pulled him back.

“What insane libel are you setting forth?” roared Lord Gensifer, his face suddenly mottled. “Have you taken leave of your senses?”

“It is ridiculous,” declared Filidice. “I will hear no more.”

“Gently, gently,” said Ryl Shermatz, smiling faintly. “Surely Glinnes Hulden’s theory deserves consideration. In my opinion it appears to be definite, particular, exclusive, and sufficient.”

Filidice spoke in a subdued voice. “Lord Gensifer is a most important man; he is secretary of the Order — ”

“And as such, he forced you to imprison Akadie,” said Glinnes.

Lord Gensifer furiously waved his finger at Glinnes, but could bring forth no words.

Chief Constable Filidice, in a plaintive grumble, asked Lord Gensifer, “Can you refute the accusation? Did someone perhaps steal a helmet?”

Lord Gensifer nodded vehemently. “It goes without saying! Someone — Akadie, no doubt — stole a Gorgon helmet from my storeroom.”

“In that case,” said Glinnes, “one will now be missing. Let us go to count the helmets.”

Lord Gensifer aimed a wild blow at Glinnes, who ducked back out of the way.

Shermatz signaled Filidice. “Arrest this gentleman; take him to the jail. We will put him through psychohallation, and the truth will be known.”

“By no means,” belched Lord Gensifer in a guttural voice. “I’ll never stand to the prutanshyr.“ Like Casagave, he turned and ran along the dock, while his guests watched in fascinated wonder; never had they known such a wedding. “

After him,” said Shermatz curtly. Chief Constable Filidice lurched off in pursuit and pounded down the dock to where Lord Gensifer had jumped into his runabout. Dismissing caution, Filidice leapt after him. Lord Gensifer tried to buffet him aside; Filidice, falling upon Lord Gensifer, drove him backward, over the gunwale and into the water.

Lord Gensifer swam under the dock. Filidice called after him, “It’s no use, Lord Gensifer; justice must be served. Come forth, if you will!” Only a swirl of water indicated Lord Gensifer’s presence. Filidice called again. “Lord Gensifer! Why make needless difficulty for us all? Come forth — you cannot escape!”

From under the dock came a hoarse ejaculation, then a moment of frantic splashing, then silence. Filidice slowly straightened from his crouching position. He stood staring down at the water, his face ashen. He climbed to the dock and rejoined Ryl Shermatz, Glinnes and Akadie. “We may now declare the case closed,” he said. “The thirty million ozols they remain a mystery. Perhaps we will never learn the truth.”

Ryl Shermatz looked toward Glinnes, who licked his lips and frowned.

“Well, I suppose it makes little difference one way or the other,” said Shermatz. “But where is our captive Bandolio? Is it possible that the rascal has taken advantage of the confusion?”

“So it would seem,” said Filidice disconsolately. “He is gone! What an unhappy day we have had!”

“On the contrary,” said Akadie. It has been the most rewarding of my life.”

Glinnes said, “Casagave has been evicted; for this I am most grateful. It’s an excellent day for me as well.”

Filidice rubbed his forehead. “I am still bewildered. Lord Gensifer seemed the very apotheosis of rectitude!”

“Lord Gensifer acted at precisely the wrong time,” said Glinnes. “He killed Lempel after Lempel had instructed the messenger but before the money had been delivered. He probably believed Akadie to be as unprincipled as himself.”

“A sad case,” said Akadie. “And the thirty million ozols who knows where? Perhaps on some distant world the messenger is now enjoying his astonishing new affluence.”

“That is probably the size of it,” said Filidice. “Well, I suppose I must make some sort of statement to the guests.”

“Excuse me,” said Glinnes. “There is someone I must see.” He crossed the garden to where he had seen Duissane. She was gone. He looked this way and that, but saw no Duissane. Might she have gone into the house? He thought not — the house no longer had meaning for Duissane...

A path led around the house to the beach, which fronted on the ocean. Glinnes ran down the path and saw Duissane standing on the sand looking across the water, toward that blank area where the horizon met the ocean.

Glinnes joined her. She stopped and looked at him, as if never had she seen him before. She turned away and went slowly eastward along the water. Glinnes moved after her, and in the hazy light of middle afternoon they walked together down the beach.