Venus Rising (34 page)

The work of cleaning up and repairing the
damaged Capital had stopped when the bells sounded, and far below
them a crowd had begun to gather in Assembly Square and along the
streets that radiated from it.

By custom, it was the secretary who made all
public announcements for the Assembly. As he began to speak, Narisa
listened with growing wonder at what she and Halvo and Tank had
done. Crushed among Members and Halvo’s guards as they were, no one
noticed when Tarik took her hand in his and held it tight. Narisa
let her fingers curl around his.

“Almaric Gibal of Demaria, our new Leader,”
the secretary read, and had to wait until the cheering had stopped.
But it did not stop. It grew louder. It did not take Narisa long to
see why. A transporter car of the type used between spaceport and
the city had landed on the pad in the middle of Assembly Square.
The door slid back. Two Service guards stepped out, hesitated when
they saw the cheering crowd, then moved aside and Almaric
appeared.

“So,” Halvo spoke over the roar, “Tyre had
his men waiting at spaceport for my father. And there’s my mother,
and Suria and Gaidar, too. We needn’t wonder what their fates would
have been had Tyre still been in power when they arrived in the
Assembly chambers.”

“I thank all the stars they are safe,” Kyran
declared. “I was truly worried about them. I don’t know what we
would have done if Almaric had not returned promptly.”

“But with my father’s usual inspired timing,”
Tarik said, “he has returned to the Capital, all unknowing and
therefore innocent of complicity in his sons’ plans, just after his
election is publicly declared. Halvo, you had better send a few of
your men down there to protect him from his admirers before they
tear him apart with love.”

“It has been taken care of,” Kyran said. “See
there - an honor guard of Service officers.”

By this time the secretary had recovered
himself and after a hasty consultation with Kyran began to speak
once more to the public.

“Leader Almaric will be formally presented to
the Assembly tomorrow at mid morning. All citizens of the Capital
are granted two days’ holiday beginning immediately.” The cheer
that followed this announcement was so loud the secretary gave up
trying to speak and moved aside to let the Members crowd against
the balcony railing to wave to the people below.

“They’ve begun celebrating already,” Tarik
said to Narisa, pointing to where several casks had been rolled
into the square and were being tapped, while cups and pitchers had
mysteriously appeared in many hands. “I wonder how the ordinary
citizens always know what is going to happen? I had not fully
realized how unpopular Leader Tyre was. It looks as though my
parents will return to their house in a triumphal procession.”

“I think we should take them there in my
personal transporter,” Halvo suggested. “It will be easier for them
to go by air than through the streets.”

“I’ll go with you, if I may.” Kyran spoke
quickly. “Almaric and I have much to discuss.”

“Come along then, before all the other
Members have the same idea,” Halvo urged.

They were taken by levitator to where Halvo’s
transporter had been left. Most of his guards rejoined him along
the way.

“Do you really think,” Narisa asked Tarik as
they waited for everyone to board, “that Almaric will be able to
change some of the most unfair and outdated laws?”

“The Assembly works very slowly. He can’t do
much about that, but he can use his prestige to influence some
changes over time,” Tarik replied.

“Two that need to be repealed at once,” she
declared, “are the Act of Banishment and the Reproduction law.”

“Hush, dear rebel, don’t even mention that
yet.” Tarik regarded her with love and laughter in his eyes. “We
will talk to my father later.”

“And talk to him about your plan, the one you
won’t discuss with me?” She moved a little closer to him as Halvo’s
guards crowded into the transporter.

“That, too.” He laughed at her, teasing.
“Have patience, my love. You will know all in time.”

Unperturbed that their master and mistress
had arrived unexpectedly, or that transportation of food supplies
to the Capital had been interrupted by warfare, Almaric’s jubilant
servants provided a surprisingly ample celebration feast for the
new Leader and his family. Looking into the eating room, Narisa
thought they must have used up most of the food put away in
Kalina’s storage rooms. Platters and serving dishes piled high with
food and pitchers brimming with wine covered the shining surface of
the deep red stone table, leaving little space for individual
plates and cups and eating utensils.

When Kalina, in one of her typically
warmhearted gestures, decided to invite all of the attendant guards
to eat, too, the meal was quickly turned into a buffet. Wandering
diners carried their plates into the entrance hall or large
reception room, or out to the walled garden, where they sat in
small groups to eat. Almaric himself ate quickly and then retired
to his private library with Kyran, Halvo and Tarik.

It was in the garden that Narisa found Suria
and Gaidar, both sitting on the grass. Gaidar held a bowl of
vegetable stew topped with slices of meat in one hand, and a large
chunk of bread in the other. He dipped the bread into the bowl,
scooped out a pile of vegetables and took a huge bite.

Suria was eating more daintily from a smaller
bowl of fruit and cheese. At her invitation, Narisa dropped to the
ground beside them.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak with you
since you returned. Where did you go when you left the Capital?”
she asked them. “I worried about all of you. Were you able to avoid
the Cetans?”

“Easily. We were far from the battle.” Gaidar
laid his bread on one knee so he could use his fingers to pick a
slice of meat out of his bowl. Narisa refrained from telling him he
should eat with the proper implements as Jurisdiction citizens did.
He would learn in time. He was too clever not to learn. He grinned
his naughty-little-boy smile, and she forgave him his lack of
social skills.

“Gaidar demonstrated Starthruster for us,”
Suria said. “Almaric was most impressed, thanks to me.”

“To you?” Gaidar grumbled. “I was piloting
the ship.”

“A little too enthusiastically, considering
Starthruster’s potential speed. It’s a good thing for you I was
your navigator. Without me, we would all be somewhere outside the
galaxy, trying to find our way back.”

“Don’t believe her. We stopped on a planet
Almaric wanted to visit,” Gaidar told Narisa. “It was in one of the
far spiral arms. That is why we were at the edge of the galaxy. It
had nothing to do with my piloting. Almaric spent a long time
conferring with the planetary leaders, which is why we were late
returning after the battle was over. We intercepted a message
transmitted from a Service ship saying the Jurisdiction had won, so
we knew it was safe to come back whenever we wanted.”

“You returned at exactly the right time.”
Narisa had another important question. “Where is Jon Tanon?”

“Leader Tyre’s men took him away the moment
we docked at spaceport,” Suria said. “But I spoke to Almaric a
little while ago, and he has issued orders for Jon to be taken to
the medical center. I think he will recover in time, Narisa. He was
beginning to notice things again, and to try to speak. He will have
the very best care, you may be certain of that. We may also be sure
Almaric won’t forget what was done to Jon when he is deciding on
Tyre’s punishment.”

“That Styxian lizard deserves to be hung up
by his big toes until he rots.” This verdict was delivered between
slurps as Gaidar lifted the bowl to his lips to drain the last of
the stew juices.

“If you wipe your mouth with your sleeve and
stain that shirt,” Suria told him, “it’s you who’ll be hung by your
toes. Kalina will see to it personally.”

“Ah, that one. I’m truly afraid of that
woman. This is her precious son Halvo’s shirt.” Gaidar looked
around anxiously, stew dribbling slowly down his chin, until Narisa
took pity on him and handed him her own napkin. He cleaned his face
with it, then gave it back to her with a comical flourish.

“We’ll civilize you yet,” Narisa murmured,
folding the dirty napkin into her own empty stew bowl. “What will
you do now that the war with Ceta has ended?”

“I don’t know.” He looked glum. “Almaric has
asked me to stay here at his house for a while. I think he plans to
use me when it’s time to negotiate the Cetan treaty, but I don’t
think that would work well at all. I don’t know what to do. Perhaps
I’ll steal a ship and try to find that lost planet again.”

“And you, Suria? Will you be allowed to
return to the Service?”

“I’m not sure. Like Gaidar, I’ve been invited
to remain here temporarily. It will take some time for Almaric to
begin his own programs in the Assembly. Perhaps I can work for
abolishment of the Reproduction Law.”

“You Jurisdiction people have a law for
everything.” Gaidar shook his head in disgust. “I should have known
there would be one about reproduction. Do I have to get permission
from your Assembly if I want to ask a woman to share my bed?”

“No.” Narisa laughed, imagining such a scene.
“It’s not quite that bad.” She quickly explained the law and the
punishment for breaking it.

“It is a stupid, cruel law.” Gaidar nearly
choked on indignation. “I don’t know why you allow it to
continue.”

“It is a bad law now,” Suria agreed. “But
when it was first promulgated, it was a wise idea. The Jurisdiction
faced the possibility of extinction through overpopulation. Under
the Reproduction Law, permission to have a child is a precious
thing and is properly valued. Unwanted children are no longer
mistreated or sold into slavery as they too often were centuries
ago. The civilized Races have prospered and have kept their numbers
well within tolerable limits. The situation has changed for the
better, and it is time to change the law. I would like to help do
that.”

Gaidar looked at Suria with more than his
usual interest.

“Someone told me that’s why you left the
Service, to have a child,” he said. “Did you have a man,
Suria?”

“No. I volunteered for the Genetic
Improvement Program.”

“Genetic-? By all the stars, you people are
mad! Insane! I’ll be happy to improve your genes with an infusion
of sensible Cetan genes any time you want. Just say the word, but
make it soon. I haven’t had a woman for months.”

“Excuse me, please.” Narisa stood up. If that
had been a proposal of some kind, it was the strangest on record.
She could not judge Suria’s reaction. Suria was keeping her
beautiful face carefully blank. Narisa thought they were best left
alone. “I need to speak to Kalina and I’m very tired. My head still
aches. I really should rest.” She could think of no other excuses
to leave them gracefully. She did not think they noticed her going.
They were looking into each other’s eyes.

* * * * *

Early the next morning Narisa descended to
the entrance hall to find Tarik and Halvo there, along with a crowd
of Service officers and Members of the Assembly.

“Greetings, Lieutenant Narisa,” called Kyran
of Serania as she reached the bottom of the wide red stone
stairway. His deep bass voice sounded across the hall. “Have you
come to wish Almaric well before he leaves for the chambers? This
is a joyous day for all citizens of the Jurisdiction.”

“You seem especially joyous, Member Kyran.”
Watching him approach her, she was a little wary, fearing he might
raise again the question of the telepathic birds. On the other
hand, it was Kyran who had been the first to move that Tyre be
deposed. She was grateful to him for that.

“Kyran has reason to be happy,” Tarik said,
coming up behind her and putting one hand on her shoulder.
‘`Almaric has appointed a Council of Special Members to be his
advisors, and has named Kyran its Chief Member.”

“It is a great honor,” Kyran declared,
“though a drastic change from the way Tyre always ruled. For so
long everything in the Assembly remained the same, and now, all at
once, there are so many changes. So many changes,” he repeated.

“Change can sometimes be a good thing,”
Narisa responded, hoping to encourage him, and relieved that he had
not mentioned the birds. “I congratulate you on your new post,
Member Kyran.”

“I am certain you will prove equal to the
tasks ahead of you,” Tarik added dryly, and Narisa recalled the
unkind remarks he had made in the past about the Assembly never
wanting change.

“They will have no choice, will they?” she
murmured as Kyran turned away to greet someone else and Tarik
steered her toward the eating room. “The Members will be forced to
accept a great many changes now.”

“It will be good for them,” Tarik declared,
closing the eating room doors on the sound of voices from the
entrance hall. “My father has decided that Halvo and I, along with
ten other representatives of the Service, should be at his formal
presentation today.”

“I thought only Assembly Members were allowed
to be there,” Narisa said, surprised at this development.

“It was my mother’s suggestion.” Tarik
grinned knowingly. “She has begun her own program for making
changes in the old ways. There will also be a public reception
after the official ceremonies are over. She wants you to go to
that. She will ask you this morning. Do you feel well enough?”

“Oh, yes. After all Kalina has done for us,
I’ll do anything she asks of me.” She touched his arm with loving
concern. “Tarik, you look so tired. Did you sleep at all last
night, or were you working?”

“I’ll sleep later, after this long day is
over. Tomorrow night we’ll be together again, my love, and then
I’ll see to it that it’s you who lack for sleep.”