第80节

'I don't see what you're getting at."

'Aren't the Iron Masters going to end up flying these things?"

'That's the general idea. So what?"

'Well . . . they don't even let low'ranking dinks ride' horses.

They're reserved for samurai - like these airplanes you're making.

Won't they object to a slave becoming a pilot?"

'I don't see why they should,' replied Cadillac. 'Trackers are slaves

too. Okay, they may be better educated and some may possess high-level

technical skills, but the Iron Masters don't place any greater value on

their lives.

That's because there's not enough of you in Ne-Issan to form a useful

workforce on their own - on top of which you can't reproduce

yourselves. As far as the Japs are concerned, we're all lumped

together at the bottom of the heap and we're all expendable."

'Except you,' said Steve.

Cadillac greeted the proposition with a lopsided grin.

'Yeah, that's what I've been telling myself." The bottle of sake

clattered against the rim of the cup as he refilled it.

'But I heard something today which may oblige me to, uhh. cut short my

stay."

Steve waved away the offered bottle. 'Oh, yeah?"

'Yeah... I overheard Min-Orota's people talking as they were on their

way out. If the flight tests using these rockets prove satisfactory

they're going to send a group of samurai to Heron Pool for pilot

training."

Steve's mind swiftly grasped the possibilities this move opened up.

'Congratulations."

Cadillac eyed him sullenly. 'They may be a little premature."

'I don't understand. Isn't this what you expected?"

'That wasn't all I heard. The Japs who have been looking over our

shoulders are all craft-masters."

'So . . .?"

'Isn't it obvious? They're drafting in their own people to help us

complete this first batch. When the samurai earn their wings they'll

be in a position to teach others to fly."

'Yeah, go on..."

'And they will also have learnt every detail of the production

process.

We could find ourselves surplus to requirements."

All this was music to Steve's ears, but he couldn't resist clawing back

a few points. The and the other guys, perhaps, but not you, surely

after all you've done?"

Cadillac eyed him but he didn't say anything.

Steve could see the Mute was steadily drinking himself into

insensibility, but he was still able to feel that little shaft drive

home. Time for another. 'I'm surprised you didn't see it coming.

Haven't you been reading the stones?"

'Not since I saw the pain and grief you were going to bring. You're

bad news, Brickman."

Steve kept it light. 'Hey, c'mon! That's past history.

What happened wasn't my fault. "The Path is drawn."

Isn't that what Mr Snow said? I'm here 'cause I'm trying to help. Why

don't you grab a reading-stone and get an update on what's due to

happen to us?"

Cadillac shook his head wearily. 'Won't work. I've looked, but I...

can't find one."

'But there has to be ' 'Oh, sure, they're here. I just can't see them

anymore." He raised his cup of sake. 'This seems to have dulled my

perception."

'Pity,' said Steve. 'Guess we'll just have to work round it." He

would have liked to know if they were going to get away - but on the

other hand it meant Cadillac didn't have a clue about what was going to

happen. It was better that way. If he was brought in on the escape

plan, then had yet another change of heart, it would only complicate

matters even further.

Cadillac tried to bolster his morale with another stiff shot of the

pale yellow liquor, but he couldn't keep his steely-eyed act

together.

His voice cracked and his face crumpled. He leaned forward quickly and

massaged his cheeks and forehead in an effort to hide his tears. 'Why

is it my life always falls apart whenever you appear?"

Steve felt a twinge of remorse. 'You're reading it wrong,' he said

softly. 'Your life's