第88节

'Yes, I told him and Clearwater confirmed it later on."

The Jap's slitted eyes seemed to close completely. 'You are absolutely

sure about this? There could have been no room for any

misunderstanding?"

'No. He questioned her at length. Ask the other samurai who was

there. The chief ronin. Noburo NakaJima."

It was Skull-Face's turn to look surprised. 'How do you know this

man's name?"

'It's a long story. I saved the life of his wife and child.

But that's irrelevant. He took me to meet the Herald. He was sat

right beside me when I told Hase-Gawa he'd got it wrong."

'I see. And he was also there when the Herald questioned the

female?"

'No. When she was brought in, he stayed in the other room. But the

walls were only made of paper. Maybe he listened in."

'Maybe he did... ' mused Skull-Face. 'Describe what happened when you

left the pavilion."

'Noburo's men took Clearwater away first, then he tied my hands behind

my back and Hase-Gawa led me away."

'It was dark?"

'Pitch-black."

'Go on..."

'After we'd gone a short distance - a hundred yards or so - he suddenly

turned around and hit me - hard." Steve turned his head to one side.

'Just under my left ear. Must have knocked me clean out. When I came

to he was kneeling over me, massaging my neck."

'So you have no idea how long you were unconscious?"

'No."

'Never mind. What you have said may help us solve a mystery. Now - I

wonder if you can explain something else that I find quite baffling how

was the male Mute able to learn to speak our language without being

taught - and how was the female able to influence the actions of the

Consul-General?"

'They are what the Plainfolk call "gifted" individuals.

They have certain powers. I don't know how it works; no one does. But

I do know they can do extraordinary things. Most people dismiss the

stories they hear about "Mute magic". But there/s such a thing. I've

been there when the forces have been released. It's awesome."

Skull-Face accepted this with a thoughtful nod. 'Are there many of

these "gifted" grass-monkeys?"

'No. Fortunately, they are extremely rare. My experience is limited

to one Plainfolk clan, but it appears that the only Mutes who possess

these ... special abilities, are smooth-boned and clear-skinned." It

wasn't strictly true, but if challenged he could always plead

ignorance. 'What we in the Federation call super-straights."

'Because they look exactly like you..."

'They resemble us, but inside they're totally different.

Their society, their whole belief system is totally alien to ours.

That's what makes them so dangerous."

'So why not just kill them? Why are these two so important to your

masters?"

'Our world is different from yours,' replied Steve. 'We do not fear

the Dark Light. It is the source of our' strength. Its power

nourishes our world like the blood that runs through our veins. We use

it to create special instruments and processes that enable us to

examine the smallest particles of matter - the building blocks which,

when combined in the correct sequence, create human beings and

everything in the world around us."

Steve was glad he had listened to his kin-sister's account of her Basic

Genetics course. 'By examining the constituent parts of these two

individuals, we can discover the rogue element that makes them

different and find ways to counteract it."

Skull-Face did not pursue the matter further. 'Let's get back to the

escape plan. What was to happen once you had assumed your v