第22节

ted in any way. In no sense are you suspected of

dereliction of duty whilst serving as a wingman." Fran glanced round

the table. 'I think, in that respect, I speak for all members of the

Board?"

The eight Assessors nodded and murmured their assent.

Fran turned her attention back onto Steve. 'As you are no doubt aware

from the degree of incredulity you encountered at Pueblo and elsewhere,

you are the first Tracker ever to have survived capture by the Mutes

and the only individual that has had the opportunity to make an

in-depth study of the Plainfolk. What you have to tell us will be

invaluable in planning our campaign to repossess the overground. It

follows that- since your experience is unique - there can be no

question of this Board seeking to censure any aspect of your behaviour,

or any observations you might have to make about the period under

review." Fran paused and treated Steve to a sympathetic smile. 'It

must, to put it mildly, have been a very difficult time. Traumatic

even."

Steve thought it appropriate to reply at this point with a sober nod.

'I can believe it,' continued Fran. 'However, we are going to ask you

to relive each moment from the time you took off from The Lady with -'

She broke off to consult the screen. '- with White, G.R .... your

friend Gus...

until you arrived over the way-station at Pueblo. I want you to

consider this examination as an extended version of the debriefing

process you would normally undergo at the hands of your Flight

Operations Officer. All we wish to do is to share the knowledge you

have gained during captivity in the hope that it will provide us with a

greater understanding of the enemy. Do you understand that?"

'Yessir-ma'am,' replied Steve.

'Good." The President smiled again. 'The First Family have asked me

to say that they are aware of the hostile treatment you underwent en

route and will take steps to provide appropriate compensation. I

understand that the State Provost-Marshal of New Mexico explained some,

if not all, of the reasons why it was necessary for you to be hooded

and chained."

'He has, sir-ma'am."

'The various physical assaults were regrettable, but given the

unforeseen circumstances surrounding your return - I'm sure you will

accept that the incidents were due to an excess of zeal."

'It was a small price to pay for the pleasure of getting back home,

sir-ma'am."

'I'm glad you see it that way,' said the President. 'At least no

permanent damage was done."

None that shows, thought Brickman. That was a good line. Well done,

Steven. But why all this preamble - plus what amounted to an apology

by the First Family? It was unheard of. Why should they suddenly

start caring about guys getting beaten up by Provos? The alarm bells

inside Steve's head started ringing. The Board's President worried

him. She was, at a guess, closer to twenty-five than thirty. To be

heading a full board of Assessors at that age meant that she was either

very bright, or...

Or what?

Steve was aware of blurred images forming in his brain. The entity,

the power, or whatever it was that lurked within was trying to tell him

something but the lines were down between them. It was his own

fault.

He had fought it off, tried to shut it out, ignore it, bury it, for so

many years it had retreated like some strange recluse into a distant

room at the back of his mind, emerging only when it felt the need to do

so. Steve tried to bring the images into focus but the dark messenger

did not respond to his call and his inner eye remained clouded.

He suspects, thought Fran. She had spent several days wondering

whether to take this opportunity to come face to face with Brickman and

now cursed herself for making the wrong decision. She should have

waited; should have chosen a less distinguished role. Something with a