第26节

lost them in

the mountains. Ever since then, and especially over these last few

days, I've wondered why they gave up so easily -' Fran hit the Stop

button again then went back into Record and addressed Steve. 'Thank

you, Steven. We have been most impressed by your detailed and

extremely interesting testimony. There being no other questions, I

pronounce this session closed. Your examination is terminated. The

Board will now retire to consider your statement and your request to be

reassigned to an overground combat unit."

Steve leapt off his chair and stood to attention as the eight Assessors

followed Fran through the door. All of them left without a backward

glance. What the heck was all that about, he wondered? He had been

right about the dark-haired lady. She was Family. In a way, it was a

compliment. From what good old Uncle Bart had said, it was clear that

his return was as welcome as a melt-down in the main reactor. In the

circumstances it was not surprising the First Family had put someone

special on his case - but why had she hit the panic button at the first

mention of the Talisman Prophecy?

Two Provos escorted him down to a nearby mess-deck and left him sipping

iced KornGold through a straw while they chatted to another pair of

meat-loaves at a nearby table. Steve picked up his Beanburger and

tried to summon up the enthusiasm to eat it. Before being captured by

the Mutes, Federation food had been his staple diet since birth. Mute

food had been vile in appearance and taste but, after hunger had forced

him to overcome his initial revulsion, he'd gotten used to it. So much

so that now, his palate could not readjust to the bland taste of the

food prepared on the mess-deck. It was tasteless, plasticised pap and

about as appetising as a used butt-rag.

'Okay if I join you?"

Looking up, Steve saw Chisum standing over him. He was holding a mess

tray. 'Yeah, sure..."

Chisum put his tray on the table and glanced at his watch as he sat

down opposite Steve. It was five after twelve. 'You finished early

today."

'Yeah,' grunted Steve morosely. 'Must have been something I said." He

grinned and straightened up a little. 'The Board have now retired to

consider their verdict."

'How'd it go?"

Steve shrugged. 'All right." Except that it hadn't. He had planned

to climax the account of his months in captivity with the revelation of

the Talisman Prophecy.

By exciting their curiosity about the content of the verses - which had

predicted wagon-trains and wingmen centuries before the Federation had

envisaged their use, he had hoped to make the Board receptive to his

testimony about Mute magic. But the subject was obviously taboo. Why

else would his mention of the Prophecy have been erased from the tape

and his examination hurriedly terminated? It could only mean one

thing; the First Family already knew about the Prophecy which, in turn,

meant they not only knew about wordsmiths, but about summoners, seers

and magic. Just as he had come to suspect. And not only did they know

about it, they were taking it seriously.

But where did that leave him? Had he improved his chances of

reinstatement and promotion by his knowledge of it? Or would he end up

being shafted for knowing more than was good for him? Shit and triple

shit... Steve hated to find himself in irretrievable binds like this.

Most of the time, his nimble mind was always able to do a critical path

analysis of encounter situations, pinpointing the danger areas well in

advance. If things looked tricky he always left himself an emergency

escape hatch. It was something he took pride in. This time, he had

fallen through a trapdoor he could not possibly have foreseen.

Chisum demolished his own Beanburger in two and a half bites. Still

chewing on the last mouthful, he pointed at Steve's untouched

portion.

'You want that?"

Steve shook his head and pushed it towards him then watched as Chisum

set about it with obvious relish. 'How can you eat that shit?"

Chisum shrugged. 'Don't know any better I guess.

Can't be worse than the stuff you've been eating over the last few

months."

'No..." mused Steve. 'I guess not." He pulled his eyes away from the

four Provos seated nearby and spoke in a low voice. 'Listen. I've

been thinking about what you said about me getting a clean sheet

healthwise - and about not being the first."

Chisum nodded and kept chewing. 'I was wondering when you'd ask me