Contrarian, page 47
“Riverfall?”
“A lager that’s as good as, if not better than, Kuhrs. We’re running low on lager, and I’ve been meaning to do that for weeks. That way we’ll only be a little early, if that.”
48
ON Tridi night after dinner Dekkard worked for another two bells refining the draft of the first set of proposed hearings for the investigatory subcommittee, in all too many places using descriptive titles for the witnesses he had in mind, because he had no idea who the director of security or the shipping manager were at Northwest Industrial Chemical. He did finally recall the name of the admiral who headed Naval Logistics—Admiral Jingao—whom he intended to call on initially to explain how the Navy handled the transportation and security of dunnite and other explosives, as well as discuss the matter of the forged dunnite theft report.
A cold misty rain enshrouded Machtarn on Furdi morning as Dekkard headed down the steps to the main floor and breakfast. If the rain continued, Dekkard knew that what remained of the snow would become a sooty slush before collecting into dark puddles and pools that would flood the storm sewers. The air would be less acrid, however.
The mixed joys of early spring. Not that Dekkard had ever been that fond of the time that mixed snow, rain, and mud.
“Miserable morning,” he said to Emrelda as he entered the breakfast room.
“The rest of the day won’t be any better,” she replied.
Gaaroll only nodded, then picked up her mug and had more café.
Dekkard reached for the newssheet on the side table.
“Gestirn isn’t any better,” added Emrelda.
“Thanks for the warning.” Dekkard scanned the front page, his eyes going to the secondary headline—COUNCIL SLOW TO ACT. He read further, deciding that the bulk of the story was in the first few lines.
… without dispute that the damage to the Council Hall and other buildings has hampered the Council in carrying out its duties, but to date the Premier has announced no real action against the New Meritorists who were behind the destruction …
“What the frig do they want?” Dekkard dropped the newssheet on the side table. “The Justiciary and patrollers find and incarcerate more Meritorists every day. Repairs to the streets and buildings started the day after the attacks. The First Marshal was removed—”
“They want the Premier to announce that everything is well under control,” said Avraal as she walked into the breakfast room. “Hasheem doesn’t want to say that because things are only temporarily under control.”
“He needs to say something,” said Emrelda.
Although he agreed with Emrelda, Dekkard decided not to comment and went to fix cafés.
A bell later, Dekkard drove toward Baartol’s office through the misty rain, more slowly than was his wont because the misty rain, in addition to the soot and muddy water thrown up by other steamers, further reduced the already limited effectiveness of the windscreen wipers.
When he stopped next to the office door to let Avraal off, he asked, “Half past fourth bell?”
“That should be fine.”
“More interviews?”
She shook her head. “A negotiation session between a guild and a small manufactory. The guild doesn’t trust the manufactory owner or his empath.”
“That could prove interesting.”
“I hope not. Good fortune with the Premier.”
Dekkard arrived at the covered parking at a third past second bell. When he and Gaaroll crossed the drive, he saw that the scaffolding had been removed from the west end of the Council Office Building, although the west doors were still blocked. After he reached the open courtyard gate, he saw that the scaffolds had vanished from the east end of the Council Office Building as well. That doesn’t mean you’ll have a usable office on Unadi.
Once he and Gaaroll entered the Premier’s floor office, Meldra just motioned for Dekkard to go into the inner office. After shedding his overcoat, Dekkard did so, closing the door.
“Good day, Steffan.”
“The same to you, Fredrich. Did you read Gestirn this morning?” Dekkard seated himself in front of the desk, still holding his leather folder.
“That and the Tribune,” replied Hasheem. “The Tribune was worse. I’ll have to make a statement. If those print-lice don’t have something new every few days, or sometimes every day, they start fomenting misstatements. The Tribune, especially. But then, you know all about the Tribune.”
Dekkard deliberately ignored the reference. “You know what to say. Tell them how well all the repairs are coming, and that the Justiciary has incarcerated however many Meritorists it now happens to be, and that giving details is premature.”
“What else would you say?”
“Not much. Just that the Council, through its various committees, is setting up investigations and hearings to look into the underlying factors, including organizations and individuals, that may have supported the insurgency, either deliberately or inadvertently, and that those hearings, if held properly, will take time and care in order to assure that something similar doesn’t recur.”
“They’ll want something shorter,” said Hasheem, not concealing his distaste for the newsies.
“The insurgency was created over years, and ensuring that it doesn’t recur can’t be accomplished overnight.”
“Starting with something along those lines might be best.”
“You’ve had more experience with them than I ever hope to have,” said Dekkard dryly.
“You’ll have your share,” said Hasheem. “Once you start holding hearings, you’ll be the one talking to the newsies.” He paused, then asked, “What do you have for me on the proposed hearings?”
Dekkard open the folder and withdrew the small stack of papers. “These are the hearings I propose for the first two weeks along with the rationale for each and for the order in which I propose they occur.” He handed the papers across the desk.
Hasheem took them, immediately setting them to one side without even a glance. “You’re starting with the dunnite, I assume?”
“Not directly. I thought we should start with Naval Logistics. Have them explain how explosives are ordered, delivered, recorded, and safeguarded at every step. Then Admiral Jingao can explain about the false theft report created in the office of the former Minister of Security.”
Dekkard continued with a brief summary and waited for Hasheem’s response.
“For the most part, all that sounds feasible, but I’ll need to go over your proposal and see what I think, whether it needs changes or additions. We’ll talk about that tomorrow morning.”
Before Hasheem could stand or dismiss him, Dekkard asked, “Are you aware if the Justiciary Ministry has uncovered anything new or significant about the New Meritorists?”
“I’ve not been informed of any significant changes, but it will be another week before the interrogations of the New Meritorists in custody will be complete.”
“And the matter of the Fleet Marshal?”
“The Imperador is still considering his options.”
“Meaning that the officers he favors are too much like the previous First Marshal?”
“He is considering his options,” said Hasheem evenly as he stood. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Steffan.”
“I’ll be here, Fredrich.” Dekkard stood and inclined his head politely.
After leaving the inner office, recovering his overcoat, and exchanging pleasantries with Meldra, Dekkard stepped out into the main corridor, where he saw a number of staffers, suggesting that the Council Hall was at least partly open.
“We’ll see if Guard Captain Trujillo is around,” Dekkard said to Gaaroll. “If he is, I’d like you to stay close and keep track of his feelings.”
“Yes, sir.”
Trujillo’s door was barely ajar, and Dekkard knocked. “Guard Captain?”
“You can come in, Councilor.”
Dekkard entered and shut the door, then took the chair in front of the desk.
“What can I do for you, Councilor?”
“In case you already didn’t know,” began Dekkard, “the Security Committee has established a special investigatory subcommittee to look into how the New Meritorists obtained dunnite and other matters. I was tasked with being chair of the subcommittee.”
Trujillo nodded knowingly. “The Premier informed me of that yesterday afternoon. The Council Guard and I will provide whatever information and assistance we can.”
“Besides the small amount of dunnite found in the Meritorist armory, has anything else turned up that might bear on how the Meritorists obtained dunnite?”
“That depends on how you define it. The Suvion Commerce Banque will not provide the name of the individual or individuals who bought the large banque drafts deposited in the account of Capitol Services without an order from the Council. I imagine an order from the Security Committee would meet that requirement.”
Dekkard wasn’t totally surprised that Trujillo had followed up with the Suvion Commerce Banque, given that the small amount of dunnite found had to have come from Suvion Industries. He also knew that Trujillo often couldn’t volunteer information. “What about the others—the Banque of Siincleer, the Northwest Banque of Chuive, the Banque of Uldwyrk, or the Neewyrk Imperial Banque?”
“The Northwest Banque of Chuive declined to offer a name without a Council order. The others were not contacted because there was no physical evidence that might have been created in those cities.”
“Once the subcommittee hearings have been approved by the chairman, I assume that information will be available to the subcommittee.”
“Any security-related evidence or information in the possession of the Council Guard or known by guards is always available upon an official request.” Trujillo offered a smile that Dekkard could only have called enigmatic.
The problem there, as Dekkard well knew, was that one had to know enough to know what to ask for, and to keep asking, because there was always more information. Until suddenly there isn’t.
“Have any government investigators or law enforcement personnel located the empath that lured the rioters from Rivertown toward the Council?”
For the first time in weeks, if not months, for just an instant, Trujillo showed a hint of surprise. “I’m not aware of anything along those lines, but it might be worth inquiring. I appreciate your mentioning that possibility.” He leaned back slightly in his chair. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Not at present, Guard Captain. I do appreciate all you and the Council Guards have done.” I just wish I’d known more sooner.
“We all have done the best we could manage, Councilor, as have you.”
“You’re kind.” Dekkard stood. “Once the subcommittee schedule is firmed up, I’ll be in touch—or if I come across anything else of mutual interest.” He inclined his head, then left Trujillo’s office, leaving the door the way he had found it, just slightly ajar.
Gaaroll was outside in the main corridor only about a yard away.
Dekkard motioned for her to join him as he walked in the direction of the west doors to the courtyard. “What did you sense?”
“No strong feelings … maybe caution. I’m not sure.”
“Could you tell what he felt just before I left?”
“His feelings didn’t change.”
“Then it’s likely that he didn’t feel relieved or upset, and that’s good.” As they neared the entrance to the councilors’ dining room, Dekkard thought about waiting around to have lunch and seeing who, if anyone, might show up, then decided against it. He thought about taking another tour of the city and dismissed that as well.
What you really need to do is go home and work more on the hearings and what specifics you want each one to accomplish.
That was going to be hard, because he’d just been searching for anything, and just anything wasn’t going to accomplish what was necessary.
He took a deep breath and kept walking.
49
WHEN Dekkard rose on Quindi morning, he could tell that the clouds and gloom had cleared. That meant that the air would be far less acrid, at least for a day or two, and that the sun might make some progress in drying up the mud remaining from the now-melted snow. As he shaved, showered, and dressed, he still worried about what sort of changes Hasheem might insist upon before approving the proposed hearings and the schedule.
When he entered the breakfast room, both Emrelda and Gaaroll had finished eating and sat sipping the last of their second cafés.
“I didn’t ask last night,” said Dekkard to Emrelda, “but how are things in Southtown?”
“Quiet for now. There have been more smash-and-grabs, and even some slash-and-grabs.”
“Not enough food? Or marks for food?” asked Dekkard.
“It’s the same either way,” replied Emrelda.
“Guldoran Ironway is rebuilding the terminal market, and the ironway repairs should be complete very shortly.”
“That won’t help in Southtown or Rivertown.”
“Not directly, but when more food can be shipped into Machtarn, prices should drop, or at least stop increasing.” At Emrelda’s expression, which clearly indicated that Dekkard didn’t really understand, he added, “I know. When they don’t have any marks to buy food, the fact that prices aren’t increasing is meaningless, but any improvement is better than none.”
Dekkard hurried into the kitchen, and then to the pantry, where he got three croissants from the cooler and set them on the kitchen counter. After fixing two cafés, he carried those to the breakfast room and set them on the table, then went back and got the croissants. “Is there anything of interest in Gestirn?”
“Not really. The Premier pointed out the obvious—that the damage caused by the New Meritorists couldn’t be rebuilt overnight, and that while destruction was instantaneous, rebuilding took longer. I got the feeling that he was losing patience with the newsies.”
“He did call them print-lice yesterday when we talked.”
“Sometimes they are,” said Avraal as she entered the breakfast room and took her seat, immediately reaching for her café. “And sometimes they’re helpful.”
“Not often,” said Gaaroll. “Not to most folks.”
Dekkard took a quick look at the story, but, as Emrelda had said, there was little beyond Hasheem’s words and a few lines about the challenge facing the Council. He put aside the newssheet, sat down at the table, and took a sip of café.
He could understand Gaaroll’s point. Most of what was in the newssheets concerned those who weren’t struggling for a few marks just to avoid going hungry. When the newssheets did have stories about the less fortunate, the stories were usually about riots, fires, and crime. But then, most of the stories about those better off were about crime or what officials, corporacions, councilors, or others weren’t doing or weren’t doing the way the newsies thought it should be done. Or about questionable councilors.
When Dekkard left the house to get the Gresynt, the morning air was the warmest in weeks, if not months, not quite springlike, but he could actually feel the heat of the white sun, possibly because the sky was the clear pale green that was so infrequent, given the usual omnipresent haze. Still, it wasn’t warm enough that he was ready to do without his overcoat.
By a third after second bell, Dekkard had dropped off Avraal, traveled Imperial Boulevard without incident, and was guiding the Gresynt to a stop in his spot in the covered parking. On the walk to the Council Hall, he saw only a handful of workers on the roof of the Council Office Building.
When Dekkard and Gaaroll entered the Premier’s floor office, Meldra said, “You’ll have to wait, Councilor. He’s meeting with Guard Captain Trujillo. It shouldn’t be long.”
“Thank you. Is there any news you can share?” Dekkard took off his overcoat and laid it on a side chair, thinking the bother of the overcoat was another reason he hoped true spring came before long.
Meldra smiled. “The workers will have most of the damaged councilors’ offices ready by Unadi. The paint might be barely dry.”
“That’s encouraging. Anything else?”
“The eastern committee rooms will take longer.” She looked past Dekkard. “Here comes the Guard captain.”
Dekkard turned as Trujillo stepped out of the inner office. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Councilor. If you have a moment after your meeting, you might stop by.”
“I don’t know how long this meeting will last, but I’ll come by afterward.”
“If I’m not there, you might check in the records room.”
“I will, thank you.”
After Trujillo left, Meldra said, “You can go in now.”
Dekkard nodded to Gaaroll, then entered the small inner office and closed the door. “Good morning, Fredrich.”
Without speaking, Hasheem gestured for Dekkard to sit down.
Dekkard did, and waited for the Premier to speak.
Hasheem fingered his chin, then finally said, “In terms of background and content, I didn’t find anything lacking in your rationale and choice of witnesses. In one case, I was able to add the actual name of the proper witness. There is a standard format for announcing each hearing and recording it, but you wouldn’t have known that, and the committee staff takes care of it. You did a solid job.”
“I tried to follow your example.”
“There is, however, one other aspect to this, Steffan.”
“What have I overlooked?”
Hasheem actually offered an amused smile. “In some ways, working with you is refreshing. I would suggest that the hearing appearance orders be typed up, authorized, and sent before the schedule is made available to the subcommittee and the full committee.” Hasheem paused for a moment. “Meldra can type them up this morning, and I’ll sign and seal them, and Meldra can dispatch them today.”
Dekkard nodded, then asked, “How soon will it be before Northwest Industrial Chemical and Suvion Industries direct complaints and protests to you?”
