too much for him to handle on his own. He watched a cutter clipping the wave-tops with its wings and then dodging a gull that stooped at it, trying to make it regurgitate its most recent meal.
'It would have been a simple matter to kill you, Mister Hanrahan.' Mathias flinched. 'You are somewhat inattentive for one in such a predicament.' It was Sukui, standing to one side, hands folded in front of him, showing that he was unarmed.
'Sukui-san,' said Mathias. 'I didn't hear you approach.'
'As I initially observed.'
Mathias gestured for him to sit, but the scientist remained standing.
'Silence is a simple manner, if the codes are logically followed. It is no feat.' Finally, Sukui sat and stared out to sea.
'The old books talk of waves higher than I've ever seen,' said Mathias, in an effort to keep the conversation neutral. 'Do you have an explanation?'
'The old books talk of many things,' said Sukui. 'They talk of animals the size of large buildings and particles smaller than specks of sand. They talk of weapons that destroy entire cities with their blasts and of nations that exist only as electrical patterns in global communications networks. My colleagues in Alabama City know that all these things are possible.
'You ask about the sea. Our planet is smaller than Earth, and it turns more rapidly; a logical hypothesis is that our planet turns so fast that there is little time for one side of the sphere to heat up before it is turned away from the sun and cooling again. Old books say that it is such differences in heat distribution that drive the weather systems and they that drive the waves. A hypothesis to consider in more detail, perhaps once you have proven yourself in Alabama City? If, of course, you act rationally and accompany me there.'
'How did you find me?'
Sukui smiled briefly. 'Another elementary piece of deduction. You are not fool enough to stay in Orlyons; I credit you with that much sense. On an earlier occasion you told me that you found the sea therapeutic. There is a certain prostitute in Orlyons who I understand is an acquaintance of yours. She was careful, but clearly she is not a deep thinker. You have no reason to worry: I was the only one to follow her, I am sure of that. Please, you are avoiding the issue.'
'If I went with you... would there be a place for a companion? I would—'
'No,' said Sukui. 'Your prostitute will be safe in Orlyons. You have no need to worry. You will not be a prisoner in Alabama City, there will be occasions when you can return.'
Sukui stood and looked down at Mathias. 'You occupy much of my time. I must return.'
'Sukui-san. You win: I'll come. Will you tell Mono for me? Tell her I'll be back for her.'
'It is not a matter of victory,' said Sukui. 'I only serve the Lord Andric. You must stay here for now. I will make the necessary arrangements.'
'What about Lucilla?'
Sukui smiled and backed away. 'Forget about your past, Mister Hanrahan, and it will forget about you. I will take care of your Miz Ngota.' Sukui turned and walked rapidly away, along the rocky shoreline and out of Mathias's sight.
Chapter 9
Drinking with Chet Alpha was not Kasimir Sukui's greatest pleasure. It was more a necessary evil.
Sukui pushed his distaste aside. He had bled his animal urges dry and now he was back in his prime again. Every move was calculated beforehand, every casual remark a planned speech. He took another mouthful of vodka and tossed the drained finger-glass back over his shoulder. 'You're a good man, Chet,' he said, careful to slur the occasional word. 'You're good in your job.'
On returning from Mathias's hideout, Sukui had gone to Alpha, the one person in Orlyons he knew who could not keep a secret. He had spent ten minutes with one of the girls as a prelude to inviting Alpha out for a drink. It was a formality more than anything; Sukui had not enjoyed the encounter.
Alpha called for more drinks.
Sukui had not visited this bar before. It was dark and musty, and the
'It would have been a simple matter to kill you, Mister Hanrahan.' Mathias flinched. 'You are somewhat inattentive for one in such a predicament.' It was Sukui, standing to one side, hands folded in front of him, showing that he was unarmed.
'Sukui-san,' said Mathias. 'I didn't hear you approach.'
'As I initially observed.'
Mathias gestured for him to sit, but the scientist remained standing.
'Silence is a simple manner, if the codes are logically followed. It is no feat.' Finally, Sukui sat and stared out to sea.
'The old books talk of waves higher than I've ever seen,' said Mathias, in an effort to keep the conversation neutral. 'Do you have an explanation?'
'The old books talk of many things,' said Sukui. 'They talk of animals the size of large buildings and particles smaller than specks of sand. They talk of weapons that destroy entire cities with their blasts and of nations that exist only as electrical patterns in global communications networks. My colleagues in Alabama City know that all these things are possible.
'You ask about the sea. Our planet is smaller than Earth, and it turns more rapidly; a logical hypothesis is that our planet turns so fast that there is little time for one side of the sphere to heat up before it is turned away from the sun and cooling again. Old books say that it is such differences in heat distribution that drive the weather systems and they that drive the waves. A hypothesis to consider in more detail, perhaps once you have proven yourself in Alabama City? If, of course, you act rationally and accompany me there.'
'How did you find me?'
Sukui smiled briefly. 'Another elementary piece of deduction. You are not fool enough to stay in Orlyons; I credit you with that much sense. On an earlier occasion you told me that you found the sea therapeutic. There is a certain prostitute in Orlyons who I understand is an acquaintance of yours. She was careful, but clearly she is not a deep thinker. You have no reason to worry: I was the only one to follow her, I am sure of that. Please, you are avoiding the issue.'
'If I went with you... would there be a place for a companion? I would—'
'No,' said Sukui. 'Your prostitute will be safe in Orlyons. You have no need to worry. You will not be a prisoner in Alabama City, there will be occasions when you can return.'
Sukui stood and looked down at Mathias. 'You occupy much of my time. I must return.'
'Sukui-san. You win: I'll come. Will you tell Mono for me? Tell her I'll be back for her.'
'It is not a matter of victory,' said Sukui. 'I only serve the Lord Andric. You must stay here for now. I will make the necessary arrangements.'
'What about Lucilla?'
Sukui smiled and backed away. 'Forget about your past, Mister Hanrahan, and it will forget about you. I will take care of your Miz Ngota.' Sukui turned and walked rapidly away, along the rocky shoreline and out of Mathias's sight.
Chapter 9
Drinking with Chet Alpha was not Kasimir Sukui's greatest pleasure. It was more a necessary evil.
Sukui pushed his distaste aside. He had bled his animal urges dry and now he was back in his prime again. Every move was calculated beforehand, every casual remark a planned speech. He took another mouthful of vodka and tossed the drained finger-glass back over his shoulder. 'You're a good man, Chet,' he said, careful to slur the occasional word. 'You're good in your job.'
On returning from Mathias's hideout, Sukui had gone to Alpha, the one person in Orlyons he knew who could not keep a secret. He had spent ten minutes with one of the girls as a prelude to inviting Alpha out for a drink. It was a formality more than anything; Sukui had not enjoyed the encounter.
Alpha called for more drinks.
Sukui had not visited this bar before. It was dark and musty, and the
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