A Device Of Death Part 20

23.

Doubt hey watched the synthoids' sensor record of the di T sappearance of the blue box from the store-room five times. Then Kambril turned to La.s.siter. 'What are we seeing?'

he demanded.

The engineer scratched his head. 'This is a bit out of my league. You really need to ask one of the theoretical physicists '

'We daren't risk that not until we know the implications of what we're dealing with.'

'Well, at a guess, I'd say it was a self-contained transmat machine. It must have come here as a sh.e.l.l folded up inside that "escape pod" of the Doctor's. Transmat technology has been around for centuries, of course, but never caught on in a big way for long because it's so vulnerable to external interference. This box may have been an attempt to overcome that problem.'

Captain Morven looked horrified. 'You mean more aliens can appear anywhere in the City out of thin air?'

'No. At least, I don't think so. You saw how unsteady its dematerialization was probably having trouble getting through our shields. It was obviously for emergency use only, as we now know the aliens came aboard with that cargo of salvage. And I guess its range was relatively short, which is why they needed the ship to rendezvous with a.s.suming they made the transition intact.'

'Even if they did,' Andez pointed out, 'the ship was totally destroyed and there were no survivors or last minute transmissions, so the Doctor never had a chance to pa.s.s on what he learnt. I think we can be cautiously optimistic that the security breach has been contained.'

'But this system has come to the attention of at least one group of renegade Jand and their humanoid allies,' Kambril said. 'Unless their entire force has been eliminated we can expect further intrusions, either open or covert. Therefore we must take appropriate precautionary measures. La.s.siter: prepare the drive for manoeuvring. The only information that ship could have pa.s.sed on about us was our orbital path, so we must move to a different part of the belt.'

'It'll take time. We've got to keep the accelerations and att.i.tude adjustments slow enough so that n.o.body notices anything inside the Valley.'

'Which is why we shall meanwhile double the system patrols, increase internal security and maintain full shielding.'

Lieutenant Oban looked at the empty chair beside the table, then at Kambril. 'Director, about Brant. Just what do we say?'

'Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'll prepare a statement about Brant, the Jand and the Doctor that will keep everybody happy.'

Kambril made his broadcast that evening, wearing his most sober suit and an expression of dignified mourning.

'By now, most of you will have learnt that one of our most valued colleagues, Supply Coordinator Elyze Brant, died earlier today during the action against the alien infiltrators. I can now give further details about this incident, though you will understand investigations are still continuing.

'Three Jand, a synthonic robot and at least two unidentified humanoids managed to enter this base concealed amongst a regular shipment of salvaged weaponry. We believe they were attempting to recover their fellow agent and saboteur, the so-called "Doctor", already responsible for the callous murder of Admiral Dorling Dr Emberley has confirmed his scarf was the weapon used to strangle the admiral. At some point the Jand must have taken Elyze Brant captive, perhaps as a potential hostage. They then attempted to rescue the Doctor, who had gone into hiding in test zone seven. Our forces were naturally mobilized to intercept them, and it was during this confrontation that Elyze, tragically, was killed.

'Utilizing the disruption caused by an interference generator previously concealed by the Doctor, the aliens re-entered the base and attempted to conceal themselves in a storage area in the laboratory level. But they were cornered and killed in the subsequent battle with our security forces. A Landoran destroyer, the Oranos Oranos, previously hijacked while in orbit around Jand, was detected in our system by patrol ships and destroyed. There were no survivors.

'I should mention a statement to our naval high command by the Jand leaders at this point. They believe those responsible for the theft of the Oranos Oranos were agents of the so-called "Peace Party", which has long thought to have been corrupted by Averonian sympathizers. The Jand government apologizes for the theft and totally disowns their actions. In the same spirit I ask you not to let this incident lessen the regard in which we hold our allies. were agents of the so-called "Peace Party", which has long thought to have been corrupted by Averonian sympathizers. The Jand government apologizes for the theft and totally disowns their actions. In the same spirit I ask you not to let this incident lessen the regard in which we hold our allies.

'Obviously many of you are, quite understandably, wondering if our security has been compromised by recent events. Let me remind you that those responsible have already paid the price for their criminal actions, and that precautions against such an incursion occurring again have been taken.

Now we must all strive to put the matter behind us. The finest gesture you can make in memory of our fallen colleague is to continue with your work in the manner she would have wished. A communal service will be held for her at midday tomorrow. This will be followed by a relay of Admiral Dorling's funeral.

'This has been a sad time for us, but I know your determination will not waver. In remembrance of those we have lost, we shall press on with renewed vigour. We shall win through in the end.

'Thank you, and good night.'

The camera light went out and Kambril sat back in his chair feeling mildly satisfied. He hadn't even needed to use the gas Deepcity was sufficiently saddened and angered without it.

Perhaps the Doctor and his friends had even done them a favour as long as there were no further such incidents, of course. They had exposed several weaknesses in their security which he would see were corrected. He even felt a pang of regret over Brant's death himself, despite the doubts she had begun to express before the end. Perhaps it was best they would never know for certain just what she'd been doing driving a ground car for those aliens. Well, the truth didn't matter now. She was officially a minor martyr and that was that. A pity, because she'd been an efficient supply officer and it would be hard to replace her.

Cara lay on the bed in her own apartment staring at the ceiling.

At least she had an excuse to be here while her lab was being repaired. It gave her time to think. Grief over Elyze was mingled with guilt and uncertainty. Had she actually aided a spy? But the Doctor had promised he meant no harm. Now it seemed incredible that she had accepted his word like that without finding out exactly what he had intended. Yet there had been something so compelling about him that belief and trust had come easily. And now he was also dead.

She turned to the picture on her bedside table, a reproduction of the one she always carried with her.

Brin had supported and advised her after she had lost Mattew, now he did the same in spirit even after she had lost him. It was strange that although Mattew was a dear memory, she talked to Brin when she wanted sound advice. But then Brin had always known her mind. He didn't really answer, of course; it was simply her means of keeping a part of him, and her last link with home, alive. A harmless delusion that had helped her cope with an otherwise intolerable reality.

She looked at the image of his forever cheerful smiling face. 'Well, Brin? Do you think the Doctor really was a spy and murderer? He said if I thought like a scientist I could work it out for myself, which sounds too reasonable, somehow. And how did he vanish from the file room like that? Can there really be something wrong going on here?'

Before she had her answer her door chime sounded. It was Kambril.

'Ah, Cara. Sorry to trouble you at a time like this. I know Elyze was a good friend of yours, but the work must go on as I'm sure you realize. It's about the field tests for the first production MICA units. Do you think they can start tomorrow?'

'Uh, possibly the day after, Director. I'll have to think.

Please come in.' Then she realized Scout was looming behind Kambril as always. She didn't want it inside her rooms. It reminded her too much of the devices that had killed Brant.

'But can that stay outside, please?'

'As you will,' Kambril agreed, then added casually, 'That Doctor creature was uneasy about having Scout in his room.'

It was that trivial remark that drew a line between Kambril and herself on some intangible plane. She suddenly felt apart, isolated. The only others on her side were the ghost of the Doctor and, she realized happily, her brother Brin.

The next morning Cara spent an hour examining the plans of the City. Just before the service for Brant she tracked down Neels Prander and drew him aside.

'Neels, I want help with something and I don't know who else to ask. It probably requires a little creative deception, and it isn't exactly official.'

'Of course, Cara,' he said, smiling slightly but his normally irreverent manner notably muted by the occasion.

'I warn you, it's rather unusual. You see, I want a diversion so that I can...'

She explained and his face fell. 'What?'

She persisted. 'I know. But I must have five minutes in that room undisturbed. Humour me, Neels. Probably there's nothing to find and that'll be an end to it, but I must know.'

Prander responded with a list of eminently sensible reasons why what she proposed was not only pointless but hazardous to her career. But Cara was adamant, and said that she was going ahead with or without him. Eventually Prander gave in.

'All right, I'll think of something. I can't have you making a fool of yourself and annoying the Director, can I, Aunty?

Give me a couple of hours to work something out.'

And he walked away shaking his head.

Admiral Dorling's funeral was relayed live throughout the City. Cara called a temporary halt to the refurbishment of lab three, and they all crowded round the big screen at the head of the room.

As the solemn words of the burial service were read out, the camera held a close shot of Dorling's still, almost serene face through the gla.s.s panel of the coffin. Then the camera drew back revealing s.p.a.cesuited men standing to attention beside it. As the lid of the outer casket was slowly closed a hatch slid aside at its feet revealing a brilliant starfield. The casket rolled smoothly down a channel in the deck and the men saluted. Through the hatch it drifted free for a moment, then gas jet thrusters strapped to its sides cut in and the casket accelerated steadily away from the ship in a haze of exhaust vapour. In, a few seconds it had shrunk to a sparkling point amongst the stars, then it winked out.

There was a long silence, then Cara turned the screen off.

The group broke up as they returned to their various tasks.

n.o.body seemed to want to speak, perhaps conscious of the fact that there would be a second funeral the next day, which they would be attending in person.

Then Martyn Daw, the lab a.s.sistant, emerged from the dispensary at the back of the room wearing an angry expression, and suddenly the gloomy silence was broken by the plaintive demand: 'Own up! Who's taken my lunchbox?'

As Cara walked along the corridor outside the conference room that night she was aware that only forty-eight hours before she had been in the very same place. Except now she was going to play the Doctor's role. She consulted her watch again and tapped lightly on the door of the file room. It slid back smoothly, revealing Prander standing alone inside. She stepped in quickly and the door closed behind her.

'Neels you're wonderful. How did you manage it?'

He put his finger to his lips with a secretive smile. 'Don't ask. Let's say the operators are just taking an enforced break and I'm covering for them out of the goodness of my heart, in the same way as I brought them coffee earlier laced with, well, never mind. You've got five minutes to do whatever you've got to, then it's out of here, understand?'

She pulled out a pocket scanner, got down on her hands and knees and began running it across the floor. 'Mmm, this has been well cleaned recently,' she observed, then began examining the wall panels, especially the side to the right of the door. Prander looked on with undisguised incredulity.

'What are you doing?'

'I think there's a hidden door or hatch somewhere in here,'

she explained, continuing to test the panel joints. 'I checked the plans and there's an unaccounted for block of apparently solid rock between this wall and the next length of corridor.'

'Structural support for the upper levels?'

'No, it doesn't fit the grid the rest of the b.u.t.tresses lie in.'

'Well, does it have to? There must be plenty of odd slabs of rock left over from the original excavations. Or perhaps it's part of the ducting?'

'Nothing shown on the service plans.' Cara's scanner suddenly beeped. 'And there is a void behind here. Quite a big one.' She drew out a fine probe and ran it down the seam. 'It's been well hidden but I'm sure '

'Cara time's up!'

'No! Just a little longer. I know there's something here and I want to find out where it goes to. There must be a latch '

'Cara please!'

'All right,' said a familiar voice. 'You did your best, Prander. I'll take over from here.'

Cara spun around astonished. Kambril was standing in the open doorway, looking at her with apparent disappointment.

'I really hoped you wouldn't be so persistent,' Prander said regretfully, then turned and left. Kambril motioned that Cara should join him in the conference room, and in a daze she followed. A couple of console operators, not looking the least indisposed, re-entered the file room behind her and smoothly took their places again.

They sat down at the long table. Scout, Andez and a couple of guards were already in the room. Cara took a deep breath, suppressing her dismay with an effort, and asked bluntly, 'Why did Neels give me away?'

'He was simply doing his job,' Kambril replied.

'His job? But he's just an oh. He's security, isn't he?'

'Something like that,' Kambril admitted. 'When he warned us of your interest we thought it would be simpler if you were allowed to investigate but find nothing. We had that panel sealed and concealed any traces of its use, but you were more determined than we antic.i.p.ated. When it became obvious you weren't going to give up I intervened. What made you suspect in the first place?'

'I came across the Doctor behaving oddly outside here one day,' she said half-truthfully. 'It was only later that I began to wonder what he'd been doing. When I thought about it I realized there were inconsistencies about the room. I was curious. That's part of being a scientist.'

'I see.' He steepled his fingers and looked at her intently. 'I wish you'd kept your curiosity under better control. Deepcity is a more complex place than you imagine and the existence of certain sections has to be kept secret for very good reasons.'

'Kept secret from who exactly? And why how can you doubt the loyalty of anybody in Deepcity after all these years?

It's an insult.'

'It was not intended. Cara, you will understand if you can convince us you can keep the secret in turn.'

'How can I do that if I don't know what it is?' She frowned. 'And what happens if you decide I can't be trusted with this secret, whatever it is?' Her next words escaped before she could stop them: 'Just what did the Doctor find in there?'

Andez frowned and Kambril's face darkened as the atmosphere in the room changed. 'So, it wasn't chance that you were pa.s.sing by the other night,' Kambril said slowly.

'You helped the Doctor. That was foolish and criminal: aiding an enemy of the state to gain access to a secret installation.'

'I didn't know there was any secret installation here then and the Doctor was our guest. He promised he wouldn't touch the files and I believed him. He didn't, did he, because you'd have said earlier when you were listing his so-called crimes.

What really happened? How could he have got from here to the admiral's quarters and why should he want to kill him anyway? And then to leave his scarf such an obviously incriminating clue. The Doctor was far too clever to do that.'

'Not too clever to get caught,' Andez said. 'Director, I'm sorry to say there's no point in continuing with this. She's too suspicious for second-level knowledge to satisfy her, and is quite unsuitable for Ultra service.'

'Ultra what?' Cara said.

'Regretfully I agree with you,' Kambril said as though she had not spoken. 'A shame she was one of our best designers.'

Cara realized neither of them were looking at her directly now, as though she were of no further interest. Kambril had spoken of her in the past tense. A coldness began to steal over her as anger gave way to fear for the first time. 'What's going on? What are you keeping from us?'

'Take her to the secure cell,' Kambril instructed the guards.

'We shall decide how she should best be disposed of later.'

Numbly she felt hard hands pulling her to her feet. 'For pity's sake what's going on here?' she shouted as they led her away.

'For pity's sake I won't tell you,' Kambril said, with frightening sincerity. 'Believe me, it's kinder that way.'