Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 26

ma.s.sive weapons trained on the estate. It fired a first shot at the outer wall, to establish range.

The huge bricks collapsed into dust.

The Rainbow Dawn forces had their defenses up now, and a lucky shot took out the stabilizers in the nearest gunboat. It wobbled away. its com- plement of Navy fighting men dropping out of it in escape harnesses,

"Fire! Fire!" screamed Sankley, and was nearly bowled over as three panic-stricken Peomers rushed for the main gate.

A single blast from the dreadnought took out a large part of the south wall and shattered what remained of the windows.

Another blast from the dreadnought and another quadrant of the courtyard wall fell.

On the opposite side, the guard station no longer seemed much protection for Jessine. She ducked through it, into the outer court.

She looked around for a place to hide and, finding none, she turned east, away from the attacking Navy craft.

Jessine heard the next volley of firing and saw another section of the house heave, blast and fall to pieces. She kept going toward the outer walls, seeing only a few running Peomers and one exhausted Zambretic servant sitting on the gra.s.sy slope, gasping for breath and pounding

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the turf with all four of his fists. Another explo- sion behind her sent Jessine running for more protective distance between her and the main fortress.

A second dreadnought appeared, this one holding back, its cannon trained on the fortress, hovering in case more might was needed.

Jessine reached the breach in the walls and hesitated. She was safe from Rainbow Dawn now, but what of the Navy? What might Admiral Sclerida have in store for her if she remained within the grounds of the Orchid?

The dreadnought fired again, and this time the west side of the Orchid blew up. Without another qualm Jessine slipped through the gap- ing hole in the wall into the verdure of Horizon Park.

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Chapter 9.

Wiley was groggy from physical and emotional shock. He wiped his hand across his forehead, subconsciously trying to rub away present reality and return himself to the familiar round of wealth and privilege in which he'd spent his life until this terrible day.

The armored aircar didn't have windows, but

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Wiley could see the forward vision screens past the shoulders of the driver and co-driver. The vehicle was slanting down toward a huge sky-colored dome in which the aircar's own reflection raced toward Wiley s eyes at redoubled speed.

They shot through the barrier into dimness rather than shattering impact. The dome was a polarizing bubble rather than a material wall.

The s.h.i.+eld not only protected the interior from observation, it combed sunlight and de- creased the degree of illumination beneath the dome. German eyes were adapted to much lower light levels than those of humans -

And almost all the figures Wiley saw within the domed enclosure were Germans. There were hundreds of the aliens, driving equipment, unloading cargo and performing maintenance on the dozen or so stars.h.i.+ps on the ground within the domed starport. Perhaps there were more: the enclosed area was so large that moving figures were lost against its scale.

'This is Haiken Maru headquarters, isn't it?"

demanded Wiley pugnadously. "I know it is! The bubble north of the city is Haiken Maru head- quarters!"

One of the Cernian guards blinked twice at him. The others didn't give even that much acknowledgement.

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The aircar slowed. Besides barracks, sheds, and a maintenance hangar capable of holding one of the grounded stars.h.i.+ps, the headquarters complex included three hundred-story concrete warehouse towers. The aircar slowed further as the driver angled toward the landing pad on the roof of the central tower.

"We are arriving," one of the Cemians informed Wiley. It was the first time any of them had spoken since they had spirited Wiley away from the Kona Tatsu station.

"I can see that," said Wiley. He nibbed at his eyes, wondering if it was his hands or his face that felt so rough. The pilot set the aircar down and cut the engine. The silence was abrupt.

Wiley had not been aware of how loud the aircar was until now.

"You will leave after I do," the German informed him, holding a Meinhauser pistol aimed at the center ofWile/s chest.

"You bet," said Wiley. He tried not to s.h.i.+ver as he looked at the pistol, but he could not com- pletely conceal his fear. His captors pushed him toward an access door. Air puffed out as the door opened: it was an auiock, and the pressure within was higher than ambient at this alt.i.tude.

Wiley stepped into the chamber in front of his guard. The outer door shut behind them and

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pressure built. The building was a sealed unit with enough positive internal air pressure to pre- vent gas or biotoxins from being introduced from the outside in the event of an attack.

"Move along," said the German, gesturing with his Meinhauser as the inner door opened.

"I'm moving," said Wiley.

Beyond the airlock was a reception hall two stories high and domed with a tremendous stained gla.s.s window representing all the worlds on which the Haiken Maru traded. Beneath this, the room filled with priceless antiques, including a set of twenty-first century gaming tables, a full suit of armor, and in a place of honor, a genuine 1957 Cadillac in perfect condition, its doors open for those who wished to sit in it.

Wiley was still studying the eclectic but fasci- nating collection when the far door opened and a middle-aged man, broad of shoulder and broader of girth, stepped through. Wiley recog- nized Senator Lomax as the man extended his hand in welcome.

"Good afternoon, good afternoon, my lad," he cried merrily. "I'm very sorry about the incon- venience, but you understand we didn't have time to explain things when we rescued you."

Wiley stared at him. "Rescued?"

"Certainly, most certainly," said Senator

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Lomax with all the sincerity he was capable of showing. "We couldn't have the Secretary's heir in the hands of the Kona Tatsu, now could we?

No telling what those sly devils would do with you. Damien Ver doesn't have to account for how he handles his work. But that's going to change. Isn't it?"

"Is it?" Wiley asked, uncertain how to react to this affable reception.

"Well, of course itwill," said Senator Lomax, at last grasping Wiley's hand and shaking it with fervor. "You're just the lad to make the change.

And you'll find me ready to help you do it. You'll have all the support you could ask for. No more of this Kona Tatsu secrecy. Openness. That's the answer." He turned on his heel, indicating his remarkable collection. "Let me apologi2e for the atmosphere. This building has some special requirements, and I daresay you'll get used to it shortly. There's nothing harmful in the environ- mental adaptation, not for humans. People in trade get used to these things. Well, what do you think?"

This was much too fast for Wiley. He regarded Senator Lomax narrowly. He answered a ques- tion with a question of his own. "What's your plan? The Kona Tatsu's job is to protect me.

What makes you think they'll give me up?"