Chapter THIRTY-TWO
Narval's rage spluttered from his lips in aviperous hiss as he pointed at a baffled Drummer.Brad, straight-faced behind Drummer, stood easy.Scarf, off to the side, stiff and erect, staredblankly at the wall behind Narval, his featurestwitching to depress a smirk.
"You were responsible for Camari's emissary,Drummer. I've had you notified that I am ready toreceive him. Where is he?"
"He's disappeared, Mr. President."
"So I'm told. What does that mean?"
"Your orders were to provide lodgings for theAmbassador somewhere other than the officialguest house. I had no choice but to put him up at theCondor. When I was informed of the time that youagreed to see him, I went to the Condor to extendthe formal invitation. He wasn't there. I inquiredof the Condor's management and also among thecitizens present. Several recalled him becauseof his unusual height, but no one, it seems, sawhim leave." Glancing toward Scarf, he added,"I immediately requested your Chief of InternalSecurity to put out search parties. That's whereit stands."
Narval turned to Scarf.
"Well?"
Scarf stiffened.
"We've searched the city, Mr. President," he said,"and can't find a trace of him under the dome. Butwe had several unexplained killings a short whileago and I'm sure he's involved. Two of my agentswere gunned down on the street near air lock 43,apparently without reason, and their bodies weredumped down a utility access. Also, two of myguards, on special detail inside the air lock werekilled. Add to that a communications blank-outswamped the same area about that time, and aspace taxi is missing from the 43 ramp.
"We can't get a tracer on the taxi; its automaticlocation signal is out, and it doesn't respond todirect inquiry. All this, taken together, is verysuspicious, and leads me to conclude the Ambassadorskipped rather than meet with you."
Brad's eyes moved gravely from one speaker to theother.
"Drummer." Narval turned back to him. "When you metwith Camari's Ambassador, what did you discuss?"
Drummer shrugged and stroked his chin.
"Just the routine chit-chat of protocol: small talkabout the inconveniences of long hops and living outof traveling kits. Oh, yes, we expressed our hopesfor a better future when Slingshot cuts in. Thatwas about it."
"Then why would he leave so abruptly?"
"I have no idea, Mr. President."
"This incident does not please me, Drummer. Aspecial envoy arrives from the UIPS, obviouslycarrying an important message to me from PresidentCamari. He leaves before he delivers the message,with no advance notice. As he leaves he killsseveral Plutonian citizens and steals property.No, I don't like it at all, Drummer."
His fingernails drummed the desk. Suddenlyconscious of what he was doing, he stopped andbrought his hands close and inspected them fordamage.
"Drummer, draft a personal message from me toCamari, complaining about the manner in which hisAmbassador conducted himself on Planet Pluto.Accuse the Ambassador of murdering several ofour citizens and stealing our property to escape ourjudicial process. Tell Camari his message to me, ifhe really sent one, was not delivered. That'll throwthe ball back to him. As far as I'm concerned, thematter is closed. I have far more important mattersto discuss with you and Brad."
He waved his hand at Scarf.
"Get on about your business."
As Scarf closed the door behind him, Narval shiftedhis bulk. Placing both hands flat on the desk hestudied each ring. He glanced momentarily atDrummer and fixed his eyes on Brad.
"I am not a fool," he hissed as his featurescontorted into waves of quivering fat.
"That UIPS envoy had motives for coming to PlanetPluto far beyond delivering a message to me andgetting a formal response. His timing was to behere when Camari broadcast his appeal for hisconvocation with INOR Heads of State. He was hereto assess my reaction." Looking from one to theother, he demanded, "Did you hear Camari's speech?"
"Yes," from Drummer.
Brad nodded.
"Well, as my diplomatic affairs advisor, Drummer,what did you make of it?"
"My feeling is that Camari is willing to meet ushalfway to resolve differences between the Regions."
"You do, eh? What about you, Brad?"
"I'm neither a politician nor a diplomat, Mr.President. I can't see behind the words. Takenliterally, I suppose, he wants a grand party totalk things out. That might be fine, providing itties in with your plans."
"Aha," Narval said, with a gentle slap at thedesk's top.
"You've hit it a lot closer than Drummer. Thequestion of the moment is how might this so-calledpeace conference affect achieving my ultimateobjective?"
"I have not been made privy to your 'ultimateobjective', Mr. President," Brad said. "I cannotspeak to that point."
Drummer looked straight at Narval, silent.
"My question, Drummer," Narval demanded, his toneimpatient.
"You shared your objectives with me in confidence,Mr. President. I am not at liberty to speak on themin the presence of others without your permission."
Narval stared long and hard at Drummer and backto Brad.
"Not yet," he said. "Meanwhile, and especially inthe light of the forthcoming convocation, I wantyou, Brad, to accelerate preparing our militaryfleet to take possession of the depot and thatgaggle of transport and other vessels thatconstantly hover about. They will be the mainbargaining chip when I give my ultimatum to Camari."
Brad nodded, his features closed.
Drummer looked dubious. He said, "That means wemust have the depot under our control when youspeak to President Camari."
"Sound conclusion," Narval replied caustically."Now, Drummer, is the time for you, my chiefdiplomat, to engage in a bit of manipulation andencouragement among our allies -- in my nameand behalf, of course.
"We'll do this one step at a time. Prepare personalmessages from me to the heads of INOR governments.Remind them of our past agreements to standtogether to resist incursions by the UIPS. Pointout that Camari's invitation presents us with anexcellent opportunity to exert our combined willon this issue. Then, state my intention to taketemporary control of the Slingshot LogisticsDepot to add weight to our persuasions. Are myinstructions clear?"
"They are, Mr. President."
"Good. Emphasize the need for us to act in concertto bring peace and prosperity to the Outer Region.Lay it on thick about how we can demonstrate ourunity of purpose to Camari, and harmony amongourselves if we join forces. This shouldn't bea surprise to them; it was the purpose of theplanning at the Neptune meeting. Wasn't it, Brad?"
"It was."
"Here, then, is my first objective, Drummer. I wantthe INOR warships that were committed at the Neptunemeeting to be alongside ours to take over the Depot.The Depot must be ours before the conferencegets under way. That is vital to our purpose. In themessage, say that now is the time to strike. Insistthat they send their ships as quickly as possibleto join in the operation. Also, and be shrewd inpresenting this: INOR ship commanders are to besubordinate to and carry out the orders of thePlutonian Fleet Commander for the duration of thisoperation. Clear?"
"Clear, Mr. President."