01. The Demons At Rainbow Bridge by Jack L. Chalker

Author:Jack L. Chalker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-31T22:47:02+00:00

UNWELCOME GUEST

Morok the Holy Ladue got right down to business.

They were all there in the wardroom: the fearsome-looking Savin, the beautiful Krisha, the wizened Manya, and Captain Chin. Mazarun Klee was also there, though not as a member of the Arm. In an emergency, she and her husband might be the only hope of getting out a message or summoning help, and so they had to know what the rest were supposed to do.

Morok opened with the traditional prayer, "May the Gods of Mizlaplan and their Holy Angels watch over and guide their servants in this great task," then got immediately down to business.

"You have all read over the basics on this Medara and I do not have to tell you the geopolitical situation, I trust. Geographically, this insignificant din ball is essential to the continuance of our Holy Mission and the thwarting of satanic moves against us. It is always such places that acquire this importance, simply because of their lack of intrinsic value. Were this an inhabited world, we would be justified in bringing in whatever force we needed, but under the stupid games of the diplomats we cannot do so without it being interpreted as an accusation of impropriety and thus an insult to the Mycohl, which they could exploit. So, we are left to play the usual games with inadequate forces and personnel, and the stakes are very high. The forces of evil will stop at nothing on this one; we must be worthy indeed to prevail."

"Has an intrusion been deduced or merely suspected?" Krisha asked the leader.

"A Holy Inquisition has been mandated by conditions, although we've been watching and expecting something, naturally, almost from the start. Of the fifty-five people in the developmental colony, the only priest, Wu the Holy Li Tai, was found dead a week ago. It took this long for the report to get to us, and for us to be dispatched with all speed—alas. We shall probably learn nothing of importance about his death by the time we get there."

"He was murdered?" Savin asked, jotting down some note to himself on a pad.

"Probably, although it is reported as a natural death. It would be, of course. He was found slumped over his desk in his office. The official cause of death according to the colony medical officer is a burst blood vessel in the brain—a stroke, in other words. However, as you all know, that is one of the easiest causes of death to fake convincingly, and the forensic facilities in a colony of this size are limited, even if the medical officer had been an experienced coroner and not the usual internist they send to places like this. Manya, you won't have a lot to work with at this point, but do your best."

The science officer nodded her massive head. "We can safely assume foul play, in any event. The first thing anyone would do would be to remove the saint. The Holy was, I presume, a telepath?"

Morok nodded. "Yes. Not the only one in the colony, but, of course, the only incorruptible one.

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