Empyrion II: The Siege of Dome by Stephen Lawhead

Author:Stephen Lawhead [Lawhead, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf, sci-fi, alternate civilizations, epic, alternate worlds, adventure, Alternate History, Science Fiction, extra-terrestrial, Time travel
ISBN: 9780956773159
Publisher: Lawhead Books
Published: 2011-03-18T07:00:00+00:00

FORTY

There was nothing to do but weather the storm and hope to repair the damage later. The three members of the Supreme Director's inner circle stood stoically and took the full brunt of their superior's fury. Jamrog was livid. Since the night of the raid, information had been trickling in, and now he could assess the full extent of the debacle. Which was not, as first thought, one failure only, but a whole series of disasters—apparently all linked together.

The ceremonial bhuj swung in short, swift, murderous arcs as he paced, his teeth grinding between clipped words. “So! The Fieri has escaped again—taken right out of your hands, Mrukk. And with the help of one of your physicians, Diltz. Meanwhile, checkpoints are overrun by force and guards carried off, never to be seen again.” He stopped to glare at his silent audience. The Invisibles behind him kept their eyes riveted on the ceiling, not daring to witness the dire proceedings. “Does anyone have an explanation?” Jamrog challenged. He thrust the bhuj at Osmas.

The Saecaraz Subdirector swallowed hard and said, “The Dhogs are becoming more brazen, Supreme Director. They—”

“Dhogs! Yes, surely, blame the Dhogs. But doesn't it seem strange to you that Tvrdy and Cejka disappeared—and Piipo, too, for all we know—and suddenly the Dhogs become more brazen?”

Osmas winced at the bite of Jamrog's sarcasm.

“They were well organized,” offered Mrukk. “The raid was well planned and perfectly staged. There is little doubt it was Tvrdy's doing.”

“Thank you, Mrukk,” Jamrog said sweetly. “I'm so glad for your keen evaluation. You who had your captive stolen from you by an old mother and failed to lift a finger to prevent it. None of your men were killed? No? In fact, no one suffered so much as a scratch, I believe.

“What about it, Diltz?” The bhuj swung toward the emaciated Director. “She was one of your physicians.”

“Yes,” he replied, his tone even more sepulchral than usual. “She was a Nilokerus.”

“That's all you have to say? She was a Nilokerus?”

Diltz remained silent.

Jamrog spun away angrily and continued pacing. “And this morning Hyrgo priests tell me there is grain missing from the stores. It seems they were reluctant to say anything about it before, but in light of the general disarray we find ourselves in these last days, they thought better to mention the incident in case something could be done about it.”

“Supreme Director, how much grain is missing?” asked Mrukk.

“Oh, enough. Enough to feed a whole Hage for several weeks!”

“They had to have help,” observed Osmas.

“What makes you say that? With guards asleep at checkpoints and Invisibles unable to follow even an old woman, they had all the help they required.”

Jamrog spun the bhuj in his hands and with a swipe that indicted them all, he said, “I tell you, Hagemen, I will tolerate no more failure. Do you understand me? I find myself forced to take emergency measures for the good of Empyrion.”

“Emergency measures?” asked Osmas.

“These will be announced shortly. I have convened a special session of the Threl this afternoon, and I will present my plan then.

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