Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport

Author:Emily Devenport
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

18

The Weapons Clan

“Survivors,” I said.

Messenger nodded.

Sezen and I both had good reason to feel emotional about that. She had lost most of her family. I had lost all of mine, but Sezen had also lost power. The members of her family who had voting power died on Titania. Now she and the other surviving Kotos existed to amuse and inspire style among the Executives on Olympia. They were invited to parties, but I could see no reason why any of them would be informed about a message from Titania. Unless—

“You were mentioned by name,” said Messenger. “The message appears to be an attempt to pass the voting rights of your clan on to you.”

“Ah,” I said.

Probably that was a good answer. It was certainly a better one than what I was really thinking: Holy Fucking Shit!

“So,” I continued, “they think it was a communication from my father, Altan Koto.”

“Yes,” he said.

“Were there any other messages?”

He frowned.

“Executives are always concerned with their status first,” Lady Sheba reminded me.

But Messenger got over his puzzlement. “The signal was very weak. The only vital information passed on was about you. We could not determine their circumstances, or whether any of them are still alive all these years later. The message was a looped recording.”

There could be no question of going back to look for them. A spinning habitat the size of Olympia could make gradual changes in course, but something that drastic was not feasible. Shuttles and mining craft could make journeys that lasted weeks, but Titania had diverged from our course five years previously.

“Sensible,” I said aloud. “Had I been the Koto clan leader, I would have spent my last resources to send a message.”

That answer seemed to be more what Messenger expected from me. “The matter has been taken under advisement by the clan leaders. You will be informed of their decision.”

I almost said thank you, but thought better of it in time. I simply nodded.

He did the same, and marched to the door. He let himself out without a backward glance.

I locked up after him and went into my inner sanctum to prepare to bathe. As I passed through the dressing rooms, I peeled off Sezen’s clothing. I placed the auburn wig on its stand and removed my makeup. I paused in front of a mirror and regarded Oichi Angelis. Sezen had been removed along with her wig and clothing.

What remained was a determined young woman who probably did not feel so much fear as she ought to, under the circumstances. She was slender, tall, and strong. She was beautiful in the austere fashion for which Sezen had lately felt some admiration. She wanted very much to hope that her parents had survived on Titania.

But hope was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

I stood under the shower, and I may have shed a tear while the water was streaming down my face—even I’m not certain. Lady Sheba’s ghost watched with approval.

“Even if you don’t continue in your role as Sezen,” she observed, “someday your life will be very much like hers.

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