The Survival Game by Colin Kapp

Author:Colin Kapp [Kapp, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: English Fiction
ISBN: 9780345251923
Publisher: Dobson
Published: 1976-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The Pretender's continued presence in the quaint and ornate halls of Oontara's court was motivated by nothing stronger than clutching at straws. While all the evidence pointed to Miram's having taken her children to Terra, Gamin Sher conducted a frantic search for anything which suggested they might actually have gone somewhere more accessible. Behind his standpoint was the knowledge that Kanizar had no treaty with Terra; therefore, the destination was unlikely as a refuge for his wife and heirs. He suspected that the mention of Terra was part of a trick to throw him off the scent. If the Empress had indeed reached such inviolable territory, however, Sher had damned himself without gain. His attack on Meon could be justified only by the assassination of Kanizar's hereditary successors. If he failed in this, all his other victories were a mere prelude to his final defeat at Kanizar's vengeful hands.

The immoderate sums of money he had to pay for the records of the shipping agency which handled Terran space transportation was a reminder to Sher that he was operating in a region where he was not recognized as a potential king of kings. Instead, he was treated with the offhand disrespect merited by a potential loser. Nonetheless, the records appeared to prove that the rendezvous with the Terra-bound starliner had indeed been arranged. They further showed that a second pickup had been arranged for the same outspace rendezvous. This duplication held no immediate significance for the Pretender, since in neither case had a passenger list been filed.

His first piece of luck came with the location of a spacegram from the captain of the spaceliner berating the shipping agency for causing him to break out of hyperspace for a rendezvous which had not been kept. Camin Sher's next thoughts were to locate the vessel which had been engaged to make the rendezvous. The search narrowed down to one possible barge, which was the subject of ghost control by a father ship. The father ship had long since left the system, but was speedily traced through the cargo lists. Since it was operating a returning shuttle service, units of Camin Sher's fleet were dispatched to intercept the Master. They reported that the Master denied all knowledge of the incident and neither bribery nor threats could make him move from this position.

On the rising hope that Miram had not reached Terra, Sher refused to let the matter rest. He sent again for Xzan and set the facts before him. Xzan queried the details meticulously, then with growing delight he turned back to the Pretender.

"My Lord knows my desire to serve him faithfully. I think I can show proof of my intent."

"Stop planting words and come to the point," Sher answered acidly. "If you've anything relevant, tell it now before Kanizar destroys us all."

"I've no facts to go on, you'll understand. But the circumstance of the barge and the unkept rendezvous are familiar. Oontara and I'd wagered on a survival game. My champion was willing, but Oontara's had to be 'acquired.

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