Reclamation

The remaining artifacts stared up at her with their wide eyes. They were waiting for her to do something miraculous to prove that she really was a daughter of the Ancestors. But she had no proof to offer.

Avir glowered at the herd of artifacts, suddenly furious. They all leaned a bit closer together and ducked their heads in the face of her anger. Avir knew they were not to blame for their own ignorance, but knowing that did not help calm her.

Her translator disk beeped. "Contractor," said Ivale's voice, "there is a transmission from the Reclamation Assembly that requires your attention."

Avir touched her disk to acknowledge him, and, with as much dignity as she could muster, she retreated behind the blanket.

Ivale watched her a little too closely as she crossed the chamber. Did he see the hollowness inside her? She thought she had her face properly expressionless, but she wasn't sure. She wasn't sure of anything right now.

She reached the active comm screen and faced a single Contractor, immaculate in his seamless black robe. Avir suddenly remembered how rumpled and ash-spattered she was.

"Allow me to hand you my name, Contractor." He had elected to be as bald as an Ambassador and yet as brown as an artifact. Avir wondered what had motivated the juxtaposition. "I am Contractor Cynleah Laefhur, of the Fust Core, and Senior Contractor to the Reclamation Assembly. We have news that will affect your division."

His quiet, steady voice went straight through Avir , soothing her instantly. She wanted to lean toward the screen and drink in his voice, as a reminder of what she ought to be.

"Bio-technician Uary has confessed himself to be an Imperialist and has volunteered the location of the Unifier base just outside your division. One of their operators is Jahidh of the Grand Errand. He has been transmitting information about the Home Ground to his Imperialist contacts for four years."

Blood of my ancestors, Avir staggered. There's been an Imperialist on the Home Ground for FOUR YEARS? Avir felt her breathing go harsh and shallow. "Where is he now?" she croaked. "Do we know that?"

"These are your orders, Contractor Avir," said Laefhur. "You will investigate the Unifiers' finds. You will not waste resources hunting for Jahidh."

"Contractor," Avir drew her shoulders back. This man might hold a senior ranking and an Assembly seat, but he did not hold her name. "How can…"

"We want him free to continue his researches," said the Contractor. "He has made great contributions to the understanding of the artifacts. As long as he believes he is undetected, he will continue to do so. The Witnesses will take charge of him if he oversteps the bounds the Assembly has laid down on his conduct."

Avir could not force a single word out of her throat.

"It is the Reclamation that is important, Contractor. We must not lose time because of lack of skilled hands."

And it must not be seen that the Assembly allowed Imperialists to slip through their notice. Resolve hardened inside her. "I can make this my work and I will," she said, giving a properly deep obeisance.

Laefhur's image was gone by the time she straightened up. Avir realized her hands had curled into fists. Her mind was already racing. Transportation would have to be acquired from the Acquisitions committee, and a security team contracted. The Unifiers' base would have to be thoroughly explored and cataloged. Extra personnel would certainly be needed once the initial survey of the base was complete.

She would obey her orders, but communication with the artifacts was still at an uncertain stage. Everyone was aware of that. It was well documented and witnessed. If they did not understand they were to cease their search for one particular Skyman, that, surely, was not her fault.

Jay cast another glance at Heart of the Seablade. The Teacher hunched in front of the fire watching the flames in a way that suggested he did not like what he saw. Jay shivered as the wind blew through the tent flaps and, for the hundredth time, he cursed the necessity of bringing the Teacher along. Heart had too many distractions inside his head to allow Jay to predict the outcome of his thoughts. But they needed a Teacher to help bring the Notouch into line in case Cor's efforts at persuasion were not totally successful, so Jay needed Heart.

Years of practiced acting allowed Jay to put a concerned tone in his voice. "What is it you are worried about now, Teacher?"

Heart picked up a cold lump of charcoal from the meager stack that was their night's supply of fuel. "My wife was in the High House when they came down, Messenger. What will they do to her?"