Trumps of doom

«The building that burned down,» I began. «Upstairs was Melman who wanted to sacrifice me. Downstairs was the Brutes Storage Company. Brutus apparently was storing ammo of this sort. Luke admitted that he knew Melman. I had no idea that there might be some connection with Brutes and the ammunition, also. The fact that they were located in the same building is too much, though.»

«If they're turning it out in such quantities that it requires warehousing, then we're in big trouble,» Random said. «I want to know who owned that building - and who owned the company, if it's a different person.»

«It shouldn't be too difficult to check.»

«Who should I send to do it?» he mused. Then he snapped his forgers and smiled. «Flora is about to undertake an important mission for the Crown.»

«Inspired,» I said.

Martin smiled at that and then shook his head. «I'm afraid I don't understand what's going on,» he told us, «and I want to.»

«Tell you what,» Random said. «You fill him in while I go give Flora her assignment. She can leave right after the funeral.»

«Yes,» I said as he departed, and I began telling my tale once again, editing for brevity.

Martin had no fresh insights and no new information, not that I had expected any of him. He had spent the past few years off in a more pastoral setting, I learned. I got the impression that he was more fond of the countryside than of cities.

«Merlin,» he said. «You should have brought this whole mess home to Amber sooner. We're all affected.»

And what of the Courts of Chaos? I wondered. Would rifle have fired there? Still, it had been Caine and Bleys who had been targets. No one had summoned me back to the Courts to brief me on any incidents. Still… perhaps I ought to bring my other relatives aboard at some point.

«But up until a few days ago matters were a lot simpler,» I told Martin, «and then when things began developing fast I was too caught up in them.»

«But all those years… those attempts on your life.»

I said, «I don't call home whenever I stub my toe. Nobody else does either. I couldn't see any connection, all that time.»

But I knew that he was right and I was wrong. Fortunately, Random returned about then.

«I couldn't quite get her to believe it was an honor,» he said, «but she'll do it.»

We talked for a while then about more general matters, mostly what we had been doing for the past several years. I recalled Random's curiosity about Ghostwheel and mentioned the project to him. He changed the subject immediately, giving the impression he wanted to save it for a fully private conversation. After a time, Martin began to yawn and it was contagious. Random decided to bid us good night and rang for a servant to show me to my room.

I asked Dik, who had led me to my quarters, to find me some drawing materials. It took him about ten minutes to turn up everything that I needed.

It would have been a long, difficult walk back and I was tired. So I seated myself beside a table and commenced the construction of a Trump for the bar at the country club Bill had taken me to the previous evening. I worked for perhaps twenty minutes before I was satisfied.

Now it was just a matter of time differential, a thing that was subject to variation, the 2.5-to-1 ratio being only a rule of thumb between Amber and the shadow I had recently inhabited. It was quite possible that I had missed my rendezvous with the nameless housebreaker.

I set everything aside except for the Trump. I rose to my feet.

There came a knock on my door. I was tempted not to answer it, but my curiosity won out. I crossed the room, unbolted the door, and opened it.

Fiona stood there, her hair down for a change. She had on an attractive green evening dress and a small jeweled pin that matched her hair perfectly.

«Hello, Fi,» I said. «What brings you around?»

«I felt you working with certain forces,» she answered, «and I didn't want anything happening to you before we had our talk. May I come in?»

«Of course,» I said, stepping aside. «But I am in a hurry.»

«I know, but perhaps I can be of help.»

«How?» I asked, closing the door.

She looked about the room and spotted the Trump I'd just finished. She shot the bolt on the door and crossed to the table.

«Very nice,» she observed, studying my handiwork. «So that's where you're headed? Where is it?»

«The bar at a country club in the place I just came from,» I replied. «I'm supposed to meet an unknown party there at ten, local time. Hopefully, I will obtain information as to who has been trying to kill me, and why, and possibly even learn something of other matters that have been troubling me.»

«Go,» she said, «and leave the Trump behind. That way, I can use it to spy, and if you should suddenly need help I will be in a position to provide it.»

I reached out and squeezed her hand. Then I took up a position beside the table and focused my attention.