Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 16

Chapter 17

Camrad_RIP 05.07.23 в 18:47

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Camrad_RIP 05.07.23 в 18:47

The emerald waves rolled onto the pearly beach with a quiet rustle. And after licking it they went back, melting in the green sea, playing with the reflections of the low sun.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:31

Another kick sent a plume of pearls into the flight, and they dropped in a pearly hail into the sea, making ripples that glittered in the sun.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:31

Alex squinted at the play of the sun's gold on the green mirror of the sea:

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:32

// It was either sunset or dawn..." He was already confused by the change in latitude and the constant discrepancy in time. It was a deep night, according to his watch. - "And here, they say, there is no night at all for half a year.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:51

For the umpteenth time, he kicked another batch of coastal pearls into flight. Not out of frustration but more out of a gnawing need to do something.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:52

But there was absolutely nothing to do. The villa was considered unsafe, so he couldn't even inspect the "place of disappearance" yet. The local staff, who were now a frightened bunch squeezed by the guards, knew nothing and had last seen Taer three or four hours after the supposed time of his disappearance. Well, it was not in his competence to understand the metrics of the local security system. So it remained only to listen to the negotiations of technicians and sprinkle the sea pearls surrounded by two rows of guards, under the shadow of bots white clouds hovering directly above him.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:54

That's what he's been doing for the last half hour.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:54

// I wonder how deep they put it?" - Distractedly, Alex thought, picking the pearls with his foot, trying to get to the real beach, but the pearls poured into the hole he dug, hiding the true nature of the island with a quiet clatter.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:55

The island was volcanic, with beaches of black volcanic sand that could get so hot during the day that you could get burned. That's why the entire shoreline on his villa property was covered with pearls. It doesn't burn or get where it shouldn't, like sand.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 11:57

// How come they haven't dyed the sea yet? He sighed, looking at the emerald waves. It was their natural color, because of some microscopic algae. "... And on the other hand, - why not? If they can..."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:01

There was a distinctive throbbing sound coming from deep within the island. Alex turned around and saw a low-flying freighter with a scarlet griffin on board. The vehicle slowed and landed gently nearby.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:02

"Your Lordship." Dudo saluted, stepping down onto the pearls of the beach.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:04

Like the rest of the "technical team," he wore a simple gray jumpsuit without insignia, which only made him stand out more than the others because the jumpsuit could not conceal the overly athletic physique of its wearer. Dudo was tall, muscular, short-cropped, and in that odd age they call middle-aged. In principle, he could have been dressed in a ballet tutu, but it would still have sat on him like a uniform - there was something so ineradicably military about him, absorbed in his eleven years of service in the Navy. And Stack-Captain Dudo Guwar was second in Lord Cassard's Arm. Formally third, but for all her charms, Rima was not to be taken seriously, and as soon as it was finally clear that the matter was serious, Alex, just in case, sent her back - to the tower.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:06

"I thought you were going to report on the intercom." Alex was surprised.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:07

"I wanted to report personally." He answered, demonstratively turning off his communications headset.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:08

"Did you find something?" Half-voice, Alex asked, inwardly freezing, after he'd turned off his headset, too. He was willing to accept anything as long as what he found wasn't Taer's corpse.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:09

"Here." Dudo showed him a small droid, a metal spider that seemed quite tiny in its huge paw. "An industrial microbot. Usually used to check communication lines and inspect all sorts of hard-to-reach places. Sat on the cluster that controlled the villa's security system. Most likely served as an external connection point."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:10

"An attack? Or is this a trail of surveillance?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:11

"I don't think so." Dudo snorted. "Too careless. Whoever did this wasn't trying very hard to cover their tracks. The records of external surveillance over the last twenty-four hours have clearly been tweaked, and that would be evident in any inspection. All the droids have traces of memory tampering. The last one Taer saw can't reconstruct the picture of the environment at the time he received the instructions. And that." He showed the spider again and tucked it into his pocket. "Those who did this didn't care that the fact of the intrusion would be uncovered, it's usually unacceptable for surveillance, more like traces of forceful intrusion."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:13

"So someone kidnapped Taer?" Alex, trying to somehow comprehend what happened. "But why?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:14

"I don't know." Dudo shrugged. "Maybe it's because she's the First Blade of your Arm? In any case, it's safe to say Daim Diltar's definitely not: "Just went away on business."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:15

"Okay." Alex took a deep breath, equalizing his breathing. "That's not the worst news. It's almost good news." And seeing the confusion on Dudo's face, he explained. "If she's been kidnapped, that means she's needed alive. That means all is not lost. Any sign of them identifying the kidnappers?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:17

"Not yet." Dudo shook his head. "We can only assume the villa's security system was compromised nineteen hours ago on another delivery of food that the staff remembers but is no longer on the records. And the abduction itself took place sometime between fourteen and twelve hours ago. Most likely on the beach."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:18

"What else can we do but ask the House for help?" Alex asked, running through the options in his mind. "Go to the police," he had already dismissed, remembering in time that Taer was actually a noblewoman, and it was not up to the police to search her, it was up to the Ergo-Seneschal. // "'That is to say, me."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:20

"I sent the guys to the beach, where Diltar was most likely resting, to take chemical samples. We could also work with the company that supplied the food to see if they left anything behind. Otherwise, we should work with our Representation. Maybe Orbital Intelligence will have something. Unlikely, though." Dudo added with a sigh. "The area isn't the most interesting."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:27

"What are we watching the capital from orbit?" Alex asked in a half voice, not hiding his surprise. "Is that even allowed?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:28

"Of course, we can't." Nodded Dudo. "But if a 'science vessel' or even a transporter with a very good astro-correction station gets into orbit around the capital, that's not a crime, is it?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:29

"I see. Well, we have to hurry to the Representation office." Said Alex, signaling to the guards that it was time to wrap it up. "We need to talk to them anyway. If there's an official request to the "court of blood' grudges," it would help a lot. At least there won't be a problem with interrogation. It'll all be part of the official investigation."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:33

There was a risk, though, that the head of the mission, Count Barazu, might go on an "Italian strike" out of spite and start slowing things out:

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:34

// At the very least, perhaps I can petition myself, as suzerain of Taer." Alex thought uncertainly, "In any case, I could use the help of a lawyer.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:35

"Yes, the possibility of applying Lim's serum comes in handy." A little embarrassed, Dudo confirmed.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:36

When they first arrived at the villa and realized Taer was really missing, the "former" scouts from his guards nearly injected all the local staff with Lima's serum. It's called "just to be safe." Fortunately, someone remembered that they were in the capital and not in Cassard's domain and had no right to use special means.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:06

So they did not linger in the villa, leaving those specialists "to finish the samples" flying away almost immediately. In order not to lose time, Alex, still in the bot, contacted the Head of the capital branch of the HFOI - the House Fyron's own Intelligence. Bypassing the Representation. Almost half of his "arm" was recruited from former intelligence officers, who were only nominally former, and some even knew him personally.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:09

So there was not much difficulty in getting help from the HFOI, especially since they were promised involvement in the investigation of the murder of Baron Assaro, partly as a bribe. Intelligence slept and saw how it would "investigate" at the House of Melato Representation, and partly because time was running out - and with Taer missing, Alex had no time at all to pick up an investigative team.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:11

But they persuaded him to wait on filing a petition to the "court of blood grudges," pointing out that right now it would not do anything except make a lot of noise - which could only hinder. It could affect the behavior of possible kidnappers. Alex did not fully agree with this, but he had no better ideas and decided to trust the professionals, at least for now.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:13

Having enlisted the help of the HFOI and having spent a few more hours to solve all the bureaucratic formalities in the "court of blood grudges. He should have included the intelligence people on his investigative team. Alex began to torment himself and those around him because of the overwhelming feeling that something had to be done when there was not much else to do.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:17

Until he was forcibly sent to sleep:

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:18

"This is a mild sleeping pill, Your Lordship." Liora placed a small plastic jar on the table beside his plates. "It will allow you to rest despite your excitement."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:18

"I can't sleep right now." Crookedly, Alex smiled. "And then, what if the kidnappers show themselves?

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:20

"If that happens, I'll ensure that you are awakened." The maid replied with a polite smile, making it clear that resistance was useless. "Your worries will not help whoever you are worried about. Go to sleep." She added more affectionately. "You are of blessed lineage. Perhaps, Ryan will send you a dream."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:04

"Maybe..." He sighed heavily. It was stupid to argue. Four nights without sleep and nervousness were not the combination one might need in an emergency. "Do you really believe in Ryan?"

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:00

"The Church of Twilight has never denied Ryan's divinity." Liora smiled. "Without the Flame, there would be no Shadow. They are inseparable."

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 14:59

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Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 12:56

The red spot of reflected light flashed rhythmically on the ceiling, the piercing trill of the communicator filling the dark bedroom like a little siren, going straight to my head. Alex, only awake, just lay staring at the pulsing spot on the ceiling, trying to figure out what was going on. It took him a few seconds to realize before he rushed to the switch, sweeping away the pillows and sheets on his way.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:21

It was his personal comm, whose number was known to at most five people, and the vast majority of them would never want to wake Lord Cassard.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:21

The small screen glowed ++ "Unknown call":

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:22

// "It could be the kidnappers." Before answering, Alex turned on the recording of the conversation.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:23

"It's me." It came over the phone. It was Taer's voice, quiet and tired.

Camrad_RIP 06.07.23 в 15:24