Elwin entered the crowded pub and paused. After
glancing around, he walked through the common room. In the hallway,
he paused and glanced back. No one seemed to have noticed him.
Moving casually, he entered the restroom.
Returning, he scanned the room again. Satisfied,
he strode to a table in the corner and seated himself so that his shoulders
touched both walls.
I've been in this blasted asteroid too long,
he thought. When I go home, will I still be able to walk?
He grimaced, banishing the unruly thought as a waiter
drew near. He ordered a pitcher and two glasses. Then he struggled
to submerge his identity as he waited for his contact.
The contact arrived shortly after the drinks.
Like Elwin, he wound his way through the room and down the short hall.
Trying to appear casual, Elwin scanned the crowd for unusual attention.
If he had noticed anything untoward, Elwin would toss his money on the
table and leave, which both protected him and was the sign to his contact
that no more special payments would be forthcoming.
The contact emerged from the hall and wound his
way slowly across the room, stopping to talk with friends at several tables
before joining Elwin. Elwin silently fumed; any one of the conversations
could pass his identity to the police, if the contact had turned.
Finally the contact slid into the seat beside Elwin.
Carefully masking his contempt, Elwin poured the man a glass and refilled
his own. "Do you have it?"
"No," the contact replied.
Elwin permitted himself a short inhalation.
"Why not?"
The contact glanced at the nearby tables and lowered
his voice. "The women are up to something."
"Speak normally. Nothing draws attention like
a lowered voice." Elwin's contempt grew a notch at the necessity
for the rebuke. "What are they up to?"
"I don't know."
What else is new, my friend?
"What do you know?"
"The Implacable takes on a tribune tomorrow,
and sails just afterward. All the encryption keys change at launch,
and they won't be issued until two hours before departure."
"What type of tribune?"
"I don't know. You said not to ask questions
that might seem suspicious."
"So I did. What of your destination?"
"It has not been announced."
"Do you know anything else?"
The man frowned in thought. "They're taking
all the wraps off for this tribune. The consular quarters have been
opened. The last time the stewards were this frantic, our passenger
was the First Senator."
"Are you certain that your passenger is a tribune?"
"That was the announcement."
Something doesn't add up. Either the statement
about the tribune is a lie, or it is a very unusual tribune. The
Elvii don't usually lie to their subordinates. Poor security.
But if it was different, my job would be harder. So they aren't lying
-- probably -- but it's a very unusual tribune. Or a very unusual
mission. Or both.
"I would like to give you a set of data. It
would be an authentication key and a set of orbital parameters."
"What for?"
"Perhaps you will obtain information of immediate
use to our friends. If so, you may pass it to the relay at those
parameters."
"I won't be able to pass the key. Security
is too tight when underway."
"I realize that. Perhaps something else, like
the identity of your passenger. Or your mission or destination.
Simply send it as plain text, with the authentication key as a header.
Do not wait for a reply. You will not even receive an automated receipt-of-message
packet."
"What will it be worth?"
Elwin allowed a trace of his annoyance to show.
"That is out of my hands. Those who receive the information will
decide, based on the importance of your information."
The contact slowly processed the information.
"I'll take your data."
"I don't have it with me. I'll pass it in
three hours. Be in the plaza outside Fleet Headquarters. Do
not recognize me. I will bump into you."
The contact took a long swig of his drink.
He nodded, then changed the subject.
"When will you overthrow the women?"
"Soon. I cannot tell you more. Truly,
I don't know myself."
"Will you truly grant each man a woman when we are
freed?"
Elwin sighed. "Those that have earned the
privilege. Certainly, you have."
"Any woman I want?"
"There will be a hierarchy. Those who have
been most useful will have precedence over others. Your usefulness
will be decided by the information you pass us. Now, if you will
excuse me, I have an appointment to make."
Elwin stood and tossed money on the table.
To a casual observer, Elwin had merely paid for the drinks. The money
was more than the waiter's charge, more than a serious alcoholic would
spend on drinks in a month. The balance was the contact's pay.
It was less than he usually received; then again, the man hadn't produced
the encryption key. Leaving the tavern, Elwin allowed himself a satisfied
grin. When the invasion came, Elwin would gladly shoot the contact
himself. Like his leaders, Elwin had nothing but contempt for traitors.