Giant Killer: Epilogue
by Nancy Smith and Linda Garrick
Epilogue
The aircar settled before the private estate of Duke Halthzor and the pilot cut the engines. Dannar, seated in the rear of the vehicle, tried to steady his nerves. He knew, without doubt, that it was quite impossible for Jilectans to read his mind, or even sense his emotions. And yet -- to be summoned to Halthzor's estate -- Dannar forcibly kept his crest relaxed and made his four-digited hands lie quiet in his lap, reminding himself once more of Captain Connors' instructions.
"You are innocent. Never forget that, no matter what, and never let the Jils see that you aren't absolutely sure of it. You are the victim. You are furious with the person who did this to you."
The door beside him slid open and a Viceregal patrolman standing outside it spoke in a heavily accented voice. "Okay, fish. Outcha go."
Dannar got out, glancing around at the spreading grounds and then up at the enormous, elegant structure that was the Ducal mansion. It was set back from a white, synthastone driveway and surrounded by broad shade trees. Birds sang sweetly and somewhere a fountain splashed and tinkled. An arching bridge spanned a moat of sparkling water in which colorful waterfowl floated serenely.
Two patrolmen fell in behind him, and the man that had ordered him from the car led him up the wide, paved walk, across that fairy arch and up a set of broad, white marble steps.
He was innocent, he reminded himself again: the victim of a dangerous criminal who had kidnapped him and forced him to do her bidding. In fact, he was slightly amazed to be alive, for he had been sure during the trip that she would kill him when she had no more use for him. That was the right mindset to have, Connors had impressed on him. To tell a convincing lie, one must believe it oneself, at least when it was being told. "Don't let the Jils scare you," the man had said. "They're a frightening lot, and it's easy to lose your cool in front of them. It's all right to be a little nervous. Everyone is who's brought up in front of a Jil, but don't be scared. They're as fallible as anyone else, and as mortal. Alan and Julia have proven that."
They reached the door and one of the patrolmen pressed a small button. Somewhere inside, Dannar heard a musical chiming sound.
The door swung open, and a Procyon house servant, his uniform bearing the scarlet and gold insignia of the Duke's house, stood in the opening. He surveyed Dannar and his escort for several seconds in silence, and then stepped back. The patrolmen ushered Dannar inside.
His feet sank deep into the scarlet, plush carpet, and all around him were elegant furnishings: carven statues and heavy polished furniture, intricate wall hangings and fabulously expensive paintings from many worlds. Dannar took it all in with a glance, hardly noticing. His mind was on the upcoming interview with the Viceroy's cousin.
"He ish expecting you," the Procyon said. "Thish way."
Dannar followed the alien down a long corridor, also carpeted with that deep, downy soft floor covering. Sweet music from an unknown source reached him, and the air was heavy with some sort of fragrance, sharp and unpleasant. He wondered briefly if it was perfumery, or if the cook had botched something in the kitchen.
The Procyon paused before a huge, ornate door and knocked softly.
"Enter," a voice said from the air.
The servant touched a concealed button and stood back as the patrolmen ushered Dannar through.
There were two Jilectans in the room, and one was undoubtedly Halthzor. The famous alien was seated in a huge, plush recliner, a soft, downy covering concealing his legs. A white bandage swathed a good portion of his coppery red hair and he wore a shining, deep blue robe, embroidered with gold trim. Steely grey eyes locked on Dannar.
Beside Halthzor a second Jilectan was seated in a chair of state -- a pale copy of his companion. Pale, strawberry blond hair topped a much slimmer form. He wore a long, sweeping robe of a bright pink hue, embroidered with orange. The color combination was almost shocking.
"Approach us, Arcturian." It was the smaller of the two Jilectans.
Dannar obeyed hesitantly, paused about two meters from the beings, and dropped to his knees. There was a long, terrible silence, broken at last by Halthzor.
"Your name, Arcturian?"
"Dannar, Your Grace." Dannar kept his voice respectful and low.
"Your occupation?"
"I am a pilot, Your Grace, for Mr. Schultz, a licensed trader from Terra."
Another long silence. Then the other Jilectan spoke. "You will tell us of the hijacking, Arcturian. Remember, your mind is being read and we will know if you attempt to deceive us. If we sense a lie, you will die quite slowly and painfully. Is that understood?"
"Yess, M'Lord."
There was another pause; then the smaller Jilectan spoke again. "I am Lord Lanthzor, Viceroy of the Rovalli Sector in the Name of His Majesty Havalthzor IV, Warlord of the Jilectan Autonomy and this is my cousin, Duke Halthzor. Begin, Arcturian."
Dannar couldn't entirely restrain his crest's attempt to rise in alarm reaction. He was facing not only Halthzor but the Viceroy, himself! He was possessed of a mad urge to run, but he subdued it and remained kneeling as he related the story of his kidnapping to the two aliens.
"... Zen she ordered me to reshister Ranlach on ze computer. I did sso and received clearance, but only minutes later she ordered me to take her to Terra. I protessted, of course, but she was very insistent and quite abusive. She informed me zat if I failed to comply she would sstun me and send me out ze airlock wizzout a suit. Faced wiz zat alternative, I did azz I wass told."
The Jilectans remained silent. Dannar forced himself to remain kneeling and continued his tale. "We went into hypersspace and came out over Terra some sseven hourss later. During ziss time, my kidnapper did not talk much except to tell me zat if she was caught she would take me wiz her to ze grave. She was neizzer kind nor cruel. She allowed me to eat and drink, but never did she take ze sstunner off of me."
Halthzor interrupted him, making him start. "Had you recognized her, Arcturian?"
"No, sir, I did not. She looked nozzing at all like her pictures. Her hair was very short and her face was smeared wiz dirt. She was dressed in ze clozzing of a Terran male, and only after we were well into zee trip did I realise zat she was a female. I am still not certain zat ziss person was indeed Shulia Ausstell."
"Continue," the Viceroy said.
"Yess, Your Highness. After we came out of hyperspace, a Patrol cruiser hailed us. My captor turned on me and fired a sstunbolt. When I awoke, I was tightly bound and lying on ze deck. A few momentss later zere were many terrible sholts and a dreadful crash. I struck my head razzer hard on ze bulkhead. My captor helped me up and took me to ze airlock wiz her. She pushed me out and shumped after me. A few minutess later, ze ship exploded." He paused. "I do not remember much of ziss period. M'Lords. It ssemed zat I walked for a long time. Zen she stunned me again and when I awoke I was alone. My hands were free, and it wass snowing. Darkness was falling. After I recovered from ze sstunbolt, I got up and began to walk. I wandered for sseveral dayss before I stumbled upon a settlement. Ze people zere helped me and called ze police. Zat is all."
Halthzor and the Viceroy surveyed him in icy silence. Then the ruler gestured and a patrolman came quickly forward to place something in his hand.
"Arcturian."
Hesitantly, Dannar raised his head. The Viceroy was holding up a large, softly accented holocube. The blond, delicate features of Julia Austell looked back at him. She was smiling, and her smooth hair shone pale gold around her face.
"Look carefully. Is this the Terran who kidnapped you?"
Dannar stared at the image of his friend, feeling his courage, which had faltered, grow steely again. Julia had not shrunk in the face of two Jilectans who had sought her death. He would not either. He forced himself to hesitate. Silence hung heavy in the air.
"I do not know, Your Highness," he said at last. "Ze hair iss of a similar shade, but, azz I ssaid before, it wass much shorter, and wizz all zee dirt, it was difficult to make out her featuress." He paused. "It could have been, but I could not sswear to it."
The Viceroy handed the holocube back to the patrolman and gestured to the other men in the room. They came forward quickly, grasped Dannar by the arms and dragged him upright. One of them produced a small syringe filled with a clear liquid.
"What is *zat*?" Dannar tried to struggle in the grasp of the men. "Zere iss no need! I have told you everyzing!"
He knew, of course, that his protests were in vain. Well, here it came. The conditioning had worked well when tested by Captain Connors back at the station. He hoped sincerely that it would work as well now.
The needle pierced his skin. There was a pause and he felt the first effects of the drug begin to creep over him. His thoughts became muzzy and nothing seemed to matter.
Hands led him to a chair and seated him in it. He didn't resist. A voice spoke softly and soothingly, telling him to relax, and that everything was all right.
The Jilectan Viceroy was standing over him, but even that looming, terrifying figure could not arouse anything but languid interest in him. He stared upward, bemused.
The alien spoke. "What was your true relationship with Julia Austell, Dannar?"
Dannar blinked up at him. Julia Austell? What had happened? She had kidnapped him.
"She took me by force," he told the alien, lazily. "She forced me to break ze law, and later she wrecked Mr. Schultz's ship. Zat wass mosst unkind."
Another silence. Then: "What happened after you reached Terra, Arcturian?"
Dannar searched through his memory, not really very interested. "She pulled me from ze burning ship. She had tied me, I ssuppose so zat I could not cause trouble."
Another silence. "Then what happened?"
Memories, vague and half-real swirled through his mind. "She took me wiz her for some way. Zen she stunned me. When I awoke, I was no longer tied, and she was gone."
"Why did she not kill you, Arcturian?"
"Kill me?" Dannar heard himself chuckle softly. "Zere wass no need."
Another pause. Then another voice -- the voice of a Terran male. "Dannar, you will speak to no one of this. It was a dream; nothing more. Do you understand?"
"Yess," Dannar said. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered.
Another needle pricked his arm. He turned to look at the man who held it, feeling nothing but languid disinterest. There was a high, hissing laugh that he slowly realized was coming from him. Then, gradually, the cobwebs of the drug receded. Had it all been a dream? Perhaps. The Viceroy was still here, though, and so was Halthzor. Mark Linley had been right. They had used drugs on him, and the conditioning had saved his life.
The Viceroy spoke. "We have read your mind, Arcturian, and have determined that you are innocent in this matter. That is all."
Dannar went to one knee.
"You may go," the Jilectan said.
Dannar rose and backed toward the door. "Zank you, Your Highness."
The Procyon servant opened the door for him and led the way down the hall to the exit. Dannar went out.
The Patrol car was waiting for him, and the driver gestured him inside.
He got in, and had barely fastened his safety webbing when the car rose from the driveway. Quickly, they navigated the outer grounds and approached the sentries' gate. The fellow waved them on through, and once more the car gained altitude. The driver set the controls and then met his eyes in the rearview mirror.
"Are you okay?"
"Yess, zank you," Dannar said.
"Good. We weren't really worried. Captain Connors told us you were easy to condition. Most Arcturians are, for some reason."
Dannar stared at him, aware of a sensation of unreality. "What do you mean?" he asked at last.
The man turned in the seat and extended a hand. Dannar took it and was instantly aware of the unusual grip. It was the recognition handshake of the Underground that he had learned barely 48 hours before.
"Captain Connors assigned us to be sure you did okay. If anythin' went wrong we were to bail you out if we could."
"'We'?" Dannar said, faintly.
"Me an' my partner. He's one o' the guys that took you in -- the one that called you 'fish'."
"You are a Terran Undergrounder!" Dannar said incredulously.
"Sure am. There's a lot of us in the Patrol -- an' other places, too." He shook Dannar's hand. "You passed your test, buddy. Welcome t'the Terran Underground."
"Zank you," Dannar said.
The man turned back to the controls. "I'm takin' you back t'Mr. Schultz, now, an' you can go on with your life as if nothin' had happened. You'll be contacted in a few weeks and told how to reach us if you hafta."
Dannar leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. For a moment, he remained perfectly still, thinking over the last ten years and the events that had spawned his hatred for the Jilectans. Slowly, his jaws split in a fanged grin. He chuckled softly.
The End
