cspector.worldwithoutend-第21部分

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　〃It　got　us　in；　didn't　it？〃
　〃But　here　it　might　set　off　alarms。　And　I　want　our　arrival　to　be　as　quiet　as　possible。　I've　arranged　things　with　a　friend。　We　should　have　no　problems。〃
　
　I　frowned。　〃And　who　are　we　going　to　be　beholden　to　for　this　favor？〃　I　asked。　〃I　don't　like　owing　anyone　anything　if　I　can　help　it。　This　will　be　dicey　enough。　You　know　what　the　politics　are　like　here。　They　make　the　Borgias　look　like　a　close　and　friendly　family。〃
　
　〃I'm　the　one　with　the　favor　owed；　not　you；〃　he　said。　He　sounded　a　bit　exasperated。　〃I　had　forgotten　how　difficult　you　can　be　on　a　trip。　At　least　you've　learned　to　pack　a　little　lighter。〃
　〃And　just　what　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　I　said。　But　it　came　out　more　like；　〃And。。。　just　（gasp）　what　。。。　isthatsupposedtomean？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　have　your　Visitor's　Authorization　Visa　ready？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃And　don't　change　the　subject。　I　don't　recall　you　ever　plaining　about　my　luggage　before。　Have　you　been　nursing　this　grudge　for　long？　As　I　recall；　the　last　time　we　traveled　together　for　any　length　of　time　was　back　in　eighteen　ninety…eight。　Vienna。　And　everyone　had　trunks；　not　just　me。　You　had　two　of　them。　Plus　a　rather　large　leather　portmanteau　that　never　would　have　fit　on　any　horse。。。〃
　
　〃We're　here；〃　he　said。
　
　I　slid　to　a　stop。　The　sleek　silver；　green；　and　white　of　the　Cinanestial　counter　was　in　front　of　us。　A　male　elf　stood　at　the　counter　with　a　datacord　jacked　into　a　silver　slot　in　his　left　temple　running　to　the　puler　hidden　behind　the　top　of　the　counter。　At　the　door　to　the　plane　stood　another　elf；　who　looked　pleasant　enough　until　you　noticed　that　she　had　cyberware　implants　in　both　arms　and　a　nasty…looking　laser　slipped　into　a　tasteful　sleeve　on　the　side　of　her　uniform。
　
　Both　elves　were　wearing　the　Cinanestial　uniform：
　
　skin…tight　dark…green　material　with　bold　color　blocks　of　silver　and　white。　Though　I　suspected　they　were　both　expert　at　being　polite　and　serving　the　passengers；　anyone　who　gave　them　any　grief　would　likely　be　pulling　pieces　of　his　favorite　anatomy　part　from　his　throat　for　a　long　time　to　e。
　
　Before　we　even　reached　the　counter；　another　uniformed　elf　appeared　in　front　of　us。　I　didn't　see　where　she　came　from；　and　the　fact　that　she　got　the　drop　on　me　irritated　me　to　no　end。
　
　〃I　need　to　see　your　VAVs；　please；〃　she　said。　The　please　was　a　mere　formality。　I　had　spent　most　of　my　time　avoiding　Tir　Taimgire…and　with　good　reason。　Now　I　was　waltzing　in　chin…first。　Even　with　Caimbeui　as　my　panion；　I　wondered　if　this　wasn't　a　bigger　mistake　than　facing　Ysrthgrathe　alone。
　
　I　passed　my　VAV　across　to　Caimbeui；　who　put　it　with　his　and　gave　it　to　her。
　
　〃Stay　here；〃　she　said。　She　turned　and　walked　over　to　the　elf　at　the　desk。　They　talked　together　in　low　voices　for　a　moment；　then　the　counter…elf　said　something　to　the　one　with　our　passports。　The　customs　elf　put　a　deliberately　blank　expression　on　her　face；　then　walked　back　to　us。
　
　〃Go　on　through；〃　she　said。　〃Have　a　good　flight。〃
　
　Caimbeui　took　our　papers　and　walked　past　without　saying　a　word　to　her。　I　followed；　trying　hard　not　to　give　a　smug　grin。　I　failed。　Oh；　well。
　
　Just　as　we　reached　the　door　to　the　loading　ramp；　I　heard　a　motion　behind　us。　I　looked　over　my　shoulder　in　time　to　see　the　customs　elf　tossing　a　scared…looking　troll　to　the　floor　as　if　he　were　a　rag…doll。
　
　All　brawn；　no　brains。　Some　things　never　change。
　
　The　flight　to　Portland　was　about　two　and　a　half　hours。　I　didn't　make　small　talk　with　Caimbeui。　I　was　afraid　I　might　blurt　out　that　he'd　been　in　my　dream；　and　then　I'd　have　to　listen　to　him　crow　about　that　for　the　rest　of　the　flight。
　
　He　was　a　conceited　bastard　under　the　best　of　situations…I　didn't　want　to　think　about　how　obnoxious　he　would　bee　if　I　told　him。
　
　And　what　was　going　on　with　my　dreams　anyway？　I　hadn't　dreamed　of　Ysrthgrathe　in　several　nights　scared　me　because　if　he　wasn't　ing　to　me　through　that　window；　where　was　he　going　to　e　from？
　
　Was　he　already　here　and　waiting　for　me？　Waiting　to　rip　my　life　apart　again？　Or　had　I　just　dreamed　him　up？　Pulled　him　from　my　nightmare　past　as　surely　as　I　had　pulled　him　to　me　all　those　millennia　ago？　I　wasn't　sure　now。　No；　I　had　to　be　sure。　The　fate　of　the　world　was　riding　on　me。　There　was　no　room　for　mistakes。
　
　We　sank　into　the　gray　clouds　as　we　made　our　approach　to　Portland。　From　up　in　the　golden　sky　to　down　into　the　rain　and　muck。　I　could　barely　make　out　the　green　land　below　as　we　popped　in　and　out　of　the　clouds。　Rain　smeared　the　double…paned　windows。
　
　〃How　are　we　going　to　get　the　Council　to　hear　us？〃　I　asked。
　〃I'm　going　to　petition　the　High　Prince；〃　he　replied。
　〃Lugh　Surehand？〃　I　asked。　〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　on　such　close　terms。〃
　
　Caimbeui　looked　away。
　
　〃Don't　tell　me；〃　I　said。　〃He　has　no　idea　that　we're　ing；　does　he？〃
　〃I'm　sure　he　knows　we're　ing。　There's　very　little　that　goes　on　in　Tir　Taimgire　that　he　doesn't　know。　But　I　haven't　contacted　him　directly。　I　thought　it　would　be　better　to　wait　until　we're　actually　in　Portland。〃
　〃Why？　And　stop　fidgeting。〃　
　〃I'm　not　fidgeting。　I　don't　fidget。　That's　an　awful　word。　Fidget。　You　make　me　sound　like　a　three…year…old。〃
　〃If　the　age　fits。〃
　
　He　ran　a　hand　through　his　hair；　dislodging　the　band　that　held　his　ponytail。　Then　he　cursed　when　the　band　got　tangled　up　in　his　hair。　The　more　he　tugged　at　it；　the　worse　the　snarl　became。　I　slapped　his　hand　away　and　gently　began　to　work　it　loose。
　
　〃It's　Aithne；　isn't　it？〃　I　asked。　〃You're　worried　that　when　Aithne　knows　I'm　in　Portland；　he'll　do　everything　he　can　to　see　that　I'm　not　heard。〃
　
　I　was　surprised　to　see　him　look　so　embarrassed。　The　band　came　loose　and　I　ran　my　fingers　through　Caimbeul's　hair　to　make　sure　there　weren't　any　more　tangles。　It　was　as　silky　as　I　remembered；　cool　on　top　and　warm　near　the　nape　of　his　neck。　It　was　an　odd　moment；　filled　with　promise　and　regret。　Then　I　pulled　my　hands　away　and　held　out　the　band　to　him。　His　fingers　slid　over　mine　as　he　took　it；　and　lingered　there　for　a　moment。
　
　〃It's　been　so　long；　and　he　still　hasn't　forgiven　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　I　have　no　right　to　expect　that　he　would；　but　all　the　same　there's　the　hope　in　me　that　he　might。〃
　
　Caimbeui　took　my　hand　and　gave　it　a　little　squeeze。　〃He　attends　his　grudges　like　a　jealous　wife。　Age　hasn't　tempered　him。　It's　only　made　him　more　of　what　he　is。　But　isn't　that　the　way　it　is　with　all　of　us？〃
　
　〃I　suppose。　But　what　about　you　and　Ehran？　I　know　you　engaged　in　the　Game　some　time　ago。　Did　that　resolve　any　of　your　differences？　Or　did　it　merely　let　you　keep　them　simmering　for　another　hundred　years　or　so？〃
　
　〃Simmering；　my　sweet；　simmering　always。　I　never　like　to　bring　things　to　a　boil。〃
　
　I　held　his　hand　tightly　for　a　moment；　then　released　it。
　
　〃I　seem　to　remember　a　time　or　two　when　that　wasn't　the　case。〃
　〃You　are　an　evil　woman；　Aina。〃
　
　I　just　smiled　at　him；　then　went　back　to　looking　out　the　window。
　
　We　passed　through　Tir　customs　easily。　Whatever　mojo　Caimbeui　had　worked　with　his　friend；　it　breezed　us　through　the　usual　tediousness　of　the　bureaucracy。　I'd　made　it　a　point　in　the　past　to　avoid　Tir　Taimgire　at　all　costs。　Oh；　I'd　been　here　a　few　times；　but　always　as　quickly　and　discreetly　as　possible。　Though　I　knew　Aithne　would　never　act　against　me　directly；　I　wasn't　about　to　force　the　issue。　Tir　Taimgire　was；　after　all；　his　baby。　He'd　cooked　the　idea　up　with　Sean　Laverty；　Lugh　Surehand；　and　Ehran。　They'd　moved　with　a　purpose　and　precision　to　establish　the　Tir　that　preempted　anyone　who　might　have　stood　in　their　way。　Not　that　I　would　have　been　foolish　enough　to　try。　I　like　to　think　that　I've　developed　some　measure　of　sense　in　roy　old　age。
　
　They　tricked　the　Salish…Shidhe　Council　into　giving　over　part　of　their　land　to　the　elves。　Oh；　I　had　to　admire　their　cunning。　Like　all　good　mundane　magic；　it　was　done　with　clever　distractions　and　sleight　of　hand。
　
　It　was　Ehran　who　did　the　initial　dirty　work。　And　how　he　must　have　enjoyed　the　charade…posing　as　an　Amerindian…Walter　Bright　Water…newly　released　from　the　Pyramid　Lake　Re…Education　Center。　He　pretended　that　his　wife　and　children　had　died　there；　then　deceived　the　tribal　elders　with　his　knowledge　of　Cascade　Crow　tribal　rituals。　The　treachery　of　it　astounds。
　
　Perhaps　I　am　letting　my　history　with　Caimbeui　color　my　ments；　for　his　and　Ehran's　relationship　is　a　bitter　one　from　long　ago。　The　enemy　of　my　friend　is　my　enemy。　Not　that　Ehran　had　the　slightest　idea　of　my　opinion　of　him；　of　course。　That　would　be　foolishness　of　the　first　water。
　
　Anyway；　eventually；　he　received　a　place　on　the　S…S　Council；　and　parlayed　that　into　his　final　plan。　He　encouraged　the　segregation　of　metahumans；　saying　that　Awakened　individuals　were　better　off　away　from　humanity　and　their　prejudices。　But；　at　the　same　time；　he　encouraged　the　Salish…Shidhe　and　the　other　Native　American　Nations　to　wele　metahumans　into　their　territories。
　
　This　brought　metahumans　into　NAN　and　the　Salish…Shidhe　territories　in　ever…increasing　numbers　over　the　years　just　before　the　establishment　of　the　Tir。　Before　Bright　Water　disappeared　（faking　his　death；　by　the　way。。　Something　I　know　he　is　quite　proficient　at）；　he　encouraged　the　metahuman　population　to　segregate　itself　into　the　southern　region　of　the　Amerindian　territories。　They　did　so；　and　this　was　the　beginning　of　what　would　later　bee　Tir　Tairn…giro。
　
　Of　course；　Aithne　and　the　others　hadn't　been　sitting　by　doing　nothing；　but　they　did　let　Ehran　have　all　the　fun。　After　〃Walter　Bright　Water's〃　death；　they　appeared　on　the　scene　and　began　to　lead　the　〃renaissance　in　the　south。〃　By　the　time　there　was　a　formal　declaration　of　independence　by　the　Tir；　the　Salish…Shidhe　was　no　longer　a　cohesive　power　and　there　was　nothing　NAN　or　any　other　nation　could　do　to　stop　them。
　
　By　this　time；　of　course；　Ehran　had　re…emerged　as　himself。　The　rest；　as　they　say；　is　history。　The　Tir　went　on　to　be　recognized　by　every　other　nation；　with　the　notable　exception　of　Aztlan。　But　then　they　are　both　special　cases　unto　themselves。
　
　Now　they　had　set　themselves　up　as　Princes；　no　less。　Of　course；　that　is　how　most　of　us　thought　of　ourselves。　After　all；　we　had　always　ruled；　whether　overtly　or