"And Li Yuan does nothing?" Jelka found it hard to take in how the situation had degenerated so rapidly.
"Oh, no. Li Yuan has a programme."
She stared at the Chancellor, intrigued by something in his voice. "A programme?"
Heng nodded. The wind blew through his dark, fine hair, making him seem suddenly a much younger man than he was. "It was Cheng Nai shan's idea, actually. Cheng's is the voice the Empress listens to these days. That said, Li Yuan didn't oppose it. In fact, he's gone out of his way to promote it."
She frowned. "What is he doing?"
He turned and looked directly at her. "He's wiring them."
"No . . . they . . . they wouldn't let him, surely?"
"They've no say. When his squads take prisoners they're under instructions to take any that aren't already wired and pen them. After questioning, they're wired - whether they want it or not."
She stared at him, horrified. "And no one does anything?"
In answer, he pointed down at another section of the great city which had been reduced to a patch of ashes. "What can they do? They riot, or burn down a street or two. But nothing changes. His mind is set. He wants everyone wired."
"Everyone?"
He turned, lifting his hair to show her the vivid scar on his neck beneath his right ear. "Everyone."
She let out her breath slowly. "My father was opposed to it."
"I know."
Again she sighed heavily. "What can be done?"
His smile was heavy with resignation. "For us, nothing. No, Jelka Ward, you now are the future. Chung Kuo is dead. Or as good as."
"Is there no opposition?"
He shook his head sadly. "It has gone too far for that. But come . . . there are a few old friends of yours I want you to meet."
Heng Yu leaned forward, saying a few words of Mandarin to his pilot, then sat back again. "Mileja will join us there."
"You've . . ."
"Oh, she's quite safe," he hastened to reassure her. "I have assigned a special elite squad to guard you both while you're down here. Besides, where we're going now is safe enough. Perhaps the last safe place in the whole city."
She looked at him, intrigued, then sat back, pondering on what she had been shown.
As the cruiser set down within the high walls of the great mansion, four men ran across the tiled courtyard - grizzled veterans in black leather jackets and fatigues, the heavy automatics they carried evincing a no-nonsense approach.
Jelka, looking out through the portal, saw them take up a stance to either side of the cockpit, one of them shouting up a challenge to the pilot. Other guards looked on from the shadows of the surrounding terrace, their guns covering the ship.
"Who are they?" she asked, turning to Heng Yu, who sat across from her, gathering up his papers.
"They're Karr's men. When he quit, they quit. Now they guard him, day and night."
She nodded, understanding. Then it was Karr they'd come to see. She smiled, looking forward to seeing the big man again. Karr had always been her father's favourite. If there'd ever been a problem - a real problem - then her father had sent Karr to sort it out. Up in space, or on Mars, or below the Net. It didn't matter. The big man always came through. He'd never once failed to get the job done.
"Whaf s Karr been doing?" she asked, wanting to know a few things before she met him again.
"Doing?" Heng laughed, then closed up the slim briefcase and stood. As he did the engines finally cut out and the door at the front hissed open. "Why, he has been twice as busy as he ever was. Seeing old friends, spending time with his family." She looked at him sternly, as if to say "don't lie to me". Seeing that look, he raised a hand, relenting.
"Okay. But it is not so far from the truth. You simply have to remember the calibre of friends a man like Karr attracts. In times like ours, a strong and honest man attracts such friends like a bright light attracts moths in the night."
"So he's the focus, eh?" She nodded, sombrely. "No wonder they guard him. I'm surprised the Empress hasn't had him killed."
"Oh, I am certain she would have tried, had her husband not warned her off. Karr still has much support in the army. To have him killed might prove. . . well, counter-productive as far as our Mistress is concerned. She might find herself on the wrong side of an army revolt."
She stared at Heng Yu, amazed. "You think they would rebel?"
"If Karr were assassinated?" Heng nodded. "But that is not the same thing as saying that Karr has the upper hand. He too must tread carefully. There are, after all, other ways of getting at a man than killing him."
She frowned, not understanding.
"His daughters. . ." Heng said quietly, then turned as two of the guards came into the craft, smiling a greeting at them. "Horst... Carl ..."
"Master Heng," the first of them, Horst, answered gruffly, making no attempt at bowing to him, as if he were the Chancellor's equal. "My Master asks . . ."
He stopped, noticing Jelka for the first time. As he did, his eyes widened and he dropped onto one knee, bowing his head smartly. "Nu Ski Tolonen. I did not know . . ."
Jelka gave a little laugh, surprised by his reaction. Behind him his fellow guard, Carl, had done the same.
"Why, thank you, Captain Hagenau," she said, remembering the man from way back, "but my name is Ward now. And you needn't kneel. Please."
He looked up at her, but made no attempt to get up. "We are honoured by your presence, Madame Ward. Your father was a great man."
"Yes. But please ..."
She reached out, taking his hand, and pulled him to his feet, then looked to Heng Yu again. "Captain Hagenau was twice decorated by my father for his bravery. If he is leading the Marshal's men then they are well-led indeed."
Hagenau beamed at the compliment, then tucked his head in again. "We are but the Marshal's hands."
At the reminder of their earlier conversation, Heng Yu cleared his throat, then gestured toward the open doorway. "Well, shall we go meet your old friend?"
Jelka looked to Hagenau. "Captain? If you would lead the way?" "It would be my pleasure," he said. "Oh, and it is Major Hagenau now, incidentally."
"Then lead on, Major Hagenau. It seems your Master and I have much to talk about."
Karr met them in the massive hallway of the mansion, almost picking Jelka up as he embraced her, then turning to introduce her to his wife, Marie.
"I would have you meet my girls, too," he said, beaming at her, "but they are at their studies right now. Maybe later?"
"I'd like that very much," she answered, smiling back at the giant, conscious of Heng at her side, the slim case under his arm.
Karr stepped back slightly, nodding to himself and smiling as he took in the sight of her. He had changed little over the years. His hair, admittedly, was almost grey now, but his face had not aged the way some men's faces did. Like her own father's, Karr's had become set - as if it would be forever thus: a face of granite certainty.
"You know, I never thought to see you back here," he said, _, -.after a moment. "How is your husband? How is Kim?" "Very well, last I heard. The Colonies thrive." "So I've heard." He paused, looking to Marie a moment, thoughtful, then: "Well, we shall talk later, neh? Right now Master Heng and I have some business to see to. Urgent business, I'm afraid. But when it's done . . ."
"Of course," she said graciously. Then, turning to Heng, she asked, "And Mileja?"
"She's on her way," Heng reassured her. "As soon as she arrives I'll have her sent through to you. But there is someone else I wish you to meet. Someone I think you'll find ... interesting."
Jelka raised an eyebrow, then turned, hearing a noise on the stairs above them. She looked up. At the top of the massive stairway, one hand on the rail of the balcony, stood a young woman of roughly her own age. Her hair was tied back severely, but her face was pretty.
"Ah . . ." Heng Yu said, as they all turned to look up at her, "there you are. I was just about to send a servant for you."