Retief and Magnan silently crossed the kitchen, went out the back door, stopped on command, and stood waiting. The sky was brilliant with stars and a gentle breeze stirred the tree-tops beyond the garden. Behind them the servants talked in low voices.
«You go too, Illy,» the cook was saying.
«Do it here,» said another.
«And carry them down?»
«Pitch ’em behind the hedge.»
«I said the river. Three of you is plenty for a couple of Nenni dandies.»
«They’re foreigners, not Nenni. We don’t know—»
«So they’re foreign Nenni. Makes no difference. I’ve seen them. I need every man here; now get going.»
«What about the big guy?»
«Him? He waltzed into the room and didn’t notice a thing. But watch the other one.»
At a prod from a knife point, Retief moved off down the walk, two of the escort behind him and Magnan, another going ahead to scout the way.
Magnan moved closer to Retief.
«Say,» he said in a whisper, «that fellow in the lead—isn’t he the one who spilled the drink? The one you took the blame for?»
«That’s him, all right. He doesn’t seem nervous any more, I notice.»
«You saved him from serious punishment,» Magnan said. «He’ll be grateful; he’ll let us go …»
«Better check with the fellows with the knives before you act on that.»
«Say something to him,» Magnan hissed, «remind him.»
The lead man fell back in line with Retief and Magnan.
«These two are scared of you,» he said, grinning and jerking a thumb toward the knife-handlers. «They haven’t worked around the Nenni like me; they don’t know you.»
«Don’t you recognize this gentleman?» Magnan said. «He’s—»
«He did me a favor,» the man said. «I remember.»
«What’s it all about?» Retief asked.
«The revolution. We’re taking over now.»
«Who’s ‘we’?»
«The People’s Anti-Fascist Freedom League.»
«What are all the knives for?»
«For the Nenni; and for you foreigners.»
«What do you mean?» gasped Magnan.
«We’ll slit all the throats at one time; saves a lot of running around.»
«When will that be?»
«Just at dawn—and dawn comes early, this time of year. By full daylight the PAFFL will be in charge.»
«You’ll never succeed,» Magnan said. «A few servants with knives; you’ll all be caught and executed.»
«By who; the Nenni?» The man laughed. «You Nenni are a caution.»
«But we’re not Nenni—»
«We’ve watched you; you’re the same. You’re part of the same blood-sucking class.»
«There are better ways,» Magnan said. «This killing won’t help you. I’ll personally see to it that your grievances are heard in the Corps Courts. I can assure you that the plight of the downtrodden workers will be alleviated. Equal rights for all.»
«Threats won’t help you,» the man said. «You don’t scare me.»
«Threats? I’m promising relief to the exploited classes of Petreac.»
«You must be nuts. You trying to upset the system or something?»
«Isn’t that the purpose of your revolution?»
«Look, Nenni, we’re tired of you Nenni getting all the graft. We want our turn. What good it do us to run Petreac if there’s no loot?»
«You mean you intend to oppress the people? But they’re your own group.»
«Group, schmoop. We’re taking all the chances; we’re doing the work. We deserve the pay-off. You think we’re throwing up good jobs for the fun of it?»
«You’re basing a revolt on these cynical premises?»
«Wise up, Nenni; there’s never been a revolution for any other reason.»
«Who’s in charge of this?» Retief said.
«Shoke, the head chef.»
«I mean the big boss; who tells Shoke what to do?»
«Oh, that’s Zorn. Look out, here’s where we start down the slope. It’s slippery.»
«Look,» Magnan said. «You. This—»
«My name’s Illy.»
«Mr. Illy, this man showed you mercy when he could have had you beaten.»
«Keep moving. Yeah, I said I was grateful.»
«Yes,» Magnan said, swallowing hard. «A noble emotion, gratitude.»
«I always try to pay back a good turn,» Illy said. «Watch your step now on this sea-wall.»
«You’ll never regret it.»
«This is far enough.» Illy motioned to one of the knife men. «Give me your knife, Vug.»
The man passed his knife to Illy. There was an odor of sea-mud and kelp. Small waves slapped against the stones of the sea-wall. The wind was stronger here.
«I know a neat stroke,» Illy said. «Practically painless. Who’s first?»
«What do you mean?» Magnan quavered.
«I said I was grateful; I’ll do it myself, give you a nice clean job. You know these amateurs: botch it up and have a guy floppin’ around, yellin’ and spatterin’ everybody up.»
«I’m first,» Retief said. He pushed past Magnan, stopped suddenly, and drove a straight punch at Illy’s mouth.
The long blade flicked harmlessly over Retief’s shoulder as Illy fell. Retief took the unarmed servant by the throat and belt, lifted him, and slammed him against the third man. Both screamed as they tumbled from the sea-wall into the water with a mighty splash. Retief turned back to Illy, pulled off the man’s belt, and strapped his hands together.
Magnan found his voice. «You … we … they …»
«I know.»
«We’ve got to get back,» Magnan said. «Warn them.»
«We’d never get through the rebel cordon around the palace. And if we did, trying to give an alarm would only set the assassinations off early.»
«We can’t just …»
«We’ve got to go to the source: this fellow Zorn. Get him to call it off.»
«We’d be killed. At least we’re safe here.»
Illy groaned and opened his eyes. He sat up.
«On your feet, Illy,» Retief said.
Illy looked around. «I’m sick.»
«The damp air is bad for you. Let’s be going.» Retief pulled the man to his feet. «Where does Zorn stay when he’s in town?»
«What happened? Where’s Vug and …»
«They had an accident. Fell in the pond.»
Illy gazed down at the restless black water. «I guess I had you Nenni figured wrong.»
«We Nenni have hidden qualities. Let’s get moving before Vug and Slug make it to shore and start it all over again.»
«No hurry,» Illy said. «They can’t swim.» He spat into the water. «So long, Vug. So long, Toscin. Take a pull at the Hell Horn for me.» He started off along the sea wall toward the sound of the surf.
«You want to see Zorn, I’ll take you to see Zorn. I can’t swim either.»
«I take it,» Retief said, «that the casino is a front for his political activities.»
«He makes plenty off it. This PAFFL is a new kick. I never heard about it until maybe a couple months ago.»
Retief motioned toward a dark shed with an open door.
«We’ll stop here,» he said, «long enough to strip the gadgets off these uniforms.»
Illy, hands strapped behind his back, stood by and watched as Retief and Magnan removed medals, ribbons, orders, and insignia from the formal diplomatic garments.
«This may help some,» Retief said, «if the word is out that two diplomats are loose.»
«It’s a breeze,» Illy said. «We see cats in purple and orange tailcoats all the time.»
«I hope you’re right,» Retief said. «But if we’re called, you’ll be the first to go, Illy.»
«You’re a funny kind of Nenni,» Illy said, eyeing Retief. «Toscin and Vug must be wonderin’ what happened to ’em.»
«If you think I’m good at drowning people, you ought to see me with a knife. Let’s get going.»