“Amazing,” commented General Romero. “We should notify the Katana right away. With Alazar out of the way, we can fill the void and complete his task.”
“The Katana would never believe us,” General Valdey interjected. “We have no proof.”
“It would also alert the Monitors to the possibility of an overthrow,” added General Didyk. “No we must plan and be prepared to move as soon as the Katana is removed and before Alazar takes power. If we are too slow and Alazar gains power then we face the same problem trying to get rid of him as we would with the present Katana. In any event, we do not want to disclose that we suspect anything. Gentlemen, I think it is time to abandon this celebration and retire to someplace where we can plan our moves.”
The three well-decorated generals headed for the door out of the palace. They stepped aside gentlemanly to allow entry for a beautiful blond woman in a flowing red gown. The woman smiled her thanks and headed directly to the line waiting to speak with the Katana.
Thankfully the line was short, Cherri thought as she scanned the room and saw Minister Kapla still encircled with his new admirers. She continued looking around the room, trying to remember the names that went with the faces she saw. She had not been attending court for some time, as her orders had been to maintain a low profile after Minister Calix’s death.
Time passed quickly and soon Cherri was kneeling before the Katana. “Your Holiness,” Cherri greeted the Katana.
“It is a long time since I have seen this angelic face in my court,” smiled the Katana. “Rise so I may look upon you and feast my eyes with your beauty.”
Cherri rose with a feigned embarrassed smile. “You honor me with your favor,” Cherri replied.
The Katana smiled and gazed around the room. He rose and two Monitors suddenly appeared behind him. “I feel the need for some lighter talk than is available here,” the Katana stated. “Would you do my the honor of a walk, Cherri?”
“Who am I to refuse the Katana,” Cherri smiled. “It is I who will be honored.”
The Katana made a small hand gesture and two more Monitors preceded the couple to the Katana’s private entrance. Cherri took the Katana’s offered arm as they strode from the room. The small procession proceeded through the halls of the palace with the two leading Monitors appearing to know the destination. The Katana did not speak during the short journey, which ended in the Katana’s private garden. Two Monitors took their posts outside the doors to the garden while the other two made a circuit around the garden before leaving.
“I can be more relaxed here,” smiled the Katana. “There was no need for you to stop attending court when Calix died, you know. I have missed seeing your cheery face and I am sure others have as well.”
“I guess I just felt out of place,” Cherri responded as the Katana led her to a bench and they sat down.
“And what brings you back?” asked the Katana. “Surely not our new Minister of Defense?”
Cherri felt slightly uncomfortable when she realized that her luring of Kapla had been so noticeable. The Katana had never really taken a personal interest in her before although he had always been friendly to her. “You are kind to take such an interest in the widow of an old Minister,” evaded Cherri.
“Widow?” chuckled the Katana. “Cherri, you must think me as senile as my Ministers think. The documents you presented after Calix’s death were obvious forgeries. I authorized the transfer of his assets to you because you are useful to me.”
Cherri tensed and started to rise, but the Katana placed his hand firmly on her thigh to indicate that he was not done with the conversation and that she would not be permitted to leave. “I like you Cherri,” he smiled. “Besides the obvious benefit you and your fellow Sakovan spies provide, I have always admired both your beauty and your dedication.”
“I do not understand,” squirmed Cherri.
“Then allow me to explain myself,” chuckled the Katana. “Our government, my government that is, is always tenuous. There are always ambitious people trying to claw their way to the top. Often the intrigues are well hidden, but sometimes they are obvious. The obvious ones are normally dealt with before they have a chance to develop, but the others are often hard to uncover. Your Sakovan spies help me find them.”
“How?” quizzed Cherri. “I cannot imagine you putting up with Sakovan spies if you know about them.”
“Your spies seek information,” answered the Katana. “You have never sent an assassin to kill the Katana. If we do not seek to have war with Sakova, then how can your spies hurt us? Instead you manage to find the weak and yet aggressive among us. Calix was one of those and by watching you I uncovered him. Now you grab on to Kapla. This is no small coincidence.”
“You think that and yet you let me go free?” questioned Cherri.
“Why shouldn’t I?” the Katana retorted. “You have caused me no harm. In fact you have aided my government.”
“Why are you telling me this now?” asked Cherri. “Have you decided that I am no longer an asset?”
“Quite the contrary,” frowned the Katana. “I think that I may need your help. In the past, the calls to war with Sakova have been transparent and easily ignored. I feel that the effort is being accelerated now and I am having trouble trying to find a way to stop it. When my ministers or generals push for war, I can overrule them, but when the Omungan people scream for it, I will be trapped. War between our two countries is in neither people’s interest.”
Cherri sat bewildered by the Katana’s frankness. She had prided herself on not being detected and it was a blow to find out that she had been identified early on. Yet the Katana was not indicating that anything would change. She would have to report the change in her status, but it did not appear that the Katana intended to expose her. Still, she could not continue her cover with the knowledge that everyone knew who she was.
“Offering to help prevent a war is my civic duty,” Cherri agreed, “but I do not see how I can help, especially when everyone thinks that I am a Sakovan spy.”
“Nobody knows except me,” declared the Katana. “The agent who uncovered you is long dead and I have no intention of exposing you. As I said, you have done me a great service.”
“What can I do to help?” Cherri asked.
“This problem in Campanil for starters,” explained the Katana. “This is the type of panic that we cannot afford. I cannot believe that it was the result of the Sakovans because it is not in their best interests. Still I have no one else to blame. I am hoping that your spies have some information that I can use.”
“I will have to inquire,” Cherri stated, finally giving up any pretense that she was not a Sakovan spy. She liked the Katana and she could tell that he was being sincere. “I do know the person investigating that incident and it is believed that someone high up in the Omungan government is behind it. We do not know whom though. It is the reason that I am trying to hook Minister Kapla.”
“A sensible starting place,” nodded the Katana. “I do not care for his appointment, but then I didn’t care for any of the replacements offered.”
“We are trying to track down a man in Okata,” offered Cherri. “His name is Harac and he has only three fingers on one hand. I think he is involved somehow. Please do not send men looking for him or you may endanger my friends.”
“I will leave your work to you and your friends,” agreed the Katana. “I am only interested in your findings. Will you keep me informed?”
Cherri thought for a minute about what he was asking. “I must report my discovery to my superiors,” she said, “but I am sure that they will agree to keep you informed. We both want the same thing for our peoples.”