Page 77 of A World Enough

“Yes? May I help you?”

“It’s Davor, Ninti. I have Vorka. Would you please join us in the interview room?”

Ninti’s stomach dropped. This was going to be one of the most difficult things she’d done, because Vorka was a friend and a resistance leader. She was a woman Ninti had secretly worked with for many years, a woman who put her life into saving people from the Abnobians.

It was Vorka that first trusted Ninti, after Kartog helped her to become one of rebels, and now Davor had her. Who knew what she would have to do.

Davor would expect her support to get information out of Vorka, and Vorka would expect no less. They’d had this conversation many times. No matter the cost, she was to never blow her cover.

You are one of our secret weapons, Ninti. Give them nothing to doubt you ever.

Of course she swore to, but swearing that promise under no threat was wildly different to doing it for real, with Vorka in the room.

Ninti left her office and walked to the interrogation room. She held her hand over the entrance pad, and the door opened.

She locked eyes with Vorka, who was looking slightly worse for wear since her planet Danus was attacked.

Ninti forced her eyes to look at Davor, but she could see Vorka giving her a hard stare out of the corner of her eye, no doubt a way to communicate to Ninti to stay strong. In her head, she heard Vorka’s voice say, “Stick to the course, Ninti. Stick to the course.”

“Ah, Ninti,” Vorka said, “you join us at last. The scientist that tinkers with the world’s DNA, who changes races and makes them nothing more than playthings for you so-called gods.”

“I do my duty, Vorka, and we are not so-called gods. We are gods.”

Just saying those words tortured Ninti.

“Now, now,” Davor said. “Let’s not start with bad feelings.”

Vorka shifted in her seat. “I think the bad feeling started when you attacked my planet.”

Davor put his hands behind his back. “I sent some younger officers to find the Map Keeper, and they may have been more impulsive than a seasoned officer like Ninti or myself, but let’s just talk.”

Vorka stood holding on to her cane, a thick, twisted branch that had been lacquered, and a ball shape for the handle. She held that position, and held it, then eventually gave way and settled and sat down.

“Ninti, please sit,” Davor said.

He waited for them both to settle, then sat himself. He turned around to his escheal, who was standing in the corner.

“Get us some drinks.” Then he turned back to Vorka. “Would you like water or something stronger?”

“Good, clean water will serve me well.”

“Very well, that’s what you shall have.” Davor signalled to his escheal, who poured the water in all of their glasses. Vorka didn’t make a move to it.

Davor lifted up his glass. “Just in case you are wondering, it’s not poisoned. Watch.” He took a large gulp of water. “Perfectly natural.”

Ninti followed his actions.

This seemed to mollify Vorka, and she sipped at the water. “I did not really think you poisoned my water. What would be the point, when you wish to interrogate me.”

“Interrogate is such a harsh word. I would say an open discussion,” Davor said.

“Davor, our guest has cuts and bruises. Has she been offered medical attention?”

Again, two mortal enemies, but Abnobia tried to maintain its civilized image.

“Of course, Ninti. She refused.”

“I don’t need any help,” Vorka said.