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Njangu's city quarters were the three top floors in one of the half-block-long megaliths. He tried counting
rooms, got three different figures depending on which elevator he used, and gave up.
He had, already in place, a staff of twenty-four. He asked if this'd been especially prepared for him, was
told by his head-of-household, a calm man with shifty eyes named Kerman, the apartments had been
previously occupied by& "but I must not use his name, sir. He was a member of a Cumbrian spy
network our wonderful Protector sniffed out."
Cumbrian spy network?
Of courseKerman , and Yoshitaro assumed everyone else in the household, was reporting to Celidon
and then Redruth. No matter. He didn't talk in his sleep, nor did he carry anything that'd give his mission
away, except those four com chips he still had hidden.
He was in the middle of investigating the kitchens and bar areas whenKerman came to him again.
"LeiterYohns, some possible candidates for your private quarters have arrived, and wish to know if
you'd be interested in interviewing them."
"Private quarters?"
"Yes, sir."
"How're these people different from you, or the maids, cooks, bakers, and laundry people I've already
got?"
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"If you'd care to accompany me, sir?"
There were half a dozen women, two blondes, two brunettes, two redheads. All were most attractive,
seemed intelligent, and very interested in him. Yoshitaro tookKerman aside.
"I think I've got it. These women are applying for the job of my bed partner?"
"But of course, sir. We use the term companion. There are also men who serve similar functions, if you
wish."
Yoshitaro said he wasn't interested in boys this week, then called one woman out of the room, a
sultry-eyed brunette named Brythe.
"You want to become my& companion?"
"But of course."
"Why?"
Brythe blinked. "Because that's what I've been trained for."
"What pressure, sorry, what encouragement did they put on you to become what you are?"
"Pressure, sir? I worked very hard in my training to be selected as a potential companion for someone of
high rank, as did the other women in there." She smiled. "I must say, sir, that I think I've got particular
talents they might not have."
"If I choose you, what happens?"
"Whatever you wish, whenever you wish."
"No, I meant, what benefits doyouget?"
"Well, I'd be permitted to live here, if you wished, which is much nicer than my own place, which is only
a couple of rooms. Or I can merely come when you wish whatever services you want from me. Of
course I get an increase in my living and clothing allowances. I'll be able to shop in special stores, which
are only open for high-ranking members of the government and their immediate staffs, and when I go to
the stadiums sit in special sections. My parents also would be raised in status."
"Um." Yoshitaro had an idea. "Brythe, what would happen if I chose more than one of you?"
"Why, you'd be no more than a normal man. And, to be frank," and she licked her lips, "some of the&
pressure, to use your word, might be taken off me."
Yoshitaro covered his reaction. Redruth's regime programmed the citizens in more than one way.
"Very well. Come with me."
He went back into the room, pointed to two blondes, a redhead.
"You three, and you, Brythe, can stay, if you choose. As for the rest of you, thanks for letting me meet
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you."
The other two didn't seem disappointed, but twittered about how gracious and noble theLetterwas, and
perhaps they'd meet at another time, and were gone.
"Is there anyone else that's going to get added to my retinue?" Yoshitaro askedKerman .
"Only your personal bodyguards, sir."
"Good. I'll let you choose them. Get me big hulks. Male. Quiet ones. They ought to have military
experience, and it wouldn't hurt for them to be missing an ear or maybe be scalped."
"Sir?"Kerman sounded shocked.
"I want any social misfit who's thinking of harming me to know I'm well guarded," Yoshitaro said. "Guys
with scars are a good advertisement."
"Yes, sir. I understand, sir."
Yoshitaro yawned obviously. "Now, I think I'd like to& evaluate& my chambers. I assume the four
women I chose will have their own bedrooms?"
"They will, sir, although not until I relocate two of the maids. TheLettersI've served normally only require
one, sometimes two, companions."
"Show them to their quarters, then ask Brythe and& what's the redhead's name?"
"Pyder, sir."
"Ask them if they wish to come visiting."
"As you wish, sir."
If he played the part of a sex-besotted fool, Yoshitaro might be taken less seriously by Celidon and
Red-ruth. Njangu hoped he was a clever devil, and not rationalizing being a drooling lech.
The next morning, feeling strangely refreshed, he met his bodyguards, who were just as big, silent, and
nasty as he'd ordered, and hopefully as dumb as he wanted. He asked about their training, found out they
were both rough-and-tumble experts, no more. Or so they claimed.
One said they'd be more than willing to help Njangu add to his security element. Yoshitaro said he
thought he'd already taken care of that.
"MostLetters," the man said, "think it's important to have other men and women& generally picked from
the military& who can take care of the small things we won't have time for. Also, in uniform, they make a
better display to the populace."
"What are the little things?" Njangu asked.
"Checking engine drives for bombs, clearing the way for your entrance at social events, generally
en-suring that people you encounter are aware of your importance."
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"I'll wait to make sure I get the right personnel," Njangu lied, thinking it was going to be hard enough
being a spy on this unknown world without carrying a full entourage around. He'd do with what he had.
With his personal requirements taken care of, it was time to get to work, both for himself and for
Redruth.
"Your job is?" Njangu asked.
"Door guard, sir."
"Sorry for the dumb question, but the businesses in this block don't seem to need guarding. None of
them are government that I can see."
"Nossir, they're not. But I'm to watch for social misfits, keep track of how many people go in and out,
report anything suspicious."
"You like your job?"
The thickset man looked around, was reassured by Yoshitaro's smile.
"It's all right, sir."
"You seem to have a little bit of an accent."
"Yessir, I mean, I guess so, sir. I'm fromKura . If you don't mind me being bold, sir, my accent's no
worse'n yours."
Yoshitaro's bodyguards frowned, then blanked their faces, seeing Njangu's grin. "Kura, hmm. I haven't
been there yet, but I hear it's mostly country. Farms and jungles."
"Yessir."
"Must've been a change, coming to a planet that's got as many cities as Larix does."
"Yessir, it was."
"Ever want to go back?"
The man looked horrified. "ToKura? Gods no, sir. Begging your pardon."
"Why? Is life that hard there?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]