Cobra Gamble by Timothy Zahn Read Free Book Online Page B

duty is to die uselessly?" Daulo countered.
    The man's eyes narrowed. "You've said your farewells, villager. Now leave."
    There was something in his tone and manner that told Daulo the smart thing to do would be to close his mouth and obey. But just as he had thirty years earlier, when Jin Moreau came to Milika and asked for his help, he ignored the quiet warning. "Not until I understand why you're doing this," he said firmly. "I've faced the invaders' weapons. You may be able to kill a few of them, but you can't prevent them from ultimately winning through. Is there something in here of military value that can't be removed or destroyed?"
    "No, nothing," Akim said.
    "Then why not just leave with us?" Daulo pressed. "Out in the forest, you can regroup and choose a better time to resume the fight."
    "You will be silent, and you will leave," the third man repeated, and this time there was no mistaking the authoritative anger in his tone. "Or I will order you to stay and fight alongside them."
    Daulo snorted. "And who are you who presumes to order me and the Djinn?"
    The man drew himself up. "I am Shahni Dariuz Haafiz."
    Daulo felt his tongue freeze against the roof of his mouth, a sudden swell of horrified panic washing over him. Dressed in civilian clothing, bereft of the elaborate robes of office, he hadn't been as instantly recognizable as he would normally have been. "My most sincere apologies, Your Excellency," Daulo managed, bowing over in his wheelchair and hastily making the sign of respect.
    "Your apologies are tardy and not accepted," Haafiz growled. "Now leave us as you were ordered."
    Daulo straightened up. The doctor was starting to pull the wheelchair back from the table, and once again the smart thing to do would be to simply go.
    But there was something in Omnathi's expression... "Forgive the further impertinence, Your Excellency," Daulo said, grabbing the wheels and bringing the chair to an abrupt halt. "But I still fail to see why these men are to be needlessly sacrificed."
    "Your impertinence is not forgiven," Haafiz bit out. "Nor is your understanding required or sought. Your only task is to obey the orders you've been given."
    "The Djinn cannot simply leave with you and the others, Daulo Sammon," Omnathi said. "Their combat suits will instantly identify them to the invaders. If they try to leave, they'll be cut down instantly." He looked at Haafiz. "And their lives will be even more uselessly sacrificed."
    Daulo stared at Omnathi, then at Akim and Haafiz. Were all three of them blind? "Then why not have them simply remove the combat suits?" he asked.
    "Impossible," Haafiz said. "Without their combat suits, they are nothing."
    Akim and Omnathi, Daulo noticed suddenly, were watching him closely. "Your forgiveness, Your Excellency, but that's simply not true," he said firmly. "Without their combat suits—without any weapons at all—they're still warriors of Qasama. As you yourself said only moments ago." He looked into the eyes of the young man standing behind Akim. "And as such they're too valuable to our world to be needlessly thrown away."
    Haafiz sniffed contemptuously. "Are you of the Shahni now, Daulo Sammon?" he demanded. "Do you now make the law for Qasama?"
    Daulo grimaced, looking around the room. The six Djinn stood stiff and proud, their expressions those of men ready and willing to die for their world and their people.
    But as he looked deeper into their eyes, he could also see that they, too, saw no honor in dying in a useless ambush that would serve no genuine purpose.
    And they were young. So young. No older than Daulo's own son Fadil.
    What had happened to Fadil? With a flush of surprise and shame, Daulo realized he hadn't even thought to ask.
    But this wasn't the time for that. There were other young lives balanced on the edge here. Somehow, he had to find a way to save them from this madness.
    He looked at Akim as a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. "Of course I'm not of the Shahni,"