Wrath of Axia (The Arcadian Jihad) by Eric Schneider Read Free Book Online

together they start to form a whole. It is not always accurate, but it is a useful way to understand what groups of people know about a single event. The idea that I am forming now is crazy, and you’ll laugh if I tell you. The last piece of the puzzle just fell into place when I was looking into Pieter’s mind.” She smiled, embarrassed. “I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I thought it was important, so many bad things are going on here.”
    “Tell us, what is it?”
    She hesitated for a few moments. “It’s the President, Xerxes Tell. I don’t think he’s dead.”
    “Xerxes Tell?” They spoke the name in unison. “He died on Axis Nova, just before the inauguration,” Blas blurted out. “Everyone knows that.”
    She hesitated again. “I don’t believe he died.”
    They were both silent. It was a crazy statement to make, and they both looked around to see if anyone was near and could overhear what she’d said. That really would be treason. But the adjoining tables were empty. Rusal gave her a piercing glance. “You’d better explain yourself, Evelyn. Everyone knows he died of a heart attack, right before the swearing in ceremony.”
    She wrung her hands. She was upset, that much was obvious.
    “I know that he died,” she said in a voice that was very troubled. “I even saw the broadcasts when it was caught on film. What I’m trying to say is that I don’t think the man who died was Xerxes Tell. It must have been a lookalike. I don’t know the reason why, believe me, but it wasn’t Tell.”
    They stared at her, at first too astonished to speak. A thought occurred to Blas.
    “What has Pieter Bose to do with it?”
    “He must have been part of it, him and his brother. That’s the point, for it means they both know what happened to the real Xerxes Tell. I could read that much. While you were speaking to him, he was planning in his mind what he would say to his brother. Something has changed and they’re worried about people finding out about the real Xerxes Tell.”
    She looked at them with fear in her eyes. “He was rehearsing a message to his brother Rad, that they should consider killing Tell. He’s a loose end.”
    Rusal shook his head. “I don’t understand. It’s almost impossible to believe. He died, and we all saw it.”
    The meal lay on the table untouched. They were each lost in their own thoughts. Surely, it couldn’t be. It was just incredible!
    “Could you have made a mistake, Evelyn?” Rusal asked.
    She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’m certain he’s alive.”
    The waiter arrived and looked with dismay at their meals left untouched.
    “Was there something wrong with the food? Wasn’t it to your liking?”
    Rusal put his hand on the man’s sleeve to reassure him. “It was fine, but we’ve just had something of a shock. Bring us a bottle of brandy and three glasses.”
    “At once, Admiral.”
    The bottle arrived, and Rusal had barely taken a sip when his communicator beeped. He answered it, then ended the call and gave them a troubled look.
    “That was my headquarters. Rad Bose has arrived for a tour of inspection. Pieter Bose rushed back to Tulum to speak with him first.”
    “That’s not good, is it?” Blas asked.
    He shook his head. “No, it isn’t, I must return at once. I suggest for the time being you two stay with Max Biermann, don’t return to Tulum. If I’m arrested, it could be difficult if you’re in my house.”
    “Arrested? I still don’t believe it,” Blas said, aghast.
    “It could happen. If it comes to that, ask Max. He’ll know what to do.”
    “You mean we’re to look for Berg, don’t you?”
    “Yes, Berg Smetana. We’re going to need him.”

Chapter Two
     

    Rusal left the restaurant to return to his headquarters. They paid the bill and left, still hungry. An ancient street vendor sold them a bag of roasted burlash chips, but they tasted disgusting. Blas remembered years ago when the center of Peria had been alive with