Page 40 of A Drop of Corruption

“Correct, ma’am,” said Ana.

Thelenai looked to Ghrelin, who nodded nervously.

“You may proceed,” said Thelenai.

“Excellent,” said Ana.

Chapter 17

Ana cleared her throat.“First…I would like to confirm the nature of the material that was stolen, Immunis,” she said. “You told Din here that it was a new formulation of healing grafts, correct?”

Ghrelin nodded, his hands in his lap. “They were.”

“Can you tell us more about these grafts?” asked Ana.

“Well…they are very complex. For the diseases they cure are very complex.”

“I have a delight for complex things,” said Ana, grinning. “Indulge me.”

“Certainly,” said Ghrelin. “I shall try to explain…”

He began to speak, starting with the nature of these respiratory diseases: the way they inflamed the lungs and how these infections could rapidly progress in the very young and very old. He described the difficulty in trying to treat these infections, for though they all produced similar symptoms, they could be caused by any one of dozens of contagions or diseases, and each one required a specific graft to cure.

“I see,” said Ana when Ghrelin finished. She cocked her head, letting the silence hang. “Andthisis what the perpetrator killed, tortured, maimed, and deceived so many to steal?”

Ghrelin paused. His eyes danced uncertainly about the table before he sat back into a position of relaxed repose. “It was, ma’am,” he said.

“Why would he wish to steal such a thing?” asked Ana.

“I’ve no idea, save that the cures are very valuable. Perhaps that is why.”

“Did you have many colleagues working upon these grafts with you?”

“No, I did not,” said Ghrelin. “I worked alone.”

“I see…”

Ana then asked him the common stuff. Had he seen or heard of anyone unusual asking about his works, or heard of anyone else doing so? Witnessed any signs of tampering? Seen anyone following him, or found any correspondence missing?

“No, no,” he said, shaking his head. “There is nothing I can recall.”

Had he ever experienced any robberies before? she asked. Had any of his works been stolen, or been the subject of attempted theft?

Again, no.

“And what did you do before working upon these healing grafts?” asked Ana.

Ghrelin hesitated. Then he said quietly, “I worked within the Shroud.”

A loud silence filled the room.

“You worked within…theShroud?” asked Ana.

“I did, ma’am,” he said.

“Can you tell us about that, please?”

Commander-Prificto Thelenai raised a hand. “The Shroud is a very critical and delicate part of imperial infrastructure, Immunis. It is the sole source of the purest titan’s blood. We do not share much information about it, for that could make it vulnerable. I wish to know why you ask this.”