Page 78 of A World Enough

Davor held out his hands, as if to say We tried.

“So, Ninti,” Vorka said, “you are brought into this too.”

“Yes. As science officer, it is my job to check we have done everything correctly and to encourage you to have a positive discussion.”

“Interrogation. Call it like it is. Why else would I be held against my will,” Vorka said.

“Let’s not jump ahead, dear ladies,” Davor said, “we’ve just acquainted ourselves.”

In the room there was a silver table with a wooden inlay on top. Vorka was on one of the chairs.

The main wall to the left hand side was a clear view of space. The room looked like a normal conference room, to all intents and purposes, but Ninti knew it had a much darker side.

“We are just two ambassadors for our people, trying to make the best of a situation,” Davor said.

“What does the best of a situation entail?”

“You telling me where the Map Keeper is,” Davor said.

Very quickly, Vorka replied, “I have no idea.”

“Then I will need to kill all of your people,” Davor said coldly and calmly.

“You would kill all of my monks to find the Map Keeper?”

“Of course. Can you suggest any other way that I might extract information from you?”

Vorka didn’t answer, and so Davor said, “Do you know how many ways a brain can be made to give out its secrets? Many, and they are all very painful. Are you sure you don’t want the easy way out?”

Vorka leaned forwards. “I cannot tell you what I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Even for one of your beloved brethren?”

“I have nothing to tell you,” Vorka said.

Never taking his eyes off Vorka, he called out, “Escheal? Bring in the first one.”

Ninti felt she had to say or do something. “Vorka, it would be in your interest to give us some information.”

“She’s made her choice, Ninti,” Davor said.

Vorka stared at Ninti, and she heard her voice in her head. Stand down. Stay the course.

Ninti gulped hard and looked away from her.

The doors opened, and two Drazani pulled a struggling monk into the room. He was placed on his knees in front of Vorka.

“Can you look this poor man in the eye and take his life for the sake of not telling us where the Map Keeper is? I don’t want to kill the Map Keeper.”

“No, you want to use her, and that’s as good as killing millions, billions,” Vorka said.

“You far overestimate my powers, Vorka, but as you say, start small. Move him closer to Vorka. I want her to look into his eyes when he is killed.”

The young man was shaking in fear and struggling. “Vorka, help me.”

Vorka was using everything in her body to show no reaction, much like Ninti.

“I do not know where the Map Keeper is. You will never get information out of me, because I have told her never to tell me where she was going or coming to.”