Page 82 of Skinwalker's Bane
“Sauber is a Caver,” Haydn said. “Probably leading their efforts. Definitely one of them. His partner—intimate partner—is Dhaval Bull.”
Magorian looked over his shoulder for witnesses, then sighed. “Poor Bernice,” he said softly. “She thought she had found true love. So….” He looked pained. “We thought the Cavers, what was left of them, was harmless. Noisy. Irritating and even frustrating, with these hit and run attacks of theirs. With Sauber in the mix, though, it means they have a political agenda. Sauber wouldn’t be in bed with them if they didn’t.”
“Literally in bed with them,” Haydn added.
Magorian looked over his shoulder again. “This isn’t a good time. We’ll have to figure out the next move later.”
“Something’s happening,” Haydn guessed. “Did Bishan crack?”
“Later,” Magorian said. “You’ll understand then.” He cut the connection.
Haydn turned to look at Adam and Noa. “If something is happening on the Bridge that is a higher priority than finding out what Sauber is doing with the Cavers, it has to be mind-blowing.”
One of Noa’s assistants, a red-headed man who looked as though he’d barely emerged from boyhood, came up to the edge of the silence bubble and held up a screen.
Announcement from the Bridge!
Noa pointed to the screen Haydn had been using. “Turn it back on,” she said.
Haydn flipped it on and selected the official Bridge stream. Zsoka Owens was speaking with well-modulated precision.
“…celebrate this momentous passage through the Junkyard with a completely unique event. For the first time in the history of theEndurance, everyone will gather in the Palatine for a festival on the Meadow. No one will be exempted, excused or denied. The sick, the ill, will all be carried there to share in the celebration. We are all citizens of theEndurance. We will all share the moment. My news coordinator, Marco, will provide the details. I will see you all there tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow!” Noa breathed, sounding appalled.
“What’s tomorrow?” Adam asked. “We missed the first bit.”
“This is what Magorian was talking about,” Haydn murmured. “That note we sent to Magorian…they didn’t ignore it at all.”
“Someone want to fill me in?” Adam asked.
“Sorry,” Noa said shortly. “Haydn has been monitoring the ship’s progress through the Junkyard since we realized where we were. He thinks we’ve reached the end of it. He told Magorian that and we never heard back, so we figured they didn’t care. After all, the skinning of the ship will take two or more decades, yet, so whether we’re in the Junkyard or not makes no difference. Apparently, they think it does, now.”
“You onlythinkwe’re out of it?” Adam asked Haydn.
Haydn shrugged. “It’s not as if there are signs or a painted border. Holings of the skin have almost completely stopped, though.”
Adam nodded. Most non-skinwalkers would be shocked to know that theEndurancewas constantly holed, out here in the Junkyard. The new skin did what it was supposed to do. It stopped little stuff from passing through and kept the ship air tight. “What about theoldskin then?” Adam asked. They would be skinning the ship for years and years yet. At least the new skin worked better than the old one. He held out his hand, odd thoughts coupling up. “Wait, if you’re not sure we’re out of the Junkyard—”
“I’m pretty sure,” Haydn said with a growl. “There’s no demarcation line that will ever make it definite.”
“Whatever,” Adam said. “The fact is, the Bridge is jumping on it, making a huge fuss and they’d doing it suddenly, as if they abruptly changed their mind about what you told them. You said you sent the note over a week ago, right?”
“Yes,” Noa said. “Six days ago, now. Although, it could have taken all this time to arrange an event like this. Coordination of so many people does complicate things.” She spoke with a tone that said she knew this from experience.
“Except they would have spoken to you about, if they had been planning for six days, wouldn’t they?”
“It would be natural to speak to Noa at least,” Haydn admitted. “She has a head for this sort of stuff.”
“Or at the very least just let you know they were acting on it,” Adam said. “You’ve got direct access privileges with Magorian, Haydn. They would have saidsomething, if they were planning it for six days. Therefore, they weren’t. This is a scramble for them.”
“There’s a point you’re trying to make?” Haydn said patiently.
“Two, actually. The first is…” Adam licked his lips. “It’s something Devin said.” He ignored the ache in his chest. “Zsoka Owens currently has a huge following. People adore her. Lately, though, with Bellish and the Cavers acting out, that’s eroding fast. She’s going to be forced to call an election within the next month. Devin said she would call a snap election. Grab everyone before they’re ready and get re-elected because people will just go with what they know, because no one else will have had the chance to let everyone get to know them.”
“Including Devin,” Noa said softly.
“Right,” Adam said heavily. “With all the news about Cavers and Sauber on top of it, how much will Owen’s favoritism linger? Now she’s holding a ship-wide festival. Everyone to be there. No exceptions…” Adam shrugged. “There will be food and music and good cheer, to lull everyone into thinking life isn’t so bad. Then, she’ll announce the election, to be held in two or three days’ time.”
