One Heartbeat

The gentle blue sky tilted. Adviser Sari cupped me in his arms, but I was too stunned to notice because my brain had brought me back to blood pooling between floor tiles and her horrified face, the pieces of confetti around her body … her hair soaked in blood … my brain had paralyzed itself, unsure whether to react with screams or hysterical sobs. In the end, it had decided on both.

Adviser Sari carried me away from the carnage, holding me until we reached a room with beautiful wood floors and bright, modern wall murals. Had the floors been tile, I would have screamed.

The papers on his low table looked like dead husks. As he sat on the cushions behind it, a servant brought a washbasin, clean fabric, and pins.

Why was someone trying to kill you? Nitannyi? Nita?

I couldn’t respond verbally. My mind was in a fog. I reached into the bag and pulled out my document scanner.

He took it from my hand and cleaned the dried blood from his hands with a wet towel. I watched him pull out a document reader and insert it. The pitcher of tea on the table was red like blood. Will you be all right?

I nodded and stood, leaning over the washbasin. I cleaned the blood from my face and hands. My hepteri vest and underdress were ruined; I threw them onto the floor and reached for the blue fabric. Adviser Sari looked up from his documents while I fidgeted with the pins. Having never worn kami style before, I don’t think I did too terribly, but I didn’t look like myself.

Who is Sehutannyi?

A woman. We … were dating. I found the documents in her room. I walked to one of the bookshelves and removed a somewhat old scroll, a copy of a play from the eleventh century.

And she sent him after you. Adviser Sari projected the document reader’s screen onto one of the wall panels. You mean to tell me that you’ve been gathering information on an assassination plot and never even bothered to bring it to me?

I looked up at the screen and studied the familiar handwriting for a few moments. Deimo Akaiannyi, 28 Poràkol. I went to the police.

You can’t go to the police with stuff like this. They would arrest you. Sa! You know politics, Nita. You know how things actually get done. He sighed and leaned back on the cushions. Anyway, we can’t stop the festival. Akaiannyi wouldn’t hear of it … she would anger the religious conservatives.

But you will tell her?

Adviser Sari watched me for a few moments before he spoke. I wondered what he was thinking then. I will notify the head of security to increase surveillance. All weapons are chipped, anyway, so they will know if someone carries one. You’d have to smuggle something from the High Wilds to get past that.

Is that easy?

No. Believe me, I’ve tried … only got a small pistol that way. It cost me 8,000 lh.

I want to be at the festival to protect Deimo Akaiannyi.

Haven’t you seen enough action for a lifetime? He smiled at me and shifted forward several pages in the manuscript.

I sat down on the cushion beside him and put my elbows on my knees. The people in Daybreak who organized this know that I may have gleaned information. If I go back to my apartment, they may try to kill me again. As much as I hate to admit it, the hotàkhi bastards have me cornered. If I stay here and try to help, I will be safer.

What do you want?

Let me paint my face white and attend Deimo Akaiannyi. Besides … the other morning, a bird threw up a kidiptu shield on my floor. I think the Gods are telling me that this is meant to happen.

He sighed.

What?

I’m sorry … you’re just so much like someone I used to know …