“I did not say you should not have asked. I would, in your position. “
“Thank you for understanding. “
“Nor did I say we would not help, ” Nil Spaar went on. “My mission is to protect my people. If I can help put the fears of your advisers to rest, then I am serving that duty. Give me the list. I will transmit it to the proctor of records and antiquities, and we shall see what can be learned. “
“I want you to know, Admiral, that I do not plan to make a habit of idle exercise, ” said Ackbar, wheezing as he walked along the cinder track beside Drayson.
“I thought you should know that Leia gave him the list. “
“What? “
“At the third session, this evening. “
“She should not have done that, ” Ackbar said darkly. “What could she be thinking? “
“She asked the viceroy for a report on what the Yevetha know about the missing ships, ” said Drayson, his voice calm. “In effect, she asked him to search his own pockets, so the Fifth doesn’t have to frisk him. “
“How foolish of her. “
“But logical, from a certain point of view. She trusts him. “
“Do you? “
“I’m not paid to be trusting, ” said Drayson.
“And if the Yevetha are holding those ships? “
“Then these conversations with Nil Spaar are every bit as important as the princess believes them to be. “
“I do not like the way he has separated her from her staff. She should have talked to us before doing this, ” Ackbar said, shaking his head slowly.
“But she didn’t, ” said Drayson. “There’s one bright spot to consider, though. When he transmits that list home, we should finally be able to break their encryption key. The list is more than long enough, with highly distinctive sequences. “
Ackbar did not seem to take much comfort from Drayson’s words. “In the meantime, we may have tipped our hand-and the Fifth Fleet sails in two days. What am I to tell General A’baht? “
“Nothing, ” Drayson said firmly. “There’s nothing we can tell him yet. Let’s see how the viceroy responds to Leia’s request. That may tell us something useful. “
The list Leia had given Nil Spaar was now yellowed by disinfectant and sealed behind a heavy layer of transparent isophane. It was the first Republic artifact the viceroy had allowed into his quarters on theAramadia mand that only because he needed to think at length about what it meant.
For more than an hour he carefully reviewed the plan he had been following, considering whether the list before him altered any of its assumptions.
In the end he concluded that it did not. All would continue as before.
Only the timetable might change.
“They know, ” he signaled his lieutenant on N’zoth. “Make ready. It will not be long. “
Then he walked to the bulkhead and opened the night-womb where his nesting awaited him hopefully.
He sank back into its comforting softness and soothing scent, letting it enfold him in darkness, enclose him in shelter, embrace him in fond, tender concern. Bliss came on him, and he surrendered to the joy of reunion .
“I have good news for you, Princess, ” said Nil Spaar as they met the next morning in the center of the Grand Hall. As he spoke he handed a copy of Leia’s list back to her, and she scanned it quickly. The majority of the forty-four names had been marked, in one of two colors.
“I have consulted with those most knowledgeable in this matter, ” he went on, “and they can account for all of the vessels I have indicated. The greater number were destroyed in the shipyards at N’zoth, Zhina, and Wakiza. The others are known to have taken part in the destruction and retreat. “
“Viceroy, I’m overwhelmed. This is most welcome news-more than I’d hoped for. And to have an answer so quickly makes me all the more grateful. “
Nil Spaar nodded. “No great difficulty was involved, Princess. It was simply a matter where we had knowledge that you did not. Shall we sit? “
“Of course, ” she said, and they settled in their familiar places.
“Viceroy, I wish that I could repay this favor in kind. Is there no question that we could answer for
you? A matter of science,
of history-perhaps even your own history? The Republic has full access to the galactic libraries of Obra-skai. “
“No, ” said Nil Spaar. “I’m sure your offer is well meant. But I do not think your libraries give importance to that which the Yevetha value. I feel I must tell you that those who gave me the information you asked for urged me to also bring you the names of the six thousand, four hundred and five Yevetha who died that day. I was told I should correct you, as parent corrects child, telling you that your interest in the fate of machines over the fate of living beings is unseemly. “