Return Of The Fontalo
by Linda Rigsbee
Chapter 7
Being high in the mountains, Bergen was always the first colony to recognize the change of seasons. The bright colors of red and gold contrasted with the green grass. Purlieu might be facing danger, but her life cycles continued as if nothing was wrong.
When Donte and Rianne arrived in Bergen, they were greeted by smiling relieved faces. No one said anything about the new badge on Donte’s uniform. It was a good thing, because Donte wasn’t certain how he could explain it and keep the secrecy of the Premier Infantry intact – or even if it should remain a secret. If it was his decision, he thought it best to remain a secret until they were needed.
Beier welcomed him with a smile and a palm up. His gaze dropped to the badge and lifted to meet Donte’s eyes. “It has started, then.”
Donte nodded as he gripped Beier’s forearm. “I’m afraid so. Have you heard anything from the other leaders?”
“Your message machine has been busy with congratulations and well-wishers. No word from Chait yet. He certainly is a grateful soul, isn’t he?”
Donte grimaced. “I’m afraid that situation isn’t going to be getting much better until he is removed from office. I only hope they do it the proper way.”
Donte started toward his office when two children flew at him. “Daddy!” they screamed. Donte lifted Andras into his arms and kissed him. He squatted, placing Andras on his knee and wrapped one arm around Petra. “I missed you, precious.”
“I missed you too, Daddy. I thought you might go to the spaceship to live.”
“Why would you think that?”
“They said you were the boss of the spaceships now.”
Donte smiled. “I suppose that’s one way to put it, but I can do it from my office here in the Groot Thuis.”
Donte’s medallion beeped. He set Andras on the floor and stood, glancing at Beier as he tapped the medallion. He invited Beier with one hand as he turned toward his office.
“Donte here.”
“This is Adriaan. We have information on that spacecraft.”
Donte stepped aside as Beier entered his office. He shut the door as he spoke to Adriaan. “What is the situation?”
Donte looked at Beier and patted the back of a chair. As Beier took a seat in the chair, Donte sat at his desk.
“No sign of life. It is still sitting there.” Adriaan was silent a moment. “On the side it said Fontalo.”
“No sign of a spaceship?”
“None so far. We have airships out scouting, though.”
“Is it possible that it is camouflaged? Are they using scanners or visually searching?”
“The airships are visually searching. We didn’t want to send out signals that they might detect.”
Donte could understand their concern, but if the spaceship was camouflaged, they might be on it before they realized it was there. If the spaceship was there, it certainly was watching what they were doing. Donte picked up a piece of paper on his desk.
“Have the airships scan as they fly. If they are out there, they know where we are. We need to know where they are. Have you tried to contact them by radio?”
“Do we want to do that, Monomi?”
“As I said, they are already aware of our presence.”
“What language?”
“It doesn’t matter. If they get the signal, they will respond and we can determine the language at that point.”
“Yes Monomi.”
“Let me know if you have any news.”
Donte tapped the medallion and looked at Beier. “I need your help.”
“You’ve got it, Donte. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
Donte leaned his elbows on the table and rubbed his face. “Rianne and I have been up all night. My brain is on overload with new information.”
Beier’s smile was sympathetic. “I’m sure it would be even if you'd had a good night’s sleep.”
Donte picked up the paper again. It was a message from Celyn. He read it and looked up at Beier. “Did you see this?”
Beier shook his head. “Saskia has been checking your messages.”
Donte handed the message to Beier. “That’s one problem solved.”
Beier read it and grinned. “She exchanged vows with Kenyon this morning. So, she did misinterpret the vision.” He handed it back to Donte. “You’d better show that to Rianne.”
“I’m sure Saskia has already told her. Rianne and I had already decided that we weren’t going to let this come between us.”
“A successful mission all the way around.”
Donte grimaced. “I wouldn’t go that far.” He leaned back in his chair. “You know that I named Rianne as my second and she accepted it conditionally.”
Beier nodded, but said nothing.
“I would like to name you as my second. How would you feel about that?”
Beier shrugged. “I’ve been named in that position before. If they didn’t want me then, I can’t imagine why they would want me now.”
“I’m sorry about that, Beier. Pieter had already named me and they confirmed me. You were as qualified for the position as I was – maybe more so. I was simply more popular. I had an unfair advantage.”
“I’ll say. They thought I couldn’t be trusted. You thought I couldn’t be trusted.”
Yes, he had questioned Beier’s loyalty at one point. He had already apologized for that error. Donte looked him in the eye. “Let it go, Beier.”
Beier looked uncomfortable. Finally, he shrugged, avoiding Donte’s gaze. “I’m not interested. I’m sorry if that’s the help you needed.”
Donte had good reason to suspect Beier at the time, but he was wrong. He couldn’t go back and change it. If Beier was still sulking about that, maybe it was best he didn’t accept the position.
Donte leaned forward in his chair. “I’d better talk to the cabinet.”
Beier stood. “I’ll get them together for you.”
The entire thing reminded Donte of a conversation he had with his grandfather. He didn’t owe Beier a position, but he certainly owed him the same amount of respect that Beier had given him. Beier had been there for him every time he needed him – usually without having to ask.
“Beier…” Donte called after him.
Beier turned.
“I want you to be there too.”
“Yes, Monomi.”
After Beier left, Donte read his messages. If there had been any doubt about who voted against him, it perished with the omission of the one leader who had not congratulated him – Chait. Donte didn’t care if anyone congratulated him – or actually care that Chait had not congratulated him. What troubled him about the entire thing was Donica. She deserved better than she was getting. She had made her choice, but so did the people of Lochfowk. Of course, there were many people who had not voted for Chait. How many of the people who wanted to remove Chait from office had actually voted for him? It was difficult to imagine they didn’t know what he was like before they elected him into office. Chait was well spoken, though, and he had certainly been visible.
Donte stacked the messages on the corner of his desk, grabbing the one off the top before he left his office. Rianne looked up as he came out of his office. He smiled as he handed the message to her.
She looked at it and smiled. “Saskia told me. I’ll send Celyn and Kenyon congratulations.”
Donte nodded. “I’m going to meet with the cabinet. I’ll be back after a while.”
“See you then.”
Things were finally back to normal in his personal life, but falling apart in his professional life. There was a specific reason that he had asked Beier to be his second today. His beliefs about equality between colonists and Mascots had made him enough of a target. Being in high command would increase his risk of being targeted by colonists and Mascots, but now The Fontalo would probably make a target of him. His days might be numbered. He needed to name someone to take his place.
When Donte entered the cabinet chamber, everyone was already there. He apologized for being late and launched immediately into an explanation of what had transpired in Lochfowk, including the shooting star.
“I’m sure you are all aware that I have been selected for high command over the colony leaders and spaceships. I don’t think that position needs any explanation so I’m going to move on to what caused that action, unless someone has a question.”
Beier glanced at the badge on Donte’s uniform, but made no comment. No doubt he was wondering why the Premier Infantry wasn’t being mentioned. No one had a question, so Donte continued.
“Adriaan informed me a little while ago that the spacecraft is floating in the same spot, with no indication of life. He said that Fontalo was written across the side of it, so that tells us there is a spaceship out there somewhere. So far, we haven’t been able to locate it.”
“What are we going to do with the spacecraft?” Cariel asked.
“Nothing at the moment,” Donte answered. “I don’t want anyone to be caught with it and accused of sabotage. It’s not hurting anyone sitting there in the sea.”
“What if someone inside needs assistance?” Bastiaan asked.
“Then they can contact the spaceship where it originated. If there was any indication that they needed help, I would send someone. I’m sure that eventually the spaceship will send someone to investigate. At that point we should be able to establish where that ship is. Right now, there really isn’t anything we can do but search. I have instructed Adriaan to send radio signals and our airships are searching using both visual and radio signals.”
Landric kept looking at the badge on his uniform, but he didn’t say anything.
Donte glanced around the room. “I wish I could tell you more, but we simply don’t know enough yet until we locate that spaceship.”
Landric pointed at the badge with his pencil. “What’s that?”
Donte looked down at the badge. He wasn’t going to lie to them. “It’s the badge of leadership for the Premier Infantry.”
Landric frowned. “Isn’t that Lochfowk?”
Donte smiled. “The Premier Infantry was organized by Commander Niall of the Baigh. You’re correct that it is of Lochfowk origin, but the infantry troops are hand selected from no specific colony and their purpose is to defend Purlieu, not Lochfowk specifically.”
Marit studied the badge and met Donte’s gaze. “So, you are not only in high command over all the colony leaders and spaceship commanders, but you are also the commander of the Premier Infantry? Aren’t you concerned about wearing too many badges?”
Donte nodded. “A fair question; and yes, I am concerned about the enormous responsibility. I don’t think there will be a conflict of interest with Bergen, but if there is, I will step down.” He glanced at Beier. “Today I asked Beier if he would like to be my second. He declined, but I want you all to know something.” He glanced at each of the cabinet members as he spoke. “I suspected Beier of plotting against me and I was wrong. He has done everything in his power to protect and guide Bergen. He has always been there for Bergen and me, without complaint, even after he learned I suspected him. I would, and have, trusted him with my life and the lives of my family.” He looked at Beier. “I hope he didn’t decline my offer because he felt we didn’t trust him.”
Beier glanced around the room. “I declined because I didn’t want the responsibility. I like being free to come and go as I please.” His gaze came back to Donte. “Even when you suspected me, you were respectful toward me. We’re all entitled to our suspicions and our mistakes.” He glanced at Marit. “I think Donte is up to all the badges he is wearing. If he didn’t feel a little overwhelmed, I’d be concerned.” His gaze came back to Donte. “All that said; I will be glad to assist you and Rianne in the managing of Bergen in your absence, as I always have and as I did with Pieter.”
“Thank you, Beier,” Donte said. “I’m not sure I gave a clear picture of my position right now. The person who has commanded the Premier Infantry all these years will still be commanding it. The leader of each colony will still function the same as they always have, as will the commanders of the spaceships. The only difference is that now I will be coordinating them. This is a temporary position until this crisis is over.”
Yara looked at the others. “By this crisis, he means until The Prophesy is fulfilled. I’ve never met anyone who could flutter over the facts without landing on them as long as Donte can.”
They all laughed, including Beier and Donte. It clearly was not intended as a criticism as much as it was an amusing observation.
Cariel looked at Donte. “I’d like to recommend Beier’s presence in all the meetings.” He glanced at Beier. “That is, as many as he wants to attend.”
They all agreed and moved on to other matters for the rest of the meeting.
When Donte returned to his office, he found a message from Sima. She wanted to conference with him. He imagined it was about Chait. He could use her candid observations about the situation there. Donica was hesitant to say anything that might make her mate look bad. Sima, as a former president who'd had Chait on her council, would have a better overall picture of the situation. Donte sent a message back that he would be glad to talk to her anytime.
Soft Science Fiction
