"Prince Turandot…"
Summary: Can the courageous Princess Amy unfreeze the icy heart of the cruel Prince Sheldon Turandot? Well, she's giving it her all…In song as well as deed.
Disclaimer: What's Chuck's is Chuck's…No infringement intended…
Part LVI…
"Pong!..." Suzi had hurried back to summon him to what passed for the bridge in the head of the Minotaur.
"What is it?" Pong eyed her. "Please don't tell me we crushed…That poor serving boy…" he hastily corrected before the staff personning the various gears and controls along the sides of the Minotaur.
"Strabo says someone's firing at them…Darts! Ficho's down and Amy was hit! It must be the Borneans!"
"Or the Castilians pretending to be Borneans…Or the Ministers pretending to be Castilians pretending to be Borneans or Gods know who…" Pong sighed. "Come on! I've stopped her, we can go out the side here."
"What if they've hit Turandot?!" Suzi hissed. "Oh, poor Amy…"
"They're not aiming for Turandot, unless they decide to take out the serving boy as well…" Pong whispered back, grabbing at a locking clamp, signaling a strong fellow seated on the same side… "Felix, give me a hand here, unlocking this." He raised his voice. Felix hastily coming over and grabbing the clamp Pong indicated.
"One-two-three…Push it down and…Open…" the clamps released and a side panel fell back…Pong and Felix peering out. "Careful…Shields!" he took a small wooden shield himself from a pile in a box on the floor, passing the next to Felix and then each following…
"I don't see anyone…Paula, turn up the eye lanterns!" The female attendant addressed, turning a valve, causing the eyes of the head to glow with oil-fueled flame…
"All right, Felix, Ming, Julia get the Princess…And her attendant… Bring them in, then get Ficho… Strabo?!" he looked up where Strabo was climbing down to Amy. "Do you see them, the darters?"
"No, Boss!..." Call… "They ran off, I think, just before you opened up!"
"Ok, get to the Princess…! Get them…!" Pong turned to the three attendants. "Timothy?" he turned to another large fellow operating gears on the opposite side…
"I should help them with Amy…" Suzi noted.
"…Hold her, Tim." Pong addressed Timothy who blinked…
Suzi staring…As Timothy stared as well a moment.
"I said hold her, as in hold her fast, Tim. Don't let her reach for anything or make a break."
"Pong?" Suzi, stunned.
"I guess you ran out of time taking that gamble with the mainspring…" Pong eyed her…
"The boy's alive, sir!" a call from Julia…
"Get him in here, quick!"
"Pong?" Suzi…Bewildered look.
"Only two people know the mechanism well enough to disable the control line…And I didn't disable it." Pong sighed.
"The Princess is breathing but she's weak!..." Strabo called.
"Pity you didn't get the chance to finish her off…" Pong eyed Suzi coolly.
"Pong, you don't know what you're saying…" Suzi, anxiously. Timothy standing by
"I'm flattered you chose to hang with me…I hope it means you were counting on my toys to do the job." Sigh. "I knew all three of us couldn't be so lucky but I gotta confess I thought it had to be Lilly who'd betray us, poor kid. You did your job well. Even though it was staring me in the face, the way you took to mechanics, I was completely taken in…"
"It's not true, Pong…I've been helping you…All of you…"
"As long as there was a chance Amy might back down you were content to let us handle it and observe but things are getting too close to the finish now. In fact, much as you wanted it to look accidental, you were nervous enough to have your guys ready and waiting. And who knew the tunnel better as far as ambush points…You'd studied the maps with me enough."
"That's crazy, Pong…I love you." Suzi pleaded.
"My compliments…You're very good. But you've probably spent a good deal of time learning to be very good…" he eyed her. "Any chance you'd care to tell me who you're working for? Given your education, my first guess would be Castile, though what with the blow dart thing to obviously throw us off, you could be Bornean…Don't let her reach in her robes if you want to live, Tim." He moved to her…
"Pong, darling…Someone's fooling you." She insisted, trying to embrace him as he felt inside her robes…
"And there we are…" he reached and pulled out a short, vicious-looking dagger.
"Guess I'm lucky this didn't wind up inside me, eh? Dearest." He smiled at her.
"I carried some protection…" Suzi noted. "I wanted to protect you."
"At least tell me why me and not one of the others…Was I just the most vulnerable? Really, there's no point in keeping up the charade, Miss. You were never raised a slave, whatever I made myself believe. Where are you really from? Castile? France? Rome? You have a European look to you."
"What? Pong, listen to yourself? I've lived in the palace since I was a little girl, the records are in the slave accounts. Everyone knows me."
"Poor kid, the real Suzi…You killed her how long ago? Or were you kind and just bought her off? And sure, everyone knows you…But palace slaves get shifted around the palace and around the empire all the time. No one notices unless they're very close…And I'd guess while you're loved by all in the slave staff quarters, no one really knows you from before a few months ago…Or anyone claiming to is a spy as well."
"This is crazy, Pong! Crazy! Timothy, you're hurting me!"
"Damnit, Tim, don't…!" Pong cried as Timothy kindly relaxed his hold a bit and Suzi slammed a hard kick to his groin…He doubled over and Suzi brutally smashed down on his neck, pulling another small knife from under her robe as Timothy collapsed, unconscious…
"BACK!" she cried at the remaining attendants seeking to rush her, grabbing Pong before he could react. "Or the Minister dies. Don't make me, Pong." She said coldly, holding the knife in her hand to Pong's throat. "I really am fond of you."
"Who are you working for?" Pong asked, quietly, looking up at her.
"If it makes any difference…For principle." She eyed him. "And I am sorry." Releasing her grip,she turned and lept from the portal into the tunnel, hurrying off into the dark…
"Get to the Princess and the others…!" he called to the attendants, staring after her, tears running…
…
The central tunnel…
"I must protest officially…" Hyman noted to Pang, regarding his attendants all maintaining a respectful distance from the Princess Mala and his own self but clearly armed and ready though not displaying weapons. "We seem to be being held…On what suspicion?"
"No one is being held, Ambassador…" Pang, carefully. "But the Procession is halted until we know the fate of Princess Isabella and Ambassador De Pays. It's only fair the lead not be allowed to widen as the incident was an act of the gods…So it would seem."
"How do we know that Princess with No Name…" Mala paused.
Do I hear whistling music? Like in those plays about the wandering drifter who comes into the local village just as barbarians or raiders are about to sack it?
"…Is getting the same treatment. And need I point out Ambassador Hyman and I were victims of an attempt just now."
"Madam…I hope you'll take the word on oath of a Guardian Minister of the Empire of California…And of course under the rules of engagement you are free to send a representative to observe with our attendants. Do you wish to exercise that right?" Pang, solemnly.
"I could send someone else…From outside?" Mala asked, sidelong glance to Hyman.
"That's correct, if you have someone you wish contacted we can arrange to have them brought in and observe, under supervision, then report to you. They'll of course be free to sit in on the investigation into the incident here as well."
"I see…" airy wave of hand… Less airy owing to dirt and smoky grime acquired en route but still properly regal…
"Hyman?" she eyed the ambassador…
Consult…His careful wiggling of eyebrow and roll of eyes said.
"We must consult…We may have a moment's privacy, Minister?"
"Certainly…" Pang bowed, waving to his attendants to follow as he turned and headed down the tunnel…Both Hyman and Mala watching.
"Alright, they are as out of range as we can hope for in here…" Hyman noted. "I recommend we accept the Minister's offer."
"We should have someone as eyes and ears for us…Especially should the investigation reveal anything compromising…To our foes, of course." Mala agreed, carefully. "You have anyone to suggest?"
"Philip of my staff is bright and clever…" Hyman noted. "But he's back in the visiting dignitaries' quarters on the Palace grounds. It could be a considerable delay to summon him. It might be best if I go…You should be safe with Minister Pang."
"I don't trust anyone here…Except you." Mala sighed. "And it'll probably take time to dig out the bodies anyway…Should my poor fellow contestant be deceased, gods forbid, of course."
"Why don't I send for Philip but for now we just join the investigation? We can't proceed so we may as well see what's what."
"Together? Yes." Mala, eagerly nodding. "And we'd be in position to…Fairly dispute any ridiculous claims regards involvement in this unfortunate accident. So long as we stay with the Minister they surely can't object. But we should insist our other competitor join us, so as to confirm no one is getting any advantage out of this."
"Indeed…" Hyman nodded thoughtfully. "And of course it would be interesting to know that no one has singled her out for attention…"
"Surely she's too poor to hire…" Mala eyed him… "…Harbor evil intentions?" she corrected at his stare.
"Perhaps…But someone may very well be backing her effort." Hyman pondered. "A Fowler princess in the Trials could be, once revealed at the proper moment, a major game changer…Worth a considerable investment if the gambler keeps his or her options open."
Mala frowned. So unfair… "Just because their blood…Noble-blooded…" she corrected. "Emperor had her family executed for what were probably quite valid charges of treason and seized her kingdom as, no doubt, just restitution, the mob will make a big deal of her? Fickle people…This is why those Greeks and all their talk of 'democracy' is so fool-headed." She shook her head. "Well, you may tell the Minister We of Borneo deign to graciously accept his offer on our terms."
"Highness." Hyman bowed and turned back. She hurrying after him, stopping him.
"Get us through this, my love." She breathed in his ear. "Dearest of my heart, we can't fail now…Not when we have so much to live for, together, at last."
"All will be well." He whispered back. "And…Ditto." He smiled at her anxious but pleased face.
…..
"Urgent message from Minister Ping, Minister Pong." A young male attendant offered Pong a note as he stood, staring down the tunnelway Suzi had feld.
"What? Oh, yes…Thanks." Pong took the note.
"Sir…!" Strabo had managed his way to him. "The Princess is in the Minotaur, breathing but unconscious from the dart. Julia's tending her. Ficho's done for, neck broke."
"Fine…" Pong sighed. Somewhat idly glancing at the note… "Sorry…About Ficho…" he absently waved a hand. "See the body's properly taken care of…Noted that he died saving the Princess."
Great…An attempt on the Castilians, both likely dead in the left tunnel. Good chance our heads will roll for this. Naturally…
"You." He eyed the waiting attendant who'd brought the message. "Go to Minister Ping and tell him I'll be there shortly…Wait…" he put up a hand. "Tell him, my wife Mistress Suzi Wolowitz is a spy and assassin and has fled. She may try attacking the Castilians or the other Princess, or she may just try to escape his way. Better keep an eye out. Arrest her on sight but take no chances."
"Minister?" the attendant eyed him.
"You did hear me?" Pong stared at him.
"Sir." The attendant saluted and hurried back up the tunnel.
"Strabo?" Pong turned to him. "Better have someone get to Pang as fast as they can, same message regarding Lady Suzi."
"Ay, Minister…" Strabo paused. "I'm very sorry."
"Not nearly so much as I am…" Pong, wan smile. "I'll to the Princess…Oh…" he paused. "The serving boy?"
Tell me he's dead now and make it a perfect day…
"Him? He's fine, they've taken him in. Just the wind knocked out of him." with a nod, Strabo went over to a group of attendants checking the Minotaur's gears and one hurried off a moment later, back to the main connection of the tunnels.
"Sir…Minister…" Julia, cautiously emerging at the Minotaur's portal.
"Yes?" Pong turned to her…A tall, dark-haired girl… "Julia? The Princess?"
"Barely alive, sir…Strong poison."
"Alright, I'm coming…" he eyed her stricken face.
"I'm sorry about Ficho." He sighed, patting her arm.
….
