Dalshon

Chapter 7

Khunnier was rotating the search parties. A group of three were heading back to the ship, and a fresh group of three were standing by the table with the map, getting their orders.

Carla came to them just before they headed out. "The news will make our quarry more wary, knowing we're hot on his trail," Carla said. "Look in unlikely places. And if you see Comac out there, rough him up."

The crewmen exchanged glances. Khunnier said, "Captain—Carla—if he really is on an antipiracy mission…"

"Then we shouldn't interfere with it," Carla finished for him. "And therefore? What's your deduction?"

Khunnier lowered his gaze.

"You've gotten hung up on my emotions, Khunnier," Carla said.

"My understanding is not—" Khunnier began softly.

"Don't give me that crap. Oh yeah, I know it's a very Minbari thing to say. 'Understanding is not required, only obedience.' That's Comac's excuse. When have I ever shown any sign of wanting that from you?"

He looked up, thinking hard. "This is supposed to help his mission? Oh. Of course. I see. Our search has made the local criminals suspicious of Minbari, thinking he might be a law enforcement official in disguise. So if our warriors give him a beating and, perhaps, call him a filthy dalshon pirate, that throws suspicion off of him."

"There you go."

"It will be done, Captain." Khunnier turned to the three crewmembers. "You have your orders. Move out."

The warriors left. Now it was just Carla, Firuun, and Khunnier around the map table. "What are the chances he could be hiding between the hulls?" Carla asked Firuun.

"Possible, I suppose. But we'd need permission to search those areas. They're sealed and off limits. So far the local police aren't interfering with us, as long as we don't interfere with their investigation of the bombing."

Carla nodded. "We'll search everywhere we have access to first."

Khunnier was staring at the wall, lost in thought.

Carla said, "Khunnier? And this is for you too, Firuun. If you ever think I've given an—" Carla realized there was no way to say 'illegal order' in Minbari. It was an oxymoron in the military caste dialect. She had to switch to English to get the concept across.

"You want us to speak up," Khunnier concluded.

"Yes," Carla said.

"When we catch Lennier, how far are we going to go to find out what he's done?" Khunnier asked. "I think I may be able to simply speak with him, and draw conclusions. It works well enough on most people. But it may not be sufficient. I know you will not approve of any physical means. But would you, perhaps, sing to him?"

"Is my singing voice really that bad?" asked Carla, her mouth quirking up a little in amusement.

"To sing the Song of the Dalshon for a prisoner is to imply he may not survive whatever we're planning to do to him," said Khunnier. "What happened with Calann was not supposed to happen. The Dalshon boat is not supposed to be seaworthy. It is supposed to sink. In your human language 'to interrogate' is literally 'to put fear into'. It could be enough to scare him into cooperation."

"Absolutely not," Carla said. "Psychological torture is still torture."

"I would not actually drown anyone," Khunnier said.

"Only convince him that we're about to drown him? What a nice little distinction. Sounds like the Spanish Inquisition."

Firuun said, "Tiluun ordered that his prisoners would be treated with dignity. He is a shining example from a dark barbaric age. Sheridan did the same, and I've admired him ever since. It's time for us to walk in the footsteps of our heroes. To make the choice between good and evil."

Carla said, "To take a moral stand against torture. No matter what we think we need to know. No matter if we think we're protecting the President, or preventing a bombing, or whatever. To make the hard choice to be true to our beliefs no matter what it costs us. To stand up for what's right. Not what's convenient."

Firuun put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm proud to serve with you, Captain."

End of Chapter 7