Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz Page B

away but could see why it would cost more and knew the owner would be able to get full price from someone else. But she had come a long way and wasn’t willing to give up without at least speaking to the landlord.
    Alamy was about to climb the final set of stairs to the main entrance when she heard something squeak to the left and turned to see a middle-aged woman emerge from a thicket of shrubbery. She was pushing a heavily laden wheel-barrow, which produced another squeak as she came to a stop. “Hello . . . Can I help you?”
    â€œI’m here to look at the apartment,” Alamy explained. “Are you the gardener? It’s beautiful!”
    â€œYes, I am,” the woman replied. “I’m glad you like it.”
    â€œIs the owner home?” Alamy inquired. “I sure hope so after all of those stairs.”
    â€œYou could have called ahead,” the woman suggested unsympathetically, “then you’d know.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Alamy agreed, “but my master and I arrived from Dantha yesterday. He has a pocket com, but I don’t.”
    â€œSo you’re a slave,” the woman commented evenly. “Your master must trust you a great deal. Choosing a place to live is no small thing.”
    Alamy felt a combination of embarrassment and pride. “Yes, I guess he does. He’s a policeman and had to report for duty.”
    â€œWell, then,” the woman said, “you should take a look. Come . . . I’ll show you around.”
    Alamy followed as the older woman limped up the stairs, led her along the front of the house to the north side, and up even more steps to a landing. Then, having palmed the door lock, she led Alamy inside.
    The apartment consisted of a large living room that looked out over the city and a kitchen that took up most of the far wall. There wasn’t a lot of furniture, but what there was appeared to be in fair condition and would make for a good beginning. “There’s a half bath over there,” the woman said helpfully, and when Alamy went over to open the door, she was impressed by how clean the room was. “I like it,” Alamy said honestly. “But I wish there was a bedroom.”
    â€œThere is,” the woman answered. “But to reach it you have to climb the stairs in back.” The woman pointed, and now that Alamy looked more closely, she saw a set of spiral stairs back in the corner. “Go ahead,” the woman said as she rubbed her right thigh. “I’ll wait here if you don’t mind.”
    Alamy made her way up the circular stairs and found herself on the third floor. It was a bedroom all right, with a full bath and a freestanding stove in one corner. All of which was quite charming. But the amenity that put everything else to shame was the sliding glass doors that opened onto a small terrace and a sweeping view of Imperialus.
    Then, as if determined to impress her, the clouds that obscured the city began to part, and the sun appeared. Alamy could see the lake, the rotunda’s gleaming dome, and the river that divided north from south. And there, grouped around the lake, were dozens of high-rise buildings, with the Imperial Tower standing head and shoulders over all the rest. The view was absolutely gorgeous, and would be equally beautiful at night, when the city’s lights were on. Conscious of the fact that the gardener was waiting for her, Alamy took one last look and returned to the floor below.
    â€œSo,” the woman inquired, “what do you think?”
    â€œIt’s lovely,” Alamy answered honestly. “But my master can’t really afford it. Not unless we could get the rent down a bit. Is the owner here? I might as well ask.”
    â€œWell, how much can he afford?” the other woman wanted to know.
    Alamy had been bargaining for things all her life and knew that to disclose how much money Cato had was to break the first rule of