travelling through gentle urban parkland, complete with picnic tables and families playing ball games. The bucolic effect was slightly offset by the mass of buildings beyond the greenery and, beyond that, the orange of the forcedome. Off to the left, something looking like a squat white cylinder on its end was visible over the treetops. That must be the amphitheatre, Elarn thought, distracted for a moment by the view. Seen from above it had looked like a small upturned cup, but down here its scale became apparent.
She turned her thoughts back to her politician saviour. ‘And did you vote for him, Medame Binu?’ she asked, almost to herself.
Medame Binu apparently had good hearing but very little idea when she was being mocked. ‘Shamal, please, no need for formalities with me. And as for Consul Vidoran, well no, I didn’t use my vote this month - as I said, I don’t take that much interest in politics unless it affects the entertainments industry. Besides, who’d want to see a handsome creature like that get blown away?’
‘And will he? Get blown away , I mean.’ Elarn found herself distressed by the idea that the most likeable person she had met since leaving home could be about to die.
‘Oh, you haven’t heard!’ Shamal Binu leaned closer, her hand brushing Elarn’s knee, then withdrawing slightly as Elarn flinched. ‘They tried - this morning - but the Angel missed. Missed! It caused quite an upset.’
‘So should he be out and about like that?’ Elarn asked, startled. ‘I mean, won’t they try again?’
‘Oh no.’ Medame Binu patted Elarn’s knee. ‘It’s pretty rare for an Angel to miss her mark, so when it does happen - like this morning - we believe it was fated: the will of the City, we say. He’ll have been let off his duties in the Assembly for the rest of the day, and his career’ll be wrecked, but unless he makes any more foolish decisions, his life’s safe enough. And tomorrow he’ll be yesterday’s news.’ Then, as if bored with the subject, Medame Binu gave a small flicking gesture, taking in all they surveyed, and asked, ‘Anyway, what do you think of the glories of Khesh City?’
‘It’s quite a change from home,’ said Elarn, diplomatically.
‘I’m sure, I’m sure. You’ll just love Lily Street: it’s very genteel, the quietest Street in the Guest Quarter. And the Manor Park is one of the nicest hotels - not the most ostentatious, but good quality. I thought you’d like that better than one of the bigger establishments.’
One of the more expensive establishments, you mean, thought Elarn. But the wretched woman was right: she would prefer quiet and civilised, if there was anything like that available here.
They turned onto a wide boulevard that edged the Gardens as Medame Binu wittered on breathlessly, ‘I’ve arranged a room with a view over the Street, and I’ve had them install sonic damping. I did try to book rehearsal space, but this has all been such a rush, what with only getting the call from your manager a couple of weeks ago. Basic costs are all covered, but extras you’ll need to settle yourself. Have you had a chance to look at the itinerary I sent you?’
‘Yes,’ Elarn said, ‘I noticed several dates were provisional.’
‘I’m still in negotiation with the venues - but we’re definitely on for tomorrow night: a lovely little salon above a very exclusive boutique in Silk Street. Not that large, but very select. Anyway, you’ll have a full day to rest and get your bearings before that. Some people take several days just getting used to the City’s layout.’ She giggled in a way that suggested that even though she lived here, she herself sometimes got lost.
‘I’ll just have to do my best to adjust,’ Elarn said drily. ‘Would I be right in assuming that as we turned right onto this street, and we were facing outwards - rimwards, rather - that we are now travelling
She turned her thoughts back to her politician saviour. ‘And did you vote for him, Medame Binu?’ she asked, almost to herself.
Medame Binu apparently had good hearing but very little idea when she was being mocked. ‘Shamal, please, no need for formalities with me. And as for Consul Vidoran, well no, I didn’t use my vote this month - as I said, I don’t take that much interest in politics unless it affects the entertainments industry. Besides, who’d want to see a handsome creature like that get blown away?’
‘And will he? Get blown away , I mean.’ Elarn found herself distressed by the idea that the most likeable person she had met since leaving home could be about to die.
‘Oh, you haven’t heard!’ Shamal Binu leaned closer, her hand brushing Elarn’s knee, then withdrawing slightly as Elarn flinched. ‘They tried - this morning - but the Angel missed. Missed! It caused quite an upset.’
‘So should he be out and about like that?’ Elarn asked, startled. ‘I mean, won’t they try again?’
‘Oh no.’ Medame Binu patted Elarn’s knee. ‘It’s pretty rare for an Angel to miss her mark, so when it does happen - like this morning - we believe it was fated: the will of the City, we say. He’ll have been let off his duties in the Assembly for the rest of the day, and his career’ll be wrecked, but unless he makes any more foolish decisions, his life’s safe enough. And tomorrow he’ll be yesterday’s news.’ Then, as if bored with the subject, Medame Binu gave a small flicking gesture, taking in all they surveyed, and asked, ‘Anyway, what do you think of the glories of Khesh City?’
‘It’s quite a change from home,’ said Elarn, diplomatically.
‘I’m sure, I’m sure. You’ll just love Lily Street: it’s very genteel, the quietest Street in the Guest Quarter. And the Manor Park is one of the nicest hotels - not the most ostentatious, but good quality. I thought you’d like that better than one of the bigger establishments.’
One of the more expensive establishments, you mean, thought Elarn. But the wretched woman was right: she would prefer quiet and civilised, if there was anything like that available here.
They turned onto a wide boulevard that edged the Gardens as Medame Binu wittered on breathlessly, ‘I’ve arranged a room with a view over the Street, and I’ve had them install sonic damping. I did try to book rehearsal space, but this has all been such a rush, what with only getting the call from your manager a couple of weeks ago. Basic costs are all covered, but extras you’ll need to settle yourself. Have you had a chance to look at the itinerary I sent you?’
‘Yes,’ Elarn said, ‘I noticed several dates were provisional.’
‘I’m still in negotiation with the venues - but we’re definitely on for tomorrow night: a lovely little salon above a very exclusive boutique in Silk Street. Not that large, but very select. Anyway, you’ll have a full day to rest and get your bearings before that. Some people take several days just getting used to the City’s layout.’ She giggled in a way that suggested that even though she lived here, she herself sometimes got lost.
‘I’ll just have to do my best to adjust,’ Elarn said drily. ‘Would I be right in assuming that as we turned right onto this street, and we were facing outwards - rimwards, rather - that we are now travelling
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