CHAPTER 18


   There was at least one aspect of this set up that impressed Kent. It proved to him that someone had done a little research on the subject that did not include source materials from recreational carnivals or bad movies. The Rennies had their banquet set up with some sort of historical accuracy. The table that he was sitting at, beside Jim Dove, was definitely accurate to the fourteenth century style of banquets. Dove was sitting on the highest stool, with Kent just below him. Everybody at the table sat on only one side. It was a detail that movies quite often missed. An army of servants were on the other side, rushing up and down it, and constantly filling plates and wooden mugs. Kent got the impression that they were all well practiced at this. Dove also mentioned the jousting and tournament games that were scheduled for later in the day. It sounded like they were also practiced at those activities as well.
A quick glance down at Sheriff Rayne and Doctor Dykstra told Kent all that he needed to know on that subject. They both looked rather bored and, Kent deduced, that was probably because they had seen all this before. They had not been invited to sit at the high table and were making due on one of the many others in the room. Most of those tables were filled with people that lived here even though Kent saw some people that were most obviously not. The differences in dress made such distinctions trivial to deduce.
It also told Kent something else. So this was the industry that these people ran here. They had a tourist business? It could not have been that profitable. One of the many requirements of that industry was ease of access. There was nothing about this place that made it easy to get too. If the Rennies decided to put in an airstrip or, at the least, make a descent road out of the one that Kent had used this morning then they could quite possibly have a cash cow on their hands. The fact that they did not was also, somewhat, telling. It meant that their dress, their choice of lifestyles, and everything else about them was more than a game to these people. As far as Kent’s purposes went, that all spelled out trouble.
Finally, Dove got all excited and, with a clap of his hands, whatever small amount of authenticity that there was, went right out the window. A dance troop of women, mostly younger girls, came parading in past the high table. They were dressed like what most people thought of as belly dancers but, Kent really had his doubts as to the authenticity of the scarce clothing they had on. Kent found himself having to smile politely and nod his approval to Dove, even if he really meant none of it.
As Dove enjoyed the show, Kent leaned over and mentioned to him, “you do realize that this vaccine would benefit to your own people the most.”
Dove laughed and slapped Kent on the shoulder. When Kent first learned he would be talking to this man he had pictured Dove as some kind of serious, charismatic, cult leader with a fearsome stare and commanding voice that just oozed short temper. Dove seemed to be none of that. He acted very relaxed and never seemed to have to command anyone. The people here all acted as if they genuinely wished to please the man. Of course, none of this eased Kent’s concerns about the situation.
Dove was still smiling when he told Kent, “I can’t tell my people to do something they don’t want too, Doctor.” Dove then thought about it and said, “you are a doctor, right?”
Kent went right on with, “really Mister Dove, it would seem to me that these people are very in tuned with your wishes. I would think that a word from you would go a long way towards resolving this situation.”
“Not as much as you might think,” Dove told him in his usual relaxed way. The guys eyes never left his dancers as he talked, “I guess that’s something me and ole Crass have in common. Even if she don’t know it.”
What was that supposed to mean? Kent was not entirely sure but, the implication of the statement was quite clear to him. Dove considered himself the Governor’s equal. Everything that had transpired since Kent’s arrival had proven that to him. Dove was acting as if he were receiving a visiting ambassador. It made Kent wonder exactly how true that was. It also gave Kent another idea.
At first he simply pointed out, “I do believe Doctor Dykstra may have mentioned this but, the simple truth is, no matter how much we call this planet home, our species is not from here. Without routine vaccinations we leave ourselves, our entire population, open to infections that medical science has never even dreamed of.”
Dove laughed and that was the last thing Kent had expected. Did he not believe what he was just told? Given the surroundings that was entirely possible but, then Dove proved otherwise. He was not laughing at what Kent said. He seemed to find the timing as somewhat amusing. Dove pointed out past the dancers, “you mean the same Dykstra that just walked out the door?”
Sure enough, as Kent looked, the Valley doctor was at the door to the banquet hall. He took one last look back and Kent could have sworn the man looked disgusted. Then the guy walked out and Kent had to comment, “strange, I never thought him all that prudish.”
Once again, Dove just laughed and then he got a little more serious, “I might be dressed like a reject from Hogwarts but, I’m not stupid Doc. I’m sure you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t know my background. I’m figuring that’s why Crass sent you instead of somebody else.”
“Actually,” Kent pointed out, “I doubt the Governor even knows that I am the one here.”
Dove blew it off, “whatever, so she thinks that Reilly chick is here. Ether way, she didn’t send the Commissioner of Health, she sent Rangers.” At that point, Dove slipped down off his stool and nudged Kent as he did. Dove nodded to a back door and, despite the obvious objections of his honor guard, Dove ignored them and led Kent into a back room that was obviously some kind of office.
After pouring himself another drink of some mead, that had been flowing freely in the banquet hall, Dove then offered Kent a goblet. Kent politely rejected it and Dove snickered, “suit yourself Doc. It’s one of the perks of this job.”
“I see,” Kent replied. “Of this job. I take it that your position with these people is, just that?”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Dove told him, “I believe in what we’re doing here but, as one of the pillars of the community, I do have to be a little more realistic about things.” Dove studied Kent and then he asked, “I guess you’re expecting me to quote you a figure right about now.”
Kent found that slightly amusing and he replied, “if money were all that you were after, Mister Dove, I do not believe that you would have went to all this trouble. I suspect that what you are really after, here, is legitimacy. Something that we have already provided you, in some small measure at least.”
That drew a wide toothy grin from Dove as he studied Kent out of the corner of his eyes. As he walked towards a comfortable chair he pointed with both hands and said, “I kind of new that you and me talked the same language.”
Kent remained standing and he simply nodded to Dove as he kept things on track, “and this little banquet is providing you with some leverage within your community. I do suspect that what you are after is far more. I’m afraid that when we inform the Governor of this, she will not be prepared to go so far.”
That made Dove laugh, “what’s Crass going to do about it? She can’t even keep the Arch in line. She’s already got about no authority up here, at all. I mean zippo. I’m not really asking for anything here, Doc. I just want her to acknowledge the situation as it really is.”
Kent played his next card, “I’m afraid that IFOR might not see the situation quite that way, Mister Dove.”
That drew a hardy laugh from Dove who then waived the notion off, “I can handle the Krauts. That is if they gave a shit about Valley in the first place, and they don’t.”
With a polite smile, Kent nodded and told the robed man, “well, I shall convey your message to the Palace. If that is your position, then I really do not see that we have anything more to discuss here.”
“Maybe,” Dove said in a coy manner, “then again.”
He stood back up and, seemed relatively serious for the first time since Kent had arrived. Dove went over to his strange looking desk and sat his goblet down. He sat on it’s corner and crossed his arms as he said, “course what makes me think this is a really serious matter is, I know who you really are.”
Kent was about to walk out but, now, Dove had his full attention. He stopped and played it easy as he asked, “and who is it that you think I am, Mister Dove?”
Dove simply replied, “Beta Canaan.” When Kent did not reply, Dove went on, “Celtlandia? Shanghi Reef? Central Complex? Any of those places ring a bell?” There was still no reply so Dove broke into another big smile and laughed as he said, “oh come on. You know what I used to do.”
Finally Kent told the man in a polite and friendly fashion, “I don’t know what it is, exactly, that you believe you know about me Mister Dove, just to say that it is probably not as much as you think.”
Again, Dove laughed, “oh, of that I have no doubt. Let’s just say, I know somebody who would be very interested in seeing you again.”