Page 64 of Skinwalker's Bane
“Wait. Sauber is a Caver?” Adam asked incredulously. “He’s…smart. He’scleanand he keeps his hair trimmed.”
Magorian smiled. “Cavers can come in all shapes and sizes. Just because a person thinks all authority is evil doesn’t necessarily dictate they’ll go without showers to prove the point.” He got to his feet. “I’ll go and see about having Bernice escorted off the Bridge.”
As Magorian left, Adam said, “If Sauber is a Caver, then how can he even think about trying to become Captain? It’s a conflict of interest.”
“Not if he grabs the Captain’s chair and immediately dismantles the role,” Haydn replied, his attention on the screen. Then he dismissed the screen. “Let’s go and speak to Sauber.”
“Now?” Adam asked, getting to his feet just as Haydn was.
“I want to get this over and done with,” Haydn said with feeling.
* * * * *
There was a scheduled event on Sauber’s Forum profile that said he was in the Aventine primary market. The event was recurring, every week like clockwork, going back months.
They found Sauber in the marketplace, just as the Forum had indicated, which was a surprise to Adam. Sauber was drinking coffee at one of the tiny tables in front of the café that served the corner of the market. There was one chair on the other side of the table.
Haydn sat on the chair, while Adam pulled over another one from a nearby table and straddled it.
Sauber was a slender man and very tall. He had long hair dark hair brushed straight back, which revealed a high forehead and let his eyes stand out. His eyes were his best feature. They were a very pale gray, which make them look colorless and gave him a mesmerizing stare.
He looked startled at their appearance for only a moment. Then he smiled widely. It might even have been genuine. There was certainly no note of insincerity in it.
“Haydn Forney and…” He hesitated only briefly. “Adam Wary, yes?”
Adam nodded.
“What brings skinwalkers to my office this fine day?” Sauber asked.
“Bernice Daly,” Haydn said flatly.
“Ah.” Sauber’s smile faded. He sipped the coffee reflectively. “It took you long enough. Are you representing the Bridge right now, Forney?”
“I think it would be more accurate to say I’m representing everyone on the ship, because that’s who you put at risk when you leaked the information about the shard to the Cavers.”
“Then Bernice has been chatting freely. I thought she might. She does not do well under pressure, which is a weakness for a Bridge Guard and one I only became aware of after the fact.” Sauber shrugged.
“She’s not a Bridge Guard anymore,” Adam said.
Sauber glanced at him. Then at his hand, curled around the little coffee cup. “I do regret that,” he said and it sounded like the truth.
“You used her,” Adam added. “You have no intention of seeing her after this, do you?”
Sauber pursed his lips. “Regrettably, her beliefs do not mesh with mine.”
“Then youarea Caver,” Adam breathed.
“I am not,” Sauber said slowly and firmly.
“You just used them, too?” Haydn asked.
“The Cavers are delusional.Still, despite the existence of skinwalkers and the External Engineering Institute. They believe there is a higher authority out there, that can deliver them from their misery. One thing they do have right, though, is the corruption and foulness of authority aboard theEndurance. We are enslaved, gentlemen. We are on this ship with no choice about whether we want to be here or not.”
“You want to get off? I can arrange that,” Haydn said, his tone harsh.
Sauber merely smiled at him, as if he’d heard that many times before. Who knew, Adam reflected—the man was probably used to being threatened, given his permanent and high-volume opposition to the Captain and anyone who he thought was dictating how his life should go.
“Have you never questioned the mission of theEndurance?” Sauber asked. “Never laid awake at night wondering about all the places wemightgo, given true freedom of choice?”
