The Left Hand Of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #4) - Ursula K. Le Guin Page 0,111

Ai, so your ship’s going to land.’

‘It will land in Athten Fen, as you requested, sir. They should bring it down this evening at the beginning of Third Hour.’

‘What if they miss the place? Will they burn everything up?’

‘They’ll follow a radio-beam straight in; that’s all been arranged. They won’t miss.’

‘And how many of them are there – eleven? Is that right?’

‘Yes. Not enough to be afraid of, my lord.’

Argaven’s hands twitched in an unfinished gesture. ‘I am no longer afraid of you, Mr. Ai.’

‘I’m glad of that.’

‘You’ve served me well.’

‘But I am not your servant.’

‘I know it,’ he said indifferently. He stared at the fire, chewing the inside of his lip.

‘My ansible transmitter is in the hands of the Sarf in Mishnory, presumably. However, when the ship comes down it will have an ansible aboard. I will have thenceforth, if acceptable to you, the position of Envoy Plenipotentiary of the Ekumen, and will be empowered to discuss, and sign, a treaty of alliance with Karhide. All this can be confirmed with Hain and the various Stabilities by ansible.’

‘Very well.’

I said no more, for he was not giving me his whole attention. He moved a log in the fire with his boot-toe, so that a few red sparks crackled up from it. ‘Why the devil did he cheat me?’ he demanded in his high strident voice, and for the first time looked straight at me.

‘Who?’ I said, sending back his stare.

‘Estraven.’

‘He saw to it that you didn’t cheat yourself. He got me out of sight when you began to favour a faction unfriendly to me. He brought me back to you when my return would in itself persuade you to receive the Mission of the Ekumen, and the credit for it.’

‘Why did he never say anything about this larger ship to me?’

‘Because he didn’t know about it: I never spoke to anyone of it until I went to Orgoreyn.’

‘And a fine lot you chose to blab to there, you two. He tried to get the Orgota to receive your Mission. He was working with their Open Traders all along. You’ll tell me that was not betrayal?’

‘It was not. He knew that, whichever nation first made alliance with the Ekumen, the other would follow soon: as it will: as Sith and Perunter and the Archipelago will also follow, until you find unity. He loved his country very dearly, sir, but he did not serve it, or you. He served the master I serve.’

‘The Ekumen?’ said Argaven, startled.

‘No. Mankind.’

As I spoke I did not know if what I said was true. True in part; an aspect of the truth. It would be no less true to say that Estraven’s acts had risen out of pure personal loyalty, a sense of responsibility and friendship toward one single human being, myself. Nor would that be the whole truth.

The king made no reply. His sombre, pouched, furrowed face was turned again to the fire.

‘Why did you call to this ship of yours before you notified me of your return to Karhide?’

‘To force your hand, sir. A message to you would also have reached Lord Tibe, who might have handed me over to the Orgota. Or had me shot. As he had my friend shot.’

The king said nothing.

‘My own survival doesn’t matter all that much, but I have and had then a duty toward Gethen and the Ekumen, a task to fulfil. I signalled the ship first, to ensure myself some chance of fulfilling it. That was Estraven’s counsel, and it was right.’

‘Well, it was not wrong. At any rate they’ll land here; we shall be the first … And they’re all like you, eh? All perverts, always in kemmer? A queer lot to vie for the honour of receiving … Tell Lord Gorchern, the chamberlain, how they expect to be received. See to it that there’s no offence or omission. They’ll be lodged in the Palace, wherever you think suitable. I wish to show them honour. You’ve done me a couple of good turns, Mr. Ai. Made liars of the Commensals, and then fools.’

‘And presently allies, my lord.’

‘I know!’ he said shrilly. ‘But Karhide first – Karhide first!’

I nodded.

After some silence, he said, ‘How was it, that pull across the Ice?’

‘Not easy.’

‘Estraven would be a good man to pull with, on a crazy trek like that. He was tough as iron. And never lost his temper. I’m sorry he’s dead.’

I found no reply.

‘I’ll receive your … countrymen in audience tomorrow afternoon at Second Hour. Is