03. Gods at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker Page B

seemed to have no features except a red tip, which he pushed. "This will  keep anyone from overhearing us by electronic means. Not totally foolproof but  more than adequate here, as I know from experience." 
     
    "I take it that we are in the midst of our enemies," Tony said nervously. "You are in their hometown, as it were, at least the homegrown sort. They live  here, work here, do many good and charitable works, and launder their cut of the  illegal money through the banks here, which are among the richest and most  successful in the nation. They used to be very good at what they do, but in  recent months they have become even more efficient and creative. We believe that  it is because another of your origin species has affiliated with them. Do you  know the name of Campos?" 
     
    Both Dillians nodded in unison. "Mavra Chang spoke of him. A vicious man, she  said. Is that what this is about?" 
     
    "Man? Interesting ..." The security man thought for a moment. "As to the  other-yes, I believe that it is exactly what all this is about. In fact, it  explains much that was puzzling, particularly why both of your friends were  kidnapped. Chang we could understand-there are reasons I believe you might be  aware of why such an organization might like to get hold of her, although it  seems they don't know just who or what they've got or they'd have done something  with her by now. It was the Erdomese that puzzled us. Now it becomes much  clearer. Not politics, not power in the sense that we'd originally thought.  Revenge. Pure revenge. How typical of that type. Reassuring in a way, too." "How's that?" 
     
    "We have no particular drug problem here. Can you guess why that might be?" Tony saw his point at once. "Because they are protected here. The government and  the cartel have an agreement." Kurdon nodded. "Exactly. It is not official and  is never mentioned, but it exists. Not everyone is involved, of course, but they  have clever ways of getting around just about anything. Once, a year or so ago,  I came very close to breaking some of the big shots involved in it. Their  laboratories and most of their operation are run out of a vast headquarters  complex not very far from here, along the border with Liliblod. I had everything  ready to go and spread out for my superiors to approve. We would have gone in  with an army team and cleaned them out. Instead, I found my plans and papers  confiscated, my informants met quick and untimely deaths or simply vanished, and  I was made division chief of the coastal watch unit in the southeastern city of  Magoor. Nobody said I'd done a poor job or that I wasn't right; technically the  new job was a promotion in pay and authority-but a shift away from all my  previous investigations and contacts. I wasn't stupid, and I knew the choice was  to accept or follow my informants. I am still a young man." 
     
    "Our message indicated as much," Anne Marie told him. "But I must say it doesn't  sound very encouraging." 
     
    "On the contrary. A few days ago I was called to the capital and told to stand  by. Much of my original paperwork mysteriously reappeared. Then, yesterday, I  was promoted to chief inspector, given a great deal of power and authority,  briefed on your situation, and told to form a special unit and proceed here.  Some very important government ministers whose honor has not been for sale have  been involved in the watch for these two alleged immortals that the council at  Zone has been most concerned about. They lost not one but both of them. Then  word comes that two creatures were taken off a courier boat by agents of the  cartel just off the northwest coast, and the remainder of the party fits the  description of three members traveling with the Chang woman. The three of you  are rather difficult to mistake in this region. Everyone from the ministers to  the council was initially panicked that Chang had fallen into the hands of the