This Day All Gods Die by Stephen R. Donaldson

him.
    "You may have misunderstood me." He let his voice buzz waspishly. Koina—
    or Warden—
    might hear it as anger;
    but he was ill equipped to express grief in any other way. "I have not told you that 'Fane did all this to stop the Bill of Severance.' I have not remarked on his motives at all.
    "Naturally you are concerned that your refusal to support the FEA's opposition to the Bill prompted that luminary to detonate his kaze." Koina responded with a troubled nod. "It may be so," he continued. "But if it is so, you provided only an occasion, not a cause.
    "I do not assume that Cleatus Fane—
    or his master—
    pos-
    sessed some prescient awareness of Captain Vertigus' intentions. Rather I assume that the purpose of these attacks from the first has been to solidify the special—
    the dependent—
    rela-
    tionship between the UMCP and the UMC. To demonstrate that a relationship which has kept the GCES, if not all human space, secure until now should not be altered. True, a Bill of Severance threatens this relationship. But other threats preceded it, threats which suffice to account for the attacks. And those threats were public."
    Studying Hashi intently, Koina asked, "What do you mean?"
    "The threats were two," Hashi rasped. "First in time, if perhaps not in importance, is Special Counsel Maxim Igensard's investigation of the Thermopyle case' in all its ramifi-cations.
    "Surely his inquiry threatens the Dragon's effective hegemony. Among other efforts, he seeks to req DA's financial records. If he were to obtain them, he would eventually unearth payments made to former Deputy Chief of Com-Mine Security Milos Taverner." Hashi saw no reason why he should not verify Warden's earlier revelations. "Conceivably the Preempt Act itself would unravel under such probing.
    "The occasion is apt for some display to support the necessity of our special relationship with the UMC. Thus Maxim Igensard is countered without being directly opposed."
    Koina may have wished to interpose a question, but Hashi allowed her no opportunity. Wheezing sharply, he continued,
    "The more recent, but perhaps more critical, threat derives from the often-discussed video conference between Director Dios and the Council."
    Hashi did not refer to Warden with so much as a glance.
    He had lost his taste for Warden's lack of response.
    "You yourself said that you felt you were 'witnessing the collapse of everything we're supposed to stand for.' What, then, do you imagine Holt Fasner's reaction must have been?
    If you were indignant and dismayed, would he not have been outraged and appalled? The revelations of that conference undermined our appearance of honor, of probity—
    and our ap-
    pearance of honor provides an essential validation for our dependence on the UMC.
    "If we are not honorable, who may be held accountable?
    Why, no one—
    except our master, the great worm."
    Warden had played the conference beautifully. He had played Hashi beautifully. And kazes had ensued. Death had ensued. Yet that would be only the first of many extreme consequences.
    "We have been afflicted with bombs and bloodshed in response to the same concerns which may well have inspired Captain Vertigus' Bill. In themselves, his actions are secondary. Indeed, they may be purely coincidental." Deliberately Hashi did not look at Warden. "Yet his concerns are shared elsewhere—
    for differing reasons. Hence these kazes. They are intended to reinforce our subservience to the Dragon.
    "In that they have succeeded.
    "If you doubt me," he added, although he suspected that no one did, "ask yourself who benefits from our special relationship with the UMC? Who profits? Who is diminished by anything which undermines us? Hardly the native Earthers.
    "Consider the pattern of targets. First Captain Vertigus.
    Then Godsen Frik. Then—
    apparently—
    Cleatus Fane himself.
    GCES. UMCP. UMC. Thus all are placed beyond suspicion.
    No one remains to be accused except the native Earthers.
    "But no one profits