“We do and there is no one more qualified to do that now that you’ve read his seminal publication on empires.”
Quint had no reason to object to the assignment, and he was excited to be able to talk to Danko about his book and other political organizations.
“I will be happy to fulfill the assignment. What will I need to do?”
“You’ve done it. Read his book, talk to him about it, verify the references he has made, and see what his true opinions are about the survival of Racellia.”
“You want me to cast a non-magical portent?”
“And you are just the wizard to do it, captain.”
“You’ve never asked me to cast a magical portent.”
Colonel Gerocie looked out the window for a moment. “I’ve asked General Obellia, who admitted he doesn’t believe in them, especially for something so involved as Colleto’s empire.”
“Do you want me to try?” Quint asked.
“Have you already done it?” Gerocie asked, almost breathlessly.
“I’m more in the general’s camp on the matter. There are too many factors that can pull the visualized portent away from certainty.”
“Obellia put it almost in those exact terms.”
“In the meantime, I continue my periodical work?”
“Yes. I have more journals from Gussellia coming in. You’ll get them as soon as they arrive.”
“More propaganda, ma’am,” Quint said, “but we need to keep looking for trends. As I have noted, even propaganda can reveal hidden truths.”
The colonel smiled. “I like that. Can I use it with my peers and the general?”
“Of course, but I’m sure you’ve realized that already.”
“But the important thing is that you discovered it on your own, captain. You are my hidden weapon.”
“Not so hidden,” Quint said. “Colleto knows what I do, and he probably has spies everywhere, and he isn’t the only one with spies,” Quint said. “Baltacco has his own, I’m sure.”
Gerocie smiled. “Spies keep you on your toes.”
“May I ask if anything has happened on the battle management front?” Quint asked.
“A difficult question to answer. Unfortunately, it is hard to satisfy all the council members at once and Lucheccia is still collecting sponsors.”
“I’ll not ask again, but keep my nose in the newssheets, ma’am.”
“You do that, Captain Tirolo. Dismissed.” She held up the portfolio with Quint’s analysis. “I can keep this?”
“You can. I have a copy, and the book, and the book notes.”
“You may keep them at least for the time Fedor Danko is in Racellia.”
Quint stood at the flat’s large window looking over Bocarre toward the sea. The colonel’s comment on spies to keep him on his toes disturbed him. Quint was getting too exposed as a magician and an analyst. No one really cared about Quint the hubite, but Colleto was intensely interested in him when they met in Nornotta.
He looked around his room to decide what was most important to him. The string books, his own and the copy of Colleto’s, topped the list. The problem wasn’t making duplicate copies, but where to keep them.
Quint decided to put a false bottom in one of the drawers of his new desk and the other, the backup, needed a hiding place outside the flat. The first thing was to make the copies.
After a busy weekend, Quint accomplished the first step. He measured one of the drawers and found a woodworker in the international quarter to build a box that would slip into the largest drawer in his desk.
The job took to the end of the week and Quint went into work when most others were off and installed the false bottom. It fit well and the wood was a good match with the existing drawers.
With his primary copy hidden at the diplomacy corps offices, Quint decided to ask Marena.
“I want some documents kept outside the flat,” Quint said.
“Secret documents? Are you afraid we will be invaded by burglars?” Marena said with a smile on her face.
“Actually, yes,” Quint said. “My room was gone over when I stayed at the Gussellian palace. It’s probably called the imperial palace by now. I don’t expect to be burglarized, but I don’t want to leave my documents exposed.”
“Give it to me. Put a six-figure number on the top page and on the envelope that you will remember so they can know it’s you if you come to retrieve your documents. I’m still thinking of a good place, one that isn’t connected with you and barely connected with me.”
Quint grinned. “That’s the spirit. Spy protection.”
Marena smiled. “Something like that.”
Two days later, Quint felt relieved when Marena gave him an address. “Just tell them the number,” she said.
