XXIX - Rules

"Come on," Kamon urged. The two walked hurriedly away. "That rock pile was put there deliberately," Kamon concluded, "probably centuries ago. It's the perfect door, because it doesn't look like one. The heavy brush was meant to be a part of the camouflage."

"Where are we going now?" Jasmine asked.

"I rented a car. It's parked on a street nearby. We're going to drive to Meto Charter hoverport. I have a craft rented and ready to take off."

In a matter of minutes they were at the car. They got in and drove away. Kamon checked his speed often. He did not want to get pulled over for a simple traffic violation.

With one hand on the wheel, Kamon reached in the back seat, groped for a bag and found it. He put the duffel bag beside him and zipped it open. He pulled out a light robe with a cowl. "Put this on," he said, placing it in Jasmine's lap.

"But I'm not cold, Kamon."

"Put it on," Kamon repeated. "And pull the hood up. I don't want anyone to see your face at the hoverport."

Jasmine did as requested. She had to squirm and twist in the car -- it was a full length robe -- but she finally managed it. She finished by pulling the cowl over her head. "What do you think?"

Kamon glanced at her. He couldn't see her face. "Perfect," was his reaction. "You don't have to leave the hood up all the way to the airport if you don't want to," he offered.

Jasmine saw Kamon glance at the speedometer yet again. His gaze darted from side to side, checking traffic. He was especially cautious, very grim, very determined, very focused. She had never seen him quite like this. She wasn't supposed to be here. She should be back in her cell. Everything was being thrown into disarray. But she had made a commitment to stick by him now. He had earned that.

The car coasted to a stop in the parking lot at Meto Charter hoverport. Kamon grabbed the duffel bag and got out. Jasmine followed. He glanced at her. "Keep the hood pulled up," he advised.

"I know, Kamon," she answered.

"Just wanted to be sure," Kamon said. Still serious, still focused. All his commands were curt.

A red and blue neon sign was over the doorway -- METO CHARTER HOVERPORT. Kamon led the way into the building. "Olfac!" he greeted the woman behind the counter with a broad smile. "Is my craft ready?!"

"Yes, sir, Councilman!" Olfac replied with a smile. "It's fueled up and ready for take off!"

"Good!" Kamon said. "We'll be leaving immediately." Kamon noticed the curiosity on Olfac's face. He had expected it. "This is one of my Council aides," he explained easily. "She's accompanying me on this trip."

"Nice to meet you," Olfac said with a nod of her head.

Her face shrouded by the hood, Jasmine nodded in return.

"Let's go then!" Kamon said. He and Jasmine quickly strode out the door.

A man stood in the dark shadows, illuminated by a few lights from the waiting hovercraft. Kamon made a beeline for him. "Good to see you, Antion!" Kamon greeted him.

"Everything's all ready, Councilman!" Antion responded to the dignitary.

"Go ahead," Kamon said to Jasmine, pointing to the steps. Jasmine began her ascent. "Thanks a lot, Antion!" Kamon said to the man. He then bounded up the steps, following Jasmine into the craft.

Kamon pulled up the steps and quickly secured the door. He settled into the pilot's seat.

"You lied to Olfac," Jasmine charged.

"I stretched the truth," Kamon answered. Most of his attention was devoted to the instrument panel. "You've aided me in the Council -- indirectly, anyway. And you are accompanying me on this trip."

"You deceived her," Jasmine countered.

"After your appearance before the Delphi," Kamon spoke even as he checked gauges and flipped switches, "several people stopped me outside the Domus gate and claimed you were the daughter of Nome. I suspect they were followers of yours. If so, how come you never disabused them of that notion? Deceit can be on a sliding scale," Kamon concluded, "and neither of us is innocent of it." He put the earphones on his head. "This is Cat-Boy-Go-Seven-Eight-Six," he called out the hovercraft's identification numbers to the control tower, "requesting permission to take off! Over!" A debate of ethics was not his highest priority at the moment.

"Stand by Cat-Boy-Go-Seven-Eight-Six! Over!" came through his ear pieces.

Kamon waited anxiously. He wanted to be gone.

Kamon nudged the throttle forward and guided the craft across the tarmac to take-off pad ten. Once there, he stopped, easing off the engine. "This is Cat-Boy-Go-Seven-Eight-Six!" Kamon spoke to the tower. "On pad ten! Over!"

He was close now. Not long to wait. He glanced at Jasmine. He saw only her outline in the gloom of the small cabin.

A moment later, "Cat-Boy-Go-Seven-Eight-Six! You are cleared for takeoff! Over!"

"This is Cat-Boy-Go-Seven-Eight-Six! Acknowledged! Lifting off! Over and out!" Kamon pushed the throttle forward. The engine roared and whined. Hovercraft CBG786 slowly floated upward.

As the craft gained altitude it also increased its speed. Soon Kamon veered to his left and cut a diagonal path through the sky. He was headed southwest for the moment, a temporary deviation in his route, but one that would be consistent with the false flight plan he had filed. After he had cleared radar, he would turn northwest and head for his real destination, the Tysom Mountains in northern Sparrow Hawk. There was great risk in heading toward his home province -- it was a predictable move. But hopefully his subterfuge would gain him the time he needed.

The potential gain for him was the Tysom Mountain Range. If he and Jasmine reached it without incident, they would never be found. He knew the valleys and mountains of Tysom better than anyone on the planet. He could elude any search indefinitely, he was certain. And he knew how to survive there, with nothing more than what he had with him. The opportunity to eventually walk across the northern border and be picked up by the Muhoj was even a possibility.

It was a high stakes gamble -- his life and Jasmine's were riding on his decision -- but he deemed the risk necessary. It was their best chance at complete freedom.

He couldn't know for sure when the guards at Ingraham Memorial Temple Prison would discover Jasmine missing. It could very well be hours....or it could be minutes. It might have already happened.

Kamon silently guided his craft through the night sky, his face grim.

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First Captain Sella strolled across the yard of Ingraham Memorial Temple Prison. She climbed the steps to the Chambers Building and went inside. "Evening, Risham," she greeted the guard.

"Good evening, captain," Risham answered, puzzled. "You're out rather late tonight."

Sella looked at her watch. "Actually, Risham," she said, "it's already past midnight; morning; a new day."

"Yes, captain." Risham was too smart to step into this thorn patch. Captain Sella was either going to talk about whatever was bothering her....or go away. For Risham, silence was the best policy.

There was a moment of silence, then Sella spoke. "You ever have trouble with your old man?" she asked in reference to Risham's husband.

"Sometimes," Risham replied cautiously.

"Wait till you get as old as I am," Sella commented, seating herself. "That 'sometimes' will turn into 'most of the time'! So I go out with the women once in a while, drink a little, spend time at those new upscale bars. You're a young woman, Risham! You must have been to one of them! Cassel's on Fifth Street! That's quite a place! Those male dancers have hips that swivel like hinges! You ought to go there. That'll get your blood percolating!"

Risham smiled and nodded. She still preferred to say little or nothing.

"Husbands don't like it though," Sella continued. "At least mine doesn't. Cranky old battle-axe! I just left. He wouldn't let me get any sleep tonight, so I finally just left."

Risham nodded, as if she sympathized, but she did not speak.

"So what's going on here tonight?" Captain Sella asked.

"Not much, captain," Risham answered. "Although..."

"What?!" Sella would find anything interesting. She had nowhere to go at the moment.

"Councilman Kamon is in the library."

"The Councilman Kamon!?" Sella asked in disbelief.

"Yes, captain," Risham replied. "He came in during Rowten's shift. "Went to visit Jasmine. When it came time to leave, Rowten said he asked to spend time in the library. I guess he wants to see Jasmine again early in the morning and he didn't want to leave."

"The library!?" Sella exclaimed. "I've heard he's a real nut! What's a man doing in a library?!" She stood up. "I think I'll go visit him! He's really something to look at....even if he is an oddball equal rights activist!"

Captain Sella headed for the stairs. Risham was glad to see her go. Only a few minutes had passed, however, when she heard someone coming back down the stairs.

"There's nobody in the library," Sella said.

"Maybe he went to the rest room," Risham suggested.

"No," Sella answered. "I called out, then checked the rest room. It was empty." She paused, thinking. "Rowten would have locked the library door, wouldn't she?"

"I assume so," Risham answered.

"Check it," Sella ordered.

Risham tapped on his keyboard and checked his video monitor. "She locked it, captain."

"And it was locked when I got there. How would Councilman Kamon get out of a locked room?" Sella mused out loud. "Check if anyone else accessed that lock after Rowten."

Rowten keyed in more commands. She reacted with puzzlement to the display. "Someone with a user ID of 'tendo'."

"Tendo?" Sella was equally puzzled. "Who's that?"

Risham slowly shook her head. "I don't know."

Captain Sella considered this information for a moment, then spoke. "Do a search on the user ID 'tendo'. Find out if she's accessed any other locks tonight."

More tapping on the keyboard. A minute later, Risham announced, "Lock 7 at Block Seven...."

Captain Sella's eyebrows went up.

Risham continued. "...and lock 487 at the....old access tunnel."

Captain Sella was immediately energized. "Call the front gate!!" she barked. "I'm ordering a lock down!! Get me a security detail down to the old access tunnel!!" Sella was already racing for the stairs.

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Captain Sella paced the floor of his office. Nothing! Jasmine and Councilman Kamon were both gone. This was a disaster! How was she going to tell the Delphi that she'd let a condemned blasphemer escape!?

How?!!

She paced some more, then stopped. That was it! She wasn't going to tell her! She was going to get her back! Sella snatched up the phone.

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First Commander Agon emerged sluggishly from a deep sleep. The phone was ringing. She groped for it, finally finding it. "H'lo." Her mouth was dry. She swallowed several times while listening, still groggy. Her eyes found the clock.....

------"Am I still interested in that big promotion?!" Agon was irritable. "Sella, are you out of mind!? Do you know what time it is?!" She listened some more.....

-------"Escaped?!"........

-------"This is a civilian matter," Agon pointed out. "How do I and the military get involved?".......

-------"You have the authority to do that?"....

-------"I don't go through the code with a fine tooth comb! That's for you bureaucrats to do!"........

-------"If I do agree to go after them," Agon probed, "what are the ground rules?" The first commander was beginning to display interest. Her irritation at being awakened was gone.......

-------"Dead or alive?!" Agon was incredulous. "We're talking about a member of the Council!".........

-------"No! I have no objections! I just want to be very sure we understand one another! If he broke her out, he's likely to put up a fight. A dead Council member is no small matter.".......

-------Agon smiled broadly. "Oh, I'll do it! Just be prepared to find two body bags on your doorstep!"........

-------"I'm leaving right now! Bye!"

First Commander Agon hung up the phone and jumped out of bed. She was going to bag herself a Council member and a condemned blasphemer! She hopped into her clothes. Agon -- defender of the Fraus faith! Those second general's bars were going to look very good on her uniform!

END OF CHAPTER