The Peace War Read Online Free PDF Page B

going to take a look around... There may be a road nearby." He
unclipped the crash kit and set it beside her. "Be back in fifteen minutes."
    FOUR
    They started on Wili the next morning. It was the woman, Irma, who brought him
down, fed him breakfast in the tiny alcove off the main dining room. She was a pleasant
woman, but young enough to be strong and she spoke very good Spanish. Wili did not
trust her. But no one threatened him, and the food seemed endless; he ate so much that
his eternal gnawing hunger was almost satisfied. All this time Irma talked — but without
saying a great deal, as though she knew he was concentrating on his enormous breakfast.
No other servants were visible. In fact, Wili was beginning to think the mansion was
untenanted, that these three must be housekeeping staff holding the mansion for their
absent lord. That
jefe
was very powerful or very stupid, because even in the light of day,
Wili could see no evidence of defenses. If he could be gone before the
jefe
returned...
    "— and do you know why you are here, Wili?" Irma said as she collected the plates
from the mosaicked surface of the breakfast table.
    Wili nodded, pretending shyness. Sure he knew. Everyone needed workers, and the old
and middle-aged often needed whole gangs to keep them living in style. But he said, "To
help you?"
    "Not me, Wili. Paul. You will be his apprentice. He has looked a long time, and he has
chosen you."
    That figured. The old gardener — or whatever he was — looked to be eighty if he was a
day. Right now Wili was being treated royally. But he suspected that was simply because
the old man and his two flunkies were making illegitimate use of their master's house. No
doubt there would be hell to pay when the
jefe
returned. "And, and what am I to do for
My Lady?" Wili spoke with his best diffidence.
    "Whatever Paul asks."
    She led him around to the back of the mansion where a large pool, almost a lake,
spread away under the pines. The water looked clear, though here and there floated small
clots of pine needles. Toward the center, out from under the trees, it reflected the brilliant
blue of the sky. Downslope, through an opening in the trees, Wili could see thunderheads
gathering about Vandenberg.
    "Now off with your clothes and we'll see about giving you a bath." She moved to undo
the buttons on his shirt, an adult helping a child.
    Wili recoiled. "No!" To be naked here with the woman!
    Irma laughed and pinned his arm, continued to unbutton the shirt. For an instant, Wili
forgot his pose — that he was a child, and an obedient one. Of course this treatment would
be unthinkable within the Ndelante. And even in Jonque territory, the body was
respected. No woman forced baths and nakedness on males.
    But Irma was strong. As she pulled the shirt over his head, he lunged for the knife
strapped to his leg, and brought it up toward her face. Irma screamed. Even as she did,
Wili was cursing himself.
    "No, no! I am going to tell Paul." She backed away, her hands held between them, as if
to protect herself. Wili knew he could run away now (and he couldn't imagine these three
catching him) — or he could do what was necessary to stay. For now he wanted to stay.
    He dropped the knife and groveled. "Please, Lady, I acted without thought." Which
was true. "Please forgive me. I will do anything to make it up." Even, even...
    The woman stopped, came back, and picked up the knife. She obviously had no
experience as a foreman, to trust anything he said. The whole situation was alien and
unpredictable. Wili would almost have preferred the lash, the predictability. Irma shook
her head, and when she spoke there was still a little fear in her voice. Wili was sure she
now knew that he was a good deal older than he looked; she made no move to touch him.
"Very well. This is between us, Wili. I will not tell Paul." She smiled, and Wili had the
feeling there was something she was not telling him. She reached her arm out full length
and handed