"I have to see them training to decide that. Do you train them?"
"We do", Troyd said. He kept his hands out of sight under the table, unlike the others, who were making notes or drinking coffee or tea.
"How are you going to get past the river barriers?"
"I know a little about the watch system", Valentine said. "Before my
comrades delivered me into your little garden of horrors, I was an officer in the troops that supplied the river sentries. Dangerous work".
"That's why they had PeaBees doing it, no?" Park asked.
"Yes", Valentine said. "I even lost a few men to them in the fall. We never found the bodies".
"They've adjusted their fertility cycle to the salmon runs. Whoever eats the most gets to be female and host the fry. Sometimes they even eat the males, if the males don't swim away quick enough after the mate".
"That's a fucked-up way to do it", the fleshy general said.
Troyd shrugged.
Park snorted. "Make for a quieter world".
Silas cleared his throat. "Let's set comparative biology aside for now. We've learned what you'll need for the job. What do you want in return?"
"Some peace and quiet. A nice little house, maybe on one of those islands outside the bay there. A nice boat, not quite a yacht, but something I can use for travel or fishing. A few servants and a couple women to keep me warm on these clammy nights. But most important, one of those brass rings like you all wear so I get left alone".
"You? Settle with us?" the general asked.
"Not with you. Among you. I'm not going to be welcome back with Pacific Command. I'm under a hanging judgment with Southern Command".
"Brass rings aren't mine to give out. Speaking of which, there's going to be one awarded to our friend Troyd here at the next audience, for his work with the Big Mouths".
"And well deserved", Park said, rapping the table.
"Damn, is that this week?" the general asked, looking at his organizer book. "I may have to beg off - I've got inspections in Tacoma".
Silas kept his gaze on Valentine. "It's a boring ceremony. Speeches mostly, gives the TV station something to broadcast for a few weeks. I might arrange for a short interview. Seattle is most interested in the proposition, and he would be the one to promise a ring".
"I'm not doing it on faith", Valentine said.
"We're not so sure you can do it", the general said.
Valentine shrugged. "I wouldn't expect a ring to be handed out unless I accomplish the mission".
"I'm expected at a wedding banquet for one of my colonels. Can we wrap this up?"
"Hungry for your cake, or your droits?" Park asked.
"Not what you're thinking, Valentine", Silas said. "The maid of honor gets a more active role in military weddings around here, is all".
"Who gives a damn what he thinks?" the general asked. "Are we reporting up here or no?"
Silas nodded to his breathtaking secretary. "I'll call for a vote on the Valentine Proposition, and we'll adjourn". He touched a button on the arm of his chair. "Captain Chu, take Valentine back to the lounge".
"Suppose you vote the proposal down?" Valentine asked.
"You might end up in Seattle's tower anyway, but in considerably less distinction. But don't worry, a part of you will live on as a conversation piece".
Valentine went back to the lounge, smelled the nervousness on Captain Chu. Valentine wondered if the man expected to be stabbed with a stir stick. He felt too tired, too disgusted with himself, to put up much of a fight, even if the vote went against him.