Темное, кривое зеркало. Том 3 : След на песке.

"Oh, if it was just our own concerns involved, then yes, of course we could. But…. we are working on orders from a different source here, Mr. Zento, and they, for whatever reason, want Miss Sakai put through the proverbial wringer. We can only assume that their reasons are important and do as we are told. Everyone, Mr. Zento, answers to somebody, and I am no exception. Do you understand?"

"Of course I do, sir."

"Good. I am glad this is going so well thus far. I had anticipated it being much harder. Oh well, sometimes the Gods smile on us. If not on others…. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I'm an atheist, sir."

"Ah, that is a pity. One should always have something to believe in, Mr. Zento. Something to pray to, something to curse…."

"If you say so, sir."

"Ah." He fell silent. "Ah," he repeated, more sadly than before.

Both of them resumed their waiting.

* * *

"This is a beautiful place."

Delenn looked at her companion thoughtfully. For all that Valen — or Jeffrey Sinclair — represented, she was still unsure of his status and her relationship with him. There was so much about him she simply could not understand, and was not sure she wanted to understand. He was a legend and a hero and…. now…. he was what?

"How so?" she asked softly.

It had been a long day, but with as much work done as she could reasonably cope with she had gone for a walk, feeling the light and the darkness of her new home. He had come across to her and joined her. No word had been spoken and none had been offered…. until now.

"There is hope here. A hope for the future. Something I have seen so rarely…. except in the last days of the war, and then only briefly."

"But…. after the war, surely? There was hope then? A time for rebuilding and healing…."

"A time of hardship and betrayal. The war lasted so long, too many just did not know what peace was meant to be. The clans warred among each other for years afterwards. It took decades for the Grey Council to be accepted and even longer for a true balance of power to be struck. And then there was Marrain…. No, the war might have been over, but the aftermath…. that still endures even now."

"Marrain, yes…." Delenn said his name softly. Some — mostly religious caste, it had to be said — referred to him as 'the Betrayer'.

"A great man…. once. Time…. and darkness…. can seize us all."

"You are maudlin today," she whispered softly.

"Perhaps…. I am remembering a great deal, some of which I have not yet experienced, some of which I have. My thoughts often come back to Derannimer."

"Yes…. We know so little of her. She led the Grey Council for many years after you…. went beyond."

He stopped and looked a little surprised. "She did? That is good to know."

"You did not know?"

"No. Not everything. I…. recall making her my successor, but not how she would endure. I am glad she did well. She was…. a beautiful person. Not just in flesh, but in spirit. She shone so brightly…. That light once shone also in Marrain and Parlonn, but there is no light so bright it can never be eclipsed by shadows."

She nodded, and an uncomfortable silence fell across them both. Finally, he spoke again.

"Tell me…. Delenn. Do you know what became of our children? Derannimer and I…. we had children."

She shook her head sadly. "No. Your descendants left Minbar after you…. passed beyond. Some must have returned later, but we know little. Not even their names."

"Nor do I." She looked at him. "I cannot remember their names, or even how many there were. I struggle to recall, but it is like a net around my mind. So much I do not know…. Cathrenn. A daughter. We…. called her Cathrenn."

"Did you look through our records while you were on Minbar? I am sure some survived…. on the Valenthaat least. Perhaps…."

"No." Soft, but certain. "No, I could not. The…. the Vorlons…. I did not think they would let me. What I do remember they have programmed into me. I doubt I would be permitted to know anything else."

"It is sad. I find it hard to reconcile these last few revelations with the Vorlons I have always…. liked to think I knew. I wonder if…."

"There are factions, I think. The Vorlons are powerful, yes, but they do not all think alike. At least not in any way we can comprehend. My presence among you is the result of a compromise of sorts between the factions. What the other half of this compromise will be…. I do not know."

"Perhaps Lyta does," Delenn muttered. "Have you spoken to her recently?"

He shook his head. "She is…. elsewhere, with Captain Sheridan. Perhaps later, but for now, I am unsure. There is something within her…. Ah, how can I tell? I am probably acting on an instinct a thousand years out of date."

She smiled. "Perhaps, but I was always taught never to ignore instinct. The warrior caste swear by it."

"That may not be the best of recommendations."

Delenn laughed, and he smiled. "Yes," she said, smiling. "But still, not all of the warrior caste are as…." She searched for a word.

"Unprincipled?" he suggested.

"They have their own principles, I think. Very different from the rest of us. They now have the power in our society, and I fear for the fate of my people."

"You have done well enough for your people here. And not all of your people are Minbari."

She smiled. "Very true."

They reached the Main Government Building — what Vejar somewhat inexplicably had called the Neuadd — and Delenn came to a halt. "I have no doubt there is more business to attend to. And then I would like to meditate."

"I understand. And…. call someone, I believe?"

"I…. yes. Yes, I miss him."

"It takes no arcane knowledge to realise that. Nor does it take any foreknowledge of the future to know that you will be happy."

A cloud passed over her features. "Will we?" she said softly.

"Well, for a time at least."

She nodded, briefly, and began to mount the steps to the Neuadd. As she was halfway up, she paused, brief memories of an encounter near this spot with one possessed surfacing in her mind. "Will you be needing anything?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I will walk a little more. I must think and remember and…. enjoy this beautiful place you have here. Good fortune and peace be with you, Delenn."