Wu paced back and forth, a worried expression creasing his face.
Promise tried to keep the fear from her voice. “Do you have an opinion about what you saw?”
Leslie was watching the screen without comment.
“Yes,” Wu said. “It was Aubry, disguised to get him close to Swarna. He made physical contact. Something happened in that moment. There is no other reason for going through such an elaborate deception. But why…?”
Leslie’s eyes were vast. “Reference. NewMan Nations. Subheading, Assassination. There is a technology, not yet perfected, called microdots. Poisons and even tracer apparatus can be passed from one body to another, through direct contact. I suggest that some type of timed, coded assassination device changed hands. Swarna is walking but dead.”
Promise thought about that. It was sensible, and, in fact, it made more sense than Aubry taking a shot, or planting a bomb, or even, for that matter, trying to attack Swarna directly. Thank the Goddess, that would have been a farce.
“I suppose if it had to happen,” she said, “that is the best way.”
“Yes,” Leslie said. His eyes were far away. “But there is something wrong. I can’t scope it. Ah. He has limited time to get out of the PanAfrican Republic. Very limited. Swarna is protected by the best security in the world. They will detect the problem, and move swiftly. Everything will mobilize against him.”
Promise turned to look at Wu. “What can we do to help?”
“You can be there, in Swarnaville. Much construction is being conducted in that region. From there, you can move most quickly. From there, it just might be possible to do something positive. The arrangements with Kanagawa have been made. You and I can complete our negotiations later, in good faith.”
Promise extended her hand. “You are a friend,” she said. “One of the best that we have.”
“Nonsense,” Wu said politely. “Aubry Knight amuses me, and always has. The world would be less interesting without him. And you. And your child, Mrs. Knight. Please, do what you must, and then return to us safely.”
His thin dry hand was warm in hers. Impulsively, she leaned down and kissed his left cheek. He smelled like cinnamon.