San Damien and the Red Daggers

by Brian Yapko

San Damien and the Red Daggers: synopsis

In the year 2990 — some 500 years after Earth’s destruction — the Martian nation-state of Xanthe is rocked when terrorists destroy San Damien, an experimental dome in which Martian leaders hoped that the two human races — Trads and Numen — might coexist for the first time. One of the 713 victims of the attack happens to be the wife of Adrian Marlow, who is Xanthe’s premier prosecutor of terrorists.

Marlow’s investigation exposes a planet-wide conspiracy. It promotes fascism, commits genocide and sabotages terraforming, thus threatening to annihilate both Mars and humanity. What can Marlow do to avert catastrophe, and how can he survive long enough to do it?

Chapter 9: The Dead Bury the Dead

EE. XANTHEAN PANVISION NEWSCRY TRANSCRIPT

Byline: October 10, 2990 by Chandra Macadam — Afternoon Edition

HEADLINE: ABSALOM POUND FOUND DEAD IN APPARENT SUICIDE.

Minister of Habitation Justice Absalom Pound was found dead this morning at 05:25 in his office at the Xanthean Ministry of Habitation Justice. He apparently died from a self-inflicted stab-wound to the stomach consistent with the Zantine honor-suicide practice of zepku. The instrument of death was an OE Nipponese ritual sword which normally hung over his desk.

According to President Jana’s press secretary, Pound’s death was witnessed by Habitation Justice advocate Adrian Marlow, who had entered Pound’s office when he heard a mentally-strained Pound shouting to himself and brandishing a sword. When Marlow attempted to disarm him, Pound attacked Marlow with an illegal muon gun, causing a fire. The discharged muon gun was found on the floor two meters from the body. All firewalls worked properly within the Ministry building. The fire did not spread beyond Minister Pound’s office, and no one else was injured. It is unknown whether or not the Minister left a suicide note.

There are unsubstantiated rumors that his suicide may have been caused by guilt over the recent controversial executions of the Red Daggers. Speculation is rampant about where and how Pound obtained an illegal muon gun. In the Beyond, they are noted to be the Numen weapon of choice.

Pound, born in Zantium, immigrated to Xanthe at the age of twenty-eight as a political refugee shortly after Zantium was taken over by its current fascist government. As a naturalized Xanthean, he attended Tharsis University Law School, thereafter entering public service in a series of positions culminating in his cabinet position representing Habitation Justice.

The deceased’s ex-wife, Deirdre Pound, has refused to give a statement. President Elinor Jana has stated that Pound was “one of a kind” and will be greatly missed. Adrian Marlow, the San Damien prosecutor who worked under Absalom Pound and who witnessed the suicide, said that Pound was “a man of strong convictions” who gave his all for what he believed in. Marlow is unaware that Pound had any enemies. He does, however, state that Pound had “a lot of demons” and that the act of suicide does not come as a complete surprise, since Pound had spoken favorably of the Zantine zepku ritual in the past.

Vincent McFarland will serve as acting Minister of Habitation Justice pending a new appointment.

President Jana will address the nation at 18:30. Stay tuned.

And remember. For a good time, visit the Salty Thistle, “where the finest Arean ale flows through the night, delivering you into a rosé dawn.”

* * *

FF. LETTER OF ADRIAN MARLOW TO ANNE MARLOW (October 12, 2990)

Beloved Anne,

I blurted out something at the Devon Quindes statement that has haunted me ever since: “No one is coming out of this unscarred.”

It’s eight months since you died at the hands of terrorists at San Damien.

Justice has been done. Justice for you, for Henry Jana, for 424 Trads and for 287 Numen. And the death count keeps rising: six members of the Red Daggers. And now Absalom Pound.

Six out of seven of the Red Daggers were executed on September 25. They were hanged until they strangled to death. Two weeks later, Absalom Pound committed suicide by sticking a sword into his guts. A spent Numen weapon was found close to his body. Although it will always remain a mystery as to how it got there, its very presence will suggest that Pound’s death has served justice for the Numen. I cannot say what actually happened in that closed, unrecorded room. But one could easily imagine the unstoppable Absalom Pound choosing Zantine honor-suicide if public disgrace was inevitable. And if a Numen weapon was pointed at his chest.

Miranda hasn’t spoken to me since August. She thinks Esau Lund and the others should have been spared. Evidence emerged, you see, that they didn’t know the bomb that took your life was intended to kill. Miranda doesn’t know I went to Burroughs or met with Devon Quindes. I don’t want her more tortured than she already is.

Well, there were seven Red Daggers and now there are seven dead men. The dead have buried the dead.

Devon Quindes turned 16 yesterday. I’m convinced that he never intended your death. That’s why we plea-bargained. Pound is gone, and maybe his poisonous anti-Numen influence will die with him.

Anne, I’m led more and more to wonder about the hatred between the Numen and the Trads. Does Devon Quindes truly despise us? He wants to eliminate all the domes — to make Mars a society open to the sky. And yet when it came to you, Henry and the 711 others, he wept. Big shuddering sobs. What is he living with inside that head of his?

What are we left with? Everyone who had answers is dead. Absalom Pound... You’ll never see him, Anne. He went straight to Hell.

With Pound dead, I’ll never find out whether anyone else was involved. I have no evidence that he was a Zantine spy. And I have every reason to think Devon Quindes’ time-device was a fabrication by Pound, which would make a Zantine connection irrelevant.

Am I a fool to ignore what Devon said to me when I interviewed him? He said the entire planet of Mars is in danger! “The time device is real and somebody has it.” Surely such a device was a mere fantasy — the result of him being manipulated by Pound. But what if I’m wrong and Zantium has the science and resources to pursue such technology? Well, there’s nothing to be done about that. At least for now.

By the way, with Absalom Pound out of the picture, there’s no further talk of my being disciplined for my unauthorized plea deal. In fact, a door has opened, a serious opportunity for me to advance. Maybe someday I can even join President Jana’s cabinet. Stranger things have happened on Mars. Jana likes me. And with Pound’s election challenge eliminated, another 6-year term seems secure.

Anne, something has shifted for me. Even though we may never get all the answers, I’m glad that Pound is dead. And I hope you’ll forgive me for this, Anne. I’m so glad — grateful, even — that Devon Quindes will get to live.

Anne, there’s been a lot of hate spewed across Mars over the last eight months. I’m going to try a different direction. You used to talk about forgiveness. Do you think...?

I’m going to say good-bye now. I can finally let you go. There will be no more letters. What you planted in me, what you wanted to have grow, I think it’s finally taken hold.

Rest in peace, Anne. Until we’re together again.

Your loving husband forever,

Adrian

Proceed to Chapter 10...