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.‘I assume that you and your family would wish this.’I searched for a hint of deviousness, of game-playing, in his face, but there appeared to be none.‘So you intend to make the news public?’‘It is not something we could hide indefinitely from your people, is it? Nor would I want us to.’A fan-tailed support craft had appeared to shadow us discreetly on our overfly.Maxixca kept track of it with his eyes.‘How long have you been governor?’ I asked Extepan.‘Since April,’ he replied.‘I replaced my uncle.He was assassinated by one of your countrymen while shopping at Harrods.’I saw Maxixca stiffen, as though aghast that Extepan should reveal this.Extepan himself was fatalistic.‘We may have vanquished your armies, but we cannot predict the actions of individuals.It is in the nature of things.But my uncle did not help our cause by treating your people harshly.I hope to enlist their co-operation more.’From what little information we had been able to glean during our exile, I knew that Nauhyotl had instituted severe repressions on his arrival in the country.But ‘co-operation’ was a word with many interpretations.We were flying low over Oxford Street.It was as crowded as ever with shoppers.Fast-food lunchers milled about outside the red-and-gold façade of a MexTaco restaurant.The Centre Point cinema complex was advertising the latest Acapulco productions, Otomi Onslaught and Totonac Attack.Everything appeared normal.‘The next pressing problem’, Extepan said, ‘is, of course, the succession.’I turned away from the window.Richard sat with Chicomeztli under the supervision of the co-pilot, moving a sightfinder on one of the screens with all the enthusiasm of the uninitiated.‘Are you proposing to crown Richard king?’Extepan did not react to my sarcasm.‘Is there any reason why we should not?’Richard was making shooting sounds, downing imaginary enemies with great delight.‘Your country has always had its own monarch.There is no need to depart from tradition, even under the present circumstances.’‘You can’t possibly expect me to condone it,’ I said.He frowned.‘I don’t understand.He is heir to the throne.’‘Of a country under occupation.He would be a puppet ruler.You are our enemies.We won’t collaborate with you.’Maxixca made to say something, but Extepan raised a hand.He was as calm as Maxixca was agitated.‘You know I’m intending to restore your parliament?’ he said.‘Why? So they can rubber-stamp everything you do? Give you a spurious respectability with our people?’‘It will have considerable freedom in all sorts of spheres.You must believe me when I say I do not wish your people to suffer unduly—’‘Then evacuate your armies and leave us in peace.’Maxixca was unable to restrain himself any longer.‘We don’t have to negotiate with her!’ he said in Nahuatl.‘She must accept whatever we decide.’‘Leave this to me,’ Extepan replied, evenly but with authority.The sun had broken through the cloud, and below us people were strolling in Hyde Park.Some wore brightly patterned Aztec capes, but most were English.The balcony of the café on the bank of the Serpentine was full.‘Perhaps we should ask Richard himself,’ Extepan said to me.‘He’s just a child,’ I replied.‘He’s not capable of making decisions for himself.’Richard had suffered oxygen starvation during Mother’s protracted labour; his mental and emotional development would always be limited.‘That may be so,’ Extepan said, ‘but he deserves to be consulted.’ He motioned to Chicomeztli, who had apparently been listening to everything while appearing not to be.Reluctantly, Richard was persuaded to abandon the joystick.Chicomeztli led him over to us.‘That was fun,’ he said to me.‘When am I going to be king, Kate?’‘These people want to crown you,’ I said.‘But you must remember that they invaded our country and imposed their rule.You would be king in name only.’He looked at Chicomeztli, at Extepan and Maxixca.There was confusion on his face.I was sure he was thinking that if people were kind to him, then they were his friends.‘Father said I would be king after him.’‘You’re his successor,’ I agreed.‘But I don’t think he imagined our country would be under armed occupation.If you let these people make you king, you’ll be accepting their authority over us.You’ll be confirming their right to make decisions for our people.’‘It’s my duty to be king.’‘You have to try to put your own feelings to one side and think about the consequences.’It was clear he didn’t like the sound of this.Even pitched so plainly, the argument was probably too subtle for him.Then something took his eye through the cockpit window.‘Look!’ he said, brightening.‘Buckingham Palace!’We were tracking westwards again, and the palace was directly below.At first glance it looked intact, but then I saw it was roofless, its walls blackened.‘It was gutted during the fighting,’ Extepan remarked.Throughout my conversation with Richard, his eyes had been on me.‘Do you plan to restore it so you can install Richard there?’His forbearing look seemed to say he was prepared to tolerate all my immoderation.‘I know this is very difficult for you,’ he said.‘Perhaps it would be easier if the decision were taken out of all our hands.We could let your people decide for themselves.’‘And how would you propose to do that? By popular vote?’‘Exactly.I think you call it in your country a referendum.’In the middle of the night I rose and unlocked the door which gave access to Bevan’s apartment.For several moments I hesitated.Then I turned the handle and crept in.Bevan’s apartment was in darkness, redolent of maleness and stale tobacco.His bedroom door was ajar.‘That you, is it?’His voice startled me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]