The rising sun had bitten through the roof of the Emperor’s Palace.
At least that’s how it seemed. Half the roof was gone. Blue tiles hung broken from the torn edges, aluminium was burned to white oxide. The red sun cast a rusted, decaying light over the scene.
‘It’s still burning inside,’ said Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah, appearing at Wa-Ka-Mo-Do’s side. ‘The humans won’t let us in to help extinguish it. They say they have the situation under control.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do looked at the thin black smoke curling into the air through the broken roof. He imagined the ballroom burning, the ancient engravings warping in the heat, the paint flaking from metal.
‘No,’ said Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, ‘we go in now, and rust the humans. Get me six robots.’
Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah didn’t move.
‘Did you hear me, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah?’
‘I’m sorry, Honoured Commander. The Emperor says that we are to obey the humans.’
‘How do you know that, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah?’ flared Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. ‘How do you KNOW that?’
‘The Vestal Virgins commanded it, in his name.’
‘You’ve seen them?’
‘La-Ver-Di-Arussah did. Honoured Commander, you must be aware that she is part Vestal Virgin herself. Her family is known to have connections to that line.’
‘There is no Vestal Virgin lineage, how could there be?’
Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah did not answer. He was staring shamefully at the ground.
‘Am I alone?’ wondered Wa-Ka-Mo-Do aloud.
Still Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah was silent. Wa-Ka-Mo-Do looked around. The Copper Master’s house stood across the square, seemingly undamaged.
‘Is the radio room untouched?’ wondered Wa-Ka-Mo-Do, an idea forming in his mind.
‘Yes, Honoured Commander.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do came to a decision.
‘Good. I’m going to contact the Emperor. I will make him aware of what’s going on here.’
‘Honoured Commander, the Vestal Virgins were quite explicit. So La-Ver-Di-Arussah said. You are to aid the humans in every respect.’
‘And that I shall, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah, once I have spoken to the Emperor.’
Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah looked horrified. ‘Honoured Commander, are you suggesting that the Emperor is ignorant of events?’
‘I am not suggesting anything. Look, I am to aid the humans, am I not? Why don’t you go and let them know that I would be pleased to speak to their ambassador at his earliest convenience?’
‘But Honoured Commander-’
‘Thank you, Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah.’
Before Ka-Lo-Re-Harballah could speak again, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do turned and strode across the square, heading for the Copper Master’s house. It glowed red in the morning sun, and Wa-Ka-Mo-Do felt as if he was stepping directly into the forge.
The Copper Guard by the door stood to attention as he entered the building. He strode past into the hallway.
A polished robot hurried up to meet him.
‘Honoured Commander, allow me to escort you to your quarters.’
‘Take me to the radio room, Lo-Kel-Gollu.’
‘Honoured Commander, the Vestal Virgins left specific instructions-’
‘The Vestal Virgins do not command this city.’
‘Honoured Commander…’
Ignoring the robot’s cries, Wa-Ka-Mo-Do strode through the building towards the radio room.
What was going on here, he wondered. Why didn’t they want him to know what was going on?
‘Honoured Commander!’
‘Not another word! Go back to your post!’
He mounted the green cast-iron stairs that led up to the radio room, the sound of his feet echoing from the tiled walls.
There was another guard waiting outside the radio room, his sword drawn.
‘Cho-Lee.’
‘Honoured Commander, the Vestal Virgins have ordered that you should not enter here.’
Wa-Ka-Mo-Do looked the guard up and down. He was a big man, buzzing with lifeforce.
‘Let me pass.’
The robot raised his sword a little, but his voice buzzed with emotion.
‘I’m sorry, Honoured Commander. Shame lies at the end of whichever path I take. Please turn around now, that I may not fight you.’
‘Cho-Lee, I must enter the radio room. You’ve seen what’s happening outside. This is not right.’
‘Honoured Commander, please. Leave, or if you must stay, draw your sword that we may fight as equals.’
Cho-Lee had a well-made body, reflected Wa-Ka-Mo-Do. Polished and humming with energy. He was a good fighter.