"No?"

The images ran. Again and again he saw himself slip from his cell and make his way to the android's cell.Again and again he saw himself administer the poison. And never once had he suspected. Never once had he had even the faintest idea what was going on.

"Where's the pouch now?"

"In your room."

Kim gave a laugh of disbelief. "It can't be. I would have seen it."

"No. He doesn't let you."

"How . . ." Kim frowned fiercely, then rubbed at his brow. "How do you know this?"

"You forget. I have all your files. I saw you through rehabilitation. I know things about you that even you don't know."

"So what else do you know?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?" .'* . .

"Because ..."

Kim gave a small yelp of frustration. "Why?"

It was silent a moment, then, in a voice that seemed as old as the rocks, it spoke to him again.

"Get dressed now and go to bed. We'll talk in the morning. I'll tell you then what you need to know. And, Kim . . ."

"Yes?"

"Do not blame yourself. You are what you are. Without him-without Gweder . . . Well, I think you understand."

Kim nodded, then, sighing, he turned from the screen and took a fresh one-piece from the pile, slipping it on.

"Tomorrow?" he said, looking up into the camera's eye.

"Tomorrow."

CHAPTER FIVE.

Caged Birds.

LI YUAN'S SON, the Imperial Prince Kuei Jen, sat in a tall official's chair facing the three old men, his back straight, his eyes staring straight ahead. The men-distinguished-looking graybeards-sat some twenty ch'i from the Prince, wearing the flowing saffron robes of New Confucian officials, no sign of rank displayed anywhere about them. Yet these were not simple priests, these were the San Shih, the Three Priest-Scholars- princes themselves, honored sons of the Twenty-Nine, the Minor Families-and they were here to test the young prince on his knowledge of the Five Classics.Li Yuan and his Chancellor, Nan Ho, sat to one side, looking on. While the examination was in progress they could not interrupt. So it was. So it had been for two thousand years or more, since the time of the Han emperors. With one difference. Kuei Jen-at seven-was probably the youngest ever to sit the oral examination.

A long white banner hung to one side of the hall. On it, painted in large red pictograms, was Kang Hsi's famous Sacred Edict with its sixteen injunctions exalting the twin virtues of filial piety and brotherly love.

Copies of it hung throughout the Cities of Chung Kuo and were recited twice a month by teachers and pupils alike.

Just now they were questioning Kuei Jen on the Ch'un Ch'iu, the Spring and Autumn Annals of the State of Lu.

The Ch'un Ch'iu was the earliest historical record of the Han people, covering the period from 722 to 481 B.C., when the fifteen major feudal states of the North China plain had first formed a loose confederation called Chung Kuo, the "Middle Kingdom." Though it was some while since he himself had read it, Li Yuan could still remember how he had felt as a boy, knowing how deeply rooted-how ancient-those traditions were.

Looking on, he knew that this was Kuei Jen's favorite area of study-one that not merely interested, but excited him-yet the boy's answers, couched in fluent Mandarin, were strangely hesitant, stilted almost, as if he spoke from rote.

"Ch'i was the first of the Five Hegemons-the Pa-followed by Sung, then Ts'in, then Ch'in and finally Ch'u, before authority was returned to its rightful owner, the Son of Heaven."

One of the old men leaned toward Kuei Jen, his voice, like those of his fellow San Shih, filled with the authority of his position.

"And the Lord Protector Ch'i. Tell me about him. Who was he Lord of and where was his capital?"

Again Kuei Jen hesitated, trying not to let his father down, resisting the temptation to turn and look at him.

"Lord Ch'i was Prince of Ts'i and his capital was the powerful and wealthy city of Lin-tsu in Shantung Province. The Lord Ch'i could trace his ancestry back thirteen generations to the kings of Chou. His daughter married the Emperor."

The old man nodded, then glanced at his fellows, clearly pleased by the answer. As he sat back, another of them leaned forward.

"You speak well, Prince Kuei, but tell me, what event caused the Lord Chi to take up arms at the request of his Lord the Emperor?"

Li Yuan frowned, surprised by the question, trying to recollect what he knew of the House of Ts'i and its history. Lord Ch'i had eventually been assassinated. But as to why he had taken up arms in the first place . . .

Kuei Jen shifted uncomfortably, then, as if mirroring the old man, leaned forward slightly.

"Was it to do with what happened in 894 B.C.?" : "Go on. . . ."

"Well, in that year one of the Emperor's advisors had counseled that he should have the Lord of Lu boiled alive, which the Emperor did. Two hundred and four years later, one of Lu's descendantslaunched an armed attack on the descendants of the advisor, and the Lord Ch'i was commissioned by the Emperor to act on his behalf in bringing Lu to justice."

"Very good. Now tell me ..."

And so it went on, question following question, unrelenting, until, after almost four hours, it came to an end.

Li Yuan stood, pleased-profoundly pleased-and proud of his son's performance. To fail would have been no disgrace, for the same examination was taken by men four times young Kuei's age, yet he had answered every question; most of them with a detailed knowledge that, he suspected, was rarely shown, even by much older candidates.

As the San Shih backed away, to consult among themselves and prepare to give their verdict, he went across to Kuei Jen. What he wanted to do was pick the boy up and hug him, he was so proud, but as ever the eyes of his servants and officials watched his every move, constraining his actions.

Later, he promised himself, seeing how awkwardly Kuei Jen stood there, how nervous he was even now, after it was over.

"You did well," he said, bowing stiffly to his son, honoring him by the gesture. "Whatever the San Shih say, I am proud of you, Kuei Jen. Your answers showed not merely a sound knowledge of the texts but also a profound understanding of their meaning. You are a good son, Kuei Jen. The very best of sons."

Kuei Jen blushed, then bowed his head. "Father ..."

"Chieh Hsia?"

He turned. "What is it, Master Nan?"

"Forgive me, Chieh Hsia, but it seems your wife, Pei K'ung, has been waiting these past few hours to speak with you."

"Does she say why?"

"It seems it is a personal matter, Chieh Hsia. She will speak to no one but yourself."

Li Yuan huffed, exasperated. What with this, he was already behind with his work, and there would be no time to catch up, for he must leave at six to fly to meet Tsu Ma at his palace in Astrakhan.

"Tell her I shall come, Master Nan. Tell her-tell her I must finish here. She'll understand."

"Chieh Hsia."

He turned back, puzzled as to why Pei K'ung should wish to see him so urgently. Maybe her father was ill. Maybe that was it. Maybe she wanted permission to visit him.

The San Shih returned, bowing as they entered the hall again, then came across, presenting themselves formally to their T'ang.

"Well, ch'un tzu," he said, nervous himself now that the moment of decision had come. "Give me your verdict."

"The Prince spoke well," Old Luo began. "He answered confidently and, for the main part, correctly. His tutors are to be commended."Li Yuan felt himself stiffen, hearing the unspoken but there behind the old man's words.

Luo continued. "His knowledge of the texts was good for one his age, though more work needs to be done on both the Shih Ching and the second book of the Li Ching, where his knowledge-though cor-rect-seems fairly thin."

"However . . ." Li Yuan said, impatient now.

The old man bowed his head slightly. "However, it is the feeling of all three of us that, while the Prince exhibits a good knowledge of the form of the Wu Ching-of the words and events set down in the texts-he is nonetheless of an age when . . . well, when perhaps the substance is not so strongly rooted in his being."

"Put bluntly, you think him too young."

"Not too young, Chieh Hsia, merely . . . inexperienced."

Li Yuan felt his anger welling and beat it down, maintaining a calm and stately demeanor.

"Inexperienced?" He turned away, taking a pace or two, as if considering the idea, then turned back, staring directly at Old Luo.

"You think my son too young, and you think, because I am a grown man, that I should agree with you.

Well, ch'un tzu, let me say this. When my brother Han Ch'in was assassinated I was but eight years old.

Only nine months older than Kuei Jen is now. Some men forget what they were like at that age, but I cannot. How I was that day-how I felt, what I thought, what I had experienced-is etched unforgettably in my memory."

He turned, looking at Kuei Jen.

"You look at my son and you see only a child-a precocious little boy who has learned his lessons well.

But when I look at him I see myself, as 1 was, and remember what I was like at his age."

He looked back at the three men.

"You talk of form and substance, yet you forget the lessons of the Tao. What is a child but the seed of becoming? And if the seed is not sound, how will the tree grow straight?"

"So it might be, Chieh Hsia, yet is is our feeling-" "Oh, damn your feeling!" Li Yuan yelled, losing his temper. "Get out of here, loo jen! Now! Before I lose all patience with you!"

Luo blanched, then, looking to his fellow San Shih, backed away, his bow stiff and angry.

When they were gone, Li Yuan turned, looking to his son. Kuei Jen stood there, his head down, his face and neck scarlet with embarrassment.

"Kuei Jen?"

The young prince swallowed, then looked up at his father. Tears were welling in his eyes. "Call them back, father. Please. They are great men. Influential men. Besides maybe they are right. Maybe I am too young to be made a scholar."

"Nonsense! Luo Ye is an old fool! You answered all his questions perfectly!"

He shuddered with indignation, looking about him, defying anyone to gainsay him."Why, the nerve of the man! I am of a mind to-"

"Father!"

Li Yuan looked at Kuei Jen and frowned, noticing for the first time the tears that were coursing down his cheeks.

"Kuei Jen . . . what is it?"

"Please, father. Call them back and make peace with them. Before it's too late. Before any more damage is done."

Li Yuan sighed, his anger tempered by his son's obvious distress. "All right. But only because you wanted it so."

He turned, summoning the nearest of his retainers.

"Hu Chang ... go fetch the San Shih. Tell them I shall speak to them privately, in my study."

Then, turning back to Kuei Jen, he smiled and reached out to brush away the tears.

"You are right, Kuei Jen. It does not matter what the old men think. You and I know what you are. And maybe you are wiser than the San Shih. Much wiser, neh, my son?"

P EI K' U N G sat on a chair in the corridor facing her husband's rooms, her hands clasped together tightly in her lap. Nearby stood her secretaries and beyond them a group of guards and minor officials, all there at their T'ang's command.

The old men-the San Shih-had been in with him for more than twenty minutes now and she had heard raised voices more than once.

Dangerous, she thought, remembering how Li Yuan had lost his temper with her that evening and how she had felt. Yes, but she was only a wife-only the helpmeet of the T'ang. Those old men . . .

well, to alienate them was much more serious, for they were leading figures in the New Confucian hierarchy and without the wholehearted support of the New Confucians Li Yuan's position was greatly weak'

ened.

The door clicked open and the three graybeards backed out, bowing like comic figures in an opera. As the door closed they began to talk urgently among themselves, then fell silent, seeing her.

She rose imperiously from her chair and gave them a tight smile, then walked to the door and knocked.

Inside, Li Yuan was sitting at his desk, drumming his fingers on the surface impatiently.