BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 7:IMPORTANT DECISIONS

SATUDAY 10:30 A.M.

The lift door opened, and Bella stepped out with her eyes shut. “Knock, knock, can I come in?”

“Open your eyes, Bella, or you'll trip over something.” Eliza said.

“What's all this?” Bella looked at the sheets of paper on the floor.

“A wonderful invention of humanity, called paper, Bella. Far better than a screen if you want to think of a million things at once and categorise them later.” Albert said.

“How old-fashioned!” Bella said.

“Traditional, and very hard to break into electronically.” Eliza corrected.

“That much I believe. Where did you find it?”

“We asked the computer if there was any.” Albert said. “It seemed to fit with the age of the room that there'd be some somewhere.”

“And the computer knew?”

“Oh yes. Beware the kitchen, by the way. The tea and coffee are only 5 years old, but there's no record of when the waste bin was last emptied.”

“And what used to be in the milk carton has evolved sufficiently to possess language skills, according to Albert.” Eliza added.

“Oh, just like a typical student house, then.”

“None I've lived in.” Eliza countered.

“So what's on the paper? If I'm allowed to ask.”

“It's a list of questions to answer sometime, along with timings about when it needs to be answered by, and who we might be able to delegate to or get to help us decide, and other things that are needed first.” Eliza answered.

“Wow. For your wedding?”

“It started as that, but it's expanded a bit.” Eliza admitted.

“There are some quite long range thoughts in there, but we thought of them so we've written them down too. Just so we can forget about it and move on.”

“Like what?”

“Plans for our children's schooling, on the assumption that we'll have some someday.”

“You're joking!”

“OK, that's the longest range one, so we put it down for discussion sometime after I become pregnant.”

“And you've got that planned too?” Bella asked, incredulous.

“Sort of. Certainly not immediately, and if I go on to a doctorate then after that.”

“And that depends on Eliza deciding that her Masters work is worth continuing, and that the university are willing to let her go part time.” Albert said.

“Which means that I need to book a discussion with my tutor for about 3 hours after Albert's announcement of our engagement.”

“Why so quickly?”

“Because other things depend on it. I'm assuming that I'll be at the palace for the announcement, then guessing at an hour's gap before the press assemble for a photo bonanza, lasting an hour. Then I come home and talk to my tutor. Alternatively, I'm moved to somewhere else and I get an hour to get there and arrange my stuff, before I discuss how I obviously have a significant new role in my life, so I won't be able to be full time, but that I'd be very willing to continue working with the university on pushing my research towards completion and a few joint papers. University lecturers love publishing papers, and I suspect the faculty staff would really love the thought of their name beside mine as a co-author. The sad thing is that any celebrity paper always attracts far more attention than a normal one, but I hope to make a real contribution. That ought to make my papers quite well quoted.”

“Did you actually have time for romance?” Bella asked, amazed. “I thought you were having a date, not a planning meeting! I presume with all this, he asked you and you said yes, Eliza?”

“You presume correctly, Bella. Unfortunately the ring doesn't quite fit.” Albert said.

“Would it fit another finger, Eliza?”

“There's an idea! Shall I try, Albert?”

“It's meant for your hand. I'm not particularly worried which finger it's on for now.”

It did fit her little finger, though it was loose, “Your great grandma's fingers were a bit smaller than mine.” Eliza commented to Albert.

“Very pretty ring.” Bella said. “Your highness's great grandma's?”

“Queen Beatrix.” supplied Eliza.

“Last reigning queen we had.” Bella said, still gazing at the ring. “It's beautiful. I'm so happy for you two.”

“Thank you Bella. How was the shopping?”

“Truly odd. I guess it's the result of the announcement. Compared to last week, the customers are in the wrong places. I looked through the whole store, just to confirm.”

“How so?”

“Fashion department: empty, except for people buying warm clothes. I heard the sales assistant being asked which jumper was their warmest. She had no idea. The only thing I saw being sold in the hardware department was locks and plastic sheeting. No one's buying home entertainment systems, but there used to be a basket of those wind up wrist-unit chargers, for people going camping, you know. It's always been three quarters full and when I worked here they said they only sold one a week. I got the last one, just in case.”

“Just like everyone else?”

“I guess so.”

“What's happening in the toy department?” Eliza asked, out of curiosity.

“I heard a mother telling her daughter. 'No you can't have the doll's house, we might have to leave it behind, and that would be sad. How about a travel game, that's small.' It was the same all over. Only the little toys were selling, and things that didn't need batteries unless it was a torch or something practical. The camping department was almost empty.”

“Empty? Why was no one there?”

“Sorry, there were people, but no stock, unless you wanted repair kits for inflatable toys.”

“It's not even eleven o'clock, yet!”

“I asked one of the staff, who looked like he was just standing around and wondering what to do. He said that they'd been called in last night because they were under-staffed for the crowds, and there had been a crowd waiting outside at opening time. They had to have the security guards control admission. I heard someone else say to the guy 'There's plenty of time, I just thought I'd beat the rush, when do you expect your next delivery?”

“And the stove department?”

“I had the whole sales-team all to myself. One of them said I was the only person they'd had visit except for people asking if they had camping stoves.”

“Wow. So, did you decide on which stove to get?”

“Is there really much point in getting a new stove for two months?” Bella asked.

“You could put it in storage for the impact.”

“I know. But then I might have to decide whether to store that, or something else big.”

“I see your point. But other than that?”

“Yes. I've decided, and they actually reserved one for me. But they told me not to buy anything there and then.”

“Why ever not?”

“Because they expect the management will say in a day or two that the stove department is going to sell every sort of camping stove available. And also that it's better to sell the display stock at a discount rather than store them or try to persuade another shop to buy them. They've all been given loads of reading material about camping stoves to read up. I let one guy tell me all about the different technologies available. I think maybe he was trying to chat me up too.”

“So, the shops are adjusting and young men are still hopeful?” Albert asked.

“I guess you could put it like that, except he wasn't particularly young.” Bella replied.

“Oh Bella, where will you find yourself a suitor you don't reject?” Eliza asked dramatically.

“I still have high hopes of Maria's plans for me, Eliza, despite your attempts to pour cold statistics on them.”

“What's this?” Albert asked.

“Eliza was trying to work out how many thought-hearing men there might be in Security who are roughly my age.”

“Why limit yourself to Security? There's other wings of the civil service, after all.” Albert asked.

“Well, if you do happen to meet any suitable candidates...” Bella joked.

“We'll pass on your C.V., picture and home phone number.” Eliza responded in kind, but dead-pan.

“Don't you dare!” Bella said.

“Eliza was joking, Bella.” Albert said, then added “Weren't you?”

“Of course I was. We'll just introduce you.”

“Thanks.”

“What do you think, Albert, 'This is Bella, she has the power but really needs a man in her life...'” Eliza teased.

“Eliza, I think you should stop teasing your friend.” Albert said.

“I will. I guess I'm just not sure how to play match-maker. On the small chance that I do happen to meet someone who might be suitable, what do you want me to do, Bella? Tell you to shake his hand, or something more subtle? And if so, like what?”

“How about you ask him if he's been on Bella's training course?” Albert suggested.

“That might work.” Bella agreed. “Assuming that I've started them.”

“I think it's fairly important that you do.” Albert said.

“Yes. It might be useful to know how many people in Security could be contacted in an emergency.” Eliza said.

“But you could just find that out.” Bella observed.

“Yes. But I'd prefer to have volunteers, or a clear request from someone to find out, with a good motive.”

“Please find out, Eliza.” Albert asked, “Infrastructure is going to be destroyed in this city, and we might need to be able to coordinate a response. I don't know how many stand-alone radios there are in Security these days, but probably not enough. I can imagine the gangs hiding in sewers or something and coming out to pillage the rubble. Plus there's the issue of search and rescue. Does that count as a good motive?”

“It does. Now?” Eliza asked.

“Yes please.” Albert asked.

“OK.” Eliza looked for security agents with the power. One dot in this city: It must be Bella. Ten more dots in the country as a whole.

“OK, dots: I looked at the city here, and found one dot. I'm not sure where exactly we are in the city, but I presume the dot is you, all on your own Bella, sorry. I looked at the whole of the country and found ten more dots. If the people are close together then they'd only show up as a single dot, of course. So, since I didn't make sure any of the dots were only one person, there might be a more than that. Should I look further?”

“When you say 'close together', and 'zooming in', what would that mean?”

“Think of a map which you can see all of, say on the floor and a metre across, and the dots as little lights on it, the size of, I don't know, spider mites. It's that sort of thing. I think I'd have seen anyone else as a separate dot unless they're actually in this building. When I looked at the whole country, I seriously doubt that I'd be able to separate people in the same city. So... should I check every dot, or do the statistics and say that's probably it?”

“I don't know what the statistics say, Eliza.” Albert said.

“According to Karen, one in something like five hundred to a thousand are thought to be truth-sayers where she grew up. I don't know how many agents there are in Security. And I don't want to count, thank-you very much.”

“I don't have a need to know.” Bella said.

“Then, since I don't remember, and as long as it's safe, could you, love? If each of those dots is really five people, that's a fairly dramatic difference. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if different countries have different statistics.”

“You're right. Let's not put our trust in guesses.”

Once more, Eliza concentrated on agents with the power. Looking at one place that she'd seen a spot before, she adjusted her gaze to just the city, then just the neighbourhood and then the building. After confirming it was just one agent, she checked for heat; none. She then checked two more spots, two more agents, and checked for heat. There was a little. She probably couldn't check everywhere, she decided, and returned her awareness to the room.

“I've checked three spots — three agents. I don't think I'm going to be able to check everywhere though. Do either of you know anywhere that I'm going to find more agents than elsewhere?”

“I know where I did my training.” Bella offered. “But would your gift think of trainees as agents?”

“No idea, and I'd rather not overheat my brain trying to find out. I'm certainly not sure that I would.”

“Interesting question that.” Albert said “What would you consider someone like Maria?”

“In Security, but I'd think of her too important to be an agent, I guess.”

“I think I'd agree with you.” Bella said “But what about Pris?”

“I think she's an agent. Isn't she?”

“Yes, but... technically I think she's a courier.”

“I didn't know there was a difference.”

“That's all right then.” Bella said, then had a thought “And my mum?”

“She's retired, isn't she?”

“Yes.”

“I'd think of her as a retired agent, not an agent, and I didn't see a spot for her anywhere in this city.”

“Well, she was in the city last I heard, so I'd guess you filtered her out.”

“This is complicated isn't it?” Albert said.

“Yes. But at least it's given my brain-cells a bit of time to cool down. I'll have another look around.”

“Go carefully and gently, my love.”

“I'll try. I'll also go a bit more cleverly too.”

“Oh?”

“I've been rechecking the whole map before zooming in again, just because I wasn't sure what the places were called. That's silly. I'm going to call up a map on my wrist unit, and then I can save some brain-heat using technology.”

“Cunning!” Albert complimented her. “Even more cunning if we watch your map and see if it rings any bells.”

“OK. I've confirmed a single agent here, here and here.” Eliza started.

“Never heard of any of those places.” Bella said.

“What about over here? Oh, that's a messy part of the map!” During the age of chaos — it must have been then — several large towns had expanded until they'd touched, and kept on expanding into the spaces left by the other. According to the cartographers, no one had been able to persuade people that it would be better to redraw the map, and the dividing lines between the towns were practically fractal. Presumably it was a proof of growing up there to know which town you were in as you went from one street to another. It would be difficult to call it by a single name.

“Oh, I know that part of the world!” Bella exclaimed. “I did my training there. We called it Messingham. The training institute is there, but there are dormitories here, here and here.”

“Shall I look for agents and trainees with the power then?” Eliza asked.

“Yes, please.” Albert said.

Eliza looked, and found four sparks. Two in the institute and the other two where Bella had pointed out dormitories. One of the sparks in the institute seemed a little brighter than the other, and Eliza looked at the floor of that part of the building. There were two glowing people, walking hand in hand.

“Ahh, sweet.” Eliza said.

“What's sweet?” Bella asked.

“Four sparks there, two in the institute, two in different dormitories, but one of the sparks at the institute was brighter: two people, hand in hand.”

“So, that makes fourteen agents and almost-agents?” Albert asked.

“Yes.” Eliza agreed.

The next two spots triggered no memories. There was one agent at each place, and it turned out that one of them was half-way up a mountain, so Eliza guessed that agent was on holiday. She brought up the next place on the map.

“Next one: Does up here ring any bells for anyone?” Eliza asked.

“Hmm. Yes.” Albert said. “Lots of bright sparks work there. Not exactly field agents, but agents.”

“I don't need to know, more than that, do I?” Bella said.

“Well, you know, they deal with a lot of data and some things attract more of their computers' attention than others. But you'll probably have to visit there in person, anyway, Bella. Those people really need training in not thinking about their work.” Albert said.

“But there's someone there with the power already.”

“Yes. So maybe you get to have an assistant. You've spent more time in the big wide world than most of them have.”

[Albert, do I gather this is our main communications decoding centre?]

[Yes.]

[So, do I look at it, or stay clear?]

[Look please. I think it could be very valuable for you to be able to drop stuff to someone there. Assuming they're trustworthy.]

[They must, be, to work there, surely.]

[People get fooled to think that about all sorts of people, Eliza. Imagine what a thought-stealer would be able to do there.]

[Ouch.]

[So, yes, count people there please.]

Eliza did. There was just one person, quite deep underground. She decided to check for trustworthy agents with the power, in that room, and was pleased to see the person stayed as a spark. She checked for heat; it was there, but not dangerous. She could do more, but thought it would be better to rest her mind.

“One person with the power, who is trustworthy.”

“Thank you for that extra check, Eliza.”

“That's OK. I think it would be better for me to stop there though.”

“Can you tell me where else you saw spots?” Albert asked.

“Of course! They were here, here and here.”

“None of those mean anything to me. Bella?”

“No, sorry.”

“That's good.” Eliza said. “Probably means that there's not going to be masses of people there.”

“So, fourteen agents, one on holiday, one in a place we shouldn't mention.”

“Yes. Do we pass this on to Maria, or decide she doesn't need to know it?”

“She told me that she makes that call.” Bella said. “And I really don't feel comfortable knowing something she doesn't.”

“Welcome to high level security, Bella.” Albert said.

“I'm only cleared to two-alpha!” she protested.

“You won't be for long.” Albert said. “You're heading for royal protection.”

“What does that have to do with my clearance level?”

“You need to be level one-something for that. Didn't you know?”

“No. I guess I didn't need to know.”

“Now you do.” Albert said.

“I think I need to report this verbally, not electronically. Am I right?” Bella said.

“I think so. Especially given the source of the information.”

“Oh wonderful.” Bella said, depressed. How could she ask Maria for a personal meeting? Then she had a thought. “Oh! Maria told me I can report to her via Pris!”

“Sounds reasonable.” Eliza said. “She knows about my gift, after all.”

“And should be coming soon.” Bella said.

“Yes. I'll check for any unwelcome welcomers, like last week.”

“What's this?” Albert asked.

“Some gang members wanted to use an official convoy for target practice last week. That's how I learned about Eliza's gift.” Bella said.

Eliza checked for assassins, and was pleased to see there weren't any around. She reported it to the others [Hi! Just thought you might want to know there's no assassins around this week.]

[Oops.] John admitted [I'd already checked, but forgot to say.]

[You too?] Karen said.

[Typical! {grin}] sent Eliza [Here I am using my overheated mind when I should have asked first.]

[Overheated?] Karen, Sarah and Kate asked simultaneously, full of concern.

[Not very, don't worry. I'll tell you some details when you get here.]

[We'll be there a bit late.] John said. [We thought we'd stop in at the camping department first.]

[Don't bother, Bella says it's out of stock, unless you want to patch an inflatable toy. Oh, and she bought the last wind-up wrist-unit charger, so don't bother looking for one of those either.]

[Oh well. Then I guess we'll be early. You got there that early?]

[Yes. Kate let me come here early to do some planning, didn't she say? Has anyone seen where Pris is? Bella needs to talk to her, fairly privately.] No one had, so Karen looked, and laughed. [She's half way up the lift-shaft, Eliza.]

[Oh, bye then!] “Pris is almost here, Bella. And Albert, Somehow Kate managed to keep your being here a secret, at least from John.”

“So should I hide in the kitchen?”

“No. Oh, maybe, I've no idea who's helping Pris up the lift.” At that moment, though, the lift door opened. Pris, and, accompanying her, Eliza.

“Hi, Pris, Eliza!” Bella greeted her, “Thanks so much Eliza for helping with that rumour merchant.”

“That's OK” she replied, before realizing who else was in the room. “Your Highness!”

“Thank you for helping protect Eliza, Eliza.” Albert said.

“Yes, thank you. That little leak could have caused problems. It still could of course.” Eliza added.

Eliza took in Eliza's ring, her presence here and the Prince's, and said, in a small voice, “I think, no, I know, I've just walked into something I really didn't need to know.”

“I'm sure we can rely on your discretion.” Albert said.

“I'm not entirely sure that I can hold out until Eliza's given evidence, that's a long time to not act smug when people are gossipping.”

“Well, as long as you can keep quiet about the circumstances, we hope it'll only be a few days before we announce our engagement to the world. At which point you can try to be surprised, and there'll be much less temptation” Eliza said reassuringly.

“Now you see why I asked you, not Dirk to help me up the lift, Eliza?” Pris said. “You're not such a natural gossip as your brother.”

“I'll try, Maam.”

“Good. We were rather hoping that you'd be able to calm your brother's gossip habit, Eliza, not join him in it. If you're finding it hard not to join him in it, then we'll have to split you up immediately, for your sake.”

“I understand, Maam.” Eliza said.

“Do you, Eliza?” Pris hammered home her point. “Dirk's been passed over for promotion a couple of times because he's such a blabbermouth around the office. You may point that out to him if you think it'll help him keep his mouth in check. I know he's not broken security yet, but he's shared things others didn't really need to know, and that gets him black marks. Don't follow him down that road. You can tell him that this warning is why I wanted you to help me up the lift, if you like. I know you've applied for courier work. I'd like to encourage you in that, it's a fun job and you get to see the world, but that's not a role for someone who can't stop their tongue from wagging. I don't think I need to say that you'll never be a courier if you breathe a word about Crown Prince Albert's fiancée having any role in this meeting. There's no point squelching the leak to then spread it. Oh, something else I need to tell you: you've got an official commendation for your improvisation in the squelching.”

“I have, Maam?” Eliza was surprised.

“Yes. There's been five freedom of information requests about how many red-heads there are in Security, so it obviously worked. Now, when his Highness starts heading back to the capital, later on today, you and Dirk are going to be assigned to perimeter security. Maria would like you to have your wig on, just to keep the press confused a bit longer. You may, of course, remind any would-be photographers that they need a very very good reason to publish an identifiable photo of a crown officer executing her duty. And of course if they mention the prince here, you can tell them that you're not going out with him. If you happened to add 'any more than he's going out with me' then so much the better.”

The prince laughed. “You do want to keep the press confused, don't you?”

“We would like Eliza's decision to make an affidavit to pass relatively unnoticed, sir. Someone has given one accurate leak, we don't want the press to give them too much credence if they give another one, for instance that your love interest is protected as a witness in a certain case.”

“Who and why would give such a leak, though?” Albert said.

“We don't know, sir. Yet. I assure you that Maria and Tasha are working on it.” Pris returned her attention to Eliza the agent, “Bella will take me back, Eliza, thank you. Do make sure you get your wig, then report in for orders as to where they want you stationed.”

“I will, maam.”

After she'd left, Bella said, “Maria said I should report to her via you.”

“Not another dream?” Pris asked.

“No. Just something I didn't think should go through normal channels: Eliza has been counting agents with the power.”

“At my request.” Albert supplied.

“Yes...” Pris said, “That's probably not news for electronic communication, is it.”

“Fourteen in total, probably including a few recruits. One of those is in Tasha's little beehive.” Albert said.

“Oh, really!” Pris exclaimed.

“That struck me as potentially useful, but I'm not sure what for.”

“Depends... Did you happen to see where the person was, in the building Eliza? Just answer yes or no.”

“Yes, Not exactly, but roughly.”

“Could you wheel me somewhere we can talk, and Bella doesn't need to hear?”

“OK. Kitchen?”

“I guess that's the best.”

When they got there, and Eliza had closed the door, Pris asked, “Were they above or below ground?”

“Below.”

“OK... and how far below?”

“I didn't really look at how many floors there were, but I'd say they were two thirds of the way to the bottom floor. Does it make a difference?”

“Yes. It tells me what function they have. Basically above ground means that Tasha isn't very worried about someone spying on what they're spying on.”

The very bottom floors were where the pure mathematicians were based, Pris knew. People looking at new codes or how to break existing ones. Above-ground meant routine checking of media sites and keeping a watch on what suspected terrorists were up to. Below ground, the organisation was looking at intercept data from government sources, both home and abroad, the lower the level, the more sensitive the data. Eliza had just identified someone who probably read the king's mail before he did. Or that of other world leaders. Eliza didn't have a need to know any of this, so Pris didn't tell her.

“Ah. So deep underground means deep secrets. By the way. I did check — they're trustworthy.”

“I'm very very glad to hear that, Eliza.” Pris breathed a sigh of relief.

“The question I have is how might it be useful.”

“Well, you know, when you're dealing with highly sensitive information, there's always the problem of getting it where it's needed.”

“Oh. So the fact that I could contact this person...”

“Would possibly be very useful, but on the other hand it might distract them from vital work. Can I tell Tasha about you?”

“Who is Tasha?”

“Maria, I'm sure you've worked out, tells the Royal family a lot of important stuff. Tasha, given that framework, fills in details from intercepts and generally listening carefully. She'd tell Maria's people too, of course, but they need to ask exactly the right question. ”

“Oh. So Maria might find out there's likely to be a coup in some unstable country...”

“And Tasha, with that much information might be able to tell you when. But people won't say 'coup' they'll say 'a party' or 'a reunion', which without more context is often useless.”

“So we could put this in a message to Maria and Tasha would read it eventually.”

“Along with her opposite numbers in other countries, probably.”

“Good point.”

“Or I could ask Maria and Tasha to come and chat to you sometime.”

“Oh, I'm always happy to chat to my friends and relatives, Pris, you know me.”

“Not as well as I think I'll have to.” Pris mused.

“That's almost certainly true.”

“You might as well know, if you ever do need to contact this person, they've got an internal shorthand for royalty. Actually, it gets long, but that's only because they like complications.”

“You think I should know it?”

“Yes, or at least partially. The first king was RP1, Royal Personage one. His wife was RP1S — for spouse, The had two kids: RP2, RP2B. 2B's spouse would have been RP2BS. So the direct line is dead simple. When you leave the direct line, it gets more complicated. The first king's eldest sister were labeled RP1B and RP1C, RP1B's first child would have been RP1B2, second RP1B2B. Albert, you probably guess, is RP7, you, Karen and Sarah figure in it somewhere as RP1B something-or-other 7. Assuming you go ahead with the wedding you're going to be RP7S, and at the moment you're RP7pS, prospective spouse of RP7, or at least, you will be once someone's told them about your engagement. Congratulations on that, by the way!”

“Thanks. I see what you mean about it getting complicated. But that code is basically a genealogy, and claim to the throne thing, isn't it?”

“Yes. And it means that no one gets confused about who is being talked about.”

“So... If I have to tell them that, say, there's some crisis involving the king, I'd say RP6 is being attacked by a crocodile?”

“Yes, except they can't help you with that, you need someone in royal protection. They don't mess about with such silly codes, just scream loudly.”

“That makes sense. But what might I need to contact them about?”

“I'm not sure. It must be useful, but I've no idea what for.”

“Thanks!”

“Can you call Bella? I've got something to tell her, too, and I think the others should be here soon.”

[Bella, can you come?]

“Done, do you want me to vanish, or hang around?”

“Oh, you can hang around.”

“You called?” Bella asked Eliza.

“Pris asked me to call. I think she expected me to stick my head out of the door, but I cheated.”

“You did. I have an envelope for you, Bella.”

“An envelope?”

“Yes. You know, folded paper, with a message inside.”

“Wow. Did I win the lottery or something?”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“Depends how you want to look at it.” Pris passed over the envelope, which Bella opened carefully, and read the message:

“Letter of reassignment: Agent Bella Monroe, you are hereby assigned to royal protection division. You may accept or appeal this reassignment within a period of 24 (twenty-four) hours from receipt of this letter, through normal channels, or directly to the courier entrusted with this message. This letter must be returned as part of the appeal process.

Failure to appeal is considered acceptance. “On acceptance you will be advised of your revised clearance level, your assigned client, and revised rules of engagement. You will communicate with H.Q. using normal procedures and any special procedures relevant to your client.”

Bella read the letter again, just to let it sink in. “I accept.” she told Pris, in a small voice. “I can't believe it, but I accept.”

“Believe it. Your client is Eliza, as I'm sure you'll have guessed. You're cleared to one-gamma. Rules of engagement are as follows: you're not permitted to personally restrain anyone who's not a direct threat to your client, as that interferes with your ability to protect your client from other threats. You are expected to remain armed with a stunner at all times, on or off duty, and to use it in preference to other means of self defence where there is any risk of physical incapacity to yourself or a threat to your client. You are expected to be armed with a firearm at all times when you are with your client. You are permitted to use necessary force to neutralise anyone who seeks to prevent you from being with your client. You are expected to use whatever methods are necessary to retain a constant state of protection for your client. During times of threat, public safety comes second to the safety of your client. Your wrist unit will soon have these rules of engagement uploaded to them.”

“Oh, Bella, I'm sorry.” Eliza said, with mock sincerity. “You can't beat up unsuspecting gang members any more.”

“Pris, does that mean I'm supposed to stun a ten year old who tries to tie me up?” Bella asked.

“If you can't stop them any other way, yes. If you shake them off and they try again, yes. You can't let a ten year old's game put Eliza's life at risk. It could be part of a bigger threat. Sorry.”

“And if the stunner doesn't stop the threat, I kill.” Bella said with a grim voice.

“Yes.” Pris said. “You stun or kill in preference to being incapacitated, and you put yourself in the way of any threat to Eliza.”

“Pris, this doesn't seem right,” Eliza protested “I'm not this important!”

“Sorry, Eliza, unless you break up with Albert, then you represent the future stability of the monarchy and therefore the country. The king being killed would be a cause for national mourning, but the monarchy would continue, as Albert is of age to step into the gap. Your being killed, on the other hand, might put the succession at risk and thus could mean a return to chaos. Quite simply, Bella is your last line of defence. The rest of security has failed if any threat gets through to her, so she must be prepared to take a life to defend our country as personified in you.”

“Urm. Gulp.” Eliza said. Then asked “What does this mean to Bella training people to use their power?”

“It goes ahead, I think, at least until you've trained some other agents, Bella. Eliza, there are other royal protection agents, not assigned to an individual. Bella's allowed time away from you, holidays, free time and a life. She's even allowed to marry and have kids, but it's normal to ask for reassignment before pregnancy. You know, balancing duty to family and state gets hard, even for royalty. Workaholics the lot of you.”

“I'm not royalty yet, Pris.”

“That ring on your hand doesn't agree with you, Eliza, sorry. Either take it off or accept your fate.”

“I guess I'll accept my fate, or rather, my career.”

“Probably vocation is the word you're looking for. People change their career, after all, but a vocation? Not so much.”

“Shall we join the others?” Bella asked. “I think I hear voices outside.”

“Yes, Eliza, go show off your ring.”

The voices had been John and Sarah. “And I thought we were quick!” John said, seeing Eliza's ring. “Did you know about this, Sarah?”

“I suspected. Eliza did ask about measuring her finger last night. I brought the gauges, Eliza, and acting on my suspicion I also brought this nice little tool.”

“What does it do?” Eliza asked.

“Assuming that it's not a snug fit on your little finger then it'll let me stretch the band just a little bit. Alternatively, we can visit my old house - that's to say where Karen's living, and do it properly, assuming you want to trust it to me and not to someone who does it every day of their lives.”

“Urm, what does 'do it properly' imply?” Albert asked, a little nervous.

“Can I have a look, Eliza?” Sarah asked.

“Of course!”

Sarah got out her jeweler's loupe and examined the ring and the diamond. She whistled gently, and reverently, she handed it back to Eliza. “I'm not going to touch it.”

“Pardon?” Eliza said.

“That's out of my league. There's no way I'd believe that ring is worth less than my home,” she said, then asked Albert “I presume it is an heirloom?”

“Yes, my great grandma's.”

“Queen Beatrix.” Supplied Eliza.

“Queen Beatrix” Sarah nodded. “I should have guessed. She married, I believe it was the second son, of the Grand Duke of Luxemburg. He gave her a new ring which had set in it a one carat entirely flawless blue diamond with an old-European cut from his father's collection. Lots of rumours where it came from, before that, but none proven. Thank you for letting me see it. It's beautiful. And it's worth far more than my house and John's put together. Your Highness, this is a job for very skilled and practiced people you'd entrust the crown jewels to. What am I saying! It is a crown jewel.”

“Albert!” Eliza said, “You didn't tell me what it was worth.”

“I didn't know! But Sarah, what is the difference between what they'd do and what your machine here would do?”

“My machine is for stretching part of the ring, which it does by rolling the part of the band which is away from the stone between these rollers. That makes the metal there a little bit thinner. But you see the beautiful little curls engraved in the gold, which lead into the setting? It would destroy them. The ring needs to be very carefully cut open, and gently opened until it is the right size. Then the gap needs to be filled with extra gold which matches the color and strength of the original band exactly, and of course, while it's being re-soldered or even laser-welded, the diamond should be protected from any heating. And this all needs to be done with ultra precision, because of that engraving which means that you can't hammer the ring if it gets out of shape, or file down any rough edges. I know what to do, but you need someone who's been doing this sort of work with meticulous care and a delicate touch for the last twenty or thirty years.”

“Thank you for looking at it, Sarah.” Eliza said. “I guess I need a bit of patience before it fits me.”

“What I can do at least is measure your finger. Then whoever you give it to will know the size without you needing to visit. Here. Find out which one of these is the right size for you.”

----------------------------------------

Tony and Teresa arrived just as Sarah was putting the gauges away. Tony hesitated and took in the scene. A smartly dressed man with a very familiar face, standing close to Eliza, who wore a very fine dress and a diamond ring. Where had he seen that face? Eliza came to his rescue.

“Albert, let me introduce Tony Randle, reporter, and his fiancée, Teresa Riley, legal advisor to the Institute. Teresa's discussing her wedding plans with Sarah led to the formation of this committee. Tony, Teresa, let me introduce you to my fiancé as of an hour and a half ago, Crown Prince Albert. Sorry Tony, it's still a state secret until I'm out of witness protection. That's being brought forward to later this week, I really really hope.”

Tony bowed and Teresa curtsied with a simultaneous “Your Highness.”

“Oh I'm not here officially.” Albert said. “It's just that Eliza said that I could stay if I was good.”

“And he mostly has been good except when he dropped me.” Eliza added, with a smile. “We'll do the gossiping later when everyone's here, if that's OK.”

Teresa looked at Eliza's left hand and asked “May we at least see your ring?”

“Of course. It needs resizing, but Sarah's not accepting the commission.” Eliza said.

“Only because I'm not practiced enough to deal with crown jewels, Eliza.”

“It was my great-grandmother's” Albert said. “I'm ignorant and just thought it was a nice ring, Sarah pointed out that the stone came from the ancient house of Luxemburg.”

“It is beautiful.” Teresa said then asked Eliza “I had no idea you were going out with anyone, Eliza!”

Eliza laughed “We haven't been going out. Albert keeps telling people that, don't you believe him?”

“We have been doing quite a lot of talking though.” He said.

“Not enough.” Eliza added. “But we'll tell all the gossip later, I promise. How are your wedding plans going? I stopped you from setting a date last week, didn't I. Sorry.”

“It's OK. We set one after the meeting. December the thirtieth. It's a bit soon to arrange everything, but, well, what with the impact coming, we decided that sooner is better.”

Eliza and Albert looked at each other and smiled.

“Thank you, Teresa.” Eliza said. “You're helping to make us look restrained.”

“You've set a date?”

“Not precisely, but we're thinking the middle of January. Should we send Tony away? We must be tempting him terribly.”

“I'd like to know what I can write up when, of course.” Tony said.

“Pris, what do you think? I wouldn't mind if Tony releases a little 'watch this space, has Prince Albert made some plans?' trailer for Albert's announcement on the day, and then once Albert's made the announcement he could quote, I don't know, a well informed source close to the happy couple. Would that be OK?”

“Saying what?” Pris asked “That you two are crazy, but determined, so it'll probably work out OK in the end?”

“I was more thinking that “They've been in love for some time, but couldn't meet because of me being in witness protection.”

“Most misleading use of the phrase 'some time' I've heard for a long time.” Bella sniggered.

“'Happy couple put the nation ahead of common sense?'” suggested Albert.

“If your highness is willing for me to use that headline, I'd be very happy to oblige.” Tony said.

“Tony, I don't know, I'm not an expert in what should and shouldn't be said. I would very much defer that decision to Pris and the organisation she represents, I would also very much prefer to be able to talk freely, with this whole meeting off the record.”

“I understand, your Highness.”

“Mr Randle is cleared to three beta, highness.” Pris said.

“Thus proving that he is used to knowing more than he can say. Thank you, Pris.”

“In some ways, that is not an unusual situation for a reporter, in that I'm expected to protect my sources. However, I must say it is unusual for my sources to be the news.”

“That's why you need to tread carefully, Tony. They need protecting still.” Teresa said.

“Out of interest, Pris” Eliza said, “Has anyone decided to give me a security clearance? And if so, can you or someone else tell me how the system works?”

“Subject to the wedding happening, Eliza, you have clearance to know and to trust, as other members of the Royal family. It's very much like your gift. If you decide you need to know, we tell you.” Pris said.

“Oh.” Eliza said.

“The numbers are a guide to us how much detail we can trust each other with, and who decides. A two beta can decide to tell things to a two gamma to enable them to carry out their assigned task, and must tell what they know to two alpha, if asked, assuming the two alpha is cleared in the same area as they are. The numbers are the level of detail — how patchy their knowledge is, shall we say. A level three gamma in witness protection finds out about their own client. A level three alpha in witness protection finds out about lots of clients, a level two gamma in witness protection can know why we're protecting who in what way, and where they're going to be next. Witness protection is headed up by someone with two alpha clearance. They don't know much at all about other areas of Security. Bella's now one gamma. This means that she's allowed to know lots of details in a few specific areas. I'm one alpha. I get to know lots of details in lots of areas. As you saw, Bella reported to me that she has specific information, as she should have done. His highness informed me that that information was obtained at his request, and I understand from what he said that she has further knowledge, but I chose not to know those details. Maria might find that information useful, but I doubt it is relevant to her planning outside the context of talking to Bella anyway, so I decided I didn't need to know. He also trusted me with more information, about which I asked you for some other details, and I will pass those on to the relevant people.”

“Do I understand that if his highness hadn't been involved, then Eliza might have been in trouble?” Sarah asked.

“You've got clearance from the Almighty to know all sorts of things, Sarah, but if you go passing some specific things on to people then you're subject to the laws of this land, yes.”

“Fair enough,” Sarah agreed. “We're subject to the laws of thermodynamics and gravity too.”

The lift chimed gently and opened. Kate, Pete, Arwood and Hannah arrived.

“I thought we'd decided it wasn't safe up here last week.” Hannah was saying.

“No, just I couldn't remember how safe it was, and we were feeling scared.”

“Whereas this week?” Arwood asked.

“The view and the decor is much better.” Eliza said.

“Hi Eliza! Nice dress” Hannah said, still not spotting Albert. “Hey, nice ring too! You never told us you had an admirer last week!”

“I'm happy to say that last week she didn't.” Albert said “Since then... things have been moving rather quickly. Hello, I presume you're Hannah and Arwood, I'm Albert, the man who Eliza's just made very happy.”

Hannah wasn't the most avid reader of gossip columns, but she recognised his face. “Your Highness!”

“Please, I'm not here officially. Just call me Albert.”

“We blame it on predestination, Hannah,” Eliza said. “God's known we'd marry for a long time, we're just falling in line. Albert, descreetly in the background you see Kate, who has a role I'm not allowed to tell you about, and her husband, Pete West, artist, cake decorator, and public relations. I'm not sure where Karen's got to.”

“My mistake.” Kate said. “I forgot to tell her we were meeting up here again, so she and George decided to have a walk rather than call her protection officer back.”

“Oh. Oh well. We thought it would be better to bore everyone with all the details at once.”

“I must say, I hadn't expected you to be wearing that ring quite yet. You're going even faster than John and Sarah here.”

“We know we're going too fast.” Eliza admitted. “Neither of us are really used to the idea of being in love yet, but... we're facing difficult circumstances and we needed to make a tough decision. But can we hear other news? Teresa's said they're going for a December the thirtieth wedding.”

“Dress up warm then!” Hannah said.

“You think it might be cold? I thought I'd go for one of those bikini style dresses.” Teresa teased.

“Have you got a dress?”

“No, I'll be hiring one, I guess. There's certainly no time to order one.”

“Silly idea anyway.” Arwood said. “Why spend so much on a dress you're going to wear once?”

“So you can keep it and lend it to friends and pass it on to your daughters, of course.” Hannah replied. “Speaking of which, what do you think, Arwood, Is Teresa the same size as I was when you married me?”

“You've not changed, love, just all the other women have been getting thinner and thinner.”

“Let's see you lift me up like you used to then, flatterer!”

“Ah.” Arwood grimaced. “My muscles have been growing weaker too.”

“Come over some time, Teresa. See if you want to borrow my dress. We're the same height, and I know I've put on a lot of weight. I think I was about your size back when it was new, hard as it seems to believe.”

“Thank you, Hannah. Is it warm?”

“Well now, with you thinking of a bikini-top I didn't think you minded! Decide how thick a shawl you want when you try it on, that's my advice.”

----------------------------------------

Karen and George eventually arrived, and Albert passed on the government's thanks for the committee's work, and filled in the details that hadn't made it into the broadcast. He felt that was an appropriate response to the committee's help.

“So, that's how I met Albert.” Eliza added.

“And then threw us the little fib about not meeting.” Karen said.

“We only decided to meet today last night, Karen. Until then we didn't have any plans except maybe go to church together next week, and I think we only came up with those at about tea-time yesterday.”

“You're not telling us that today is your first date?” Hannah said, shocked.

“Yes. We've been doing a lot of talking, over the past few days, but today was our first date.”

“And they spent it planning.” Bella chipped in.

“Oh yes? I presume some hugging and kissing happened too?” Teresa said, thinking of how much planning and how much cuddling Tony and she did under that title.

“I'm not sure how much; they'd got about twenty sheets of paper all over the floor half an hour ago, full of writing.”

Eliza chose to ignore that. “One of the things that really helped us concentrate our thinking was that Albert has been keeping a prayer diary. He started praying for his future wife's salvation when my Mum died, and felt he didn't need to pray for that any more after I'd come to faith, three months later.”

“I haven't been very regular about praying for my future wife, but every time I prayed for her, it was at a crucial time in Eliza's life, and my prayer was appropriate and answered. I don't normally get to write 'answered' beside so many prayers, but it feels like God has been answering all my specific prayers about my future wife to reassure us that Eliza Underwood and the woman I've been praying for for the last four years as my future wife are one and the same person.

“And the more we talked, the more obvious it was to both of us that given the choice between marrying before the impact and waiting a few years until the country had recovered after it, we'd rather not wait.”

Eliza added “We realised that if we had the wedding after the impact then people would be upset because they didn't think we should be having a royal wedding, however modest, when they were still rebuilding their homes and lives, or because they thought that we should have a lavish wedding to provide some respite from the gloom. Either of those leads to criticism of the monarchy.”

“Whereas you feel that a fast wedding doesn't?” prompted Tony.

“We think that a fast wedding, a month before the impact, enables me to be Albert's helper, not a distraction, enables the right amount of national celebration, and settles any doubt about how strongly we feel for each other. Us being engaged before any public acknowledgement of our relationship spoils some people's enjoyment, I'm sure, but on the other hand it helps everyone plan and avoids the need for multiple announcements. We could have waited a few weeks before the engagement, but all that would do would be make it harder to plan the wedding.

Plus, of course, segments of the press would be spending all their time doing nothing except trying to get pictures of us kissing or something to help them decide if we're going to get engaged soon. Not to mention that we'd like to be able to be at your wedding, Karen, without being the latest hot news.”

“You're that certain about each other then?” Hannah asked.

“Yes.” Eliza said. “We're also certain that we don't know each other very well, but on the other hand, delaying the engagement doesn't help that if the wedding date is already fixed. And it needs to be, for the good of the country.”

“It sounds to me like you're letting circumstances force you to hasty decisions, before you're really ready.” Arwood said. “That... sounds more than a little dangerous to me.”

Albert answered “We know that we love each other, we know we will marry sometime. We're trusting God that he knows what he was doing when he introduced us to each other.”

Eliza added “Ages and ages ago — on Thursday — I declared to her Majesty that I'd do what I could to support the monarchy, just as my father had tried to pull it down. As I said it I knew it was true and it felt very much what God was calling me to do. I didn't expect to be supporting it quite so personally, but I'm not backing away from obeying God just because of some convention about how long we're supposed to know each other before we decide on the wedding date. I mean, in some cultures people don't meet until the wedding day, and they cope. I trust that with God's help we can cope too. But... we would appreciate your prayers. I don't imagine it'll be easy.”

“Eliza,” Karen said, “you're thinking of everyone except yourselves, aren't you?”

“I think that's our duty, Karen.” she replied.

Albert nodded.

“Then the least we can do is pray for you now, and might I suggest that, thinking of Eliza and Prince Albert's needs, we break up the meeting quickly, so that they can have as much time together as possible? Unless someone has any other major threats they've come aware of. Eliza, you must call on us if we can help in any way, please.”

“Thank you. We will. One thing... Karen and Sarah, sometime I'd like to know everything you know about getting the dress fitted.”

“Of course!” Karen said.

“Sarah's mother knew her theatre props, Eliza. It's designed to be adjustable. And, I must say, its little surprises mean it's got too many layers of fabric for it to be a dress for summer, really.”

“Little surprises?” Eliza asked.

“We must have a chat sometime... Bella, could Eliza have a look at the dress, say later today or tomorrow? It's still at my house.”

“Which house, didn't you say something about where Karen's staying?”

“Yes. John and I are in his flat, Karen is at my old house. That's where the dress is. And it's going to be very emotional to pack everything up for the impact, I can tell you. Eliza... after your wedding, could you keep the dress, at least for a while? It takes a lot of space, and since we're evacuating...”

“I'd be happy to,” Eliza said, “but I've still no idea where we're going to live after the wedding. Albert?”

“I'm afraid our future home is for my parents to decide. I can guess where they might put us, but I'd rather not say, in case I'm wrong. I'm sure we can find somewhere. But the palace has clean store-rooms if there's no space where we end up living.”

“Thank you,” Sarah said.

“Where did you live before you were a hostage, Eliza?” John asked.

“I rented a room, thanks to Dad's fund. Mum was sick for quite a while before she died, and she'd never been much of a saver. The bank strongly suggested that I sell the house to pay off what was left on the mortgage. That didn't leave me with much. So, I've got enough money in a long-term account to maybe put down a deposit when I find a job. Only I seem to have found myself a job sooner than I expected, which comes with accommodation provided.”

“Yes. Food, accommodation, medical care, press interest and lots of people helping you make use of every minute of your day in a responsible manner,” Albert said.

“Good. I'd hate to have a share of that much authority without help. And I like the man I'll be sharing my time with,” without thinking of the consequences she reached out to touch Albert's hand. Feedback came immediately, blotting out thought and she jerked her hand away. Karen saw.

[Feedback?]

[Yes. Incredibly frustrating!]

[Know the feeling. Learn to take turns hiding, that's my recommendation. No more than half a minute each so it doesn't get too sticky, and get used to coordinating quick swap-overs. You obviously can't coordinate them by thought, but you're going to need to show public affection, so try signalling each other with a pressure change... do some practicing when you're alone and can talk. The other thing to remember... It's far easier for you to get unstuck than him, since focussing on the peace will free you. So, if he's struggling to not be sticky, give him a rest. Otherwise he could panic and stay stuck. Neither of you want that to happen, I'm sure.]

[Thanks, Karen! I'll tell him.]

“So, Bella, I'd really like to visit Karen's home so I can meet this famous dress. What does the procedure for that look like?” Eliza asked.

“Urm, Pris? Have the rules changed?” Bella asked.

“Yes, Bella, technically they have, but Eliza's got two statuses right now, so it gets messy. I'll just make some enquiries.” She tapped something on her wrist unit.

“What's changed?” Sarah asked Eliza.

“The engagement. Bella's been reassigned to royal protection with a view to me not being in witness protection much longer, but I am still a witness.”

“And a royal one,” Karen said.

“Yes. I got a little reminder earlier of how much they want to protect me, and I don't want to cause trouble.”

“Well, why don't I just go and bring the dress? I didn't think of the consequences when I suggested we go there, sorry. If I take a transport then I could be be back in twenty minutes.”

“Thanks, Sarah,” Eliza said.

Karen made another suggestion. “I've a better idea. You two enjoy some time together, and Sarah and I come with the dress when Albert has left. Unless he wants to see the dress? I know George has said he doesn't want to see me in it until the day, although he's seen Sarah wearing it.”

“Albert, what do you think?” Eliza asked.

“I like Karen's idea. I do need to get back to the palace by five or so, Eliza. Does that give you enough time to try on the dress and work out any changes? I think I agree with George about not seeing you in it until the day, love.”

“Did I hear that the side trip is cancelled?” Pris asked.

“Yes. Karen and Sarah will bring the dress here, once the Prince has left.”

“Or it could be the Institute,” Kate added. “Sarah and Karen bringing parcels to the Institute isn't exactly unusual, after all.”

“Yes, that would be a good idea,” Pris agreed.

“Then if that's settled, I'd like to suggest that we pray for the happy couple,” John said.

“About everything we've talked about, please,” Albert said, “not just us.”

----------------------------------------

“Your highness,” Tony asked after the prayer was over, “you've suggested that you wouldn't object to a carefully timed article, which I'd be very happy to write, but I wouldn't want to say too much. Could I send it to someone to get it checked?”

Pete spoke up. “Tony, you don't normally do royal correspondent work, and you writing it might cause friction in your organisation and let people think there's a link between the royal couple and the Institute. Can I suggest that you be the source, and you talk to the usual NWN correspondent?”

“If you don't mind, Tony,” Eliza said, “that sounds like a very wise idea.”

“Urm, no, that sounds great. Unless... would one of the others of you like to be the source? If it's me then there's all sorts of issues about how I'd like it written, it'd be better for me just to stay out of it and make the contacts. Actually... no. Pete, this is your department. I back out entirely. You know how to set up a watertight contract about timing, prior approval and stuff. I'd just mess it up. Teresa and I have enough to think about without being involved, I think.”

“Thanks, Tony, that's probably a great idea. But I hope you're not going to decided I should be the source!” Kate said. “Clear conflict of interest.”

Pete said, “I think it should be Karen, actually.”

“Me?” Karen said, shocked.

“You're the one with the best publicly acknowledgeable link to Eliza. You're not linked to the Institute in the same way that Sarah is. You're her cousin, the natural person for Eliza to turn to to release a controlled leak like this is going to be.”

“Urm. OK.”

“Now, the question of payment,” Pete said. “As an exclusive deal, this is worth a lot. Alternatively, we could make it a non-exclusive deal and you talk to several papers for a smaller amount.”

“No, no, no!” Karen said. “I don't want to talk to loads of people. I've got my own wedding to plan. And if Tony's giving this up, then I'm not going to make money from it personally. Either money goes to charity or it isn't paid.”

“Charitable donation it is, then,” Pete said. “So, on offer is an exclusive interview, pre-briefing to an important royal announcement, all contents Security-approved prior to publication, and publication timing restricted to the day of the announcement. I'll offer it to a selected list of trustworthy royal correspondents, and the biggest charitable donation wins. Is that acceptable to everyone?”

“It is to me,” Pris said, “assuming the prince wishes to have his statement pre-announced.”

“I think I'd prefer to have it timed to when I begin my announcement. I'll keep the contents of my announcement short and to the point, so they're getting background knowledge. But obviously the winning correspondent will be able to prepare far better questions.”

“With respect, your Highness, that sounds like you don't want a managed leak so much as a press-pack.” Pete said.

“Perhaps you're right. Could you tell me the advantages or disadvantages?”

“They both get the information out there. The managed leak separates it from your Highness and the exclusiveness and timing makes it valuable. The press pack is useful to the media but since it is just background information then they're not going to be fighting to get a copy, and it would come from the palace, without personal reactions. The exclusive interview can be very personal, it is expected to be. But if too many restrictions are put on it, then that starts to be offensive to press freedoms.”

“I understand,” the prince said. “Eliza?”

“I think if Karen is able to point out the witness protection laws, that makes a good motive for the correspondent to not to let it go to press until you've warned the press about your announcement. That would signal that I've made my affidavit, and so I'm out of witness protection. Then, if Karen is careful to remain anonymous, and not mention my name, then the important bit about who you're engaged to waits for your announcement. Would that be reasonable, Pete?”

“I think that's very reasonable, assuming it meets with Security's approval?” he looked at Pris.

“I'll work with Karen about what she should and shouldn't say,” Pris said, “Not that I expect she'll need much help.”

“Wonderful, then I think we'll leave you to your planning.” Sarah said.

“Thank you so much for the prayers,” Albert said.

“God be with you both, you've got a busy time ahead of you,” Arwood said.

“I really recommend you write a diary,” Sarah said. “You might not be be able to remember these next days in a month or two otherwise — I expect it'll all turn into one big messy blur. I know the six weeks before my wedding did.”

“Thus speaks the voice of experience! Thanks, Sarah,” Eliza said.

----------------------------------------

After everyone else had said their good byes and left, Bella asked, “Pris, I thought you said that I'd take you back to the hospital?”

“I did.”

“But you've also said I need to keep a watch over Eliza at all times.”

“Not quite, you've got to make sure she's protected at all times. That's different. Do you notice His Highness's protection agent here?”

“No. I was wondering why not...”

“We've double checked the security of this room, Bella. It's not quite as safe as the Institute, but it is very secure. As long as Eliza promises not to leave the room, she's safe here.”

“Oh. That's nice.”

“It is. So, since you've only got a stunner right now, we're going to get you properly equipped to take Eliza to her new home.”

“Oh, not another move!” Eliza said.

“Yes. Sorry, Eliza. We'll eventually move you to the capital, but in the mean time we want you somewhere a bit more secure than where you've been so far.”

“Oh.”

“I predict that you'll get more visitors though, so that's probably a good point.”

“More visitors?”

“Yes. George has moved out of the Institute, so you're getting the other room down there. We thought it would be better that way, no matter how well he's tidied up after himself.”

“Oh! So when Sarah and Karen bring the dress, I can try it on in my new flat?”

“Yes. The other thing is that since the Institute is so secure, you don't need a room-mate any more. Which also means that while you're there we can stop paying Bella overtime for sleeping away from home.”

“And there I was thinking that I might be able to buy myself a flat if I keep getting overtime like this,” Bella said.

Eliza, Albert and Pris looked at her curiously.

“What?” Bella asked.

“Bella, why would you want to buy yourself a flat? As an investment or something?” Pris asked.

“Well, it's all very nice living with mum, but, you know, I felt that it would be good to have my own place.”

“She doesn't know, she has no idea!” Eliza told the others.

“I guess she doesn't. That's very sad.” Pris replied. “Bella, does your mum know about your plan?”

“No, why?”

“Because she'd have called you names and then called your teachers names,” Pris said.

“A civil servant has the right to be fed, clothed and housed, Bella,” Eliza explained. “Your wages are for the first two. OK, you probably get a bonus for living with your Mum, but you can request accommodation anytime, based on your needs.”

“You're joking!” Bella said.

“No. You should have learned that in civics class,” Pris said.

Albert added, “Maria had told 6us about the drop in standards, but I didn't know total ignorance was that common. But, you're roughly the same age, Eliza, how did you learn about it?”

“My mum. Kept moaning that she should have joined the civil service, then she wouldn't have had to worry about the mortgage. In connection with my research, I checked up on what the law actually says. You need a flat, you get one, Bella, if it's not convenient or you marry someone and it's too small, you request a different one.”

“So I just request a flat, and one appears by magic?” Bella said.

“Well, you apply at the housing office, and they give you a selection to choose from, yes,” Pris said. “It stays yours as long as you need it, but you do get in big trouble if you don't keep it nice — they'll send in a decorating crew and charge you the cost plus fifty percent, including on the crew's wages. If you know you can't decorate for some reason, it's better to request the crew, then you just get charged normal rates. Oh, and if there's any necessary structural repairs and things like that, you go to the same office, and they sort it out.”

Bella sat down. “That is just so typical. I find out that I could get a flat just as the city's about to get leveled anyway.”

“But just think, Bella. If you had got a flat, you'd have spent so much more on furnishings and things you can't store,” Eliza said.

“That's what I meant, actually. It's God again, I know it. He's used my ignorance and stupidity and turned it into help. You know, I was just thinking the other night... what if I hadn't been a stupid girl, eh? No dreams, no talking to Eliza in the transport, no confirmation for the committee. No one has any idea where to look for the asteroid, no timely evacuation. Boom, lots of bodies, or at least no one takes more than they can easily carry. God uses my stupidity and saves the day.”

“Does that mean you're thinking of trusting him?” Pris asked.

“I'd better. Otherwise someone or something else might use my stupidity to destroy someone or something I care about. How do I do it?”

“You pray what some people tend to call 'The Prayer' and you can hear the capitals,” Albert said. “There isn't really a set prayer, but you tell God you're sorry for rejecting him until now, want to follow him and not keep on sinning, that you want Jesus' death on the cross to deal with your sin and make you clean. You thank him for his reliable promise that he will forgive your sins and give you eternal life... and did I leave anything out?”

“The third person of the trinity, Albert,” Eliza said. “Thank God for promising the Holy Spirit to you, Bella, and ask Him to enter your life to help you to love God more every day and to live a life worthy of Jesus.”

“Do I have to? Ask for the Holy Spirit, I mean?” Bella asked.

“Still nervous?” Eliza asked.

“I guess so.”

“I'm not sure you can be a Christian this side of Pentecost without the Holy Spirit, and even if you could... you'll need Him, Bella,” Albert said.

“Need him?”

“Bella,” Pris tried, “what sort of witness protection agent would you be if you'd never been issued a stunner, you'd never had any training, and didn't even have a wrist unit?”

“Totally useless. A fraud, even. Why?”

“It's somewhat similar,” Pris replied. “The Holy Spirit is given to Christians to equip us. It's not easy living for God in this world, even with His help, and we'd be totally useless without it.”

“Oh. I suppose that make sense, but it doesn't make it easier to ask.”

“Bella, can I ask... what is it you're afraid of?” Albert asked.

“That I lose control, become a mess of scary dreams again. That sort of thing.”

Eliza knew it was time to once more point out to Bella that she trusted God already. “Bella, can I point something out to you?”

“Should I be scared?” Bella asked with a grin.

“Why should you be?”

“Well, you pointed something out to his Majesty, I've no idea what, and the next thing I know he's telling the nation to pray.”

“Oh. That. I can't comment on that, at all, you understand.”

“Of course not. So, what do you want to point out to me?”

“That you already trust God. You just don't want to trust in Him.”

“Pardon?”

“You already trust God: I mean, you were happy to pray that God would keep the forces of evil from mucking with your mind, but you didn't say a thing about him leaving your thoughts alone. That's trusting, that is. Very trusting.”

“That's different. Of course I trust God to clean out demons. The Bible's full of Jesus getting demons out.”

“But you hadn't started reading the Bible back then.”

“I know. But he'd cleaned them out before, when my dreams stopped.”

“So why are you nervous about letting God enter your life?”

“That's not about God, that's some angel, isn't it.”

“Urm, Bella, I think you need to learn a little more theology,” Albert said. “Have you ever heard of the Nicene creed?”

“Don't think so.”

“Oh well. Not all churches use it as part of their service, but if you ever find a group that doesn't believe it, then they're probably not Christians as we understand the word. It's worth learning some time. I know you've heard the word Trinity, since Eliza just used it. What do you understand it to mean?”

“Urm, not much.”

“Bella, were you asleep the other night?” Eliza asked.

“Urm... I didn't think so.”

“I did try to explain the Trinity to you, honest! God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, three persons, one God, remember?”

“Oh yes. I remember, three leaves in one leaf, that sort of thing,” Bella said. She'd been tired, but not asleep. The context for this conversation dawned on her. “Urm, are you saying that 'Holy Spirit' means 'God the Spirit?'”

“Yes,” Pris said

“Oh. So we're not talking about God sending an angel, but God sending Himself?”

“Yes,” Albert agreed.

“Oh. Wow. Really? Why didn't you say?” Bella said, amazed.

Eliza buried her head in her hands and shook her head. “I must have! Surely!”

“Maybe I was too tired to take it in. Sorry.”

“No harm done,” Albert said.

“Yes, there was!” Bella retorted, “That little misunderstanding has wasted some of your time together. So, what do I need to pray again?”

“Want to do it line by line?” Pris offered.

“Yes, please!”

“So who gets the joy of helping you get born again?” Albert asked.

“I don't know. What does that mean?”

“Synonym for becoming a Christian. Something else I said the other night,” Eliza said.

“Oh yes. Sorry. I did know that. Too many new words, I guess. You do it, Eliza. You've put in the hours.”

“Yes, but they didn't get through, did they? Why don't we all say a line?” Eliza asked. “That way we can all claim to have prayed 'the prayer' with you.”

“If the future king, his future wife, and the future head of Security want to share the privilege, far be it from me to stop them.”

“Who said I was the future head of Security?” Pris said, shocked.

“I'm sure Maria's got plans for you, Pris, and for her own retirement.”

“Thanks! Please don't put that idea in her head.”

“Oh, I'm sure it's there already, Pris.” Albert said, as though it was reassurance. “You know how Maria is. Now, I think it should be ladies first, so Eliza, Pris, and then me.”

----------------------------------------

After they'd spent most of the afternoon planning, talking and practicing swapping who was hidden while they held hands, and of course while they kissed too, Albert eventually had to leave. They'd found time to discuss a lot of practical things, but also talked about their lives before they'd met, and their hopes and dreams.

On the practical side, Albert was going to arrange for marriage preparation classes from his pastor, and for the ring to be adjusted. Eliza was going to draw up a list of people she'd like to be at the wedding — close friends from university and her church. She didn't want to completely abandon her friends, but it was going to be hard. They'd agreed that she'd try to visit them, once she was out of witness protection, and Albert would join her for a visit to her church. At least she'd be able to meet Bob McDaniel soon, assuming he was planning to visit the institute like he normally did.

The issue of bridesmaids had obviously come up. Karen and Sarah were not only relatives, but also knew the dress, which would be very helpful. Eliza really wanted Caroline, her best friend at church, to be one too, but Caroline had just signed on to be resident portrait painter on a cruise ship. So Eliza wasn't sure if Caroline would be free. If she was then as well as bridesmaid Eliza wanted to give her a chance to paint her portrait in the wedding dress, if it could be arranged in the limited time. Caroline did beautiful paintings, and Eliza was sure that something like that in her portfolio could really help Caroline's career. But that couldn't be arranged until the announcement. Caroline had a flaw, Eliza knew, that she wasn't good at keeping secrets. It wasn't that she was a gossip, just... incredibly open. Anyone asking Caroline why she was smiling would hear Eliza's good news, no matter how hard she tried not to say, and Caroline wouldn't be able to ask for time off work without saying exactly why. Anything Caroline got involved in had to be destined for public knowledge.

Given that it was winter, the train of the dress would need to be carried; at five metres long that would mean that four or five bridesmaids would be far better than three. It would be good to have another two friends involved, but she couldn't have just two of her three flatmates. But six was surely too many? Eliza needed to pray about it, and talk to Sarah too. Perhaps Caroline would be better as just an artist? No, she wanted someone from church. Perhaps some younger girls from Church? She didn't know any of them except the pastor's daughter though.

Eliza decided to sleep on that decision, so she added it to her list of decisions sheet. She needed to write lists, lots of lists. Maybe she needed a list of lists, to make sure that nothing got lost.

“Shall we go to the institute now, Eliza?” Bella asked, helping her collect up the papers.

“I guess so. Bella, no promises, just a question... would you being a bridesmaid conflict with your role as my protection officer?”

“Bridesmaid with firearm and stunner in a holster? I'm not sure if it goes, Eliza. Thanks for considering me though.”

“In a shoulder-bag wouldn't be sufficient?”

“Probably not. I expect there's too much chance of it not being where I need it to be. Sorry. Unless you make us all wear jackets that I could hide them under. And it would still look awkward I think.”

“Oh well. I'll keep thinking about who I should pick. Karen tells me the train is about five metres long.”

“You're the one who wants a winter wedding!”

“No I don't. I just want a quick wedding, and it's winter.”

“It's the same thing.”

“Not at all. It just ends me up with the same result.”

“Couldn't you shorten the train?”

“No. Changing the subject, any idea at all how long it takes to get identical bridesmaids' dresses done?”

“Got a designer in mind?”

“No.”

“Lots of research then, or I could take a quick trip downstairs to the wedding department and see what they're offering. I expect they've got brochures or something with off-the peg dresses. What's the budget?”

“Urm.... Pass. Who pays for bridesmaids' dresses?”

“Joint effort, from what I understand, but maybe not for a royal wedding.”

“Ouch. I need to talk to Albert about the wedding budget then.”

“And his mother. She might have feelings about how your bridesmaids are dressed.”

“Bella, that's a very very wise thought. Thanks. Maybe I can delegate arranging bridesmaids dresses to her.”

“Glad to be of help. Shall we go?”

“Yes. Let's.”

As they descended in the elevator, Eliza called, [Karen, Sarah, I'm going to the Institute now. No panic, because apparently I'm going to be staying downstairs, in the other room.]

[Oh, great, so we see more of you for a while?] Sarah asked.

[Yes. I'm not sure when, but eventually they'll move me to the capital — it makes more sense if I'm going to be going to lots of official functions with Albert.]

[Yes. It does.] Karen said [George was practically staff, but I guess you don't want to be, am I right?]

[I think I'm going to be a busy girl. Either I'm going to be working on plans or on essays, I expect.]

[Yes. I agree with you. I expect Kate will tell everyone that there's someone down there who doesn't want to be disturbed, but I'll tell the computer too.] Sarah said.

[I don't mind visitors I know, but... you know, I'm going to have all sorts of wedding-related lists around the flat, so I don't want people I don't know just deciding 'I'll go and chat to our new guest because she's bound to be bored' and then getting curious.]

[Of course. I understand.] Sarah said.

[Sarah,] Karen said, [I think you should get the computer to help Eliza not be seen by any clients, even if she is upstairs.]

[I'll do it when I get there. Privacy guard for the flat and 'deny-awareness' rules for everywhere.]

[But if Bob McDaniel shows up, I'd like to see him.]

[No problem at all.] Sarah reassured her. [I'll be at your place in five minutes, Karen, to help with the dress, OK?]

[Yes, fine!]

[It'd be good to know if it needs adjusting, can I try it on as well as just looking?] Eliza said.

[Of course.] Sarah said [Not much point in just looking, is there? And you can't put it on alone.]

“John?” Sarah said “I'm off to help with the dress.”

“Oh, OK. See you in an hour or so then.”

“You're joking! It'll take three hours at least once I get there, probably four, you know how long it takes to put it on!]

“Oh. Urm. No I don't. What shall I do with dinner then? It's going to be ready at six.”

“Is that what you've been doing? I thought you were preparing something for tomorrow. I was thinking I'd just grab some bread on the way.”

“Urm... I could bring it over, would that work?”

“Is there a sauce?”

“Yes.”

“Then no. No sauces near the dress please, or anything else which will risk marking it. Can't you just put it in the fridge?”

“It's just gone in the oven!”

“I'm sorry John, I need to go, I won't be back until eight at the earliest, probably nine, and I expect we'll eat something to stop tempers fraying, so assume I won't be hungry when I get back. I thought you knew all this.”

“No. I thought you were just delivering it. So much for our evening together. I guess I'll cook it and then reheat it tomorrow.”

“Can't it be cooked tomorrow?”

“It's a savory soufflé, Sarah! I probably shouldn't even be talking this close to it, but I've even started on the washing up and have bubbles up to my elbows. You know, we did have a romantic candle-lit meal planned.”

“I'll try and be back soon John. I'm sorry, I forgot.” She left before John could reply. As she got out of the transport he said [I forgive you, Sarah. Sorry I reacted badly. But... please do come home soon.]

Getting to her old home, and opening the door, she heard a scene which rang so many bells that she gently closed it and called John. [John, I think Karen's as forgetful as me.]

[Pardon?]

[It's George's first weekend out of protection, isn't it.]

[Their first real date?]

[I expect so. I've just heard a very familiar conversation. I think I need to ring my own doorbell.]

[Do you think Eliza could wait a night or two?]

[Thinking about it, I expect so. I'll ask.] Sarah thought. [Eliza! It looks like not only have I double booked myself, but Karen has too. I'm just guessing, but there's sounds of 'how could you forget' 'why didn't you say' etc. coming from her front door. Would it wreck any of your plans if we said tomorrow night, or even afternoon instead?]

[Urm.. no, that's fine.]

[Then I'll just sneak away and pretend I didn't hear Karen and George arguing, and call Karen.]

[Just make sure neither of them storms out.]

[Karen! I've been an idiot and forgotten that John was cooking something special for me tonight. Eliza says we can play dresses tomorrow.]

[{relief} you're an angel of mercy. Hold on.]

[John, cancelled. I'll hang around in case they need someone to bash heads together.]

[You know that'll upset George, Sarah.]

[I think he's upset already.]

[Oh. I was too. Let's go out for a meal.]

[What about the soufflé?]

[You shut the door... I opened the oven... it went in the bin.]

[What!]

[I was... a bit cross. Sorry.]

[I'm sorry John. Urm.. can I tell George and Karen? It might help.]

[Yes.]

Sarah retraced her steps to the front door, and rang the bell.

No one answered, which, Sarah decided was fair enough. So she opened it herself.

“Hello, it's me.”

“Hello, Sarah.” George said.

“I hope you're not planning to bin the soufflé, George.”

“What?”

“For full explanation, ask John. He's just spent half the afternoon making a soufflé, and then I came out and he binned it. I think he was a bit upset.”

“What a waste!” Karen said.

“Understandable though.” George said, grimly.

“So, since I only had my brain-wave about moving the dress-testing when I heard some similar emotions being expressed here, I thought I ought to try and play peacemaker. I'm really really sorry for not making it clear to you men that it would be a multi-hour event.”

“And I'm sorry for forgetting our big date.” Karen said.

“Now, I would like to point out to you two something very important.” Sarah said, hiding her thoughts.

“What's that?”

“You love each other really.” and with that, she grabbed a hand of each of them and made them touch fingers.

“Sarah!” Karen protested, hiding her own thoughts.

“I'm hidden. And I want to see you two mended. So, share your emotions until feedback starts. I'll promise to throw a bucket of cold water on you if you start getting silly.”

“You can't force this on us!” George said.

“No, but I can make myself a nuisance until you do.” Sarah replied, smugly.

“Let go of my hand please, Sarah.” George tried again. “I don't want to hurt you.”

“Good. Then hold Karen's because you probably don't want to hurt her either, really.”

“What do you mean, 'really'?”

“Just do it, George.”

Karen unhid her thoughts [{sorrow} I'm really really sorry George.]

[{pain} it hurt a lot, Karen.]

[{reflected pain} I see that. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. It seemed such a good idea, I just forgot, and then it was all arranged.]

[{sadness}We've been planning it so long.]

[{sadness}I know, George. I don't know how I forgot. I'm sorry for ruining the day.]

[{disbelief} Sarah's outrageous isn't she?]

[{agreement}Yes. Imagine forcing us to do this!]

[We should do it to her and John sometime.]

[Not the same. They're married, they're probably immune to feedback by now.]

[I wonder how soon that develops {anticipation}]

[We seem to be immune from it at the moment.{sadness} I sort of miss it, it means we've broken something, doesn't it, George?]

[I think so. But, she's right. I do still love you.. Does no feedback mean that we can kiss?]

[Sarah has appointed herself chaperone.]

[I don't want to get drenched, though.]

[I think it's worth the risk. I love you, George.]

[I love you too, Karen. But I don't actually feel like kissing in front of Sarah.]

[I doubt our chaperone will turn her back for us.] Karen said.

[I suppose not. But I'm going to ask her to.] “Sarah, can you stop grinning at us like that and turn you back please?”

“Of course, but only for a little while.”

“Don't you trust us?” Karen asked

“Of course I trust you. I just don't trust feedback.” Sarah said.

“But you're pushing us towards it.” accused George.

“No, I'm pushing you towards healing. So, now that you're not shouting at each other, I suggest some prayer, but a kiss or two first wouldn't hurt either. I'll give you thirty seconds.” and with that she turned her back and put her hands over her ears.

[Karen,] George said, [there's more water for her in the kitchen isn't there?]

[And she can't see round corners.] hand in hand they stepped into the kitchen and kissed.

[{pleasure, love} I love you, Karen.]

[{love} You too, George.]

[No feedback yet.]

[Do we want it?]

[No. Let's pray.]

Towards the end of their prayer time, they dropped hands. It was getting hard to think as the familiar feeling of feedback grew and grew.

----------------------------------------

Sarah, with her thoughts hidden, quietly opened the door and crept in.

“Boo!” she said, and leapt into John's surprised arms.

“Sarah! What are you doing?”

“Trying my own medicine.” and she unhid her thoughts [I made George and Karen hold hands.]

[Didn't that make it worse? Anger-feedback is really bad.]

[Didn't seem to. I guess the sun hadn't gone down on their anger. They went out on their date anyway. I love you John. Sorry for ruining the evening. {regret, love}]

[{Love} I'm sorry for ruining a perfectly flat soufflé.]

[{surprise} Perfectly flat?]

[It must have collapsed as soon as I put it in the oven. Flat as a pancake.]

[Pancakes sound nice. Shall I make some later?]

[What about our date in town?]

[Town can wait.{love}]

[{love} What for?]

[Important things, like kisses.]

[Oh, yes, kisses are important. Shall I hide, or you?]

[Neither.] Sarah said, decisively.

[I love you, Sarah.]

[I love you too, John, and you're mine.]