Beautiful Blood

“I deemed it unnecessary,” Ruiz said. “When measured against the life of the church, the life of one man is transitory and unimportant. Even should you live out your natural span, you’ll die soon enough.”

“Most reasonable,” said Rosacher. “But mab will continue to be produced long after I die.”

Ruiz sniffed. “People tire of perfection.”

“A verity that likely explains the longevity of the church.”

Ruiz refrained from comment.

“I suppose we could debate whose drug is superior,” said Rosacher. “But our time might be better spent in coming up with a strategy that will allow the two to co-exist.”

“Are you toying with me?”

“Not at all.”

“I don’t believe you. I’m told you’re the kind of predator who likes to lick his prey all over before biting them in half. I refuse to engage in the process.”

“Whom have I bitten in half recently?”

Ruiz turned from Rosacher and sat facing the green-and-gold depth of the altar.

“You won’t talk to me?” Rosacher asked. “Even though it may be to your advantage?”

The bishop closed his eyes and sighed.

“I’ll talk, then.” Rosacher crossed his legs and leaned back. “Almost fifty years ago the church convened a council to determine whether or not Griaule should be included in its pantheon. Not surprisingly, the decision was a narrow one in favor of the status quo. I’m of the opinion that the council should be re-convened to study the question anew.”

It appeared that Ruiz was about to speak, but he pressed his lips together and maintained his silence.

“But I’m getting ahead of myself,” Rosacher went on. “If war should arise from what I’ve done this morning—and the Church has prosecuted wars with much less provocation—it will be long and costly. I control the militia and the city council. I can promise you that Teocinte will defend itself vigorously no matter how great a force is brought against it. Yet this can all be averted by a simple negotiation.”

“People have also warned me against your negotiations,” Ruiz said.

“Then you are forearmed, are you not?”

The bishop inclined his head. “Do you have a proposal?”

“I do. In exchange for a cessation of hostilities between the Church and myself, I am willing, after the passage of twenty-five years, to hand over all factories and business connections, all my stock, everything relating to the production and sale of mab. Further, I’ll reveal the process by which the drug is refined. In the interim, I’ll cease my ranting about the church.”

Ruiz looked at him askance. “That seems rather one-sided. Why would you capitulate to this extent?”

“I’m already wealthy,” said Rosacher. “In twenty-five years I’ll be obscenely wealthy. Within a decade mab will be but a minor portion of my business interests and so, in return for what will be inconsequential to me, I’ll have peace of mind. I’ll never entirely trust you, of course, but I will trust that you won’t raise an army against me.”

“Perhaps we should have sent an assassin years ago,” Ruiz said with a half-smile.

“I wasn’t prepared to make this offer years ago,” said Rosacher. “I am now. Will you convey my proposal to Mospiel?”

“What surety can you provide that you’ll reveal the refining process?”

“The same you can provide me that there’ll be no future attempts on my life. None. A certain amount of trust is implicit in every bargain. But you will have a legal document certifying the transferal of my stocks of mab to the Church. That alone will profit you enormously.”

“Very well,” Ruiz said after a pause. “I’ll pass along the proposal. I imagine Mospiel will be sufficiently interested to send an emissary who will judge whether or not you’re a reasonable man. He’ll be someone with the authority to negotiate the particulars of an agreement.”

“Excellent! I look forward to speaking with him.”

Ruiz adopted a more relaxed posture. “This business of a re-convened council? What does that have to do with the agreement we’ve discussed?”

“We’ll need an explanation for the burnt doors. Since people tend to blame the weather on Griaule, why not blame him for this? Or credit him?”

“Credit him with violating the sanctity of the Church?”

“If the Church intends to associate itself with a product that incorporates the dragon’s blood, it would be foolish to demonize him further. It would be helpful, as I said, if the church convened a council to revisit the question of Griaule’s divinity. They needn’t reach any conclusion. Merely convening such a body will send a signal that will be impossible to ignore.”

“I see your point, but what excuse can there be for burning down the doors of a church? How can it be painted as a righteous act?”

“Two prostitutes were murdered in Morningshade last week. Isn’t that right, Arthur?”

“Aye. Chopped into bits, they were,” the giant said.

“And the murderer escaped without being identified, did he not?”

“That he did. He wore a hooded cape and none saw his face. It’s said he were a traveler in ladies’ apparel, but there’s no proof of that. At any rate, I wager he’s long gone from Teocinte.”