Father Anthony Joins

(PS: A suspected Warp disturbance just affected Tomato's Cogitator Array. Everything's back to normal now. False alarm.

Now you know what it feels like to enter the Warp with your heart in your throat. More or less.)

Li Qinwu was napping on the sofa. When he opened his eyes, Father Anthony's broad face filled his vision.

"Lord auv, still lying down? Good! It's only five in the afternoon. Why get up so early?

You're blessed, my lord. You deserve to lie there!"

Li Qinwu blinked and gave a contented yawn.

"Oh, it's Eunuch An. But this dowager empress is hungry."

Father Anthony answered at once:

"Don't move, my lord! Not an inch! This old servant will fetch your meal!"

A few minutes later, Father Anthony came in with a tray and served Li Qinwu his meal.

"How was this old servant's service, my lord? Were you satisfied?"

Li Qinwu picked his teeth with a toothpick.

"Excellent. But this dowager empress is bored and needs amusement. Give me jester routine 114514."

Father Anthony replied immediately:

"Yes! Performing jester routine 114514!"

Then his expression changed, and he sang in an operatic voice:

"'Grand Birthday Salute! The Four Gods Throw the Marshal's Heart into Chaos,' clang-a-clang, clang-a-clang, clang-a-clang..."

When he finished, Father Anthony asked, "Was this old servant's singing to your satisfaction, my lord?"

Li Qinwu nodded.

"Good!"

Then something occurred to him. "Wait, how are you going to meet up with me? It takes a conventional spacecraft a year to get from here to the Industrial World, but Inquisitor Thraxol's fleet leaves for its next stop in three months."

Father Anthony jumped to his feet.

"Fuck! I even played your jester, and you're screwing with me?"

Li Qinwu waved a hand.

"Don't panic. I have a plan!"

He led Father Anthony into