Another panel member said, “But you are a still a member of the No Peak clan, correct?”
“Most people who live in Janloon are affiliated with the Green Bone clans in some way,” Anden explained. “They’re vital institutions in our country, like the Trade Societies here in Espenia.”
“For the people in this room who are not familiar with these Green Bone clans,” said Gilspar, looking around at his fellow panelists importantly, “they effectively control the mining, processing, and distribution of Kekonese bioenergetic jade, nationally and internationally, legally and illegally. Their power in that small country is such that you could even describe them as a shadow government. And they’re not above using whatever means they deem necessary to achieve their aims, including violence.”
“Sounds like a Trade Society, all right,” quipped a reporter, to some laughter.
Assemblyman Sonnen said, “What is the purpose of this line of questioning, Dr. Gilspar?”
Dr. Gilspar raised his voice defensively; it echoed in the officiously high-ceilinged chamber. “Mr. Chairman, I’m trying to ascertain whether Dr. Emery and his cohorts have motives contrary to the best interests of Espenian patients.” He turned back to Anden. “Since you were raised in the ruling family, you’re not an ordinary member of No Peak, are you, Dr. Emery? Is it accurate to say that you are, in fact, a leader in the clan?”
Anden leaned forward to speak more clearly into the microphone. “I’m personally close to the Kaul family, but I hold no title or rank in the No Peak clan. As a physician, I’m not beholden to any clan. My duty is to use jade abilities to heal those in need of care.”
“However, you admit you’ve used your abilities to commit violence in the past?”
Anden felt as if he were walking on a narrow plank and this unpleasant Espenian man was trying to push and prod him in every direction to tip him off. “When I was young, I was trained to use jade in combat, and my home city of Janloon has been through times of conflict when I had to defend myself. Also, dueling is common practice in my country and nearly every man fights at some point.”
“Sir, that is not an answer to the question,” Gilspar countered.
Assemblyman Sonnen broke in impatiently. “What is the question you’re dancing around, Dr. Gilspar? We’re here to decide whether to approve the legal use of bioenergetic jade for medical purposes, not investigate every aspect of Dr. Emery’s upbringing and personal character.” Mumbles of agreement traveled through the room, and for the first time, Anden saw politicians nodding their heads.
Anden felt a surge of appreciation toward Sonnen. He’d been starting to wonder if anyone was going to point out the EPS representative’s increasingly biased and irrelevant lines of inquiry. Gilspar, however, was not done. Feeling the tide turn against him, he placed his fists on the table and half rose from his seat, speaking with even greater vehemence. “Mr. Chairman, it’s obvious what’s going on here. The Kekonese make millions of thalirs selling jade through military contracts to the ROE. The clans ruling that island are ruthless, barbaric organizations, and now they want to take over our healthcare market as well. Are we going to let them do that? Are we really going to give a bunch of kecks legal license to practice their unTruthful methods on people in this country?”
The room broke into exclamations and heated discussion. The back of Anden’s neck burned hot, and the shirt he wore under his dark suit was sticking to the small of his back with sweat, but he remained silent in his seat, showing none of his anger as voices rose around him and journalists snapped photographs. When he was younger, Anden had believed the people of Espenia to be like his own biological father—shallow, arrogant, faithless. Since then, he’d met enough Espenians to know that was simply a stereotype like any other, but this man who’d spoken so forcefully and rudely, this Gilspar—he was the sort of Espenian that made his people hated in the world. He spoke confident part-truths on things he knew nothing about, he had the conceit to judge others on the basis of his own hypocritical standards and motives, and he dared to show contempt for a stranger’s family.
Assemblyman Sonnen banged a gavel and called for a thirtyminute recess. “Dr. Emery, please wait in the visitor’s lounge until we decide whether we’ve any need to ask you further questions.”
Anden was all too eager to escape. The visitor’s lounge was merely an ordinary room with a few armchairs, a phone, and oil portraits of Espenian premiers. Martgen and Hollin met Anden there. They had only been allowed to watch the session from the panel room’s balcony. Martgen was pale and wiping his brow, looking as if he’d been the one interrogated. Hollin clapped Anden on the back and said he’d handled everything perfectly and been the picture of credible professional calm compared to Gilspar.