“You are going to put an asteroid down in the middle of the northern half of the Persian Gulf. Yes, there are no populated areas in the immediate target zone, but the resultant tidal wave will overwhelm coastal communities all the way from Kuwait City to Dubai. Everything from small fishing villages to fancy resorts will be drowned. There are no sea cliffs in that region to hold back the water.”

Zimmer shook his head. “You don’t understand. Do you think I don’t know my basic geography? I’ve chosen a very small asteroid. The machines have run the calculations. There will be some beach erosion and some harbors swamped, but the wave will be too small to do any real damage. It will be just obvious enough to convince the governments in the region that the action is not the result of natural activity.”

“And if there are some dhows out in that area of the Gulf itself, fishing in the bull’s-eye?” Dev persisted. “Or maybe an oil tanker?”

“A big tanker should have no problem riding out the impact unless it’s directly underneath. As for possible fishing boats …” For the first time since Dev had challenged his intentions, Zimmer looked slightly uncomfortable. It passed quickly. “The demonstration will be carried out with as much concern for life as is possible given the circumstances.”

Sensing a possible advantage, Dev pressed the older man. “That is not a sufficient rationalization, and you know it.”

“Nevertheless.” Once again, the older man offered Dev a deceptively avuncular smile. “Why not return to your quarters, Dev, and let me deal with this? I will certainly inform you and the others of the consequences as they manifest themselves.”

“You can manifest everything right now, Jakob.”

A surprised Zimmer looked past Dev, who turned to see a solemn Katou-Zimmer striding purposefully toward the two men and the indifferent mechanicals.

“Stop this right now, Jakob Zimmer. This isn’t you. World domination isn’t your métier.”

“No,” he admitted softly. “That option, were it available, belongs more properly to Gavin. I seek only a peace that has eluded my people for millennia.”

She halted and glanced knowingly over at Dev, then back at her husband. “This isn’t the way to do it.”

“Still, my dear, it is what is available to me, and I fully intend to make use of it.”

She closed the distance further between them. “I can’t let you do it, Jakob.”

“You can’t stop me, Chiasa.”

“I can try.” She nodded toward his metallic escort. “What are you going to do? Have them keep me from you? More violence? Is that what you’ve become thanks to a little knowledge of an ancient language?”