Orchid looked from Morpheus to Victoria. She hadn't said more, but even his telepathy could pick-up her continued surface thoughts; she knew about Zulfikar and she knew that Orchid's involvement with the video meant he also knew.

"He doesn't really mean he's without any shame," Morpheus said quietly, "Just that what we do on stage isn't wrong."

Orchid sneered momentarily before he was able to school his face. He wasn't certain whether Morpheus was trying to give away personal motivations, or perhaps suggest to Victoria that two men being together wasn't so bad.

"I'm not sure what is really wrong anymore," Victoria whispered.

"It may seem like a lot to take in right now," Orchid said. His keeping information from her or her husband's cheating. The cheating had to be the worse thing, but if she kept that to herself, he couldn't help. Not that it was his place, but being able to mend things would at least make him feel better.

"It's a lot," Victoria said, "everything that's going on. The campaign." 

"We'll see how that goes tonight." The vote wouldn't be for some months, but tonight's debate would go a long way in deciding the outcome.

"Now you are trying to scare me," Victoria said. Her chest heaved like that of a victim in some old vampire movie.

"No," Orchid said. He really hadn't meant it that time. "But you'll just have to trust that we're on the same side."

"You want what is best for the Darkling in Pakistan."

Orchid nodded. He knew already Victoria supported their cause. "I should be going now," he told her, "breakfast appointment. Shall I walk you to your room, or leave with the boys here?"

He saw Victoria's eyes focus beyond him where David slept. "Would you mind my company, Morpheus?" Victoria asked.

"I never mind company," Morpheus said.

"He'll tell you a story if you catch him in the right mood," Orchid said. "Ask him if he's in the mood."

"Are you in the mood?" Victoria whispered.

Morpheus looked to Orchid as he answered, "Always." Then he looked to Victoria and added, "I'm not bad at listening, either."

Orchid mimed a kiss and then he left the room.

He found Ahmed at his table in the hotel restaurant. Ahmed had obviously been sitting there most of the morning. He had several old glasses about him and a waiter was only then replacing them with clean glasses and new pitcher of juice. Ahmed looked up, raised a hand, then looked down. His notebook was on the table before him.

Orchid sat across from him. The man looked unrested. "Are you quite sure you want to talk to me now?" Orchid asked.

Ahmed went right to his point, rather than answer. "It is one thing to support something, another yet to make it happen for the people."

"Of course."

"I think I know now what I will be saying tonight. I mean, I have discovered what I want to support, and what I won't. I fear this is not the way to win, though."

"Have you ever heard a politician say that they will or had lied in order to get into office because only once they were in could they make a difference?"

"I suppose so."

"I do not believe in that, myself. I believe that if you are right, it will be seen. Granted this may not happen until years after your death, but the truth does get seen. What you need is to have the truth seen: that is, Jinnah, if you do honestly want what is best for all the people."

"And that is what you're here for, to discover which candidate wants that."

Orchid just smiled. Ahmed didn't really see the entire picture, not quite.

"You performed for Affan."

"Ah, you had Sidi follow us!" Orchid gazed at Ahmed. "What of it?" He sat back and lit a cigarette.

"Does it make you trust him more or less? And didn't you know back in Karachi that it was going to be him?"

"I won't say who I trust. But, of course, I had an inkling. I know a lot of things I remain quiet about, Ahmed."

"Fortunately." Ahmed pressed his lips together.

A waiter came to their table. He stared wide-eyed at Orchid's hand, hesitant to speak.

"What is it?" Ahmed demanded.

"There is no smoking allowed."

Orchid ground the cigarette out on the table as he held the waiter's eyes with his.

"Can I bring you anything to eat?" The waiter asked.

"I. Won't. Be. Eating," Orchid said.

Ahmed gave a certain nod to the waiter and he hurried away. Ahmed looked then to Orchid. "Do you need to go from here?"

"It's all right," Orchid said, but there was a new scent in the air, or maybe one easier to smell with the smoke clearing. Faint...but he was sure it was blood.

"Is something wrong?" Ahmed asked.

"Someone was a little rough with you recently."

---

Secret: I'm not even sure if they specified if their meeting was to be over breakfast or lunch.