Rama: The Omnibus

by Arthur C. Clarke

  Richard stopped as Archie and Dr. Blue entered together carrying a box about a meter tall that was wrapped with their parchment. The octospiders set their present down in a corner and stood at the side of the room. Ellie arrived a moment later, humming Mendelssohn's Wedding March. Nai followed her.

  Patrick's bride was wearing her Thai silk dress. It was adorned by the brilliant yellow and black flowers that the octospiders had given to Ellie. She had pinned them to the dress at strategic locations. Patrick rose to stand beside Nai in front of his mother. The couple held hands.

  Nicole had been asked to perform the ceremony, and to keep it as simple as possible. As she prepared to begin her brief statement, Nicole's mind was suddenly flooded by memories of other wedding days in her life. She saw Max and Eponine, Michael O'Toole and her daughter Simone, Robert and Ellie… Nicole shuddered involuntarily as the memory of the sound of gunshots intruded into her mind. Once again, Nicole thought, forcing herself to return to the present, we have gathered here together.

  She could barely speak. Nicole was overwhelmed by her feelings. This is my last wedding, she realized, almost thinking out loud. There will not be another.

  A tear ran down her left cheek. "Are you all right, Nicole?" the always sensitive bride asked quietly. Nicole nodded and smiled.

  "Friends," Nicole said, "we have joined together today to witness and celebrate the wedding of Patrick Ryan O'Toole and Nai Buatong Watanabe. Let us form a circle around them, locking arms to show our love and support for their marriage."

  Nicole gestured to the two octospiders as the circle was forming and they too put their tentacles around the humans beside them.

  "Do you, Patrick," Nicole said, her voice cracking, "take this woman, Nai, to love and cherish as your wife and partner in life?"

  "I do," said Patrick.

  "And do you, Nai," Nicole continued, "take this man, Patrick, to love and cherish as your husband and partner in life?"

  "I do," said Nai.

  "Then I announce that you are husband and wife." Patrick and Nai embraced, and everyone shouted. The newlyweds shared their first married hug with Nicole.

  "Did you ever talk to Patrick about sex?" Nicole asked Richard after the party was over and the crowd had dispersed.

  "No," said Richard. "Max volunteered. But it shouldn't be necessary. After all, Nai has been married before… Goodness, you were certainly emotional tonight. What was that all about?"

  Nicole smiled. "I was thinking about other weddings, Richard. Simone and Michael's, Ellie and Robert's…"

  "That's one I would like to forget," Richard said. "For many reasons."

  "I thought, during the ceremony, that I was crying because this was probably the last wedding I would ever attend. But later, during the party, I thought of something else. Has it ever bothered you, Richard, that we have never had an official ceremony?"

  "No," Richard said, shaking his head. "I had a ceremony with Sarah, and that was enough."

  "But you have had a wedding, Richard. I never have. I have given birth to children from three different fathers, but I have never once been a bride."

  Richard was silent for several seconds. "And you think that's why you were crying?"

  "Maybe," Nicole said. "I don't know for certain."

  Nicole walked around while Richard was in deep thought. "Wasn't that a magnificent statue of Buddha the octospiders gave to Nai?" she said. "The artistry was superb. I really thought both Archie and Dr. Blue were enjoying themselves. I wonder why Jamie came to get them so early—"

  "Would you like to have a wedding ceremony?" Richard asked suddenly.

  "At our age?" Nicole laughed. "We're already grandparents."

  "Still, if it would make you happy…"

  "Are you proposing to me, Richard Wakefield?"

  "I guess so," he said. "I wouldn't want you to be unhappy because you've never been a bride."

  Nicole crossed the room and kissed her husband. "It might be fun," she said. "But let's not plan anything until Patrick and Nai are settled. I wouldn't want to steal their limelight."

  Richard and Nicole walked toward the bedroom with their arms around each other. They were startled to find their passage blocked by Archie and Dr. Blue.

  "You must come with us right away," Archie said. 'This is an emergency."

  "Now?" Nicole replied. "At this hour?"

  "Yes," said Dr. Blue. "Only the two of you. The Chief Optimizer is waiting. She'll explain everything."

  Nicole felt her heart rate surge as the adrenaline poured into her system. "Do I need a coat?" she said. "Will we be leaving the city?"

  For some reason, Nicole's first thought had been that the summons was related to the child's cry that Richard had heard after his first visit to the Embryo Bank. Was the child sick? Perhaps dying? Then why weren't they going directly to the zoo, which was outside the dome, in the Alternate Domain?

  The Chief Optimizer and her staff were indeed waiting. Two chairs were in the room. As soon as Richard and Nicole were seated, the octospider leader started speaking in color.

  "We have a major crisis under way," she said, "one that could unfortunately lead to war between our two species." She waved a tentacle and video images began to appear on the wall. "Early today, two helicopters began ferrying human troops from the island of New York to the northernmost section of our domain, right next to the Cylindrical Sea. Our quadroid data indicate not only that your species is preparing to launch an assault against us, but also that your leader Nakamura has convinced the human populace that we are your enemy. He has obtained the support of the senate for the war effort and, in a comparatively short period of time, has created an arsenal that could inflict substantial damage on our colony."

  The Chief Optimizer stopped while Richard and Nicole watched video snapshots showing bombs, bazookas, and machine guns being manufactured in New Eden.

  "Investigative forays have been carried out during the last four days by small groups of humans on the ground and the pair of helicopters in the air. These reconnaissance missions have penetrated as far south as the barrier forest and have covered the entire cylindrical range of our territory. Almost thirty percent of our food, power, and water supply is contained in the region that the humans have reconnoitered.

  'There has been no combat, for we have offered no resistance to the exploration activities. We have, however, placed signs in key places, using what we know of your language, informing the human troops that the entire Southern Hemicylinder is the realm of another advanced, but peaceful, species, and requesting that the humans return to their own region. Our signs have been ignored.

  "Two days ago a troublesome incident occurred. While we were harvesting grain from one of our large fields, there was a helicopter overflight. The vehicle made a nearby landing and dispatched four soldiers. Without any provocation, these humans executed the three animals doing the harvesting—the same six-armed creatures the two of you saw on your initial tour of our domain—and set fire to the grain field. Since that incident, the content of our signs has changed, and we have made it clear that any other similar behavior will be considered an act of war.

  "Nevertheless, it is apparent from actions earlier today that our warnings have not been heeded and that your species is planning to start a conflict it cannot possibly win. I was today considering announcing a declaration of war, an extremely grave event in an octospider colony, with ramifications at every level of our society. Before I took the irreversible action, however, I consulted with those other optimizers whose opinions I most respected.

  "The majority of my staff favored the war declaration, seeing no way of convincing your fellow humans that a conflict with us would be a disaster for them. The octospider you call Archie, however, made a proposal to my staff that we think has some small probability of working. Even though our statistical analysts say war is still the most likely outcome, our principles demand that we do everything possible to avoid war. Since Archie's proposal requires your involveme
nt and cooperation, we have called you here tonight."

  The Chief Optimizer stopped speaking in colors and shuffled to the side of the room. Richard and Nicole glanced at each other. "Did your translator follow all that?" she asked.

  "Most of it," Richard replied. "I certainly understand the gist of the situation. Do you have any questions? Or should we suggest they proceed with Archie's proposal?"

  When Nicole didn't say anything Archie moved to the center of the room. "I have volunteered," their octospider friend said, "to negotiate personally with the human leaders in an attempt to stop this conflict before it escalates into full-scale war. To accomplish this, however, I must obviously have some help. If I suddenly appear in the camp of the human soldiers, they will kill me. Even if they do not, they will have no way of understanding what I am telling them. So some human who understands our language must accompany me to translate my colors or there's no way that a meaningful dialogue can be started."

  After Richard and Nicole told the Chief Optimizer that they had no disagreement with the basic concept proposed by Archie, the two humans and their octospider colleague were left alone to discuss the details. Archie's idea was straightforward. Nicole and he would approach the camp near the Cylindrical Sea together and would request a meeting with Nakamura and the other human leaders. At that meeting Archie and Nicole would explain that the octospiders were a peace-loving species who had no territorial claims on the north side of the Cylindrical Sea. Archie would request that the humans withdraw from their camp and cease their overflights. If necessary, as a token of the goodwill of the octospiders, Archie would offer to supply quantities of food and water to help the humans through their current difficulties. A permanent relationship between the two species would be established and a treaty drafted to codify the agreement.

  "Jesus," Richard said after he finished translating Archie's comments. "And I thought Nicole was an idealist!"

  Archie did not understand Richard's remark. Nicole patiently explained to the octospider that the leaders of New Eden were not likely to be as reasonable as Archie was assuming. "It is entirely possible," Nicole said, to stress the danger of what Archie was proposing, "that they will kill us both before we are ever allowed to say anything."

  Archie kept insisting that what he was proposing was bound to be accepted eventually because it was clearly in the best interests of the humans living in New Eden.

  "Look, Archie," Richard responded in frustration, "what you said is just not correct. There are many human beings, including Nakamura, who do not give a shit what is good for the colony. In fact, the common welfare is not even a factor in the subconscious objective function, to use your terms, that governs their behavior. All they care about is themselves. Every decision is weighed in terms of whether or not it will increase their own personal power or influence. In our history, leaders have often destroyed their own countries or colonies in attempts to retain their power."

  The octospider was stubborn. "What you are describing just cannot be true in an advanced species," Archie insisted. "The fundamental laws of evolution clearly indicate that those species whose primary value is the welfare of the group will outlast those in which the individual is supreme. Are you suggesting that human beings are an aberration of some kind, a freak of nature violating a fundamental—"

  Nicole interrupted. "This is all very interesting, you two," she said, "but we have some more pressing business. We must design a plan of action that has no pitfalls… Richard, if you don't like Archie's plan, what do you suggest?"

  Richard reflected for several seconds before speaking. "I believe that Nakamura has committed New Eden to this action against the octospiders for many reasons, one of which is to preclude criticism of the domestic failures by his government. I do not think he will be dissuaded from his course unless the citizens are overwhelmingly against the war, and, I'm sorry to say, I don't think that will happen unless the colonists are convinced the war will be a disaster."

  "So you think threats are necessary?" Nicole said.

  "As a minimum. What would be perfect would be a demonstration of military might by the octospiders," Richard said.

  "I'm afraid that's impossible," Archie commented, "at least under the current circumstances."

  "Why?" Richard asked. "The Chief Optimizer spoke with confidence about winning any war that might occur. If you were to attack and utterly destroy that camp—"

  "Now it is you who do not understand us," Archie said. "Because war, or any conflict that can result in deliberate deaths, is such a nonoptimal way of resolving disputes, our colony has very strict regulations governing concerted hostile actions. Controls are built into our society to make war absolutely the solution of the last resort. We have no standing army and no stockpile of weapons, for example. And there are other restraints as well. All optimizers participating in a decision to declare war, as well as all octospiders engaging in an armed conflict, are immediately terminated after the war."

  "Whaaat?" said Richard, not believing his translator. "That's not possible."

  "Yes, it is," Archie said. "As you can imagine, these factors significantly deter our participation in nondefensive hostilities. The Chief Optimizer knows that she signed her own death warrant two weeks ago when she authorized the beginning of war preparations. All eighty of the octospiders now living and working in the War Domain will be terminated when this war is either concluded or the threat of war has officially passed… I myself, since I was part of the discussions today, will be placed on the termination lists if war is declared."

  Richard and Nicole were speechless. "The only possible justification for war to an octospider," Archie continued, "is an unambiguous threat to the very survival of the colony. Once that threat is identified and acknowledged, our species undergoes a metamorphosis and prosecutes the war, without mercy, until either the threat is obliterated or our colony has been destroyed. Generations ago, some very wise optimizers realized that those individual octospiders who were engaged in killing, and the design of killing, were so psychologically altered by their experiences that they became a significant detriment to the operation of a peaceful colony. That's why the termination codicils were enacted."

  Richard and Nicole were still silent even after Archie had finished talking. At length Richard started to ask Archie to leave the room so that he could speak privately to his wife, but he quickly remembered the ubiquitous quadroids. "Nicole, darling," he said finally, "I don't think Archie's plan is quite right for several reasons. For one thing, I should be going with him instead of you—"

  When Nicole started to interrupt, Richard gestured with his hands for her to remain quiet, "Now hear me out," he said. "Throughout our marriage, especially since we left the Node, you have always been the one out front, giving of your time and energy for the benefit of the family or the colony. Now it's my turn. In this particular instance, I believe that I am also better suited to the proposed task. I can more easily scare our fellow humans by conjuring up images of doomsday blows delivered by the octospiders."

  "But you don't speak their language well," Nicole protested. "Without your translator—"

  "I've thought about that," Richard said. "And I think that Ellie and Nikki should go with Archie and me. First, with a child among us, the probability that we will be killed by the advance force is significantly reduced. Second, Ellie is completely fluent in the octospider language and can back me up if my translator is either not available or inadequate. Third, and this may be the most important reason, the only crime that Nakamura and his minions can possibly be attributing to the octospiders is Ellie's kidnapping. If she shows up, healthy and praising the alien enemy, then the war effort will be undermined."

  Nicole frowned. "I don't like the idea of Nikki going along. It's much too dangerous. I would never forgive myself if something happened to that child."

  "Nor would I," Richard said. "But I don't think Ellie will go without her… Nicole, there are no good plans. We will be forced to choose the
least unsatisfactory option."

  During a brief pause in the conversation Archie spoke in color. "Richard's points are all excellent," the octospider said to Nicole. "And there is one additional reason why it might be better for you to remain here in the Emerald City—the rest of the humans who stay behind will need your leadership in the difficult days ahead."

  Nicole's mind was racing. She had not been prepared for Richard to volunteer to go. "Are you telling me, Archie," she said, "that you endorse Richard's suggestions, including taking Ellie and Nikki with you?"

  "Yes," the octospider replied.

  "But Richard," Nicole then said, turning to her husband, "you know how you hate what you call political crap. Are you certain you have thought this through?"

  Richard nodded. Nicole shrugged. "All right, then," she said. "We'll talk to Ellie. If she agrees, we have a plan."

  The Chief Optimizer thought that the amended proposal had some chance of success, but felt compelled to remind everyone that, based on the detailed octospider analysis of the likely outcome, there was still a high probability that both Archie and Richard would be killed, and a nonzero chance that Ellie and Nikki would not survive as well. Nicole's heart skipped a beat when she translated the octospider leader's reminder. The Chief Optimizer was not telling her anything that Nicole did not already know; however, Nicole had been so involved in the planning and discussions that she had not yet confronted any of the likely outcomes of their decisions.

  Nicole said very little while the principals all agreed upon a baseline timetable. When she heard Richard say that Archie and he, with or without Ellie and Nikki, would leave the Emerald City one tert after dawn the next day, Nicole shuddered. Tomorrow, flashed quickly through her mind. Tomorrow our lives will change again.