by Kir Lukovkin
Maya gasped by his side. It looked like she also saw a familiar face.
“Keeper Victoria,” the girl said in a small voice. “She is the head of the Order.”
“A wonderful lady,” Paris reported. “Intelligent, tactful and careful. It is a pleasure to work with her.”
Rick and Maya looked at him, waiting for an explanation.
“There were ten of them before,” Paris continued. “Not counting the Chairman or our Secretary. However, the Council became smaller with time. Lambda died out. Iota got assimilated by Zeta, Nu and Xi exterminated each other through raiding—we did not manage to solve the issue in time, and it was too late to interfere later.”
Rick and Maya could not think of what to say, so all they could do is keep listening.
“The Council gathers when the Government demands it every time when we find a situation to be sufficiently serious. I admit, that there were few situations of this kind over the last few years. In the past, the Council was not called together for decades, but it has been several days of Thermopolis buzzing like a disturbed wasp's nest. Today, we will speak of Cornelius' rebellion in sectors Sigma and Tau. Do you know anything about that?”
“We actually ran away from there right at the time of the mutant attack from the space between the aeons,” Maya replied.
“You were lucky. They say that men are being thrown right into the smelting ovens down there. Cornelius has many followers. That man is out of control. Possibly it was his fault that the Particle Accelerator has been turned on. We need him alive.” Paris was rubbing the wide, white palms of his hands. “Rick Omicron, do you understand that we are all united now?”
“Strange that we had to travel through half of the Expanse and hear this from you personally.”
Paris grimaced with displeasure, but admitted, “You are right. But there is no other way.”
“Why not?”
“That's a naive question. You are still too young, which is why it is difficult for you to understand certain things.”
“What things?” Rick started to get angry. “That people must be kept in sectors like pigs in a pen?”
He wanted to smash his fist into the narrow face of the Chairman.
“That is too much of a crude comparison, my friend,” Paris answered with his usual smile. “People are stupid and aggressive. They need to be controlled, or there will be chaos. To control a man, you need to be in charge of their thoughts. We have formed a system of order. If it was not for this system, you would have killed each other, torn each others throats out and fought for the last chunks of meat. You would have also ruined the space that we all share in our common home and turned Thermopolis into a real tomb. You have grown too savage in your sectors and you are not ready for freedom yet. In time, the people of Thermopolis will truly unite into one society and we will live as we did before. But we cannot be hasty. We must be careful. In this situation, any risk is the same as death. We all need to have patience and great wisdom.”
“Beautiful words,” Rick clapped his hands a couple of times, and the stabbed his hand out pointing at the man sitting at the table. “It's the same song sung to me by that scumbag Croesus, as he sat in his warm office while the children and the elderly were freezing on the lower levels! What will you say to that?”
“I agree,” Paris nodded. “Croesus must be removed. Your traditions require certain reforms, anyway. What if I offer you the position of Warden of the Omicron Commune?”
“What?” Rick was taken aback.
“Yes, yes,” Paris replied with a wave of his hand. “I must go, they are tired of waiting. Think about my offer, Rick Omicron. You can stay here and listen, and then I will return and we will go and have lunch together. Is that all right? Excellent!”
Paris descended into the corridor with a self-satisfied expression, entered the lobby and quickly went into the hall, where everybody rose from their seats in greeting.
Rick turned to Maya, finding is hard to think and asked, “Did I hear him right?”
“No,” she shook her head. “That's exactly what happened. He offered you one of the seats down there.”
“I can't believe it,” Rick muttered. “I can't get it through my head.”
“Yes, all of this is...” she cut herself short and offered, “I think we had better listen to them.
And they stood still by the barrier, holding hands. The representatives of the sectors were obviously hesitant in Paris' presence. They started off with a short report of the state of each of the sector. The fat man turned out to be the representative of sector Xi, the lowest one that was still inhabited and answered to the title of Commander. The man in gray represented sector Mu, which was still closed to the outside world and was addressed as Abbot. The gray haired old man was the King of sector Zeta. They all talked about the limited fuel supplies for their sector generators. The Church of Mu was in the best situation—they still had a whole fifteen percent of charge left. The Omicron Commune was the worst off. Croesus fidgeted in his seat and looked more nervous than the others, even though it was Arcadius who should have been worried because his sector was engulfed by a revolt. He had closed his eyes and seemed to be having a nap. And then, it was his turn to speak.
Arcadius gave a short account of the situation, describing the fight between Rick and Cornelius and the ensuing events. Paris listened, and his beatific smile never left his face. Rick understood that Paris smiled all the time he saw him, and the smile was either wide or only touching the corners of his mouth. He also understood that it was not really a smile.
Arcadius switched to the incident with the particle accelerator, but Paris raised his hand.
“Let's put that subject aside for now,” he said. “When will the revolt be suppressed?”
“The rebels have united with the mutants. They have taken over half of Sigma and the bottom levels of Tau, squeezing us like a vice...” Arcadius stopped, looking for the right words.
“That does not concern me,” Paris cut him off.
Everyone went still, not daring to move a muscle. It was as if the air had been pumped out of the hall.
“We,” Arcadius managed to rally his self-control, “take back the levels from them and throw them back out above. In two days.”
Paris was sitting very straight. His hand slowly rose from the table, as if overcome by laziness, and his finger aimed straight at the head of the rebellious sector.
“If the revolt will not be suppressed within two days, you shall leave your position and go straight to the ovens and fed as fuel into your reactor. Do you understand?”
Arcadius nodded.
“What did you want to say about the accelerator?”
Arcadius hurriedly related everything that happened after the ritual combat up to the scene in the office when Maya threatened them with a weapon. Paris leaned forward slightly.
“That is all, honored Chairman.”
Paris made Arcadius repeat everything about the part of the story with the chair in the technical room behind the control post, carefully asking about every small detail. It was like an interrogation. The Secretary impassively documented the proceedings in the corner. Finally, Paris leaned back in his chair and started to think. The members of the Council waited respectfully.
“Young Rick Omicron has launched the Uranus program. We will find out why he did this. The supporting rod of Thermopolis has been activated. The external shell of Thermopolis has been activated. Rick Omicron did all of this and it is all part of the Uranus program.” He looked at each Council member in turn. “But nothing terrible has happened. If it wasn't for the revolt, we would have sent down a technician with grade four access long ago and put things back to their initial state. The situation is under control. All we need to do is suppress Cornelius' revolt and stop the Uranus program.”
“Honored Chairman,” the fat man from sector Xi stated, as his chair creaked, “we are prepared to send out combat units to help Sigma and Tau. If the problem must be solve
d, we cannot accept defeat.”
“So how do you propose explaining the existence of neighbors above you to your people?”
“We have a couple of things prepared for that eventuality,” the far man grinned ferally.
“Thank you, Commander Gerard. We will avail ourselves of your help, depending on the situation. Be prepared.”
“Always!”
Everyone started to move to get up.
“We have not finished yet.” Paris stopped everyone with a wave of his hand. “I will take up your time for but another two minutes. This concerns the young Rick Omicron.” He settled his icy gaze on Croesus. “Could you please give us a hint as to how a person from the third aeon has grade four access to the machinery of the bottom aeon?”
The way that Croesus' bottom lip trembled could even be seen from above.
“He is the son of a woman from the upper levels. She was brought back from a raid on Lambda together with other women. I did that for the good of the Commune.” Croesus thought for a moment and added, “She was already pregnant, as it turned out later. I don't know from whom. She died of illness several years ago.”
“Lambda is also part of the third aeon,” Paris said. “That means that the woman was not born there but somehow came into the sector from outside. When did she arrive in Omicron?”
“Twenty years ago.”
“Thank you, Warden. If you remember anything about her, no matter what, please report to me. This is in your interest.”
“Of course, honored Chairman!” Croesus blurted out and then followed up by quietly, “Why d'you even care about that pup?”
Paris remained unperturbed and declared, “You are now free to go.”
The Council members hurriedly left the meeting hall. Paris turned to the Secretary. He was looking for something in his tabletop computer.
“Nothing, Chairman. No incidents, no perimeter violations. The number of citizens remained stable. All of the deaths and births are documented. Nobody left the aeon in the space of a year.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Paris' face reflected serious concern for the first time. Wrinkles appeared on his usually smooth forehead.
“I will need to talk to Rick Omicron himself. Maybe he remembers something.” With these words, he looked up, right at the spot where the two young people were standing.
Rick could not help recoiling from the barrier and exchanging glances with Maya.
“What is he trying to achieve?”
“Don't you understand?” Maya exclaimed. He needs to make you safe so you no one could ever start up the Uranus program again, whatever it may be.”
“We need to get out of here.” Rick looked around, looking for an exit. “Now I understand why he is so worried—he wants to hold on to his power. Why are you just standing there?”
“He is coming here!” Maya freed her hand from Rick's. “Wait. Let me think. Maybe he really does not want to harm us?”
“That doesn't depend on us. He is nice right now, but what will he be like tomorrow? Did you see his guards?”
Maya nodded.
“There you are.”
“He would not be so gentle with us and he would never let us listen in if we could run away from here. We would have guards following us every step of the way. Something tells me that running away is pointless.”
“Maybe you are right, but what are we to do? Wait until they start torturing us?”
“He's not going to torture us, he's not that kind of person...”
“Damn it!” Rick smashed his fist into the railings. “We missed our chance.”
“Missed your chance?” asked Paris from the doorway. “To do what? To run away? And why would you run, my friends?”
“Dear Rick and Maya,” Paris spread his hands, “I swear that no one will ever harm you, and you will live a happy and carefree life here. No one will lay a finger on you. You have already proven that you have the right to remain in the first aeon. We do not have slavery or dictatorship and everyone is free and equal, within the limits of the space we reside in. You can go anywhere you like in the aeon and choose any place you like for yourselves. You can be together and found a family line here. This is a golden opportunity for people from below to start afresh. Look at yourselves, you both young, strong and beautiful. Do not throw your future away.”
“It all sounds too good to be true,” Rick said. “I don't believe you.
“Then I have no idea how else I can demonstrate you my good intentions.” Paris seemed to be genuinely upset. “You have been lied to for too long, or this world has turned out to be too good, so good that you still can't accept it?”
Rick felt Maya's gaze upon him—it was seeking and questioning. It was full of doubt.
“I think I know what the problem is, Rick Omicron,” Paris said cheerfully. “But this issue was resolved as soon as you arrived here, while you were getting yourselves in order.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Follow me.”
“I am sick of following your every step!”
“We are just going to have lunch. You would be an idiot to deny yourself a meal. This is something that you need more than anyone. But if you decide to find out what it is, got to the west wing of floor 1045.”
Paris turned around and left. The blood was hammering in Rick's temples. He wanted to act immediately, but he did not know how.
“Rick, maybe we really are too suspicious...” Maya began and then fell silent.
He looked at her as if she had slapped him.
“What are you on about?” Rick swallowed. “We shouldn't even turn our backs to him!”
“He had a thousand opportunities to kill us, but he didn't do it.”
“Because he is in no hurry. When will you understand that he needs us?” Rick sliced through the air with his hand. “We are only alive because he thinks I know something!”
Maya narrowed her eyes into two thin slits.
“Oh mighty savior I believe I am interrupting you in your mission.”
“What are you talking about?”
He tried to take her by the hand, but Maya did not allow him and stepped back.
“Nothing.” She turned around and started walking away. “Leave me alone.”
“Where are you going? To him? Can't you understand that he wants us to argue? He wants to make us his pets, so that we obey him and the local customs. Maya!”
She did not reply and she did not stop. Rick swore incoherently in her direction and got into a fit of rage. He circled the balcony like a cornered beast and smashed his fist and leg into the barrier several times. Then he leaned on the railing, breathing heavily, and tried to calm down. He was fooled and tricked like a little kid. That Paris knew everything about him and he knew nothing about the Chairman.
Lick stood around leaning on the barrier for a little while and considering the facts of the matter. He let out a sigh and ambled towards the elevator. Having entered the cabin, he dialed in the floor he needed and descended. A familiar escort already waited for him in the corridor and took him to the big dining hall, and invited him to join the people at the table. There were three of them. It was not hard to recognize Paris and Maya, but the third was still hidden from sight behind the back of the Chairman. Paris turned his head and said, “Rick Omicron, at last! Join us, before the cake had gone completely cold.”
Rick approached the table, pulled out a chair, sat down and looked at Aurora.
“Hi,” his sister smiled. “I really missed you!”
18
RICK'S SENSE of alarm changed into wary anticipation. A day had passed since the meeting of the Government Council. It was late evening. Rick sat in his room, while Maya, Aurora and Paris were walking around the different floors and levels and entertaining themselves. They even tried to bring Rick along, but he was stubborn and refused to join them.
It was all the fault of Chairman Paris. He behaved as if he did not notice a
nything. Paris even tried to talk to him. Rick understood that the tactics the Chairman used were far more skillful and subtle than the direct threats of someone like Croesus. He often acted directly, but in this case, however you considered it, Paris had found his most vulnerable spot—Aurora. Rick understood that Paris was not openly threatening him and his sister, but should he go against him, his sister would become a hostage. It was not possible to act openly in such situations, he needed to think. Think. And think some more!
But the minutes passed, turning into hours, and Rick became increasingly sure that he had nothing to oppose Paris with. The Chairman only needed a reason to involve his armed guards in the situation and he had no chance against them. He should run! But where? Even if he managed to somehow quietly steal his sister away, they would immediately track them down, stop the elevators and that would be all, they would get caught. Running away was not a solution.
Rick gradually started to hate himself for having increasingly frequent thought of surrendering to his fate and somehow arrange things for the future, basically, to go to Paris and give himself up to his mercy. And all for his sister, that was his main justification.
If his mother was by his side, she would probably have found the right words and calmed him down. Rick took the talisman from his neck—a cross-shaped, black piece of metal, which was the only thing that reminded him of his mother.