The Octagonal Raven

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  “Unfortunately not. Your business depends pretty heavily on monoclones, I understand. Or its profitability does, I suspect.”

  “It does play a part, Daryn. Everyone knows that.” He shrugged. “I wish we could do without them, but the Collapse cultures left such a mess.…”

  I nodded before continuing. “You know that popular opinion is, shall we say, ambivalent about monoclones. And that benign ambivalence is supported by lack of publicity on their uses?”

  “That’s also a given.” He paused. “You must have a point, Daryn, but it’s too subtle for me.”

  “Lately … someone has been using monoclones as walking bombs, targeted at various individuals. It’s taken me a little while to come up with documentation, but it appears as though they all come from BGP, and if I’m not mistaken, that’s the outfit that supplies you.”

  Tondrol looked honestly appalled, and although I was watching through a scanned screen, I had the feeling he wasn’t acting, or not much.

  “It wouldn’t take much of an outcry to require far greater restrictions — or perhaps a ban.…” I said gently.

  “You’re not suggesting that UniComm …”

  “Right now, I’m not planning anything. I don’t like things being banned, because then they go underground and no one has any control. I am suggesting that if this misuse of monoclones continues, life will get a lot harder for both BGP and you, and probably more than a few others. This will lead to more restrictions and more rules and won’t solve any problems. Or it won’t, and more people will get the idea that the only solution to their problems is to ignore the system and take the law into their own hands. Either way, it’s not good.”

  “And you’d like me to contact Emyl at BGP and see what we can do?” Tondrol’s eyebrows lifted.

  “Well … if something isn’t done quickly, I’m not sure you’ll have any real options,” I pointed out.

  The round-faced Tondrol fingered his chin. “I won’t promise anything, except that I’ll look into it.”

  “You remember the induction tube explosion in Mancha several weeks ago?”

  “Oh … that was the one … your sister … I’m so sorry.”

  “That was the first public use of explosive monoclones. If BGP doesn’t put a stop to it … well … can you imagine how the secretary director might feel if someone pointed out that a monoclone could be used against anyone, including him, and that body-shields don’t provide adequate protection?” I paused. “Or how it might come out that BGP was creating people, not to do dirty jobs, but to blow up other people?”

  “Daryn, you do have a way of making a point. I will look into it, and, if matters appear as you say, then I’ll talk to Emyl.”

  “I appreciate it, Rynold. But you’ll benefit as much as anyone, if not more.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right.” He offered a twisted smile, that faded. “And I am sorry about your family.”

  “Thank you.”

  Again, I just looked at the cherry bookcase for a few moments.

  Tondrol understood my point, but he was vulnerable. I had my doubts as to whether Deng, Escher, Dymke, St. Cyril, and TanUy had any interest in self-restraint … or the public interest.

  I was fighting people who had skill and resources and patience and experience. If I tried to retaliate in kind, I’d either be dead or incarcerated, and then released as a brain-damped imbecile.

  Sitting behind the cherry wood desk from which my father had enjoyed exercising power so much, I couldn’t help but wonder if the average norms felt the way I did at the moment — except I had the feeling that some had felt that way all their lives.

  * * *

  Chapter 71

  Kewood

  * * *

  I moistened my lips and stepped into the large UniComm conference room — the one on the lower level just below the office that had been Gerrat’s. I looked at the nearly two dozen or so skeptical faces, and then at the three CAs standing just inside the door.

  The CA truth team in their off-white and gray uniforms looked very disconcerted and nervous. I probably did as well.

  I looked at the presenters and researchers, then toward Feron Nasaki. I offered a smile. “I’m sure all of you are wondering what on earth you’re doing with a CA truth team here, and what awful deeds the new director general suspects you of.” I shook my head. “It’s nothing like that. You’re not suspected of anything. All I’ll be asking of you today is to use your brains and your skepticism. As some of you know, there have been several attempts on my life, and my older sister was killed in a mysterious tube train explosion. These have been verified with hard evidence by the CAs.”

  Several people exchanged glances, ranging from “so what?” to straight confusion.

  “I have evidence and a number of leads on what may be the biggest news story of the century. I’m going to assign you to look into this story and to develop stories that flesh it out.” I looked around the room once more. “I don’t want anyone believing that this is a cynical, management-serving ploy. The issue is too important.” I nodded to Feron.

  He began to pass out the handouts Majora and I had prepared.

  “As you will see, much of the information here rests at least in part on my credibility. Because I’m asking you to undertake a unique project, I believe you have the right to ask any questions of me about this, and to be assured of my knowledge and motivations.” I nodded to the truth team. “I am the one who will be subject to truth verification, and you will do the questioning. The reason why the CAs are doing this is that it is known that they are unbiased. We had to get a legal opinion and an approval from the local advocate general.” I walked toward the chair at the end of the long table and seated myself, nodding to the medtech.

  “You realize you don’t have to do this, ser?” asked the taller CA behind the tech.

  I did, even if not legally. “I understand.”

  “Oh,” I added. “I am making one stipulation, and I will fire anyone who doesn’t honor it.”

  The faces turned hostile.

  “Everything I say here is what I believe, and based on my personal experience. You may not present or broadcast anything that you cannot back up with outside research. That is all.” I smiled, lopsidedly. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble with that. Even though I believe that our entire society is under a threat … UniComm cannot present that unless we can prove each element factually.”

  There were a few murmurs, and some of the faces relaxed … slightly.

  “I’m also making general request of all of you,” I said, emphasizing the word “request.” “I’d hope that your questions will bear on the UniComm situation in one way or another, and that your questions be devoted to bringing out the truth. That’s all.”

  “… that one fair enough …”

  “… what’s the hook?”

  I waited for the inhaler mask, then took a deep breath, as the tech studied the portable screen. After several minutes, the tech nodded. First came the baseline questions from the CAs. Finally, one turned to Feron and nodded.

  “You may begin to offer your questions,” Feron announced, pointing to a gray-haired norm halfway down the table.

  “Director Alwyn, why are you doing this, effectively waiving privacy in a public forum?”

  I had to think, not about the answer, but about making sure I was being totally honest, because I couldn’t afford to convey any doubts. “First, the truth is my best defense against a group of pre-selects who wish to remove me, take over UniComm, and use its power to change the Federal Union. They have already murdered my sister, and I believe that their efforts led to the plague that killed my brother and father. Any other way than what I propose might involve some form of illegality, and I don’t wish to stoop to the tactics of my enemies. That’s because I’ve tried to spend my life not being like that or that kind of person, and also, practically speaking, because they’re far better at it. Second, if I made a statement like that without your understand
ing that I am telling the truth as I see it, I doubt that any of you would believe it. Third, I am betting that after hearing me you will at least be motivated to look into the issues we cover here. Fourth, I want you to understand the situation and the stakes, and I hope that I can convince you how important your role is in analyzing and reporting it.”

  The questioner glanced at the CA tech.

  “He’s totally in the green,” the CA murmured.

  “Are you under any form of drugs that would block the monitoring?” asked a balding and stout norm.

  “No … and I hope there aren’t any anywhere. I certainly don’t know of any.” The question was stupid, yet dangerous, because if there were then the whole thing was a farce, and I was in huge trouble, but I didn’t know of anything.

  “His physiological reactions are normal,” the taller CA replied. “The Union hasn’t ever found a blocking drug that works without abnormal physiological reactions.”

  I almost could have hugged the taller CA for that.

  “You claim that this shadow group is attempting to change the Federal Union, and that they are trying to take over UniComm, and that their efforts have killed off most of your family. Do you really expect anyone to believe that?”

  “Not unless I did something this drastic. I’ve felt almost helpless for months. You may recall that someone attempted to kill me with a laser several months ago. I took the incident to the CAs. They found the laser unit — and that’s all they found. Someone else arranged for a wall to fall on me. Believe me, I don’t go around pulling heavy stone walls down on myself, but the CAs couldn’t find any evidence.” I paused as a faint whisper of laughter went around the room. “They still have no idea who blew up the tube train that killed my sister. After three months, there have been four attempts on my life, my sister is dead, and so are both my father and my brother. The norm scientist who claimed he was responsible for the plague is dead, and so is his wife. I may not have hard proof of everything, but no one in this room can deny the physical evidence and the dead bodies.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “How could anyone really change the Federal Union, Director?”

  “It’s simple, very indirect, and very effective. You all know about perceptual testing. There’s been a controversy about it for some time. Unlike other forms of testing, it requires a very controlled situation and elaborate preparations. Also, unlike other forms of testing, pre-selects have an even greater advantage. And, most important, the literature indicates that improper background situations can actually be used to modify the test subjects’ attitudes. Even without modification, the test can outline the subjects’ predilections and point out ways to manipulate their attitudes. Now … can you imagine what would happen if all students were perceptually tested and if all the major nets with over seventy percent of population exposure hours were in the control of the pre-selects who already controlled and monitored the attitude of —”

  “Wait a minute Why hasn’t anyone mentioned this?”

  “They have. I was taught about it in college. It’s in the literature. Oh … and by the way, you might want to check the connections between a certain Darwyn TanUy and his grandfather … or great-grandfather. The younger TanUy has been most active in this movement to take over the media outlets and push for perceptual testing. The elder TanUy was one of those who established the current form of the test.”

  By now, fingers were inputting notes, and the whispers had died away.

  “Did the stakeholders’ meeting have anything to do with this alleged conspiracy?”

  “I believe it did.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know all of those involved in the effort. Most of the ones I’ve identified have been associated with the so-called PST group … or the PST Trust. The PST Trust organized many of the stakeholders to call the meeting, and the purpose was to replace the leadership of UniComm in order to facilitate a takeover, probably by OneCys.”

  “So … you’re using us to stop a takeover?”

  “No. I control more than half the stock absolutely. I’m trying to persuade you to look at how control of close to seventy percent of the media market catering to norms could be misused to allow changes in the Federal Union that would not be in your interests. In the short term, I could agree to all of this and probably all attacks on me would stop. That wouldn’t be right, but I could do it.”

  “How can you sit there and expect us to believe this crap?”

  “That why I’m under truth nanites,” I pointed out. “Most pre-selects wouldn’t waive privacy if their lives depended on it — or unless they did.”

  “Just what is this threat?”

  I’d already answered that one, but I guessed I had to again. “If perceptual testing is mandated in all schools, all those students who get the best education will not only be open to attitude manipulation, but the best education will become almost closed to all norms, no matter how brilliant, because perceptual tests can be skewed to get such a result with almost no easy way to determine that such manipulation is taking place. With the media effectively in the hands of the group mandating the tests, and with the majority of advocates general being pre-selects, the chances of any practical challenge to educational changes would be very low.”

  “Why do you want us to pursue this?”

  “Because, except through the media, my hands are tied as effectively as any norm’s.”

  “Do you think you’re better than norms?”

  “I have more ability than many, but norms like Seglend Krindottir and Eldyn Nyhal are probably more capable than I am.”

  “Just who are these pre-selects you think are conspiring against norms and you?”

  “The names of which I’m fairly certain are Darwin TanUy, Grant Escher, Mutumbe Dymke, Anya St. Cyril, and Imayl Deng. There may be others; there may not be. I don’t know.”

  “You don’t have any hesitation naming people?”

  “As I noted before, I reserve the right to fire any of you who broadcast those names unless you have documentary backup beyond what I’ve told you. This meeting is not to give you carte blanche to attack people, but to give you the background and understanding of the situation. You still have to find the story and go through the proper procedures.”

  This time, there were head nods around the room.

  “Aren’t you sending us out to do your dirty work?”

  “I wouldn’t call it dirty work. If I’m right, our system is threatened with an indirect takeover by a handful of pre-selects. That’s tyranny. If I’m wrong, then you get paid to prove it, and the advisory board will doubtless meet to discuss my removal, and I chalk up a half-dozen deaths within two months to a series of miraculous coincidences and bad luck.”

  “Why didn’t you just assign a few people?”

  “Because time is short, and because all of you would probably get the idea that I was trying to manipulate you.” I smiled. “I have to admit that I do want you to look into this, but it’s not just because my own family has been hurt so badly. I do believe that our future society is at stake.…”

  “Don’t all people with power rationalize their actions the way you are?”

  “It’s very possible. That’s why I’ve insisted you be able to prove anything independently. You have a great opportunity. You can either prove that your boss is wrong, with my blessing, or you can save our society.” I smiled. “How often do you get a chance like that?”

  That did bring a round of laughter, for which I was grateful.

  “Director Alwyn … you’re making serious charges.…”

  “They’re very serious. So are explosions in tube trains that kill dozens of innocent bystanders, and a series of attempted murders.”

  “But why don’t you leave this to the Civil Authorities?”

  “I have — for the last three months. In the meantime, we’ve had more deaths, a pre-select plague, and they have no idea who or what is involved. That’s one of the great stre
ngths and weaknesses of our current system. The CA’s can’t act without hard evidence. That protects our civil rights. But those with great resources have the ability to remove hard evidence without the CAs finding out. The only remaining bulwarks against that abuse of power are the nets. Well … if all the nets are controlled by the same men and women … what happens to the protection provided by the media?”

  “You aren’t saying …”

  “I’ll put it a different way. At the stakeholders’ meeting, the PST Trust and several teams of advocates for various pre-selects all opposed my becoming director general. The Society of Dynae, the NeoLudds, and OpenWay all supported me. Can you recall the last time any of those organizations supported a pre-select? Any time all of them agreed?”

  That also got a few nods.

  “Director Alwyn … why hasn’t anyone brought these issues up before?”

  “They have. I haven’t seen all the protests and the rallies — but you carried them. So did InstaNews. The Society of Dynae has issued statement after statement, most of them backed with good scholarly research.…”

  “How could this happen …?”

  “An old friend of mine pointed out some time ago that the unsolved crimes today only require resources, skill, and patience. A repairman works on a wall; the skytors note it. Three weeks pass and the loop is recorded over. A week later, the laser unit fires at my glider. Every part in the unit is standard, and they track to equipment that was scrapped, or lost, or theoretically destroyed months earlier. A monoclone’s self-destruct unit is enhanced. The clone is recorded as being destroyed for excessive cellular degeneration. Instead it is removed and reprogrammed, and it explodes on a tunnel train. Which of two hundred units being recorded as destroyed last year is it?”

  “You are talking as though these incidents actually occurred.”

  “They did. All the incidents I’ve mentioned are on the CAs’ records. They just can’t figure out who masterminded them or why.”