by Tim Dennis
"Not interfering," Gabrile snapped, "we observe. That is all."
"Well if you 'observe' on these other planets the way you've 'observed' on Legong we're all in trouble!" Myles shot back.
Before anyone could intervene Gabrile rose to the challenge. "If you're so opposed to observing other cultures perhaps you're not suited to being an Envoy."
This shut Myles up, temporarily, and the diners continued the meal in tense silence. After a suitable time had passed, ToEv re-opened conversation. "What did Sach show you today? In regards to the snow, I mean."
Myles accepted the gesture, answering quickly. "Ha! Yes, it was wonderful. There were children using the snow to build statues of people, and walls. They crouched behind them, throwing hard-packed balls of the stuff at each other. A well landed-hit would explode, like a meteor on Legong. You know, I almost wish kids on my world could experience that. But it's so cold."
"Yes." ToEv replied. "It can be quite a terrible thing if you're not prepared for it. Could you imagine what Legong would do with great masses of it? It could bury them, they're so totally unprepared."
"He's making a metaphor about Earth being buried in Legongs." Pig said.
I got it. Myles lied to himself.
"Yes, Myles." Continued ToEv. "We spy. We try to learn as much as possible from a distance, but once we actually enter the society, well, we cannot always predict how colonists will react to meeting us."
"I know you're not to blame for what's happened on Legong. It's just a little hard to take, you know? Being spied on, and by someone whose technology is not that far advanced but who seem to be able to use it so much more effectively. It's intimidating, even shaming to some."
Sach wanted to reach out to him, comfort him. Gabrile noticed and quickly intervened with a question, addressing Myles as a peer, perhaps more than he merited. "The question that comes to mind is you, Myles, what do you think, how do you see the situation? How might you have gone about things differently?"
He thought about it as Nafasi sent the dinner plates away. "I don't know. Perhaps the problem isn't your approach but your 'evolution.' You say it makes you different in a way that makes it hard for you to understand and predict colonial people's psyches. Maybe it works the other way, too. Maybe you stand out too much. Maybe you appear to them, at some subconscious level, as too different to trust. Maybe it's just not possible for people like you to blend in on colonial planets, to be accepted."
This seemed to impress his hosts, all four of whom responded with broad and silent smiles.
That conversation ended, which suited Myles, and Gabrile and Nafasi left for the kitchen to collect desert. ToEv brought out the inevitable beverage tray and all resentment and animosity was washed away. With the sky dark and starry, ToEv and Gabrile departed. Nafasi stayed a little longer, sharing with Myles his experience in the Recovery-Tank and letting him examine the fresh skin and thickening hair. Sach listened without participating in the converstaion.
Feeling the warmth of the evening, Myles decided to stay the night, his previous lodgings still unoccupied at the edge of the trees. Before turning in he went to the lake, sitting on the sand at the limit of the gently lapping waves, his bottom damp, his toes occasionally wetted. Sach sat on the sand beside him.
"You see, it's bigger now." Sach pointed up at the distant tangled Legong-Rip slipping below the horizon. "They're pouring energy into it, trying to keep it open and stable."
Myles didn't turn. He'd had enough of politics for the night, but the nearness of Sach couldn't prevent his mind from wandering. He imagined Harry on Earth, rushing to and fro, topping up cups, giving away samples. He felt lonely. Sach was staring. Her eyes dark brown, her skin almost black, her arms and legs smooth and graceful. Harry faded, replaced by Bento.
"Wanna go for a swim?" The words were out before the thought had fully formed in Myles's head.
Sach smiled and stood, dropping her dress to become only slightly more naked than while she was wearing it. Myles looked up at her for a moment, then started on the task of removing his own layers of clothing. His shirt he tossed up the beach, his pants he let fall in the damp sand. A step towards the water and his left foot tangled in a pant leg. He jerked it, tripped, doing a twist as he fell forward. Sach caught him with two arms, laughing and holding him up as he regained his balance. She smelled clean, but of-the-world, not perfumed or soapy. Myles balance with a hand on her shoulder as he freed himself from his underpants. It was dark enough now to hide Myles's insecurities. Not quite fit by Legong standards, he felt barely human compared to his hosts.
Sach took Myles by the hand and they walked out into the water. He couldn't help but rise to the tips of his toes as the water reached his dangly bits. Sach laughed again.
"It's cold." He said.
"No it isn't." Sach gave Myles a push, toppling him backwards with ease, then slumped into the water up to her neck. Myles bobbed back to the surface with cupped hands, thrusting a wave of water in her face. She submerged and popped back up, smoothing her hair back and squirting a perfectly aimed stream of water onto his forehead.
Myles ducked, misjudging the wave motion and getting a mouthful. He stood and choked it out and for a brief moment was transported back to the buoy, the pig, and the pig roast. Sach looked at him with a wrinkled brow. Myles grabbed her around the waist, pulled her to him and kissed her.
Sach didn't pull away, but neither did she kiss him back. They stood there, touching but not quite embracing. Myles let go of her. "I'm sorry, it's, it's been an emotional day for me."
"It's OK Myles." She reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder. "But perhaps we should go back to the lanai."
"No. I, I'm going back to my hut."
"You're sending yourself to your room?" Pig spat out the apple Myles's moment of fantasy had placed in its mouth and drew the steel rod of the barbecue spit from his back.
Shut up.
"OK." She said. "Then I'll see you in the morning. Perhaps tomorrow we'll go somewhere warmer."
Ooh! Is that an offer?
"Yeah. Of more sight-seeing," said Pig.
Better than nothing.
Myles gathered his clothes from the sand and drip-dried his way across the clearing to the hut. When he reached where the path forked, he paused and looked back at Sach, drying herself outside the lanai.
Myles settled into his room and fell deeply asleep, and despite his awkward advance, had no trouble casting Sach in his dreams. In the world of fantasy things progressed easily, and on the verge of consummation Gwirionedd joined them.
"Myles. Please." She said.
His body rocked in a delicious motion as fantasy-Sach welcomed Gwirionedd into their coupling.
"Now Myles." Gwirionedd insisted.
The movements grew more rapid, he was pressed deeper into the mattress only to bounce more highly out of it. The sky turned red, Myles squinted. Sach was gone. Gwirionedd's voice remained.
"Your people have returned. ToEv thinks it right that you should be with them now."
Myles opened his eyes and sat up. Gwirionedd was what passed for fully dressed at the lake compound. The room was dimly lit. Through the curtains Myles could see first light.
"What time is it?"
"Here? Five in the morning. But it is ten at the meeting place."
Gwirionedd sat on the edge of his bed, her hip against his thigh. The thin sheet formed a tent, lofted by Myles's fantasy. "I need to dress."
She got up and riffled through the wardrobe, coming back with colorful pair of underwear. "These will look nice!" She held them up, tenting them to match Myles's sheet, which instantly deflated. Gwirionedd pulled his foot from under the sheet and slipped the bright red underpants over it. Myles grabbed the sheet and the foot.
"I can do it!"
"Then do it quickly!"
49
Once again Councilor Six was absent from the Council Chamber. Five sat quiescently at the far end, allowing Seven to hold the floor.
"Your Agent, this Advocate Tugot, has failed to provide any intel of value." Seven said.
"He's not my Agent," countered Krykowfert.
"He's listed on your rolls as an Envoy to Earth."
"I made him an Advocate for Earthers on Legong for the purposes of securing the opening to Eden, which he did. His actions after that are of no consequence to Shield Guard."
"But the man is on Earth," Councilor Three chimed in, "presenting himself to their administration as an Envoy. His actions have consequences to Six's Earth Mission."
Krykowfert ignored the Council, turning inward to accept an implant link from Feric.
"Mallick is on F'Ark Four." She thought at him.
"I'm stuck in Council. Hold him there until I can get back."
"Is the Director too busy to attend the Council?" Five had always been the peacemaker, but even her patience had a limit.
"The Director," Krykowfert said, referring to himself in the third person, "is hardly a Director anymore. You've stripped me of personnel and resources, ignored my advice and warnings, and chosen this ridiculous conflict with Earth over our true destination, Eden."
"You make an important point." Seven waved Krykowfert aside and filled the space where he stood with images of the Eden Rip, Eden itself, and the K-Arks being manufactured in the space between. "The Council has voted to - temporarily - transfer these five Arks you are building to Six's command."
Krykowfert looked to Five at the far end of the table. She turned her eyes away, feigning interest in Seven's display of data.
"Where did you get these images?" He asked.
"The Eden Project is a civilian endeavor," Five stated, "the Council monitors all such activities as a matter of course."
"The Eden Project is separate, not part of Shield Guard and falls outside the Council's budget control. It's funded and administrated through the settlements, through S.I.Div."
"S.I.Div. No longer exists." Seven said. "With the Council Guard in Earth-Space Surface Infrastructure Division has been called-up as a police force."
"This is treasonous!" Krykowfert couldn't restrain himself. "S.I.Div. is a neutral body forbidden by law from being separated from its primary task-"
"Of protecting and enhancing life on the surface of Legong," said Seven, "which it will continue to do in its new policing capacity."
Krykowfert fell back into a chair.
How many Arks has Feric finished? How many Diverter Bases are in position? He thought to himself, not risking an implant link.
"Director?" Five asked, rising from her chair and quieting Seven. "Are you alright, Director."
Krykowfert shot her a look of disgust, stood, straightened his tunic and exited the Council Chamber without taking leave.
50
A bubble-chair took Myles and Gwirionedd directly to the building used for the previous meetings, but to a different room. Myles stepped through the window. Gabrile, ToEv, Trendle and Nafasi were conferring over diaphanous plumes of color issuing from three little balls resting on a low table in the center of the room.
"He's here." Gabrile unenthusiastically announced.
ToEv dispersed the ribbons of color with a wave of his hand. "Myles, we have some questions for you."
"What's going on?"
Gabrile snapped her fingers. A tightly curled column of smoke extruded itself from the button, resolving into an image of Earth, the Rip, and hordes of Legong ships shuttling between the two.
"Your Councilor Six says we've been put under a blockade, that no Earth ships must leave the surface."
"I'm sorry." Said Myles.
Gabrile evinced an expression of shock.
"He feels responsible." Said ToEv.
Gabrile looked back at Myles with suspicion. "Have you played a role in this that we are not aware of?"
"I don't think so. I was just saying it's a shame, that things have gone this far."
She continued. "Myles. Mr. Tugot. Legong Envoy. We have spoken to your leadership several times, we've provided technical data underscoring our concerns, and we've even been able to point out specific errata in the Rip itself. Still your people refuse to acknowledge the danger. Before we close the Rip ourselves, is there anything you feel you can contribute?"
Myles thought carefully before speaking. "I think Krykowfert understands. But I only know Councilor Six by reputation, I can only guess at her motivations. What I can say is that the Colony is in crisis. It's never not been in crisis. We've kind of gotten used to it, but now that people on Legong see there are options, well, they want off."
"But you have Eden." Gabrile was genuinely confused.
"Yeah. Which Krykowfert has decided to fill with rejects and revolutionaries. Anyway, Krykowfert's out. Six wants Earth. I don't think she'll close the Rip until you agree to some degree of settlement. Maybe she does understand the danger. Maybe she's using it as a bargaining chip."
Trendle spoke directly to Myles. "The Rip, Myles, is not simply a danger to Earth. If your people fail to contain it, it can destroy both our systems."
"Like I said. Six wants Earth. If you won't have us back, she's not above denying it to you."
No one in the room spoke for a long time. Myles began to wonder if he'd gone too far, frightened them a little too much. He retraced the conversation, thinking of some way to soften what he'd already said. Gabrile went to the single doorway. ToEv stood by Myles.
"Come. We'll give it one last try." He said.
Four of them entered the hall, walked a short distance and entered the meeting room Myles had been in before. Sach and Chanly were sitting pensively at one end of the table while Pestano, Nod and Morgan sat at the other. Everyone turned to Myles. Pestano spoke.
"There is nothing Mr. Tugot can say in your favor. Our decision is final. You will soon see what we call Drop-Capsules entering your atmosphere. They will be carrying Council Guard Troops, and those troops will take control of this city and several others. They will be backed up by a second fleet of ships, similar to those that have successfully prevented your incursions back into Legong space. If you make any moves to prevent our actions, these ships will target your infrastructure."
Gabrile spoke in almost panicked strains. "We do not have the capacity to deal with such large a force as you are presenting to us. We did not anticipate such a thing, we have not got the facilities, we are not prepared. Explain this to your Councilor Six, she must change her mind."
Myles grabbed his hair and twisted it. "You're mad. You're all mad. This is an absurd escalation." Pestano shot him a shocked look. Each side of the table stared; at each other, at Myles, at the table. Pestano, Morgan and Nod all rose and marched from the room.
"Well that was worth the wait." Gabrile huffed and pushed her chair back from the table.
ToEv stole a glance at Myles and turned to her. "I thought it would be worth trying. They kept calling him 'Envoy' Tugot."
"Hey! I can hear you. I'm right here!" Myles said.
Chanly and Sach got up from the table and exited the room. Myles went to the window in time to see Pestano's ship lifting up from the square.
See, I told you there were five buildings.
Myles turned back around. "What are you going to do?"
Gabrile tapped a little ball that sat in the middle of the table.
That wasn't there a moment ago.
An image poured out of the thing and Myles could see Pestano's ship leaving the atmosphere and passing through the orbiting blockade.
"What are you going to do?" Myles repeated.
"We've made our wishes clear, we've explained our limitations." Said Gabrile. "They never should have come. This time the ships will not be allowed to land."
"Weren't you listening? You've seen what they can do. Last time they sent one ship, and only used side-arms. For centuries Legong has targeted and destroyed millions of asteroids using weapons far more powerful. If they bring to bear the full force of the destroyer fleet, well, even if you repel them they'll cause
massive damage. And I don't even know what Krykowfert's new ships are capable of."
Again Gabrile huffed. She and ToEv got up from their seats and walked to the door. ToEv turned to Myles. "We will close the Rip. You may stay Myles, or go. But you must decide quickly." ToEv lingered a moment longer. "We're sorry Myles. All of Earth wishes those ships had never come. What would you have us do? How do you feel about it?" ToEv followed Gabrile out.
The ball on the table continued emitting images of Pestano's ship. Myles could see that among the Destroyers and Transports Six had gotten her hands on many copies of Krykowfert's newer models.
If they just didn't have those ships... They never could have attempted an Earth landing without Krykowfert's ships.
Myles turned away from the little ball, walked to the window and looked up at the sky.
"What are you looking for?" asked Pig.
I don't know.
Ha! Look down there. Four buildings, not Five.
Myles focused on the square below. He was absolutely certain this time that there had been five buildings. Now there were four and that fourth building was glowing blue. Then it was gone. A rush of adrenaline surged through Myles's body.
Where's Gwirionedd's ship?
Pig stared at him and shrugged. Myles smacked his head on the glass trying to lean out the window to look.
OK. Calm down. Relax. I need a transport.
This ain't no implant pal...
Right. OK. I WANT out of here. Fast.
A rush of air indicated the window was now gone. Where it had been was now the top of a brightly colored chute, curving away into a gradually flattening spiral that ended in the middle of the square. The third building glowed a faint blue and disappeared.
"Ahhhh!!!" Myles let out an indecipherable moaning yelp and jumped around the room, stamping and waving his arms. "Not a slide, I want a ship."