by C. J. Ryan
“As you may expect, I disagreed with her. But I believe that she did have a point, and it is one that I have pondered, and that all Spiritists would do well to keep in mind. We are a diverse Empire, with many species, many beliefs, many points of view. Even though we Spiritists constitute some seventy percent of the population, we cannot simply ignore the deeply held beliefs and attitudes of the other thirty percent. Just as we may consider many of their beliefs to be silly or oppressive or simply wrong, many of them find our beliefs and behavior to be profoundly offensive. What are we to do about this?
“Well, we could exterminate them. Wipe out the infidel minority who disagree with us. Throughout the course of history, many groups have tried to do just that, when confronted with nonbelievers. But the Spirit counseled not only Joy, but Peace, so that option is closed to us, as it obviously should be.
“Nor can we forcibly convert those who disagree, for the Spirit also taught us Compassion, Tolerance, and Generosity. So I believe that the answer must lie in the remaining two Seeds of Wisdom—Love and Knowledge. Long before the Spirit’s Visitations, other religious leaders told us that we must love our fellow beings—even our enemies—and the Spirit reminded us that we must know them. In other words, we must learn to love them. How are we to do that?”
Gloria had paused at that point and grinned at the vast congregation. “Beats the hell out of me,” she said.
“My point, of course, is that we all have much to learn—about life and love and our fellow beings. Even Avatars of the Spirit don’t have all the answers. I certainly don’t. But in my role as a Dexta official, I have tried to learn as much as I could about the many ways of life in our Empire. Indeed, it was that desire to learn about our fellow citizens that first drew me into Dexta. Now, as I exercise my various powers and responsibilities within Dexta, I try—always—to keep in mind the fact that my knowledge and wisdom are limited, and that I can only strive to be wiser tomorrow than I am today. I believe that is the most—and the least—that any of us can do. It is what the Spirit asks of us, and what our humanity requires. Thank you for inviting me here today, and may you keep the Spirit with you always.”
As Arkady Volkonski escorted her out of the church, she shook her head and said, “God, the bullshit that comes out of my mouth sometimes!”
“It wasn’t bullshit, Gloria,” Volkonski replied.
“Wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t think so.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Gloria smiled in bemusement. “Maybe there’s hope for us all, then,” she said.
JILL NOTED GLORIA’S ARRIVAL. LIKE MOST OF the people on the beach, including Jill, Gloria was nude, but she was flanked by Arkady Volkonski and three of his Bugs, all of whom were clothed and looking uncomfortable about it. Of course, they needed clothing to conceal their weapons, for Bugs were never off duty.
Jill squirmed and sighed as Eli applied some more suntan lotion to her breasts and belly. Pheromones aside, the man had an almost instinctive feel for what a woman wanted, and how she wanted it. Sex with him had proved to be an astonishing experience for her; she had reached physical and emotional highs that were beyond anything she had known. She couldn’t help wondering if sex was like that for Gloria all the time. It would explain a lot.
At the same time, a quiet voice of caution somewhere deep inside her was never still. Jill was well aware that a man like Eli Opatnu would never limit himself to a single woman. There was no reason he should, when he could have literally any woman he wanted. She was grateful that—for the moment, at least—he wanted her, but she knew it wouldn’t last. Eli was based in Manhattan, so there would undoubtedly be other opportunities even after they returned to Earth, but there was no prospect for the kind of relationship that she had always wanted. Her marriage hadn’t worked, and she freely admitted that it had been mostly her fault; but that didn’t mean she had given up on finding a lasting and devoted partnership. But Eli wasn’t the man for that.
In love, as in her life, Jill resisted compromise. As Eli had pointed out, that was not a realistic attitude, but it seemed to be the one she was stuck with.
Gloria greeted them, then ran across the beach and plunged into the surf. Jill watched her, then watched Eli watching her. “What’s it like for you and Gloria?” she asked him.
Eli looked at her with a quizzical smile. “Comparisons are invidious,” he said.
“No, I didn’t mean that. I just wondered what it was like for you genetically enhanced types. Is it just more of the same, or is it something different?”
Eli shrugged. “I have no basis to make such a comparison, since I don’t know what it’s like not to have my enhancements. It’s all subjective, you know, for everyone. When I make love with you, it’s a sublime experience. When I make love with Gloria, it’s a sublime experience.”
“But is it sublimer?”
“ ‘Sublimer’?”
Jill punched him in the ribs. “You know what I mean. I’m going to start calling you Eli the Eel because you’re so damn slippery. You wiggle out of everything.”
“A useful survival trait,” he said. “If eels weren’t slippery, there wouldn’t be any eels.”
“So you won’t talk, huh? Well, maybe I can make you talk.” Jill grabbed him and pulled him down to her.
“I DON’T LIKE THAT GUY,” PUG SAID TO PETRA on another blanket not far away.
“Why?” Petra asked. “Is it because he gives you an inferiority complex?”
Pug reflexively looked down at himself, then quickly looked back at Petra, who couldn’t help smirking. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it, Cowboy, it ain’t the size o’ the shootin’ iron that counts, it’s the aim.”
“I just don’t like the way he thinks he can always get anything—or anyone—he wants,” Pug said.
“I feel that way about Gloria, sometimes,” Petra admitted. “I don’t think normal standards work for people like that. I think you just have to accept them as they are.”
“Maybe,” Pug said. “But I still don’t like him.”
“Oh, stop being so…so male. You just resent him because he’s invaded your little hunter-gatherer group and upset what you thought of as a set of stable relationships.”
“What?”
“You heard me. And you needn’t act so dumb—you went to college, same as I did. OSI is like a little family group. Gloria’s the mother, Jill’s your big sister, and I’m your mate. So Eli shows up and scores with Mom and Sis, and now you’re afraid that he’ll bag me, too. Don’t worry, he’s not my type.” Petra took a closer look at what was going on next door and added, “Although…”
“Very funny,” Pug sniffed. “Anyway, Eli would have to wait in line behind Whit, wouldn’t he?”
Petra looked away from him and concentrated on picking some sand out of her belly button. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about that,” she said.
“What should we talk about, then? Maybe we could talk about the way you totally ignored my wishes and went ahead and downloaded all of that Bartholemew data into the Dexta computer? Or how about the way you carried on at the opening night reception?”
“Carried on? What do you mean, carried on?”
“You know what I mean. Practically naked like that, in front of everybody.”
“Well, you bought me that pareu, you know. You’re the one who keeps telling me I should be more like Gloria.”
“Well, I didn’t mean you should do it at a place like that. You embarrassed me in front of my family.”
“And how do you think I felt, seeing you with your arm around Steffany?”
“You were so drunk, I’m surprised you noticed.”
“Fuck you, rich boy!”
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?” GLORIA said to Althea as they stood together in the surf. Strategically scattered around the OSI group, Volkonski and his Bugs kept a stoic watch. To their right, Elaine was industriously screwing a
man she had just picked up. Directly in front of them, Jill and Eli were writhing like two devout Spiritists in Central Park on a Visitation Day. To their left, Pug was angrily stomping away from the blanket where Petra lay with her back to him.
“Trouble in Paradise?” Althea wondered.
“Could be,” Gloria said. “I think we’re going to lose Pug. Maybe Petra, too, although from the look of things at the moment, I’d say probably not.”
“And what about you? Are we going to lose you, too, Gloria?”
Gloria sighed. “I honestly don’t know, Althea. Maybe I should just flip a coin and get it over with, one way or the other.”
“You’d make a marvelous Empress, Gloria, you truly would. But I’d hate to lose you.”
Gloria smiled at her. “Don’t get carried away, Althea,” she said.
“I know we’ve had our differences in the past,” Althea said, “but I don’t think I’ve ever told you how grateful I am to you. There I was, stalled at Thirteen for years and years, and then you plucked me out of my little cul-de-sac and brought me into OSI as a Twelve and gave me all these wonderful assignments. Did I ever tell you how much I adored running the Emporium on Sylvania?”
“I thought you might.”
“And it’s been ever so much fun arranging for the reception. Oh, did I tell you? I found a band that plays those little twentieth-century blues numbers you like so much. I don’t understand it, myself—all that caterwauling and wailing about lost dogs and lost women and such—but I knew you’d love it, so I signed them up as soon as I heard them.”
“That’s great, Althea. Thanks.”
“The very least I could do.”
They turned and watched the scene on the beach for a few moments.
“Do you think I could seduce Arkady?” Althea asked.
“Althea”—Gloria chuckled—“I think you could seduce anything with warm blood.”
“That’s why I asked about Arkady. I’m not sure his blood is warm. I’m not even sure he’s got any.”
Gloria thought about what Volkonski had said to her coming out of church that morning and said, “He does.”
“Oh?” Althea asked in surprise.
“It’s not what you think, Althea. But I learned something about him today. He’s deeper than I thought he was. And you know what?” Gloria grinned self-consciously. “So am I.”
NORMAN MINGUS ARRIVED ON NEW CAMBRIDGE the next day. He occupied an entire floor at the Imperial Cantabragian, and late that evening, following a round of receptions, Gloria went up to see him. She made her way through a phalanx of security and a half dozen aides and finally found him in his bedroom, clad in pajamas, a robe, and slippers, sitting in a comfortable chair with a glass of warm milk and some cookies on a table next to him. Gloria sat down in a chair next to his.
“Are those chocolate chip?”
Mingus looked up from some papers he had been reading and noticed Gloria for the first time. He took in the sight of her, resplendent in a low-cut black micro-dress. He smiled, then handed her one of his cookies. “For an Avatar of Joy,” he said, “I believe I have a few chips to spare. But don’t get greedy.”
Gloria munched the cookie. “Just one,” she assured him. “I’m getting fat.” She slapped her mostly bare left hip.
“Not from where I’m sitting.”
“Mind if I take off my shoes?” Without waiting for a response, Gloria slipped off her high heels and started massaging her aching feet. “I tell you, Norman, late nights and high gravity can be hard on a girl.”
“I hear you’ve been keeping very busy.”
“Maintaining a high profile, showing the flag for OSI.”
“Quite effectively, I gather. What’s all this I hear about a ‘Fifth Quadrant’?”
“Oh, it’s just a sales pitch. The idea is that OSI will serve as a nucleus for all the Dexta offices that aren’t effectively represented by the Sectors or Quadrants.”
Mingus nodded thoughtfully. “It’s not such a bad idea,” he said. “Although, from my point of view, four Quadrants are more than enough. But it’s a valid point you make, and it strikes me as a useful ploy in your squabble with the Quad Admins.”
“It’s not just some little squabble, Norman,” Gloria said. “They mean to eviscerate the OSI.”
“Well, you’ll just have to keep them from doing that, won’t you?”
“I may need your help.”
Mingus shook his head. “I can’t openly oppose the Quad Admins, Gloria. And you know why. I’ll referee and keep the fight fair, if I can, but don’t expect me to intervene on your behalf. In any event, you seem to be doing pretty well without me.”
“You think so?”
“I’m not as isolated up there in my ivory tower as you think. My sources tell me you’ve won a lot of support here this week. If the Quad Admins try to slap you down too blatantly, they’ll only be making trouble for themselves. Grigsby and Chandra certainly understand that, and Algeciras will keep his finger to the wind, as always.”
Gloria looked at him. “And DuBray?”
Mingus leaned back in his chair and crossed his right leg over his left knee. “I’ve known Cornell a long time,” he said. “I don’t always approve of his methods, but I can’t argue with the results he gets. He’s the most effective administrator I’ve ever known. He can be remarkably pigheaded, but he’s not a fool. You can’t beat him, but if he can be made to see that defeating you is not necessarily in his best interests, you may be able to live with him. More importantly, he may decide that he can live with you.”
“Maybe I can beat him,” Gloria said. “Norman? I think DuBray was involved in the diversion of that Savoy shipment. I don’t have the proof I need yet, but—”
Mingus abruptly uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, and took Gloria’s wrist in his hand. His watery eyes locked with hers.
“Gloria,” he said evenly, “whatever Cornell DuBray may or may not have done fifty-five years ago is of absolutely no moment. I will not have you dredging up the dead past just to gain an advantage in your little turf war. Do you understand me?”
“It may not be so dead,” Gloria protested. “We’re tracking down that missing Savoy shipment, and I really think we’re going to find it. And when we do, I think we’ll see Cornell DuBray’s fingerprints all over it. He was mixed up in it with Whitney Bartholemew and the zamitat, and they couldn’t have gotten their hands on that shipment without DuBray’s active cooperation. DuBray’s rich, isn’t he? Well, where did his money come from? I think if we start digging into his finances—”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Mingus released his hold on Gloria’s wrist, glared at her for a moment, then collected himself, took a sip of milk, and bit into a cookie. Gloria waited for him to say something, shocked that he had raised his voice with her.
Mingus swallowed the cookie and took another sip of milk. Finally, he said, “Fifty-five years. I can’t expect you to understand what that means. It was another time, another age. The things we did then seemed necessary, and so we did them without worrying about what history might say. If Cornell DuBray had anything to do with diverting that Savoy shipment, you can be sure that he had good reasons for it, and lining his pockets was not one of them. You will not investigate his finances, or anything else that does not directly contribute to locating those missing arms. Is that understood?”
“But, Norman—”
“Is that understood?” Mingus repeated more emphatically.
Gloria looked at him in silence for a few moments and saw an intensity in his eyes that she had never seen before. At last, she said, “Yessir. I understand.” After a pause, she added, “I mean, I really think I do understand. I met Saffron. I know she was going to marry DuBray, and then something happened and she wound up marrying Bartholemew. I never meant to dig around in your personal affairs, Norman.”
“But you must wonder about them.”
“That’s none of my business. It just happened to come up in the cour
se of the investigation. When I realized there was a link between DuBray and Bartholemew and the zamitat, I automatically figured it was something I could use against him. It didn’t occur to me that I might be hurting you in the process. It should have, but it didn’t. I’m sorry, Norman.”
Mingus was silent for a long time. Gloria could hear the slight rasp in his breathing.
“Gloria,” he said, “if I knew anything at all that might help you find those missing arms, I would tell you. Precisely how and why they went astray is another matter. Leave it be. As for hurting me, I doubt that there is anything you could do that would add or subtract a single atom from the pain I have felt for fifty-five years.”
“I understand,” Gloria said softly. “Norman? Are you going to see her?”
Mingus thought about it for a few moments, then said, “Perhaps.”
“I think you should.”
“It must be nice to be so sure you know what other people should do.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to presume.”
“That’s quite all right. Ignorant presumption is one of the privileges of youth. Enjoy it while you can.” Mingus smiled at her. “Here,” he said, “have another cookie.”
GLORIA WAS FINISHING HER COFFEE AND A light breakfast with Elaine the next morning when Petra and Pug arrived at her suite. Gloria offered them coffee, which they declined, then rose and joined them in the living room area.
“I asked you to stop by this morning because I met with Mingus last night. By his order, we will no longer be investigating Cornell DuBray and his links to the Savoy shipment. Our one and only objective is to find where those weapons are now. If you were doing any digging about DuBray that is not directly relevant to that goal, stop doing it. Is that perfectly clear?”
“No problem,” Petra said. “I’ve been working on another angle anyway.”
“Pug?” Gloria looked at him. Pug shuffled his feet and cleared his throat.