by John F. Carr
When they were out of sight, my guide gently removed my hand from her body, restored her tunic to achieve coverage, and said, "You played your role well. I'm glad that you support our cause."
I cleared my throat and said, "It takes two for that kind of performance." I wondered if the scene had been necessary to avoid contact with the guards. Then I decided that it didn't matter—it gave me another pleasant memory to store away. We were near the autofactory sector where, according to what I'd learned in the overseers' urbode, solar power ran the machines that utilized local supplies to produce tunics, sandals, food cubes, and the other staples that made this planet self-supporting.
Quenlu asked, "Do you know we're being followed by two rainbows?"
"No. What do they look like?"
"Both big. Both male. One is blond. The other has darker hair."
"I know who they are. I can't figure out how they managed to follow us. They haven't been right on our heels."
"They're probably using a spike mike."
"Spike mike?"
"A small transmitter that they imbed in your tunic. It's keyed to a small tracker. It gives them location and approximate distance. Wanklurm uses them."
"I don't want to lead them to Kahalyton. Let's find the spike mike and disable it."
She turned and smiled. "I think I know something that will work better than that. It will keep them busy while we have our meeting with Kahalyton."
"Lead on, Quenlu. I'll follow."
We took the exit slidestrip and made our way to a large factory building. The portal plate had been breached. We went inside. The building was some kind of recycling center. There were huge bins of various kinds of objects, mostly unidentifiable. Quenlu examined my tunic and found the spike mike imbedded in the back just above the waist. She removed it, showed it to me, and dropped it into a container that was part of a robotic device.
Quenlu explained, "This machine is a locator. It looks for a recycling bin with similar devices so it can deposit this one. Since there is little likelihood of there being other spike mikes here, the search will be long and difficult to track because these buildings are made for robots, not humans. Our followers will be occupied for a while. At least long enough for us to meet with Kahalyton."
Quenlu led us past the recycling complex and eventually onto another slideway. When we got off, we were still in the autofactory zone. Kahalyton was in the fifth building, resting on a cot.
He got up when we came in, greeted us both by name, and asked, "How was your journey? Any difficulties?"
Quenlu answered, "Nothing serious. We were trailed by two rainbows but by now they should be busy tracking their spike mike through the recycling complex."
"Do you know who they are, Rathe?" Kahalyton asked.
"They're the off-world investigators I told you about. They think I'm up to something devious."
Quenlu said, "Aren't we all."
"Quenlu organized the storytellers program along with several other projects." Kahalyton's voice indicated that he thought highly of her. "But come along, Rathe. There's someone else I want you to meet." He motioned for us to follow him toward the rear of the building.
When we arrived at an occupied work station, Kahalyton said, "Rathe, I'd like to introduce you to Shangro."
Shangro was working with tools on a bench. He had a bald head, a weathered face and a friendly smile.
We exchanged greetings and then Kahalyton said, "Shangro, tell Rathe what you know of Errox."
Shangro put down his tools and said, "The man who calls himself Errox did not always have that name. I met him in a distant sector long ago. I saw him several times and was told his name was Vargan—"
“Vargan!” I interrupted, "Vargan. His name was Vargan?"
"Yes. He was an opportunist, ready to take any chance that might give him power over others. He got into trouble with the VIS and disappeared. A season or so later on Transit Day, we happened to take dwells in the same urbode. He introduced himself as Errox. He'd changed his appearance—more muscle, less fat, and he'd let his hair grow. He obviously didn't remember ever seeing me before and I didn't bring it up. He wasn't anyone I cared to associate with."
"Do you know what happened to the original Errox?" I asked.
"I suspect that the original Errox died with some help from Vargan," Shangro answered.
"Do you have any idea where the man who calls himself Errox is now?"
"I haven't seen him but he's probably somewhere with those misguided fools called Freedom Crusaders."
I thanked Shangro, Quenlu and Kahalyton. I told Kahalyton that I had some news. He suggested that the three of us take a walk and let Shangro get back to work. When we were outside, walking down a corridor between two factory buildings, Kahalyton said, "Shangro is one of our design geniuses. He's altering one of the obsolete machines to create devices that neutralize the explosive charge in wristlocks and make them easy to remove. When the Counter Colors are ready, we'll have portal plate breachers and wristlock removers for the color-free society we'll build. Transit Day moving will be an option instead of a requirement."
"I hadn't realized the Counter Colors were so well organized," I said.
"We've had to move up our plans. It's obvious that the growing levels of tension, unrest and ignorance are an indication of cultural crisis. We have to be ready for the changes."
He paused and then said, "You mentioned you had some new information for me. Tell me what you've learned."
"The situation here is more complex and worse than any of us has thought. This world wasn't set up just to be a service organization for the Universalist Council. This is a prison planet. All of us were sent here to be prisoners."
"Are we all criminals then?” Quenlu asked. “Criminals who've been brainwiped and banished?"
I answered, "No, we aren't criminals. We are the genetic undesirables from twenty-two planets. Sent here because our genes indicate that we have the potential for possession, the ability to control another person's mind and body for a short time."
Kahalyton said, "I've never heard of such a thing happening. There's nothing like that in the legends, folk tales, myths and rumors that I've heard."
"I can't imagine taking over anyone else's mind and body," Quenlu said, frowning. “Nor can I imagine somebody taking over mine."
"Why aren't there any manifestations of this kind of possession?" Kahalyton asked.
"The machines that harness tidal power put out a blocking frequency."
"That's good information to have," Kahalyton said. "Some of the Counter Colors have examined those tidal devices. They knew there was a signal output but they hadn't learned its purpose. Do you have any other information for us?"
"Yes. I found out where humans come from," Kahalyton said. "You mean the blancs from other worlds? You told me about that previously."
"No. Here we've been led to believe that human beings are reincarnated. Reincarnation may or may not be factual, but human beings are created by a process that we can't use here because we've been surgically altered."
"Surgically altered how?" Quenlu asked, looking disturbed.
"I got this as verified testimony from Ozerta, the former overseer of the House of Rebirth, just before she entered the suicide chamber in the Medical Complex. The way human beings are made is through sexual intercourse. Chemical substances in the man's ejaculate and eggs in the woman's body sometimes combine to form a tiny human. This tiny human spends three seasons developing in the woman's body and then emerges from the woman's vagina."
"That's the strangest thing I ever heard," Quenlu said. "Why haven't they sent us any of these tiny humans?"
"Over a period of time the tiny humans gradually become our size. When that happens, the possession ability can manifest itself. That's when the Universalists do the surgery, brainwipe the persons, and send them here as blancs, hoping they'll develop the ability to play the Game for the greater glory of the Universalist planets."
Kahalyton s
hook his head in dismay. "Things are worse than any of us have imagined. The entire culture is bogus, designed by the Universalists so they can benefit from our imprisonment. We've got to change things as soon as we can."
"I'd like to take you two to the overseers' urbode and introduce you to Nordel and Yondoka. They are prominent members of the Alliance for Cultural Transformation. I'm sure they would be willing to work with the Counter Colors."
Quenlu said, "Kahalyton, I know Yondoka. She helped me start the storytellers’ project. I think the Alliance needs the Counter Colors and I think we need them."
"You're probably right. I'd like to meet them. Are the white caps still roaming the slidestrips, Rathe? The trip might be dangerous for all of us."
Quenlu said, with a grin, "Why don't we go to the recycling complex and pick up a couple of investigators who are looking for a spike mike. They can be our armed escort."
"That's a wonderful idea," I said, and the three of us went looking for rainbows. We found Incate and Prevance inside a recycling building. They were still tracking the spike mike and were surprised to see me. Incate pulled out his stun gun. Looking at Kahalyton, he said, "Don't move, Errox. You're under arrest."
Prevance had not brought out his weapon. He said to me, "Introduce me to your friends."
I told him, "This man, whom Incate called Errox, is Kahalyton. His associate is Quenlu, a friend of Yondoka. Kahalyton and Quenlu, meet Prevance and Incate. Incate is the one who is trying to decide whether or not to put his stun gun back in his waist pouch. The two of them are partners, the off-world investigators I told you about."
Incate, with barely controlled fury, said, "You're not authorized to tell anyone our true identities."
I replied, "You place a value on ignorance that makes me suspect it is part of your operational method."
Prevance broke in:"Let's not quarrel over unimportant issues. What's really going on?"
"What's going on is that you two followed me when you were supposed to be tracking down Errox. Kahalyton, Quenlu, and I are going to the overseers' urbode to exchange some information with the Alliance. Since there is nothing here for you two, this is your opportunity to be our armed escorts to ensure we have a safe trip."
Prevance looked at Quenlu and asked, "You're a friend of Yondoka, like Rathe said?"
Quenlu replied, "It must be difficult to get results as an investigator when you don't trust information from a reliable source."
Prevance made his face blank and said, "We'll be your escorts."
Incate, looking sullen, put away his stun gun.
The five of us made our way toward the overseers' urbode. The only incident that affected our journey was when we had to change slidestrips and had to wait for the Medical Complex body haulers to take away the bodies of three white caps and five grays who were probably Freedom Crusaders. Once they had them all on portable gurneys, our path was clear. None of us made any small talk for the rest of our trip.
TWENTY
Incate and Prevance left us as soon as we arrived at the overseers' urbode. I suspected that they wanted to avoid seeing Nordel and Yondoka, who might ask them how they happened to be escorting Kahalyton, Quenlu, and me when they were supposed to be looking for clues to Errox's location. Yondoka was glad to see Quenlu again and Kahalyton was introduced to everyone.
We sat down for a discussion of what changes could be made in the culture and how the Counter Colors and the Alliance could work together to achieve mutual goals. I began to have hopes that this world could become a better place for humans.
The discussion stopped when Clandine and Arvon arrived.
Clandine said, "We've discovered that Flantel is at the Clergy Training Center. We're taking along a few extra VIS officers, mostly for protection from Crusaders and elite guards. We want to avoid getting caught in any crossfire between those two groups."
All of us expressed our satisfaction at knowing another corrupt rainbow was about to be taken out of the conspiracy.
Clandine asked, "Rathe, would you like to come along with us? According to what Ozerta indicated, you were being groomed to take his place. He might know some details of your life as Tannet."
I was feeling restless. The discussion had been interesting so far but I felt a need to be moving, to be doing something. I wasn't particularly interested in the life I'd lived as Tannet. That life was over and done with. But I was interested in being part of the team that would bring Flantel to justice.
"Yes, I'd like to go with you."
There were few travelers on the slideways. We saw a few VIS patrols but no white caps. Our trip to the Clergy Training Center was quiet, yet something about it disturbed me. I supposed that it was the absence of fellow travelers. Most people were staying inside their urbodes, waiting for something to happen that told them it was safe to come out and resume their usual lives. I didn't know what that something would be but I had a visceral feeling that I would be part of it.
I thought about the coming interrogation of Flantel, remembering the trial of the religious leader in my Simulike experience and recognizing it had been something of a preview of the planned vericator session. I was somewhat lost in thought as we arrived at our destination. My white wristlock opened the portal of the modified urbode that was the Clergy Training Center.
The seven of us went inside—Clandine, Arvon, four armed VIS escorts, and me—where we were greeted by a receptionist whose muscular development gave him a formidable appearance.
"Welcome to the Clergy Training Center. What is the nature of your visit?"
Clandine answered, "We have come to arrest Flantel. Would you summon him for us?"
The receptionist turned to a small, wiry man who looked like a runner and said, "Inform the appropriate trainer that Flantel is wanted in reception."
We waited. The runner returned. He was followed by a tall brunette who wore her hair in bangs. She was nude except for her fancy sandals with the thick heels and ankle straps. On her right wrist was a gray wristlock. Her left hand held the end of a long leash. The other end of the leash was attached to a collar around the neck of Flantel who was several steps behind her, wearing sandals and his rainbow wristlock but no tunic.
She looked us over and said, "I am the trainer. I understand that you want to take my trainee into custody. Is that correct?"
Clandine answered, "Yes." Then looking directly at Flantel, she said, "Flantel, we are arresting you for conspiring to import and distribute Cainenol. You are to come with us and submit to vericator interrogation."
The trainer said to Clandine, "He's very skilled in submission." Turning to Flantel she said, "Are you ready to leave with these people and take responsibility for your deeds?"
"Yes, Mistress Trainer, I am."
"Then give me the kiss of submission and I will release you to their custody." In smooth, polished movements the trainer lowered the long leash, raised her left leg, and stepped over the leash as Flantel sunk to his knees. In a fluid motion the trainer bent forward from the waist and pulled on the leash until Flantel’s face was against her buttocks. A minute later she straightened up and handed the end of the leash to Clandine as she said, "The trainee is now in your custody."
Then she turned and walked out of the reception area. Clandine removed the collar and leash from around the neck of the still kneeling Flantel. She replaced it with a custodial collar she took from her waist pouch. She handed the collar and leash she had removed to the receptionist.
He smiled at her, saying, "You may keep these if you think you might have a use for them."
Clandine looked at him as if memorizing the details of his face and said, "Perhaps at another time. Can you get me a tunic for my prisoner?"
The receptionist handed her a tunic from a rack on his right. He looked at Clandine and said, "Here's a tunic. If you have any other needs, I am at your service."
She thanked him and motioned for Flantel to rise and put on the tunic. Then the eight of us left the Clergy Training Cen
ter. I was surprised by the scene I had just witnessed. I had heard that Flantel was involved in the conspiracy because he wanted to create love slaves with Cainenol. Yet in the encounter in the reception area he had been playing the part of the slave. I couldn't understand it. Every bit of information I got seemed to confuse me as much as it informed me. I sometimes had the feeling that I had been reborn yesterday.
Then I realized that this scene related to my Simulike experience—Flantel kissing the buttocks of a gray was symbolic of the rainbow turned upside down.
On the slideway, Flantel asked Clandine, "How may I serve you?"
"Just come along quietly. We'll talk when we reach our destination."
We made the trip over the nearly deserted slideway mostly in silence. At the overseers' urbode the news of Flantel’s arrest spread rapidly. The vericator session drew a number of people—Nordel, Yondoka, Kahalyton, Quenlu, Incate, Prevance, Arvon, Clandine, and me. Clandine, whom Flantel seemed to have accepted as his new trainer, said that she would be the interrogator, that if anyone else had questions they would have to wait until she was finished.
Nordel looked at Incate and Prevance as if daring them to raise any objection. The two off-worlders looked displeased but said nothing.
Clandine said to Flantel, "Tell me why you joined the conspiracy."
"Are you commanding me to confess? For almost as long as I can remember I've been telling my Clerics to get their clients to confess so they would feel better. I guess my time has come."
"Who approached you about Cainenol?"
"Boget. He said I could use it to make love slaves. The idea appealed to me."
"What did Boget want from you in return?" she asked.
"At first just the names of any of my Clerics' clients who seemed to be violence prone. I agreed since I deplore violence. In addition the religion usually attracts seekers of a spiritual nature instead of the angry grays who are not content with the cultural conditions. It seemed little enough to do in return for love slaves."
"Did you use Cainenol to make love slaves?"
"Oh, yes. It was very satisfying and stimulating at first. But later I became aware of the problems that come along with Cainenol."