The Winds of Change and Other Stories

by Isaac Asimov

  To be sure, gravity would drop off as one mounted the spokes, and an Earthman might not be able to avoid clumsiness there. The trouble was that not very many Orbital Worlders spent much time in the spokes, and most of them would be equally clumsy.

  The typical Orbital-World atmosphere had the same pressure of oxygen that the Earth atmosphere had, but much less nitrogen so that the Other-World atmosphere was only half as dense as that of the Earth. That made little difference, though. Earthmen adapted to it almost at once. And why not? Earth had worse atmospheres than that -less pressure and less oxygen - on its mountains.

  Orbital Worlds were much smaller than Earth, but what difference would that make? The vistas weren't as long in all directions as on Earth, and the horizon effect was quite different, but surely an Earthman could get used to that, too. The imposter, if there was one, would surely have lived on an Orbital World long enough to have become used to the effect.

  To be sure, he might not know his way about Gamma, unless he had spent some time on Gamma. But then, people from the Other Worlds would not necessarily know their way about Gamma, either. Or, if the imposter had spent time on Gamma, might he know too much about it? No, there was nothing to say that any Other Worlder might not have read about Gamma before coming here for a visit. It might even be thought of as the natural thing to do.

  Well, then, what about the Worlds they were supposed to come from? People from a particular Orbital World spoke in a particular way, had certain social and individual attitudes. Could the Earthman mimic these perfectly, or could he be expected to give himself away no matter how much he had practised?

  Elaine looked down at the desk and turned the work sheet so she could see the items.

  Five Worlds. In order of age they were Delta, Epsilon, Theta, Iota, and Kappa. She had visited each one of them, and had read copiously about each one of them, in the line of duty. You can't understand tourists without understanding the societies that had moulded them - and a guide had to understand tourists.

  Delta was a rather dull World of work-bound people who spoke their language in a singsong way and did the same when they spoke the Gamman dialect. They tended to be large and fair in complexion, but that was only a tendency. There were tall people on each of the worlds, and short, and fair, and dark. You couldn't judge by physical appearance.

  Epsilon was the most crowded of the Worlds, with a smaller-sized people, by and large, and a stronger infusion of descendants of Earth's East Asians than was true for most of the Worlds.

  Theta had five of the six sections devoted to agriculture, instead of the usual three. It was the only one of the Orbital Worlds to go in heavily for cattle as opposed to smaller livestock. As it happened, of the five symphonies composed by Orbital-World musicians that were now part of the general repertoire of Earthly orchestras, three had been by Thetans.

  Elaine stopped to think about that a moment. No, one couldn't make the easy generalization that Thetans were musical. Ninety-five of them could be musically illiterate and if the Thetan who was in the group should turn out to be so, that would prove nothing.

  Iota was the great energy exporter of the Orbital Worlds. Each of the Worlds had solar energy as its prime source.

  Each had a large power station - considerably larger than the colony itself - absorbing sunlight and converting it to microwaves, some of which went to the World's own global hub, and some of which, if surplus there was, went to Earth. lota's was the largest power station and it had the best facilities for beaming microwaves to Earth. It was quite understandable that Earth was presently more concerned with Iota than with any of the other twelve Orbital Worlds.

  But that meant that Iota was the most pro-Earth of the Worlds, the least independence- and union-minded. Would an Iotan not be the most likely to co-operate with an Earth agent? On the other hand, might an Earth agent not be least likely to assume an Iotan disguise, since that would be most suspect?

  How could she tell, she thought impatiently.

  And what about Kappa, leisure-centred, culture-riddled? It was the most attractive of the Worlds she herself had visited. It meant she would have to keep her sharpest eye on the Kappan, since her own prejudices were involved there.

  How could one tell a Kappan from a pseudo-Kappan? Or a Thetan from a pseudo-Thetan? Or any variety from a fake variety?

  The trouble was that Earth was so various in its population types that any of the Orbital Worlders would be easily imitated by some particular Earthman or other.

  But consider this - the agent, whoever he was, would have to be against independence, and against the union of the Orbital Worlds. Would he have to avoid showing this and be ostentatiously anti-Earth? Or would he realize that that sort of ostentation would in itself be suspicious? Or, considering that the agent did not know anyone was looking for him (or did he?), the question might not arise in either direction.

  Would it be safer to try for something more subtle? If the independence and union forces were relying on the emotional values of the Tricentennial, could the conversation be manoeuvred in that direction? Would the agent show impatience at the mention of 2076? Would he show anti-American sentiment?

  But then might not some Orbital Worlders have such feelings of their own accord, without there being any need to have them Earthmen in disguise?

  Elaine felt her mind moving into smaller and smaller circles, uselessly. What could she use as a criterion to tell the true from the false? Did any criteria exist?

  Yet Janos had said: You mustn't fail.

  She was about to surrender to the luxury of despair, when Benjo put his head inside the door and said, 'Your tourists are here. Hope it goes well - and good-bye.'

  Elaine wondered if the good-bye might not turn out to have a particularly dreadful connotation. She composed her face as the tourists came to the door, and tried to compose her thoughts.

  They were lined up before her, and Elaine spoke slowly and, she hoped, ingratiatingly.

  'My name', she said, 'is Elaine. If you would be more comfortable with my family name, it is Metro. No titles are in use on Gamma, and the use of first names is common, but you may use any naming system you find convenient.'

  The Deltan seemed already disapproving. He was a tall man and broad-shouldered. He was made taller by a blockish hat he did not remove and by a long, slate-grey blouse that he wore down to mid-thigh. His heavy boots clumped when he walked and his bony, large-knuckled hands were lightly clenched.

  He said, harshly, in a singsong tone, 'How old are you?'

  His name, Elaine knew from the chart, was Sando Sanssen, and, from her knowledge of Deltan ways, she knew she would have to address him by his last name. 'I am twenty-four years old, Mr Sanssen.'

  'Do you know enough about this World, at your age, to be of use to us?'

  His bluntness was Deltan - or was it overdone Deltan? Surely she had done nothing to warrant the bite.

  She smiled and said brightly, 'I hope I know enough. I am quite experienced at my work. In fact, my government is reposing considerable confidence in me, since they expect me to see to it that each of you sees all he can of whatever aspect of life on Gamma you wish to explore.'

  Ravon Jee Andor of Kappa caught her eye. He was of medium height, and his hair was very carefully shaped. It was blonder than it should have been by nature (Elaine was sure of this for it did not go with his dark eyes and complexion) and he was dressed with excessive ornamentation. He exuded a slightly pungent perfume that Elaine found attractive. (All that was Kappa, but was it too Kappan?) He said with broad, somewhat sustained vowels, 'If you generously wish to meet our desires, then you yourself, I think, would represent a Gamman life-aspect worthy of further study.'

  It was meant to be complimentary in the ornate Kappan fashion, Elaine was sure. She used his first two names as Kappan custom required and answered quite Kappan-fashion, 'I am desolated, Ravon Jee, that this is, at the moment, impossible. Perhaps time will offer an opportunity.'

  'Get on with
it, girl!' grunted Medjim Nabellan of Theta. Her richly black complexion (most Thetans, not all, were Blacks) was topped by crisp, grey curls, for the most part hidden under a broad-brimmed hat held to her chin by an elastic. Her clothes were gayly coloured in broad stripes and she rolled her r's back in her throat. 'Get on with it and don't waste your time humouring Kappan trash.'

  The Kappan bowed sardonically and did not lose his smile.

  Elaine paused a moment. There was no reason the agent might not be a woman or a Black or both, and impatience at getting started might well be the primary and unconcealable emotion of anyone whose mission was to sabotage a world and who saw danger in any delay.

  'I think it's silly to have a group with everyone from a different world,' said Yve Abdaraman of Iota - the other woman of the group - in a drawl so pronounced as to make her sound sleepy. She was rather young, rather small, rather attractive in a light brown way (and she might have been well aware of this, for her costume was all in blending shades of brown). 'If we're going to quarrel and snarl at each other, this is all going to be very unpleasant.'

  'I hope we don't quarrel and snarl, Yve,' said Elaine (Iotans used first names as Gammans did), 'and as soon as you each let me know what you particularly want to see--'

  'Let's get started,' said the fifth member, Wu Ky-shee of Epsilon, 'and we can tell you on the way or we will waste time.' He was plump and short, and his eyes had more than a little of the East Asian narrowing. He wore a skirtlike affair that reached nearly to the ground and he talked with the trace of a lisp.

  --And he was another impatient one, Elaine thought.

  Elaine said, 'Since we are in one of the residential sections, then, we might as well walk through the streets to the university as a start. There we will find some interesting examples of Gamman architectural design--'

  She herded them politely out ahead of her, circling them to take the lead, while her mind moved uselessly back and forth. Each one of them seemed worthy of suspicion, but not one of them seemed worthy enough.

  If there were only something that held true for all the Orbital Worlds, and not for Earth - something so subtle and pervasive that an Earth-imposter could not guard against it and would give himself away - but what could such a thing be? Size? Something else?

  She had to concentrate on her job. 'This is the central building of Gamma University, built four years ago, with an illusion of curve just great enough to--' She talked on mechanically, but her mind, working in another direction, seized on the thought of the illusion of curve and went on from there--

  They had walked leisurely past the pleasant homes of the section, each with their varying designs and their green lawns, all marked off ornamentally by light fencing material designed to produce differentiation rather than barrier. This section lacked the apartment house clusters that were to be found in the other two residential sections.

  Elaine said, 'We are coming to the airlock that separates this from the agricultural sector ahead.'

  'You keep the airlocks open, I see,' said Sanssen. 'Isn't that slip-shod?' His pronunciation of the last word was so odd by Gamma standards, Elaine barely caught it. (Perfect Deltan, as nearly as she could tell.) She said, 'Not really. It is thoroughly automated. Any vibration associated with meteoric strike or internal explosion, any small loss in air pressure, will cause all airlocks to close, sealing off the six sectors, each from each. And, of course, they close during the night to keep the daylight of the agricultural sections from filtering into the residential areas.'

  'What happens', asked Ravon Jee, smiling, 'if the meteor or whatever strikes the airlock machinery?'

  'That is quite unlikely to happen. But if it does, it would not be fatal. All vital machinery exists in two complete sets widely separated, each one of which is capable of supplying the needs of the whole World.'

  She paused to make sure all her charges had managed the transition. It was just a matter of going up a flight of steps and down another; six up and six down, but the steps stretched the width of the torus and curved gently. Earthmen frequently found it amusing to walk the width of one step so they could find themselves slanting somewhat with respect to others in their party.

  But though she watched the feet of all five, none seemed to hesitate or turn to one side in momentary curiosity.

  Elaine sighed inaudibly. The Earthman, whichever he was, was well-schooled - or there was no Earthman.

  Ravon Jee Andor had been at her elbow all through the agricultural sector, showing no interest in any of it. Now, as they entered the Cycling Centre, he drew back, and looked unhappy.

  'I don't have to get into that, do I? Animal wastes aren't my idea of delightful scenery.'

  Elaine kept the alertness out of her eyes as much as she could. She said, 'You recycle wastes on Kappa, surely.' (No Earthman was ever willing to visit the Centre.) 'Not in my presence,' said Ravon Jee. 'Actually, I know nothing about all this engineering and statistics. - Come, dear girl, I'll wait out here. Let the Deltan go, he has the boots for it, and that farm-woman from Theta and the rest.'

  Elaine shook her head. 'I appreciate your feelings but I can't leave you. I'm afraid my government would disapprove. Do come. I'll hold your hand, see?'

  It was the kind of flirtatious gesture that no Kappan could refuse with honour. Ravon Jee, looking terribly unhappy, murmured, 'In that case, lovely one, I would wade through muck, knee-high.' (Elaine didn't think he would, though.) She kept close to him as they passed through the antiseptic corridors. Most of the cycling process was hidden from view and was handled in completely automated fashion. Despite the manner in which Ravon Jee screwed up his face, there was only a faintly perceptible odour.

  Sanssen looked at everything keenly, his large hands clasped behind his back. Wu Ky-shee, expressionless, took notes and Elaine managed to pass behind him and see what he was writing. It was in Epsilonian and even the script was unreadable to her.

  Ravon Jee, still holding her hand, said, 'I presume you will tell me that all this is essential.'

  'So it is,' she said, 'even, on a very large scale, on Earth.'

  He did not respond to the last comment. 'A Kappan gentleman', he said, 'remains unaware of such things.'

  She said, 'What do you do on Kappa?'

  'I'm a drama critic. I'm here to review the Gamman stage for my home paper.'

  'Oh, will you be visiting Earth for the dramatic festival in connection with the Tricentennial?' (She wondered if there were such a festival.) 'The what, my dear?' He looked blank.

  'The American Tricentennial.'

  He said vaguely, 'I don't know - where is your theatre district located?'

  (Was his vagueness overdone? Did he really know nothing at all about the Tricentennial?) She said, 'It's on Section Four, the other side of the World.' She started to make the inevitable gesture, but did not.

  He looked up very briefly, as one always did, and said despondently, 'Well, we'll get there eventually, I suppose.'

  Interesting, thought Elaine. Would that be the key?

  8

  Medjim Nabellan said to her brusquely, 'See here, guide, we are moving out of this farming district and I have seen no cattle.'

  'We have some, but not in this sector. We find cattle uneconomic. Chickens and rabbits can produce more protein more quickly.'

  'Bunk! You don't know how to do it properly. Your animal husbandry methods are well behind the times.'

  Elaine said, smoothly, 'I'm sure our Bureau of Agriculture would be delighted to hear from you.'

  'I hope so. That's precisely why I am here and, now that I have seen what you are doing here, any further touring is a waste of my time. I would like to go directly to the Bureau.'

  Elaine said, 'I'm afraid I will be in trouble if you insist on leaving the party. My government will feel I have offended you.'

  'Nuts,' said Nabellan grimly, her wide nose wrinkling. 'Where can I find the Bureau?'

  'On the other side of the world,' said Elaine. This time she gesture
d firmly and Nabellan looked up. 'If you leave now, the party may break up altogether. Please stay.'

  Medjim Nabellan said something under her breath but she made no further move to break away.

  Elaine said in her pleasant guide's voice, 'The agricultural sectors are bathed in sunlight at all times, but in the three residential sections, of course, it is sixteen hours' light and eight hours' darkness in alternation.'

  Wu Ky-shee said, 'Do all Gammans sleep in unison?'

  'No, of course not. They sleep when they please. In fact, some must work through the dark period.'

  'Why not allow each dwelling place to control its own sunlight, then? Useless conformity!' He made further notations in his book.

  Yve Abdaraman said in her thin and very clear soprano voice, 'Since Epsilon is the only World without standard day-night reflection, it must be you who are out of step. A night-interval reduces energy influx and keeps the temperature comfortable.'

  'Not at all,' said Wu Ky-shee, raising his eyebrows. 'If you imply Epsilon is hot, you are wrong. This day-night alternation is only a meaningless heritage from Earth.'

  Elaine tingled. A slur on Earth? She said, brightly, 'I don't think we should ignore our Earthly heritage. The Tricentennial is here this year and a heritage of free--' She faded out, as neither reacted. Yve cast a look of impatience at her and then turned to the Epsilonian. 'I have been on Epsilon,' she said, 'and found it hot.'

  'You may have found it too flexible and individual for your taste,' returned Wu Ky-shee, stiffly.

  Elaine said, 'Please, won't you two follow me now? We have a long way to go to get to the other side of the World.' She gestured, and automatically they responded. She went on, 'We must catch up with the others.'

  Yve said, as all three hastened their steps, 'The Cycling Centre must have a computerized component. It would be a great help for me and my mission here if I could have access to that.'

  'I'm sure that can be arranged,' said Elaine. 'I believe our government is very open here.'