The word was CHARITY.
Were not fighting a war, the woman said, eventually. Were trying to prevent one. I wish I could guarantee that no harm will come to you, but I cant. What I can say is that youre safe while youre here. My companion and I dont mean you any harm, and well protect you as best we can.
There had been just the slightest hesitation before she pronounced the word companion, but I didnt have time to wonder what it might mean. My attention was caught and held by the ominous elements of the statement.
I figured that she wouldnt answer if I asked straight out who did mean me harm and how likely they were to get the
opportunity to do some, but I thought I might get somewhere by making a few more guesses, trying to provoke a less ambiguous reaction.
The war youre trying to prevent must be the one between Earth and the Outer System, I said, avid for the slightest sign of confirmation or contradiction.
Its not as simple as that, was all she said at first. After a moments hesitation, though, she went on. There are more sides here than you can probably imagine, Mr. Tamlin.
That was patronizing. She didnt know anything about the scope of my imagination but I wasnt about to take umbrage now that I had a chance to get somewhere. Personally, I think Lowenthals just a foot soldier, I said, talking rapidly in the hope of making the most of my fragile opening, but hes probably working for the same people who handed down the instructions to Excelsior. They have to think the big basalt flow was sabotage, intended to upset the balance of power. They must intend to redress the balance, as soon as they figure out a way to do it. Whether or not Titan was responsible for blowing up North America, the Titanians must have been expecting retaliation, and they have control of the traffic. My guess is that Lowenthals masters needed bait: something to provide cover for a sizable delegation to go out to Titan. They knew that Titan wouldnt be able to resist Zimmerman. Hes the only man with a big enough name to trigger a show and a contest. Maybe Christine and I were just trial runs, but maybe not. I think you flushed my IT along with Lowenthals and Hornes because you didnt know what the sisterhood might have incorporated into it. How am I doing?
Its really not as simple as that, she said, shaking her head ruefully. She hadnt given me the slightest indication that Id scored any hits along the way. I certainly cant blame you for trying to figure it all out, Mr. Tamlin, but I cant help you while our own negotiations are still ongoing the situation is difficult and the information is extremely sensitive. The present situations not of our choosing, but we have to deal with it as best we can. If we get safely to where were hoping to go, youll have to be told whats going on, but nothings settled yet and there are factions involved in the discussion who still want everything kept quiet. I shouldnt be talking to you at all, but we dont want anyone dying on us if we can help it. Please tell your companions to remain calm, and patient.
My offer to act as an agent provocateur appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, at least for the time being. I wondered whether there might be an opportunity for me to get a little way ahead of Lowenthal and Horne in the new game, if I played my cards right but I knew Id have to prove my usefulness before our captors would even consider letting me in.
Whats your name? I asked her, abruptly.
Alice, she said. She hadnt hesitated but she didnt add a surname.
And youre just a foot soldier, like Lowenthal?
Im not a soldier at all, she said, coldly. Im doing everything I can to ensure that it doesnt come to soldiering because if it does, we might all be doomed. Maybe the evil day can only be postponed, but even if thats the case, we still have to gain what time we can. We need it. I got the impression that this speech wasnt just addressed to me. Others were listening in and she had already told me that the present situation wasnt one shed engineered, or even anticipated.
Whos we , exactly? I asked.
All of us, she said. We all need time. For just an instant, she seemed to be about to add something else, but she thought better of it. I couldnt tell whether or not shed intended me to see the hesitation, or what conclusion shed intended me to draw. I knew that all of us might only mean everybody locked in the interior of this mysterious and seemingly ancient artifact, or some larger but limited population, or even all the various posthumankinds.
According to the history Ive read, there hasnt been a single war during the thousand years Ive been away, I told her. Mortimer Gray seems to think that such childish things have been put away for good, now that everybody has a proper respect for the value of human life because true emortals dont take risks of that crazy kind.
Grays wrong, Alice said, flatly. It sounded as if she had strong views of her own on that particular topic. The Earthbound might have stood still for a long time, but they havent changed. Perhaps they cant not any more. Now she felt that she had said too much, although she hadnt really said anything at all. She became suddenly impatient. Youd better go back now, she said.