It certainly wasnt our decision, Alice assured me. The problem with this whole sequence of events is that the only way its ever moved forward is when somebody or somethings decided to cut through the tangled arguments by acting independently. Eido made the first move, but the discussion about representation was stalled. The timing and manner of the kidnap were Child of Fortune s own initiative. All home system spaceships seem to fancy themselves as pirates, or diehard defenders ready to act against alien invaders. Theyre essentially childlike, even when they dont have names that tempt fate. I suppose we ought to be grateful
that Child agreed to hand you over instead of trying to run the whole thing himself but he got scared almost as soon as it dawned on him what hed actually done. Were hoping that the good example of his repentance will outweigh the bad example of his recklessness, but we have no idea how many other would-be buccaneers are out there.
There was a lot of food for thought in that declaration. But you can tell us everything now, right? I said. The cats out of the bag, so we might as well know exactly what color it is.
Thats the way it seems to me, she conceded but her tone implied that there were others who still disagreed with her.
Its no bad thing, I said, as much for the benefit of any invisible listeners as for her. Im on your side and theirs. You didnt have to put me through all this. If youd asked me, Id have volunteered just as you did.
Her smile was a little wan. If Id known what I was getting into, she said, Id have stayed at home. If youd had the choice, so would you.
Im a very long way from home, I reminded her. I cant remember whether I had the choice or not but if I had, knowing what I know now, Id have taken it. I meant it. I wished I had something other than water to wash the manna down, though. It was good, especially by comparison with the food on Excelsior, but it was functional food with no frills. Id come to a point in my new life where Id have appreciated a few frills.
I can understand why you would, she said. Mortimer Gray would have volunteered too but theyre probably a little wary of volunteers. They seem to have been aiming for a more representative cross section.
But Grays the important one, I reminded her.
Gray is humankinds best hope for a profitable compromise, she said. Gray commands affection and respect, even among his own kind. The old saying about prophets and honor seems to have found an exception in his case.
I wasnt really interested in the precise shape of Mortimer Grays reputation. I still cant see where I fit in, I said. Id be very interested to know whether I was a random selection or one of the devils nominees.
She didnt have to ask what I meant. If the machines really were going to put humankind on trial, she couldnt suppose that the inclusion of Christine Caine among those summoned by subpoena was an accident. It seemed to me that Christine must have been selected as a bad example: a person who really did seem to be in need of repair. I really couldnt see myself in quite the same way, but I wasnt sure that others shared my incapacity. At any rate, I was anxious enough to raise the matter.
I dont know, was the only reply I got from Alice. I hoped that it was the simple truth.
So, do we know where were going yet? was the next question that occurred to me. I didnt have any expectations, because I had no idea what might qualify as neutral territory in a conflict of this kind.
Vesta, she said. Its an asteroid.
I know, I said, although I wasnt absolutely sure Id have got the answer if it had been a question on a quiz show. What particular symbolic significance does Vesta have?
None at all, she assured me. It happens to be in a convenient situation right now. In the end, it all came down to the present positions of the major bodies in the solar system. Its hours away from anywhere else, communication-wise, but thats no bad thing. The encounter itself will take place in virtual space, of course the physical location isnt really relevant.
Encounter? Thats what this is? Not a game or a debate or a trial? The question came from Michael Lowenthal. The sound of our voices had begun to wake up everyone else; the crowd was already gathering.
Its nothing we have a ready-made word for, Alice told him. Potentially, at least, its the end of the old order and the beginning of the new, but nothing quite like it has ever happened before not even on Tyre.
Never mind the rhetoric, Lowenthal said. What I want to know is exactly what your friends intend to do with us now that they have us in their power.
Alice sat back in her chair, as if gathering her resources. Shed finished her own meal, while Lowenthal, Niamh Horne, and Solantha Handsel were still in the process of forming a rather disorderly queue, so she had a slight advantage. It occurred to me to wonder whether she might have come to us with an entirely different script if Mortimer Gray had come up with a different solution to the mystery, but I put the thought away. I still couldnt be absolutely certain that I wasnt in some kind of VE, but it wouldnt do me any good to get too tightly wrapped up in doubt. However skeptical you are, you have to operate