Empire of Bones (43 page)

Despite his languid and frivolous manner, EsMirhei proved to be a conscientious and energetic envoy, to Sirru's private dismay. He insisted on a thorough debriefing of all as-pects of life in Tekhei, and gradually an extensive if idiosyn-cratic picture was built up from Ir Yth's preliminary studies, Jaya's recollections, and the network itself. EsMirhei spent a great deal of time linked with Jaya, holding her hands and humming to himself as information was channeled through the network and into EsMirhei's enthusiastic brain. He was clearly keen to throw himself into the development of the colony, and was insistent that Sirru should accompany him to the surface. He had prepared a tour of suitable places: Varanasi was first, in tribute to Jaya, and then Tokyo.

"The Americans want to see him, of course," Jaya in-formed Sirru.

"But does EsMirhei want to see the Americans? Their gov-ernment can be of little interest to him.

Industries, perhaps. But I understand that most of those are located to the south, in—where is that place?"

"Mexico? The industries are only there because it's cheaper. I can see you have quite a bit to learn about where power lies on this planet. You must understand, Sirru, that this sidelining of government is presenting all sorts of problems."

Sirru said, "In turn, you retain some curious delusions about the way in which your world is run. National governments have little or no relevance to the running of the global economy, or to the political systems.

It is the multinational corporations and the groups of individuals who run them who pull the strings. Like the—what are they called? Oh, yes—the Bilderburg group. And these are the people with whom we must deal. Naran Tokai, for instance. Governments under-stand this; it's only a few politicians whose egotism makes them blind to the true state of affairs. And anyway, by the time re-structuring is complete, those governments will be largely inef-fectual. Tekhei will primarily be a communications center, a relay station between Zhei Eren and the Khiamak systems. Don't worry—EsMirhei knows what he's doing."

"I know," Jaya said, in a thin voice. "That's the problem."

"Once we've sorted out minor issues, such as overpopula-tion and territorial disputes, we'll have a modern and efficient system."

"Complete with those suppressants you told me about."

"Some social control is necessary, even on a world as old and enlightened as ours." He smiled as he said it, so that Jaya would not take offense, but she was frowning.

"Sirru, that's dreadful. That's nothing more than brain-washing."

He sighed. The trouble was, he was starting to agree with her. "I told you—none of us are entirely free.

Even now, I can't think as I please. I am a product of certain processes, a child of my place and time.

And your own branch of the
desqusai
are the products of your neurochemistry, too. You have your own fixed beliefs, without the help of artificial memes that burrow into your mind. Where do your people draw the boundaries? I do not regret what I am; how can I? But there are aspects of my society that I am starting to ques-tion. As to what will ultimately happen to your world—that depends on the Core."

"Sirru, what lives in the Core?"

"Many castes. At the heart of it live the Makers, the ones who created us all."

"Will I ever meet them?"

Sirru, rather shocked, said, "No, of course not. It is not for us to see them."

"They must be like gods."

"They are what they are."

"I've had enough of gods," said Jaya, but Sirru peered into the growing tanks and pretended not to have heard her.

She added, with a narrow-eyed gaze that he was starting to find familiar, "And these suppressants you're all given. We've got access to all Tokai's resources now, and a hold over him. What if we could find an antidote—before your project gets fully under way and we're all meme-washed?"

"I am beginning to discover what is meant by an infectious idea."

"Once a revolutionary, always a revolutionary, Sirru. I'm not built to be part of the establishment. It's strange: You are one of the most powerful people I have ever met. You come to take over worlds. And yet you and I are in such similar positions."

Sirru considered this. "On my world, I suppose the Naturals are closest to your caste."

"In that case," Jaya said thoughtfully, "perhaps I should be talking to the Naturals."

THREE days later, Sirru and EsMirhei reached Tokyo. Sirru was concerned that Naran Tokai might let something slip about their earlier interactions, but the industrialist was as slippery as a
'thaithoi

manipulatrix, and said nothing. He did, however, appear tired; he had been obliged to visit India, he explained, for the funeral of an old friend.

EsMirhei expressed genuine delight at the progress Tokai Pharmaceuticals had made in developing the viral ranges for Tekhein use.

"And breeding suppressants? You've made progress with those?"

EsMirhei, it seemed, was most concerned that the Tekhein themselves should not suffer the burden of their history any longer than necessary. "Once the population is down to man-ageable levels—shouldn't take more than a couple of genera-tions—we can start restructuring the genetic bases, but for now our priority must be to make sure that our new colony is healthy, happy, and fed." Tokai merely bowed.

Later, EsMirhei confided, "You know, EsMoyshekhal, your little Receiver didn't come on-line a moment too soon. I'll have to release extensive epistemological constructs into the population at large just to calm things down and pave the way for rational thought. Some of the
ideas
these people have! Where they got them from, I have no idea. The whole colony's been allowed to get way out of hand. I don't know what the administrator was thinking of."

"I think Ir Yth had her own agenda."

"
Khaithoi
," EsMirhei said with a sigh and an ironical flut-ter of delicate fingers. "One simply can't expect them to take the wider view. A few judicious adjustments, and I'm sure that half of the problems facing this planet today could have been solved generations ago. The hormonal imbalances, for example.

Dreadful state of affairs. Worse than Naturals."

"At least the Naturals have the advantage of some sort of status. Originally, at least."

"Well, precisely. The juvenile males of Tekhei are particu-larly distressing… Still, we'll sort all that out, I feel sure. Your man Tokai seems to have matters well in hand. Now. Where should we eat, do you think?"

WHEN Sirru got back to the depth ship, it was already late, and Jaya was asleep. Sirru went wearily back to his own chamber, feeling weighted by worry. He was stuck here, help-less. Who knew what the
khaithoi
might be getting up to back home? He sank down on the mat and put his head on his knees.

The communications mesh chimed.

Sirru looked up. The image of the seed was floating before him.

I have a message for you
, the seed informed him.
This person is unwilling to contact you via
another channel; she says she carries secrets
.

Anarres' image was manifesting at the far end of the cham-ber. Sirru nearly ran to embrace her before he realized that she wasn't really there.

"Sirru!" she cried. "Finally!"

"Anarres?" His beloved was wearing a most disreputable dress, he thought. And she appeared to be smudged with something. Dust? Soot? "Where are you?"

"It's a long story, and I don't have much time. I'm at your family's temenos. Sirru, are you all right?"

"Yes, but I very nearly wasn't. What a mess. They've lost my First Body, and I have to get back to Rasasatra. I have to press charges against the
kfiaithoi
, and they've taken out some kind of injunction to delay my getting home. I—"

"Don't worry about the
hhaithoi
," Anarres said, grimly.

"You won't be the only one pressing charges. And if the Core courts call you as a witness, you'll
have
to come home, regard-less of whether the