Kingdom of Cages(199)

“They are still riding the cable, Father,” said Senior Jahn. “We can call it back, have a troop of constables waiting for her.”

“Do it,” said Father Mihran. “We are reclaiming Eden, Commander. If any of your people try to interfere again, they will die for their trespasses.”

“No,” said Aleph.

“Aleph?” Father Mihran turned toward the city’s voice, complete disbelief showing on his face.

Aleph manifested an image on the nearest wall, a mature woman, straight-backed and square-faced, in a black jacket and white trousers. She looked a bit like Beleraja, Tam thought.

“She is speaking the truth,” said Aleph calmly. “We cannot protect Pandora by preventing the Called from coming here. We must allow this. Only when the fear is gone will we have peace.”

“Aleph, this is not—” began Father Mihran.

But Aleph did not seem to hear him. “I speak with the other cities as I speak with you. We are working out formulas for population distribution that will allow maximum genetic exchange and minimum territorial overpopulation.” Aleph bowed her head, as if under the weight of the necessities facing her. “Pandora will change, but Pandora will live and be protected. There will be no reason to attack us. The Called will eventually be resettled.”

“No,” said Father Mihran, but his voice wavered. “Aleph, this cannot be the answer.”

“It is all the answer we have,” she said. “Please, do not turn me away. Let me help my family as I was meant to.”

Father Mihran watched the image of his city for a moment, but then he slashed his hand through the air. “I’m sorry, Aleph. We cannot permit this.” All the seniors murmured their agreement with Father Mihran’s dismissal. “Aleph, we respect you, but this is not a matter for you and the cities.…”

They hesitated and Tam felt himself smile in sad sympathy. He knew what was happening. He could practically hear. It is wrong to argue with your city, said all their Consciences. Your city is taking care of you. That is what your cities are for. You must work with your city. To do otherwise is wrong. Why are you doing this?

In the midst of their guilty silence, Aleph spoke again. “We are your cities. It is our job to protect you, as it is your job to protect Pandora. I cannot let you injure yourself in your zeal.” The image looked past the father to Beleraja. “Bring us your plans, Commander. We must begin work at once.”

Beleraja inclined her head once and then moved her hand to the command board. The connection cut and the images faded to black, fading the Trusts, around whom so many plans had been woven, to insubstantial ghosts, setting them free like wild birds that could not be controlled or predicted in duress, even after a thousand years of observation and understanding.

Leaving Tam alone with what remained of his family, of himself, and of his city. Alone, with nothing but a whole new world of their making. A world they would have to walk in, to understand with their own eyes and hands so they would know how to settle the human race here. Where they would finally have to understand the balance between what they made and what they found.

In a way, Dionte had been right. It was going to take everybody to secure the future. She just didn’t see far enough. It was going to take all of humanity, every last one of them bound tightly together by need, desire, fear, joy, friendship, hatred, love, struggle, and hope. Oh, most especially hope.

They would have to open the villages. They would have to leave the complexes and walk out in the wild. Step into the marsh and watch the birds in their thousands take flight all around them.

The image filled him, heart, mind, and soul, and for the first time in his life, Tam saw the birds fly and felt no guilt, none at all.