Playing God(22)

Armetrethe's stump quivered. “I wouldn't class the objections of our Wise Sisters in Council as grievances. Until you understand the situation, you shouldn't either.”

Praeis dipped her ears. “You're right. I'm sorry. I spoke too soon. I need to get started on my mission immediately, though. We only have two weeks before the relocation begins, and we need as much consensus as we can get before then, or things won't go smoothly.” She met her sister's gaze. “After all, we can't make the Humans do everything.”

“I don't see why not,” muttered Senejess. “They enjoy it so much.”

Praeis felt the skin on her back ripple. Now, we hear something real.

“Have there been problems with the Humans, Sisters?” She popped the half-eaten slice of bread into her mouth.

“Nothing that couldn't be solved by reminding them of their place.” Armetrethe picked at the shell of a shrimp in the seafood bowl. One of the daughters, Oan, took it from under her hand and peeled it for her.

The daughters all remained respectfully silent during this exchange, including her own. Praeis was proud and thankful. Now was not the time to add poor mothering to the list of charges her sisters had surely piled up against her.

Armetrethe bit down on the shrimp and tore it in two. “The Queens deal with our enemies,” she mumbled around the mouthful. “But they refuse to speak firmly with our servants, and they wonder why the Great Family is unhappy.”

“Humans do need reminding who has created their positions from time to time.” Praeis laid a sympathetic hand on Armetrethe's shoulder. “I have contacts in Bioverse. A few words to the proper superiors will go a long way.”

“Thank you, Sister, that will surely help.” There was no warmth to Armetrethe's words.

Praeis edged closer to her sister. “Have I misspoken? Is there something else I should do?”

Armetrethe squeezed Praeis's hand briefly. “No. No. I'm sorry, Sister, you mean well, it's just …” Armetrethe's ears fell back against her scalp.

“It's just that you do not understand,” finished Senejess. “It is not your fault. You did not watch this plague spread and grow even after its origins were supposedly destroyed. You did not see the Queens-of-All wiggling and squirming in d-light at this idea from the Getesaph, the Getesaph, to bring the Humans swarming down on us. What is the ‘Esaph's real plan, hmmm? What are they going to do once our daughters and carrying mothers are all caged and helpless in these city-ships, hmmm?”

All at once, Praeis became keenly aware of Res and Theia across the room with their cousins. Her shoulders stiffened. “I have seen the plague, my Sisters. Jos and Shorie are dead of it. Ten of our daughters are dead of it. It is because of Human help that anyone survived in our colony.”

Senejess gripped Praeis's arm. “And what did the Humans do about it?”

Praeis's brow furrowed. “What they could. They helped us treat the symptoms, and create more effective quarantine measures. They kept the sick comfortable and safe, just as they intend to do aboard the city-ships. I have seen the designs for the hospital sections. They are models of cleanliness and efficiency. Our sisters will be well taken care of by those who have made great strides in understanding the nature of these illnesses.”

“But they found no cure?”

“No,” said Praeis warily. Tension sang between her sisters. It worked its way into her skin like a draft of cold air. Her heartbeat sped up, and her skin twitched and bunched. “They said it was more than one disease, that the weapon had mutated some wild viruses, turning them deadly. They said they'd have to go to All-Cradle to find the source and the cure.”

“So!” Armetrethe slapped her thigh, triumphantly. “If they cured the plague, they couldn't come here to us, could they? They'd have no reason to, would they?”

Praeis felt her ears tip backward. “What are you talking about, Sister?”

Senejess leaned even closer. “When the plague broke out, the Getesaph dropped a fusion bomb on the Octrel, destroying, they said, the creators of the plague.” Her intensity thrummed through Praeis's mind. “A year ago, after over a million of our Great Family sickened and died, the Getesaph and their allies contacted the Humans. No one knows what passed between them. Then, they start this idea of Confederation. Bring the Humans in, give them control over our fates, let them take charge of our home. Oh, all for the most benevolent reasons, of course. Let the mighty Humans wipe out the plague and clean up the radioactive zones.”

Dizziness threatened. It had been so long since she'd been with so many family. The room was full of them, all their consciousnesses pressing against her, demanding attention. Her sisters both touched her, and it was as if they touched will and soul as well as skin. She wanted to relax, to let the feelings carry her away to calm and love.