They rested and slept, catching up on what they had lost during the night. Then they rejoined the others. Nothing seemed to have changed; the Glamors had not reappeared. Aspect found this curious, after their prior urgency to get all supplementary parties here.
She approached Ini. “Question?"
“The children say that the Glamors are still scouting the approach. It seems to be as challenging as the one on Counter Charm. They are using Voila to fathom the paths."
Aspect saw that the baby was gone. Gale must have taken her.
“They must have expected a faster resolution,” Ennui said.
“Agreement,” Ini said. “It may be that the interaction with Mino complicates it."
“Confusion."
Ini looked at little Weft. “Question."
“Tell,” Weft agreed. Evidently she knew.
Ini nodded. “We suspect that the special code that tamed Mino did not really work, but that Mino pretended it did so that the Glamors would free him from captivity on Counter Charm. We believe that Mino and the Glamors need each other in order to proceed with this mission, but that their ultimate purposes are profoundly different. Mino is here to hold these two planets for his machine culture to exploit at its convenience. Neither the Glamors nor the ifrits want that, because that mining is likely to destroy the magic of both planets and make them uninhabitable for most of the entities that are here now. So we fear betrayal at a critical moment. The Glamors may have a similar suspicion."
“We do,” Weft said.
“So the likely actions of Mino must be factored in. The Glamors and the machine may have a common interest at the moment, in fathoming the mystery of the planets, but their ultimate objectives are different. Each must consider carefully to gain advantage, without ruining the join effort. One thinks of the Prisoner's Dilemma."
Aspect drew a blank, and was sure others did too. “Question."
“It is a riddle dating from old Earth. Two criminals have been captured and jailed, but the warden is aware that the evidence against them is circumstantial. He needs more to get a conviction. So he confines the two separately, so they can not communicate with each other, then makes each man an offer: if he will confess and implicate his companion, he will be freed, suffering no penalty, while his companion will be sentenced to ten years in prison. If he does not confess, and his companion does, than he will be the one to get ten years. If both confess, each will get five years. If neither confesses, there is sufficient case against them only for one year of prison for each. They are then given time to consider their decisions, separately."
“I'm not easy with this,” Aspect said. “It smacks of palace politics. Each prisoner will do the selfish thing."
“But the best chance for both is for neither to confess,” Ennui said. “Then each gets only one year, instead of five years or even ten years."
Ini nodded. “This is where trust is required. The dynamic of the whole is not the same as the dynamic of the individual. You will probably be better off confessing."
“Confusion."
“Perhaps we can show it in action,” Ini said. “Pretend I am the warden, while the Ladies Aspect and Ennui are the prisoners. I proffer each of you the deal, then confine you in separate cells. What do you choose?"
“No deal,” Ennui said. “I would not take my freedom at my friend's expense, and know she would not betray me."
“Agreement,” Aspect said. “We trust each other. So the warden's ploy wouldn't work."
Ini smiled. “Now let's try the Ladies Aspect and Futility. What are your choices?"
“Confession,” Futility said promptly. “If she remains true to form, I go free. That's my best option."
Ini faced Aspect. “You suspect she'll do that. So what do you do?"
Suddenly it was harder. Aspect trusted Ennui, but was not close to Futility, and knew the woman would do the selfish thing. That would cost her ten years. “Confess,” she said reluctantly. “That cuts my penalty in half."
“And punishes her for betraying you,” Ennui said. “Now I see it. Our choices will vary, depending on our partners in crime."
“Suppose you don't know the identity of your partner?” Ini asked.
They considered, and concluded that confession was better, because it limited the penalty.
“So let's relate it to the current situation,” Ini said. “We have what amounts to a contest between Voila and Mino. If Voila wins, our worlds are saved. If Mino wins, they will be destroyed by having all their magic mined out. If neither wins, there will be some intermediate muddle that penalizes both sides to greater or lesser degree. It is not a physical or mental battle, but one of choices. The one who selects the best path benefits most. We assume their precognitive powers are even, so their chances are even. What choice does each make?"
“But they are communicating,” Aspect protested. “So they can make a deal that benefits both."
“Negation,” Ini said. “Neither side can be certain the other has integrity; each could lie to gain the victory. So they are in effect isolated, like the prisoners."
Aspect nodded. “So victory goes to the one that manages to deceive the other, or to find the better path."
“That is the way I see it,” Ini said. “Of course this is not a perfect analogy. There is no warden, and there may not be any mutually beneficial solution. But neither side can afford to lose. Refusing to play the game means loss; Mino would have been left helpless in the illusion fields of Counter Charm, failing to accomplish his purpose in existence, and the Glamors would never solve the riddle of their origin or learn how to stop the eventual onslaught of the machine culture. So both do play, seeking victory."
Ennui shook her head. “Question. Mino is our enemy, yet we are working with him. Couldn't he turn on us and kill us before the Glamors can intervene?"
Now Futility smiled. “Negation. He's a croc, and we're protected by mama hippo."
“Confusion."
“It is a story I told earlier,” Ini said. “The mother hippo has the capacity to destroy the croc, but won't do it unless he harms her baby. The croc knows that, so leaves the baby alone, even when the mother is asleep. The Glamors evidently have the power to nullify Mino, I presume by surrounding him with impenetrable illusion, but allow him freedom as long as he serves their purpose. So he cooperates by making himself useful, and can be trusted as long as that truce remains in effect. Eventually there will be a showdown, and then we'll discover whose precognition is superior."
“Misgiving,” Aspect said.
“We are in a serious conflict of interests,” Ini said. “Worlds are at stake. So we compromise by working with the enemy, each hoping for eventual victory."
“Depending on the judgment of a baby who can't even walk or talk yet,” Ennui said.
“Voila's a brat,” Weft said. “But she knows what's what, and she's a Glamor. We've learned not to cross her, because she sees farther ahead than anyone. We think she can take the machine."
“I sincerely hope that is the case,” Aspect said, feeling weak. She had become accustomed to oddities since interacting with Glamors and possessing the ikon, but she had never imagined a contest like this, with such stakes.
* * * *
Gale nodded. “Agreement. We can't locate it on our own, even with precognition.” She glanced over her shoulder at Voila, who had fallen asleep in her pack. “We'll have to use the map and altar."
“Regret,” Havoc said. “But that's why we brought the mortals: as a backup in case of need."
“And why we brought Mino,” she said. “Whom we were pretty sure we would need."
“Agreement."
They jumped to the camp house. The mortals and children were well settled in, some playing group games, others in dialogue. There was immediate attention.
“We foolishly hoped we wouldn't need you,” Gale said. “But we do. Here is the challenge: somewhere there should be an entry to the stronghold; Voila indicates there is. But there is strong
aversive magic on many levels that prevents us from locating it. It interferes with precognition too. It seems to be independent of Chroma, so this is no ordinary waste. We believe the map and altar will show the way through it, but the route is unlikely to be pleasant."
“We are accustomed to unpleasant service for the king,” Futility said, and everyone laughed, including Havoc: she was referring to sex. Gale knew the woman didn't find sex distasteful, merely superfluous unless required as a social tool. She was reportedly quite good at it when she chose to be.
“We believe we should form a line, a human chain, with the leader picking out the route,” Gale said. “That way no one will blunder into anything lethal. We will need map and arrow up front."
“Disbelief,” Futility said. “I will get to lead?"
“Through an unpleasant emotional landscape,” Gale agreed. “Ini second, with the altar."
“Question?” Ini asked.
“Explanation,” Gale said. “We have been exploring, and have encountered what in stories of old Earth is a minefield of emotions. Fear, revulsion, sickness, depression, rage. Also positive ones that lead to dead ends or hazardous terrain. We believe the map will identify the zones to be avoided, and the arrow will point to the objective, as it did on Counter Charm. But there do not seem to be illusions, merely feelings. It is apt to be an odd challenge."
Symbol looked wary. “Experience. Some things are best not shared with children."
“Objection,” Warp said. “We're not just any children."
Gale picked him up and kissed him, causing Weft to turn away in disgust. “You're our children. There are certain things we try to protect you from."
“Like what?” he demanded.
“Like fear, grief, and sex."
He shrugged. “We'll risk it.” Weft and Flame nodded.
Gale made a small roll of her eyes. “We saw that!” Flame said, spinning off a fireball.
“She can't help it,” Weft said. “She's adult."
Gale got down and hugged them all. “Some day that will be your fate, if you're unlucky."
“Awww,” they said together, then deteriorated into giggles.
They formed the line, all of them bundling up to withstand the deadly cold. Havoc lead the way to the edge of the aversion field, then vanished. He and the other Glamors would be watching, then following when the path was marked.
Futility led the way into the field, obviously pleased to be a leader in anything. Ini followed, murmuring directions. It was immediately apparent that this time the altar indication was not constant; it changed as they moved.
Futility stopped, then backed up a step. She swallowed before speaking. “Nausea,” she explained. She held up the tapestry map, which showed a bilious patch ahead.
“Bear left,” Ini said.
They bore left, skirting the nausea zone. But in a moment they ran into a fear zone. Futility stopped again. “Terror.” She indicated a blue patch on the map.
“Bear right,” Ini said.
Futility did so, looking less pleased than she had been. Gale was third in the line, and saw that there were generally thin regions of colorlessness between the patches. They were threading through these.
They got the hang of it, and made progress. Then they came to an impasse of sorts: the way was blocked by a patch of disgust that seemed to be too intense to tolerate. But the bypass was a physical challenge: a steep-sided ice pit. “I might get through that,” Gale said. “Boosted by magic. But the rest of you would have trouble."
“Agreement,” Ini said. “Surely better to expire of disgust than of hypothermia trapped in a pit."
“You lead then,” Futility said. “I can't stand it."
“I'll lead,” Gale said. “You follow.” She mentally marked the spot the map showed, then plowed ahead.
The disgust hit her like a pail of wormy garbage in the face. But it was emotional rather than physical. She wanted to deal with it, scour it out, expunge it from the universe. Instead she forged on through it. After a few steps it abated; she was back between patches.
She turned to look back. Ini had followed; no one else. She was appalled. How could they get through if the line was not maintained?
“Stay here,” she told Ini. “I'll do something."
“I was in your lee,” Ini said. “It helped."
So her Glamor magic had made a wake. Another discovered nuance. Gale forged back through the disgust, and reached the head of the line. She took Futility's hand. “I can suppress it some. Stay close.” Without waiting for a response she reversed course again, hauling the woman along.
They made it. Gale deposited Futility with Ini and went back again. This time she found Augur with Weft. She got an idea. “Lead him across,” she told the child. “Hold his hand."
Weft smiled and did so. They went ahead while Gale went on to the next: Aura with Warp. She sent them ahead, then found Symbol with Flame. After that there were just Ennui and Aspect. She took Ennui's hand and led her through, then returned for Aspect.
They regrouped and resumed progress. The next patch was grief: not for any specific loss, just the feeling. Futility and Ini moved around it, and so did Gale.
There was a scream. Gale whirled; that was Flame!
Sure enough, there to the side the little girl was running, screaming. The emotion of fear had gotten to her and send her off the path. There was a crack in the ice ahead of her, a veritable crevasse whose depth was not obvious.
Gale started after her, but a hand caught her arm. It was Augur. “False!” he said.
“That's my child!"
“No, Flame's with me,” Symbol called from farther back.
Gale looked. There was her daughter, still in line. She looked back at the running child—and there was nothing. It had been just a projected impression, all in her mind.
“It's not all aversion,” Augur said. “It's diversion—one way or another."
“Agreement,” she said. “Appreciation.” She kissed him.
“I saw that,” Aura said, trying to frown.
“Oh, all right,” Gale said, and kissed Aura. Warp and Weft almost fell over laughing.
They moved on, handling the aversions with greater ease now that they understood them.
They came to a featureless windswept plain. There was nothing, not even aversion.
“Here,” Ini said. “The arrow has stopped."
“And it's the center of the map,” Futility said.
“But there's nothing here,” Gale said. She tried to query Voila mentally, but evidently the baby was asleep. Then she caught on. “Down. This is the entry."
Havoc extended one arm. “I'll melt off the ice."
Nothing happened.
“Now that's curious,” he said. “I seem to lack fire magic.” He looked at Flame, who had arrived with Aspect.
The child concentrated, but no ball of fire appeared. “I can't do it,” she said, alarmed.
Soon they verified it: this region nullified their magic, including telepathy. “It must cut off our access to our ikons,” Gale said. “We know that's possible."
“We mortals don't depend on ikons for telepathy,” Aspect said. “But we're blocked too. It must damp out magic itself."
“Yet it's not a region of no magic,” Ini said. “It's an Air Chroma zone."
“Affirmation,” Symbol said.
That hadn't occurred to Gale, but the women were in a position to know, being of that Chroma themselves. Gale had become accustomed to doing magic regardless where she was, so had largely tuned out of Chroma zones; and in any event, this snowy region had seemed like nonChroma. But who could say what color the Invisible Chroma was? Only its facility with illusion made it apparent at all.
Now she felt naked and insecure without her magic, no more potent than the normal folk. She did not like it.
“This is surely why we need Mino,” Ini continued. “He doesn't use magic."
“He uses Science magic,” Augur said.
 
; “And maybe precog,” Gale said.
“I stand corrected. I should have said he doesn't depend on magic in quite the way we do. He mines it. Thus he may be able to nullify the magic that restrains us here."
“I'll fetch him,” Havoc said, and started back along their path in the snow. “Mark a place for him to land."
They set to work scraping snow by hand, forming mounds in a large circle. Then they stood around that circle, so that their bodies further defined it.
Mino came. The machine floated through the air high enough to avoid the null region, then dropped to the marked spot with a muted crash. The port opened and Havoc emerged. “It nulled his flying magic too, near the ground,” he said. “But this is something he can handle. I have explained. He will harvest the magic where he is, leaving mere reality."
They watched as Mino mechanically extended metal plates. They touched the snow around him, and the snow disappeared. It seemed to be translucent ice. Then that too faded, to reveal a dark hole.
“This is reality?” Gale asked. “We were standing on nothing!"
“On a magic ice surface,” Havoc said. “Covering the entrance."
Mino's metal feet rested on the snow and ice beyond the harvested circle. Now he extended it outward, and dropped down into the hole. The descent continued as he harvested the magic below, eroding his own supports.
“We can ride him down,” Havoc said, and jumped to the top of the machine's metal dome. Soon the others joined him.
In due course they settled into a large cave. Gale tried again to reach Voila's mind, and this time found it. “Magic is working again,” she said.
“So Mino forced an entry by nullifying the protective illusion,” Ini said. “Now we are in the sanctum. It feels intense."
“It does,” Gale agreed. “Flame, try a fireball."
The little girl did. A giant mass of fire exploded before her, half blinding them all before it dissipated.
“I meant a little one,” Gale said reprovingly."
“That was a little one,” Flame said, awed.
They experimented further, and found that all types of magic were much stronger here than usual. The ambiance enhanced performance.
“And we're merely at the entry,” Ini said. “I suspect the effect increases farther in."