Chapter Nine
Anverd said he was the one to send the messages to both worlds, but they should include notes from them. He told Misty she was right, he was the only one who could send one to Thomin that would keep him from flat refusal when Franner asked him. He said Venida was the one to talk to Morrisid, specifically because she had read her four professional books and several by Tori Morris.
He told her to tell her she was two steps from having her two identities 'merge' and she needed to retire before they did. Not because it would damage her reputation in either field, but because it would make her "too much celebrity to do anything but sign autographs" and she'd be getting a bunch of those awards she didn't like because of who she was, not what she wrote. Via nodded when he told her she was going to be "too much of a celebrity" for it not to be noticed she'd talked to her. Misty wasn't quite sure if she agreed with his next suggestion.
"I haven't even talked to him since we were kids."
"He'll understand, Misty. He grew up on Boniface and he can handle it. Boer, and the emperor, need some of the attention pulled away from the family. You won't be able to attract even most of it, but you can draw the society cams away and the news cams will focus on other stories much sooner than they will."
"I told her to introduce Via to Larim Algordin."
"Ooh, he might strangle me the next time he sees me if I even suggest he step in the cam focus, Ven. Step right into it if he thinks I'm right, but strangle me for not coming up with someone else. He's perfect and it's a match made in political Heaven, or Hell, which is basically the same place. He hates spotlights and attracts them, Via. He once told me he'd thought of getting fat but couldn't figure out how and he couldn't talk anyone into thinning his hair either."
"I can about hear him saying it, Anverd. It wouldn't be funny if I wasn't sure he'd actually considered it."
"I was, Ven. I told him barbers weren't stupid and I'd never met one who was suicidal either."
"Via, he's tall and slender. He's got incredible wavy, rich auburn, hair with silver threads, probably beginning to spread up from the temples at this point."
"Actually, Misty, that wave that falls down over his left eye, and he's always shoving back, is turning silver first. He's not really pleased the cam ops are delighted with the way it glints in the lights."
"I've seen him! On the ten-day empire news update about a year ago. I had no idea who he was, but completely understood why the cam op made sure he was in the picture. He's gorgeous."
"And principled, intelligent, conscientious, eloquent, has a beautiful speaking voice... He will end up president of Grainland one of these days."
"I love campaigning for a person who yells, 'I don't want it!' and goes to work, Ven. And arguing with people about things we totally agree on. How old is he?"
"Fifty-six. He was married, but he's been single about fourteen years. The split was quite friendly, Via. They just had less in common every year, including the world they wanted to live on. She's a professor of agronomy on Cartoplan now. Six years ago she married a farmer who'd been proving her theories on native crop domestication since he read her doctoral thesis in an agra journal, about twenty years before they met. It was news on Grainland because Larim attended their wedding. The cam ops got great pictures of him wearing the baby food he'd been trying to get in her new grandson at the reception. They didn't have any children, her idea, I think. He was obviously delighted she suddenly had four, and seven grandchildren."
"Oh, look at that smile, Ven. Go ahead, Anverd. I'll block long enough he decides Boer needs you too much to strangle you."
"You're all three sure about this, aren't you?"
"Aren't you, Anverd?"
"Comm Governor's quarters. Boer, Ven and Misty say introduce Via to Larim Algordin and I've got three very predatory smiles."
"Yes! Anverd, you know what I think about him. It's a commonly held opinion."
"I said it was a match made in political Heaven when I was just thinking of asking him to squire her around to spread the cam focus a bit, Boer. You know I trust your feelings on things like this more than my own. I've got absolute proof your match-making is top notch."
"I've got a feeling he's been waiting for her a long time and will probably even realize it after awhile, but... they're still married for awhile, Anverd."
"Boer, it's amazing how carefully worded the Treaty of Relatross is, especially the care taken in the choice of the words not in it. Out."
Boer was so obviously trying to 'reorient' that Jobe giggled. Of course, he'd been giggling before the comm call too. Most of them had.
"My, that was interesting."
"Yes, Eddy, very. I almost paid attention all the way through it. Somebody remember what he said and tell me again when I can think."
"I'm not sure I'll remember how to think."
"I do know what you mean, Jobe. Ow!"
"Boer, this calf is knotted. What did you do to it?"
"I have no idea, Aura, but I'm sure I enjoyed it."
Boer walked onto the bridge several hours later and blushed when the crew applauded. That didn't lessen the applause, just added laughter to it. Anverd motioned him over to his watch station and pointed. Boer read what he pointed out and looked at him.
"Read what it doesn't say in that paragraph, Boer."
"Care taken in the words left out. Left out!"
"Misty found it. They figured out who and how. Now read the words not in this one."
"I don't see them."
"Look for a number."
"A number?"
"Do you see two anywhere in there?"
"Two?"
"Or five, or fifteen?"
"I'm still lost."
"How about one plus one?"
"One plus... "
"It may be the most carefully worded treaty ever written, Boer. Think about what it didn't say."
"No numbers. Not specific. Just... must be."
"Exactly. Misty said you finally got around to doing what it actually says. They know who, Boer. They hunted this for a reason. These are the messages I sent."
"I'm glad you showed me the other first. Tell me?"
"You know what a snapping turtle is?"
"A what?"
"I didn't until I hit it in a description of a person in a very good old book. I think I've got it. Yes, I thought I'd seen a reference on Earth biota in the index. There it is. That's a dangerous thing. It can take off a finger fast. The protective shell gets bigger and stronger every year."
"Tell me about this one."
"Snapped the first time at nine. Builds nice jaws. What's trust?"
"Mutual or it doesn't exist."
"Misty is sure."
"I think I am too."
"Next."
"I'm confused. Twice. I thought we were trying to stay out of the focus."
"Ven's going. She's read more than four."
"Huh?!"
"I stuck in a bit of insulation when I discovered it, but the ends are close and the current is heavy. The spark is going to jump it soon and the connection can't be unmade once it does. The line can handle the current, but that's about all it could do after that. Silly to waste that capacity writing two words over and over, wouldn't you say?"
"Two words? Oh, those two. I've read five."
"What did you think of the fifth?"
"The most readable text I was ever assigned."
Anverd looked at him in surprise and Boer grinned. He burst into laughter and Boer patted him on the head. He sat down and thought about what he'd learned about his family and himself that day. He suddenly had a thought and the grin came back.
"Anverd, Jobe is ready to read something different. Classics wouldn't be classics if they weren't good, but they're also heavy reading. Find him something... trashy."
"Jast has all the Tori Morris books, Boer. Misty asked me if I had any of them. I told her no, but I'd made sure Jast broug
ht them. She'd been told they were trash and never read one."
"That's why I read one, Urber. Read another one because it was good trash. Comm to Lieuten... I'm not breaking myself of that. I wouldn't have any difficulty remembering a rank change, but just not saying it... Computer, locate Adele Jastorim for comm."
"Lieuten... Jastorim."
"Boer. The laughter in the background is because I said, 'Lieuten,' too, then lamented I didn't seem to be getting out of the habit. Please put your Tori Morris collection in the library files. You loaned one and you know there's going to be a run on them. Most of the girls won't have read any of them."
"Boer, that's unethical even if it is my 'computer of regular use' and not illegal."
"I promise we'll pay for a library copy of every one of them when we get to Boniface."
"Do you know how many there are?"
"I'm sure I can afford it."
"That's true. All right. Tell Aura to read Far Corners of the Circle."
"I will. Recommend for Jobe."
"Jobe? Boer, you're brilliant. Night Knight."
"I haven't read that one, but I don't have any trouble reading over his shoulder. Thanks. Out."
"Oh, she may not recover. Probably have giggle relapses for days. I may have them with her."
"I was walking by a book store, Urber, and it was about packed with people. I noticed most of them were women."
"Which is why you went in."
"More or less. There wasn't a sign saying there was a signing or a sale and I got curious why they were all there."
"A new Tori Morris book was out and bookstores get datcubes two days before filetrans is available."
"That was the reason. I didn't have time to stand in line or I'd have probably gotten one then. The subject of recent books came up in conversation a few days later and I told someone about it. She said they were trash, grinned and told me the author agreed. I bought one that evening, Minstrel of the Crystal Plain."
"Oh, that's a good one. Of course, I'd have probably said that if you named any of the others."
"The Road to Reckless Value, The Total of Null, Yearn of Evermore."
"The fourth in that group came out just before we left Boniface. Jast has it."
"Title?"
"The Arrogant and the Blessed. It's set in Hominia."
"How did they end up there? Never mind. I'll read the book. Maybe I'll read it now. Anverd, did she load them yet?"
"She just got started, Boer, but she's running three readers. That one just came up in the index."
"Pass me the file number. Hominia is not an easy place to get to, especially for the living."
"Hmm. Which one was first in the group?"
"The Road to Reckless Value."
"Got it. Enjoy your watch."
"I will, Anverd, and I'll try to remember to watch once in awhile too. Good night."
"Probably. My wife likes to read in bed."
Boer laughed and pulled the file. He shook his head and decided Jobe was right. He didn't believe in destiny and it was probably laughing "with" him about it. It did seem to like him. How did they get to Hominia?
Thomin wasn't quite sure he wanted to take the interstellar message from the courier. He accepted it and sat down with it on the front step. It was hard-copy and the envelope was coded 'eyes only, no record.' A strange feeling of anticipation came over him as checked the confirmation codes, like the whole world, or maybe the universe, was waiting for him to open it. He was angry with himself for shaking a bit as he did. It began with a code that didn't make sense to him, until he read the message.
"You will be asked. Accept. You have the code to my files. It's your notification you've been drafted into empire service. Read what section six of the treaty doesn't say. Anverd."
He identified section six of the treaty of Relatross and started to shake. It angered him. He closed his eyes and 'read' the section in his mind. He was furious when he walked into the house, dropped the message in the disposal and pulled up the section on the house comp. He hadn't been able to remember it well enough to 'read' what section six didn't say. He sat down and began to look for it. About ten minutes later, he shut down the comp and went to pack. It took him eleven minutes to download his files to high-capacity datcubes and twenty-three to dismantle 'everything' in his room. It took less than two to pack his clothes. Franner arrived just as he finished dressing after his bath.
"Thomin, will you accept the position of O'Dona's advocate in the governor's family in accordance with the treaty of Relatross?"
"Yes. I'm ready."
"I had no doubt you would be. Your parents and Judge Rosh are waiting at the port to say farewell. The recording of the presentation will be made there. You will carry a copy with you to Valer and give it to the governor immediately on your, or his, arrival."
"Understood."
"It's amazing how carefully the Treaty of Relatross is worded, isn't it?"
Franner nearly sighed in relief when Thomin suddenly smiled and said he'd have been more interested in it if the ed comp had asked what it didn't say. Franner returned the smile and told him he would certainly have spent more time answering the questions. Nineteen minutes later, a fleet courier ship left O'Dona. Franner smiled at the three people who had been the official delegation. All three were old friends.
"I think it's going to surprise him a great deal to be happy."
"You just don't have any doubts at all, do you?"
"Lass, Misty chose him, then found what the treaty doesn't say because she loves him. He's going to be very surprised to learn she also knows him."
"I doubt he was given a choice, Franner. It's the only reason he'd have made this one. 'You're old enough now. Report to the general's headquarters for duty.' I quite agree with your opinion. It's going to surprise him. It was time something did. I think he's going to call me Aunt Lida the next time I talk to him, Lass."
"Relax, my love. The feeling the worry for him is over isn't just relief he bathed and brushed his hair. There is love and trust waiting for him."
"I'm just sure being this sure should be questioned, Berne. However, when I do it, I keep coming up with the answer I really am sure. It's not going to take much work to convince myself I believe me, but it will probably take awhile to get out of the habit of worrying about him."
"You're his mother. It's expected to take awhile."