the galaxy game - 50 page fridays

8/10/2019 The Galaxy Game - 50 Page Fridays

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By Karen Lord

Redemption in Indigo

Te Best of All Possible Worlds

Te Galaxy Game


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T H E

G A L A X Y

G A M E

K A R E N L O R D


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Te Galaxy Gameis a work o fiction. Names, characters, places,

and incidents either are the products o the authors imagination

or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons,

living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

A Del Rey rade Paperback Original

Copyright 2015 by Karen A. R. Lord

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Del Rey, an imprint o

Random House, a division o Random House LLC,

a Penguin Random House Company, New York.

D R and the H colophon are

registered trademarks o Random House LLC.

Library o Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lord, Karen.

Te galaxy game / Karen Lord.

pages ; cm

A Del Rey trade paperback original.

ISBN 978-0-345-53407-1 (socover : acid-ree paper)ISBN 978-0-345-53408-8 (ebook)

1. Psychic abilityFiction. I. itle.

PR 9230.9.L67G35 2015

813'.6dc23

2014031823

Printed in the United States o America on acid-ree paper

www.delreybooks.com

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Book design by Christopher M. Zucker


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For Alicia, Fatima, and Adrian,

with many thanks for keeping me sane and happy


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P r o l o g u e

Te only cure or a sleepless night was to lie in bed and watch the

constellations projected on his ceiling. He knew them by heart,

had known them since his boy- days on Cygnus Beta when he

would climb the homestead water tower to stargaze (and escape

his ather). Ten they were a distant dream, an ancient tale that he

could only trust was true. Now they were the dirt on his boots, the

dust in his lungs, and a constant pang o care and concern that he

carried in his heart. He was homesick or everywhere, or scatteredriends and amily and colleagues, each with a claim on his atten-

tion.

He whispered names in soothing ritual. Te First Four, craed

worlds ound already seeded with lieNtshune, Sadira, Zhinu,

and erra. Ten there were the colonies, bioormed planets shaped

and settled by emigrantsPunartam, Ain, olimn, and more.

Te erran system was nearest to his Cygnian heritage, but the

Punartam system was closest in travel time and galactic rank. Its

sole habitable planet, a first-wave colony almost as prominent as


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4 | K A R E N L O R D

the First Four, was reputed to be the first ully bioormed world, a

point still debated by the Academes. Was Cygnus Beta a craed

world that had ailed and been restored by human or non-humaneffort, or a bioorming experiment unrecorded in human history?

Punartam could prove its origins; Cygnus Beta could not. Punar-

tam was, o course, the Cygnian name (rom a erran language,

like so many other Cygnian names). In erran stellar nomencla-

ture it was Geminorum,and Galactic Standard offered a collec-

tion o syllables that told the ull story o the stars location, age,luminosity, and lie-bearing potential. Te name they used or

themselves was in Simplified Ntshune and it meant the same thing

as in Galactic Standardbehold! we are here, we have been here

long, see how brightly we shine, we are we.

Te ounders o Punartam traced their origin to the system

called the Mother o humanity. Cygnian name: Ntshune (also rom

a erran language). erran name: Piscis Austrini. rue name: a

delicate and yearning melodic phrase in raditional Ntshune. But

there was another claim to EldestSadira. erran name: Eridani.

Sadiri name: something unpronounceable (the Sadiri language,

even in the simplified, standard orm, was still a challenge or him

to speak). Former leader o the galaxy . . . or at least policeman and

judge and occasional executioner. Not much liked, though rarelyhated, and now occasionally pitied. Sadira was dead, or almost

dead, its biosphere locked in toxic regeneration or centuries to

come. Te seat o government had moved to New Sadira, ormerly

known to Cygnians as olimn. Survivors had settled throughout

the colonies, mainly Punartam and Cygnus Beta, but not Ain. Cer-

tainly not Ain.

Next in rank. Cygnian name: Zhinu. erran name: Lyrae.

Most Zhinuvians used the Galactic Standard name, but there were


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T H E G A L A X Y G A M E | 5

variations o that. In spite o several layers o modern tech and

some extreme bioorming, the origin planet o the system had

begun as a craed world. Ten there was erra, Earth. Source omost o the settlers on Cygnus Beta (erran stellar nomenclature,

the unmelodious 16 Cygni B). Youngest o the First Four and most

in need o protection. Zhinu, an example o long-term, well-

intentioned meddling rom both Ntshune and Sadira, was now

playing the role o delinquent middle child, while the two elder

siblings tried to shield erra rom outside influences.With eyes still fixed on the stars, he reached toward a bowl filled

with datacharms on his bedside table and brushed a amiliar piece

with the tip o a finger. A womans voice filled the room, and he

sank back onto his pillows with a sigh o comort.

In the beginning, God created human beings, which is to say

God put the ingredients together, embedded the instructions or

building on the template, and put it all into our separate eggs

marked Some Assembly Required.

One egg was thrown down to Sadira. Tere humanity grew to

revere and develop the powers o the mind. Another egg was sent

to Ntshune, and the humans who arose there became adept at

dealing with matters o the heart. A third egg arrived at Zhinu, and

there the ocus was on the body, both natural and man-made. Telast egg came to erra, and these humans were unmatched in spirit.

Strong in belie, they developed minds to speculate and debate,

hearts to deplore and adore, and bodies to cra and adapt. Such

were their minds, hearts, and bodies that they soon began to rival

their elder siblings.

When the Caretakers saw the errans and their many ways o

being human, they were both impressed and appalled. Some de-

clared, See how they combine the our aspects o humanness!


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Trough erra, all will be transormedSadira, Ntshune, and

Zhinuinto one harmonious whole. Others predicted, How can

any group survive such ragmentation? Tey will kill each other,and the rest o humanity will remain orever incomplete.

Aer some discussion, the Caretakers decided to seal off erra

rom the rest o the galaxy until erran civilization reached ull

maturity. Tey also decided to periodically save them rom them-

selves by placing endangered errans on Cygnus Beta, where they

could flourish and begin to mix with other humans.Te voice chuckled and concluded, And that, my dear, is five

creation myths or the price o one.

He smiled. Love you, he murmured to the recording. He

would see the owner o the voice soon enough. Reaching out once

more, he stirred inside the bowl with a finger . . . and rowned. Te

weight, the chime, and the texture o the contentssomething was

off. He immediately sat up and turned on the lights. Grabbing the

bowl, he sied through the charms with one hand and glared at

every trinket and token that rose to the surace. Finally, he turned

the bowl upside down, dumping everything into his lap. He

scanned the spread o charms on the bedsheets, counting and cat-

aloging, although he already knew what was missing.

He looked up, urious. Tere was only one person who couldhave taken them, and only one place they could be.

erminal 5 was a suborbital city strung between the icy surace o

the planet and the icy, pitted armour o a single arc o the geosyn-

chronous station. Te core o the erminal was old, a nostalgic

remnant o another era o expansion, but the station was entirely

new and under constant construction, orming a ragmented ring


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o bends and bows that girdled ancient Ntshune with a scanty,

homely touch o modernity. It represented a humble proclamation

o galactic ambition and a dogged ocus on one thingcontrol othe main hub o galactic communications and transportation.

More lived and moved in the space station and its terminals

than on the surace o Ntshune, but it was a population in constant

flow to and rom transports and through transits. Te only resi-

dents who could claim any permanence beyond the staff were the

databrokers, credit wranglers, and small-goods sellers. Tey camerom all over the galaxyentrepreneurial, nomadic, and at once

heroic and pathetic. A glance would not distinguish between the

adventurer and the reugee; both exuded the adrenaline o chasing

and being chased by ate, and translated that urgency into a direct-

ness bordering on discourtesy. Te market sector o erminal 5

buzzed with loud voices and high emotions. Only the unprepared

and the unlucky came to do business, and they learned quickly not

to expect gentle handling.

No. Not that, not here. Te brokers hand slapped his desk in

emphatic negation. Waste o time.

Te young traveler roze with one hand suspended in the air,

dangling the delicate bracelet with its many charms. But you

know what it is?oo well, the broker replied. Datachip, Cygnian; datacharm,

ditto. Assorted Punarthai audioplugs, one Sadiri vault and one

Sadiri card, Ntshune He stopped himsel with a gape, then

leaned orward and gave the charm a ew seconds o close atten-

tion. Ntshune filigree, he admitted with a nod o grudging appre-

ciation. Beautiully made. A timeless piece. He leaned back. I

can work with that or the Sadiri vault. No guarantees with the au-

dioplugs. Some o the channels are no longer on- air and plugs


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wont play without their channel linkup. Te card is another an-

tique, likely biolocked. Te Cygnian mattertrash. oo much

trouble.I have credit the traveler began.

Credit is not the issue. Do you have five Standard years?

Te ace stayed neutral, but the hand drooped, and there was

something regretul in the curl o the fingers as they slowly gath-

ered up the loop o motley charms. Te broker briefly yielded to

the suggestion o soening, like a shy tug at his heart, but he soonbraced himsel sternly against it.

Stop that, he cautioned. We are Sadiri still; we dont have to

stoop to Zhinuvian tricks. I you do not have five years, then go to

Cygnus Beta, laxce Province, the library city o imbuktu-kvar.

Tey specialize in data extraction rom the most ridiculous and

obsolete tech.

Te young ace tried to continue its neutrality, but to another

Sadiri every microexpression was a shout. Te broker blinked and

guessed. You are a Cygnian Sadiri?

Head bowed, mind shielded but alert, the traveler quietly re-

plied, Yes. I was born there.

Te broker was not perect. He saw and sensed the obvious, and

misread. Tere is no need to be ashamed. Whether you are taSa-diri or hal-Sadiri, we all share the same ancestors, mourn the

blackened skies o Old Sadira, and curse the Ainya or their ailed

attempt at genocide.

He stopped, gave the traveler a swi but thorough glance that

assessed and appreciated rom head to toe, misread urther, and

decided to be vulnerable.

I thought I was ortunate. So many women died, we Sadiri men

became so many wieless husbands and motherless sons. But I had

a wie still living. New Sadira took her rom me not too long aer.


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We were assured it would be temporary, so at first I was patient. I

should have gone to Cygnus Beta with the rest o the young rejects,

but I assumed I had status and protectiona place in the newworld order. Now I am a lonely and aging databroker working in

the corners o space stations and transit terminals. Sometimes I

hope that my wie ound happiness, but rom the tales I have heard,

and the emptiness in my heart . . . I know she is dead. It has been

many years since then . . .

Mind no longer closed, the young Sadiri tried to cringe away inpolite but clear retreat, but the broker had gathered steam and

courage and was no longer looking or the usual mental cues and

courtesies. It was time or a coarser message. He tugged desper-

ately at the neck o his plain black jacket, letting the hidden asten-

ings all open to reveal a bare, smooth chest etched with silver

tracings o the best Ntshune make. Te broker stuttered to a stop,

trying to make his way through several layers o aux pas to ormu-

late some kind o coherent verbal or mental response to the travel-

ers demonstrated unavailability or short-term flirtation or

long-term engagement.

May your period o kin contract be long and mutually advan-

tageous. And yet . . . you are ull Sadiri? Born in the settlement on

Cygnus Beta?Te traveler did not reply, did not need to. Te brokers lazy

mind was at last communicating at the appropriate level and his

questions were rhetorical, a verbal trick or emphasis.

But I did not think they permitted men to be born there.

We are not New Sadira, the traveler reproached him. He re-

proached him not only or the insult to his people, but also or the

brokers vague, unvoiced support or that policy. He did not always

encounter the caricature o the desperate, marriage-hungry Sadiri,

nor did he embody it, but when it appeared it made him eel per-


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1 0 | K A R E N L O R D

sonally injured, as i conscious o a great all in which he was com-

plicit though not culpable.

Te broker raised his hand, opened it in surrender, and let it all,a gesture o apology that went beyond what was required toward

one so much younger. His very pores exhaled embarrassment, re-

gret, and resentment. Te traveler elt such pity; i he had not been

convinced o his own mental strength, he would have suspected

the broker o influencing his emotions.

I would be grateul i you could do whatever is possible withthe vault, the filigree, and the audioplugs, he said.

Te brokers ego steadied and grew stronger, anchored by the

amiliar process o business. What ormats do you wish or the

final compilation?

Ntshune filigree compatible.

Tat can be done. Te broker held out a hand or the charms;

the tiny lights on his desk blinked and beckoned, ready or trans-

er.

Te traveler hesitated. How long? he asked.

Te filigree, less than a day. A week or the vault, perhaps, and

I really cannot say or the audioplugs. I may have to have them sent

or testing.

Send each one as soon as you finish extraction, the travelertold him, extending his treasure.

A hand intervened, tweaking the bracelet o charms rom the

travelers fingers. Te hand was almost prettier than the bracelet.

Silvery new lines overlaid the aint, pale scars o long-removed fil-

igree, like embroidery over damask, fingers to orearm. Te travel-

ers heart seized with ear and disappointment as he looked into

dark, opaque eyes and an unreadable ace. Te databroker assessed

the situation with a glance, and olded his desk and vanished be-

ore he could become either accessory or witness.


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T H E G A L A X Y G A M E | 1 1

You could have asked me, Narua.

Te words were quiet, unthreatening, and devoid o reproach,

but they still stung. I didask, Patron.Ten you should have been more patient. Te Patron tucked

the charms into an inner old o his jacket. Come with me.

Narua ollowed his Patron along corridors and through private

doors to a small dock. Te shuttle linked to the entry port hummed

quietly, its engines run-ready. Narua hesitated or a moment be-

ore boarding, but sighed and let the habit o trust take his eetobediently into the Patrons domain. He stayed standing and kept

himsel rom fidgeting as the Patron seated himsel at the main

console and spoke the commands to seal the entry and begin their

departure clearance rom the erminal. When the necessaries

were concluded, the Patron gestured to the chair beside him.

Narua sat and tried to look away, but eventually he raised his head

and endured the Patrons steady, almost painully caring gaze.

Im hurt. Were practically amily.

I know. Narua motioned impatiently toward his still-exposed

chest and the tracings there that matched those on the Patrons

arms. A lesser branch o the Haneki dynasty, a collection o the

unregistered, the oreign, and the irregular, all kin but ew blood. I

know what I am, what weare.Reproach came at last in the orm o a hard stare and a rare

sternness. And the Haneki markings lend you great privilege,

lesser branch or no, or you would be answering directly to ermi-

nal Security instead o me. Butthe Patron waved a hand, dis-

missing the tense momentwe were amily beore that. Do you

honestly believe Im keeping inormation rom you? Or are you

hoping to gain some hold over me? My past is relatively boring. No

scandal and a very little crime, long since pardoned. It would be so

hard to blackmail me.


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Narua smiled, unable to help himsel. Te Patron always had

that effect on people, persuading them that he was never a threat,

and somehow, in spite o all the evidence, it worked every time.Te Patrons voice became heavy with regret. Or do you think I

dont want you to find her?

Narua winced but could not lie. Tey say that her decision put

you on a path you might not have chosen or yoursel.

A gentle rown appeared briefly on the Patrons ace, showing

perplexity rather than anger. Is that what they say? he said drily.In the absence o other witnesses, the missing conveniently take

on our sins. Let me tell you directlyI bear her no ill will. Quite

the opposite. I want her ound, or my aunts sake as much as my

own.

She is only one missing person among many that concern you.

I understand that.

I am glad that you understand my responsibilities, but you still

ail to comprehend my heart.

Narua ell silent, chastised.

Let us go. As I said, Narua, you only had to ask. Ill unlock the

charms or you and you can see what secrets are dangling on this

chain.

Because he was the Patron and thus a busy man, and also because

only his time and his timing mattered, they did not, as Narua had

hoped, go straight rom landing at the Port o Janojya to a viewing

at one o the ports extensive conerence acilities. Nor did they, on

return to Janojya proper, and reentry to the Haneki domains, im-

mediately settle down to a private meeting in the Patrons work-

room or living quarters. Narua ound himsel gently dismissed, le


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alone or days to consider and worry and finally ret, and then at

last he was summoned.

Te Patron sat alone at the edge o a sunken holo projector pitin the center o his workroom floor. He sat so still that Narua

thought or a moment that he was meditating. Narua crossed the

threshold, courteously quiet but sensibly announcing his entry

with an inaudible beat o presence that could be discerned by any

but the most primitive erran. Te Patrons eyelids flickered, low-

ered rather than closed, and Narua saw that his ocus was onsomething held in the upturned palm on his lap.

Narua . . . or may I say Kirat?

Narua smiled. You may say Siha, but childhood names dont

matter anymore. Not or me.

Ten let me start again. Narua, I wish you well in your search.

Tis role I fill comes with many opportunities and many restric-

tions, and i I cannot help, I will at least not hinder. Here.

Te Patron waved him to a cushion beside him. Narua looked

beore he sat and picked up a single charm, shaped like a watch-

tower, rom the dip in the so abric.

A ull copy o everything you tried to steal, said the Patron,

both chiding and amused. Use it wisely and dont embarrass me.

Narua nodded, too pleased to speak, and quickly put it into apocket. Te Patrons gaze returned to the object in his own hand.

For this, he said, holding it up to clear view, I had to make a

request, and then I had to wait.

Narua stared. It was an old Cygnian datacharm o a design that

slightly predated the one the Patron kept on the chain, and the

style was amiliar. He began to speak, then bit his lip.

I think you have one like it. Tis belongs to my aunt. I only

ound out about it when it came up during our recent chat on your


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latest shenanigans. She said we should watch it together, beore

you go through all the other journals and chronicles.

It was the moment to ask, but Narua stayed silent. He could al-ready guess who was on it, and more questions seemed superflu-

ous. Te Patron nodded his approval and gently threw the charm

into the depths o the holo interace. Te first image was sudden

and large, and they both jumped back reflexively at the brightness

radiating rom the semicircle beore them. Tere was the ace and

orm Narua knew so well, which belonged to a woman he hadnever methis mother. She was sitting in an office. Te wall be-

hind her right shoulder had shelves o books, disks, and unamiliar

artiacts, and a tall window at her le shoulder opened out into

greenery and birdsong. A breeze played intermittently at the drap-

eries.

Commander Nasiha, she said, looking straight into the vid re-

corder with a slightly distant, almost distracted gaze. Formerly o

the Interplanetary Science Council, presently on leave rom the

New Sadira Science Council, cultural consultant o Sadira-on-

Cygnus in laxce Province on Cygnus Beta.

A brie, staccato cough cut off the lengthy introduction, and an-

other voice spoke soly. Tis isnt a research report, Nasiha.

Teres no need or ormality.Nasiha blinked and her eyes ocused and grew warm. I asked

you to prompt me, not interrupt me, she admonished the unseen

speaker, but it was said gently enough to be teasing as well.

I amprompting you. ry to relax. ell it like a tale.

Nasiha rowned. Perhaps reports would be better. Anything

can change, and what I say now will have little utility. She moved

as i to get up.

Te offscreen voice sighed. And I say again, its not a report.

Nor is it a memorial, Nasiha replied harshly.


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Sorrowul, almost hurt, the voice countered, Tats not why I

suggested this.

Te vids view changed in a blur, resettling at a higher point toshow the whole room and the second occupant, her hand just pull-

ing back rom flinging the vid recorder to its new perch. She re-

clined in a chair on the other side o Nasihas desk, her fingers laced

tightly over her belt in a way that should have been casual but in-

stead demonstrated an inner tension held close and quiet. Grace

Delarua, godmother o Narua and aunt o the Patron, had neverbeen good at hiding her eelings. Te new angle also provided

some temporal context or the vid. Narua noted with ond rever-

ence that his mother was heavily pregnant and that he had been, in

act i not in ull awareness, present at the time o recording.

Its a memory, Grace Delarua said, not a memorial. Its a way

or you to talk to the amily youll never see. Once we kept letters,

journals, and flat, monochrome photographs. Now we have data

keepsakes and trinkets. Its as significant or insignificant as you

want it to be. Say hi. Recite a poem or a blessing. ell a dirty joke.

As Grace spoke, Nasiha gradually unstiffened, slowly leaned

back, and absently clasped her hands in similar ashion over her

belly. She ought not to smile, but by the last sentence she smiled.

Narua glanced at the Patron and noticed with not a little rueul-ness that he had allen into the same posture as the Patronlegs

crossed, hands loosely held in lap, body leaning slightly orward.

Te Patron looked at him sideways and gave him a quick wink.

I will have to think o one, Nasiha said drily. Were not as

amused by sex as errans and Zhinuvians.

Sadiri are ar too grown-up or that, Grace agreed cheerully.

Nasihas ace became shadowed again. Or we find less humor

in things, or the wrong kind o humor. New Sadira is a joke, but no

one is laughing.


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1 6 | K A R E N L O R D

Grace also sobered. But how much o what we are hearing is

true?

Nasiha unclasped her hands and began to tap out a tally on herfingertips. First, our pilot brethren. Tey are very loyal to all

things Sadiri, but they are also expert at objective observation. I

would assign their reports a high level o veracity. Second, the at-

tention our consultancy has been getting rom the Academes o

Punartam, not only in increased requests or collaboration on

projects concerning the Sadiri culture, but also in the number otimes our papers and reports have been quoted and reerenced by

other academics and consultants. Tis goes beyond the first wave

o stranded Sadiri aer our biosphere disaster. Tey are dealing

with a second wave o reugees rom New Sadiri, many o them

traumatized by new, unexpected crises.

Your Consul . . . Grace began slowly, as i already doubting the

words she was about to say.

Te Consul o New Sadira is in an unenviable position. Cygnus

Beta is too distant rom the galactic center or his office to be ully

cognizant o the situation on New Sadira, and the community he is

tasked to represent has become too independent to pay him much

attention. It is no wonder he clings to any semblance o authority.

Like ordering you back to the Science Council, Grace said.Nasiha clasped her hands again and shook her head slightly.

Well, my leave is coming to an end. We knew this would happen

but, she continued, her eyes narrowing with something like anger,

the galaxy was a different place then.

What does arik say? Grace asked, still with that gentle voice.

He is concerned. I know he does not want me to go, but he is

leaving the decision to me. Nasiha smiled suddenly. He tries his

best to assure me in every way that he will be an exceptional par-

ent. Tat was never in doubt.


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Tey ell silent or a while; then Grace spoke. Do you know,

when we first started hearing the rumors, I was convinced it was

something the Zhinuvian cartels were doing. I imagined themsweeping up every lost and undocumented Sadiri emale they

could find and selling them on to the highest bidders.

Nasiha laughed bitterly. Te cartels have too many other op-

portunities now that galactic security is so lax, but I am sure there

are some enterprising small groups and individuals who are filling

the void. Sadiri women are now the galaxys rarest and most valu-able commodity. Ironically, this act has put severe limitations on

their saety and security.

Grace sighed. I almost wish that Ain wasnt cut off rom the

rest o the galaxy. I the government o New Sadira had more ge-

netic options, they might not be so desperate.

aking Ainya genetic material as reparations or attempted

genocide? Would that mean taking Ainya women as wives, or

breeding stock? Unimaginable. Perhaps Ain is better off in isola-

tion. It removes the temptation to other atrocities.

Go to the Academes, Grace pleaded. I theyve taken over the

Interplanetary Science Council, why should you go to New Sadira?

Its too ar. Well never see you again.

A seven-year posting is not orever, Grace, Nasiha chided ab-sently.

Tey will make it orever. You know that, Grace muttered.

And you . . . youre keeping secrets rom me.

Unexpectedly, Nasiha laughed. Tere was so much ondness

and joy in her laughter that Grace responded with a huge grin,

immediately disarmed. O course I am keeping secrets rom you,

she said, but I thought you knew why.

Grace shrugged. I know you love me, but I also know you dont

take me seriously where some matters are concerned.


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Nasiha dipped her head and gave Grace a stern and censuring

look rom under rowning brows. Nonsense. I am doing you a

avor. I do not think that you would not keep my secrets, but it maybe that you couldnot. And I do not wish to put your husband in an

awkward position. He must maintain a good relationship with

New Sadira in general and the Consul in particular. I I must plot

disobedience, I will not involve you two.

You should give us the choice, Grace grumbled.

We are all o us caught between duty and choice. Tey tell methat my children are the uture o my people and I have a duty. But

how can I ransom the reedoms o the unborn to an unknowable

uture?

You say that now because o Cygnian influence. When you first

arrived, all o you, your sole duty was to the survival o Sadira.

Now you allow erran and Ntshune riffraff like me into your com-

munity and you dont even flinch at the prospect o a diluted

bloodline. Tats quite a change.

New Sadira has changed too, but in the opposite direction.

Tere lies my dilemma.

I wish you would let us do more.

I dowant you to do more. Would you save only me when so

many others are in danger? Do your research, collaborate with theAcademes, and as or your husband . . . Nasiha looked down,

drew a breath, and exhaled. I know that Dllenahkh will strive to

keep the name o Sadira rom dishonor. I believe that he has some

challenges ahead o him. You must keep him stable and save him

rom despair.

Tese sound like good-byes, Grace said, her voice wavering.

Nasiha nodded. One way or another, I will be leaving Cygnus

Beta, and I believe it will be soon. I hope it will be in a way that I

choose.


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She looked pensively at the window view as Grace quickly

wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

Ive got some reports to finish. Call me i you need anything,and . . . finish recording that message, okay?

Nasiha nodded as Grace stretched up to the recorder on the

shel, her hand filling the view as she reached toward it . . . then

darkness and silence indicated that the glimpse into the past was at

an end.

Te Patron cleared his throat in a little staccato rhythm thatmade him sound ar too much like his aunt. Tats it. I take it you

have the datacharm Commander Nasiha recorded or you?

Yes, Narua said, or tried to say, but his voice was below a whis-

per, dry and tearless. He tried again with more orce and spit. Yes.

What did she put on it?

An old Sadiri lullaby. Te melody is very pretty, but the lyrics

are a bit grim. Something about how getting married and having a

hundred descendants is preerable to dying alone and orgotten

and useless.

Ah. I suppose things havent really changed that much in the

Sadiri mind-set.

But she said . . . she said amily can be a matter o choice, not

birth.Tats a very Ntshune sentiment. Te Patron sounded pleased.

And i your amily is as large as a dynasty, your priorities

change, Narua acknowledged.

Te Patron shook his head and stared earnestly at the young

Sadiri. Tey dont change, Narua. Tey deepen, they expand, but

they dont change as much as you think.

He stood up briskly, then bent and picked the charm out o the

holopit. Keep looking or her. I will give you what help I can when

I can. I only ask that you answer my call i I need you. Now, i you


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2 0 | K A R E N L O R D

will, I have appointments elsewhere. Feel ree to use my workroom

and quarters as you go through the rest o the charms. All the tech

is secure and surveillance-ree.Tank you, Patron, Narua said, his voice almost breaking with

surprise and emotion at the unexpected generosity.

He waited or the Patron to exit beore tossing the bracelet o

charms into the pit beore him. Ten he stretched out on the cush-

ions and began to listen and watch.


24/53

P A R T O N E

Cygnus Beta


25/53


26/53

C h a p t e r O n e

It was that hour o the game when sweat and blood began to rub

together, skin sliding on skin, smudging the marks o allegiance

and territory and leaving only the grav-band colors to identiy the

two teams. Te audience was global, and the cacophony shocking.

Every drop and pull and sink was cursed and celebrated. A mosaic

composed o myriad images o renzied supporters enveloped the

Wall in a hemisphere o seething color. Players would occasionally

look outward into that mad, tilted sky and add their voices inshouts o triumph or ury, but or the most part they saved their

breath or speed.

Adrenaline spiked high in players and spectators alike, pushed

by the high risk and higher stakes. Tis was the best part. It was

ruined by unriendly white light flooding the room and washing

out the rich, broad holo projection o seventeen careully coordi-

nated school slates. Cries o dismay rose up, and as quickly died

down again at the sight o the schoolmaster standing in the door-

way with a tired expression on his ace.


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2 4 | K A R E N L O R D

Boys, you are loud. Go to sleep. You will find out the score in

the morning. Caps on, Riley, Kim, and Dee. Caps straight, Pareti

and Sajanettan. Put away those slates. Let all be in proper orderbeore I leave this place. YouAbowen, Abyowan, however your

names pronounced. Arent you the new Saturday boy?

Te masters voice was a marvel. It started at a resentul mutter,

swelled to stern command, and concluded with a sharp, querying

snarl directed at a student who was standing casually at the edge o

the room. Te boy looked as i he had been hopingno, expectingto be overlooked. Te sudden question startled him badly.

Yes, but . . . its Friday. Now he looked bewildered.

Not anymore; its midnight. You know who I am, dont you?

My sister teaches you elecoms and ransers.

O course I know, the boy replied, oddly offended. Im not

that new.

Te masters expression turned suspiciously mild. Barely a

year, big school, high staff turnover with some teachers you know

o but never see ace-to-aceit wouldnt be surprising i you

didnt know the connection. My office, east wing, nine tomorrow

morning.

Te room had settled down. Leaving the Saturday boy to worry

whether the appointment was or work or punishment, the masterscanned the dormitory and, finding it relatively neat and its deni-

zens subdued, gave a brie, approving nod.

Lights out, he said, closed the door, and set off without a back-

ward look. Te slow ade would give them all plenty o time to get

into bed.

He jogged down the corridor with as much haste and dignity as

could be managed on too many sedentary years and a creaky ankle.

Loud, he grumbled to himsel. Pestilential intererence is the

problem. A seventeen-slate array! Selfish, unthinking poppets!


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Te li tower at the corner o east and south was illuminated

solely by the starlight rom its long, narrow windows, but he

stepped onto the li pad with the sixth sense o amiliarity andgave it a solid stamp. It carried him up to the second level as he

muttered, this time with a touch o admiration, Enterprising little

moujins. Galia will be proud.

Teir lodgings were at the opposite end o the wing rom his

office. He had insisted. Lie was too complicated without main-

taining a ew artificial boundaries. Galia did not have an office; shedid not need one. She stayed in their small set o rooms, keeping

mainly to the large study. Hecalled it a study. Most visitors simply

called it . . . strange. Te walls were ull o fixed shelves, the upper

air dangled leashes rom a couple o floating shelves, and nothing

touched the wooden floor but Galias own eet and her old-

ashioned walking stick. She stood leaning on it, considering a

slate propped on a shel opposite her. It was silently broadcasting a

small flat-view o that same match he had shut down in the north

wing first-level boys dormitory.

In, Silyan, she told him as he hesitated in the doorway. Te

brie exchange said everything about which sibling was elder and

dominant.

Te floor o the study had a pleasing give, a slight bounce. Heenjoyed it. It was how his eet knew he was at home. Galia turned

away rom the slate, and the movement o her considerable mass

sent a amiliar pulse through the floor: the sharp vibration o walk-

ing stick and the low-amplitude surge o the shiing rom le oot

to right.

Image improved. Well done. How many?

Seventeen.

She acknowledged the eat with a nod and a minor show o her

dimples. Sometimes they pay attention.


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2 6 | K A R E N L O R D

She tapped her cane. wo other slates switched on rom their

stations on the walls. Tere was a momentary blur, and then the

ull holo coalesced in the center o the room, filling it almost tothe ceiling. Her brothers eyes went wide rom the sheer impact o

the holos size and fine-grained detail. He silently watched both the

game and Galias concentration. He would have been making

notes, looking up strategies, anything to keep a proper sense o

what was going on rather than superficially enjoying the speed and

skill o the players, but she was ar above him and only her mouthmoved as she whispered numbers and ormulae to hersel.

A sadness as sudden and deep as a Punartam double sunset ell

over his spirit. Are you so sure? Are they so sure?

Galia was untouched by any doubt. What else is there to do?

Tey balanced each other, moments bound by a shared pivot

pointblood, ability, and a common prison. Te more inorma-

tion they received, the more certain she became; the greater the

potential or success, the more his terror grew that they would ail.

Hope or a distant dream was sweeter, gentler, and easier to bear

than hope on the blade-edge o reedom or utter disaster. At differ-

ent times they kept each other rom despair. She looked at him

with a small smile that teased him or his cold eet and sparked

enough o the old sibling rivalry to fire up his courage again.I have not moved or ought, she said, but standing still is not

surrender. Look at the players. Its about timing. It is always about

timing. You must move when the circumstances are right or you

will all. Look at the strategists. Tey stand still and hold the reins.

Sometimes we are players and sometimes we are strategists.

Silyan looked. Anyone could understand the game with a

glance. Players ran and climbed and slid rom the base o the Wall

to the top. Tey obstructed their opponents and carried their

mates. Tey moved together as closely as possible; a scattered team


30/53


lost weight and leverage in more ways than one. Tey tried to tilt

the Wall in their avor, making it easy or even the weakest to reach

the goal. Tat was the game at first glance, and many supportersneeded no more to enjoy their wins and mourn their losses. For

those who knew, there was more, much more. For example, how a

certain concentration and configuration o players could tilt the

Wall against the other team, or how the sudden shis o gravity

might cause not merely a all but even, in the case o a slow or un-

skilled player, a dangerous shear that could rip limb rom body.Most o all, the true aficionados knew that the key to the game was

in the hands o the strategists, a pair o players who never ran or

climbed but stood beore the Wall, working at low-slanted grids on

easels and orchestrating the moves o their team with pre-

programmed maneuvers coordinated through the push and pull o

grav-bands on their wrists. One commentator described it as hold-

ing the reins or an entire derby o horses while trying to keep

them rom trampling one another, running off the track, or collid-

ing with the rails.

Silyan had never ridden a horse, but he had kept order in a dor-

mitory o fiy boys o varying parapsychological and physical abil-

ities. Te reins were long enough and strong enough that he could,

as Galia said, stand still and manipulate them with knowledge andtiming alone.

Tere was hazard too. A player on the Wall might run the risk

o shear or a tumble to the base with no hope o medical assistance

until the traditional whistle or game-over, but a strategist captain

and his deputy were the only ones who aced consequences aer

the final whistle, consequences that could be as trivial as a brie

loss o credit, or as permanent as dismissal and dishonor.

Silyan and Galia had no credit to lose, and dismissal, whether

under cloud or glory, would have been a gi. So they stayed, he


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2 8 | K A R E N L O R D

anxious, she calm, both awaiting a shi o orces that could tilt the

Wall in their avor.

In the end, he was the one who almost orgot the morning ap-

pointment with the Saturday boy. It had been a late night, watch-

ing and pondering the game, and he had not slept well, watching

and pondering his dreams. It was fieen minutes beore nine when

he came to his office, not or the appointment but to re-read somerecent articles rom Punartam. He was not ully the schoolmaster,

still rumpled and too-comortable in an old tunic and a rayed but

warm mantle to shield him rom the chill o the buildings thick,

ancient stone. Te knock on the door startled him upright rom

his recliner, disorienting him rom a reality o ormats and ormu-

lae until he remembered who and where he was and shouted per-

mission or the boy to enter.

Te door opened.

Master, the boy greeted him. Tere was deerence in the low-

ered head, but his eyes were cautious and his jaw tense as i, though

no longer a novice, he still did not know what to expect.

Sit. He made the command riendly, but his eyes kept a close

watch on the boy as he sat on a chair beside a table with breakablethings like confiscated games, old-model slates, and hal-ull pesto

jars, and in the middle o it all an intricate game strategy board

wedged between two slates and a stack o old books.

Rafi Abowen Delarua. Youve spent a ull year at the Lyceum,

now. How are you aring?

Te reply was pleasingly blunt, i typical. Its boring. I could

cover twice the work in hal the time on the homestead.

I know, murmured Silyan. Its almost as i we wanted to keep


32/53


you here or as long as possible. He met Rafis suddenly horrified

stare with an amused gaze.

Your mother and sister have moved to laxce City, he contin-ued. Your grandmother is away most weekendssailing season

on laxce Lake, I understand. Tese are not, however, the only

reasons you are now a Saturday boy.

Youve been with us or a while and . . . well . . . we cant quite

figure you out, Abowen. Youre not helping. You dont speak to the

school therapists, youre riends with no one but riendly to every-one, and youre ordinary. You overdo ordinariness. You wouldnt

be here i you were ordinary, Abowen. What are you keeping rom

us?

Te boy blinked at him and said nothing. Anger, ear, uncer-

tainty . . . what was the origin o that tension that kept his ace so

still? It was impossible to tell.

Silyan sighed. We will have to cap you.

No, Abowen replied instantly. I wont accept it.

Ah, theres the problem. We do need your permission. You havent

done anything wrong, aer all. Boy, where do you think you are?

Silent conusion.

Te master pressed on. A school? A prison? A hospital?

Is there a choice? Abowen retorted.Tere is, Silyan said gravely, and I encourage you to choose

wisely. Te Lyceum has one mandate: to bring together all the

rogue and random psi-gied o Cygnus Beta and teach them eth-

ics, restraint, and community. In that we are supported by Central

Government and some o the oldest Ntshune amilies on the

planet. I you need help, let us help you. Prove youre not danger-

ous and show us what you can do. I you want to learn, you can

learn rom us.


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3 0 | K A R E N L O R D

Abowen studied the mess on the table and began fidgeting with

the strategy board. Silyan did not stop him. He suspected that

there were tears on the boys averted ace. You like the game?He nodded and cleared his throat beore saying in a steady

voice, We call it snakes and ladders. He smiled. No one else calls

it that.

Messenger, Wallrunning, Cliffchase, Silyan listed. O course

the original name in raditional Ntshune is unpronounceable un-

less youre very musical, but it roughly translates as messenger. Tose who go beore, Abowen corrected quietly. Van-

guard, perhaps? Or herald.

Silyan watched as he flicked the flags and pins into a common

ormation and then quickly disassembled the grouping with a tap

to the corner o the grid. Forerunner, he said and added, Do you

play?

Never in real lie, Abowen said, looking up at him with clear

eyes and a calm expression.

Would you like to?

His eyes widened. With the Dailies? Im not that good.

Tey wont mind someone stumbling around during training

drills. Itll keep them alert at least.

Teyll never accept someone with a cap.Wear it aer hours and dont tell them.

Abowen looked at the strategy board again, his gaze distant and

dreaming. He glanced, rowning, at the walls o the room, then

met Silyans eyes. Ill take the bribe and the cap. But what does the

cap do?

Tat depends on you, boy. Tat entirely depends on you. Go

get your cap, and come back at twono, make that three. Ill find

some work or you to do.


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Te door to the schoolmasters office opened and closed and there

was my dear and callow riend Rafi, also known as Moo, unscathedby all appearances, but very strange-aced, as i he had a lot o ex-

citement that he didnt know what to do with. Ten he saw me and

went all-angry with no doubts.

inman, what in all blasted Earth are you doing in halls on a

Saturday? he said, shouting with his hands, whispering with his

mouth.Making sure the master doesnt disappear you. Its happened

beore, you know.

Moo hustled me round the corner with his fist wrapped up in

my sleeve. Teyll disappear you.

Calm down, youre all aflitter. Come down to the back gate. I

flew. No nav, no trace.

He opened his mouth, he shut his mouth. He tried again. You

what?

Flew. Padr got me an aerolight to celebrate my ageday. wo-

seater. Scared? Its higher than an elephants eye.

He thumped my shoulder. Never scared! But I cant. Ive just

agreed to be capped.

Pest and perdition no! I gasped.Going to pick it up now, he said, nodding.

You should be crying. Why not?

Compensation is I get to play with the Dailies.

Poxy liar, no! I shouted.

Shh. ruth. Now fly back home and Ill see you Monday.

He lef me gaping and flapping in the corridor as i Iwere the

moujin, and not him. Hes three years younger and acts superior. I

should hate him, but he took me elephant riding last break, so I


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3 2 | K A R E N L O R D

owe him, even i he doesnt want to be owed. But capped! Tats or

the crazies, the criminals, and the ones whod set themselves on

fire by accident i they werent watched. How could he be so calmabout that?

I didnt come all that distance to fly alone. I went and banged on

the window o the next best thing. She was deep in study, slate in

hand, and she dropped it and almost ell out o her chair when I

rattled the metalwork and glass.

She opened the window ully and gave me a bad- look. Youreso uncouth.

Youre not in the convent anymore. Adjust. Come flying with

me.

Im busy, she snapped and turned away. Halway away.

I stopped her. Moo is going to be capped.

She roze a moment and turned back. What? she whispered.

She sounded truly upset. Why would they cap Rafi?

I have no idea. Fly with me and lets discuss it.

She gave me more bad-looks, but she came. She sat on the sill,

swung her eet daintily over, and jumped down onto the pebble

path, ignoring my outstretched helping hand. As we walked, I tried

small talk to soen her up. So, youve been here a ew months

now. What is your opinion o this fine establishment?Sad, she said brutally. By all sacred waters, I am grateul I

never came here as a child.

Dont judge it by me, sweet Serendipity, I told her. I am an

indifferent student, a less-than-stellar example, the despair o my

illustrious tutors. On the other hand, your home is truly a blessed

place or the bright-minded. I cannot blame you or your high

standards. Here we learn how not to disturb the common man;

there you learn to sing and soar with the highest.

We were walking shoulder-to-shoulder, close enough to touch


36/53


hands. I touched her hand. She shook me off absently, like brush-

ing away a fly. I was too cheerul to eel hurt. My gi and reedom

was beore us: smooth lines, cool mint-green trim, graceul wings.My ladys wingd chariot, I proclaimed, offering her again the

hand shed scorned. She scorned it a second time and scrambled in.

I tumbled in mysel and sealed up the canopy. Well have to trun-

dle or a bit, I explained apologetically as I keyed it awake with a

short code. oo many trees in the vicinity.

I kept quiet as we taxied silently to open space. I knew she wasthinking. I didnt know what she was thinking. She always hated it

when I tried to look. I merely recognized the expression, that mild

worry that reminded me she was concerned about greater matters

than the latest game score or the career her padr had picked or

her.

I dont think you need ret. Rafi wont tell, and neither will I. I

spoke seriously, partly because I was serious and partly because I

was starting my preparation or takeoff, something that always

makes me stop skylarking.

She bit her lip, looking irritated. Teres little to tell, and soon

there will be nothing to tell. Te day o secrets is over. I just dont

trust those caps.

Hes tried too hard to seem harmless. Tey probably want tocheck that hes not harboring murderous urges. She kindly waited

until I had taken off and leveled out the aircra beore glaring at

me. I smiled back halfeartedly. Tats why were here. What can

you do? What are you going to do with it? Are you sae? Work with

us. Are you useul? Work or us. Are you a mess? Well work on

you.

Blue, Yellow, Red, she noted, naming our school teams. Te

sae, the useul, and the dangerous.

And Green or the day students, rom which happy cadre I do


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3 4 | K A R E N L O R D

hail. Weve already been raised right, or were too weak to be much

trouble. I suppose youre a resident Green, given your origins. I

almost bit my lip. Her secrets remained strong.Rafis in Blue, she said.

For now, I replied.

She liked Rafi. She worried about Rafi, she thought about Rafi,

she watched Rafi. She did all that quietly enough that whenever I

opened my mouth to ask So, are you in love with Rafi,I ound my-

sel shutting my mouth in oolish silence. I could admit jealousy tomysel, but I didnt want her to accuse me o being an idiot.

You fly really well, Ntenman. It sounded like a concession, a

patronizing, pitying compliment to break the unusual pause in my

babble. Serendipity the kindhearted. She would snap my fingers off

i I got too close, but pat my head when I looked beaten. Ridicu-

lous. Why didnt she just ignore me?

Tank you. We should go back now. I have to get home beore

sundown.

In one sense, serendipitywas a word that covered many desires and

expectations or the uture, but or Serendipity o distant irtha, it

was a simplified translation o a name that the students o thelaxce National Lyceum would find unamiliar. Many remote and

sel-sufficient communities managed to evade bureaucracy, coast-

ing on the natural Cygnian tendency to live and let live barring

outright war or exploitation. It was different in the urban belt. Te

greater the inrastructure, the greater the scrutiny. Comorts must

be paid orthe intercontinental rail, the orbital stations, the pro-

duce o the biodomes, and the monitoring o the biosphere. With

respect to the latter, Sadiras ate had not increased knowledge, but

it had increased paranoia, so that field was flourishing with an in-


38/53


flux o public and private unding and a bounty o resh, keen

minds.

Some things were suspiciously ree, like the services o the Min-istry o Family Planning and Maintenance, the Health Service

(people would never orget the clone scandal, and that involved

only ten specimens), and the Cygnian Military Service (conscrip-

tion was rare but legal, and that act alone still provoked healthy

debate).

Even in this day and age, a community that lived simply andpeaceably according to its own healing lore and bonding rituals

need not be troubled by the presence o the Civil Service. Such was

the village irtha in the orest uplands o Oleha Province.

Tings change.

One thing did not change: the deep discontent that defined and

narrowed Serendipitys lie. Tat was the only constraint. Tere

were no barriers to leaving home. Te elder monks and nuns en-

couraged travel at the age o majority, knowing too well that many

would choose to stay and o those who le, most would return,

dissatisfied with the shallow communion offered by the outside

world.

Some remained in nearby villages among those whose minds

could manage some small speech. Tere too resided those whohad been born with solitary minds or aint and altering thought-

projection. Te elders observed the population, the small flows in

and out, monitoring the genetic heritage or improvement and de-

cline. Te arrival o a Sadiri representative rom a new community

o waking minds had been an unexpected gi.

Serendipity marked that day as the beginning o her discontent.

Along with the simplicity and humility their community culti-

vated, there was also an unacknowledged but inherent belie that

this lie, this stability, this depth o communion and intimacy


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3 6 | K A R E N L O R D

could not be ound anywhere else. Leaving permanently or the

outside world was or minds without speech and hearts without

warmth. She had not even considered the possibility until the out-side world came to her and overturned her old assumptions. She

saw a man taught to speak in less than a day and saw him commu-

nicate in turn with a woman she would have viewed as an ordinary

Cygnian, until something unimaginable happened between them,

some connection beyond everything she had learned and experi-

enced. She had been so thrown off balance that a day or two later,when given the opportunity to speak to the woman, she could

manage only a ew shy words beore withdrawing in an embar-

rassed daze.

Te reason or her diffidence was complicated. Te rational part

o her was intrigued by their communication, but the emotional

part o her was ascinated by their intimacyascinated, jealous,

and even obsessed. Tey le within days, but the shock to the com-

munity and to hersel lingered. Formal links were orged with the

new Sadiri settlement, and a slow, quiet revealing began. She could

have gone with the first group o women to visit the settlement.

She did not. She knew how to maintain her minds privacy, but she

was ashamed o the antasies that played in its secret corners and

araid to ace the two people who inspired them in case theyshowed some other unexpected talent and read her passions like a

banner spread out or public view. She kept her wild dreams and

her dark discontent hidden, and brooded over them.

Several months later, Rafi and Ntenman arrived. Rafi was the

smaller and younger o the two students o the amous Lyceum.

Te community was abuzz once more, all intrigued by the concept

o a school devoted to parapsychology, but at first she was un-

moved. His minds voice was untutored, barely a childs whisper,

and she only became interested in him when she ound out he was


40/53


the nephew o thatwoman. She watched him closely and was re-

warded when in an unguarded moment he laughed, and whatever

restraints he had placed on himsel unknotted and let slip a greatwave o warmth and vibrant otherness that was and was not like

the strange fizzing connection she had witnessed between his aunt

and her companion.

o her shame and dismay, her attachment transerred smoothly

rom the middle-aged couple to the teenage boy.

Tis time, when a group o her peers were given the chance tovisit the Lyceum, she went out o sheer contrariness, angry with

hersel and her secret, uncontrollable obsession. It was only fitting

that her punishment should be Ntenmans intense crush and Rafis

complete obliviousness.

She stood beore the closed door o the masters office, hesitated,

and then knocked.

Enter, Serendipity.

She stepped in quietly and shut the door behind her but came

no arther. Silyan did not raise his head rom his work. He waited,

a aint smile on his ace, but the silence dragged too long and he

succumbed. He glanced up with a sly expression.Its been hours since Abowen le this office. Im surprised it

took you so long to come to me.

You are discourteous. She conveyed so much scorn without

raising her voice that he was impressed.

I do not read your mind, Serendipity, not when your motives

are so clear and open. How did you learn to lock your mind so

securely but leave all else or thieves like me to pick through? He

watched her ace turn rom angry to sullen, like a child reminded

o her childishness. What can I do or you?


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3 8 | K A R E N L O R D

ell me why youre putting the cap on Rafi.

Silyans humor aded. We need to know what hes capable o. I

you knew, you could tell us and thered be no need or a cap, wouldthere?

She exhaled a breath sharply through clenched teeth, a noise

that was part bitterness and part disbelie.

Its a pity that the Lyceum has not lived up to your expecta-

tions, nor the world or that matter, but no matter how you eel

about it, we are doing this or Abowens own good. But you, yourterm with us will soon be over. Where will you go aer you leave

us? You are a very restless person, Serendipity. Im araid you will

always be disappointed.

Her cool expression cracked or a moment and it was ear, not

anger, that showed through. It almost made him eel sorry or her,

but beore the moment could produce any mellowing in either o

them, a knock on the door startled her. She hal turned and in-

stinctively set her hand on the door.

My three oclock appointment, said Silyan, his voice steady

though he too had flinched. We can talk some other time . . . i

you wish to talk, that is.

He settled back comortably in his chair and watched intently as

she whipped open the door with anger now unveiled, and waitedwith perverse pleasure or her reaction. Abowen stood there, one

hand raised and about to rap again, the other gripping the new cap

that was the source o so much debate. She almost ran into him.

Te boy ended her off gently with the cap-ree hand and smiled

shyly, spontaneously at her, as i he could not help himsel. For a

moment he looked much younger than his ourteen years.

Hello, Serendipity, he said. What are you doing here?

She bit her lip, regarding him with an odd kind o regret. Silyan

leaned orward, put his elbows on his desk, propped his chin on


42/53


his hands, and observed them. Serendipity glared briefly at him

over her shoulder.

Nothing, she said. Ill see you later, in the reectory.Abowen watched her walk away, and Silyan, continuing to ob-

serve, sighed dramatically. Abowen heard the sigh, recognized the

sarcasm, and quickly brought his attention ront and center. Te

schoolmaster straightened and spoke seriously.

Tat things no good in your hand. You might as well get used

to it. Cap on.

Galia kept an antigrav pallet or occasional sleeping in the study. In

spite o the pallets comort and stability, she kept one oot hanging

over the edge and touching the floor as a reassurance and re-

minder. Te study was quieter in a way that only large, high-

ceilinged rooms could be quiet. Te shelves baffled the echoes and

urthered the illusion o cozy immensity. Silyan had tried it him-

sel once or twice, but his habit was to work at his desk and nod off

in his chair until some numbness o limb or creak o joint recalled

him to the sensible joys o a proper bed. He usually went to his bed

beore Galia, so it was with a shock that he woke, still at his desk,

to find her staring down at him in disgruntlement, a hand stretchedout toward his desk lamp.

Its reflecting into the study, she explained, pushing the shade

to point in another direction. Why are you still here?

Silyan yawned, rowned, and tried to remember. Abowens cap.

Im looking at the initial diagnostics. He umbled with the hand-

held beore him and revived the statistical data that had so quickly

put him to sleep.

She grimaced. Leave that to the experts. You mustnt get too

attached.


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4 0 | K A R E N L O R D

Hmm, Silyan replied, a meaningless noise.

What is he?

Pardon?Is he dangerous? she clarified. Is he viciously dangerous, un-

consciously dangerous, ignorantly and carelessly dangerous?

Silyan huffed humorlessly. Ill let the experts say. For now, all I

can see is that hes an utter sloth during his waking hours, almost

anti-psi i such a thing can be imagined. But when he dreams . . .

thats when it gets interesting.Do schoolboys dream o anything else but sex? Galia said, still

grumpy rom being disturbed.

Silyan took the question seriously. According to these indica-

tors, there is indeed some sex, overshadowed by a remarkable

amount o psi activity, and a truly astonishing amount o ear.

She yawned, unimpressed. Sounds like rape antasies.

Silyan flashed her a look o censure. While he recognized that

she could be right, he did not appreciate the flippant tone. I they

are, hes not enjoying them. He doesnt sleep aerward, and there

are little spikes o psi activity, as i hes trying and ailing to control

himsel. We want to assess him, not cause a breakdown.

Breakdown may lead to breakthrough, she stated pragmati-

cally.Again he bristled at her apparent lack o empathy. Im going to

bed, he said abruptly, and I suggest you do the same. Ill turn off

the lights.


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C h a p t e r T w o

You might as well get used to it, I said, pushing the bands over his

hands. Youre a booby.

Rafi was upset, so upset he didnt even ask what a booby was,

which was too bad because I was about to enlighten him.

Youre the teams moujin. Tey need to practice what happens

when a teammate alls wrong or an opponent puts himsel in the

way o a strategy. Your bumbling around is just what they need to

learn to be sharp.I dont seeyouplaying, he sniped.

I showed him my teeth, both humor and bite. Regional stan-

dard, Moo. I dont play school teams because Im too good to play

in a team o boobies. Fortunately or you I am good and I can

coach you not to injure yoursel or someone else. Listen and grow

wise and you too may one day be able to train your own booby.

Stop saying booby.

Booby. Booby. Boobyboobybooby . . . He should have known

me better than that. I got in fieen boobiesbeore he tried to hit me


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4 2 | K A R E N L O R D

and that, my riends, is a bad thing to do with semi-unctional

grav-bands on. I laughed as he overbalanced and almost ell. He

got me in a headlock and I let him choke me or a bit, just to relievehis eelings, beore I threw him off and pinned him down. Tat

should have cheered him up, but he still looked retul.

Youre in a bad mood. Whats got you? I said, letting him sit up.

Nightmares. I didnt really sleep last night. Nor the night be-

ore.

I rowned. We didnt talk about the cap, but the cap was there,like a terminal disease or a convicted criminal in the amily, the

cause o occasional bouts o vague sympathy but never, ever the

topic o any discussion.

Rafi shied restlessly. He was trying to find a way to laugh it off,

and I knew it wasnt going to happen. I went serious or a moment.

Moo, dont let them use you like a specimen in a lab. I you cant

bear it, you reuse the cap, simple.

He curled over in a deeated ball, knees to chest and orehead on

knees. But i I reuse . . . I dont . . . I dont know what theyve

done to my ather.

I exhaled a long slow breath. Disease and convict, all in one

conversation. Tis was hard. You could ask? I suggested.

Im araid to ask.He was araid to ask. I would be araid to believe their answer.

Te Lyceum is all kindness and prestige to the established amilies

like mine with generations o culture and training around psi abil-

ity, but the rogue ones, the unexpected sports, they were trouble

and they were treated like trouble. Poor Rafi. I thought about pat-

ting his shoulder, decided this was too grim a matter, and went or

distraction instead.

I you get really really tired playing Messenger, maybe youll

sleep too soundly or nightmares.


46/53


He raised his ace rom his knees. Finally youre being helpul.

I took that in the spirit in which it was intended, which is to say

I sat on him until he howledpax,and then I let him breathe andcurse me to his hearts content.

Come, I told him when he ran out o steam. Let me introduce

you to the coach.

We walked across the north field to the Wall. He was nervous,

so I tried to reassure him. Good thing or you that Im known to

the Dailies. No offense to Master Silyan, but sticking in a newplayer at this time o the season makes no sense. I wonder what

hold he has over the coach. Anyway, I think I can persuade them

not to murder you.

inman, youre pure nonsense, said Rafi, his nervousness or-

gotten under the burden o my exaggerations. I smiled at a job well

done.

Well, I can at least make you a little more welcome, hows that?

Tat sounds possible, he admitted.

Dont mistake me. I like Rafi. Hes a quiet little schemer. For

someone who grew up in the backwoods, he has an uncanny grasp

o social networks. Ive never seen him waste time cultivating any-

one who couldnt do something or hima bit cold now that I

mention it, but he does it or survival, pure and simple, nothingmore. He doesnt get into the more elaborate games, but hes subtle

in a way that only an Ntshune could appreciate. Inviting me to trek

with him was kind and calculated. It increased his credit im-

mensely and presented me with both gi and debt. Gi, because

the trip cost me nothing, but debt because he did mea avor beore

he ever asked me or anything. And then aerward, he never asked.

Never once did he ask me or anything. So I remained in his debt

and this was my way to pay it and maintain my own credit.

We stood in ront o the Wall and watched the plays or a while


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4 4 | K A R E N L O R D

until the coach called halt. Some o the players waved to me and I

gave a slight nodthey knew my name and ace, o course, but I

couldnt remember which ones Id actually met. Te coach noticedand looked over his shoulder at us. Even though he eyed us with a

question, I waited until hed taken a drink with his team beore

approaching himRafi trailing behind me trying to look at ease in

my secondhand grav-bands and new loincloth with ull shear pro-

tection. I stood beore him, glanced at his eet and back up at his

ace, and waited or him to speak.He almost smiled but turned it into a slight twitch at the right

corner o his mouth. You bring a message?

I ama message, I responded.

From whom and to whom? he queried.

From death to lie to death, I said.

Te old must die, he mused.

Te young may die, I declared with a grin. Tese were only

preliminary statements, but he would never have gone so ar in

ront o Rafi i he meant to reject him.

He looked at Rafi then. Whos your apprentice?

I sighed. Not really my apprentice. More like my booby.

Rafi glared at me.

But I think you can keep him busy, I continued brightly. Hemight even learn something along the way. I think he could be a

strategist when he gets older, but thats or wiser heads than mine

to say.

Tis is Master Silyans student, the coach said, finally making

the connection.

Yes, and also my riend, I stressed.

Rafi looked between us uncertainly, as i wondering when he

would be allowed to speak about himsel.


48/53


Do you know the game, Abowen? asked the coach. Got the

name right. Good sign.

Ive watched it, read about it. ried some amateur games on thehomestead, but Ive never been on a proper grav-equipped Wall,

Rafi told him.

Te coach looked worried, and I couldnt blame him. I caught

his eye and tried to convey with something less than a nod and a

wink that I would help Rafi through the time o baby steps so that

he would not be burdened with that duty.Why not try a ew runs with your riend? I can see what your

skill is like.

Rafi swallowed. It wasnt obvious, but yes, he swallowed. Yes,

Coach.

We walked to the Wall.

Dont you need grav-bands? Rafi asked.

Not or this. Itll keep me at your speed. I stopped to shuck off

my mantle and tunic and unstrap my sandals. Dont worry, Moo.

Hes not really looking or skill. Hes looking or potential. Do what

you can.

I ran up the Wall to the first level, testing its responsiveness with

an exaggerated bounce o my toes. Come on, Moo! Dont be timid!

He leapt up, using his banded hands to pull himsel into the firstlevel. He stood there or a while, perpendicular to the horizon, and

raised his hands tentatively, eeling the varying drag o the new

gravity.

Level two! I urged him.

I turned and dived over and upward to the next level, landing in

a practiced roll. He tried to ollow, but balked instinctively and ell

hard on his neck and shoulders. He and I spent a ew seconds curs-

ing and laughing, respectively.


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4 6 | K A R E N L O R D

I stopped laughing. Level three. I kicked out, twisted sideways,

and landed in a careul crouch. Rafi gave me a pained look.

Tink o it as spinning through a ninety-arc, I encouragedhim.

He tried and ell. Scrabbling or level two on his way down

meant that he ell again, upward, and smacked his nose and chin

painully.

Moo, i youre alling, let yoursel all. rying to hook onto an-

other level at this stage will only bring pain. You let the body-catcher take you, sit out your penalty behind the Wall, and start

again.

He rubbed his ace, nodded, and looked to level three with de-

termination. Tis time he managed it, though his landing was be-

yond clumsy.

Level our is a one-eighty. Pay no attention to the horizon. Sim-

ply dive. I showed him. He took it with air ease, and I smiled,

hoping the coach had seen that i nothing else.

Five is a two-seventy. I you try to do it as a ninety, youre guar-

anteed a all. Watch closely. Wallrunning means knowing which

approaches will work and which ones will dump you in the body-

catcher. Its not just suraces and angles.

Rafi did it, but it was a struggle. Was he tired already? Only twomore levels. You could do them later.

No, he panted. Might as well try to finish.

Te last two were another two-seventy and a tricky one that

could be a ninety or a two- seventy, depending on your orientation.

Rafi ell trying to reach the last level, which I thought was a very

good effort. I told him so as he writhed eebly in the grip o the

bodycatcher below. He was too worn out to curse me, which I ap-

preciated, especially since the coach was walking toward the Wall

again and might have heard it.


50/53


Not bad, said he, offering a hand to pull Rafi vertical.

I bounced down the Wall, graceul as a mountain goat, in the

time that it took the coach to get Rafis limbs untangled and hisbrain to understand which way was up.

When do you want him ready? I asked.

No more than a day or two. Make sure he can handle each

level, then turn him over to us. His grin went wicked. I can use a

booby. Tese boys are getting complacent.

Weekdays were exhausting, with the ull crush o resident and

daily students passing through the corridors. Serendipity did not

join them. Most o the older children came to the Lyceum already

registered in a standard curriculum administered via slate or

handheld. Students learned as they pleased, at their own pace and

in their own environment. Te Lyceum staff did not have classes;

some teachers sent their lessons directly to slates, others occasion-

ally held demonstrations or the finer points o practical work, and

or the subjects that required hands-on experience they took ap-

prentices and assigned them to their workshops.

Serendipity went to a ew o the demonstrations. She would

oen slip in quietly aer the start o the session, taking a seat at theback to avoid contact. Fortunately, the others rom her country

were better at mingling, which meant that her antisocial leanings

were taken as a personal quirk rather than typical Uplander behav-

ior.

In spite o her irregular schedule, Ntenman always knew where

to find her.

I need your help, he said, sitting beside her.

She glanced nervously at the lecturer, araid that he could hear

them. Shh, Ntenman. Not now.


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4 8 | K A R E N L O R D

Come, you dont need this subject, and I need you to help me

now, he insisted.

Te complete absence o his usual slight deerence toward hermade her pay attention. She took up her slate and ollowed him

quietly out. What is it? she asked, pausing in the corridor near a

window.

I need your clearance. Ageday number eighteen is only good

or certain kinds o inormation. I want to find out about Moos

ather. He extended his handheld to her, much to her surprise. Sherested her own slate on the broad brick windowsill and took it

careully.

Im nineteen. My clearance cant be much better than yours,

she admitted.

Yes, and no. Youre not registered as a student and a minor, so

you have a ew more reedoms.

She entered her ID on his handheld, but instead o giving it back

to him she held on as he tried to take it. What next?

He tugged hopeully, but she kept her grip firm. His ace be-

came distressed. You dont want to see this.

I do. Is this how you get into the Lyceum staff records? Have

you used that to your benefit?

I look. I dont tamper.Ten well look together, she declared, positioning the hand-

held at a good viewing angle or both o them.

He surrendered quickly. Te corridor would soon become busy

again. Abowen, thats a patronymic. His athers name is most

likely Owen or Owain, and his homestead is in Montserrat. Te

nearest Central Court would have been at Ophir.

He spoke the names in, nudged a ew commands with his finger,

and shook his head. Let me try something else.

She let him mutter and poke around with the shreds o names


52/53


and amily history Rafi had told him. At one point he gave her a sly

smile. Marvelous access youve gotnot only an adult, but a tax-

payer!My time here is paid research on behal o my community, she

explained, mildly surprised that he had not known. His fingers

suddenly tensed on the handheld. What is it?

A minute, he mumbled. His eyes scanned rapidly, and his

thumb tapped past a ew pages too quickly or her to read them.

Tis is it, he said at last, very somber in tone and expression.Ioan Adafydd ex-Montserrat.

Tat was the name. Tere were some other words in the charge

sheet, serious words.

Coercion. Kidnap. Rape. Illegal influence.

Te final word was also striking.

erminated.

Tey executed him? She knew enough to know that these

were not capital crimes, not unless his influence had been such

that they elt he could not be controlled.

No, that means the ID has been terminated, Ntenman clari-

fied, much to her relie. Wherever he is now, theyve given him a

new ID. Hes untraceable, unless you want to submit a ormal re-

quest.Me? You were the one who wanted to search. She tapped her

access closed with nervy but useless speedi they kept track o

who accessed the records, her ID had been logged long beore she

started reading.

Ntenman was too lost in his own thoughts to care when she

shut down the handheld. So thats our little Rafis ather. What a

charming brute. No wonder theyve given him the cap. I remember

a boy in my second year . . . lovely, shy person till they capped him.

Ten he started setting his bedsheets on fire.


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5 0 | K A R E N L O R D

With his mind?

O course. His uncle had been a pyromaniac . . .

She was listening and believing, but a tremor at the corner o hismouth brought the charade to an end. He laughed as she hit his

arm in exasperation.

Your ault or shutting me out o your mind so completely, he

told her. But in seriousnessonce more he accomplished that

abrupt change o character rom olly to sobrietyMoo said the

caps giving him nightmares. He wont talk to me about it, but hemight talk to you.

She stared at him. I his nightmares are about rape and kidnap-

ping, I dont think I wanthim to talk to me.

He tilted his head and looked at her pleadingly. She had seen

him do that so many times beore, but this was the first time he was

doing it to ask a avor or someone else.

O course. I he talks Ill listen, she agreed.

Te first practice session with the team was unnerving. Te coach

meant what he said. Te other players were given a strategy to ex-

ecute, but Rafis job was to blunder through it and orce them to

make adjustments. In spite o Ntenmans drills, that meant he did alot o alling, and strictly speaking three alls meant a our-minute

period off the Wall. It took five alls beore the coach took pity on

his shaking limbs and dazed expression and whistled him off or a

short rest.

He tottered off to the usual penalty area . . . but someone was

already there, a woman sitting in the shade behind the Wall. It was

th t l i i th l b t th b t l

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