The Mote In God's Eye

"Yet we know they moved those asteroids at least ten thousand years ago," Re

"There's another explanation," Father Hardy pointed out. "They recolonized much earlier than that-and they have a new set of wars every mille

"Or even mote often," Senator Fowler added softly. "And if that's the case, we know how they control their population, don't we? Well, Dr. Horvath? What's your advice now?"

"I-I don't know," the Science Minister stammered unhappily. He picked at his nails, realized he was doing it, and laid his hands on the table where they wandered like small wounded animals. "I think we have to be sure."

"So do I," the Senator told him. "But it wouldn't hurt to

-Rod, tomorrow you'll work with the Admiralty."

"I remind you, Senator, that the Church will forbid any member to take part in the extermination of the Moties," Hardy said carefully.

"That's pretty close to treason, Father."

"Perhaps. It's also true."

"Anyway, it wasn't what I had in mind. Maybe we have to take the Moties into the Empire. Whether they like it or not. Maybe they'll submit without a fight if we go in there with a big enough fleet."

"And if they don't?" Hardy asked.

Senator Fowler didn't answer.

Rod looked at Sally, then around the table, finally at the paneled walls.

It's such an ordinary room, he thought. There's nothing special about the people in it either. And right here, in this stupid little conference room on a barely habitable planet, we've got to decide the fate of a race that may be a million years older than we are.

The Moties aren't going to surrender. If they're what we think, they are, they won't be beaten either. But there's only the one planet and some asteroids. If they're gone...

"Kelley, you can bring the Modes in now," Senator Fowler said.

The last of New Cal's dying rays fell into the room. The Palace grounds outside turned purple in shadow.

53 The Dji

They were following their escorts through the Palace corridors. As they walked, Jock spoke to the Ambassador,

"Something has changed. This Marine who summoned us looks at us differently, as might a Warrior at another Warrior."

They entered the conference room. A sea of human faces. "Yes," Jock said. "Much is different. We insist be on guard."

"What may they know?" Ivan demanded.

Jock indicated lack of knowledge. "Some fear us. Others pity us. All try to hide their changed emotional state."

The Marine conducted them to badly designed couches at one end of a large conference table. "Humans are addicted to these tables," Charlie twittered. "Sometimes the shape of them is very important, for reasons I have been unable to know."

There were the meaningless greetings the humans called "formalities": insincere inquiries into the state of health, nebulous benedictions and hopes for past well-being; all compensations for the lack of human Mediators. Charlie attended to these as lock continued to speak to the Master.

"The human at the opposite end of the table is an unimportant clerk. On our two-hand side at the center U the power. The Emperor's Mediator has reached some decision. Lord Blaine reluctantly shares it. Sally disagrees, very much, but is unable to argue. She wishes for reasons to object. We may need to find them for her. Opposite the Emperor's Mediator are the scientists, and they share Sally's emotions. They do not feel as involved in the decision as she. The others are of no importance except the priest. I am still unable to determine his importance, but it has increased since last we saw him. He may be more dangerous to us than all the rest-"

"Can he understand our language?" Ivan demanded.

"Not if we speak rapidly and with formal grammar. He detects elementary emotional content, and is aware that we are exchanging much information in a short time."

"Find out what disturbs the humans." Ivan curled on his couch and surveyed the room with distaste. Keepers sometimes spoke directly with Mediators from many Masters, but it was never a pleasant experience. All negotiation with humans was painfully slow. Their thoughts crept like liquid helium, and often they had no conception of their own interests.

But he could not simply instruct the Mediators. They were unstable, increasingly so. They must be controlled directly. And the Race must be preserved...

"This meeting may be more pleasant than the others," Charlie said.

Senator Fowler looked startled. "Why do you say that?"

"From your expressions you are determined to achieve decisions at this meeting," Charlie answered. "You have told us that the meeting will be long, lasting even through di

"Blunt enough," Fowler muttered. And intended to put us a bit ill at ease, wasn't it, my friend? You're smooth. "We need information first. About your history."

"Ah." Charlie hesitated only a second, but she saw the signals Jock gestured, and the Master's finger movements.

"You are concerned about our wars?"

"Damn right," Senator Fowler agreed. "You hid damn near your whole history. Lied about what you did tell us."

There were mutters of disapproval. Dr. Horvath shot Fowler a disgusted look. Didn't the man know anything about negotiations? But of course he did, which made such rudeness even more puzzling...

Charlie gave a human shrug. "As you did with us, Senator. Our history: very well. Like you humans, we have had periods of warfare. Often over religions. Our last great wars were several of your centuries ago-since that time we have managed to control ourselves. But we have rebellions from time to time. Masters much like your outies, who place independence ahead of the good of the race. It is then necessary to fight them-"

"Why didn't you just admit that in the first place?" Rod demanded.

The Motie shrugged again. "What did we know of you? Until you gave us the tri-v and let us see you as you are, what could we know? And we are as ashamed of our conflicts as many of you are of yours. You must understand, nearly all Mediators serve Masters who have no co

"So you hid your weapons?" Rod asked.

Charlie looked to Jock. The other Mediator answered. "Those we have. We are inhabitants of a single star system, my lord. We have no racial enemies and few resources to devote to naval vessels-our military forces, such as they are, are more similar to your police than to your Navy and Marines." The Motie's gentle smile said nothing more, but somehow conveyed another thought: They would be fools to let the humans know how much or how little armament they had.

Sally smiled happily. "I told you, Uncle Ben-"

Senator Fowler nodded. "One other little point, Charlie. Just how often do your reproductive castes breed, anyway?"

It was Jock who answered. When Charlie hesitated, David Hardy watched with interest-was there communication by gesture? "When they are allowed to," the alien said smoothly. "Don't yours?"

"Eh?"

"You control your populations through economic incentives and forced emigration. Neither alternative is available to us, yet our reproductive drives are no less strong than yours. Our Masters breed when they can."

"You mean you have legal mechanisms to restrict population?" Horvath asked.