“And so, Your Eminences,” Aurora concluded, “in view of his life- saving services to me, which were in no way necessary to his own survival or welfare, I must ask that the High Council honor my promise of safe conduct to the Earthling Hamilton, and set him free at once to return to his people.”
There was silence in the room for many seconds. Then High Priestess Nendra began to speak.
“Dearest Aurora,” Nendra said. “You have had some of the most remarkable sets of experiences of which I have ever heard. Imagine, a young human girl, living for more than a month among Earthlings. Yet you not only survived, you contrived to return home across a continent populated with hostile savages, and even managed to keep the key subject of your scientific work in your possession while you did it. This is an adventure so grand, it will the subject of epic poems written and sung by bards for ages to come. Through all your trials, you have acquitted yourself as a true daughter of Minerva, worthy in every way of your mother and grandmother. How proud they both would be if they could see you today. Sisters! Let us all rise and express our appreciation for Aurora and the honor she has brought to our people and our faith through her meritoriousconduct.”
All rose and chanted, “Child of Reason, we salute you!” Then they started to applaud in the Minervan style, slapping the backs of their hands into their palms, first right, then left.
Aurora waited for the applause to subside, then she pressed her case. “But Divine Eminence, what of my request for freedom for the Earthling Hamilton. My sacred word is at stake here.”
“Dearest Aurora,” Nendra said gentl., “You have kept your word through your passionate plea to the Council on the Earthling’s behalf. No one can doubt your sincerity, or question the certainty that if you had your
will, the Earthling would immediately be set free.”
“But you will not grant my request?”
“No, I am sorry, we cannot. The Northern Confederation has requested that he be transferred to the Anthropo Institute for study, under your supervision if you desire. Given our need for allies at this critical juncture, we cannot very well snub them for the sake of an Earthling’s con- venience.”
“But it is unj ust to treat a person who has done so much to help me in so cruel afashion.”
Nendra raised her eyebrow. “Unjust? Cruel? Those adjectives hardly apply. He is a murderer, after all. And at Anthropo he would have better living conditions than anything he could possibly find roaming among the Earthlings, or perhaps even here. You yourself are being invited to be the custodial investigator, so you can insure that he receives humane treatment. If you decide not to go, he will be placed in the custody of your own life-long friend Freya, who you know is one of the gentlest souls to be found in all thegalaxy.”
“But…”
“Aurora really. These are Norcs we are talking about giving him to. For all their diune heresies, we know them well as gentle, humane people. Everyone admires you for the stand you took denying the Earthling to the Eegees. They would have used him to commit sacrilege, and the sin would have been upon us for facilitating it. But this is not the case here. The Norcs honor the First Commandment. There will be nosacrilege.”
Aurora gathered herself for a rebuttal, but no strong arguments came to mind. So she offered what she could. “Divine Eminence, all that you have said is true. Yet, irrational as it may be, I know that Hamilton would greatly prefer to retain his freedom living in coarse conditions among his fellow Earthlings than to be maintained in comfort as a study specimen at Anthropo.”
Nendra smiled.“But we know better what is best for him. And should not rational beings decide what is best for irrationalones?”
To this there could be only one answer. “Yes, DivineEminence.”
Nendra nodded. “Very good. Then we are in agreement. I am very happy for you, Aurora. You clearly have great scientific talent and dedication. The opportunity to continue your research with the superior facilities available at Anthropo will give you the chance to do work that will establish your reputation as one of the galaxy’s leading scientists.”
“But am I not needed here?”
“There is no doubt you could do many useful things if you remained here. But you can do more to help us by going to Anthropo. Much of the
sympathy that we Minervans enjoy among sectors of the Weegee and Norc public is due to our many contributions to galactic science and culture. By enrolling yourself prominently among the current pantheon of well-known galactic scientists, you would do much to uphold our reputation as leaders in the divinely ordered search for truth.”
It made sense. “May I have some time to prepar e for the journey? I have only just returned home.”
“The Norc starship will take two weeks to arrive.”
Aurora stared at the floor mosaic in thought. “That interval should prove sufficient.” She lifted her eyes and faced the High Priestess direct- ly.
“Divine Eminence, before I go I need to say that, on the basis of my studies, I believe that our policies towards dealing with the Earthlings require alteration.”
“Oh, in what way?”
“My studies, conducted not only under laboratory conditions here, but in-situ among relatively pristine populations of Earthlings themselves, show significant evidence of proto-rational potential and perhaps,” here Aurora hesitated, for she knew she was crossing the line of scientific respectability. Then she nerved herself to continue. “Perhaps even human potential.”
The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Then Tildra, one of the most orthodox of the Second Class Priestesses who composed the High Council rose to speak.
“My dear Priestess Third Class Aurora. I am told by some of my more scientifically-inclined sisters on the Council that your evidence for widespread proto-rationality among Earthlings in their embryonic and infantile phases, with such powers dissipating with age, while not conclusive, is strong enough to form the basis of a serious scientific publication. That may be. But it is quite another thing to claim that Earthlings are potentially human, actual carriers of the Goddess’s truespark.”
Aurora could sense the telepathic grunts of affirmation, as most members of the Council expressed agreement with Tildra’s remark. Still she continued. “I am aware of the distinction, and how unlikely the claim must appear. Nevertheless, I believe that the available data supports such a hypothesis. For example, there is their affection for the work of the poet Shakespeare, whose compositions are clearly of humanquality.”
“Yet you yourself readily agree that this Shakespeare could not have been an Earthling.”
“Yes” Aurora admitted. “That is obvious. Yet the fact that ordinary Earthlings find transcendent pleasure in his poetry shows a deep internal
yearning on their part to reach towards that which is human.” Tildra said nothing.
Aurora continued. “Then there is their holy book. I have studied it.” “Yes, so have we,” Tildra said. “It is a psychotic mass of contradic-
tions.”
“Indeed,” Aurora agreed. “But mixed among those contradictions
there are sections representing an attempt by someone to explain true
thought, and some of theEarthlings like those sections.”
“Are you claiming that the potential exists to convert the Earthlings
to Minervism?” Tildra asked. “That would indeed be wonderful, but it
hardly seems possible. In addition to being demented and savage, they are
fanatical believers in their own anti-rational Christianfaith.” “No, the Earthlings would clearly rebuke any open attempt to convert
them. But perhaps we could create a syncretism, where we gather the
fragments of divine and human thought that can be found in theirreligion
or popular culture, infuse them with additional necessary Minervan concepts, and package the whole within the guise of Christian mythology.
Such a faith, if propagated widely among the Earthlings, could
liberate
their human potential and lead them towardscivilization.”
Tildra was horrified. “So now you are suggesting, that we, the priestesses of the one true Goddess, should degrade ourselves by willfully composing and disseminating a falsereligion?”
Aurora did not back down.“Is that not exactly what our ancestors did
in the great days of yore when they spread the ideas which became the
basis of galacticcivilization?”
“And look what it has brought us,” Tildra said angrily. The Centrals
reinterpreted Reason as Love, and then transformed Love from Rational
Love into Erotic Love, the antithesis of Reason, with its own demonic
Goddess committed to our destruction. Then there are the merciless
Eegees, who have replaced Reason with the cult of Justice, and who barely tolerate us, despite all we have done forthem.”
“Yet,” Aurora pointed out, “there are also the Weegees and Norcs,
who still celebrate Reason, and without whose help we could not survive.”
Tildra looked at Aurora angrily. “Priestess Aurora, are you an adher-
ent of the doctrine of derived divinities?”
Aurora stiffened her back. “Yes, I hold with many of our race that
Love and Justice are divine attributes, but derive their divinity from
Reason, which as we know is the true form of the Goddess herself.” Tildra turned to Nendra. “So there you see it, Divine Eminence. This
is what comes from allowing Weegee heresies to be preached within the
priestesshood.”
Nendra frowned. “Tildra, you go too far. The doctrine of derived
divinities is not an orthodox part of our faith, and I myself do not uphold
it. Yet it has never been condemned as a heresy.”
“It should be,” Tildra answered.
Nendra shook her head. “No, it should not be. There must be room
within the Minervan Temple for those who dare to think unorthodox
thoughts. Also, from a practical point of view, the doctrine of derived
divinity has provided our faith with members, such as young Aurora here,
who can present our creed to our non-believing friends in a form that they
find most palatable. Despite her immaturity, I was glad when Aurora was
selected by Princess Minaphera to speak for us among the Weegees. I am
happy today that she will soon be representing our race among the Norcs.
Her somewhat heterodox views endow her with precisely those characteristics that will show our kind in its most favorable light to the liberal
polytheists.”
Aurora spoke up. “But Divine Eminence, what is your view of my
suggestion that we develop a pseudo-faith to lead the Earthlings towards
humanity?”
Nendra smiled. “Dearest Aurora. I admire you greatly, as a scientist,
a Minervan, and as a woman. You are as brave and truehearted as were
the daughters of Penelope themselves. Yet you are no theologian. Pursue
your science, Aurora. Win the Norcs to our side by showing them your
truehearted nature. But leave theology to those who have made it their life
work. Despite the anecdotal evidence you have discovered for phenomenon among Earthlings that mimic evidence for human potential, the countervailing evidence is far more massive. Humans do not stenchify themselves. Humans do not mutilate themselves. Humans do not commit mass
sacrifice of their children. Only a psychotic religion could possibly appeal
to such beings, and as Minervans, we have no interest in acting as the
agents of propagation of psychoticbeliefs.”
There was a conclusiveness toNendra’s final remark that told Aurora
in no uncertain terms that it was useless to pursue the topic further. “Yes, Your Divine Eminence,” Aurora said.
Nendra approached and put her hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Do not feel rejected, young Aurora,” the High Priestess said. “No
one is right all the time. Despite your mistaken ideas about creating a
faith that could lead Earthlings to humanity, we all still love you, and
have the greatest of respect for you. To make matters perfectly clear as to
where I and the majority of the High Council stand as regards our appreciation of your merits, know this: When you leave for Anthropo two
weeks from now, you will leave as a Minervan Priestess of the Second
Class.” The entire High Council rose as one and burst into a joyous soaring hymn. The High Priestess joined in the song, and following her urging pat on the shoulder, Aurora did as well.
Standing side by side with the High Priestess, singing her Hymn of Ascension before the Minervan High Council; it was a moment Aurora had dreamed of since she was very young. It should have been one of the happiest moments of her life. But it felt like one of the saddest.
Chapter 32
Hamilton sat in his cell, listlessly watching the latest news on the holotheater screen. A Fleet of Weegee battleships had arrived in the solar system. There were more raging anti-Weegee and anti-Minervan mass demonstrations in the US and Mexico. The theology students who were holding Urania had run out of fingers and toes to amputate, and so were releasing videotapes showing her being tortured in various ways each day. They had also added a demand for an end to negative galactic media stereotypes of Earthlings to their list of requirements for the Norc priestess’s release.
Meanwhile, there were more child-martyrs being killed or mutilated in New Minervapolis, and there were reports of traitors being caught and executed by Aaron Vardt’s Faith Police in the refugee camps of outer Kennewick.
It was all so dismal, especially the last. He wondered who the socalled traitors were. Charlie the trucker? Nurse Susan Peterson? Melissa Berger? He wished there was something he could do to help.
How could Aurora do this to him? He had saved her life. His family had offered her the warmth and affection of their home. The two of them had been friends, comrades, sharing a grand adventure together. But now, it was as if none of that had ever happened. As soon as they had returned to New Minervapolis he had been sent back to his cell, and was being treated as nothing more than her study specimen once again.
There was a sound at the door. It was obviously Aurora, entering as she always had in the old days, without asking permission. He turned to face her, and was startled to see her wearing the formal robe and two-Owl insignia of a Second Class Priestess.
“I see you have been promoted,” he said.
“Yes. The Minervan High Council thought very highly of my work.” Hamilton made little ef fort to conceal his disdain. “Well, allow me to be the first Earthling to congratulate you. It is such a privilege to have been of assistance in furthering your brilliantcareer.”
Aurora cast her eyes down on the floor. “It’s not what you think.” “Oh, no?”
She tried to meet his eyes. “I pled for you, Hamilton, I really did.” “Apparently not hard enough to make a difference. Or to offend the
promotion committee.”
“Hamilton, the High Council does not see you the way you see your-
self. You think of yourself as a human being. But when they see you, they
see one of those.” She gestured to the holoscreen, where an image of
thousands of Americans screaming “Death to the Western Galactic
Empire” and defecating or urinating on effigies of Minaphera and the
western galaxy were on display.
“And you, what do you see?”
Aurora looked at him sadly. “I see a loyal friend whose services are
being improperly rewarded.”
Hamilton noted that she had side-stepped the issue of whether she
considered him to be human. However, at least she had conceded that he
was not being treated squarely. He decided to go with that.
“So, then your High Council does not care whether what it does is
just?”
Aurora shook her head. “Their first obligation is to Reason. They do
not see any rational basis for reducing the community’s chance for survival in order to please the irrational preferences of an Earthling.” The statement puzzled Hamilton.“I don’t understand. Why not let me
go? If they are afraid I would take up arms against them again,I’d be glad
to give my parole. You can read my mind, so you could know with certainty that I would not be lying. How does keeping me captive here
increase the community’s chance for survival?”
“They do not intend to keep you here.”
Hamilton felt a sinking feeling as the suspicion dawned on him that
the situation could be even worse than he had thought. “What do they
intend to do with me?”
Aurora walked over to the window and stared out at the sky. Hamilton asked again. “Aurora. Tell me. What is to become ofme?” Aurora let out a deep breath. “The Northern Confederation would
like the opportunity to study you at the Anthropo Institute. We need their
goodwill. Consequently, you are to be transferred.”
Hamilton recoiled in horror. At least in New Minervapolis he would
have the occasional companionship of other Americans trying to live their lives under Minervan rule. At Anthropo he would be a friendless freak,
kept in a cage for the convenience of alien scientists.
“It won’t be as bad as you think,” Aurora said. “The Norcs are very
gentle and humane people, and I’ll be there as custodial investigator, to
make sure that the work is productive and that you are treated properly.”
Obviously reading his mind, she added, “There will be no cage. You will
live in a pleasant dwelling, and go for walks every day with me and
diverse Norc scientists. We will converse about various matters of interest...”
Hamilton completed her sentence. “While you telepathically observe
the thoughts you provoke as a result.”
The Holy Land: Fanatical Earthling planet assassins are spreading chaos through the galaxy. Is there any nice way to stop them? Page 30
