by Greg Bear
Patricia entered the foyer ahead of him. The quarters were pristine white, furnished with ungraceful white blocks barely suggestive of couches and chairs and tables. "It's ugly," she said, taking a turn around the windowless living room. Oval doors led off to two equally white and blocky bedrooms—at least that was what she assumed they were. The beds could have been settees.
The only object in the apartment that was not white was a chromium teardrop on a pedestal. Patricia paused next to it. "Like the ones in the library."
Takahashi nodded. "Off limits." He indicated the little box attached to the base of the pedestal. "Any tampering and alarms go off in the security offices."
"It's a home library unit?"
"We assume so."
"It works?"
"As far as I know, nobody's tried. You might ask Garry."
"Why no windows? Is this an inner apartment?"
"None of the apartments had simple windows."
"And why so ugly?"
"If you mean plain, that's because nobody has chosen an environment. No design because nobody's living here. Vacant, you see."
"Yes. What would it take to decorate it?"
"Some sort of rental contract, I assume," Takahashi said. "Then it might respond like everything else around here. You could decorate by voice."
"Wonderful," Patricia said. "Nobody's entered any other living quarters?"
"Not in the third chamber. Locked up tight as a drum."
"Then how did they find this one? Just by accident?"
"Yitshak Jacob went from floor to floor, alone, and walked around the circumference of the building on each floor. This was the only apartment that had a number glowing."
"How would anyone know when they were home?"
"Maybe their number would glow and the door would open as they approached. Maybe they had other ways. We're far from understanding such basic things."
If we don't know the basics, Patricia thought, how can I ever hope to understand the embellishments. . . the sixth chamber, the corridor?
"We'll go back the way we came," Takahashi said, "and try to get to that meeting before it begins."
They barely made it. The cafeteria in the first science team compound had been rearranged, and a low stage, lectern and rows of seats now occupied the dining area. Rimskaya stood near the stage as interested team members entered the cafeteria, talking and looking for good vantage points in the rows.
Patricia and Takahashi entered at precisely 1100. Most of the seats were filled, so they sat in the back. Karen Farley turned in her seat and waved at them. Patricia returned the wave and then Rimskaya came to the lectern.
"Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, our report this morning has to do with the exodus from the Stone. We have made substantial progress with this problem and can now present our conclusions with some degree of confidence." He introduced a slight man with wispy light brown hair and delicate Apollonian features. "Dr. Wallace Rainer of the University of Oklahoma will present our conclusions. Today's meeting should not last more than thirty minutes."
Rainer looked to the back of the more, received an affirmative nod from a woman on the projection system and stepped up to the lectern, brandishing a collapsible metal pointer. "All of the archaeology group has worked on this report, and several members of the sociology group as well. Dr. Jacob is indisposed, and I drew the short straw."
Amused chuckles from the audience. "Jacob never delivers reports," Takahashi said. "Very shy. He prefers deserted ruins."
"There has always been some puzzlement as to the coexistence of the second chamber city, known as Alexandria, and the far more advanced Thistledown City in the third chamber. We've all asked the question at one time or another: Why did the Stoners keep Alexandria in its earlier state, rather than rebuilding and modernizing? Certainly people with our present-day temperament would feel awkward living in comparatively primitive surroundings when more modern facilities could be had for the price of a little urban renewal.
"We know a great deal now about living conditions in Alexandria but substantially less about Thistledown City. As you know, security—Stoner security—is very tight at Thistledown City, and unless we want to do some extensive breaking and entering, we have only one location where we have access to living quarters. Alexandria is more open, in some ways more friendly, if I may be excused a very unanthropological judgment.
"All of us here have level two security; we are aware the Stoners were humans, and that they came from a culture remarkably similar to our own. In fact, they come from a future version of the Earth. We know that there were at one time two major social categories: the Geshels, or technically and scientifically oriented peoples, and the Naderites. I'm wondering, by the way, who's going to tell Ralph about this."
Weary laughter from the audience. "Old joke," Takahashi whispered to Patricia.
"We now know that Alexandria, before the exodus of the Stoners, was occupied largely by orthodox Naderites. They seemed to cling to technologies and styles predating the twenty-first century."
Patricia, with something of a jolt, realized none of these people except herself, Takahashi and Rimskaya would know the reason why that particular dividing line was important.
"In this way, they were something like the Amish. And like the Amish, they made concessions—the megas and other architectural innovations among them. But their aim was clear; they chose to retain the style of Alexandria and rejected the more advanced style of Thistledown City. We are not at all sure when this division of the orthodox Naderites and their more liberal fellows and Geshels occurred, but it was not early in the Stone's voyage.
"We are fairly certain now that Thistledown City had been evacuated and locked up at least a century before Alexandria. In other words, the exodus had occurred in the third chamber almost a hundred years before the final evacuation of the second chamber. There is substantial evidence that the second chamber was finally emptied by force.
"The Stone was emptied, then, not simply because of a mass social migration, but to fulfill a definite plan. The people behind the plan apparently gave their more conservative fellows a century to comply, and when they still proved reluctant, moved them out against their will. Oddly enough, we have evidence that some of the orthodox Naderites were forced to live in Thistledown City for a few years.
"We assume that all the Stoners exited by way of the corridor. We have no physical proof of this, and no knowledge yet why the exodus occurred, or why the powers behind the exodus wished the Stone to be completely deserted."
The presentation ended with a series of projected pictures showing living quarters in Alexandria and diagrams of theorized population levels for different centuries in the second and third chambers. To scattered applause, Rainer returned the lectern to Rimskaya.
"The anthropology and archaeology groups have done a wonderful job, don't you agree?" he prompted, gesturing to those in the front row of seats.
Patricia stood as there was more applause. Takahashi followed her out of the cafeteria and into the tubelight.
"That's fascinating," she said, "and I appreciate the tour today. They're working in the dark, aren't they?"
Takahashi shrugged, then nodded. "Yes. The sosh and anthro groups don't have level three clearances. Rimskaya guides them as best as he can without breaching security."
"Don't you get sick of this charade?"
Takahashi shook his head vigorously. "No. It is essential."
"Maybe," Patricia said doubtfully. "I have a lot of work to do before Lanier returns."
"Certainly. Do you wish an escort?"
"No. I'm going back to Alexandria for a while. Then I'll be in the seventh chamber if you need me for anything."
Takahashi paused, hands in his pockets, and nodded, then returned to the cafeteria.
Farley came out seconds later and caught up with her by the garage outside the compound. "Hitch a ride?" she asked.
"Rupert's given me driving lessons. I think it would relax me to d
rive for a while."
"Certainly," Farley said. They signed out a truck and climbed aboard.
Chapter Fourteen
The room smelled of stale smoke, air conditioning and nervous labor. When Lanier and Hoffman entered, there were four others already inside, all men. Two wore silver-gray polyester suits; bulky, balding, comic-opera Russians. The other two wore tailored wool worsteds; their styled hair and their girths were just barely respectable. Hoffman smiled at all as amenities were exchanged, after which everyone sat around an oval conference table. An awkward silence drew out through several minutes as they waited for Hague and Cronberry to arrive.
When the groups were evenly matched, the senior Russian official, Grigori Feodorovski, removed a single sheet of paper from a cardboard folder and laid it on the table. He then pulled a pair of wire-frame glasses over his nose and behind his ears with one smooth sweep of a hand gripping the temple piece.
"Our governments have some necessary points of discussion concerning the Stone or, as we call it, the Potato." His English was excellent. His expression was calm and unhurried. "We have presented these objections to ISCCOM, and now we must hear what you have to say.
"While we concede under protest that primary exploration rights go to those who first visited the Stone—"
That, Lanier recalled, had been a concession two years in coming.
"—we feel that the Soviet Union and our allied sovereign states have been cheated of their rights. While Soviet scientists have been allowed on the Stone, they have been constantly harassed and not allowed to conduct their work. They have been denied access to important information. In light of these and other grievances, which are at this moment being presented to your President and the Senate Space Advisory Council, we feel that ISCCOM has been compromised, and that the Soviet Union and sovereign ally states been. . .” he cleared his throat, as if embarrassed—"treated most malignantly. Our fellow states have been advised that further participation in the multinational Stone investigation, dominated as it is by the United States and NATO–Eurospace, will serve no purpose. Therefore we will soon withdraw our personnel and support for this enterprise."
Hoffman nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. Cronberry waited for the requisite ten seconds to consider the statement, then spoke. "We regret your decision. We feel that allegations made against ISCCOM, NATO–Eurospace and the Stone personnel in the past have proven unfounded, based on unfortunate rumors. Is the decision of your superiors final?"
Feodorovski nodded. "The ISCCOM agreements made with regard to the Stone demand the withdrawal of all Stone investigators until these issues are resolved."
"That's completely impractical," Hoffman said.
Feodorovski shrugged, pursing his lips, "Nevertheless, that is what the agreements stipulate."
"Mr. Feodorovski," Hague said, putting both hands on the table, palms up, a gesture which Lanier studied closely, "we believe there are other reasons, not yet stated, for the withdrawal of your personnel. May we discuss these things?"
Feodorovski nodded. "With the warning that none of us are empowered to negotiate or make formal statements."
"Understood. Neither are we. I think we all need to relax a bit, to see our way clear to. . . deal honestly, forthrightly, with each other." He looked at Feodorovski and the others, eyebrows raised in query. They nodded. "Our President has been informed that the USSR believes dangerous information of a technological, weapons-oriented nature has been discovered on the Stone," Hague said.
Feodorovski's face was blank, held in an attitude of polite attention.
"While it is true that NATO–Eurospace has begun the investigation of certain heretofore neglected aspects of the Stone's second and third chambers—"
"Against our wishes and protests," Feodorovski said.
"Yes, but with your final agreement."
"Under duress."
"Indeed," Hague said, again raising his brows and looking down at the desk. "While this has been our ceded area of investigation, there has been no such information discovered aboard the Stone."
And indeed, there had not. The libraries contained no specific information on weapons.
"Under the agreements, any such discovery would be reported immediately to the arbitration board in Geneva."
"That may be so," Feodorovski said. Lanier wondered what purpose the other three served—place-keepers? Backups? Overseers keeping tabs on Feodorovski? "But we are not concerned with such reports. Let me speak frankly." Now he, too, placed both hands on the table, palms up. "I cannot speak formally, remember. As a private citizen, allow me to express my concern in this matter." He took a deep breath, full of worry. "We are all, in a sense, colleagues. We have many of the same interests. Let me say that this report about new weapons technology, this is not an important issue. My government, and the governments of our sovereign ally states, are far more concerned about reports that libraries on the Stone, in the second and third chamber cities, to be specific, contain accounts of a future war between our countries."
Lanier was stunned. He had thought security aboard the Stone—certainly around the libraries—was extremely tight. Would he be held responsible for such a hideous leak—or was the leak from another source, perhaps the President's office, or Hoffman's?
"This is a highly unusual situation," Feodorovski continued. "Frankly, my colleagues and I have a difficult time believing we are not living a fairy tale." The other three nodded, not quite in unison. "But these reports are reliable. What do you have to say about them?"
"The libraries have been approached cautiously," Hague said. "We've just begun to process the information stored there."
Feodorovski looked up at the ceiling, exasperated. "We have pledged to speak frankly with each other. My government knows such information exists in the libraries. In fact, we are certain that the accounts of this future war are already in the hands of your President."
He looked around the table. Lanier met his gaze steadily and noticed a flicker of smile on his lips. "Yes," Feodorovski said "We know, of course, that humans built the Stone, or will build it, centuries from now. We know that it will be constructed from the asteroid known as Juno. We know this because in every particular the asteroid Juno and the Stone are identical. Our spacecraft in the asteroid belt has confirmed this."
"Mr. Feodorovski, we are dealing with a very unusual problem," Hoffman said. "We are certain that the Stone does not come from our universe, but from an alternate universe. We strongly believe that the information contained in the libraries could be misinterpreted. They may not predict conditions in our world in any way. The scientific data could be useful, and we are studying that closely, but releasing information haphazardly could be disastrous."
"Nevertheless, there is such a history."
Cronberry said, "If there is, we are not privy to it."
Lanier felt his heart sink. He hated lies, even necessary lies. He hated being a party to lies. Yet he no more wanted the Russians to get the information in the libraries than Cronberry and Hague. That made him a liar.
The Russian seated closest to Feodorovski—Yuri Kerzhinsky—leaned over to whisper in his ear. Feodorovski nodded. "Mr. Lanier," he said, "do you deny the existence of this information?"
"I don't know anything about it," Lanier said smoothly.
"But you concede, do you not, that if such information exists, being aware of it, knowing certain dates, even certain hours, knowing the situations and consequences in advance would be of great strategic value, and also would put a very great strain on you individually?"
"I imagine it would," Lanier said.
Hague interrupted. "Mr. Lanier is not to be badgered—"
"Very sorry," Feodorovski said. "My apologies. But our concern is larger than individual politenesses."
Kerzhinsky stood up abruptly. "Gentlemen. You realize there is now very grave tension between our nations, perhaps the gravest since the 1990s. It is our opinion that troubles aboard the Stone are jeopardizin
g world peace. The Stone is increasing tensions, particularly with regard to this issue about libraries. It is obvious that we cannot resolve these difficulties at this level of dialogue. Therefore, I see no further need for discussion here."
"Mr. Kerzhinsky," Hoffman said. "I have a paper here I believe your Party Secretary should see. It states the position of all the scientists aboard the Stone with regard to cooperation. And I think it clarifies the rumors of harassment."
Kerzhinsky shook his head and tapped his forefinger on the table several times. "We are no longer interested in such posturings. Harassment is not the issue. The libraries are the issue. Talks are proceeding at a formal level right now. We can only hope for better results there." The four stood and Hague escorted them to the door.
Outside the door, a secret service agent took them in charge. Hague closed the door and turned back to the others. "That," he said, "is that."
"Makes me sick," Lanier said in an undertone.
"Oh?" Cronberry said, rising halfway from her seat. "And what would you have us do, Mr. Lanier? You're the one responsible, you know that? You didn't keep a tight rein on security, and now we have this mess. . . this goddamn diplomatic catastrophe. Why did you ever open the libraries in the first place? Couldn't you just smell the trouble they'd cause? I would have smelled it, by God. The whole place must reek."
"Shut up, Alice," Hoffman said quietly. "Stop behaving like an ass."
Cronberry glared at them all, then sat down and lit a cigarette. The way she fumbled at the lighter and clenched the cigarette between tight fingers made Lanier queasy. We're way out of our depth here, he thought. Children playing with real guns, real bullets.
"The President called yesterday," Hoffman said. "He's very angry about the libraries. He wants them closed and all research halted. He says we've let things get out of control, and I can't really disagree with him. Garry is no more to blame than any of us. At any rate, the President is going to order the Stone Congressional Oversight Committee to put all research on hold until further notice. The Russians are going to get what they want."
