“Now?” said Richard.
“If you can wake me from a deep sleep because of your pain,” Nicole said with a laugh, “then the least you can do is grit your teeth while I try to verify my instant diagnosis.”
Dr. Blue and Nicole were sitting together in the octospider’s house. On one of the wails four quadroid frames were projected. ‘The image on the far left,” Dr. Blue said, “shows the growth as it looked that first morning, ten days ago, when you asked me to confirm your diagnosis. The second frame is a much magnified picture of a pair of cells taken from the tumor. The cell abnormalities-what you call cancer-are marked with the blue stain.”
Nicole smiled wanly. “I’m having a little difficulty reorienting my thinking,” she said. “You never use the colors for ‘disease’ when you describe Richard’s problem — only the word which in your language I define as ‘abnormality.’“
“To us,” Dr. Blue responded, “a disease is a malfunction caused by an outside agent, such as a bacterium or a hostile virus. An irregularity in the cell chemistry leading to the manufacture of improper cells is a completely different kind of problem. In our medicine the treatment regimens are completely different for the two cases. This cancer in your husband is more closely related to aging, generically, than it is to a disease like your pneumonia or gastroenteritis.”
Dr. Blue extended a tentacle toward the third picture. “This image,” she said, “shows the tumor three days ago, after the special chemicals carried by our microbiological agents had been carefully dispersed at the site of the abnormality. The growth has already begun to shrink because the production of the malignant cells has stopped. In the final image, taken this morning, Richard’s prostate again looks normal. By this time all the original cancer cells have died, and no new ones have been produced.”
“So will he be all right now?” Nicole asked.
“Probably,” Dr. Blue answered. “We can’t be absolutely certain because we still do not have as much data as we would like on the life cycle of your cells. There are a few unique characteristics about your cells-as there always are in species who have undergone an evolution distinct from any of our previously examined beings-that might permit a recurrence of the abnormality. However, based on our experience with many other living creatures, I would have to say that the development of another prostate tumor is unlikely.”
Nicole thanked her octospider colleague. “This has been incredible,” she said. “How wonderful it would be if your medical knowledge could somehow be transported back to Earth.”
The images vanished from the wall. ‘There would be many social problems created as well,” Dr. Blue said, “assuming that I have properly understood our discussions of your home planet. If individual members of your species did not die from diseases or cell abnormalities, life expectancy would increase markedly. Our species went through a similar upheaval after our Golden Age of Biology, when octospider life spans doubled in just a few generations. It wasn’t until optimization became firmly implanted as our governing structure that any kind of societal equilibrium was reached. We have plenty of evidence that without sound termination and replenishment policies, a colony of nearly immortal beings undergoes chaos in a relatively short period of time.”
Nicole’s interest was piqued. “I can appreciate what you’re saying, at least intellectually,” she said. “If everyone lives forever, or nearly so, and the resources are finite, the population will soon overwhelm the available food and living space. But I must admit, especially as an old person, that even the idea of a ‘termination policy’ frightens me.”
“In our early history,” Dr. Blue said, “our society was structured much like yours, with almost all of the decision-making power resting with the older members of the species. It was easier to restrict replenishment, therefore, after life expectancy dramatically increased, than it was to deal with the difficult issue of planned terminations. After a comparatively brief period of time, however, the aging society began to stagnate. As Archie or any good optimizer would explain, the ‘ossification’ coefficient of our colonies became so large that eventually all new ideas were rejected. These geriatric colonies collapsed, basically because they were not able to deal with the changing conditions of the universe around them.”
“So that’s where optimization comes in?”
“Yes,” said Dr. Blue. “If every individual embraces the precept that the welfare of the overall colony should be awarded the highest weight in the master objective function, then it quickly becomes clear that planned terminations are a critical element of the optimal solution. Archie would be able to show you quantitatively how disastrous it is, from the point of view of the colony as a whole, to spend huge amounts of collective resource on those citizens whose integrated remaining contribution is comparatively low. The colony benefits most by investing in those members who have a long, healthy lifetime still available and therefore a high probability of repaying the investment.”
Nicole repeated back to Dr. Blue some of the octospider’s key sentences, just to make certain that she had understood properly. Then she was silent for two or three nillets. “I suppose,” Nicole said eventually, “that even though your aging is delayed both by postponing sexual maturity and by your amazing medical capability, at some point preserving the life of an old octospider becomes prohibitively expensive, by some measure.”
“Exactly,” Dr. Blue replied. “We can extend the life of an individual almost forever. However, there are three major factors that make extra life extension decidedly non-optimal for the colony. First, as you mentioned, the cost of the effort to extend life increases dramatically as each biological subsystem, or organ, begins to operate at less than peak efficiency. Second, as an individual octospider’s time becomes more and more consumed with the process of simply staying alive, the amount of energy that he or she might have to contribute to the colony’s welfare lessens considerably. Third, and the sociological optimizers proved this controversial point many years ago-although for some number of years after mental quickness and learning ability start to drop, accumulated wisdom more than compensates-in terms of value to the colony, for the diminished brainpower, there comes a time in the life of every octospider when the sheer weight of his or her past experience makes any additional learning extremely difficult. Even in a healthy octospider this phase of life, called the Onset of Limited Flexibility by our optimizers, signals a reduced ability to contribute to the colony.”
“So the optimizers determine when it is termination time?”
“Yes,” said Dr. Blue, “but I don’t know exactly how they do it. There is a probationary period first, during which time the individual octospider is entered on the termination list and given time to improve his or her net balance. This balance, if I have understood Archie’s explanation, is calculated for each octospider by comparing its contributions made with the resources necessary to sustain that particular individual. If the balance does not improve, then termination is scheduled.”
“And how do those selected for termination react?” Nicole asked, involuntarily shuddering as she remembered facing her own execution.
“In different ways,” Dr. Blue replied. “Some, especially those who have been unhealthy, accept that they are not going to be able to redress the unsatisfactory balance and plan for their deaths in an organized fashion. Others ask for optimizer counseling and request new assignments that have a higher probability of allowing them to meet their contribution quotas… That’s what Hercules did just before your arrival.”
Nicole was momentarily speechless. A chill ran down her back. “Are you going to tell me what happened to Hercules?” she said, finally summoning her courage.
“He was severely reprimanded for not providing proper protection for Nikki on Bounty Day,” Dr. Blue said. “Hercules was then reassigned and informed by the Termination Optimizer that there was virtually no way he could recover from the high negative assessment of his recent work. Hercules requested early and immediate ter
mination.”
Nicole gasped. In her mind’s eye she saw the friendly octospider standing in the cul-de-sac, juggling many balls to the delight of the children. She tried to tell herself that she should be rejoicing because Richard’s prostate cancer had been cured, and should not be concerned about the death of a relatively meaningless octospider. But the image of Hercules continued to haunt her. They are an altogether different species, she told herself. Do not judge them by human standards.
As she was about to leave Dr. Blue’s house, Nicole suddenly had an overpowering desire to know more about Katie. She remembered that one recent night, after an especially vivid dream involving Katie, she had awakened and wondered if perhaps the octospider records might allow her to see more of Katie’s life in New Eden.
“Dr. Blue,” Nicole said as she was standing in the door, “I would like to ask a favor. I don’t know whether to ask you or Archie. I don’t even know if what I’m asking is possible.”
The octospider asked her what the favor was.
“As you know,” Nicole said, “I have another daughter who is still living in New Eden. I saw her very briefly in one of the videos the Chief Optimizer showed us last month… I would like very much to know what is happening in her life.”
9
During a conversation the next day, Archie told Nicole that her request to see videos of Katie could not be granted. Nevertheless, Nicole persisted, taking advantage of every opportunity when she was alone with Archie or Dr. Blue to reiterate her request. Because neither of the octospiders ever indicated that images from Katie’s life in New Eden did not exist in their files, Nicole was certain that the video data were available. Viewing these data became an obsession with her.
“Dr. Blue and I talked today about Jamie,” Nicole said late one night after she and Richard were in bed. “He has decided to enter optimizer training.”
“That’s good,” said Richard sleepily.
“I told Dr. Blue that she was lucky, as a parent, to be able to participate in the events in her child’s life. I then expressed again our concern about knowing so little about what’s happened to Katie… Richard,” Nicole said in a slightly louder voice, “Dr. Blue did not say today that I would be unable to see the videos of Katie. Do you think that signals a change in their attitude? Am I wearing down their resistance?”
Richard did not respond at first. After some prompting, he sat up in bed. “Can’t we go to sleep just this one night without another discussion of Katie and the damn octospider videos? Jesus, Nicole, you’ve talked about nothing else for over two weeks. You’re losing your balance—”
“I am not” Nicole interrupted defensively. “I’m simply concerned about what has happened to our daughter. I’m certain that the octospiders have many many segments they could put together to show us. Don’t you want to know?”
“Of course I do,” Richard said, sighing heavily. “But we’ve had this same conversation several times already. What is to be gained from having it again at this hour?”
“I told you,” Nicole said. “I sensed a change in- their attitude today. Dr. Blue didn’t—”
“I heard you,” Richard interrupted crossly, “and I don’t think it means anything. Dr. Blue is probably as tired of discussing the subject as I am.” Richard shook his head. “Look, Nicole, our little group is coming apart at the seams. We desperately need some wisdom and sanity from you. Max grumbles every day about the octospiders’ invasion of his privacy, Ellie is downright lugubrious except during the rare moments when Nikki causes her to smile, and now, in the middle of everything, Patrick has announced that he and Nai want to get married. But you are so obsessed with Katie and the videos that you aren’t even able to give advice to anybody else.”
Nicole gave Richard a harsh glance and lay down on her back. She didn’t reply to his last comment.
“Please don’t be sullen, Nicole,” Richard said about a minute later. “I’m only asking you to be as objective about your own behavior as you usually are about the actions of others.”
“I’m not being sullen,” Nicole replied, “and I’m not ignoring everyone else. Anyway, why must I always be the one who is responsible for the happiness of our little family? Why can’t somebody else play the role of group mother occasionally?”
“Because nobody else is you,” Richard said. “You have always been everyone’s best friend.”
“Well, now I’m tired,” Nicole said. “And I have a problem of my own, an ‘obsession’, according to you… By the way, Richard, I’m disappointed in your apparent lack of interest. I always thought Katie was your favorite.”
“That’s unfair, Nicole,” Richard said quickly. “Nothing would please me more than to know that Katie was all right. But I do have other things on my mind.”
Neither of them said anything for about a minute. ‘Tell me something, dear,” Richard said then in a softer tone. “Why has Katie become so important all of a sudden? What has changed? I don’t remember your being so incredibly concerned about Katie before.”
“I have asked myself the same question,” Nicole said. “And I don’t have a straightforward answer. I do know that Katie has been in my dreams a lot lately, since even before we saw her in the video, and that I have been having an intense desire to talk with her. Also, my first thought after Dr. Blue told me about Hercules’ death was that I had to see Katie again before I died. I don’t really know why, and I don’t know either what I want to say to her, but the relationship still seems terribly incomplete to me.”
Again there was a long silence in the bedroom. “I’m sorry that I was a little insensitive just now,” Richard said.
Nicole reached over and caressed her husband. “I accept your apology,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Nicole was surprised to see Archie so early in the morning. Patrick, Nai, Benjy, and the children had just left to go next door to the schoolroom. The rest of the adults had still not finished breakfast when the octospider appeared in the Wakefield dining room.
Max was rude. “Sorry, Archie,” he said, “but we don’t allow visitors-at least not those we can see-before our morning coffee, or whatever this shit is that we drink with breakfast each day.”
Nicole rose from the table as the octospider turned to leave. “Don’t pay any attention to Max,” she said. “He is in a permanent bad mood.”
Max now jumped up from his chair, holding one of the mostly empty packages in which there was a little cereal remaining. He swooped the container through the air, first in one direction, then in another, before sealing it tight and handing the package to Archie. “Have a few quad-raids,” Max said in a loud voice. “Or did they move too quickly for me?”
Archie did not reply. The rest of the humans felt awkward and embarrassed. Max returned to his place at the table beside Eponine and Marius. “Shit, Archie,” he said, facing the octospider, “I guess pretty soon you’ll be marking me with a pair of those green dots. Or will you just terminate me instead?”
“Max,” Richard shouted. “You’re out of line. At least think of your wife and son.”
“That’s all I’ve been thinking about, friend,” he said, “for almost a month now. And you know what, Richard? This Arkansas farm boy cannot figure out anything he can do to change…” His voice trailed off. Suddenly Max slammed his fist against one of the chairs. “Goddammit!” he yelled. “I feel so useless.”
Marius began to cry. Eponine scooted away from the table with the baby and Ellie went to help her. Nicole took Archie with her into the atrium, leaving Richard and Max alone. Richard leaned across the table. “I think I know what you’re feeling, Max,” he said gently, “and I empathize with you. But we don’t improve our situation any by insulting the octospiders.”
“What difference does it make?” Max said, looking up at Richard. “We are prisoners here, that’s obvious. I have allowed my son to be born into a world where he will always be a prisoner. What kind of a father does that make me?”
While Ri
chard was trying to soothe Max, Nicole was receiving from Archie the message that she had been seeking for weeks. “We have obtained permission,” the
octospider said, “for you to use the data library today. We have compiled videos featuring your daughter Katie from our historical files.”
Nicole made Archie repeat his colors to make certain that she had not misunderstood.
Archie and Nicole did not converse as the transport carried them, without stopping, across the Emerald City to the tall building that housed the octospider library. Nor did Nicole pay much attention to the street scenes outside the transport. She was completely immersed in her own emotions and her thoughts of Katie. In her mind’s eye she recalled, one after another, key moments from her life when Katie was a child. In the longest memory segment, Nicole relived both the terror and the joy of her descent into the octospider lair years earlier to find her missing four-year-old daughter. You’ve always been missing, Katie, Nicole thought. In one way or another. I have never been able to keep you safe.
Nicole could feel her heart pounding furiously when Archie finally led her into a room that was empty except for a chair, a large desk, and a wall screen. Archie indicated that Nicole should sit down in the chair. “Before I show you how to use the equipment,” the octospider said, “there are two things that I want to tell you. First, I want to respond officially, as the optimizer for your group, to the request by some of you to rejoin the others of your species in New Eden.”
Archie paused. Nicole collected herself. It was difficult for her to put Katie temporarily out of her mind, but she knew she had to concentrate completely on what Archie was about to tell her. The others in the group would expect a verbatim report.
“I’m afraid,” Archie continued a few moments later, 4.I4 “that it is not possible for any of you to leave in the near future. I am not at liberty to tell you anything more than that the issue was considered by the Chief Optimizer herself, in a major staff meeting, and that your request was denied for security reasons.”
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