was an old story for Kao Chih's generation, resonant
with the pain and grief of defeat and exile. But for the
Hyperion's crew, the world which they had made their
home - and named Darien - just happened to lie well
within a deepzone which kept it hidden from other
civilisations for a century and a half. And now Earth
was reaching out to them with the promise of friend-
ship and aid, as well as the prospect of opening up
relations with nearby cultures and races. Then the
commentators mentioned that Darien's neighbours
were the Brolturan Compact, an offshoot of the
Sendruka Hegemony, and the mood in the room
changed. All knew from decades of underdock buzz
and unofficial summaries, as well as the sufferings of
relatives still captive on Pyre, what Sendruka involve-
ment really meant.
Indeed, one of the smaller septs working on the
Agmedra'a orbital called themselves the Sundered, a
race whose homeworlds had been seized by the
Brolturans nearly three centuries ago. The Brolturans
had once been a fundamentalist faction within Sendruka
society until prophecy and an intensification of their
shared zealotry drove them to seek independent territory
outside the Hegemony, and the Sundered were the main
victims of their aggressive colonisation. As a pacifist
race without allies, the Sundered were uprooted and
evicted from their handful of planets. Roughly half of
them ended up eking out a miserable existence in scores
of refugee cantonments scattered around the region
while the rest travelled from star to star in ageing,
decrepit cryostore ships, seeking aid or petitioning for
intercession. But since the Brolturan Compact was now
a close ally of the Hegemony none was willing to risk its
wrath and the predictable consequences.
The report included interviews with some of the ordi-
nary citizens of Darien colony, a strange people with
round eyes and brown or red hair yet full of a vitality
that Kao Chih immediately felt a connection with. Then
there were shots of some indigenous creatures and sites
of great natural beauty, followed by a brief, intriguing
glimpse of excavated alien ruins that the colony's
researchers were investigating along with the help of
diminutive humanoid sentients from the planet's inhab-
ited moon. Chih was amazed, and smiled to see Tumakri
leaning forward to stare more closely at the half-buried
stone remains while muttering dry, incomprehensible
things to himself.
The holo-sequence ended with the reception of the
ambassador from Earth and his short speech to the
crowd of onlookers and reporters. Then it was over and
the lighting came up as the Roug collapsed the projector
and its stand down to a small flat unit smaller than a
woman's fist.
I'd wager that's a digital device, he thought. Wonder
how that squares with their non-digital preferences.
'Honourable K'ang Lo, and assiduous leaders of
Human Sept,' said one of the senior Roug. 'The events
shown took place less than two days ago and came into
our hands during the last sleep cycle. It is an unfortunate
fact that this world Darien is located in deepzone terri-
tory currently claimed by two opposing powers, the
Imisil Mergence and the Brolturan Compact. The
Darien system is very far from Earth and still further
away from us, and the Human colony there is small and
weak, thus the prospects of survival seem poor.
'However, strength is not always measured by the
capacity for military violence. The plight of the oppressed
and the destitute, when openly declared for all to know
and see, exerts a moral power which weakens those that
rely on violence to attain their goals. In the light of this,
and of the assessment we compiled, the Contiguals of
the High Index have decided to act. We are instructed to
offer to Human Sept cancellation of the indenture con-
tract, provided there is agreement on three conditions.'
There was a sudden outburst of delighted, almost dis-
believing chatter, and Kao Chih stared at Tumakri.
'Noble One, did you know of this?'
The Roug's features were hidden by the tight, cop-
pery swathes, but there was a certain tension in its
movements that suggested surprise.
'Pilot Kao, I am as unprepared for this as you.'
Then the Duizhang stood, his face stern, his dark
eyes glittering as he raised one hand for silence.
'Noble Assessors, please state your conditions, that
we may determine their fitness.'
'As you wish. Condition the first, that Human Sept
shall aid us in the necessary training once a replacement
sept has been chosen. Condition the second, that the
leaders of Human Sept shall agree to dispatch an emis-
sary to the Darien colonyworld, to meet with the
authorities there and to request permission for all sur-
viving Pyre colonists to settle and join with their Human
compatriots. This task must be undertaken promptly
and without announcement or even communication
with either Darien or Earthsphere - were the Suneye
monoclan or the Hegemony to learn of this too soon,
the consequences would certainly hamper the evacua-
tion preparations.'
Kao Chih could scarcely take it all in. Evacuation}
Duizhang K'ang Lo looked equally stunned. 'The
greater part of my people still endure captivity on the
world Pyre, Noble Ones. Are they included in your kind
and generous plans?'
'They are, Duizhang. As soon as the Darien leaders
issue their invitation, our vessels shall travel to Pyre and
carry out the evacuation. Any attempt to interfere will
be dealt with harshly.
'Condition the third, that the emissary shall be Pilot
Kao Chih, son of Kao Hsien. He has been the subject of
close assessment, most recently by Overseer Tumakri,
and we are satisfied that he meets the criteria for such a
crucial role. We shall provide him with a small but
durable craft and a Roug companion, Overseer
Tumakri, who will be able to impress upon the Darien
authorities the true nature of the Sendruka Hegemony,
and thus the need for secrecy until all the colonists have
departed Pyre.'
Kao Chih sat back in his chair, astonished. Next thing
he knew, people were leaning over to pat his shoulder or
shake his hand, smiling and congratulating him. Mostly
he felt elated, but nervousness assailed his stomach, as if
he were about to step off a precipice.
Out into deep space, he thought. All the place and
races I've heard about and now I'm going to see them!
Then a hush settled quickly over the room as K'ang
Lo broke away from hasty consultations with his advis-
ers, facing the Roug again.
'Noble Ones,' he said. 'We are humbled by the extent
of your generosity. Indeed, there are scarcely words to
express the depth of our gratitude, yet a few of us insist
that we ascertain the reason for this sweeping, purpose-
ful benevolence. May we ask how your people would
benefit from it?'
For a moment or two there was silence. The Roug
assessors were motionless, as was Tumakri next to Kao
Chih, who thought that the Duizhang must have comit-
ted some grave offence. But then one of them spoke.
'Honourable Duizhang, we are not accustomed to
giving explanations, but these are unusual circumstances
so we shall endeavour to put your mind at rest. We are
an old race, so old that the world V'Harant is not our
original home, nor are these bodies the original physical
form of our species. Yet once we were as novices to a
alliance of ancient races whose wisdom and intellect
puts us to shame even now.
'They fell in a vast and cataclysmic war, sacrificing
themselves to ensure the defeat of a terrible, pitiless
enemy. The last of them charged us with the duty of
overseeing this part of the galaxy, and in the aeons since
we have from time to time moved to undermine or
eliminate certain forces that posed a serious threat to
galactic civilisation. For the last 25,000 cycles - in
human terms, a little over 10,000 years - a degree of
calm has held sway, but now, unfortunately, the
Sendruka Hegemony is working to bring it to an end.
Its proxy, the Brolturan Compact, is currently in dis-
pute with the nations of the Erenate over who controls
the bulk of the Huvuun Deepzone, where Darien is
located. If a military response can be provoked from the
Erenate, this would justify an overwhelming interven-
tion by the Hegemony; the resulting conflict would
draw in all the Erenate nations and could spread to
Milybi or even the Indroma. It would be an interstellar
war of horrifying ferocity.
'The discovery of the lost colony on Darien has fun-
damentally altered the balance of power. Humans are
involved in the heart of it, which means that Earth and
by extension the Earthsphere federation are also
involved. The Aranja Tesh are already keeping a close
watch on Hegemony strategy, as are the Indroma
Solidarity, and this will only heighten their interest.
And when it emerges that the survivors of a second lost
Human colony are to settle on Darien, having been res-
cued from captivity under the harsh rule of a Sendruka
monoclan, the Hegemony will be forced to punish Suneye
or lose face. The Darien colony will gain too much sym-
pathy and tiernet attention for the Hegemony to risk
putting its plan into operation, so it will go into abeyance.
During which time we hope that saner minds will prevail
and reshape certain policies.'
Again K'ang Lo conferred with his advisers and the
leading elders, and to Kao Chih's eyes he seemed less
than happy. But before a consensus could be achieved, a
diminutive old man, bald and leaning on a stick, stood
up from amongst the rest, scowling. This was Great-
Grandfather Wu, once deputy to an earlier duizhang and
father to another, and one of a handful still living who
remembered Pyre. He was also well known for his acer-
bic tongue.
'Duizhang, come now, why this delay, heh?' he said.
'Everyone here is eager to see the start of something
good for us - please, more haste.'
'Most venerable Wu,' said one of the elders, Tan
Hua. 'There are several uncertainties which need to be
resolved. Be calm, all shall proceed correctly.'
His condescending tone infuriated Wu.
'Be calm! You hesitate and quibble over petty details
while a precious gift waits to be accepted, and you
expect us to keep calm?' He gazed about him for a
moment. 'I cannot speak for anyone else here, but I
yearn to feel solid ground and honest grass beneath my
feet before I die! Honourable K'ang Lo, do not listen to
the squeakings of this hsiao jen. We must accept the
noble Roug's offer, and young Kao Chih there must
leave for Darien without delay!'
Approving voices rose on all sides and heads nodded
vigorously. An argument broke out between one of the
clan elders, an ally of Tan Hua, and someone seated at
the front, who was then egged on by the crowd. But
before tempers became still more heated and the lan-
guage less than courteous, K'ang Lo clapped his hands
loudly twice and shouted, 'Enough!'
Abruptly, all fell silent, and those on their feet
shamefacedly sat back down. His expression thunder-
ous, the duizhang turned to the waiting Roug.
'Noble Ones, despite the reservations of a few, it is
clearly the will of the elders of Human Sept that we
accept your most generous proposal. In accordance with
your wishes, I shall see that all conditions are met.' He
looked round, straight at Kao Chih. 'Pilot Kao - come
forward.'
Once more the focus of attention, he rose and went
to stand before the duizhang.
'Pilot Kao, you are called upon to be our emissary,
our representative to the leaders of the Darien colony,
indeed to all our brothers and sisters in the great family
of Humanity. You are to be our voice, our face. Be hon-
ourable and courageous but not foolish. Use the tactics
of fox and lion when either is appropriate.' He turned
back to the tall Roug. 'Noble Assessors, how soon must
Pilot Kao depart?'
'Within the hour, honourable Duizhang. A scout-
craft has been made ready and is in transit from
Agmedra'a as we speak.'
'Very well. Pilot Kao, my technical officer shall pre-
pare a datachip containing various files documenting
all the adversities endured by our people, and including
a personal greeting from myself. May the spirits of our
ancestors protect and guide you in your mission. Now,
you have little enough time left to you, lad, so spend it
with your family, neh?'
Never had he experienced such a frantic sixty minutes.
In between grabbing mouthfuls of food and trying to
pack a small assembly of clothes and belongings, he
attempted to reassure his mother that no, hyperspace
was quite safe, and yes, he would be cautious and wary
in busy places, and yes, he would stay near his Roug
companion . . .
His father was quick to undo such placating talk,
pointing out that he was a man, not a child, and he was
engaged on a great task that did not require any molly-
coddling. And during all this, his elder brother, Feng,
made up and enacted ridiculous exploits and perils
which, predictably, served to make his mother still more
anxious. In contrast, his younger sister, Ti, periodically
burst into tears. In addition, other relatives and family
friends came to deliver their farewells, dallying to par-
take of Kao Hsien's peach brandy before departing.
Then suddenly there we
re less than fifteen minutes to
grab his jacket and kitbag and dash through the tunnels
and chambers, hurriedly waving and greeting other
acquaintances along the way to the old loading bay. His
thoughts whirled as he half-walked, half-ran, thoughts
about this ship of theirs, about his destination, about all
the unknown worlds and creatures waiting for him out in
the vast black distance. The rest of his family was catch-
ing up as he entered the big oval space of the bay and saw
K'ang Lo and all three Roug waiting off to the right,
near the end of the dockside walkway. Nearby, resting in
the worn, battered arms of a berth cradle, was a shining,
metallic-grey ship some 30 metres long, its main drive
nacelles jutting on curved vanes that mirrored the vessel's
swept, beaklike prow and superstructure.
There was the final leavetaking, last words of encour-
agement and well-wishing as well as tearful pleas from
his mother, and his father gave him a jade fu-dog
pendant, an old good-luck charm reputedly brought
from Earth, then firmly clasped his shoulders before
turning away to blow his nose. The duizhang K'ang Lo
handed him a small red pouch containing the datachip
and a scroll bearing ribbons and seals, a declaration of
Kao Chih's role as supreme envoy for the colonists of
Pyre. He and Tumakri bowed to K'ang Lo and the Roug
assessors, then together mounted the long, overswung
gantry which led up to the hatch in the scout's upper
hull. And his thoughts began to slow down, settling on
the minutes, hours, days to come and the realisation
that he was leaving the Roug system, possibly for good,
heading outwards on a great adventure, every young
man's dream.
'So, noble Tumakri, what do you think of our fine
ship?' he said as they clambered down into the vessel,
where small lamps illuminated a cramped space.
'It is a Henkayan two-seater, Pilot Kao, a Shobrulig-
class fast courier with cross-fractulate shields,
full-boundary thrusters and a Tier-1 hyperspace
drive ...'
Inside, Chih was confronted with the walls of a
narrow passage just tall enough for his companion. The
inner wall was cluttered with niches, hinged flaps,
shelves, pullout storage racks, and two long sleeping
compartments set into the lower half. Kao Chih flung
his kitbag into the lower recess and went forward after
Michael Cobley - Humanity's Fire book 1 Page 17
