The One-Eyed Man

by Modesitt,, L. E. Jr.

“My contract with the Service? I’ve mostly finished with the multis and the municipalities, and I’ve been surveying outland communities. So far as I can tell, to date, they’re all within Survey regulations and guidelines.”

  “Then you’re essentially finished.”

  “Hardly. There’s a lot of data to crunch and finish, and then I have to write it all up. And, as we’ve discovered, nothing’s over until it’s over. Tell me. Does the successful conclusion of the project we discussed result in a partial spin-off?”

  For just an instant, her face tightened. “To discuss anything along those lines would be premature.”

  “I understand. I won’t presume again.” And I did understand, and I wouldn’t presume, because it would either be futile … or too late. “Thank you again.”

  She actually smiled. “As I said before, you’re good. It’s too bad you’re wasted as an ecologist.” Then her image vanished.

  That confirmed part of what I knew, but, once more, it scarcely constituted proof.

  Who else might know something? With a shrug I began to track down Torgan Brad. It wasn’t hard, and he was there and agreed to a personal meeting in a stan.

  I walked into his small office in an area to the west and south of the Planetary Council area. He didn’t stand, but gestured for me to take one of the two chairs before his console. The office was almost square, with no decorations except two images, one on the right wall and one on the left. The image on the right was a stylized image of a ley-liner in trans-space, or what purported to be that, since capturing such an image was not possible. The one on the left was what I thought was a concept tunneltrain—likely based on a magnetic linear accelerator principle, not that I knew of any ever having been built, given the costs and technical obstacles.

  Brad offered that world-weary smile I’d noted on the Persephonya. While his light brown hair wasn’t thinning, it was so fine it gave that impression, and there was a tiredness in his eyes. “I’m happy to meet with you, Dr. Verano, but I have to admit that I still don’t understand how the Ministry of Technology and Transportation can be of assistance to you.”

  “That’s why I’m here … is it Dr. Brad?”

  “Ah … well … yes.”

  “You’re an engineer by original trade?” That was a guess, but if I didn’t happen to be right, I thought he’d correct me.

  “Electrical … but transport related.”

  “Fields dealing with deep-space transport, like linear accelerators? You weren’t involved in the exploratory effort to determine what might happen when a linear accelerator was used in trans-space were you?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I opposed that project from the beginning. That was a fool’s quest, and I fear our descendants will see the results.”

  “I didn’t hear that there were any results.”

  “Oh … there were results. That’s why I’m here. Indirectly. But you still haven’t answered my question.”

  “I’ll try. I may be wrong, but I assume you’re here in regard to Dr. Spek’s work with RDAEX.”

  “That’s not widely known, but it’s not a secret. What does that have to do with the environment?”

  I wanted to grin—broadly. I didn’t. “From what I can determine, Dr. Spek is involved in a RDAEX project with high-energy photonics. Part of that project involves either drilling or passing a high-energy beam close to or into the outer core of Stittara. The more than normal plasticity, heat, and circulation of the planetary core has created a far more powerful magnetic field for the planet than is customary for a T-type world or, for that matter, virtually any world of its size—”

  “There are other worlds with such fields,” Brad pointed out.

  “There may be, but I’m not aware of any that are habitable or inhabited. And all are larger than T-type worlds.”

  He frowned, then nodded slowly. “You may be correct in that.”

  “From an environmental point of view, I worry that such a project might disrupt the magnetic field. Given that Stittara requires that field for life to exist, it does seem to me that the project might have environmental consequences.” Even as I said the words, I couldn’t believe that any ministry in the Arm government would approve of a project with the potential consequences I’d spelled out in what was essentially my educated guess.

  Brad’s frown deepened. “The project description does not mention a penetration that deep.”

  “Given the larger core size, the mantle is correspondingly thinner.” That was another concern of mine, because there should have been more tectonic activity under those circumstances. “What exactly is your role here?” I pressed. “To observe to see if the project meets the Ministry’s criteria?”

  “Why else?”

  “Why do you think the technology would be applicable to transport?”

  “I have my doubts. My superiors may also, but there is a chance that the technology may allow for multiple trans-light speeds in trans-space.”

  “Nondestructive acceleration in trans-space?”

  He nodded.

  That explained another piece of the puzzle. It also made my situation worse. “Do you have any idea when the final trials will be complete?”

  “That’s entirely up to RDAEX.”

  “Will you be meeting with them again soon?”

  “On…” He stopped. “I don’t believe that’s a matter I should discuss at present.”

  “I understand. I do hope you understand that my concerns are entirely environmental, and while I have conveyed those concerns to Executive Edo, I would appreciate your conveying the fact that I have expressed those concerns to you as well.”

  “I can do that, but it seems to me that you’re stretching.”

  I stood. “Thank you for seeing me.”

  Although I forced myself to leave almost sedately, I wanted to run, or at least walk as fast as I could because it was threeday, and the way in which Brad had started to answer the question suggested he would be meeting with RDAEX within the week.

  What else could I do?

  I could see what I could find out from Kali—if I could ever reach her. As soon as I reached my office, I tried the link again. This time she was in.

  “You’ve linked several times. I would have gotten back to you. You know, it is rather late here.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been out, but I have a proposition for you. I understand your shuttle will be coming to Passova tomorrow.” That had to be the case if Torgan Brad was going to RDAEX. “And I was wondering if I could persuade you to come with it, perhaps take the day off and spend it with me.”

  “You’re very resourceful, Paulo.”

  “I’m hoping that I’m persuasive as well.” I smiled as cheerfully as I could.

  “I’d love to, but I just can’t.”

  “Official escort duty again?”

  “You know I can’t comment on something like that.”

  “I can always try. Any chance of your coming for the weekend?”

  She shook her head.

  “Well … I’ll keep trying.”

  “You are persistent, I must say.”

  “There’s a fine line between persistence and annoyance in these matters,” I offered. “I hope to be persistent without crossing it.”

  “Thank you. I do have to go.”

  “Then go. I hope we’ll talk later.”

  She did smile, but it was sadder and almost pitying.

  So much for your charm. But I had learned that my suppositions were likely correct. That still didn’t leave me much in the way of options.

  I couldn’t very well go to the Planetary Council, not with my structure of coincidences and geology and history—not a shred of real technical proof—and beg or demand that they insist RDAEX suspend an experiment or project potentially worth billions because something terrible might happen.

  I knew that if the RDAEX project worked, the consequences were potentially devastating. But what if it didn’t work?

  Wha
t else could I try?

  I tried to link Belk Edo. All I got was his message screen. Given that it was well into late evening in Rikova, that didn’t surprise me.

  I thought. There was one totally insane possibility. It couldn’t hurt, and it might help … somehow.

  So I left the office and made my way to an upper-level doorway, where I pressed the entry button.

  A peephole in the door opened. I hadn’t seen one of those before. I thought the face I saw was that of Clyann, Ilsabet’s muscular guardian.

  “What do you want?”

  “I’m Dr. Verano. I spoke with Ilsabet a week or so ago.”

  “Yes?”

  I could sense the unspoken “so what?” but I had to try. “I need to speak with her. Just briefly. It’s very important.”

  Clyann glared at me. “You don’t have an appointment.”

  “Please, it’s really important.”

  “How do I know…”

  “Look … there’s no one with me. I’ll strip to my underwear and let you hold a stunner to my head.”

  Abruptly she laughed. “That’s the best proposition I’ve had in years.”

  “Please.”

  “Just a moment.”

  After several moments the door opened. Clyann stepped well back, and the stunner was out. She motioned me in and to one side of the entry foyer. “Close the door.”

  I did. Then I started to unfasten my singlesuit.

  “You don’t have to go that far, handsome as you are.”

  For some reason, the words recalled the way Ilsabet spoke, but I decided not to make that comparison.

  “Just stand there while I scan you.”

  I waited, watching as she played the scanner over me.

  “Turn around.”

  I turned.

  “You’re clean. Now … what’s this all about?”

  “I think the skytubes are going to get a shock from an experiment. I’ve tried to talk to people, but I don’t have enough proof to convince them to stop. What Ilsabet told me last time was helpful. I’m hoping I can find out something…”

  “Can it wait?”

  “I’m afraid to wait. Even if she can help, then I have to do work to confirm…”

  “Clement said you were honest. I’ll trust you. At a distance. You get within two meters of her, and I’ll stun you where you stand. Understand?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Clyann motioned for me to walk toward the pressure door, already open. I walked up the ramp beyond through the open second pressure door, then stopped in the small antechamber.

  “Ilsabet … the doctor you liked is here to talk to you again.” Clyann turned to me. “Go on in, but don’t get too close to her.”

  “I won’t,” I said in a low voice.

  Ilsabet was sitting beside the armaglass window looking out. She didn’t turn as I approached and stopped.

  I spoke gently. “Ilsabet … some scientists are trying to send brilliant light down deep into the ground. It might upset the skytubes. I can’t seem to stop them. I don’t want anyone else hurt.”

  She turned her head and just looked at me.

  “Light so bright, of such might, could give the skytubes fright.” Maybe the verse would help.

  Her eyes darkened. The color of her irises actually deepened into a deep dark purple. After several moments, she spoke clearly, again like a dispassionate adult in the way she had so briefly during our first meeting, “Light so bright brings back might.”

  I had to think. How could I phrase what was needed in verse? I did the best I could. “Few men and not all, on only them should might fall.”

  Once more there was a long silence before she spoke. “Light that shines so bright rebounds in double might.”

  I was in no position to negotiate … if indeed that was what I was doing, and not merely engaging in an elaborate and meaningless charade. “With your might, take the few, with the right, do what you do.”

  There was no answer.

  “Tell me something new, tell me something true,” I asked gently.

  “Is one life? Is color art? Is might strife? Are fingers smart?”

  She’d said something like that before, but not quite.

  “I’m done. That was fun.” Her eyes lightened into a pale purple-gray, and she smiled.

  As much as anything, that told me that I’d done what I could … if I’d done anything at all.

  “Thank you, Ilsabet. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

  “Purple night, pleasant sight.”

  I nodded, then turned, making my way back to the small anteroom.

  Clyann stood there, holding the stunner aimed squarely at me. “You know, don’t you?”

  I had no doubts what she meant … or that the stunner was likely set on lethal. “I didn’t know. I guessed. But what I said was true.”

  “Why did you come here?”

  “Because … because going almost anywhere else wouldn’t have done much good. I’ll try again, tomorrow, but…” I shrugged. “Does the medtech know?”

  Clyann shook her head. “If they knew … they’d torture her, question her to death. She’s happy enough in her own way, and it wouldn’t make any difference. People don’t want to see.”

  In the land of the blind, no one believes the one-eyed man. My lips curled into a brief ironic smile that faded as quickly as it had inadvertently come. “That’s why you’ve stayed?”

  “Someone has to.” Clyann’s voice was level.

  “To save her … and Stittara.”

  “You’d better go, Doctor.” She paused. “There won’t be any record of your visit. Don’t ever mention it.”

  “I won’t.” I understood that condition, and just how protective Clyann was, in all senses of the word.

  She didn’t say another word as I left. Neither did I.

  The cryptic nature of the last rhyme preyed on me as I walked back toward the Survey Service, where I needed to arrange for a van for the evening so that I could leave early, very early, in the morning.

  Is one life? Is color art? Is might strife? Are fingers smart?

  53

  No one even questioned my van requisition, and I made sure the van was locked before I headed back to the office. There, I went over a few more facts, such as they were, then finally retreated to my quarters.

  The last words Ilsabet had spoken when she had had that different expression kept going through my mind.

  Is one life? Is color art? Is might strife? Are fingers smart?

  Abruptly I did understand—and it was so damned obvious … and frightening, all at once. And … like everything else that fit together, it wasn’t the kind of proof that would convince anyone who could do anything. And once more I felt very much like the one-eyed man in the land of the blind, crying out, “Can’t you see?”

  Eventually, I did drop off to sleep, although I didn’t feel that rested when I struggled up on fourday morning and hurried through getting ready.

  I arrived at the dropport early. As I’d expected—if regretfully—the RDAEX magfield shuttle was already there, waiting on the expansive permacrete square linked to the runway. The passenger ramp was down, but I didn’t see anyone outside the craft. I pulled the van over beside the low drop shuttle receiving building, where most of the vehicle wouldn’t be visible from the RDAEX shuttle, leaving just enough of the front so that I could see if another vehicle showed up.

  I waited almost half an hour, until ten minutes to seven, when a black vehicle the size of a small van—with the Ministry of Technology and Transport logo on the side—stopped perhaps ten meters short of the ramp. I immediately pulled out with the van and drove over beside the Technology vehicle. I jumped out and headed for the ramp. Torgan Brad was already entering the shuttle, and he hadn’t even looked back.

  As I expected, Kali met me before I even got to the bottom of the ramp.

  “What do you think you’re doing here?”

  “Would you believe trying to ab
duct you for dinner?”

  “No.” Ice was warmer than that single word.

  “How about trying to save your life?”

  “What … are you insane?”

  “I may be. But I think that the RDAEX test has a very good chance of destroying at least RDAEX and possibly Rikova.”

  “What proof do you have?”

  “Several hundred forerunner Builder (A) sites buried in mud at the same time a hundred and twenty million years ago. Thirteen hundred and eleven separate badlands, vitrified in exactly the same fashion exactly at the same time three million years ago, with occasional artifacts similar to the first Ansaran wave cultures. A Stittaran ecology that has remained stable all that time, something that’s never happened on that wide a scale anywhere else. A planetary core that should produce extreme volcanism and hasn’t since a hundred and twenty million years ago. Upper atmospheric life forms that regulate the amount of solar radiation that Stittara receives, and, oh yes, skytubes that just happened to destroy the last research facility on Stittara, which was likely investigating the magnetic containment properties around the planetary outer core.” All of that was true, except for the very last bit about what Pentura had been doing, which was speculation on my part.

  “You’re stretching the facts.”

  “Not much.”

  “And I’m supposed to walk off with you?”

  “If you won’t, do us both a favor. Find a security duty to handle well away from Rikova when the project goes active and they send that energy beam down at the core.”

  “I appreciate your concern.” Her voice wasn’t quite as cold, merely at liquid oxygen levels, as opposed to absolute zero. “Now … we need to take off. We’ll likely be late anyway.”

  I inclined my head and stepped back.

  She looked at me for a moment longer, then turned and headed back up the ramp, while I retreated to the van.

  I did watch the magfield shuttle lift off, near silently and gracefully.

  Then I drove back to Passova. While I parked the van, I didn’t surrender it. Not yet.

  Once I was back in my office, I made a link to Syntex. Aimee was actually in, and if the background happened to be real-time, she was actually at Syntex.

  “I didn’t know whether you were at Syntex proper or the site … and if you’d answer.”