Key to Chroma

by Piers Anthony

  "And I could not do it. I held off the strike."

  "And gave us time to escape."

  "I was arrested for treason."

  "I went to him, and was arrested too."

  "But at least we were together,” Auger said.

  "Together,” Aura echoed.

  They stood together and faced the audience. “Now you should understand,” the Red Chroma man said. “I am guilty because I betrayed the interest of my Chroma zone."

  "And I am guilty because I made him do it."

  "We do not deny our guilt. But the allocation of it remains in doubt."

  "That is where you come in. You must decide who is the more guilty."

  Gale looked at Throe, horrified. “You were guilty of loving each other!"

  "What is the punishment?” Throe asked.

  "Death,” they said together.

  "We would not kill you for such an error,” Gale said. “It is true you did wrong, both of you, but you had reason."

  "We are prepared to pay the penalty for our transgression,” Auger said. “I committed treason by sparing the Blue plotters. I knew it as I did it."

  "And I forced him into it,” Aura said. “Using his love for me against him. For that betrayal I deserve to die."

  "As do I."

  "But in your own Chroma zone, you would be a hero,” Gale said. “All you had to do was stay there."

  "No. I promised to join my love if I lived. He let me live."

  "But you walked into death."

  "I am with him, now, in life or death."

  Throe frowned. “I am not clear on our place in this. I agree that you both may be considered guilty, in the eyes of the Red Chroma authority. But how does our judgment affect the penalty?"

  Auger nodded. “That is a fine point. It may be that one of us has greater guilt than the other. In that case that one will die and the other will be spared. Or it may be that we are equal in guilt. Then we both will die."

  "But we, as jurors, might decide that there is no guilt sufficient for death."

  "Negation. That is not your option. You must decide on death for one, or the other, or both."

  "Outrage!” Gale exclaimed. “We are the jurors; we should decide whether as well as whom."

  "The rule is Red Chroma zone's,” Aura said. “We accept it."

  "I decline to make a decision, thus handicapped,” Gale said.

  Both shook their heads. “You will not be allowed hence until you make that decision,” Auger said.

  "You mean we could keep both of you alive by remaining here indefinitely?"

  Both nodded. “But we are sure you will not care to do that,” Aura said. “You have other business elsewhere."

  "We do. We are not a couple; we merely travel together on a common mission. We must be gone from here this day, if possible."

  "We understand,” Auger said.

  "What is the manner of the voting?” Throe asked.

  "You will exit by the door you came from, and will find yourselves in separate booths,” Auger said. “Each of you will state your decision. For example you may say ‘I vote death for the Red Chroma man.’ Then you will be released to your transportation elsewhere, your service completed."

  "And if I balk,” Throe said, “I will not be able to rejoin her. I must declare death for one or the other, or both—"

  "Negation,” Aura said. “You have but one vote for death for one person. We both die only if the two of you, voting separately, decide death for different ones. If you both vote death for the same person, that one only dies, and the other is spared."

  "We could consult before voting,” Gale said. “And decide to vote for the same person."

  "That is permitted,” Auger agreed.

  "What would you prefer?” Throe asked.

  "Both,” they said together.

  "But surely if one can be saved—"

  "That one would suffer,” Aura explained. “That is an aspect of the punishment. Our love for each other brought us to this pass, so it is fitting that our love make us suffer."

  "That is not fitting, it is torture,” Gale snapped.

  "Then in your mercy, let us both die."

  "I am not satisfied with this,” Throe said. “How long are we permitted to ponder our decisions?"

  This time both shrugged. They were remarkably similar, in all but gender and color. “Indefinitely,” Auger said. “Which of course is not feasible for you. We will help in any way we can; you have but to ask."

  Gale looked at him. “I have had good sex with you. How can I vote you dead?"

  "That is easy,” Aura said. “Vote me dead."

  "And become the no fault mistress who eliminates his true love and puts him into eternal grief!"

  "I have a similar problem,” Throe said. “I was recently seduced by three fetching young women the age of my daughter, and I wish them no harm at all. You are another, Aura. This was required sex rather than seduction, but you—” He paused thoughtfully. “You, oddly, remind me less of the three than of my former mistress, a thirty year old woman of the Air Chroma."

  Aura smiled. “Why did you give her up? I sense thwarted love in your being; that was a factor in your favor as I qualified you as juror."

  "That was not my thwarted love,” Throe said. “But you are correct: I loved my wife of twenty years, but she moved on, leaving me in discomfort, until I discovered another woman of my own generation. She bears no similarity to you; she is ordinary, as am I. But my temporary mistress—she could be your elder sister."

  "She is not. All my siblings are brothers. In any event, I do not resemble them closely, being the fourth."

  "The fourth!” Gale said. “I am a fourth."

  "And by further coincidence,” Auger said, “You resemble Aura rather closely. Were the two of you hooded and color matched, I would find it difficult to tell you apart. In fact when I clasped you, I was struck by how much you felt like my love. This was a factor in my qualification of you."

  "And I was struck by how much you felt like my love,” Gale said. “Whom I must not marry."

  "Thwarted love, again,” Auger said. “You do understand. You are a good juror."

  "And you also are a fourth,” Gale said.

  "Affirmation."

  Gale looked at Throe. “They are changelings!"

  "They are,” he agreed.

  "Confusion,” Aura said. “We do not know this term."

  "Neither did we, not long ago,” Gale said, excited. “Your mothers went to the Temple, rather than adopt or have affairs with other men?” Both nodded. “And each of you are not only different from your siblings, but superior in appearance, intelligence, and force of personality?” They nodded again. “And when you met, you were strongly drawn to each other despite being of different Chroma. Each of you could have had others of your choice, but that became unimportant once you found each other."

  "Confirmation,” Auger said. “But I see now that had I not encountered Aura, I could have loved you. I mean no disrespect. It is just that—"

  "Comprehension. Here is the frustration,” Gale said grimly. “We have studied this matter, and concluded that all changelings are cast, as it were, from a similar mold, and are more closely related to each other than siblings. Therefore it is wrong for them to marry; we fear the consequence to their children. That is why my love is thwarted."

  Aura stared at her, astonished. “Auger and I should not have married, even if we had escaped death?"

  "That is our understanding."

  "And if I were spared,” Auger said, “I could not marry you, or any other changeling?"

  "No more than Aura could marry my love,” Gale agreed. “We are all banned from each other, though most attracted to each other. We must all, it seems, marry others we love less. So if you were spared, you would have to break up."

  The two came together. “We couldn't do that,” Auger said. “Even theoretically."

  "I know the difficulty of the decision,” Gale said. “I mus
t contemplate marrying elsewhere, and perhaps being a sterile mistress to my true love, as the only way I can be with him."

  "But why would the Temple do this?” Aura asked. “Why send out people doomed to heartbreak?"

  "We wish we knew. We are trying to find out.” Actually it was not the Temple, but the mysterious source of changelings that was at fault, but Gale did not feel free to reveal this, lest the mission be compromised.

  "Then we should not hold you longer,” Auger said. “Vote as you must, and we thank you for your concern."

  "I remain unsatisfied,” Throe said. “This is a political killing."

  "Question?” Aura asked.

  "Had the two of you gone to the Blue Chroma, you would both have been feted as heroes. Only here in the Red Chroma are you consigned to death. That is not justice, it is vengeance, and pointless."

  "Vengeance is not pointless,” Auger demurred.

  "Some vengeance is justified,” Throe agreed. “But this is not, because there is nothing to be gained by it. The Red authority has gained much of what it wanted: it broke up the Blue Chroma plot, and by now I am sure it has taken steps to ensure that the Purple zone can not be taken over by Blue."

  "Or by Red,” Aura agreed. “Surprise was of the essence; with both sides knowing the things we learned, as they do, the Purple zone remains in balance."

  "So neither side can profit by an illicit plot,” Throe continued. “Red is angry because it was balked from taking over Blue's plot, and is taking it out on you. There is no reason to kill either of you; if you both were freed, the situation would not change. Your actions prevented bad things from happening, and ensured the status quo."

  Auger nodded. “I suppose they did. But I did balk the wish of my Chroma, so am guilty of treason."

  "Negation. Had the Red Chroma succeeded in taking over the plot, and in acquiring the Purple zone for its exclusive use, the Blue Chroma would have sent a complaint to the king, who would have had to act to restore the Purple to neutral status. Had Blue's plot succeeded, the Red Chroma would have succeeded. Neither of you are criminal; you acted with honor as you understood it."

  "Endorsement,” Gale agreed. “Neither should die."

  Auger spread his hands. “Perhaps there is merit in your position. But the decision is not yours to make."

  "We need time to think,” Gale said, troubled. Then she sent a thought to Throe: Is there any way out of this?

  There may be. Sometimes King Deal had unpalatable choices, and he evolved special ways to handle them. In general, they involved will and pretext: he made the concerned parties truly want to discover some acceptable settlement. Then he provided them with a pretext to do it.

  "We have time,” Aura said. “Perhaps you would like a tour of the Purple Chroma zone."

  "You can do that?” Gale asked surprised. “You can go freely out in it?"

  "Affirmation. We are honor bound not to flee, and to facilitate the process of decision of our case. We have the freedom of the zone, and continue our researches in the interim."

  "You could flee together—but won't?"

  "Affirmation,” he repeated.

  We must save them she thought to Throe.

  Affirmation.

  But I doubt they are truly free to go. It is not the nature of any governmental authority to trust its people implicitly.

  Agreed, Throe thought. I have privately noted evidences of observation. There are stations with men on guard. Should they actually try to escape, they would be quickly recaptured.

  And given far less freedom thereafter, Gale thought. She trusted Throe's observation, because it was his business; as the king's bodyguard he was trained to detect traps and potential threats of any nature.

  So anything we say aloud is bound to be heard, Throe continued. We can speak to the Red authority at any time.

  They went out into the Purple Chroma zone. This was impressive, because this time it wasn't a wide path, but a narrow one, with the foliage overlapping and overhanging. It quivered as they passed; Aura reached up a blue hand and stroked a purple branch, and its leaves rippled affectionately. Auger leaned down to touch a purple root, and it writhed to increase the contact. It was clear at the outset that the things of the Purple Chroma knew and liked these people, though neither was purple.

  You mentioned will and pretext, Gale thought to Throe. How can these apply to these nice folk?

  I suspect that we can give the Red Chroma authority the desire to spare them, by clarifying that what the authority is doing is wrong, and will come to the attention of the king.

  It certainly will!

  He made a mental smile. You might expound on the manner Havoc deserves his name. They may be daunted.

  I will! But if they believe they are right—

  I may expound on precedents I have encountered in my prior service. That should make them consider whether such notoriety is really worthwhile.

  "Here come my pets,” Aura said, gesturing.

  A large purple snake slithered forward. It looked poisonous, but it was not threatening. It lifted its head for the Blue woman to pat. It gazed at Gale, and its bearing changed. It began to coil.

  "Negation,” Aura murmured. “These are our visitors."

  The snake relaxed. After a moment it slithered away under the brush.

  And what of pretext? she asked Throe was they continued through the garden.

  If we can come up with something that makes the execution awkward, and they prefer to vacate it without losing face, they may accept our ploy. The trick is to find something suitable.

  I don't see any way to avoid death, when that is the only option allowed.

  Once King Deal invoked a paradox, to make a thing unfeasible.

  Paradox!

  "And here is Grandfather Tree,” Auger said as they approached a huge tentacular thing.

  "That's a land squid!” Throe protested. “They catch and eat anything in reach."

  "Unless they are tame,” Aura said. She and Auger stepped into the range of the tree, and its purple tentacles quickly wrapped around them both, hauling them off the ground. But in a moment both were set down again, unharmed. “It likes to hug,” Aura explained.

  I think I have a paradox, Gale thought.

  They continued to discuss it mentally, as they toured the Purple Chroma zone physically. By the time they completed the loop, they had their plan. They began their rehearsed dialogue, for the benefit of the Red authority listeners.

  "We are about to cast our votes,” Throe said. “But first I wanted to make an observation. We will of course be obliged to make a report on this matter to our superiors when we return to Triumph City, and it will surely come to the attention of King Havoc."

  "King Havoc,” Auger said. “Didn't he belch?"

  "The same,” Throe agreed, smiling. The story of Havoc's deliberate barbarian belch at his first public address seemed to have spread widely. “I understand he was taken from his home village and required to be king, and he was not pleased. But as time passed, it became evident that he was well selected, for he handled several awkward problems. However, it turned out that his name was also justified, for he made havoc of more than one public meeting, and his enemies died. I would not want him as an enemy."

  "He sounds like fun,” Aura murmured.

  "You would like him,” Gale agreed. “But not as an opponent. He is dangerous when angered."

  "It is irrelevant,” Auger said. “We expect not to live out the day.” He did not know that they were speaking for a hidden audience.

  "Which may be too bad,” Throe said. “Because when news of this execution comes to King Havoc, he is likely to be annoyed. I understand that he takes his role as peace keeper among the Chroma seriously, and resents intrusions on his authority. He may feel that this is his prerogative to settle, not the Red or Blue Chroma's. He may compel the Red authority figures to make appearance before him, possibly for similar justice."

  "Yes, from what I have heard of him, he
would likely do that,” Gale agreed.

  Auger shook his head. “That would not be reasonable. This is a matter between Red and Blue, and there will be nothing to be gained, since the deed would be long since done."

  "King Havoc is not necessarily a reasonable man,” Throe said. “There are stories."

  "Wild stories,” Gale agreed with a shudder. “And a suspicion that he likes to wreak havoc, justifying his name."

  "If only they realized that no actual damage was done, as it happened,” Throe said, wrapping it up. “And that the two of you can better serve continuing where you are, studying and cultivating the Purple Chroma zone entities. They could confine you to this zone, with their sentence applicable only if you tried to leave it."

  "There is nothing to be gained from your deaths,” Gale agreed. “But we, too, are locked into a situation we do not like, and must do what we must do, now and on our return to Triumph City. We hope you will forgive us that."

  "We do,” Auger and Aura said together.

  Then Gale hugged them both, tearfully. “I think we shall not meet again. But we will not forget you. Parting."

  "Parting,” they echoed together.

  Throe passed through the doorway, and Gale followed. She found herself alone in a booth. “It is my desire to have the man and woman share the same fate,” she said. “Since I am not sure what the other juror may do, I make my vote dependent on his. I vote to kill the one he spares.” Then she pushed on through, and emerged at the station they had first come to.

  In a moment Throe came out, behind her. That was an interesting effect; how had they passed each other without bumping? But of course the magic could have transported them to some entirely different spot or spots between doors. “You have voted?” she inquired.

  "I have voted. Now let's move on."

  "A capsule awaits you,” the red man said.

  Sure enough, there was now a red ball resting on the ground. As they approached it, a spot appeared on the side, and it swirled open to form a portal through which they could pass. They stepped inside and found a comfortable coach interior. They took their seats, and felt the craft lift from the ground.

  "I could not make myself choose blindly,” Gale said. “So I made my vote dependent on yours: I chose the one you did not choose."