“I said shut up,” Saba said. “The meeting’s over. You’re all dismissed.” He went up between Leno and Tanuojin, one hand on Tanuojin’s arm, but his face to Leno. “Just get me some approximate idea where the Martians are.”
Leno was swollen with temper. He and Tanuojin glared at each other over Saba’s shoulder. The other men were filing out. Paula turned to David again.
“It is so. You’d better accept it, because that’s how I want it.”
“Mother—”
“Vida,” Saba said, and the boy wheeled. Saba nodded at the door. Leno had gone. “Go with Merkhiz, in case he has messages for me.”
“Yes, sir,” David said. He went out of the room at a trot.
“Stay away from Leno,” Saba said to Tanuojin. He gave his lyo a shove for emphasis. “How are you doing with Dr. Savenia? Can she help us with Newrose?”
“She’s coming along.”
“Bring her here. Let me see her.” Saba nodded at Junna, behind his father. “Go get her.”
Tanuojin began, “No. I—” and his head turned, his gaze went to Paula. “All right.” He nodded to Junna. “Go fetch her here.”
Paula folded her arms over her chest. She was about to be the object of a demonstration. Junna left. Saba wandered around the room, looking at the illusion pictures on the wall. He came up beside her, so close she was uncomfortable, but she did not move away. She was not afraid of him.
“Any word from Vribulo?”
Tanuojin shook his head. “They are being very, very unconcerned. You know Machou.”
The door slid open and Marus came into the room. “Akellar.”
Cam Savenia walked past him. Paula wheeled. It had been ten days since Tanuojin had found her. She still wore white: loose trousers and a tunic. Paula had never seen her without makeup before. Her face looked peeled.
Tanuojin stood with his hand on Saba’s shoulder. Cam went into the middle of the room, beside the couch, her arms at her sides.
“Dr. Savenia.”
She raised her head. “Yes, Akellar.”
“Look at that woman there.” Tanuojin pointed at Paula. “Do you know her?”
Paula met Cam’s blue eyes. Cam said, “Yes, she’s Paula Mendoza.”
“Who is she?”
“She’s an anarchist.” Cam’s voice was perfectly even. “She betrayed us. She’s corrupt. Perverse. I hate her. I wish I could kill her.”
“No,” Tanuojin said. “You’re wrong. She is a Styth. She’s black. She’s the Prima’s wife. Sometimes she’s bad but she follows the law.”
“I follow the law,” Cam said.
“Then tell me who she is.”
Cam’s wide eyes stared at Paula. “She is Styth. She is good. She’s black. She’s the Prima’s wife.”
Paula went around the couch. Taller by half a head, Cam turned to face her. Paula said, “You remember Dick Bunker, Cam. Don’t you? Who is he?”
Cam’s lips parted. She looked uncertainly at Tanuojin.
“He’s dead,” the Styth told her.
Cam said, monotone, “Richard Bunker is dead.”
Paula jabbed her chin at Tanoujin and Saba. “Who are they?”
Cam’s hands clasped together. “Do I have to talk to her?”
“Answer her, Dr. Savenia.”
“He is the Prima. You’re my friend. You know everything.”
“That’s right.”
“Who is he?” Paula said.
“My friend.”
“What’s his name?”
“He’s my friend.”
“Do you know his name?”
“He’s my friend.”
Paula stared at the pale womanly face above her. Cam would not look at her. Her hands hung at her sides.
“Would you like to go to Mars?” Tanuojin said.
“Yes.” Eagerly.
“You’ll have to do just as I say.”
“I will.”
“Good. You’re a good girl. Marus. Take her back.”
Marus took Cam Savenia out the door. Paula let out her breath in a sigh. Her hands were trembling.
Saba said, “She’ll have to do better than that.”
“Don’t worry.” Tanuojin paced away. “She’ll be right, before Newrose sees her. She’s come a long way. You didn’t see her at first.”
“It’s vicious,” Paula said. She sat down on the end of the couch.
“Why? She’s happy now. She doesn’t have to think, she doesn’t worry. She isn’t afraid. She’s on the right side, that’s all she cares about.”
“How long would she stay like that?” Saba said. “If you weren’t there?”
“I’ll always be there. In her mind.”
Paula scrubbed her palm over her face. “What mind does she have left?” She was glad David had gone.
“She never used it that much. She’s always done as she was told. That’s why it was so easy to—” Tanuojin’s eyes closed. “Re-educate.”
Saba paced around the room. “I don’t see that she’ll be much use.” He went down to the model. Her gaze followed him. Tanuojin didn’t frighten him. His hair was gray as iron; he looked tired.
“Besides,” Tanuojin said, to Paula. “She’s a woman. Her prime function is centered somewhere much lower than her mind.”
“She wasn’t much of a woman.”
“Because she’s not like you with that guillotine between your legs?”
Saba wheeled around. “Damn you, I’ve had enough of your filthy mouth. You’re dismissed.”
“Saba, I—”
“Get out of this room!”
Tanuojin’s long legs carried him fast out of the room. Paula let out her breath. Saba came slowly up the room from the model of the solar system.
“I’ve had the feeling you’ve been avoiding me,” she said.
He reached the couch and sat on it, his legs straight out before him. “Did you want my company?”
“No. Why did you tell David I’m crazy? Tell him you raped me. Maybe you can fit it into the lecture on honor.”
“You started that.”
She could not remember where she had bitten his face. The wound was gone without a scar, Tanuojin’s work, keeping him perfect. His sleeve half-hid the cuff on his wrist.
“Look, Paula,” he said, “you have to help me.”
“Help you,” she said, surprised. “To do what?”
“With this Newrose.”
“Oh? Shall I hold him while you hit him a few times?”
“Damn you, I’m asking you for help. Why do you have to fight me all the time?”
“Bah.”
“You don’t give a damn about me any more, but you could do this for Vida’s sake. You don’t want him to be
