The Devil's Eye

But this- We were watching while people moved to save a world ! Of course there's a lot to be said for waiting until the money's in the bank before you start making announcements. The neighbors showed up, and the screaming and hugging started again. There was a fresh round every time somebody new came to the door. They were all wet, most were drenched, but it didn't matter. We embraced them anyhow. During the course of all this I asked Selotta why it was happening? 'Why are your neighbors so involved?' 'Because,' she said, 'they'd like the constant wars to stop. But there's something more.' 'And what's that?' 'They've shared everything you've seen and felt. They've been on Salud Afar, too. Through you. They've seen the children and the crowds in the streets. And they've tasted the fear.' We were still celebrating when Giambrey caught our attention. But this time he looked shocked. One of our visitors spoke through his voice box. 'What's wrong, Giambrey?' 'The Confederates are sending eleven ships. Eleven . Cargo and transport vessels. And that's all. The announcement was just made.' 'Eleven?' I said. 'What the hell do they expect Kilgore to do with eleven?' Alex sank into a chair. Kassel simply stared out at the rain. 'A token force,' Kassel said. He looked at his wife. A silent message passed between them. Even now, they do not trust us.

Maybe especially now.

THIRTY-EIGHT

In the end, everything is politics.

- Nightwalk

There were rumors that, despite the announcement, there was strong disagreement with the decision. That a dozen worlds, led by Toxicon, were strongly opposed. That Whiteside might even be overruled by the Confederate Council. But the following day, the Director spoke from the Hall of the People on Rimway. He sat behind the plain, battered desk that was part of his image. He looked lost in thought, his dark blue eyes peering past us into the distance. Public figures traditionally sit straight during these events, but Whiteside was supporting his jaw on one fist, his elbow planted on the desktop. His mustache, as always, was unkempt in a way that was intended to suggest a man of action, a decision-maker who could be counted on. He shook his head, as if dismayed by events, inhaled, and finally focused on us. The chair creaked as he leaned forward, reminding me that the omicron carried sound. 'Citizens and friends,' he said, 'you are all aware by now of the desperate situation that has developed on Salud Afar. Administrator Kilgore is doing everything he can to alleviate the situation, but in fact there is little that can be done. The scale of the approaching disaster is simply too great. 'Too great by far. 'He has appealed to the Confederate Worlds for assistance. I am proud to say we are responding with all the resources at our disposal. Hundreds of ships, many operated by private corporations, and in some cases by individuals, are on their way as I speak to you tonight. Administrator

Kilgore has found a world that is being converted into a refuge. It is not by any means close to Salud Afar, but it is the nearest that nature has provided. 'We will be helping to move as many of his people there as we possibly can. We are sending supplies, engineers, and other specialists who will assist in the effort to erect shelters on the new world, which they've named Sanctum . 'In addition, we will be sending the Alberta , with its escort of destroyers and support vessels to assist in any way they can. Finally, I'm pleased to report that the Council has voted an aid package totaling six hundred million.'

When he was finished, the imager pulled back, and we saw that four senior Council members were in the room with him. It was a display meant to signal unity. He thanked us for our attention, reassured us that the Confederacy would continue to do whatever was humanly possible, and delivered his signature 'good night,' looking away as he did so, as though other decisions required his immediate attention. That quickly, it was over.

In the morning, we heard the reactions from Assemblage representatives and other prominent Ashiyyureans:

'An opportunity has been missed. And it will not come again.' 'What else can be expected from a race of yappers?' 'The truth is that the Confederacy does not wish to help Salud Afar. That world has, after all, remained outside the human politique. And now they will pay the price. And their politicians, of course, will try to blame it on us.' 'The real reason for the Director's reluctance is that he intends to move against the Assemblage and hopes this may give him the opportunity.'

The attacks gathered force. We were noisemakers, barbarians, savages, troglodytes, and something that Kassel translated-with an amused glitter in his eye-as Yahoos. We were not to be trusted. We were fanatics. We were hopelessly low on the evolutionary scale. One young female, interviewed at a flight school, commented that eventually it would become necessary to exterminate us. She went on, according to Kassel, to suggest that the coming catastrophe at Salud Afar would be exactly what humans deserved. That Salud Afar had nothing to do with the Confederate decision seemed to have gotten past her. Late in the afternoon of the third day after Whiteside's announcement, a group of Kassel's neighbors showed up outside. These were the same ones who'd celebrated with us earlier in the week. They gathered at the front door and waited patiently for Selotta to answer. (Mutes, of course, don't need to knock to signal their arrival.) We were in the living room. Alex and Kassel were playing chess. Kassel, who could see the reason behind every move Alex made, had tried to level the playing field by wearing a blindfold. But it didn't matter. Alex was still getting hammered. Circe had rejoined us. She, Selotta, and I had been talking about what we thought would come next, when Selotta detected our visitors. I got up with her, and when I saw them at the door, my first thought was that they'd come to run us out of town. Or worse. Selotta stopped to glance back at me. Her diamond eyes were simultaneously amused and sad. 'It's all right, ladies,' she said. 'They're still friends.' There were six or seven of them. They came in, and they all stood looking at one another and at Selotta, exchanging something. Then, as if they were a single organism, they turned in our direction. One came forward, with a voice box prominently displayed on his collar. 'Circe, and Chase, and Alex,' he said, 'we know what you are going through, we have listened to the slurs that are going around, and we want you to know that we are aware you're not cruel idiots.' He stopped. Looked behind him at the others. Touched his lips with a forefinger. 'Perhaps I didn't phrase that as I should have.' One by one they reached out and touched us. By human standards there wasn't much to it, simply pressing fingers against a forearm, or a shoulder. But it was not an Ashiyyurean gesture. 'We want you to know,' he continued, 'that, if need be, we will stand with you.'

***

There probably weren't more than two dozen human beings in that entire world. Alex said he'd seen two, a young couple, during his first day at the Museum. They'd been delighted to introduce themselves and spend a few minutes with him. Three others showed up at different times on the omicron. They all tried to defend the Confederacy's action, arguing that surely anyone could understand their caution. They expressed their dismay that hostilities continued between the two species, but they were all certain that a peaceful future lay just over the horizon. They themselves of course found individual Ashiyyureans to be unfailingly polite and, as one said, 'good people.' We just have to give it time.

Give it time.

While a tsunami of gamma rays raced toward Salud Afar at light speed.

Giambrey also showed up on the omicron, doing an interview. The one dicey moment came when he was asked to comment on the decision by Whiteside to send only a handful of naval ships to Salud Afar. 'I understand why he did it,' said Giambrey, seeing no advantage in criticizing the Confederate leader. 'I'm sure it doesn't reflect a lack of trust in the Ashiyyurean leadership, but is simply an act of caution. I would have preferred he send more assistance, but I think we have to admit at least that it's a start in the right