The spheres winked out of existence. Joshua laughed.
Jay and Haile were racing over the sands to him.
“Joshua!”
He managed to catch her as she jumped at him. Swung her round full circle.
“Joshua!” she shrieked happily. “What are you doing here?”
“Come to take you home.”
“Really?” Her eyes were rounded with optimism. “Back to the Confederation?”
“Yep, go pack your bags.”
Greetings, Joshua Calvert. This day is filled with much joyfulness. I am much content.
“Hi, Haile. You’ve grown.”
And you have strengthened.
He put Jay down. “Well what do you know, there’s hope for all of us.”
“It’s been fab here,” Jay said. “The providers give you everything you want, and that includes ice cream. You don’t need money.”
Two adult Kiint appeared on the black teleport circle. Tracy was coming down the steps from her chalet. Joshua eyed them all cautiously.
“And I’ve been to loads of planets in the arc. And met hundreds and hundreds of people.” Jay paused, sucking on her lower lip. “Is Mummy all right?”
“Uh, yeah. This is the hard part, Jay. She’s going to need a day or two before she can see you. Okay? So I’m going to take you back to Tranquillity, and then you can go back to Lalonde with all the others in a little while.”
She pouted. “And Father Horst?”
“And Father Horst,” he promised.
“Right. And you’re sure Mummy’s fine?”
“She is. She’s really looking forward to seeing you, too.”
Tracy stood behind Jay, and patted her on the head. “I’ve told you to wear a hat when you play out here.”
“Yes, Tracy.” The little girl pulled a face at Joshua.
He grinned back. “You go and pack. I just need to talk to Tracy for a moment. Then we’ll be off.”
“Come on, Haile.” Jay grabbed one of the Kiint’s tractamorphic limbs, and they hurried off towards the chalet.
Joshua’s grin faded when the youngsters were out of hearing. “Thanks for nothing,” he said to Tracy.
“We did what we could,” she said fiercely. “Don’t you judge us, Joshua Calvert.”
“The Corpus judges us, decides our fate.”
“None of us asked to be born. We’re more sinned against than sinners. And Richard Keaton saved your arse, as I recall.”
“So he did.”
“We would have made sure something survived. Humanity would have carried on.”
“But in whose image?”
“You’re proud of your current one, are you?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
She rubbed a white hand over her forehead. “I keep running comparisons. What the human race is compared to so many others.”
“Well don’t, it’s not your concern any more. We can find our own way now.” He turned to the adult Kiint. Hello Nang, Lieria.
Greetings, Joshua Calvert. And congratulations.
Thank you. Though this isn’t quite how I thought I’d spend my wedding night. I’d like Corpus to remove your observers and the data acquisition systems from the Confederation, please. Our future contact should be conducted on a more honest basis.
Corpus agrees. They will be removed.
And the medical help. We need that badly, right away.
Of course. It will be provided.
You could have helped us before.
Every race has the right, and obligation, to control its own destiny. The two cannot be separated.
I know, reap what you sow. We might be too aggressive, and not progress as fast as we ought, but I want Corpus to know I am immensely proud of our compassion. No matter how fabulous your technology is, what counts is how it’s used.
We acknowledge your criticism. It is one that is levelled at us constantly. Given our position it is inevitable.
He sighed and looked up at the arc again. We’ll get here eventually.
Of that we are sure. After all, you have already made a start.
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery,joshua said.So I guess that means you’re not all bad after all.
Jay appeared on the chalet veranda carrying a bulging shoulder bag. She shouted and waved, then charged down the steps.
“Is her mother all right?” Tracy asked urgently.
“She’s treatable,” Joshua said. “That’s all I can say. I’ve stopped intervening now. It’s just too damn tempting. Not that the singularity would permit much more.”
“It doesn’t need any more. Corpus analysed what you’ve done. You made some smart moves. The current economic structure won’t survive.”
“I provided the opportunity for change, plus one small active measure. What happens after . . . well, let’s just say, I have faith.”
