man.
Voidhawk captains succeed.
You’re thinking of Syrinx.
And all her kind.
But they’re Edenists. They have it different.
Perhaps you should get to know some while we’re here. They at least would not be intimidated by me.
Good idea. But . . . I don’t know if it’s because I’m a Saldana, but I just don’t feel right about embracing Edenism as the solution to all my problems. It’s a wonderful culture. But if we stayed here, if I had an Edenist for a partner, we’d wind up becoming absorbed.
We have no future returning to Mirchusko. The Laymil are no longer a mystery.
I know. But I’m still not converting to Edenism. We’re unique, you and I. We might have been created for one purpose, but we’ve evolved beyond that now. We have our own lives to live; we have the right to choose our own future.
If the possessed don’t do that for us.
They won’t. Joshua’s flight is only one of a hundred different explorations into this problem. The human race will surmount this.
Not without change. Edenism will change, they will surely have to rethink their attitude to religion.
I doubt it. They’ll see the beyond as justifying their stance that spirituality is a null concept, everything has a natural explanation however bizarre. Laton telling them they won’t be caught in the beyond will simply reinforce their position.
Then what do you propose?
I’m not sure. Perhaps nothing except for a clean start in a new star system. After that we’ll see what happens.
Ah. Now I think I understand the urge for you to have and keep this child. You intend to found a new culture. A people who have affinity, but outside the context of Edenism.
That’s very grand: founding a culture. I’m not sure my ambition extends to that.
You are a Saldana. Your family has done this once already.
Yes, but I’ve only got one womb. I can hardly birth an entire race.
There are ways. Exowombs. People who might like to try something new. Look how many youngsters flocked to Kiera Salter’s call—false though it was. And new habitats can be germinated.
Ione smiled. This excites you, doesn’t it? I’ve never known you quite so enthusiastic before.
I am intrigued, yes. I had never given the future much consideration. My life has been spent running human affairs and dealing with the Laymil project.
Well, we’ll have to wait until the immediate crisis is over before we consider our options. But it would be something, wouldn’t it? Creating the first post-possession culture, one that overthrows this ridiculous Adamist prejudice against bitek. We could incorporate the best of both cultures.
Now you talk like a true Saldana.
Luca Comar reined in his horse at the end of the drive, and dismounted to wait. It was near to midday, and people were drifting in from the fields to take a break. He didn’t begrudge them that, the sticky heat was quite something. Bloody unnatural for Norfolk.
But it was the community’s choice. Every day’s weather was a constant summer optimum, with bright light and warm breezes; while the nightly rains doused the land. Such a combination produced a vicious humidity. He was worried it might start to affect the aboriginal plants; late summer was normally a period of gradually increasing rain and reducing heat. There was also the question of how they’d react to missing Duchess’s crimson light. So far there was no visible malaise, but he felt uneasy about it.
But these conditions seemed to be doing wonders for the new cereal crops. He’d never seen them so advanced. It was going to be a great harvest. Things are getting back to normal.
You could tell the world was at rights just from the general mood. There was a heartiness that’d been missing before. Individual homes were being taken care of, kept properly clean and tidy, not just
