‘Chantiforth Bins and Myrony Clospocket,’ Blanchet whispered. ‘Half brothers, I understand, with a long, slippery history. Now Supreme Pontiff and High Priest. And the High Priestess, Aphrodite Sells. The three of them are the real power behind all the Crystallites on Jubal.’
‘Are they the power behind the assassinations, too? And the terrorism?’
‘They claim not. Though they say they “understand” the frustration that leads their followers to commit such acts.’
On the high platform the glittering woman called out a short phrase, which brought the congregation to immediate silence. She had a voice like a knife, as cutting as a shard of crystal.
Don watched for a short time as the three sparkling figures began a ritual that was obviously familiar to most of those in the audience who were cheerfully bellowing the responses. ‘I’ve seen enough,’ she murmured. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
They returned to the car, unspeaking, and continued the interrupted trip, passing the farmer’s market, a bustling enclave of trucks, mule wagons, booths stacked high with produce, milling vendors, customers, and sightseers, all in one swirling, noisy throng. Across from the market were the fish stalls, a long line of booths fronting the enclosed ponds of the local fish farms, smelling richly of the sea. Beyond the ponds stood the tilting masts of the merchant fleet. Don remarked at the number of ships. ‘There are more private boats than BDL has!’
Blanchet nodded solemnly. ‘BDL isn’t the sole power in Splash One and Two anymore. At least that’s the inside word. More than half the traffic last year was noncommercial. Military, a lot of it. Plus all the pilgrims the Crystallites bring in. And they’ve added some staff to the Governor’s office.’
Don started to say, ‘That’s silly, he doesn’t do anything,’ then thought better of it. Her friend Link had been attached to the Governor’s office. She contented herself by asking, ‘Why?’
‘Because of the Jut Massacre.’
That was six years ago!’
‘Well, you know how long it takes the Planetary Exploitation Council to move.’
‘I wasn’t aware that the PEC moved at all. I thought they merely existed, like the Core Stars.’ It was safe to say that, she thought. Lots of people said things like that.
‘The story is that the Jut Massacre moved them. Somebody up there had a son or grandson among the slain, and it made them take the Crystallites seriously. You know they’re reopening the question of native sentience.’
It was safer for her to say nothing at all. ‘Look at that building,’ she marveled. ‘It’s all of six stories tall. It’s a fortress!’ The huge gray structure looked like a monolith, almost windowless, surrounded by high, crenelated walls.
‘You’ve seen it before, but probably not from this angle. It used to have an open square in front of it, right at the eastern edge of town. It’s the BDL Headquarters. Behind it is the Tripsingers’ citadel, and the Governor’s official residence is adjacent, there.’ He indicated a palatial, terraced edifice set among gardens. ‘The reason they’ve added to the Governor’s staff is to take care of this upcoming PEC inquiry. And they’ve beefed up the military in case of further threats from the Crystallite rank and file, though what earthly use we have for this many troopers is anybody’s guess. In the process they’ve made Jubal the garrison planet for the entire system. Everyone assumes someone bribed someone, because the base on Serendipity has been closed and transferred here. And the military have brought their spouses and kids and intimate friends. All of whom need housing and services and food. The town is a mess.’
‘It certainly is,’ she agreed.
‘Splash Two isn’t any better, from what I hear. Nor are any of the smaller cities. Population of the ’Soilcoast cities is supposed to be in excess of two million. Since we haven’t the resources to build up, we’re spreading out. I’m told at this rate of growth, deepsoil space will run out in a few years. The farmers are already screaming at the cost of land, and we need all the farmlands to feed the people. The whole thing doesn’t make sense.’
‘Amazing,’ she murmured, shaking her head. ‘Simply amazing. I think of Northwest City as fairly urban until I come down here. We’re really cushioned from all this growth up there, and I can’t say I’m not glad. What’s that ruckus down there?’
‘Hmm. There’s a Crystallite street demonstration going on. Well, you’ve seen the temple. Might as well see the other side of it. Hear the singing?’
She heard the tuneless wailing, not something that either an Explorer or Tripsinger would have considered singing. ‘What are they up to?’
‘I’ll drive slowly enough that you can see, but put your mask in your lap and don’t stare at them. These are the shock troops, and they aren’t averse to civil disorder. They throw things at people who look like they might be enjoying themselves. As far as they’re concerned, anyone enjoying himself on Jubal is bound to be a heretic!’ The car moved smoothly down the avenue, and Don watched the mob from the corners of her eyes.
Half a dozen cadaverous figures clad only in loin cloths and sandals were haranguing a scanty and fluid crowd of sightseers. Don caught the words, ‘blasphemous impertinence’ and ‘the day of punishment is coming,’ and ‘we cannot be moved!’ As the car came even with the crowd, one of the
