Doors on either side of the corridor were open. Interested faces watched them pass. A line of soldiers stood at unmoving attention, all the way down to the gold-plated doors.
Two ceremonial guards swung open the doors. Jim saw the expanse of the room open up before him.
***
The Great Hall of the Government was a huge tiered auditorium. A staircase descended at Jim’s feet through row upon row of seated Turcanians. Long curved tables held a monitor for each person. Jim could see his own image showing on hundreds of screens stretching out to his left and right. At the end of the stairs was a stage with two rows of more seated Turcanians in ceremonial robes.
To the right of a podium stood four officials. Madhar whispered their names to Jim as they walked slowly down the steps.
“Jispora Flac to the left, current alliance chair. He’s the nearest we have to someone in charge. Next to him is Larspa Culle. She is the leader of the radical movement. They hold this alliance together. Next is Madlen Torespora. He is the oldest statesman we have. Every alliance for the last seventy years has included him—for credibility alone. He’s a doddering old fool who just won’t die.”
Jim’s eyes were already locked with the eyes of the fourth figure on the stage.
Margrev took up the commentary. “The final member of the welcoming committee is Almeth Luca of the First Order.”
“Did you say Luca?”
“Yes, he is father to Sopha Luca. He is one of the leaders of the First Order.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It should not be of concern to you.” There was an edge to Margrev’s voice that unsettled Jim as much as the stare he was getting from the stage.
“Sorry, Jim,” whispered Madhar. “They made me swear not to tell you until it was too late. They were scared you’d back out.”
“Damn right.”
They reached the stage. Madhar hung back, and Margrev led Jim across to meet the four dignitaries. Almeth Luca held Jim’s hand in a strong grip for a long while. The Regdenir’s eyes searched Jim’s. No words were spoken, but Jim had a profound sense of having met this Turcanian before. There was a force of personality so strong he could have been telepathic. Jim had expected hostility, but instead, he sensed someone who expected to meet the universe head-on—whatever it had in store—without judgment. Jim was certain he was meeting one of TMV-I’s movers and shakers. As he shook hands with the other three, none of them seemed any more than they appeared. Jim wondered what it was in the Regdenir bloodline that could give rise to a figure so impressive.
Margrev motioned Jim to the podium.
He stepped up, and the buzz of the assembly died down. He could see the microphones arranged in a neat row before him. At the corner of his vision, he was aware of the TV cameras. From this position, he could see everything Madhar had told him about Turcanian politics.
The members of the government were assembled by political party. Each party wore robes or sashes of differing colors. It was a bewildering patchwork. There were no blue cloaks in the tiers of seats. Jim guessed that part of the deal that had restored peace was the presence of the Regdenir around the edge of the Great Hall. They were there in large numbers, encircling the chamber. They looked, to Jim, like an army of blue sheepdogs.
The expectant silence surrounded him.
“Here goes!” he said to himself.
“I am James Able, representing the people of the planet Earth. Thank you for this opportunity to address you and to meet with you.” He smiled at his audience. “It is important that you know I am not a diplomat. I work merely as an investigator for a department of my government. A small matter brought me here, and that matter has now been resolved, giving us this meeting as a wonderful by-product.”
He paused, wondering if that had come out right. “I stand here to confirm what your scientists have been telling you for many years. Life does exist on other worlds. It is possible to travel in space. When you decide to do so, you will find many races out there who will be good friends to you. You will enrich them and they will enrich you. As in any community, there are those who need the discipline of laws. There are institutions in the galactic community to provide that structure. When you decide you wish to know more about this, Earth will gladly send diplomats and advisors to ease your transition.”
Jim smiled again and, then, paused to look serious. “The events of the last week need careful thought on your part. To the other races of the galaxy, you are all one. It is hard enough sometimes to keep track of what race lives where; it is impossible to keep track of subdivisions within any one planet’s inhabitants. You must, as Jispora Flac has said, ‘show one face to your neighbors.’ As I look out here on this great assembly, I see that you enjoy and celebrate your differences.” A quiet buzz filled the hall. “But in your dealings with other races, everything must be done by consensus and in unity. Different races will come to you. Some will come to trade technology. Some will come to trade biological specimens for agriculture. Some will come to hear your philosophy and to learn at your feet. It will not happen if you are at war with one another. It will not happen if you divide into competing factions.”
Jim paused, wondering whether to add any more. As much as this kind of thing was not his job, he was aware of how much he was enjoying it. He felt a surge of confidence, sufficient to speak the thought that came to him with a memory of something Madhar had told him.
“It is time for the a’nir to come
