Union Alliance - Cyteen. Part 94

"It's not a question of that right now."

"He's dying, dying, dammit. You know it and I know it. And his notions about my going to Novgorod-dammit, he knows better." dammit. You know it and I know it. And his notions about my going to Novgorod-dammit, he knows better."

"You'd be very good."

"Don't be ridiculous. A public speaker? An orator? Someone to handle press conferences? There's no one less suited than I am to holding public office. Behind the scenes, yes, I'm quite good. But I'm much too old to make major changes. I'm not a public man, Ari. I'm not going to be. There's no tape fix for age, there's no d.a.m.ned tape fix to make me a speechmaker . . ."

"Giraud isn't exactly skilled at it, but he's a fine Councillor."

"Do you know," Denys said, "when I came down to the AG unit that time-that was the first time since I was nine, that I'd ever left these walls?"

"My G.o.d, uncle Denys."

"Didn't add that up? Shame on you. I came down to see my foster-niece risk her lovely neck, the way I watched from the airport remotes when your predecessor would come screaming in, in that d.a.m.ned jet. I hate disasters. I've always expected them. It's my one act of courage, you understand. Don't Don't ask me to handle press conferences." Denys shook his head and leaned on his elbows on the table. "Young people. They risk their lives so d.a.m.ned lightly, and they know so little what they're worth." ask me to handle press conferences." Denys shook his head and leaned on his elbows on the table. "Young people. They risk their lives so d.a.m.ned lightly, and they know so little what they're worth."

He wept then, a little convulsion of shoulders and face, and Ari picked up the decanter and poured him more, that being the only effective kindness she could think of.

She said nothing for perhaps a quarter, perhaps half an hour, only sat there while Denys emptied another gla.s.s.

Then the Minder said: "Message, Abban AA to Base Two, special communications." "Message, Abban AA to Base Two, special communications."

Denys did not answer at once. Then he said: "Report."

"Ser Denys," Abban's voice said, cold with distance and the Minder's reproduction, Abban's voice said, cold with distance and the Minder's reproduction, "Giraud has just died. I'll see to his transport home, by his orders. He requested you merge his Base." "Giraud has just died. I'll see to his transport home, by his orders. He requested you merge his Base." Denys lowered his head onto his hand. Denys lowered his head onto his hand.

"Abban," Seely said, "this is Seely SA. Ser thanks you. Direct details to be; I'll a.s.sist."

Ari sat there a very long time, waiting, until Denys wiped his eyes and drew a shaken breath.

"Lynch," Denys said. "Someone has to notify Lynch. Tell Abban see to that. He's to stand proxy. He's to file for election. Immediately."

iii The Family filed into the East Garden, by twos and threes, wearing coats and cloaks in the sharpness of an autumn noon. With conspicuous absences, absences which made Ari doubly conscious of her position in the forefront of the Family-eighteen, immaculate in mourning, and correct as she knew how to be-wearing the topaz pin on her collar, the pin Giraud had given her . . . something that's only yours. . . . something that's only yours. . . .

The funeral was another of those duties she would have avoided if she could have found a way.

Because Denys had made a d.a.m.nable mess of things. Denys had fallen to pieces, refused the appointment as proxy Councillor of Science, and refused to attend the funeral. Denys Denys was over at the old Wing One lab, supervising the retrieval and implantation of CIT geneset 684-044-5567 . . . precisely at this hour-at which Ari, even with compa.s.sion for his reasons, felt a vague shudder of disgust. was over at the old Wing One lab, supervising the retrieval and implantation of CIT geneset 684-044-5567 . . . precisely at this hour-at which Ari, even with compa.s.sion for his reasons, felt a vague shudder of disgust.

It left her, foster-niece, as nearest kin-not even directly related to Giraud, but ranking as immediate family, over Emil Carnath-Nye, and Julia Carnath-Nye, and Amy. She felt uncomfortable in that role, even knowing Julia's attachment to Giraud was more ambition than accident of blood. h.e.l.l with Julia: there was prestige involved, and she hated to move Amy out of her proper place, that was the uncomfortable part. The Carnath-Nyes stood, an ill-a.s.sorted little a.s.sociation of blood-ties far from cordial these days-Amy bringing Quentin as she had brought Florian and Catlin, for personal security in troubled times, not to flaunt him in front of the Family and her mother's disapproval; but that was certainly not the way Julia Carnath took it.

Julia and her father Emil resented having Abban standing beside them; and took petty exception to the man-man, dammit, who had been closer to Giraud in many ways than any next-of-kin, even Denys; who had held Giraud's hand while he died and taken care of notifications with quiet efficiency when no Family were there to do anything. dammit, who had been closer to Giraud in many ways than any next-of-kin, even Denys; who had held Giraud's hand while he died and taken care of notifications with quiet efficiency when no Family were there to do anything.

That att.i.tude was d.a.m.ned well going to go: she had served notice of it and scandalized the old hands before now. Let them know what she would do when she held power in the House: h.e.l.l with their offended feelings.

Amy was there; Maddy Stra.s.sen was in the front row, with aunt Victoria-maman's sister, and at a hundred fifty-four one of the oldest people alive anywhere who was not a s.p.a.cer. Rejuv did not seem near failing Victoria Stra.s.sen: she was wearing away instead like ice in sunlight, just thinner and more fragile with every pa.s.sing year, until she began to seem more force than flesh. Using a cane now: the sight afflicted Ari to the heart. Maman would be that old now. Maman would be that frail. Maman would be that old now. Maman would be that frail. She avoided Victoria, not alone because Victoria hated her and blamed her for Julia Stra.s.sen's exile to Fargone. The Whitely clan was there: Sam and his mother; and the Ivanovs, the Edwardses; Yanni Schwartz and Suli; and the Dietrichs. She avoided Victoria, not alone because Victoria hated her and blamed her for Julia Stra.s.sen's exile to Fargone. The Whitely clan was there: Sam and his mother; and the Ivanovs, the Edwardses; Yanni Schwartz and Suli; and the Dietrichs.

Justin and Grant were not. Justin had sent, all things considered, a very gracious refusal, and let her off one very difficult position. It was the only mercy she had gotten from Family or outsiders. Reporters cl.u.s.tered down at the airport press area, a half hour down there this morning, an appointment for an interview this afternoon, a half a hundred frustrated requests for an interview with Denys- I'm sorry., she had said, privately and on camera. she had said, privately and on camera. Even those of us who work lifelong with psych, seri, do feel personal grief. Even those of us who work lifelong with psych, seri, do feel personal grief. Coldly, precisely, letting her own distress far enough to the surface to put what Giraud would call the human face on Reseune. Coldly, precisely, letting her own distress far enough to the surface to put what Giraud would call the human face on Reseune. My uncle Denys was extremely close to his brother, and he's not young himself. He's resigning the proxy to Secretary Lynch out of health considerations- No. Absolutely not. Reseune has never considered it has a monopoly on the Science seat. As the oldest scientific inst.i.tution on Cyteen we have contributions to make, and I'm sure there will be other candidates from Reseune, but no one in Reseune, so far as I know, intends to run. After all-Dr. Nye wasn't bound to appoint Secretary Lynch: he might have appointed anyone in Science, Secretary Lynch is a very respected, very qualified head of the Bureau in his own right. My uncle Denys was extremely close to his brother, and he's not young himself. He's resigning the proxy to Secretary Lynch out of health considerations- No. Absolutely not. Reseune has never considered it has a monopoly on the Science seat. As the oldest scientific inst.i.tution on Cyteen we have contributions to make, and I'm sure there will be other candidates from Reseune, but no one in Reseune, so far as I know, intends to run. After all-Dr. Nye wasn't bound to appoint Secretary Lynch: he might have appointed anyone in Science, Secretary Lynch is a very respected, very qualified head of the Bureau in his own right.

And to a series of insistent questions: Seri, Dr. Yanni Schwartz, the head of Wing One in Reseune, will be answering any specific questions about that. . .. Seri, Dr. Yanni Schwartz, the head of Wing One in Reseune, will be answering any specific questions about that. . ..

. . . No, sera, that would be in the future. Of course my predecessor held the seat. Presently I'm a wing supervisor in Research, I do have a staff, I have projects under my administration- Every reporter in the room had focused in on that, sharp and hard-scenting a story that was far off their present, urgent a.s.signment: she had thrown out the deliberate lure and they burned to go for it despite the fact they were going out live-feed, with solemn and specific lead-ins and funeral music. She handed them the hint of a story they could not, with propriety, go for; and kept any hint of deliberate signal off her face when she did it.

But they had gone for it the moment they were off live-feed: to what extent was she actually in Administration, what were the projects, how were the decisions being made inside Reseune and was she in fact involved in that level?

Dangerous questions. Exceedingly dangerous. She had flashed then on bleeding bodies, on subway wreckage, on news-service stills of a child's toy in the debris.

Seri, she had said then, direct, not demure: with Ari senior's straight stare and deliberate pause in answering: she had said then, direct, not demure: with Ari senior's straight stare and deliberate pause in answering: any wing administrator is in the process. any wing administrator is in the process.

Read me, seri: I'm not a fool. I won't declare myself over my uncle's ashes.

But don't discount me in future.

I came here, she had reminded them in that context, as she had reminded them in that context, as a delegated spokesman for the family. That's my immediate concern. I have to go, seri. I have to be up the hill for the services in thirty minutes. Please excuse me. . . . a delegated spokesman for the family. That's my immediate concern. I have to go, seri. I have to be up the hill for the services in thirty minutes. Please excuse me. . . .

It was the first funeral she had attended where there was actually burial, a small canister of ash to place in the ground, and two strong gardeners to raise the basalt cenotaph up from the ground and settle it with a final thump over the grave.

She flinched at that sound, inside. So d.a.m.ned little a canister, for tall uncle Giraud.

And burial in earth instead of being shot for the sun. She knew which she would pick for herself-same as her predecessor, same as maman. But it was right for Giraud, maybe.

Emil Carnath called for speeches from a.s.sociates and colleagues.

"I have a word," Victoria Stra.s.sen said right off.

O G.o.d, Ari thought.

And braced herself.

"Giraud threw me out of my sister's funeral," Victoria began in a voice sharper and stronger than one ever looked for from that thin body. "I never forgave him for it."

Maddy cast Ari an anguished look across the front of the gathering. Sorry for this. for this.

Not your fault, Ari thought. Ari thought.

"What about you, Ariane Emory PR? Are you going to have me thrown out for saying what the truth is?"

"I'll speak after you, aunt Victoria. Maman taught me manners."

That hit. Victoria's lips made a thin line and she took a double-handed grip on her black cane. hit. Victoria's lips made a thin line and she took a double-handed grip on her black cane.

"My sister was not not your maman," Victoria said. "That's the trouble your maman," Victoria said. "That's the trouble in in the House. Dead is dead, that's all. The way it works best. The way it's worked in all of human society. Old growth makes way for new. It doesn't batten off the d.a.m.n corpse. I've no quarrel with you, young sera, no quarrel with you. You didn't choose to be born. Where's Denys? Eh?" She looked around her, with a sweeping gesture of the cane. "Where's Denys?" There was an uncomfortable s.h.i.+fting in the crowd. "Sera," Florian whispered at Ari's shoulder, seeking instruction. the House. Dead is dead, that's all. The way it works best. The way it's worked in all of human society. Old growth makes way for new. It doesn't batten off the d.a.m.n corpse. I've no quarrel with you, young sera, no quarrel with you. You didn't choose to be born. Where's Denys? Eh?" She looked around her, with a sweeping gesture of the cane. "Where's Denys?" There was an uncomfortable s.h.i.+fting in the crowd. "Sera," Florian whispered at Ari's shoulder, seeking instruction.

"I'll tell tell you where Denys is," Victoria snapped. you where Denys is," Victoria snapped. "Denys "Denys is in the lab making another brother, the way he made another Ariane. is in the lab making another brother, the way he made another Ariane. Denys Denys has taken the greatest scientific and economic power in human history and d.a.m.ned near run it into bankruptcy in his administration, -never mind poor Giraud, who took the orders, we all know that-d.a.m.ned near bankrupted us all for his eetee notion of personal immortality. You tell me, young sera, do you remember what Ariane remembered? Do you remember her life at all?" has taken the greatest scientific and economic power in human history and d.a.m.ned near run it into bankruptcy in his administration, -never mind poor Giraud, who took the orders, we all know that-d.a.m.ned near bankrupted us all for his eetee notion of personal immortality. You tell me, young sera, do you remember what Ariane remembered? Do you remember her life at all?"

G.o.d. It was certainly not something she wanted asked, here, now, in an argumentative challenge, in any metaphysical context. "We'll talk about that someday," she said back, loudly enough to carry. "Over a drink, aunt Victoria. I take it that's a scientific scientific question, and you're not asking me about reincarnation." question, and you're not asking me about reincarnation."

"I wonder what Denys calls it," Victoria said. "Call your security if you like. I've been through enough craziness in my life, people blowing up stations in the War, people blowing up kids in subways, people who aren't content to let nature throw the dice anymore, people who don't want kids, they want little personal faxes they can live their fantasies through, never mind what the poor kid wants. Now do we give up on funerals altogether? Is that what everyone in the d.a.m.n house is thinking, I don't have to die, I can impose my own ideas on a poor sod of a replicate who's got no say in it so I can have my ideas walking around in the world after I'm dead?"

"You're here to talk about Giraud," Yanni Schwartz yelled. "Do it and shut up, Vickie."

"I've done it. Goodbye to a human being. Welcome back, Gerry PR. G.o.d help the human race."

The rest of the speeches, thank G.o.d, were decorous-a few lines, a: We differed, but he had principles, We differed, but he had principles, from Petros Ivanov; a: from Petros Ivanov; a: He kept Reseune going, He kept Reseune going, from Wendell Peterson. from Wendell Peterson.

It ascended to personal family then, always last to speak. To refute the rest, Ari decided, for good or ill.

"I'll tell you," she said in her own turn, in what was conspicuously her turn, last, as next-of-kin, Denys being exactly where Victoria had said he was, doing what Victoria had said, "-there was a time I hated my uncle. I think he knew that. But in the last few years I learned a lot about him. He collected holograms and miniatures; he loved microcosms and tame, quiet things, I think because in his real work there never was any sense of conclusion, just an ongoing flux and decisions n.o.body else wanted to make. It's not true that he only took orders. He consulted with Denys on policy; he implemented Bureau decisions; but he knew the difference between a good idea and a bad one and he never hesitated to support his own ideas. He was quiet about it, that's all. He got the gist of a problem and he went for solutions that would work.

"He served Union in the war effort. He did major work on human personality and on memory which is still the standard reference work in his field. He took over the Council seat in the middle of a national crisis, and he represented the interests of the Bureau for two very critical decades-into my generation, the first generation of Union that's not directly in touch with either the Founding or the War.

"He talked to me a lot in this last year: Abban made a lot of trips back and forth-" She looked to catch Abban's eye, but Abban was staring straight forward, in that nowhere way of an azi in pain. "-couriering messages between us. He knew quite well he was dying, of course; and as far as having a replicate, he didn't really care that much. We did talk about it, the way we talked about a lot of things, some personal, some public. He was very calm about it all. He was concerned about his brother. The thing that impressed me most, was how he laid everything out, how he made clear arrangements for everything-"

Never mind the mess Denys made of those arrangements.

"He operated during the last half year with a slate so clearly in order that those of us he was briefing could have walked into his office, picked up that agenda and known exactly where all the files were and exactly what had to be priority. He confessed he was afraid of dying. He certainly would have been glad to stay around another fifty years. He never expressed remorse for anything he'd done; he never asked my forgiveness; he only handed me the keys and the files and seemed touched that I did forgive him. That was the Giraud I knew."

She left it at that.

I have the files. That was deliberate, too. The way she had done with the press. That was deliberate, too. The way she had done with the press.

Not to undermine Lynch, d.a.m.ned sure. Denys refused the seat and someone had to hold it; Reseune was in profound shock. Certain people were urging Yanni to declare for the seat, challenge Lynch.

No, Denys had said, focused enough to foresee that possibility. No challenge to Lynch from anyone. He's harmless. Leave him.

What Yanni thought about it she was not sure. She did not think Yanni wanted that honor.

But Denys' refusal had jerked a chance at Reseune Administration out of Yanni's reach. And that, that, she thought, however much any of them in Reseune had suspected Denys would refuse the seat, that had to be a disappointment. she thought, however much any of them in Reseune had suspected Denys would refuse the seat, that had to be a disappointment.

She made a point of going over to Yanni after the services, catching his arm, thanking him for his support and making sure the whole Family saw that.

Making sure that the whole Family knew Yanni was not out of the running in future, in her time. "I know what you're doing," she said fervently, careless of just who could hear, knowing some would. "Yanni, I won't forget.

Hear?"

She squeezed his hand. Yanni gave her a look-as if he had not believed for a second it was more than a salve to his pride and then caught on that it was altogether more than that, in that subtle way such indicators pa.s.sed in the Family.

Not a word said directly. But there were witnesses enough. And Yanni was profoundly affected.

Hers, she reckoned, when it came down to the line, in the same way Amy and Maddy and the younger generation were.

And others in the House would see the indicators plain, that she had declared herself on several fronts, and started making acquisitions, not on a spoils system for the young and upcoming, but for a pa.s.sed-over senior administrator who enjoyed more respect in the House than he himself imagined.

Signal clearly that Yanni was hers and let Yanni collect his own following: Yanni took no nonsense and let himself be taken in by no one. Yanni Yanni had stripped his own daughter of authority when she had abused it, and favored no one except on merit: that was his reputation-when Yanni thought of himself as a simple hardnosed b.a.s.t.a.r.d. had stripped his own daughter of authority when she had abused it, and favored no one except on merit: that was his reputation-when Yanni thought of himself as a simple hardnosed b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Yanni had some rea.s.sessing to do. Figure on that.

Yanni was not going to be taken in by the bootlickers and the Stef Dietrichs in the House or elsewhere.

He had been one of maman's friends. She thought with some personal satisfaction, that maman would approve.

iv She took the outside walk back to the House, around the garden wall, toward the distant doors: it was, thank G.o.d, quiet, after the pressure of the interviews. d.a.m.n Victoria, d.a.m.n Victoria, she thought, and reckoned that Maddy had wanted to sink out of sight. she thought, and reckoned that Maddy had wanted to sink out of sight.

"Do you wonder why we do such things?" she murmured to Florian and Catlin. "So do I."

They looked at her, one and the other. Catlin said, in Florian's silence: "It's strange when someone dies. You think they ought to be there. It was that way in Green Barracks."

Ari put her hand on Catlin's shoulder as they walked. Memories. Catlin was the one who had seen people die. "Not slowing down, are you?"

"No, sera," Catlin said. "I don't intend to be talked about." don't intend to be talked about."

She laughed softly. Count on Catlin. Count on Catlin.

Florian said nothing at all. Florian was the one who would have taken in every signal in the crowd; and work over it and work over it to make it make sense. Florian was the one who would worry about the living.

"He's gone," Ari said finally, at the doors. "d.a.m.n, that is is strange." And looked at Florian, whose face had just gone quite tense, that listening-mode that said he was getting something attention-getting over the Security monitor. One or the other of them was always on-line. strange." And looked at Florian, whose face had just gone quite tense, that listening-mode that said he was getting something attention-getting over the Security monitor. One or the other of them was always on-line.

"Novgorod," Florian said. "Jordan Warrick-has declared his innocence- He says-he was coerced. Reseune Security is issuing orders to place him in detention-"

Ari's heart jolted. But everything came clear then. "Florian," she said while they were going through the doors, "code J Red, go. We're on A; go for Q and we're Con2."

Make sure of Justin and Grant: Catlin and I are going for Denys; get home base secure and stay there; force permitted, but not as first resort.

That, before they were through the doors, while a Security guard whose com would not be set on that command-priority gave them a slightly puzzled look at their on-business split-and-go.

"They're not saying much," Catlin said as they went.

"Out to the news-services?"

"That, first," Catlin said. "Com 14 is loaded with incomings."

Reporters at the airport, at the edge of a major news event and hemmed in by an anxious, noncommunicative Security.

"d.a.m.n, is Denys on it? What in h.e.l.l is he doing?"

Catlin tapped the unit in her ear. "Denys is still in the lab; Base One, relay Base Two transmission? -Affirmative, sera. He's sent word to defer all questions; he's saying the charges are a political maneuver, quote, ill-timed and lacking in human feeling. He says, quote, the Family is returning from the funeral and people are out of their offices: Reseune will have a further statement in half an hour."

"Thank G.o.d," she said fervently.

Denys was awake. Denys was returning fire.

d.a.m.ned well about time.

v It was a good day to stay home, Justin reckoned-given the situation in the House, given a general unsettled state in Security now that its chief was dead: I don't want to be alarmist, Ari had said in a message left on the Minder, Ari had said in a message left on the Minder, but I'd be a lot easier in my mind if you and Grant didn't go anywhere you don't have to for the next few but I'd be a lot easier in my mind if you and Grant didn't go anywhere you don't have to for the next few days- days-work at home if you can. I'm going to be busy; I can't watch everything; and Security is confused as h.e.l.l-a little power struggle going on there. Do you mind? Feel free to attend the services. But stay where people are.