Chapter 13
Mathias had trouble believing that he was actually hearing a voice broadcast from orbit. He looked at Sukui but the old scientist's face was unreadable.
'Your message informed us of an approaching terran ship,' said Sukui. 'Please elucidate.'
'Jesus, you mean you're really down there? Real people? Nobody thought you would last.'
'You hear my voice,' said Sukui. 'I am here.'
'Jesus. Jesus.' Then the man seemed to get a grip on himself, and he said, 'What kind of comms rig-up are you running? Why the voice-only?'
Sukui seemed to be having trouble with the terminology. 'Please, you mentioned a ship?'
'OK, we'll tech-talk some time different. There's a ship coming, they say it's like a big ark only it's a lot faster. Near-cee, they said. Nobody took their broadcasts seriously, at first. Sure, they were strong but they were so weird we thought it was some kind of ents show. You know: Babette's Family Blues, or Starscraper. We get them all the time if we fine-tune one of the big dishes. No, maybe you don't know—can you get any of that shit down there? You should see some of the things they do!'
'The ship?' prompted Sukui, sounding frustrated. Mathias wanted to take over but he didn't dare; he had learned his place.
'Oh yeah. Well these broadcasts, they were from the "Holy Corporate Powers of GenGen". They said things like all the universe was created out of love and they want to renew the link of understanding between the peoples of Expatria and this corporation they call GenGen. They say they've brought a few folks along to help make this link. Jesus, it stinks.'
'What has been done about this, in the Orbital Colonies?'
'Done?' The face laughed. 'Most people here still think it's an ents show. There's even a Junior GenGen FanClub back in Ark Red. I've checked it out, though, and it all fits. I set up a search through ArcNet and found that GenGen were one of the major backers of the first Ark Ships that brought us to Expatria. Of course it could still have been an ents show, despite the strength of the broadcast. But ArcNet had trouble interpreting the signals at first and I've back-tracked through the files and found out why.
'They're coming here, all right. And they're coming fast. Those transmissions were blue-shifted by more than eight hundred per cent. They're headed here at close to point ninety-eight of cee.'
'Do you know how close they are?' asked Mathias, leaning over Sukui's shoulder, his patience finally run dry.
'Well, hello, Voice Two. No, I don't know for sure. But the signals started up four terran years ago and ArcNet says the ship was already at velocity then. The latest signals we've had are stretching out—the blue-shift is reducing. The ship is decelerating. My best guess is that we'll be seeing them among us in about two to four years, given the time it's taken for the signals to reach us. But I could easily be wrong: could be tomorrow, could be in twenty years.
'One thing's for sure, though: we've got to decide how we're going to handle them.'
~
That first conversation was brief. Sukui had said he would consider the options and renew contact at a later date.
Mathias was annoyed by Sukui's handling of the matter. They were talking with people who lived in orbit around Expatria, it was a historic event. But Sukui had been formal, he had given nothing away; he was 'considering options' when there was so much they could have discussed. Mathias didn't even have a name to put to the face on the TV screen. He wanted to know how they lived, how they supported themselves, how they organised themselves. He wanted to know everything but Sukui had suppressed curiosity in favour of his own brand of diplomacy.
That night, Mathias dozed in the hut. He told himself he wanted to be on hand if there was another message but the truth was that he didn't want to go back to his room. Siggy would be there, if he wasn't stirring up trouble somewhere in the city. Mathias didn't want the hassle, he had too much else on his mind.
The following morning everybody arrived as normal. Lui Tsang was first. 'Let's call them up,' he said, his enthusiasm rousing Mathias instantly. 'See what they say without Sukui here to muck things up.'
It was tempting. Mathias looked at the fizzling TV screen, still tuned in, ready for the next broadcast. He stepped over and flicked the microphone switch downwards, into the on position.
Then he flicked it back up.
He had heard the sound of approaching voices. Sanjit Borodin and Helena Lubycz had turned up early, inspired by the events of the previous day.
'Think what we could find out if we called them up now,' said Lui Tsang, too new in Alabama for his enthusiasm to be tarnished by the discipline of the Project.
Borodin shook his head. 'No, Lui,' he said. 'This is too big for us. We need a higher authority.'
'Sukui?' said Lui.
'Sukui,' said Borodin. 'Unless, of course...'
'Unless?' said Mathias.
'If the Orbitals were to instigate the communication, then we would have to respond. It would be undiplomatic to wait for Sukui to be summoned before replying.'
Mathias was disappointed. Everything seemed to depend on Sukui. The discipline he had acquired was being tested severely and he was aware of this fact. Self-control was a good thing but he had seen the extremes it could reach. Maybe he should just...
More voices.
Mathias looked out of the window. Sun-Ray Sidhu was approaching, Sukui by his side. Mags Sender was following them up the path. Mathias had not expected to see Sukui on the day before the summit—he should have had too much to do.
'I cannot stay long,' said Sukui, as he strode in through the door. 'Is there any news?' He looked around expectantly.
'There's been no more contact,' said Mathias. 'Sukui-san, would it be possible for you to clear up an area of misunderstanding? How are we to proceed? Can we contact the Orbitals?'
'Certainly not,' said Sukui.
'Then what are we going to do if they contact us?'
'Communication should be restricted to higher levels at present,' said Sukui. 'We do not know what degree of trust there should be between the two parties. Are they telling us the truth?
'I will be busy elsewhere for the next three days. There is to be no contact. If they wish to speak, then you must inform them that it is impossible. Affairs of state prevent it. We will call them three days hence.' Sukui turned to the door. 'Mathias,' he said, over his shoulder.
Mathias followed him out. Out of earshot of the hut, Sukui turned and studied Mathias's face. 'The next three days are of vital importance,' he said. 'A number of issues are particularly sensitive at this time. Your half-brother arrives soon. He brings a number of high officials. I understand Lucilla Ngota is in charge of his personal guard. My advice to you, Mathias, is to become part of the background. Keep out of the city, sleep up here, live as though you do not exist.'
'Lucilla wouldn't do anything in Alabama City,' said Mathias. 'Edward has too much to lose—he wouldn't allow it.'
'Nevertheless,' said Sukui. 'For whatever reasons, you, Mathias Hanrahan, are a source of conflict. Your presence in the city would be counter-productive. Prime Salvo would not wish for anything to work against him at this juncture. And one final word of advice: stay away from Siggy Axelmeyer, at least until the summit has passed. You would not wish to be associated with anything that young fool gets up to. It would not be well regarded. Do you understand?'
Mathias understood, but he didn't like it. 'Have you told Andric of our work yet?' he asked, knowing the answer already.
'It is a difficult subject and these are sensitive times,' said Sukui. 'Patience is a necessity of modern life. You would do well to exercise some.' Sukui walked away.
~
Mathias had wanted to call the Orbitals. He had stormed back into the hut and sat before the microphone, letting his feelings simmer. But he had retained his self-control. If he was to rebel then it would be a considered rebellion, not an act of anger.
The team worked hard for most of that day. Lui Tsang and Mathias kept returning to the problem of how best to achieve full audio-visual contact with the Orbitals but they made little progress.
Mathias was adjusting the trifax when the face appeared on the TV screen. 'Hey, is anybody still down there?' said a familiar voice.
Sun-Ray, Helena and Mags had already left; they wanted to join the crowds that would attend Edward's arrival in Alabama City. Mathias looked across at Sanjit Borodin, but his superior studiously looked the other way. Lui Tsang nudged Mathias towards the microphone. 'Go on,' he hissed. 'You do it. I'd muck up worse than Sukui.'
Swallowing, Mathias leaned forward and turned the microphone on. 'Hello,' he said. 'Can you hear me?'
The face grinned and said, 'Hey, Voice Two again! Where's the old guy then?'
Gritting his teeth, Mathias said, 'Sukui-san asked me to inform you that he has urgent matters of state to attend to. He is unavailable for three days and will call you then.'
''S OK by me,' said the face. 'He was too stiff anyway.'
'He is my superior,' said Mathias. 'He said we were not to talk.'
'You let him tell you what to do? Or are you going to parley?' Mathias glanced at Borodin's back. 'Oh shit,' he said. 'Let's talk. What should I call you?'
'They call me Decker, hereabouts. You?'
'Matt,' he said. 'So. Where do we start?'