"The analysis is not finished," the ship's voice said, neutral and close in each of their ears. "There is no precedent in memory for the use of weapons of this power and type. Nor is there precedent for a civilization of precisely this character. The after-effects are difficult to judge. Destruction appears to be complete, but a definitive assessment cannot be reached, perhaps for centuries to come."
Martin had suspected this. He had dreamed of unexpected survivals; of civilizations encoded in tumbling boulders, hidden in the rubble, waiting for a chance to rebuild; of staircase gods buried deep in Leviathan itself.
"The Law requires certainty. It does not require that you devote more of your time, however. You have made your judgment and enacted the Law."
"We want to know," Hans said.
"That is understandable," the ship's voice said.
"We needto know." Hans' face was even more drawn; he had expected something final. In this, at least, Martin had been more realistic than he.
"Then you should decide to stay and devote more time."
"What are the choices?" Martin asked.
"Your alternative is to continue with your lives. As promised, we will either return you to your solar system, or you may seek another system, find another world not yet inhabited that is suited to your needs."
"That's another phase, another part of the journey," Martin said. He looked at Hans.
Hans pulled himself closer to the sphere. "I've decided my time as Pan is finished. I had hoped to know for sure whether we've finished the Job, but… I don't think I should be Pan any longer. I resign." His tone was calm, but his face seemed even more drawn, almost wizened.
"Time to nominate," Anna Gray Wolf said. Martin saw the vortex more clearly.
The Wendys and Lost Boys of the larger group immediately conferred. Jeanette's group seemed at a loss, left out. Martin moved toward Jeanette. She held her ground, lips set tight.
"You're still with us, if you want to be," Martin said in an undertone. "We can't divide now."
She shook her head. "It isn't enough for Hans to step down."
"You can nominate from your own group," Martin said. "Come back in. I want you to."
"You were part of the atrocity," Jeanette said, brows knit, mouth drawn up in anger. "Coming back is like condoning what happened. We'd rather go with the Brothers."
"Ask them," Martin said, raising his eyebrows in the direction of the dissidents. "You can't make that decision by yourself."
Knots of activity formed, low voices rose in debate, sank again into conspiratorial discussion.
"You want to be Pan again," Jeanette accused, uncertain.
"Not in a joke," Martin said.
She turned away, and the defectors formed their own knot, which then broke into smaller knots.
Hans stayed away from the activity. He looked longingly at the star sphere, as if trying to find his own answer. Martin decided it would be best for now to leave him by himself, not to associate with Hans at this time; Hans was a sink of influence, an outcast. But that went against Martin's instincts.
He ignored his instincts.
"We nominate Patrick Angelfish!" said David Aurora. Six of the crew stood around Patrick, who looked frightened. Harpal was not one of the six; he stayed close to Anna Gray Wolf.
"We nominate Leo Parsifal," said Umberto Umbra.
Good. Totally off the beaten path, Martin thought.
Jeanette came forward, even less certain now, looking scared. "We nominate Mei-li Wu-Hsiang Gemini."
"I nominate Ariel," Martin said. She looked at him with a frown so intense he interpreted it at first as anger.
"Good," Harpal said softly.
Hans did not look away from the star sphere.
"Vote for new Pan," Kirsten Two Bites called out.
Martin watched the vortices break apart, reform, watched power and decision move from one group to another, discussion, debate, watched Ariel surrounded by her group, yet still looking very alone. She was not angry. She was terrified. She could not bring herself to refuse.
She felt the power, as well.
The vote was about to be taken when Eye on Sky entered the schoolroom with a snake mother. Paola went to the Brother and spoke with him. Then she pulled herself to Martin.
"Eye on Sky says the Shrikehas found something important. Should he tell us now? He seems to think it's an emergency."
"Then let's hear it," Martin said. He called for their attention.
Eye on Sky uncoiled, smelling faintly of turpentine and dry grass. "We we have spoken with Shrike. Something important found hidden. Greyhound'shelp is requested."
Ariel appeared greatly relieved.
The remains of Sleep smeared out in an arc that in a few million years would form a ring of asteroids around Leviathan. Already, Leviathan's radiation and particle winds pushed the lighter elements in the arc outward.
Greyhoundaccelerated to join with Shrikeat the nearest terminus of this arc, a journey of sixty-two million kilometers.
At ten g's, Greyhoundwould reach Shrikein less than three hours. The crews endured the field restraints; the acceleration was not so extreme as to completely inhibit activity.
They had enough time to vote. The nominees spoke briefly; Mei-li withdrew, saying she was much too confused and uncertain to exercise leadership. Martin noted with some satisfaction that Ariel did not withdraw.
Hans watched silently, standing by himself to one side.
The vote was conducted secretly by wand. Martin tallied the results.
"Ariel is Pan," he announced.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Starting now?" she asked.
"Starting now," Martin affirmed.
"I choose Jeanette Snap Dragon to be my second," she said.
The defectors were not prepared for this, and left the schoolroom to talk.
Ariel stood beside Martin, distinctly nervous as the crew congratulated her singly and in groups. "I shouldn't have accepted the nomination," she said to him in a brief free moment. "This is awful. You really have it in for me, don't you?"
"You'll do fine," Martin said.
"Oh, God, I chose Jeanette. Why did I do that?"
" Brings unity," Martin assured her, though he had his doubts.
"Are you going to help me, or just gloat?"
"Both," Martin said.
She squinted one eye and curled her lip. "I deserve it," she said. "Oh, God, I'm an idiot."
Shrikesent no more transmissions. Martin thought this might be a small game on the part of the Brothers, and his interest was piqued. Eye on Sky refused to say any more, even with Paola's urging; the Brother smelled strongly of turpentine.
What could possibly compel them to ask for human help? The Brothers were convinced destruction of the Leviathan system had been wrong, or at the very least premature…
Martin studied the crew in the schoolroom. He could see no more vortices of power, and wondered if he had hallucinated them. What he saw now was quiescence, waiting. Even Ariel drew no more attention than she might have before she was Pan. She sat talking quietly with Anna Gray Wolf and Martin felt a stab of loneliness; she had needed him, the need had passed. He had not nurtured it very well.