Tabini was amused. The experienced eye saw it in the minute lift of a brow. An actual smile chased it.
"Weinathi Bridge in the heavens?"
A notorious air crash — which had persuaded even most provincial lords that precedence in the air couldn't rely on rank and that filing flight plans and standing by them no matter what was a very good idea. Especially in urban areas around major airports.
"We have only one station," Bren said. "Humans and atevi must live there. Beyond trade cities — the station is very close living, very close cooperation."
"This place that killed so many humans. That humans couldn't continue to occupy. Should atevi die for it?"
"The station itself is suitable for living. And can be made far safer than it is. This is a possible place, daja-ma. This is a place where atevi and humans can find things in common, and work in peace."
"A place with no air. No earth under one's feet."
"Just like in an airplane, daja-ma, one seals the doors and pumps air in."
"From where?"
"In this case — I suppose we bring it in tanks from the planet. Or plants can create it. Engineers know these things. The paidhi is an interpreter. If you wish to see plans, daja-ma, I can say they'll no longer be restricted."
"And the working of this ship?"
Not a simple curiosity, he thought, and was on guard. "Not the actual numbers and dimensions and techniques, daja-ma. I know liquid and solid-fuel rockets very well. But what powers this ship, what kind of technology we may have to create down here to bring us up to date with that ship — I don't know."
"Can you find out such things?" Tabini asked. "Can you get them from the ship?"
"I can tell you that I'll try. That eventually — yes, we'll find a way."
"Find a way," Damiri said.
"Daja-ma, in all my lifetime I've always been able to look around me on Mospheira and see the next technological step. For the first time — Mospheirans and atevi will be making whatever next step there is together, into a future we both don't know. I can't promise. I don't know. But atevi will have their chance. That's what I can work toward."
"There is no word," Tabini said, a question, "what this ship wants — beyond maintenance for the station:"
"On a mere guess," Bren said, "the ship's crew is far more interested in the ship and in space than it is in any planet. What they do out there, where they go, what their lives are like — I suppose is very reasonable to them. I suppose it's enough — to them — to have the ship working."
Damiri asked, "Can the ship up there takewhat it wants?"
"I think," Bren said, "daja-ma, that it might possibly, as far as having the power; but what it. wants just isn't so simple as to rob all banks on the planet and go its way. I can't foresee all that it might want, but I can't imagine it taking raw materials and manufacturing things itself. It never did, that I know."
"So what will it want, nadi?"
His hostess neveraccorded him the courtesy of his tide. There was always the imperious edge to the voice; and he glanced at Tabini, ever so briefly, receiving nothing but a straightforward, interested attention.
"Bren-ji," Tabini said, with a casual wave of his fingers. Tabini wasn't unaware. Be patient, that seemed to mean, and he answered the question.
"I think it wants the station to fuel it and repair it if it needs repair."
"Why?"
"So, perhaps, it can leave us for another two hundred years. In the meanwhile — we have the access to the station."
"This is quite mad," Damiri said.
"Bren-ji," Tabini reproved his unadorned answer.
"Daja-ma, the ship puzzles all humans. I can say it would be very much simpler for it to have Mospheirans work for it and not have to deal with atevi. But that would allow Mospheira power that would unbalance everything the Treaty balanced. I completely oppose any such solution. Even if atevi had rather not deal with them — I don't think it wise to take that decision."
"The paidhi ishuman."
"Yes, daja-ma. But most Mospheirans don't want to have their affairs run from space. I can't speak for every official in office, but among ordinary people, and many in office as well, atevi have natural allies. Mospheirans stand to lose their authority over their own lives if certain other Mospheirans, very much like rebel provinces, have their way. To answer your very excellent question, nai-ma — I don't think the ship intends violence. By every evidence, they need the station. They want it the cheapest way possible. We have to prevent some humans from providing it too cheaply, without atevi participation. That's the situation as plainly as I can put it. And we have the leverage to prevent it."
"Bren-ji characterizes the Mospheiran government as indecisive. Incapable of strong decision."
"Is this so?" Damiri turned her golden eyes to Tabini, and back to him. "Then why are they fit allies?"
"Daja-ma," Bren said, "Mospheirans have a long history of opposition to the ship. Second, there's no strong dissent on Mospheira. There never has been, in any numbers that could cause trouble. The government isn't used to dealing with the tactics of opposition — which I feel this time there will be. Shejidan, on the other hand, is used to dissent and rapidly moving situations. The President of Mospheira can't conceive of what to do next, many but not all of his advisors are selfishly motivated, and he urgently needs a proposal on the table to give him a tenable position he can consider — results that he can hold up in public view. Publicity. Television, aiji-ma, that demon box, can draw his opposition into defending against the proposal you make rather than pushing their own program."
Tabini rested his chin on his hand. The two of them were mirror-images, Tabini and the prospective partner in his necessary and several years postponed heir-getting. One had to think of Tabini's lamented father, and the dowager, and breakfast.
And all that atevi talent for intrigue.
"Such a reprehensible, furtive tactic," Tabini said. "Can we not just assassinate the rascals?"
One suspected the aiji was joking. One never dared assume too far. "I think the President believes his alternatives are all human. I think he would welcome a well-worded and enlightening message from Shejidan, particularly one suggesting workable solutions."
"Interesting," Tabini said. And didn't say he had to consult. One had the feeling Tabini's brain was already working on the exact text.
In the next moment, indeed, the forefinger went up, commanding attention: "Say this, Bren-ji. Say to your President, Tabini-aiji has raw materials indispensable to your effort. Say, Tabini-aiji will sell you these materials only if humans and atevi are to sharethe station. Say that to him… in whatever form one speaks to president. Make up words he will understand and will not refuse." The fingers waved. "I leave such details of translation to you."
Tabini said, further, "We'll call the ship this evening, Bren-ji. Be ready."
He almost missed that. And didn't know what to say, but, "Yes, aiji-ma."
CHAPTER 9