"I'd like to see it, though. Very much. I think I'd even like to live there."
"I do not believe you would be happy there."
"Why not?"
"Because non-Vegan immigrants are non-Vegan immigrants. You are not of a low caste here. I know you do not use that term, but that is what it amounts to. Your Office personnel and their families are the highest caste on this planet. Wealthy non-Office persons come next, then those who work for the wealthy non-Office persons, followed by those who make their own living from the land; then, at the bottom, are those unfortunates who inhabit the Old Places. You are at the top here. On Taler you would be at the bottom."
"Why must it be that way?" she asked.
"Because you see a white flower." I handed it back.
There was a long silence and a cool breeze.
"Anyhow I'm happy you came here," she said.
"It is an interesting place."
"Glad you like it."
"Was the man called Conrad really your lover?"
I recoiled at the suddenness of the question.
"It's none of your blue business," she said, "but the answer is yes."
"I can see why," he said, and I felt uncomfortable and maybe something like a voyeur, or-subtlety of subtleties-one who watches a voyeur watching.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you want the strange, the powerful, the exotic; because you are never happy being where you are, what you are."
"That's not true… Maybe it is. Yes, he once said something like that to me. Perhaps it is true."
I felt very sorry for her at that moment. Then, without realizing it, as I wanted to console her in some way, I reached out and took her hand. Only it was Myshtigo's hand that moved, and he had not willed it to move. I had.
I was afraid suddenly. So was he, though. I could feel it.
There was a great drunk-like, room-swimming feeling, as I felt that he felt occupied, as if he had had sensed another presence within his mind.
I wanted away quickly then, and I was back there beside my rock, but not before she'd dropped the flower and I heard her say, "Hold me!"
Damn those pseudotelepathic wish-fulfillments! I thought. Someday I'll stop believing that that's all they are.
I had seen two colors in that flower, colors for which I have no words…
I walked back toward the camp. I passed through the camp and kept on going. I reached the other end of the warning perimeter, sat down on the ground, lit a cigarette. The night was cool, the night was dark.
Two cigarettes later I heard a voice behind me, but I did not turn.
"'In the Great House and in the House of Fire, on that Great Day when all the days and years are numbered, oh let my name be given back to me,'" it said.
"Good for you," I said softly. "Appropriate quote. I recognize the Book of the Dead when I hear it taken in vain."
"I wasn't taking it in vain, just-as you said-appropriately."
"Good for you."
"On that great day when all the days and years are numbered, if they do give you back your name, then what name will it be?"
"They won't. I plan on being late. And what's in a name, anyhow?"
"Depends on the name. So try 'Karaghiosis.'"
"Try sitting down where I can see you. I don't like to have people standing behind me."
"All right-there. So?"
"So what?"
"So try 'Karaghiosis.'"
"Why should I?"
"Because it means something. At least, it did once."
"Karaghiosis was a figure in the old Greek shadow shows, sort of like Punch in the European Punch and Judy plays. He was a slob and a buffoon."
"He was Greek, and he was subtle."
"Ha! He was half-coward, and he was greasy."
"He was also half-hero. Cunning. Somewhat gross. Sense of humor. He'd tear down a pyramid. Also, he was strong, when he wanted to be."
"Where is he now?"
"I'd like to know."
"Why ask me?"
"Because that is the name Hasan called you on the night you fought the golem."
"Oh… I see. Well, it was just an expletive, a generic term, a synonym for fool, a nickname-like if I were to call you 'Red.'-And now that I think of it, I wonder how you look to Myshtigo, anyhow? Vegans are blind to the color of your hair, you know?"
"I don't really care how I look to Vegans. Wonder how you look, though. I understand that Myshtigo's file on you is quite thick. Says something about you being several centuries old."
"Doubtless an exaggeration. But you seem to know a lot about it. How thick is your file on Myshtigo?"
"Not very, not yet."
"It seems that you hate him more than you hate everyone else. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He's a Vegan."
"So?"
"I hate Vegans, is all."
"No, there's more."
"True.-You're quite strong, you know?"
"I know."
"In fact, you're the strongest human being I've ever seen. Strong enough to break the neck of a spiderbat, then fall into the bay at Piraeus and swim ashore and have breakfast."
"Odd example you've chosen."
"Not so, not really. Did you?"
"Why?"
"I want to know, need to know."
"Sorry."
"Sorry is not good enough. Talk more."
"Said all."
"No. We need Karaghiosis."
"Who's 'we'?"
"The Radpol. Me."
"Why, again?"
"Hasan is half as old as Time. Karaghiosis is older. Hasan knew him, remembered, called you 'Karaghiosis.' You are Karaghiosis, the killer, the defender of Earth-and we need you now. Very badly. Armageddon has come-not with a bang, but a checkbook. The Vegan must die. There is no alternative. Help us stop him."
"What do you want of me?"
"Let Hasan destroy him."
"No."
"Why not? What is he to you?"
"Nothing, really. In fact, I dislike him very much. But what is he to you?"
"Our destroyer."
"Then tell me why, and how, and perhaps I'll give you a better answer."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know."
"Then good night. That's all."
"Wait! I really do not know-but the word has come down from Taler, from the Radpol liaison there: He must die. His book is not a book, his self is not a self, but many. I do not know what this means, but our agents have never lied before. You've lived on Taler, you've lived on Bakab and a dozen other worlds. You are Karaghiosis. You know that our agents do not lie, because you are Karaghiosis and you established the spy-circuit yourself. Now you hear their words and you do not heed them. I tell you that they say he must die. He represents the end of everything we've fought for. They say he is a surveyor who must not be permitted to survey. You know the code. Money against Earth. More Vegan exploitation. They could not specify beyond that point."
"I'm sorry. I've pledged myself to his defense. Give me a better reason and maybe I'll give you a better answer.-And Hasan tried to kill me."
"He was told only to stop you, to incapacitate you so that we could destroy the Vegan."
"Not good enough; not good enough, no. I admit nothing. Go your ways. I will forget."
"No, you must help us. What is the life of one Vegan to Karaghiosis?"
"I will not countenance his destruction without a just and specific cause. Thus far, you have shown me nothing."
"That's all I have."
"Then good night."
"No. You have two profiles. From the right side you are a demigod; from the left you are a demon. One of them will help us, must help us. I don't care which one it is."
"Do not try to harm the Vegan. We will protect him."
We sat there. She took one of my cigarettes and we sat there smoking.
"… Hate you," she said after a time. "It should be easy, but I can't."
I said nothing.
"I've seen you many times, swaggering in your Dress Blacks, drinking rum like water, confident of something you never share, arrogant in your strength.-You'd fight your weight in anything that moves, wouldn't you?"
"Not red ants or bumblebees."
"Do you have some master plan of which we know nothing? Tell us, and we will help you with it."