Yakub’s hold on the pistol was slipping. With excruciating movements, Gilberto stepped next to him and took it from his hand. “That’s enough,” he managed to say.
For a long time the translator’s anxious breathing was the only sound any of them made.
Piedad sat on the sand, on the verge of tears. “What do we do now?” She looked up at Gilberto. “What was your plan after this point?”
Gilberto sat opposite her and took the time to regain his breath. “My plan is that I send the Pope back to Europe.” He breathed again. “He’ll talk of us.” Another breath. “And then, we’ll all gather with the imperial governments and talk more.”
“You can’t be serious,” said Yakub.
“I’m completely serious,” said Gilberto.
“It’s too optimistic,” said Hana, “even to me.”
By that point Michael II had stopped crying and now he was motioning for them to hear him. “What you have showed me has convinced me. You have been injured in too many ways, and no one could deny you your right of revenge. I shall strive to move the hearts of the people in the three empires, but even I can’t reach everyone.”
Yakub gave Hana a mocking glance. “Another problem of scale.”
“Then let’s repeat what we’ve done here,” she said, “but on a larger scale.” The rest were left speechless, and she added, “No, we’re not going to launch the bomb on any city. But we can stage demonstrations on uninhabited areas sufficiently close to our targets to make an exhibition of our strength. In fact, that’s the proposal Gilberto and I were going to make to you; I just didn’t know he didn’t believe in our ability to persuade you on our own.”
“You wouldn’t have joined me at Rome.”
“Because it was an irresponsible idea.” She turned to the others. “In any case, what we’ve done to Michael II we can do to many others. That will more than suffice to make our point.”
“Our point won’t be clear without a message,” said Gilberto. “We need to tell them what will happen, and explain why we’re doing it. That will get them to talk to us.”
“So you did want to warn them after all,” said Yakub.
“Admit that it can work,” said Piedad. “We still have the option of destroying their cities if it doesn’t.”
Hana leaned toward her and helped her stand. “We always have the option of renouncing our essential goodness. But if among the people who enjoy the fruits of our subjection there are sufficiently many who haven’t lost theirs, we won’t have to.”
Sunset, Shawwal 1 (Hijri), 1423
Red Sea, within territorial waters of the Sharifate of Mecca
Just as the sun moved below the horizon, a blinding burst of light seemed to bring the day back.
Sunset, Tevet 2 (Hebrew), 5763
Mount Ramon, in the demilitarized zone between Chinese-occupied Palestine and the Swedish Protectorate of Sinai
Then came a furious wind with a roar that ripped the heavens and made the earth tremble.
Sunset, December 8 (Gregorian), 2002
Giannutri Island, disputed between the Pontifical States and the Republic of Genoa
And when everyone’s sight returned, they went out and saw in the horizon a pillar of fire rising in the shape of a mushroom.
Morning, Rabiulawal 10 (Hijri), 1424
Malaca City
The only place on Earth deemed sufficiently neutral for its first global congregation was the only realm that the three big empires had at one time captured and the only one that had succeeded in eventually casting off their invasions. Even under relentless assault by different branches of Christianity, the Malaca Sultanate had stayed stubbornly Muslim, but now, after the panicked and increasingly embellished reports of the portal to hell that had opened near Mecca, even that faith was in question.
The Alliance of Survivor Peoples was in session. In addition to the representatives from the member nations, the imperial powers had sent envoys in response to the Manifesto of Emancipation that had been delivered to their courts on the day prior to the first bombing. Watching those men take their seats at the center of the meeting hall, Gilberto savored one unforeseen consequence of the secrecy of the project: none of the empires had developed a scientific tradition like the one sprouted from Likasi, and the best explanation they had come up with to account for the terror of the bombs was that the colonies had resorted to some forbidden witchcraft against their rulers. The terrified testimony of Michael II, returned to Europe just when the Cardinals were done electing a new Pope, had only deepened the kings’ reaction. Faced with supernatural powers beyond their comprehension, their plea to negotiate had been immediate.
Veteran diplomat Marcelino de Carvajal y Travesedo, sent directly from Madrid, sat uncomfortably at the central table, sensing the pressure of hundreds of gazes aimed at him. At his sides were Koenraad Meijer, a Dutchman in the service of the Danish Crown, visibly uneasy about dealing with the future of the empire instead of insipid trade deals; and Crown Prince Bolai of the Great Ming, inexperienced in politics but required by tradition to be the public face of the Son of the Heavenly Lord. Delegates from other empires, including the French, the Ottomans, and the Californians, were sitting behind them, but everyone present understood that the core issues depended on what the three main powers had to say.
Gilberto was presiding this session, and he didn’t bother concealing his satisfaction. The pacifists had prevailed. He took notice of Yakub watching his motions from one side of the hall, but the opposition between them was no longer of consequence. The goal had been achieved.
Hana sat next to Gilberto, opened a folder with papers, organized them on her desk, and addressed the central table. “Your judgment was made years before this meeting.”
She spoke in Moriori, and before the designated translators could begin transmitting her message, the imperial delegates started to voice complaints that Gilberto silenced. “This is a meeting for all peoples of the world,” he said in Kituba. “Our official language is all languages. You have been provided with translators; pay attention to them. We do not operate by your rules.”
Crown Prince Bolai shouted a sentence, and his translator relayed, “Your uncultured tongue injures my ears.”
“We’ll talk of injuries in a moment,” said Gilberto.
Hana read from her notes, “The Alliance of Survivor Peoples has found you guilty of repeated murder, kidnapping, enslavement, desecration, rape, and pillage. Furthermore, you have taught your children that these actions were natural and necessary, and taught us that we deserved them. Your guilt is beyond discussion. What remains is to assign your penalty.” The imperial delegates said nothing; they appeared to want to laugh at the accusations, but the presence of so many accusers inhibited them. Hana went on, “I will now read the list of demands we have for each of you.” She opened another folder. “As a first step toward repairing relations between the peoples of the world, there must be openness with regard to the fruits of knowledge. China will make the principles of its combustion engines available to all nations.”