Read Online Earthborn (Homecoming) by Orson Scott Card - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Orson Scott Card
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adjectives appended to all our names in your files.”
“Don’t be snippy, Shedemei. It isn’t becoming to a woman who has abandoned her pride.”
“Will you
listen
to my plan?”
“Oh, not a point then, a plan.”
“You still have the power to influence human beings.”
“In a small area of the world, yes.”
“It doesn’t have to be on the other side of the planet, you know. Just there in the gornaya.”
“Anywhere in the gornaya, yes, I can have some influence.”
“And that technique you used back on Harmony, to keep us from developing dangerous technologies—”
“Making people temporarily stupid.”
“And you can still send dreams.”
“Not the powerful dreams the Keeper sends.”
“Dreams, though. Clear ones.”
“Much
clearer
than the Keeper’s dreams,” said the Oversoul.
“Well then. We have a party of Nafari soldiers headed up the valley of the Tsidorek. When they come near Lake Sidonod, the area is so thickly settled with Elemaki that they’ll have to take a dangerous route high up on the mountainside. But the mountain range is ragged there. At some points the crest is very low, so the valleys connect through a narrow pass. If they can sneak through that pass, they’ll come down a canyon that will lead them straight to Chelem, where Akmaro’s people are held as slaves to the Elemaki.”
“Slaves to Pabulog and his sons, you mean.”
“So when they near that pass, the Keeper will naturally try to steer them that way.”
“One would think,” said the Oversoul.
“So why not make them very stupid until they’ve missed the chance?”
“The Keeper will just send them back,” said the Oversoul. “And why would I want to keep them from rescuing Akmaro?”
“The Keeper will
try
to send them back. But in the meantime, you’ll lead them along the mountainside until they drop down into the canyon where the river Zidomeg forms.”
“Zinom,” said the Oversoul, understanding now.“Where the main body of the Zenifi are also enslaved, more or less, by the Elemaki.”
“Exactly,” said Shedemei. “Monush will think he’s fulfilled his mission. He’ll have found a group of Zenifi in bondage to diggers. He’ll figure out a way to bring them to safety. He’ll bring them home.”
“He can’t take that whole population along the mountainside.”
“No,” said Shedemei. “You’ll have to send him dreams that will bring him home by going up the valley of the Ureg and then over the pass that leads down to the valley of the Padurek.”
“That takes them right past Akmaro’s group.”
“And the Keeper will try to get Monush to find Akmaro’s people again.”
“And I interfere again,” said the Oversoul. “That’s not what I’m supposed to do, Shedemei. My purpose is not to interfere with the Keeper of Earth.”
“No, your purpose is to get the Keeper’s help so you can return to Harmony. Well, if you cause her enough trouble, my dear, perhaps she’ll send you back to Harmony in order to stop you from interfering.”
“I don’t think I can do that.” The Oversoul paused. “My programming may stop me from consciously rebelling against what I think the Keeper wants.”
“Well, you figure it out,” said Shedemei. “But in the meantime, keep this in mind: As long as the Keeper isn’t telling you anything, how do you know the Keeper doesn’t
want
you to pull exactly the kind of stunt I’m suggesting? Just to prove your mettle?”
“Shedemei, you’re romanticizing again,” said the Oversoul. “I’m a machine, not a puppet wishing to be made alive. There are no tests. I do what I’m programmed to do.”
“Do you?” asked Shedemei. “You’re programmed to take initiative. Here’s a chance. If the Keeper doesn’t like it, all she has to do is tell you to stop. But at least you’ll be talking then.”
“I’ll think about it,” said the Oversoul.
“Good,” said Shedemei.
“All right,” said the Oversoul. “I’ve thought about
“Don’t be snippy, Shedemei. It isn’t becoming to a woman who has abandoned her pride.”
“Will you
listen
to my plan?”
“Oh, not a point then, a plan.”
“You still have the power to influence human beings.”
“In a small area of the world, yes.”
“It doesn’t have to be on the other side of the planet, you know. Just there in the gornaya.”
“Anywhere in the gornaya, yes, I can have some influence.”
“And that technique you used back on Harmony, to keep us from developing dangerous technologies—”
“Making people temporarily stupid.”
“And you can still send dreams.”
“Not the powerful dreams the Keeper sends.”
“Dreams, though. Clear ones.”
“Much
clearer
than the Keeper’s dreams,” said the Oversoul.
“Well then. We have a party of Nafari soldiers headed up the valley of the Tsidorek. When they come near Lake Sidonod, the area is so thickly settled with Elemaki that they’ll have to take a dangerous route high up on the mountainside. But the mountain range is ragged there. At some points the crest is very low, so the valleys connect through a narrow pass. If they can sneak through that pass, they’ll come down a canyon that will lead them straight to Chelem, where Akmaro’s people are held as slaves to the Elemaki.”
“Slaves to Pabulog and his sons, you mean.”
“So when they near that pass, the Keeper will naturally try to steer them that way.”
“One would think,” said the Oversoul.
“So why not make them very stupid until they’ve missed the chance?”
“The Keeper will just send them back,” said the Oversoul. “And why would I want to keep them from rescuing Akmaro?”
“The Keeper will
try
to send them back. But in the meantime, you’ll lead them along the mountainside until they drop down into the canyon where the river Zidomeg forms.”
“Zinom,” said the Oversoul, understanding now.“Where the main body of the Zenifi are also enslaved, more or less, by the Elemaki.”
“Exactly,” said Shedemei. “Monush will think he’s fulfilled his mission. He’ll have found a group of Zenifi in bondage to diggers. He’ll figure out a way to bring them to safety. He’ll bring them home.”
“He can’t take that whole population along the mountainside.”
“No,” said Shedemei. “You’ll have to send him dreams that will bring him home by going up the valley of the Ureg and then over the pass that leads down to the valley of the Padurek.”
“That takes them right past Akmaro’s group.”
“And the Keeper will try to get Monush to find Akmaro’s people again.”
“And I interfere again,” said the Oversoul. “That’s not what I’m supposed to do, Shedemei. My purpose is not to interfere with the Keeper of Earth.”
“No, your purpose is to get the Keeper’s help so you can return to Harmony. Well, if you cause her enough trouble, my dear, perhaps she’ll send you back to Harmony in order to stop you from interfering.”
“I don’t think I can do that.” The Oversoul paused. “My programming may stop me from consciously rebelling against what I think the Keeper wants.”
“Well, you figure it out,” said Shedemei. “But in the meantime, keep this in mind: As long as the Keeper isn’t telling you anything, how do you know the Keeper doesn’t
want
you to pull exactly the kind of stunt I’m suggesting? Just to prove your mettle?”
“Shedemei, you’re romanticizing again,” said the Oversoul. “I’m a machine, not a puppet wishing to be made alive. There are no tests. I do what I’m programmed to do.”
“Do you?” asked Shedemei. “You’re programmed to take initiative. Here’s a chance. If the Keeper doesn’t like it, all she has to do is tell you to stop. But at least you’ll be talking then.”
“I’ll think about it,” said the Oversoul.
“Good,” said Shedemei.
“All right,” said the Oversoul. “I’ve thought about
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