"Among others, yes."
"And I thought the plague and Families were causing a major social
upheaval. What you're going to do to us . . . Maybe Colonel Cortin's
right to be afraid of you after all, though not for the reason she
thinks."
"I can't deny there'll be stress," DeLayne said soberly. "You won't
have to join, and you won't have to accept anything from us that you
don't want--but just making open contact will cause changes, yes. It's
a good thing for your Systems that Colonel Cortin was able to get
Ranger Medart, too. Any Ranger would be good, but he's the Empire's
best at anything involving cultural differences--which we don't try to
destroy, as you probably already know. To quote a twentieth-century
writer by the name of O'Sullivan, our aim is to 'preserve the unique
viewpoints of different groups, but at the same time require that each
group be tolerant of the others'. We see harmonious diversity as a
good thing."
"I'd gotten that impression, but not in so many words. The Sandemans
and Traiti, from what I've studied, both maintain their own cultures
within their Subsector and Sector."
"And so do the cloudcats, on Ondrian. They're another race Ranger
Medart managed to bring into the Empire peacefully--damn good thing for
us, since that's the only place miracle-weed produces usable
rapid-heal."
"I never heard of any of those."
DeLayne chuckled. "Learning from comm intercepts would tend to be
fragmentary, especially when the ultrawave beams aren't aimed at you
and you don't have the cultural background to understand a lot of what
you do hear. That's what we're in the process of remedying. And
here's my cabin." He put his hand to a small plate beside the door,
which promptly opened onto a small living area. "Have a seat while I
go get the tape and player--my fabricator's in the bedroom."
Odeon obeyed, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn't afraid of the
Empire, and as he'd told Joanie months ago when he first started
studying them, he already had some respect for them. DeLayne was
adding to that, even as he was overwhelming Odeon with casually
incomprehensible references. Fabricators, cloudcats, miracle-weed,
rapid-heal . . . and teaching tapes. DeLayne was emerging from the
bedroom carrying what looked like a small book and a thin box of
matches, though Odeon was sure those had to be the reader and 'tape'
he'd mentioned.
"Here we go," DeLayne said, pulling up a chair. He handed Odeon the
reader, which turned out to be a screen with a row of words
underneath--all of which, to Odeon's gratification, he was able to
puzzle out--and showed him how to insert the tape, then explained the
touch controls for tape direction and speed. "The older models have
electrodes that have to go on the temples," he added, "but the new ones
don't need them. Some people have a mild reaction, disorientation or a
touch of nausea; if you do, slowing the tape down usually gets rid of
it. Whenever you're ready, just touch the "Go" button."
"Okay." Odeon did so--and promptly doubled over.
Alarmed, DeLayne grabbed the tape player and shut it off. "What's
wrong, Captain?"
"I thought you said . . . mild nausea and disorientation. Not stomach
cramps and . . . the worst headache I've ever had."
DeLayne frowned. "I've never heard of a reaction that bad, or I
would've warned you. Let me get Dr. Drulet to prescribe you something."
"Thanks, but no thanks; I'll be okay. It's fading already." Odeon
straightened cautiously, shaking his head. "I don't think I'd care to
repeat the experience, though. Do you have any ordinary books I can
use instead?"
"No, but I can have the ship print you out what's on the tapes.
Normally I'd suggest you try a standard reading tape, but after that
reaction, printouts would probably be the best idea. They're a hell of
a lot slower than teaching tapes, though; it'll take you a day or so to
learn what the tape would've given you in a couple of minutes."
"I'll take the day, and the printouts."
"You've got them. Imperial English, or should I have the ship
transcribe everything into the pre-Imperial alphabet?"
"Imperial," Odeon said, after a moment's thought. "I'm going to have
to learn it sooner or later, so why put it off?"
"That makes sense. And I don't think I'd better let any of your people
try taking a tape till the Lindner gets here. An IBC has better
research facilities than a scout; they may be able to find out why you
reacted so badly, whether it's an individual reaction or something
everyone in the Systems shares, and how to avoid it."
"That makes sense, too. Thanks, Captain. Aside from the alphabet,
what would you recommend I study first?"
"In your place I'd start with basic history and Imperial structure.
Once you know that, you're in a better position than I am to decide
what else you'll need."
"I'll do that, then."