"Hello, darling," Fern said.
* * * * *
She was unhurriedly burning Starza's report. Starza sat mutely in his
chair, head tilted back at an impossible angle, staring at nothing.
"It had to be you." I had never felt so tired. "You would have destroyed
the plant, wouldn't you? Only I showed you another way. Make the Terms
revert. And you had that hypo all ready when I reeled into Psych." I
moved towards her carefully. "You're so damned altruistic. A Guild
mindless-controlled," I said.
Fern's smile was compassionate. She methodically ground the ashes to
powder, lifted that calm green gaze.
"Stupid words to frighten children, Jake. Yes, they kidnapped me. I
never reached Earth, three months ago. I was indoctrinated--oh, they
didn't have far to go. _Each race to its own fulfillment._" Her eyes
were shining. "Look out the window."
Numbly, I moved past her. I stared. In the distant blackness, a column
of living flame flickered up the slope of Cobalt Mountain. Ice-green,
ruby, silver and blue. The Terms were leaving.
"They're not ready for individuality yet," Fern breathed. "In a million
years perhaps. Not now. They're going home."
"To die."
"The race will live. Individuality isn't the penultimate, darling.
You'll find out." I moved towards her. "You've got a very tough mind,
Jake. You'll make a wonderful Guild agent--"