Deep Space

Chapter 9

On the top deck of the Gnarriott ship, Mead led the way out of Gnarff's audience chamber. Taylor followed with his retinue in tow. Garan Duufrig, along with the rest of the Guard of Honour stiffened to attention as the group passed by.

"Can I ask how much you know of the history of the Sol3a people, Ambassador," Mead asked. "I would like to be able to put what I have to show you in the correct context, you understand."

"Yes, of course. Well, there are the legends that Sol3a was the home planet for the human species, but I guess that doesn't have too much to do with today's situation and I suppose that it's more an issue for archaeologists than ourselves. Then in historical time there has been the problem with their men. Now it seems that Sol3a is just about all out of natural resources, their own scientists consider that a collapse is imminent. There are only 50,000 of them remaining and they need to migrate but it is hard to see where they can go. The other Sol planets just view them as economic migrants and there's not much flex in that system at all.

"A reasonable summary. The collapse of the Sol3a ecosystem is imminent though. They have used vulcano-thermal energy for a long time and it has become apparent that the planet's mantle is collapsing. Soon the crust will collapse into the voids it has left. Water rushing in from the oceans and the seismic events will devastate the planet. But that is just part of it, albeit a tragic end to their home. Their difficulties began before the start of the collapse in the male birth rate about three thousand years ago. Of course they managed to provide species continuity by using frozen gametes and then through genetic management - cloning. Now they are an all-female species, one of the few examples. That's one of the things that led me to study them. That and the fact that I can trace my lineage through to Sol3a stock."

"Many of us can or imagine we can. I think that's one of the things that gives such credence to the legends." Taylor was enjoying the discussion but he was also deeply attracted by Mead. Albinos were unusual – anything out of the genetic mainstream was surprising amongst humanoids these days – but it wasn't just that. She combined a striking appearance with a confident manner and an obvious knowledge of her subject. He had to keep reminding himself that this woman was also managing an installation that would be outlawed by most of the signatories to the Federation's treaties and that considerable diplomatic effort would be needed if the Federation were ever to bring the planets of the Forgwin system and the other haunts of the Gnarriots into line. "Now," Mead went on as they turned a corner, "this is the collection that is at the heart of our project."

The corridor opened onto a gangway. It stretched for almost 100 units along the length of the freighter's hull taking up almost an entire deck. On either side, large view panels allowed sight of a series of rooms, each different, each containing one or more human females.

"One of the fascinating things about the Sol3a women is the wide range of genetic variation within the species. We still use the old terminology for them - asiatics, latinos, blacks, caucasians, and so on. The different varieties seem to have been linked to geographic, climatic conditions in the early stages of the species presence on Sol3a – then they seemed to stop evolving. It's very odd. If you try to genotype the Gnarriotts, for example, they have little variation even though their home planet had even wider climactic ranges than Sol3a. Anyway, we try to provide them with a similar environment to that which they have left – they can't see you, we provide them with standard Sol3a gravity, clothes and food they would be familiar with. We pipe media channels from their origin in to them. They don't get to see any artifacts or have any contact with non-Sol3a entities. As far as they are concerned they are still there."

"And how do they arrive?" Taylor was staring down at a young woman who knelt in the middle of her room, motionless, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Oh, I think you need to discuss that with the Lord High Protector. I'm not really qualified to comment."

The young woman in the first room got up and began pacing up and down. After a while she stopped and turned, staring upward at the ceiling before she returned to pacing up and down. Taylor noticed that the floor covering in the room had been worn almost through where she repeated the same path time after time.

They walked along the gangway. Taylor counted over thirty women, some of them motionless, some of them watching vid-screens, two of them pacing, just like the first.

"We have been studying them for over five years now." Mead explained. "It's been one of the most detailed anthropological assessments of a single species. We have an enormous bank of data. I think we know better how to look after them than they do themselves. Certainly we could have managed Sol3a so that it would still sustain their presence and we have a far better idea of their abilities than they do."

Taylor peered down into another room a sign beside the view panel read "Northern hemisphere, urban dwellers, #102 Origins: Asiatic #103 Origins: Af-Amer #104 Origins Caucasian" Three woman sprawled on the couches of what appeared to be a comfortable apartment watching a video screen. One of them flicked in an irritated way through the channels. "And this is the whole collection?"

"Oh, no. This would hardly provide a statistical basis. We have a number of similar units. The Lord High Protector has been most generous in funding the facility and ensuring we have all we need to provide the sort of thorough study that is needed if we are going to solve their environmental crisis."

"You don't feel that there is a moral question to answer here. Some could consider that the Gnarriotts are simply trafficking flesh in direct contravention of their Federation commitments."

"Oh no. Surely you see this is all being done to help provide the basis for the long-term preservation of the species?"

"It might be easier to accept your assurances if Forgwin did not have the reputation it has, and perhaps if the Protector did not have his own 'collection', I am sure you would agree."

"I can assure you that the Protector has done everything he can to ensure the success of the project. The two girls you saw are from Sol5g; we couldn't possibly include them in the project, they come from a completely different social and ecological environment. The Protector understands that I can only work with those that are Sol3a borne, I know that his tastes must seem barbarous but it is difficult to judge the values of different species."

"That may be, Doctor, but it is hard not to feel that those two girls would be seen as slaves in any of the treaties that have so far been put forward to Forgwin. I really do feel that there is…." Ambassador Taylor turned at a sound behind him.

The two doors that closed off the gantry from the rest of the ship slid back to reveal Farrin Gnarff with his two chained attendants. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Ambassador. I do hope that Doctor Mead has been able to help."

"Thank you, Lord Protector. Doctor Mead has indeed been a great help. We are very grateful for your openness in this matter."

"And I trust you will give us a clean bill of health as far as the accusations that have been made against us."

"You can be assured that my report will be entirely truthful, your Lordship, but I can see how it might not satisfy those who disagree with your policies. For them it is not how these things are being done, but the fact that they are being done at all. Some, I am sure, would find it difficult to reconcile your 'conservation' activities with their views of how peoples should be allowed self-determination. They might feel that Forgwin should not be planning any precipitous act."

"They would do well not to interfere in the acts of a sovereign state."

"I hope that we are all above trying to solve our differences by acts of direct intervention, Lord Protector, Now if you will excuse us. I think that we have seen enough for the time being." Taylor turned towards the anthropologist. "Dr Mead, thank you so much for your assistance. It has been a complete pleasure." He reached forward, took her hand and kissed it.

"Why, Ambassador," she smiled, flattered by his gesture, "I have been happy to help."

Gnarff peered at Taylor and Mead. "Thank you Ambassador," he said. "I am always pleased to welcome the Federation's representatives. But if you will excuse me…"

Without waiting for Taylor to reply Gnarff span around and stalked off along the corridor. He jerked the chains of his two attendants, dragging them behind him as they tried to keep up. Mead looked after them with concern, Gnarff wasn't pleased and it was never good to be close to him at such times.

"Well, Doctor," Taylor began, "perhaps you would be good enough to show us back to the airlock?"

"Yes, of course," Mead responded, gesturing along the gangway for Taylor and his party. "Please, it's just along here."