ASSOCIATION / CH. 28:IMMIGRATION CHECKS
5PM, FRIDAY 9TH FEBRUARY, 2272, A MILITARY AIRBASE
The foreign military transport touched down at the airport, and taxied to where a small group waited, beside an armoured car which was clearly built with action in mind. An immigration officer, along with two extremely alert-looking soldiers and a well built man in a smart suit and a blue mask boarded. The twelve soldiers on the plane looked tired from their journey on the uncomfortable seats. There was plenty of space, though, which was just as well.
“You are soon going to be on my country's soil.” The man in the mask said. “In your home country you have laws we do not have, and we have laws here you do not have at home. Soon there will be someone from your embassy here, but I will tell you this now: we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion in this country. The law says that you may speak your mind as long as you do not make up lies about people, it also says you may change your mind. There are some religions we do not like, but we still accept them, as long as they hurt no one. So, you may continue to worship your leader if you want to. I know you have friends and relatives at home, and security officers who can make their lives and yours unpleasant. I expect some officers even are among you, you probably know who they are, even. And because I have been told how unpleasant they can be, I will not ask anyone to publicly point out who's a member of your security service. I wear this mask as a mark of my status, and my abilities. I am a thought-hearer, a truthsayer. I will interview each of you, and we will be sending home any who are security service staff.”
Aware of the whispering from the ranks, he had a thought. “Raise your hand if you understood everything I said.”
Three hands were raised, one part way.
“Who understood almost everything?”
The part way-up hand went up, and another few joined it.
“Who understands me at all?” Everyone put up their hand, some were rather late.
“Keep your hand up if you are a woman.” Since a third of them were, it seemed a good test. There was some laughter when two of the men kept their hands up, and one of the women put hers down.
“So much for my little speech.” he commented to the immigration officer.
“Weapons check, sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Good idea. Then paperwork.” the man in the blue mask said. He looked at one of the ones who'd claimed to understand everything. “Please tell your colleagues that we will put any weapons they have into these bags. Any guns go in the red bags, stay on the plane and return to your home country. Knives and other weapons will travel in the green bags, and stay in the bags until you reach your embassy compound.”
“Yes, sir.” He explained the message and added “The blue-faced monkey in the mask said we can speak freely here, so perhaps he will not mind a few insults.”
That earned him a few smiles which were quickly cut off at a reprimand from his officer.
As the soldiers moved down the rows, there were an interesting array of weapons, with lots of sharp edges, including some throwing knives. Someone had a set of grenades at his belt. “Throwing knives, grenades and other distance weapons go into the red bag with the guns.” the soldiers repeated. “And then you get interviewed to see if you follow the red bags or the green ones.”
“So, first you take our weapons, then you take our comrades. What then? Our clothes?” asked a woman soldier with a badge on her uniform that was probably indicating rank.
“I will take your sworn testimony, maam, that you are not a member of your country's security service. And if you lie, you go home, and if you will not give it, you go home. But first, my friend here will check your papers. And give them back to you, just like we're giving back the weapon bags.”
The bags were sealed by the time they were returned, and they were military grade, steel-wire reinforced bags. The weapons would not be harming anyone on the journey, unless someone used their bag as a trip hazard or a blunt instrument.
[Bob.] Eliza called to him. [She's not in security, the guy on her right is though.]
[Thanks. It's a bit early to prejudice my investigation of them, isn't it?]
[I don't know about that, I just thought I'd say 'hi'. There's also another thought-hearer on the plane, by the way, almost certainly a secret one. I won't say who, just watch your own thoughts.]
Eventually, the embassy vehicle arrived. [Passenger is the ambassador's wife, Bob.] Eliza informed him.
[Really? Why isn't she on the way home?]
[Because she shot out of duty, and his majesty decided he wanted the ambassador to stay. Plus she's retired now, so be polite.]
“Can these loyal soldiers not get up and stretch their legs?” Min asked when she arrived.
“We wished to avoid an unpleasant incident, maam.” Bob explained. “Your guards came over-equipped, and we didn't want to have to arrest them.”
“Over-equipped?”
“Hand grenades, throwing knives, and even a machine gun.”
“Ah.” She spoke to the troop commander, in her mother tongue. “Captain, these soldiers were fully equipped for patrol duty?”
“Yes, maam... Instructions were limited, and speed was of the essence.”
“I'm not surprised. The final details were only communicated to my husband yesterday. As movement orders usually arrive faster than details, I expect they arrived after you were on the way to the plane.”
“After lift-off, maam.”
She raised her voice. “This will be a nominal three month tour. There will be an opportunity for some of you to volunteer to stay longer, you might have come to expect this to be for everyone. It will not be.
“There will be no members of the Security Services within your forces. I am available if anyone has concerns they feel must be addressed, but I am no longer on active service, and I will be recruiting no informants. I have no immunity, and face arrest if I am seen with a weapon, so what would be the point? My husband and I will thus be relying upon your military discipline, and your innate loyalty to our country. If you feel you cannot remain loyal without the factor of fear of denunciation and a pistol behind your ear, perhaps you should apply to your political officer to be excused this posting. I am of course, in regular correspondence with home, as I'm sure your officers will be. Actions that harm the people of our Beautiful State, or bring them into disrepute, will not be tolerated.
“We are also a small embassy. We do not have staff dedicated to purchasing food and toiletries, but rely upon the shops near-by. Embassy staff will be available to guide you to these decadent places, where you will face a paralysing choice. When you are off the embassy compound you will be unarmed, and dressed as civilians. Here, the needs of the military do not come first. Prices will seem expensive and you will have to pay the full marked price. Bargaining is not acceptable except in a very few situations. You will have no immunity from prosecution, there will be no one in authority to get you out of trouble, in fact you will be in greater trouble if anyone has to come and help. If you spread fear, you will bring shame. This will be a difficult posting for some of you. For these reasons, not everyone who volunteers for an extended posting will be permitted to stay, only those who have demonstrated that they can cope in this strange place without bringing shame on their country. As I said, if you think you should stay on the plane with your political officer, do so. It is better to honourably withdraw than to bring shame on your country and be returned home in disgrace. Many of you will not understand the meaning of the blue mask this man wears. If you decide something about him, he will hear it. If you touch his skin, or both you and he touch the same piece of metal, he will hear what you think. But that is not the worst of it. There are also a few who can communicate with him, and read your thoughts wherever you are. If their claims are correct, they can also, ever so easily, identify who on this plane is working for our security service. Every so often, they pick some particular serious crime, (last week it was trafficking in endangered animals, the week before it was kidnapping), and they hand a list of tip-offs to the police where to look. I understand that the arrest rate is only limited by the speed of the police reactions. That is general crime. The government has made working for our security services punishable by deportation, and my staff and I suspect that one of these people will be working with this man in the blue mask. By all means try to deceive him if this means you, but... don't be surprised if you fail, nor should you blame yourself or any of these other loyal servants of our country if you are discovered.”
“When not if.” Bob corrected. Min looked at him stunned. Did this man understand her language?
He grinned, and tapped his earpiece. “Sorry, I didn't say, did I? We're getting translation. And after some arguing, the interfering God-botherer now agrees she's going to keep her mouth shut at least long enough to see if I have any hope of detecting liars who think in another language. She's just there for backup.”
“So, you claim you are in contact now with one who has the gift?”
“I am, maam.”
“And would your invisible friend like to demonstrate her abilities to the doubting here?”
“That probably depends on what you have in mind, Maam. She says she's not going to identify any people likely to defect for you.”
“I didn't expect she would. Since guards are not allowed distance weapons, what about who can use a sword properly?” Min said.
“She says the lady here and the man on the end on the left know how to use a sword well enough to train others.”
“Useful information. Is it true?” Min asked the woman.
“I suppose it might be, Mrs Ambassador. I've never trained anyone, but I've been in competitions.”
“And you?” she asked the man at the end.
“I was regional fencing champion when I was at school, Mrs Ambassador.”
Min turned to the political officer. “You know everything on file about these soldiers.”
“Of course, Mrs ambassador.”
“Did you know that?”
“I knew about the fencing champion. I will record a complaint that I didn't even know the lieutenant knew which end of a sword to hold. Valuable information like that must be kept on record! But I do not understand how this man arrived at this information. It is not reasonable.”
“You will not like the answer to that question.” Min warned.
“Me neither, for the record.” Bob said, “But the information seems to be a hundred percent correct, even if they do claim it comes from God.” But Bob couldn't resist getting a dig in at this officer who thought he needed to know everything about everyone. “Congratulations, officer. You've just confirmed a miracle.”
[So have you, Bob.] Eliza pointed out.
[Don't bug me about it, please!]
[You must admit, me bugging you about it in the first place is a miracle too.]
[Like I needed to be reminded about that? Can't you keep to important things?]
[Your eternal fate isn't important to you? Maybe you need to prioritise better, Bob.]
[Please stop interfering with my ability to do my duty, woman!] the ambassador's wife had asked him something, but he hadn't caught it.
[Certainly officer. I'm here to help. Mrs Ambassador just asked you if the soldiers could leave the plane.]
“The soldiers may leave. Even the political officer may leave if he wants to breathe the fresh air for a little. But weapons in the red bags stay, and any weapons not in the green bags will be confiscated.”
“Including our hands and feet?” the female lieutenant asked.
“That can be arranged, yes, lieutenant. Lads, got a scalpel?” Bob asked his soldiers who grinned and patted their pockets as if looking. “Oh, no, actually I think the person who cleans the tarmac wouldn't be happy.”
[Nor would their Majesties.] Eliza thought, widening the area to include the thought-hearer. [Remember, Truthsayer, it might sound funny to you, but these soldiers have probably been told worse things about us.]
Bob pulled a face. “I have just been reminded I represent our government, and should not joke about things that might not be understood as a joke. We do not carry out surgery or mutilation for such purposes, lieutenant.”
“For what purposes do you mutilate, then?” she asked.
Bob groaned. “I walked into that one, didn't I? Our government, police and security services do not deliberately mutilate for any purpose, maam. That is a highly illegal act and as an officer of the crown I'm duty bound to stop that sort of thing when criminals try it. Even if that is to other criminals.” This lieutenant had a brain and was also an attractive woman, he decided. He wondered how many rules he'd break by asking her out. He then realised that his brain was being bugged. [I await a suitably cutting comment with baited breath.] he thought.
[Interview her later on, and I'll try and find out.] Eliza replied.
----------------------------------------
In the little sound-proofed interview room, Bob addressed the first person he'd decided to interview, the one who understood very little English. The ambassador's wife was there as witness and interpreter.
“Do you want my questions interpreted?” he asked.
A quick exchange in the soldier's mother tongue later, Min said “I'll interpret.”
“Name?”
He made an attempt at writing down the name.
“Military rank?”
“Pond Scum.” Min replied, after a conversation.
“Pardon?”
“He was a private, but got demoted for lack of fitness, apparently.” Bob was suspicious. This man was in his mid-thirties.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
“How many siblings do you have?”
“None.”
After a few more questions about his family, and did he get on well with the rest of the soldiers (to which the alarm-bell raising answer had been 'Yes, exceedingly well.'), Bob asked “Rank in the security services?”
“He is not in the security services.” Min said.
Bob tried to pronounce the word he'd heard in the man's thoughts. “What rank might sound something like that, allowing for me getting the pronunciation wrong?”
Min smiled “Might the word you wanted to pronounce sound like this?” she said one word, “Or this?” she said a second.
“The second.” Bob said, hearing frustration in the thoughts of the soldier.
“I wondered. The first was closer to what you said, and means something entirely different. The second means captain.”
The interpreter in his ear agreed.
“Enjoy your flight home, captain.” Bob said.
[Well done, Bob.] Eliza commented.
Half an hour later, Bob had had an interesting chat to the political officer about what his role was before sending him home, had identified one more security officer, and was failing to get the regional fencing champion to incriminate himself. [Well?] he thought to Eliza.
[What, you actually want me to tell you?]
[I'm fairly convinced he's bad news, but I can't prove it.]
[You don't need to. Suspicion is enough.]
[I want to.]
[Then ask him more about his sword-play, you know he's too happy about it.]
[You think he uses it on people?]
[If you were the sort of egotistical power-seeker he seems to be...]
“How many lives has your sword taken?” Bob asked.
“Somewhere between twelve and fifteen. I lost count of the children when I broke up that gathering of Christians.”
Bob felt sick. “Get back on the plane.”
“I was told there were four.” Min said, “So that was the last interview?”
“I wasn't told any such thing, maam.” Bob said [And I don't want to be!]
“So you will continue?”
“Yes, Maam.”
----------------------------------------
Bob had decided that he'd leave the pretty lieutenant until the very last. He'd also realised that the chances of her being the thought-hearer were rather high now.
“Lieutenant?” he asked, putting his head round the door.
“Ah, I wondered if you had forgotten me.”
“No, maam.”
“And so what questions will you ask me?”
“Name?”
Her first name, he found out, was 'Su-Ki'.
“Age?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Favourite colour?”
“Blue.”
“Favourite European food?”
“I've never eaten any, as far as I know. Does he ask everyone these things, Mrs Ambassador?”
“He asks different questions to everyone, Lieutenant.”
“And shouldn't he be holding my hand?” she asked pointedly.
“I will if you like.” Bob replied.
[Hey, Romeo, you're giving the game away.] Eliza thought. [No rules on our side against dating a foreign military service person. Lots of them against marriage or cohabitation, unless she decides to defect, or we become formal allies. But I am now signing off, enjoy your head-to-head in private.]
[Wait a bit, please.]
[Really?]
[I'm not going to do more than ask her out, and there might be something I want to ask you.]
[Fine.]
“Are you in any way linked to your security services?” he asked.
“I am not. My mother was. She died.” he heard her sadness.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I had an older brother. He died also.”
[I sorrow with you.] Bob thought to her.
[Thank you. I was away, there was a fire.] she thought [Next question?]
“Do you know anyone else in your security services?”
“The political officer. The man you called in first who I saw going to the plane. The champion swordsman, also.”
“What is your favourite flower?”
“I don't know the word in English.” [It looks like this {image}]
[Pretty. I've seen them, but I don't know the name either.]
[Where is this line of questioning going? My favourite colour, my favourite flower?]
“What's your marital status?” Bob asked letting go of her hand.
“Not married.”
“No boyfriend or fiancé?”
“No.” he saw the laughter in her eyes.
“Should I start listening to your thoughts, again?” Bob asked.
“No!” She laughed, blushing.
“I wish to apologise for offering to cut off your hands and feet. Is there any official or cultural rule against you accepting an offer of a meal?”
“Mrs Ambassador?” Su-Ki asked, blushing.
“It depends upon your motives, lieutenant. If you are only accepting a single meal, to allow him to compensate for the insult, make sure it costs him a lot, and it will be a more effective teaching tool. If you are seeking to form an alliance with this intelligence officer in order to extract information from him useful to the state, then I remind you there are no active security agents to commend you for your sacrifice.”
“I'm normally on witness protection, maam, not intelligence.” Bob said.
Min ignored the interruption “If you seek to learn more about this culture, to see where the poor and needy are downtrodden, and how the workers barely have sufficient housing, then perhaps it might be acceptable. If, however, you accept food and company, merely because you find this man charming and attractive in his blue face, then your political officer would certainly warn you most sternly against such a course, as romantic entanglement might lead you to question your loyalty to the People's state.”
“As I understand it, maam, her political officer is on the plane.”
“Let me make it clear, young man. If you in any way persuade this soldier to break her vows of allegiance you make her into a criminal in her own homeland. The punishment for the crime of breaking an oath is harsh here, I believe. At home it is considerably harsher. Even if you make people think she might have, you cause her danger. Possibly the fact she even considers accepting is risky.”
[Bob, before you say anything, have you got a bug wand?] Eliza thought belatedly.
“Ooops.” He got out one of his tools in trade.
“What's that?” Su-Ki asked. Min motioned her to silence.
The bug detector flashed as it approached Su-Ki's wrist.
“Lieutenant?” Bob asked, pointedly, holding out his hand.
Su-Ki looked towards Min for guidance, who nodded.
“I will return shortly.” Bob said, tapping a message on his wrist unit.
“Newly issued?” Min asked, after he'd left.
“Yes, Mrs Ambassador.”
“The capitalist-imperialists seem to have infiltrated our production facilities. It is not right that they monitor every motion and conversation of our loyal embassy staff.”
“That is most serious, Mrs Ambassador. You believe it to be them?”
“You surely do not suggest it is our own beloved government, young one.”
“Of course not. I wondered if it might be our untrustworthy allies, perhaps. It would be most advantageous to them to know our troop movements if they were planning to launch a secret attack.”
“Ah. That is possible. Personally, I had thought the espionage was aimed at our embassy.”
“There have been other instances of such espionage?”
“Yes.”
Bob returned, much relieved. “The suppression system is working. The signal was not detectable outside the building. My colleagues will be collecting other units.”
“You are sure?”
“Yes, maam. It does not transmit using the normal data connection. We are familiar with the design, and it has been fully reverse engineered. Whoever designed it also made an error in the cryptography.”
“Ah! So it was one of yours.” Su-Ki said. “Mrs Ambassador has said others have been found at the embassy.”
“No, maam. I'm told it is only produced in a certain country which will remain nameless, but has been available on the international black market for some years.”
“What error in cryptography?” Min asked, curious if he would tell her.
“It uses a seeded random number generator, maam for the frequency hopping and the voice scrambling. The seed is derived from the temperature sensor, instead of the packet count, time and temperature. A programming error; the wrong variable is used. The temperature sensor is not very accurate. If the wrist unit is worn for more than an hour, the seed will be one of only about twenty, even if not, there are only a thousand options. Transmission is started by a certain network packet, at which point it replies with the seed. There are protocol errors on that side as well. It is very easy to eavesdrop on, with the right device.”
“Effective range?” Min asked.
“Outside? Perhaps ten miles with a specialist receiver. Make sure you buy your wrist unit from a reputable supplier.”
“Can this bug access the data on the wrist unit?” Min asked.
“No. It only transmits audio. And in fact the transmitter unit can often be removed. If you know where the medical insert goes, Maam, it uses that space.”
“Often, but not always?”
“There do seem to be some which use the same system but are built into the main board. A colleague will check which type yours is, Lieutenant. Do you have data on it?”
“Some, nothing too important.”
“Thank you for your openness, but there is a problem with your analysis.” Min said. “Su-Ki's wrist unit was government issued, as was mine.”
“Ah. So, either someone knew what they were buying, or they didn't.”
“But someone has been activating them, also, so someone must be spying on us.”
Bob shook his head “Not necessarily, maam. I spoke of the network packet which activates them? It is listed as a 'beacon' signal. In the country of manufacture it is not used, I understand. Here, the law requires that the transmitter broadcast this beacon packet every five minutes. It allows the engineers, and even the customers, to identify if there are problems with a tower.”
“I wonder if home uses this beacon signal.” Min asked.
“I expect not, maam.” Bob said. [Bob, a request from field operations: do dissuade them from passing this upstream.]
[What?]
[Just imagine how useful it could be to any of our operatives there! But also, it is probably a top secret tool. Their government has obviously bought hundreds of them to issue them to overseas staff, or maybe thousands. Discussing a top secret government project with you? That'd be bad news.]
“Oh.” Bob said aloud. “I've just had it pointed out to me that your government has probably invested significantly in these, and might not appreciate being told their top secret surveillance program had been unmasked. Or that you revealed to me that they're issuing these to your overseas staff.”
Su-Ki decided not to tell him they'd been issued them two weeks ago, before anyone knew they'd be coming. Bob heard her and, looking her in the eyes, decided not to comment on that aloud.
Su-Ki, blushing, asked “I wonder if the truthsayer will reveal to his superiors what I've just accidentally decided in his presence.”
“That would be breaking my vow, Lieutenant.”
“What's this?” Min asked.
“The subject of this interview decided not to tell me something, Maam.” Bob said. “My vow does not allow me to repeat it, so it will remain secret unless of course you pressure the Lieutenant to reveal her thought verbally.”
“I see. And what of the unseen fourth member of this conversation?”
[I am bound by the same vows, and stricter ones.] Eliza thought, and as Bob repeated that, she thought to Su-Ki only [Su-Ki, I have not been listening to your thoughts, only to the Truthsayer's. May I converse with you? If you agree, ask if the interview will continue longer.]
“I wonder how much longer this interview will continue.” Su-Ki said, “It seems to me that we have moved a long way from the question of whether I should be sent back on the plane or not.”
“That was not in much doubt, Lieutenant, since the interfering god-botherer decided to tell me you were not in your security forces while we were still on the plane.”
“Why do you call her a 'God-botherer?'” Su-Ki asked.
“Because her type are always bothering about what God thinks, and bothering him with their silly little requests. Not to mention bothering atheists like me with ideas about immortal souls, and the like.”
“Her type?” Su-Ki asked.
“Christians. Every single one of these walking miracles is a Christian.”
[Is that true?] Su-Ki thought.
[Yes.]
[And you do not drink human blood, am I right?]
[We drink red wine, or grape juice, to symbolise our dependence on the death of Jesus. It is something he commanded his followers to do, before he was executed. Three days later, God returned him to life, as Jesus had predicted. We believe his death paid the penalty we could not pay for our rebellion against God, so all Christians take part in this ritual.]
[So, there is some truth behind the lie.]
[It is an old lie, with some truth. But that does not make it true. I'd be very happy to tell you more.]
[I'd like to hear more. Secretly.]
[Not a problem. But Bob wonders why you're not responding. And what I wanted to tell you is that I am sure Mrs Ambassador would be interested to know your ability to hear me.]
[I'm sure. So she can put it into my file.]
[I do not believe she would do that. Are you loyal to your country? Are you loyal to the system? The two are not synonyms. Some are very loyal to their privilege in the system, and not at all loyal to the country.]
[Dangerous thoughts.]
[As you heard, she is no longer in active service, but has promised to report on any who are disloyal to their country.]
[{Shock} You are saying the ambassador's wife is disloyal to the party?]
[No. I merely point out what she's said.]
[With a strong implication.]
[I do not know, I have not checked. I know more than I'm telling, of course, but don't we all?]
[You offer me more dangerous thoughts, and I do not even know your name.]
[The truthsayer knows me as 'Mystery Voice' or 'Mystery'.]
[That sounds a good name.]
“Lieutenant, you seem lost in thought?” Min asked.
[You're sure I won't be reported?]
[Ninety five percent.] Eliza replied. [You will not be the only thought-hearer at the embassy.]
“I have been discussing some things, Mrs Ambassador.”
“Discussing?”
“With Mystery, the fourth person in this interview. Mostly we were discussing loyalty and trust.”
“Ah, yes.” Min said, “Those are a deep question, with so many facets. Loyalty can be to people, ideals, systems, beliefs, abstract things like the good of our people. Sometimes silence is the most loyal response, especially when one is given the gift of trust. But is it this Mystery who indirectly told me to expect four would return?”
“That sounds like her.” Bob said grumpily, “Showing off.”
[I prefer the term 'establishing credibility.'] Eliza replied primly.
Su-Ki smiled “She prefers the term 'establishing credibility', apparently, Mrs Ambassador.”
“Mmm, yes. She has done that. It seems she is a benign spirit, at least, but I expect she is after your soul anyway, Lieutenant. Whereas this truthsayer is probably typical of his gender and mainly interested in your body. You have stepped into a dangerous world. Be careful you do not collect too many secrets to keep, or when you return home in a few months it might destroy you.”
“There would be no possibility of extending then?”
“Beware! Either one of these dangerous ones you've just met could tempt you to defect. If our embassy suffers two defections in a short time, serious questions would be asked, with serious consequences for all. I think the time for this meeting is over, Truthsayer.”
“I have no real reason for it not to be, Maam.”
[She has a point, Bob.] Eliza said, as he ushered them to where the rest of the soldiers were waiting. [Don't go falling in love with the lady. It's almost certain to lead to heart-break.]
[So you warn me off, but will not leave her in peace yourself?] Bob thought back, angrily, looking at the shapely back retreating from him.
[I have a loving husband, Bob, and I can offer her friendship wherever she lives. Love and marriage needs a closer proximity than that.]
[I know that.]
[Then why so angry, Bob?] Eliza asked.
[Pass] He hid his thoughts for a bit while he processed what lay behind his reaction. And he came to the conclusion it might be too late to tell him not to fall in love. It was crazy, he didn't know her. But she was pretty, vulnerable, strong, witty, heard thoughts....
[I hope this is a private connection.]
[As long as you don't decide anything about her in range.]
[OK, Mrs Mystery, why the anger? So far, she ticks all the boxes except one — nationality. And no, I didn't used to believe in love at first sight, any more than I believed in father Christmas, God, or lesser spotted Loch-ness monster. Admittedly, I haven't checked if she plays the piano, yet, but otherwise, she's going to have the full set of 'am I attracted before getting to know her' things, and some of those were meant to be contradictory. So, what am I supposed to do? Walk away from my ideal woman?]
[In your position, I'd probably pray really hard.]
[I don't suppose your gift will tell me if there's any future for us?]
[You complain about me being a know-it-all, then ask me to be your fortune teller? It is possible that my gift could tell me. I don't want to trespass there, though. Let the future work itself out. I know you don't agree, but God is in charge. Talk to Him about it. You meeting her didn't surprise Him, after all.]
[I don't suppose you caught what she thinks about me?]
[Not much.]
[....did you mean she doesn't think much of me, or you didn't get much?]
[Sorry. I think she's pretty amazed to think she's got an admirer before she was even off the plane. But... Bob, would you mind me checking your check-list? How unique is she really?]
[Height, eye-colour, hair colour, strong but also vulnerable, thought-hearer, intelligent, pretty, witty, favourite colour blue, plays the piano.] He admitted to himself that it wasn't such a conclusive list.
[Anything else?]
[Urm. No.]
[Bob, sorry to pour cold water on incipient romance, but apart from colour playing the piano, and hearing thoughts, you've probably just described a very significant proportion of the female population of the Beautiful Peninsula. They are all strong and vulnerable, if they've survived under that regime. Height, hair colour and eye colour... don't you think you might just be attracted to women from there, Bob?]
Bob felt like he'd lost hold of something quite precious and didn't respond.
[Sorry, Bob.]
[Mystery, you're a complete spoil-sport.]
[I don't mean to be, honest. Hold on, let's try something. What do you think of this recent recruit to our civil service? {image}]
[Urm. Quite gorgeous. Who is she?]
[Out of all the people you've ever protected, which category is the biggest, longest term, assassination risk?]
[Urm, the people who the bad guys still think is on their side, but isn't.]
[I'd agree with you. You want vulnerable? If I told you who she is and you let it slip to anyone that she wasn't on their side any more, they'd probably try to send a few assassination squads after her every month. You want strong? Certainly emotionally, probably physically too. Witty? I'm told she's that too.]
[Any chance of meeting her?]
[Hey, Mr Fickle! Stop drooling. You've got to arrange a date with the gorgeous girl of your dreams five minutes ago, remember?]
[I know. And I've been warned off, and smashed to the ground and successfully distracted. So, one date, as offered. Am I going to meet the girl in the picture?]
[I won't say never, but don't get your hopes up any time soon.]
[She's a thought-hearer though?]
[Yes. And resolutely single, given her situation. And of course she won't look at you twice if you're not a Christian by the time you meet.]
[You are a manipulative woman. I might accept that challenge.]
[You're not seriously going to set aside all your objections to God in the vague hope of one day running into that girl by chance are you?]
[No. I'm going to investigate your faith and you're going to promise to introduce me to her one day if I decide I can sign up.]
[How long are you prepared to wait?]
[Until her thirtieth birthday.] He didn't want to rush things.
[I hereby vow, that assuming all three of us are still alive and you two are both single, and that you're walking with the Lord, that I'll introduce you before she turns thirty.]
[Thank you, Mystery.]
[That gives you about two years to investigate, and I've still got another three or four to come good on the promise. Hopefully that ought to be plenty of time for me to arrange something.]
[Hey! She's that young? You didn't say!]
[You didn't ask. I'll try to arrange it sooner, Bob. Just, we're talking about the Service here. Getting you both in the same place long enough to get to know each other might be tricky. Especially since we don't want the People's State to worry about her being loyal.]