THE OTHER BIG SECRET 3: SAFELY OUT TO SEA / CH. 2:HOW AND WHERE
MONDAY 2ND JULY, 2277
Sarah and John welcomed Rose and Enoch as they stepped off the submarine that had brought them.
“Sorry we couldn't get here before the decision.” Rose said, “But really, I don't think anything we said would have affected the vote.”
“You wouldn't tell me.” Sarah said. “What would you have said?”
“I would have said that if they can cope with the idea that there have been thought hearers hiding among them for these past few thousand years, I really don't see the problem with them being told, 'By the way, those sailors who said they saw mermaids were not looking at dugongs.' Personally I've always found that really offensive.”
“No similarity at all.” Enoch agreed.
“I think the fact that your people can satisfy the medical world's curiosity also helps.” Sarah agreed, “But Rose, weren't you ever worried about what someone would say about your blood cell counts and things like that?”
“Not really.” Rose said. “I'd have told them, 'Oh, that's no surprise, my Mum had the same, and she lived until a hundred and twenty'.”
“And your toes?” John asked.
“Were surgically altered, before I left, yes. It does make a difference when swimming, but it's only a couple of percent. Not nearly significant enough to miss.”
“And you had no idea, Enoch?” Sarah asked.
“Well, I knew she didn't want me to meet her parents, or look at where she lived. I just assumed it was because she was from a particularly bad neighbourhood, or something.”
“What does your little passenger think of high-speed submarine travel and all the lovely meetings you've been enjoying?” Rose asked.
“I think Baby is totally ambivalent about such matters, but thinks that when I'm moving it's obviously time to sleep, and when I'm trying to sleep it's party time.”
“A common problem, I understand.” Rose sympathised.
“So, you've missed the vote, but I really hope you're going to be involved in the bigger question.”
“Ohhhw.” Rose replied, in a moody teenager voice, “I thought we were here to play tourist, meet my family, and have a holiday.”
“That's the evenings, cousin.” Karella said, coming forwards to embrace her. “It's good to see you, at long last.”
“Karella Farspeaker, I present you with a gift.” Enoch said formally, handing her a heavy duffel-bag. “The first thing you can do is find the people you conned out of diamonds and give them at least a whole bar, and the second thing you can do is share what's left with your friends and family.”
“But you can't eat diamonds!” Karella objected “They don't melt in your mouth and send shivers up your spine or...”
“I know.” Rose cut her off “But since where this bag came from, a diamond's worth of chocolate would probably sink your submarine, don't you think it's good policy to try to share some of your newfound riches?”
“Of course it is.” Karella agreed.
“What you really ought to do.” Sarah suggested, “Once you've given them a bar, of course, is invite them to a chocolate fondue party.”
Rose looked at Sarah in mock-shock, “What are you trying to do to my culture, Sarah? Turn us all into total hedonists?”
“Hey, you're the one that brought the twenty kilos of chocolate. I just gave two bars each to Karella's children.”
“And none to Karella and Christoph?” Enoch was surprised.
“Four each to the parents.” John supplied.
“So, what's the going rate for trade in surplus chocolate?” Rose asked her cousin.
“Do you realise? Almost everyone who has come back has brought about as much chocolate as you did? The price has dropped through the floor.”
“Good. Chocolate is for eating, not getting rich with.”
“Were you joking about the diamonds? They're that valuable?” Karella asked.
“It depends on the cut, the clarity and the colour, and the weight of course.” Sarah replied.
John pointed both index fingers at her and said “My beloved expert.”
“They're not cut.” Karella said.
“Oooh. That makes better sense. Then it depends on how many flaws they've got in them, where, and things like that. I'm not an expert, but my Daddy did try to teach me some of what he knew.”
“So... just supposing.” Karella said “I had an uncut diamond about as big as my thumb, would that be valuable?”
“Brown, Yellow, or colourless, where are the flaws in it, how many? And so on. I'd need to have a look. But unless it's really badly flawed it ought to be worth a lot, yes.”
“A ship full of chocolate?”
“I'd guess, and it's a total guess, that it'd be worth somewhere between a month of Rose's salary and ten years. But I might be very wrong. If it's so badly flawed that it's only good for industrial purposes, then it's not worth much at all, I'm afraid.”
“I grew up knowing about that use of diamond.” Rose said, “I think Karella's not talking about that sort of thing. But I ought to warn you, one of Karella's ancestresses of the same name got herself a reputation of being able to sell a crocodile his own teeth.”
“I'm not as good as her, but I think it'll make quite a pretty necklace if it gets cut and polished.” Karella agreed.
“Well, in that case, guard it well.” Sarah said. “Because if it's going to make a single gem then I might have underestimated the value. You didn't get it in exchange for just some chocolate did you?”
“No. They insisted I trade a few other gems for it as well.”
Sarah shook her head in dismay. “Are diamonds so common, then?”
“What do you think, Sarah?” Rose said “When almost everyone has a personal submarine and one holiday option is to go picking up shiny things off the coast of South Africa during the day and have fun swimming at night?”
“Oh. Let the sea and rivers do your mining for you?”
“Exactly.” Karella agreed “Or if you go to another river you find all these bits of yellow metal instead.”
“So, as a people, you've got gold, you've got diamonds, and presumably other gemstones, too?”
“Yes. But not much chocolate.” Karella grinned.
“I'm just wondering what you're going to do to the world prices of gold, diamonds and so on.”
“Well, you know our sub was sort of dark greyish?” Karella asked.
“Yes?”
“Under the anti-reflective coatings and the paint and so on, it's a made of one of our more traditional alloys. A pretty yellow one.”
Rose added “I just couldn't believe how valuable gold is on land. But don't worry, Sarah, you won't find us offering to melt down our subs, any more than you'd volunteer to wreck you house.”
“But getting back to the important issues,” Karella asked, “Rose, Enoch, you will help with the discussion of how we reveal ourselves, won't you?”
“Of course, milady High councillor.” Rose said, with a formal curtsy.
----------------------------------------
TUESDAY 3RD JULY
Karella summarised the previous day's discussion, and then put the important question. “Now, we've agreed that on the political front, we should contact the United Nations, and get ourselves recognised as a state. That we'll need to establish embassies, accept ambassadors, and so on, and then we can actually become a member state of the U.N. Has anyone actually managed to think of any contacts they might have in the United Nations who might be helpful in this process?”
“I think I do.” Sarah replied. “Or failing that I know I someone who knows people.”
[Do you mean your cousin?] Karella asked.
[No. Vivian would be the standby option. The first option would be a woman she knows called Lilly, who used to work in the information department. I don't know if she still does.]
[Vivian as in Vivian with the gift?]
[Yes. Lilly is probably better than either of us at keeping secrets, by the way, and she's a thought-hearer and registered truthsayer.]
“Thank-you Sarah.” Karella said, “Does anyone else think they've got a possible contact person?”
No one did.
“Next question: public relations. Sarah's already told the council about her contacts in that area, and I must say they're quite good, but does anyone else know any public relations people or nationally or internationally recognised journalists?”
There were a few more of them. “I don't suppose any of them are thought hearers are they?”
None were known to be.
“I suggest that we make contact via the Institute for the Human mind or via the association of truthsayers.” Rose suggested “Either of them are non-political, independent from government control, and with a good reputation. I guess the institute's got the better reputation, but the truthsayer association has branches in more countries.” Sarah had been very pleasantly surprised about that development. In the last year they'd been able to officially launch branches in ten countries, with entirely compatible legal standing. It was encouraging to see.
Sarah had a couple of thoughts. “A couple of related questions, probably best addressed later, is what you plan to call your nation, and whether there is any benefit to having an association of truthsayers branch here.”
“I can see the relevance of the first question, but why the second, Sarah?” Karella asked.
“I was just thinking that if there were a branch here, then it would go a long way to explain why the other branches are being a points of contact. You know: 'We've had a request from our sister branch that we contact you ....' But it's not necessary, at all.”
A man, who like Enoch, had married a mermaid all unknowing, said “If there was a branch of truthsayers here, then it'd be helpful from a business point of view. Especially if they were able to act as interpreters too.”
“And really... don't you think you ought to issue currency?” someone else asked. “It's all very well being on the gold standard internally, but since you value gold so much less than land-folk it's going to be very difficult to work for international trade.”
“Perhaps we could try to find some standard everyone agrees on.” Karella said. “But that's a whole new debate, isn't it?”
“International friendship often starts with trade.” the first husband pointed out.
A woman, Sarah presumed the man's wife, stood and said “Most of the land-folk will not be happy with barter, nor will they be happy if they discover that we don't have a police-force, or an army for that matter.
They're going to call us a barbarian city-state, or an anarchy, or something like that.
They will be surprised that we guard our traditions make our laws and settle our disputes by a council.
And some of them might go beyond surprise, and decide that because we have no army they can take us over, or that because we have no police, we have no laws. To survive, I believe we must adapt, we must change. I voted in favour of us joining the world, but it will not be enough to tell the world we are here and then carry on as before. So, I humbly suggest to our honoured council that we reinstate these things we had once and have discarded, a monarch, an army, a city guard. We do not need them for ourselves, but we need them for dealing with outsiders.”
“And who would be in this army?” one of the council asked.
“For the defence of our people, our sovereignty, and our children? All of us able to fight! But now, as in times past, there are those better able to plan, better at strategic thinking, better at leading. Let us identify those people and give them military titles.”
“Ah.” the council member said, light dawning, “You mean that we agree on a title for those we would look to normally?”
“Exactly, councilor.”
“And the city guard, the police? What of them?”
“I suggest that each district of the city pick someone best able to meet this role, of dealing with lost children and visitors, complaints, and yes, able to investigate too.”
“I see.” the council member sat, now understanding, he felt, what she was getting at.
Another stood, asking “You have raised the suggestion of monarchy. Do we presume correctly that you have someone in particular in mind?”
“I have, councilor. I will find it interesting to see if the council reaches the same thought that I had last night.”
“You do not choose to enlighten us, then?”
“I was thinking that it should be one who would feel inadequate for the responsibility, and so rely heavily upon the council, but yet be able to make tough decisions and carry them through. One who had already proven themselves able to lead without it going to their heads, linked to us by blood and family ties, but very familiar with the ways of the land-folk, because they'd be dealing with them on our behalf. One who would see their role as a duty they would carry out to the best of their ability, not as an opportunity to get rich. That is the sort of person I would suggest the council look for.”
“And do you actually know of such a paragon of virtue?” Karella asked.
“If it is the will of the council, I will will not remain silent. But I would prefer to do so.” she replied.
The council members discussed it, and affirmed that they did want to know.
“Might we also know why you wish to remain silent?” Karella asked.
“Because the person I nominate may not thank me, and I've got plenty of reasons to thank her. Well, I'd better start off by saying that I work at a little shop, selling jewelery to people who want something unusual. I have done so for about five years now. That shop one out of a chain and that chain is part of a bigger company, which is in turn part of a big company. About five years ago I was considering leaving, because of something that I'd expected to be a pleasant surprise was no where near as pleasant as I thought it would be. Then, from nowhere, I got a personal message from the ultimate owner of the company, saying she expected that I'd been very disappointed, and that there had been a mistake in the way that a computer had been programmed, and it was a direct violation of lots and lots of company policy. She also explained who's job it had been to make sure that sort of thing didn't happen and that she'd be expecting them to correct the issue personally, or they'd be looking for new jobs. For disappointing me, and other people who'd only worked there a few months. Not for breaking our contracts, or anything like that, but just because the bonus I got was rather small.
She didn't need to do that. I was a very small person in an enormous corporation, but she took a personal interest in how I'd been treated, and went to personal trouble for me. Later on, I saw her giving an interview on the news about the situation. She doesn't like giving interviews, but she gave one anyway, and it was clear that she felt like her honour had been insulted by they way I and others like me had been treated by a computer. Yes, that'd happened because people hadn't done their jobs properly, but the thing that got to her, I think, was that it was in her company, because she wanted to be better than that. That shows me just what a good boss she is. She's rich enough that she doesn't need to lift a finger, but I've heard that she works for her living and then gives away all or at least almost all the money from her inheritance. That's so special! She's now sitting over there, all embarrassed by the praise I'm giving her, but she's a good person. I guess that's why she's here, too. I want to say thank you, Mrs Williams. I've had other job offers, but there's no way I'm leaving GemSmith for another job while you're in charge.” She faced the council once more and continued, “As we heard earlier, Mrs Williams's got enough mer blood in her to suffer the pain. My great-grandmother had enough land-folk blood in her that she did too, so I've heard of it and sympathise. Mrs Williams is related to royalty already, and I'd say she's easily got the right attitude. So, I think she'll do the job well. Sorry to do this to you, Maam, I just can't think of anyone else more suited to be monarch.”
All eyes focussed on Sarah, who felt she needed to stand to give her reply. “Urm. Thank you for that endorsement, but really, I don't know your people, I don't know your laws, I don't know your language, history or customs. How could I ever be your monarch? I'm also about to become a mother, and I want to cut down on my work-load, not add to it. You're right that I take my responsibilities seriously. I already have too many, more even than have already been mentioned. Please don't give me any more.”
There were murmurs of thanks and appreciation for Sarah's reply. She was right: she didn't know enough to rule them.
“The council will discuss this suggestion that we call on someone to be monarch.” Karella declared. “I feel it has merit, and if we follow this path, it will obviously affect how we implement some of the things we decide, but it is still the role of the council to decide these matters before us. Much though we might like, we cannot leave them to chance, or thrust such onerous responsibility on any individual.”
The discussion moved on to questions of whether her other suggestions, that formal military and police structures be adopted. Eventually both ideas were accepted.
[Who was the woman who thought I'd make a good queen?] Sarah asked Karella, during a break.
[Remember Rose, who once had the emerald? She was a doctor and later on worked closely with another land-folk doctor, called Pania, who married a cousin of Rose's husband. About eight generations later you get to that Rose, who's a second cousin to Enoch's Rose.]
[You really know your genealogies, don't you?]
[You don't?]
[Not really. I got totally shocked to discover I had any second cousins just before I got married.]
[Part of it is that we're a small community. We want to try to avoid intermarriage within the family lines, if we can. So when you meet someone you name a few famous ancestors really early on, to make sure they're not distant cousins.]
[It's not advised, but we can still marry second cousins.]
[We'd certainly see that as incest. We'd try to avoid marrying fourth cousins. It was a fourth cousin marriage that gave her great-grandmother the pain, but like she said, almost half of that grandmother's forebears were land-folk.]
[Whereas I end up with the pain with a single merfolk forebear?]
[It's not fair is it?]
[It doesn't seem reasonable either. Hold on, though, you said Pania?]
[Yes. Why?]
[I'm sort of named after a woman who got called 'Princess Sarah': even though she wasn't a princess, her mother claimed she was. Her mother was almost certainly a thought-hearer, a con-artist, and exotic dancer, who went by the name of Pania.]
[No idea. Rose might though.]
[Which one?]
[I'd start with Rose the royalist, if I were you.]
Sarah took that good advice. “Hi! I hope you don't mind me turning down the crown.”
“Did you? I thought you said 'Please, don't do this to me!' which isn't quite the same thing.”
“I should have been more forceful, you mean?”
“Not from my point of view! I'm Rose, by the way.”
“I know, Karella told me. She also told me we're really distant cousins.”
“True. But you could say that about everyone in this room, I expect, if you go back far enough.”
“What I'm wondering is if we're more related than Karella thought.”
“Oooh, I love comparing family trees.”
“Well, I don't have much to go on really, except knowing that I'm descended from so-called 'Princess' Sarah, hence I got to wear a pretty dress on my wedding day, and her mother was called Pania.”
“I've heard of 'Princess' Sarah, but not much. What do you know about her mother?”
“Born something like 2035, exotic dancer, emigrated from I'm not sure where, con-artist, almost certainly a thought-hearer. I've seen an old picture of some of her costumes: one looked like a fish-tail.”
Rose nodded. “Pania my ancestress had a daughter called Sarah, who had a daughter called Maria, who called her firstborn Pania, after her grandmother, in about 2035. It almost has to be her, doesn't it? She was a real disappointment to people who knew her great grandmother. A right rebel, she was, according to the family history. I'm descended from Maria's second daughter, who she called Rose, in honour of her grandmother's benefactress. Well, well, well! Now we know what happened to her!”
“So, I've got some mer blood on both sides. And you can add a whole branch to your family tree from the public records when you get home. But, can I ask? Why did you leave here?”
Rose looked around and sighed. “Policy. To live here, you're either an academic or a teacher or doing something else good for the survival of the nation, or you get asked to be a farmer or otherwise be in food production. I love history, but was never so great a teacher that that appealed. There weren't any openings for yet another archivist, and the whole farming thing didn't really suit me either. I didn't really fit, and every few years, an English-speaking or Spanish-speaking twenty something year old who doesn't really fit gets asked to go and travel the world, find out what's new since we last heard, and depending on how they're feeling about coming back, see if they want to settle away, too.”
“You were asked to emigrate?”
“No. But I was given the opportunity to, and I jumped at it. We knew we'd have to mislead the immigration authorities, of course, and tell them we had no paperwork, had run away from home or were stateless or amnesiac or whatever. I wasn't comfortable with doing that, but I couldn't tell them the truth, could I?”
“I guess not. What did you tell them?”
“I had no paperwork, my parents who didn't live here hadn't registered my birth, I didn't want to get them in any more trouble than they were in already, but I'd run away from home. No state would recognise me, but I had some distant relatives here, well there.”
“And they accepted that?”
“After a lie detector test and verifying that my DNA wasn't registered anywhere, eventually, yes. But I got the feeling that they were building up a database of people with stories like mine. I heard them thinking something like me being another matching case. I let Karella know. I must say, when the truthsayers were formed, I was wondering if I'd be called in for another interview.”
“Well, you could always join up as a truthsayer yourself.”
“Oh yes?” Rose laughed “And so deliberately get in a position where I have to tell someone the big secret I'm trying to protect?”
“Well, John already knows it, so I don't see there's much risk there.”
“Hold on... you're saying that John interviews applicants?”
“Sorry, I thought Karella had so thoroughly breached the U.N. resolution about naming who works at the institute that everyone knew. John's a psych-counsellor, we both work at the institute. I also happen to still be in control the I.D. crystal machine, despite my best efforts to get someone else to take it over.”
“So... you've actually met everyone on the register?”
“Not everyone. But a face-to-face meeting is by far the easiest way.”
“Wow. You've got almost as many secrets in your brain as Karella.”
Sarah looked at Rose curiously. “I guess you really missed the introductions, didn't you? Oh, I'm sorry. You weren't here, were you?”
“I don't understand.” Rose said, confused.
“When Karella announced that she'd picked me as advisor, one of the things she said was I'd interrupted her listening to the previous speaker. Bit of a give-away, that, given how many kilometres apart we were and how limited the wrist unit service is here. I really must tell her off for that, sometime she's not so busy. There's some things you just don't publicise to other people.”
“You've got the gift.” Rose whispered.
“Yes.”
“I proposed that someone with the gift be our monarch?” Rose shook her head. “What a laugh.”
“Why?”
“I nominated you because I was thinking that Karella might get nominated otherwise. No disrespect to her, but I was thinking there's no way we should be giving even more political power to someone with that much spiritual power.”
“Oh, you're into the separation of powers, are you?” Sarah asked.
“We are technically a republic, at least this week.”
“Karella just labeled you a royalist, did you know?”
“Me?” Rose laughed. “Not really. Just a pragmatist. The world at the moment seems to be in favour of kings, so be it. We've always had the council, sometimes we have a king too.”
“And the council rules by unanimity?”
“Whatever gave you that idea? Well, maybe they do, but really, the council rules by convincing people what the really silly ideas are and why, and allowing some of the good ones to be tried. That's actually one reason I proposed reinstating a monarch. The council's good at talking until they come up with a decision everyone can live with, but not so good at acting. Maybe I'm overstating things, but I expect that if the interceptor wasn't going to hit us then they'd still be talking about things in a decade.”
“So someone makes a suggestion, and the council will kick it around for a while and see what's left after the rough corners have been knocked off?”
John asked, coming up with some drinks. “Hi, I'm John.”
“Hello, I'm Rose.”
“I hope you're not trying to convince Sarah that she ought to rule your people as well.”
“As well?” Rose asked.
“I got nominated as matriarch for a clan of about fifty people a while back. Well, John did too, but they're traditionally matriarchal, so he takes a back-seat most of the time. Since it was practically her dying breath, we didn't get much chance to protest.”
“Oh, so that's the secret is it, not give you a chance to react?”
“Too late now.” Sarah said sweetly. “I'm forewarned. But what about your future? Thinking of applying to join? John, Rose might be considering joining the truthsayers.”
“Just how complicated is it?”
“What, joining?” Sarah asked.
“I mean, I'm sure I wouldn't object to an I.D. that says I'm trustworthy, and I'm sure you could fix it that I can get time off work for training, but...”
“But?”
“I can't think of any time that I'd use it.”
“Oh, that's fine.” Sarah said. “We don't mind having people like that. About half our members are inactive. It's more a case of would you be prepared to act as an expert witness if there was a need, while upholding the good name of the organisation, not parading anyone's secrets in public, while not letting them pass a lie for truth. That sort of thing.”
“Not making known secrets?” Rose was confused.
“Exactly.”
“I don't get it.”
“The truthsayer is more than a dumb computer repeating thoughts. The truthsayer listens to what the person thinks and states what is truth, what is not, what's partially true, and if it happens, what they're not sure of. They don't publicise what they hear.”
“I didn't have anything to fear then?”
“Well, you might have leaked the secret to the truthsayer, but they're sworn to protect the mental privacy of the people they're examining. The interview is mostly our attempt to make sure that no-one swears falsely.”
“A vow must be kept.” Rose said. “That's one of the first thing we learn, and vow-breaking is one of the few things we have a death penalty for. You could say it's the foundation of our society.”
“I'd heard.”
“Karella again?”
“Rose, actually. Urm, Rose as in Enoch's wife.”
“Oh. I don't think I know her.”
“Well, can I make the introductions? You must be relatives to some degree.”
Rose laughed. “I expect so.”
[Rose, are you free? I'd like to introduce you to Rose.] Sarah called.
[Coming. Oh, the one who thought you ought to be queen?]
[Yes.]
[I'm always happy to meet another relative!]
“She's coming.” Sarah reported.
----------------------------------------
TUESDAY EVENING, 3RD JULY, ATLANTIS.
[So, John, what do you think?] Sarah asked.
[I tend to agree with what you told the council. A monarch whose role is simply an intermediary is not much of a monarch. That's an ambassador. They could give an ambassador lots of leeway in negotiations, but it still doesn't make them a monarch.]
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
[Rose the monarchist was talking about there needing to be someone with decision making power. I can sympathise. It seemed that they've been kicking around some of these ideas a long time.]
[It's interesting how some of the ideas have become accepted almost immediately, others not.]
[I guess everyone saw the need for them.]
[So, we're going to have a branch of the truthsayers here. That's going to be a challenge with half the population being thought-hearers. You know who's going to need to be training them, don't you?]
[I hope you're not thinking of yourself.] John said.
[Me? No. I'm not that good, I can cheat too easily. It's going to either be May or Rhianna Quy. Rhi's almost as good as May at giving people the silent treatment.]
[She's available?]
[Good question. I don't want to do without May, that's certain.]
[So, you're going to ask her?] John asked, [Or are you going to lie awake worrying for hours?]
[I'll ask her, assuming she's not asleep by now.]
----------------------------------------
TUESDAY EVENING, 3RD JULY, QUY HOUSEHOLD
[Rhi, itsy-bitsy little question for you.] Sarah called to Rhianna.
[Hi Sarah. I hear you're incommunicado.]
[Absolutely.]
[I've never been to Communicado, what's it like there?]
[Old joke, Rhi. But apt, actually.]
[Really?]
[I've not asked anyone, but in this nameless place that I am at the moment, there might be a training need. Would you be free to come if I wangled you an invitation?]
[What, turn down the opportunity to mope around home bemoaning the lack of summer jobs that don't involve heavy lifting? Are we talking a paying job, or just lots of kudos at the association?]
[I expect that the people you're training will be able to make it worth your time. Plus kudos, plus bragging rights when you get back to university, but at the moment, total secrecy and no promises.]
[If it includes food and board, I'm in.]
[Do you like fish?]
[Yes. What sort of a question is that?]
[Relevant.]
[Where on Earth are you, Sarah?]
[Sorry, I took a vow not to tell.]
[Oh. OK.]
[Your passport is valid, I presume?]
[Yes.]
[Good. I'll let you know when I know more.]
[So... how much notice am I likely to get for this international trip?]
[Not exactly sure. How much do you need?]
[Well, there's this boy, nothing serious, we're just friends...]
[Oh yes? Do feel free to continue!]
[Not much to say. I met him at University, in the Christian Union. I think he's going to ask me out one of these days.]
[And if he happens to send you a message when you're gone, you don't want him to feel all ignored?]
[Exactly.] Rhi replied.
[Tricky. I've no idea, really. So far I've seen a number of decisions being made. Ones I'd have expected to take a long time seem to have just been rushed through, others I thought were pretty obvious have been postponed to give people more time to think. So, really I've no idea. But I'd assume that if you come here, you're going to be staying at least until the end of the month, maybe even the end of the summer.]
[Oh, wow. Maybe I ought to tell Kenny then.]
[He's got the power?]
[Yes. It's possible he's just interested in the CAT. I really don't know. You said training. What sort of thing are we talking about? Basic stuff?]
[Basic intro to ethos, ethics and so on, then advanced stuff. In particular, quiet listening; there are more thought hearers here than you get in the general population.]
[And several people?]
[The government here read the charter, and said 'that looks very reasonable' and passed a compatible version into law about five minutes later. So, we've got a charter. We've got one probable member with ties here, but also back home too — she works at one of my companies, would you believe it? — so, I'm not certain how long she'll be staying. There are a number of others, though, who might be signing up. If they do I'll tell them you're available to train them, OK?]
[Yes, so it's early days yet, before I'll be jumping on a plane.]
[I'm sure you have twenty four hours. But, like I said, sometimes things move really quickly here. Speaking of moving quickly, how are Q.Q and Kara?]
[They're weird. They've decided on naming two dates, and are running an opinion poll on which one they should pick.]
[That's unusual.]
[Yes. Date one is ten days before the end of the summer break. Date two is a couple of weeks into next summer break. Apparently they didn't want to start their married life together right after a term, in case one of them caught something from the kids at the end of term, so they thought Christmas and Easter breaks were too short.]
[Do you know how the voting is going?]
[They're not saying, but they are in a flurry of wedding fever, so it looks like the early date is a distinct possibility.]
[Which one did you vote for?]
[I think they know each other well enough to go for fast and crazy. What do you think?]
[John and I suggested Christmas or Easter break. But end-of-termitis wasn't something we'd thought of, and it's a good point.]
[So you're in favour of fast and crazy too?]
[I know we'd have gone crazy waiting a year, and that we also had lots of doubts about whether we were rushing things. Really, it's up to them to decide. I do wonder what the school will think, though.]
[Well, Kara did apparently tell them at interview that she was hoping to marry Q.Q. at some point, but that she had no plans to start a family until she had done at least three or four years of teaching.]
----------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, 4TH JULY, QUY HOUSEHOLD
[Hi Rhi, are you busy?] Sarah asked.
[Urm, just slowly deciding what to wear for a date.]
[Kenny is interested then?]
[Seems so, yes.]
[Well, at least you've got time for one date. Have you told your parents about this potential summer job?]
[Yes. Is it happening?]
[Yes. Someone's on the way to meet you already, actually. Would it be incredibly awful to ask you to meet her at about midnight tonight? Meeting point is just over an hour from your home, I hope. She speaks English.]
[You're serious?]
[Yes. Travel time is about eight hours from where you'll meet, and they'd like you to start training people tomorrow.]
[If I'm travelling all night, I'm going to be in a rotten state tomorrow.]
[I know, sorry.]
[OK, I'll go tell my parents I'm meeting a mysterious woman at midnight. And then I'd better pack. What sort of weather should I expect? Oh, and is there anything I should avoid wearing?]
[Don't wear high heels. Knowing what I know now, I'd have packed skirts, t-shirts, and maybe a light jumper or two, and sensible shoes. Pack in a ruck-sack if you've got one, you'll need to do some hiking. Oh, and bring a torch ]
[And no wrist unit?]
[Oh, you can bring it. Just don't expect to be able to get on-line.]
[OK. I'm going to some warm mountainous place then?]
[Mabel will explain all. Oh, if you did have time to bring a kilogram of sliced ham, then Mabel and her family would be very happy. Actually, no, don't bother, I'll have May bring you some, along with the other package she'll be bringing you — tickets and things.]
[No ham where I'm going? Oh, and you asked me about fish, didn't you? Not a mountain then? Some isolated island?]
[Mabel will explain. Or maybe her mum. I don't know which.]
[Mabel's mum will be coming too?]
[No. Karella's got the gift.]
[Unusual name.]
[Don't worry about it, Rhianna. Just be prepared to catch a train at about eleven P.M.]
[They don't run very often at that time of night from here.]
[Oh, bother, I thought it was every quarter of an hour or so.]
[Oh, they pass but they don't stop. Where do I need to go?]
[Hmm. Your hypersonic leaves the capital at eleven forty-five, I was thinking you'd get the hypersonic from Restoration.]
[I can do that, I'll be there for the date anyway. I'll just have to say bye to my parents first. And if I'm doing that, how about I meet up with May there, and dump my bag at her place?]
[That sounds like like a pretty good plan. I'll check it's OK with her.]
[And I'll go drop the little surprise on my parents.]
----------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, 4TH JULY, 11.30PM
[Hi, Rhi, I see you're on time.] Sarah said.
[I'm really confused about this ticket May handed me, Sarah. There's no airports in that direction.]
[I know that, Rhi.]
[There's no port either. May's pretty confused she knew of in that direction was a campsite you'd bought recently.]
[Good guess. I hope you're wearing your sensible shoes and have that torch. How was the date, by the way?]
[Disaster. He thought me calling him to get a move on if he was going to ask me out was an elaborate fib, and I'd been hiding my love for him for ages, and wow was he sure that he was a doing me a favour. Not the best way to start to a relationship.]
[Oh.]
[So, I've told my parents that if he does ring to tell him I'm not there and he shouldn't bother ringing again. So, I'm meeting this Mabel in your campsite? Is there some kind of private airstrip nearby?]
[More details when you're getting off the hypersonic.]
[This is really cloak and dagger, isn't it? Where am I going, some top secret military base?]
[Sorry, Rhi. When you find out you might say something out loud. But yes, for the moment it's really secret.]
[I'm not going into orbit, am I?]
[No.]
----------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, 4TH JULY, 11.55PM
[Hi Rhi. Pleasant trip so far?]
[Apart from being eaten up inside by curiosity. Kenny just rang, by the way, all apologetic, and asking if I'd consider going on another date.]
[And?]
[I told him that I was about to leave the country, and I'd see him at uni. I am leaving the country, right?]
[Geographically, yes.]
[What does that mean?]
[I'll explain later. Right now you leave the station and head left, then take the coastal path in about a hundred metres. There's no one with bad intentions around, so don't worry about bumping into anyone.]
[Sarah, you've spoken of a government. If I leave one country and enter the jurisdiction of another government, surely I'm leaving the country?]
[The thing is, our government doesn't know where I am has a government, so for all I know they'll treat it like you're entering international waters. In that case, as long as you don't go into the territory of another country, you're not considered to have left home, see?]
[Oh, wow.]
[So, so far we haven't asked, but we're fairly sure you're not breaking any laws.]
[Why haven't you asked? Oh because it's a secret. But....]
[Within a few weeks the secret will be all over the headlines. Once you've got enough truthsayers signed up, then the branch here is going to ask the other branches to play messenger.]
[And we're not talking about little green men, are we?]
[No. Oh, does your wrist unit have your family tree stored on it?]
[No. Why?]
[Get a copy quick, if you can.]
[Urm, OK. It's relevant?]
[They're almost certainly relatives of yours, and they're into genealogies.]
[OK, urm it's loading. Sarah....]
[Yes, Rhi?]
[Unknown, secret people living in an unknown secret location, but related to me?]
[Yes? Confused yet?]
[Thinking of stupid family legends. You're going to laugh.]
[Wait until you meet Mabel then. She arrived early, by the way, and her mum tells me there's no one else around.]
[Oh, should I hurry?]
[She probably won't thank you if you do.]
[Why, is she resting?]
[No.]
[Sarah, you're being very vague.]
[That's good.] Sarah checked where Rhianna was. [In about a hundred metres, turn left. There's steps down to a beach.]
[What was that?]
[What?]
[Big splash out at sea.]
[Oh, yes, there were a few of those when we were there. Don't worry, nothing at all scary unless you're a fish or a shark.]
[I'm not aware of being either.]
[Good.]
[But I'm definitely seeing things, maybe I'm suffering from exhaustion or waking dreams or something.]
[You don't sound like your delusional, Rhi.]
[Well the only alternative is that the mermaid I've just seen wave at me while leaping out of the water like some dolphin is real, so I'll stick with an overactive imagination. I'm hearing splashes and I've just been thinking about family legends about one of my great-great-grandfathers having a tail and rescuing his future wife from drowning at sea, so it fits.]
[Tell you what, get down to the beach. Mabel will meet you there.] Sarah said.
[{extreme concern}Sarah?] Rhianna thought [Am I going mad?]
[{Calm, reassurance} Has Mabel finished with her swim?]
[Mabel's a mermaid? An honest to God mermaid?]
[Well, the tail is just clothing. She's sixteen, by the way.]
“Hello, Rhianna.” Mabel said, hooking her tail on one side and wringing out her hair. “I hope you don't mind me having a swim. We don't get to do much proper swimming in Atlantis. The submarine is this way.”
Rhianna followed in a daze.
----------------------------------------
THURSDAY, 5TH JULY, 9AM
“Did you sleep well?” Mabel asked, as Rhianna emerged from her cabin.
“Yes, thanks. You weren't up all night, were you?”
“No! I got about seven hour's sleep before the autopilot wanted advice about a land-folk warship on our path. We're taking a nice slow detour. How does breakfast sound?”
“Good. Sarah arranged for some packages to be delivered to me. This one's labeled 'for breakfast or there may be fish'.”
“Oooh, more Sarah picnic food! Yum! There is fish if you'd like.”
“Which sort?”
“Oh, well, urm, what do you call that lumpy one which goes on the bottom with all the bones in it? Mum sent some of that, and there's some of the big one without many bones, too. Cod, that's the name of that one. And I picked up a whole load of juicy-looking sardines while I was swimming, but they'd need cleaning.”
“I've never cleaned a fish before.”
“Want to learn?”
“Urm, maybe after some breakfast? Could I have some of the cod? I've heard it's good, but never actually tasted it.”
“Of course! Never tasted cod! Wow.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
“No, I just need to heat it. You don't mind me eating what Sarah sent, do you?”
“Not at all. Enjoy!”
----------------------------------------
THURSDAY, 5TH JULY, 11AM
“Mummy, allow me to present Rhianna Quy, truthsayer trainer and descendent, according to her family tree, of a certain Timothy R. James Turnbull, born nineteen ninety.”
“Oh really? I think I know what the R stands for.”
“I told her. And filled in some other initials for her too.”
“I don't mean to be rude, but why do you name people that way?”
“It's not rude.” Karella said, “It's to do with who you are. There's really no doubt at all who someone's mother, so that comes first. Their mother names the father, and so that comes second, plus it wasn't always so sure in the past. Then there's always room for other names to come and go after that. Like people have been calling me Farspeaker for a long time, so I'm probably stuck with it, but we don't call Mabel Toe-eater any more, but we did for a few years, so it's officially part of her full name, but it's fallen out of use. Then to satisfy you land-folk we can add the surname name on the end, which doesn't really fit, but oh well.”
“And how come you all speak English?”
“We don't. But a lot of us do, because it's good to have two languages from birth, and from the twentieth century on English has seemed like a good one to talk to outsiders with.”
----------------------------------------
FRIDAY, 6TH JULY, 10AM
“This assembly has made many decisions.” the eldest of the council declared “In fact I believe that our entire plan of action has been gone over sufficiently that we can call it decided. We will approach the press, governments and United Nations, through the individuals that we've selected, and the newly formed association of truthsayers will assist us in this. We have nominated ambassadors to the countries where we are most present. We will, as previously advised, empty the city, in case there is a problem with the city's engines, and move the city out of the impact area. We will set up police and we have decided on the structure of our army. All details except one have been considered. Rose, I ask you step forward, and restate your suggestion. Only without nominating anyone, this time.”
“I suggest, with due respect to the council, that in dealing with the land-folk, a single ruler is going to be more understandable to them. Honestly, I'm not sure I understand how the council reaches decisions, and I grew up here. That is my suggestion, that we reinstate a monarchy.”
“Thank you, Rose.” the eldest replied “Sarah, you asked to speak on this issue also.”
“Thank you, Eldest. I will start by saying that I have lived all my life in a monarchy, although it is not a monarchy as the word is often used. It is a country governed by law. The law is supreme, and the law is harsher on the monarch and his family than on civil servants, and harsher on civil servants than on the public. Thus, we have stability. We have chosen this way because too often those in power have abused their position, we hope we have a better system now. We hope we have a better system than one where laws are made to keep the law-maker popular. Thus we have leadership where difficult decisions are taken, even if they are unpopular, as the monarch seeks to look for the long term good of his country. I believe I have seen that same attitude in the council. I have heard the accusation made that the council is slow to make decisions. But I have seen decisions made here that astounded me with their speed. You totally reorganised your military in ten minutes. You also seem to have had stability of rule for centuries. As long as an ambassador knows who speaks with authority, I do not see a need for you to change in this manner.”
“And there you have the crux of the matter.” the Eldest said. “For there /is none/ in this council that speaks with such authority, except when they speak the will of the council. I speak now the will of the council. We acknowledge the wisdom of Rose's comments
We also thank Sarah who has provided for us the model of her people's constitution. It will provide us a good model for our monarchy, for it is the will of the council that we shall indeed have one. We will make some amendments of course. One is that the council will remain as adjudicator of the law and thus supreme. Another is that the monarch will be subject to the law and customs of our people and will be willing to be bound by them, one ancient such custom is that neither the monarch nor their spouse nor children shall accrue much wealth, neither in our land or any other form. I state this for those present who do not know our ways. Let none think that becoming monarch of our people is an easy way to riches. Sarah will be no doubt pleased to know that her present wealth excludes her from this role unless she is willing to give it away.”
He looked at her in enquiry.
“I have long considered my inheritance a burden I must carry, eldest.” Sarah replied “Too many people depend on me.”
“So, one person has refused our heavy crown. Rose, I'm sure that the observer will notice that all of the suggestions you have made, though modified a little, have been passed into law. It is the will of the council that I draw attention to this, and in recognition of your insightful suggestions that have guided us so well, you consider carrying the crown.”
“Me?” Rose was shocked. She drew he breath and held her husband's hand. “Eldest, my husband is not a poor man. Not as rich as Sarah, but he owns a business, and has some hundred employees. For this reason and also for another I must decline.” there was a note of sadness in her voice.
“Will you speak your other reason?” The Eldest prompted.
“I would rather not shout it for all to hear, Eldest. If it must be known to the council I know that councilor Karella is able to pluck it from my mind.”
“I fear that it must be known to one council member at least.” Karella said, and looked at Rose's thoughts. Rose was distressed, and saddened, but she knew the laws of her people. No monarch who knew they were unable to produce an heir could assume the throne, further an adult monarch had to produce an heir within five years. Rose and her husband had been trying for a child for several years without success.
[I sorrow with you in the pain this must cause you, Rose.] Karella thought, and then did something anyone with the gift rarely did, and sought to know the future: she looked at the skin of the room where Rose and her husband were standing, thinking of couples who would have a child in the next five years. None. Karella looked again, couples who could produce a child together. She saw a dot. There was some hope then. [Rose, by my gift, I have searched to know the future, and sadly I must tell you I see no child for you in the next five years. But there is hope for your pain. By my gift, I also looked for couples who could produce a child together. You two glow. I do not know why the Lord has prevented you from conceiving thus far. I do not know if the Lord merely denied me sight of a child for you in the next five years, but I saw none. But I see that a child is possible. May the Lord grant that what is possible should be.]
[I'm not barren?]
[I cannot say that you will ever conceive, but you are able. Do not give up hope, put your trust in the Lord and together seek this blessing on your marriage.]
[Thank you, Karella.] Rose thought.
Karella stood “Having examined Rose's unstated reasons, I must agree with her, that according to our laws and customs she is not an eligible candidate for the crown.”
The eldest spoke once more. “Then, Karella Farspeaker, the will of the council is clear.”
“The council was not united on this matter, eldest.” Karella pointed out.
“Karella, everyone on the council except you agreed to this. I'm sorry, you are expelled from the council.”
Expressions of shock rippled round the room.
“I bow to the decision, and as is my right I nominate Rose in my place. Her knowledge of our laws and customs as well as her knowledge of the land-folk will serve our people well. Rose, you have no grounds for refusing, there is much history of the council members not living in one place. Do any on the council object to my nomination?” Karella stepped away from her place and went to stand with her husband and children, who were just as shocked as anyone.
There was a quick discussion in the council, and then the eldest spoke.
“Karella has chosen her successor, the council has no objection. Come Rose, take your place among us!” The council members, with a confused Rose training after them, withdrew.
----------------------------------------
“Mum, what's going on?” Mabel demanded to know.
“It's easy, child. I am no longer on the council.” Karella said.
“Why not?” Sathie asked, close to tears.
“It's all right dear. Basically, because they didn't listen to me, and ganged up against me.”
“So, what's going to happen next?” Mabel asked.
“The new council will consider and debate and decide who ought to be monarch, without me there to block their silly idea.”
“They kicked you out because you didn't agree with them about who they wanted to nominate?”
“Exactly. We'd agreed that the council had to decide quickly, we'd agreed that the council had to be unanimous. I raised lots of objections against the person they wanted to nominate but none of them were enshrined in law or custom so they were free not to listen.”
“Who did they want to nominate?” Mabel asked.
“You don't want me to break my vow of secrecy do you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
----------------------------------------
Rose looked round at the other council members, who seemed to be expecting her to speak. “Members of the council, I am utterly confused what I'm doing here.”
“Unanimity had been decided on, but then Karella refused to agree.” the eldest said.
“So, now you elect me to agree?” Rose asked, convinced that was the worst reason she could think of to become a council member. “I'll warn you I'm not going to agree just to keep anyone happy.”
“Good. The council's strength is that we don't easily agree. But now we try to convince you of our suggestion, and if you're not convinced, you come up with better arguments than Karella could come up with, or suggest someone else instead.”
“Instead of who?” Rose asked.
“Karella.”
“Pardon?” Rose's brain felt like it was stuck in slow.
“The council, except Karella, agreed that she was best candidate.”
“And she refused?” Rose understood, “She couldn't convince you, but she still point-blank refused?”
“Yes.”
“Good for her.”
“But was it good for our people? That is the question.”
“Karella is a good woman.” Rose said “She is compassionate, truthful, trustworthy. I am not convinced that wearing her out with administrative duties is the best use of her energy.”
“We have just removed administrative duties from her.” one of the other council members pointed out. “We believe, we hope, that her duties as monarch need not include administrative work, that she can delegate such things to the council. This we have told her.”
“And you believe the other rulers will accept a ruler who has the ability to hear thoughts?” Rose asked.
“Sarah has informed us that there have been thought-hearers ruling countries before, and there will inevitably be again. No one has objected so far.”
“Even one with the gift?” Rose pressed.
“We raised this with Sarah also. She pointed out that under the laws of her land, and of other countries, it is illegal to require someone to reveal they even hear thoughts, or to tell what they know to others. If people do not need to acknowledge that, what of the gift? When we asked her if there were any with the gift already ruling or in line to a throne, she pointed out that we were asking her to betray a trust, so we stopped questioning her.”
“It's true, what Sarah says. We'll have to pass similar laws, tell our people they must not reveal what they know.” Rose said.
“This is true. Such a law is in draft form already.” the Eldest replied. “But have you objections to Karella being made monarch? Have you a better candidate in mind? Her final argument was 'I don't want to.' so she no longer has voice here.”
“I have no other candidate in mind. I suggested Sarah, not knowing she had the gift. I did so because I saw the way that Karella's suggestions were being accepted, and I felt that giving political power to one with the gift as well was too much temptation. But I had forgotten some of our laws of kingship and rule. With our traditional laws enshrined in a written constitution, with the council advising, legislating and holding accountable.... I pity Karella, but I cannot think of a better ruler for us.”
“Then let us, from pity and love and thanks for her selfless suggestion that we remove her from council if we could not find another candidate, draft a constitution which will not make her life too intolerable.” the eldest suggested.
----------------------------------------
“Well, it looks like my student has been called to other duties. But is it bad news that the council is still in session?” Rhianna asked Mabel.
“No idea. Mum?”
“I wouldn't want to guess. Oh, don't look at me like that, girls. I can think of two reasons: one, they're still going in circles about who they're going to make king or queen; two, they've decided who and are drafting other laws to define how the person they choose will rule. Quite frankly, I never liked drafting laws, and I think Rose is going to be much better than I am. She could have been an excellent archivist, if she'd stayed, you know? But there wasn't an opening and she really hated farming.”
“What's there to hate about farming?” Mabel asked.
“Well, there's the sharks, for instance.” Sathie pointed out.
“Not good, I agree.”
“And the air tanks tasting of rubber, and the hard work and the weight belt, and the risk of decompression sickness.” Sathie added.
“Fine. I give in.” Mabel conceded, “There are things to hate about farming.”
Rhianna looked at them “You have a really different concept of farming to me.”
----------------------------------------
“The high council of mer have reached unanimity” the eldest declared to the hushed crowd. As before, speaking English as another council member translated into Mer. “But in the interest of helping you listen, we'll first talk of new laws. Laws that will, we hope, protect our ways, our people and our identity. First and foremost: it shall no longer be a secret of the deep that we are. No longer will a vow be required. Soon, but not yet, please, we can tell our grandchildren to scare any foolish sharks and bring back us back a fish.” he waited for the applause to die down.
In the corner, away from most of the crowd, Rhianna touched Mabel's hand, [I don't get it.]
[Old story. About last time some of us decided they could stop hiding for a bit.]
[Oh, thanks.]
“Secondly: there will still be secrets of the deep. We must consider it a secret of the deep that certain people here have the gift of Eved, of Jacob, and of Rose. Let their names be known only to those of the deep.”
[What does he mean 'secret of the deep?'] Rhi asked.
[Only mer go freely into deep water. You lose things in the deep, we find them. The deep holds few secrets from us, but you'd have to risk your lives to find them out.] Mabel replied.
[Oh.]
“Thirdly: we shall have a currency. In honour of those who have gone before, to help our children learn, it will have six sides and a hole, and we shall name our currency the Pearl.”
There was a round of laughter at that.
[Can you explain?] Sarah asked Karella.
[Rust-free iron used to be really really really scarce and valuable. Your lots-of-greats-grandma Karella started swapping pearls for resin-coated nuts. Everyone involved got rich, and we came off the iron standard in a nice graceful manner.]
“The Pearl will eventually, I expect, be what the land-folk call a free-floating currency. It will not be linked in value to a weight of gold or anything else, except in some respects to gold. You know, by now, that gold and gems are rare among the land-folk. You know, I am sure, that there are billions of land-folk and barely half a million of us. So they could take all our gold and gems and not notice, like they took the pearls our children used to play with. But we would notice. If our gold vanishes, we will no longer be able to make the boats we rely on, and the other things we make from the alloys. So the council has decided: mer gold must remain mer gold. It must not be traded. Trade gems if you wish, but trade no gold with land-folk. The one who trades gold with land-folk will be considered a two-legged shark, and outcast.
To make this easier, safer, You may not trade gold even with one another. Gold may be kept as jewelery, but no longer as trade goods, and eventually gold will be as scarce among us as it is among the land-folk. We will remove gold from circulation, and instead one Pearl will be worth a gram of gold. It is hard to divide a real pearl, but if we need to, we will say that there are a hundred Washers to a Pearl. You might think that a gram of gold is not valuable. Among the land-folk a gram of gold would buy food to feed a family for almost a month or more. We must learn to value our gold more than we do, and so we must stop bartering in it.
“And how will we make these Pearls, and Washers? That, I am glad to say is not too hard, but not easy, either. The fabricators will make them. We will not just have individual Pearls and individual Washers, but different values of them. The designs will be sent to the fabricators soon. But mostly, we will have what the land-folk call 'a bank'. The bank will accept your gold, which you may no longer trade, and in exchange the bank will record that you are owed so many Pearls. As we make the Pearl coins, you will be able to trade them.
“You know that a small boat costing five hundred kilos of gold might be made with three hundred kilos of gold. The rest is traded for the time of the builders and the other materials involved. Well, now it will cost five hundred thousand Pearls, Some of the Pearls will go to the bank and be destroyed as the gold it takes to make the boat is removed from the bank. The rest will go to the builders, for their time and effort, and remain in circulation.
“Found gold will be traded to the bank, and the bank will accept it thankfully and pay you for it in Pearls. It is my expectation that the value of the Pearl will not stay the same, just as iron became cheap, and oyster pearls became rare. Perhaps one day we will even find a better alloy material than gold. Until then, the value of the Pearl will be linked to the value of a traditional boat.
“We are, it must be said, experts at building boats. That is a skill the land-folk lack. If there is any land-man or land-woman able to supply enough gold to make a boat, we will accept their gold. If not, we must make it from lesser materials, such as iron, which the land-folk are so profligate with. Or perhaps titanium. In this way, we can trade. Do not underestimate the value the land-folk place on diamonds and other gems. We still have plenty to trade with them.
“The question remains, since trade must be two way, what the land-folk have to offer us. Beyond chocolate, of course.” There was good natured laughter at this. “One thing they have is mass produced technology. Some of it is even water-proof. I'm sure that if we offer them diamonds, they will be happy to make us lots more that is waterproof. But let us never think we can produce technology cheaper than them. We never will. Perhaps we can produce it better, but not cheaper. Perhaps we can even sell them our better designs, and we will need honest agents to make sure we are not cheated. Our truthsayers will help us there. But our society will be changing. We will have more opportunities to swim, less need to make our own technology, more opportunity to experiment. There are some areas of technology the land-folk are still behind us in. We must beware, therefore, of showing all we can do, until we know what they can do, and we will have to limit who can come and look.
“We do not have space to invite all who will desire it into our city, those with rooms they wish to make available will be able to charge for this. Do not set your price in Pearls, as it will be hard for the land-folk to obtain them, I expect. Sarah suggests that we set such charges in land-folk money, compared to how much they would earn for a week's work. Among them it would not be unusual to pay the money they get for a week's work for a week in a beautiful room in an exotic place. Our city is certainly one of those. Our relatives who have lived among the landfolk can help us here, I'm sure.
“Many things like permissions to visit, will need to be negotiated with other governments, other heads of state. That is a role for our monarch. The council has decided. The negotiation will be the role of the monarch, as I say, but not alone: of course assistance from others can be requested, commanded, even. Implementation will be the role of the council, we have no desire to impose the burden of much administration on you, Karella Helen Jacob Farspeaker Homebringer, Queen of merfolk. The council will continue to ensure that the law and custom is obeyed, to advise, to draft laws. We look to you to tell us what laws we should draft, your majesty, and guide us in their intent.”
“I must bow to the will of the council.” Karella said, with resignation. “I question the council how long my husband and I may call our possessions our own, our boat our own, our jewelery and gemstones our own, our home our own?”
“It is a long time since we have had a royal palace, it would be foolish, I believe to start to construct one while the future of the city is not certain. It is also a very long time since the limit on the wealth of the monarch was set at twenty kilogrammes of iron. We will have to ask the archivists how much that was worth at the time in terms of gold, diamonds, or other things we have always valued. I trust our queen will not object if we consider these questions at length and at a suitable time, and for the moment accept the status quo?”
“I will not object to the status quo.” Karella replied, clearly relieved.
“Then before we declare the work of this grand assembly over, let us all pray for our new monarch and her heirs. May they reign wisely and lead us carefully over the coming centuries.”
----------------------------------------
“Was that as total a surprise to you as it was to us, Daddy?” Mabel asked.
“Not entirely, princess.” Christoph replied.
“What was that Mummy asked? Why shouldn't we keep our boat and our home?”
“It is one of the laws of having a king or queen that they cannot become rich. Remember? The old definition of being rich was twenty kilogrammes of iron.”
“But that's hardly worth anything!” Mabel protested.
“Exactly. So, mummy asked about it. When it was set at that much, ten kilogrammes of iron would buy quite a big boat, I think. The council have decided to keep that intent, not the letter of the law, so they aren't worried about us being too rich.”
“Oh. That's nice. Mummy didn't seem too happy about becoming queen.”
“No. What does it feel like to be suddenly a princess, knowing your life is never going to be the same again?” her father asked.
“Urm. How never the same again?” Her father told Mabel to explain to Rhianna and get her opinion.
“You're in line to the throne, princess. Your people are going to expect to see you, doing princess things.” Rhianna said, “Any time a boy is going to be interested in dating you, you're not going to know if they're interested in you, the title, or nothing beyond the bragging rights that he once went on a date with a princess. That's assuming they get past the security cordon that's going to surround you.”
“Rhianna, you're just making that up! We don't set that much store in royalty!”
“Ask your dad.” Rhianna said, and watched with a mixture of satisfaction that she'd been right and sorrow for her friend, as reality dawned on her.
----------------------------------------
FRIDAY, 6TH JULY, 3PM
[Sarah, we have less than two weeks before we try to move the city. I ask that you contact your friend at the U.N.]
[Oh! I thought you were going to wait?]
[You said your friend could keep secrets.]
[She can, oh, I get it, you want to pick her brains?]
[Yes. I would like to know exactly how to avoid us getting bombed, depth-charged or otherwise attacked. We love peace, but we are quite efficient at killing sharks. It would be sad if we had to defend ourselves. I'm sorry I've not spoken to you about our defences.]
[Any state has a responsibility to defend its citizens. I understand, Karella, you need not apologise. I will call Lilly.] Sarah replied.
[Lilly, it is Sarah. May I interrupt?]
[Hello, Sarah. Truthsayer business?]
[Not really. Are you still working in the information section?]
[{curiosity}Yes.]
[And you're alone and anyway not given to outburts when you're surprised.]
[I'm alone, and growing more curious.] Lilly replied.
[I warn you, you're going to be disbelieving soon. And the person I'm about to introduce you to would probably like your vow of secrecy.] Sarah said.
[I do not require a vow, Lilly.] Karella thought [But a promise of not telling any that do not need to know would be nice.]
[Hey! Karella, I haven't introduced you yet. Lilly, that was Karella.] Sarah protested.
[Hello, Karella.] Lilly said. [What can I do for you?]
[As newly elected monarch of my people, I need information on how we can join the nations of the world as an independent peace-loving state. I need information on how to reveal our presence to the world when all you know about us are myths. I need information on how to go about setting up diplomatic contact with countries without it turning into a complete farce. I need information about how on Earth we avoid getting bombed, missiled or otherwise harassed militarily by some trigger-happy admiral, when our city-state rises to the surface of the Atlantic and suddenly shows up on people's sonar, radar screens and satellites. If that sort of unfortunate event were to happen, it would get very unpleasant very quickly, not least because during your cold war our rulers decided that mutually assured destruction had its positive points. That'll do to start with. I'm sure I'll have more questions later.]
[...errr....] thought Lilly.
[Warned you.] Sarah thought. [I must admit I didn't know about the defensive measures, but I knew it couldn't be a good idea to launch an attack on mer-folk from the sea. It's a beautiful city, by the way, I half-wonder if the cartoon-makers knew more than they were letting on. Oh, and the fish-tails of legend are real, but clothing.]
[If this is an elaborate Joke, Sarah, I'm going to be very upset.]
[{image} This is what our city looks like, Lilly.] Karella thought. [As to where it is, it's roughly where your scientists are predicting SpaceGuard's interceptor will spread its radioactive waste in a month's time. The irony of SpaceGuard posing us a danger from space does not escape us at all. Our drive reactor was off-line for maintenance when we heard, so the technicians are scrambling to put it back together on time. We're pretty sure you'll see the heat signature, so we decided that we'd make contact first. If we can't leave or if something goes wrong after the rushed start-up, then you can expect half a million rather grumpy refugees, with long memories and three thousand years of bad feelings against your subspecies of homo sapiens. I'd much rather avoid that.]
[You're a different sub-species?] Lilly asked, thinking of the potential implications of that.
[I believe it.] Sarah thought. [But on the other hand, they've been intermarrying with us for generations, on and off. For instance on both my mothers and father's side of the family, eight or ten generations ago. There's no need for conflict, as long as everything happens in a civilised manner.]
[Lilly, I'll also add that about ninety percent of our population are committed Christians] Karella thought, [sixty or seventy percent are thought hearers.]
[And that's why you picked on me, because I'm both?] Lilly asked.
[That, and the fact that Sarah knows you and said you can keep secrets.]
[Half a million committed Christians who are a formidable sea power. I presume you've got submarines we can't detect?] Lilly asked.
[Oh yes.] Karella agreed.
[And you wouldn't be opposed to smuggling Bibles and other Christian materials?] Lilly pressed.
[What are you thinking, Lilly?] Sarah asked.
[No objection at all. Or even preachers either, in or out, though of course arranging the exit is harder.] Karella replied to Lilly's question, then added [I'm assuming that Lilly's thinking of her homeland, Sarah.]
[How did you work that out?] Sarah asked.
[I cheated of course. I looked to see where Lilly was from, and I'm not totally ignorant about land-folk affairs.]
[You're right.] Lilly acknowledged. [You have the gift, Karella? I thought Sarah was just relaying your thoughts.]
[I have the gift.] Karella confirmed. [Do you think you could help us?]
[It will be a pleasure, your majesty.]
[If you would like to ready some consignments of Bibles and so on, wrapped in something appropriately waterproof, I'm sure there are some Christian fishermen who wouldn't mind getting an unexpected catch. It would be my pleasure to ensure they are delivered.]
[You're serious?]
[My people love the opportunity to swim, Lilly. We have been mostly shut away under the ocean for two centuries, and it is bad for us. If I ask for fifty volunteers to risk upsetting a despotic ruler by delivering Bibles to fishermen at sea, then someone will ask how many volunteers I want to deliver to the fishermen who fish in rivers.]
[It will be dangerous.] Lilly warned.
[So are sharks, but when we swim freely, sharks learn fear. There will be volunteers.]
[I thank you, and I thank those brave people who will try this.] Lilly thought.
[When can you have the packages ready?] Karella asked.
[I'll talk to my church. Perhaps as soon as next week?]
[You call that soon? I was wondering about midnight tonight.]
[I will ask some friends. We will do what we can, but it will not be many.]
[Wonderful! A trial run. There will be a submarine coming in your direction anyway tonight, just as Sarah will be returning to her home in the next few days. I will call you later and we can discuss where you should leave the package.]
[With pleasure. But regarding your request about avoiding conflict. Probably the best approach is through opening diplomatic dialogue with one or more members of the security council. The Security council can interdict military activity in your area. There might be protests, and persuading them to enforce it might take some effort.]
[If the council will interdict, we are capable of enforcing.] Karella said.
[If you had an ambassador...]
[Consider one to be on her way.]
[I could introduce her to our ambassador here. His wife is one person I was thinking of asking about the Bibles. Of course, some sort of evidence, or instruction from home to take it seriously would really help...]
[What might count as evidence?]
[Urm.... some kind of formal letter of introduction might help, but I'm really not sure at all.]
[Oh, we can do impressive documents. I'll get one of our scholars to work on something, and send it to catch her up. How many languages would you like it in? We can do Hieroglyphics, Greek, Latin, Spanish and English fairly easily. Oh, and Hebrew. Will that do, or would you like Cuneiform too?]
[You're serious?]
[I told you they have long memories, Lilly.] Sarah said.
[They'll either think it's a prank by a bunch of students, or be quietly shocked.]
[OK. One fully-fledged letter of introduction on it's way. Good idea. I hadn't thought of that. The ambassador should of course also have her seal of office, I'd forgotten about that too. How big an honour guard would be appropriate?]
[Erm. I don't know. I don't know if we have honour guards these days.]
[I'll just send a couple then.]
[Karella, I'm not sure if traditional dress would be appropriate.] Sarah said.
[Probably not. We want to be taken seriously, after all. Now let me go send some scholars of ancient languages into paroxysms of joy.]