Ellin shook her head, conscious of weariness and annoyance. “So we’re supposed to go to Newholme, which will be kind of a History House in the sky, and determine whether they treat one another properly? An android could do that!”
The censorious expression returned. “The Questioner is beyond criticism. If Questioner felt an android could do it, an android would be sent.”
“Sorry,” murmured Ellin. “I’m just … surprised, is all.” Surprised hardly expressed it. She was actually shocked into near paralysis. The thought of being suddenly uprooted left her teetering over an abyss, fumbling for words and proper responses, dizzy and adrift, shocked by the immediacy and strength of her emotions. After all the years she had imagined being free, after all those dreams of going to other worlds, seeing other peoples, finding her own special place in which to live her own, unique life, now here she was, invited to do virtually as she’d always thought she wanted, at no trouble or expense to herself, and she was frightened witless.
“You may have time to adapt,” said the woman in blue, giving her a very percipient look.
The word evoked a veritable bonfire of associations. Time to adapt. Time to move on. Time to do this, do that. Infant fosterage giving way to boarding school in History House. Boarding school giving away to advanced studies. Advanced studies giving way to the corps de ballet. Always time to say good-bye, to give up treasured things, familiar friends, always time to adapt …
The woman’s voice cut through Ellin’s confusion. “Suddenness is difficult for all creatures, but this will not be sudden. Honorables Ellin Voy and Gandro Bao will go to Newholme. The ship leaves soon, in seven days, but the voyage will be lengthy. During some of it, you will be asleep. For this next few days, however, the honorables will live here, in prelaunch. During this time you have medical assessment, wardrobe and other necessities will be assembled, and you will have access to all records and reports on the planet Newholme, which should be studied assiduously. Go through that door there,” she pointed, “to Suite Four Thirty-Four.”
The forgiving expression returned momentarily as the woman returned to her papers. “Honorable DoJub and Honorable Clementi will be visiting the planet Boshque, which is in a late arboreal phase due to ground-level predation … “
Bao stood in front of the door sensor, keeping the door open for Ellin, a courtesy which earned him a half smile. The two of them prowled silently down the corridor, Ellin avoiding his eyes, concentrating on finding Suite Four Thirty-Four. She needn’t have bothered, for at their approach a door lit up and caroled a welcome.
“Honorables Ellin and Bao. Welcome to Suite Four Thirty-Four, prelaunch facility for planetary examiners.”
Bao broke his silence with an angry mutter. “Being much filth and excrement. Five days from now I am to be dancing the lead in the Chikamatsu Shinj ten no Amijima, with orchestrated Joruri, as adapted from the Bunraku. I have been much wishing this for three years. And now this is happening!”
“Be calm,” said the door in a soothing tone. “Feel elation! HoLI COW pays off contracts of all nominees who are contractees as well as post-bondage stipend. Once duty is done for the Questioner, you are free! Feel satisfaction! Do not distress yourself, Honorables. Even if you do not return for decades, all will be well. Oh, feel elation!”
At the word “decades,” Ellin felt a watery lick, as though an icy wave were rising inside her, threatening to spurt out of her throat in a jet of pure hysteria. She pushed it down, swallowed it, and felt it dissolving her insides. She must not disgrace herself. Not in front of this person. Not in front of this door, which was so very solicitous and was probably programmed to report any deviation from acceptable norms. She dropped into a chair and put her hands over her face, evoking the patterns on her wall, swirlings, eddies, flowing … calm and quiet. Herself part of the flow. None of this was really happening, not yet. She would put off the happening for a little time, and when it came, she would be ready.