The Naibah fortress had, as a matter of fact, figured prominently in the women raids of the early settlement years, thus giving it a long and (as the Hags put it) disreputable history. Not the least reason for its scandalous reputation was the behavior of ECMOB members who immediately upon arrival removed their veils, poured themselves large glasses of vinaceous liquids and thereafter spoke disrespectfully of their wives, acts no fathering men would dare commit in public. There, also, when the routine business had been taken care of, ECMOB allowed itself to talk of other matters: matters of governance usually reserved to the Hags; matters that family men ordinarily only whispered at.
On a particular day, there was only one item of business. Volcanic activity had increased, as it did cyclicly every ten to twenty years, but the current geological violence was greater than at any time since settlement. Therefore, ECMOB had recently hired a consulting firm from off planet to set up surveillance equipment—also purchased from off planet—and assess the danger to settled communities. The firm had prepared a report which said, in essence that, yes, there was an increase in volcanic activity, which currently seemed to be about four times what it had been when Newholme was settled and twice what it had been ten years before. Yes, there might be some danger to the valley of the Giles, but no, it hadn’t come to the point that the firm could recommend any sort of evacuation yet.
“Which I, for one, do not find helpful,” said the chairman, one Estif g’Bayoar. “Not with all the eastern valleys ashed over, not with all the farms up there buried. There’ve been tremors as far north as the sea islands and as far west as Bittleby Village.”
“All the valley farms gone?” asked Myrphee g’Mindon, stroking his chins. “I used to get quite a good goat cheese from up there.”
Estif nodded. “The firm hired some supernume outlyers to place some sensors near the big caldera on the scarp. It’s too high to climb to without breathing apparatus, which we’ve ordered but not received yet. Two of the men did get high enough to see that some new vents have opened during the past year, and there’ve been gas and ash flows all down the valleys. I suggest we ask the firm to give us their best estimate on city security. We can’t evacuate Naibah or Sendoph without considerable notice!”
There were nods, some sanguine, some troubled.
Estif cleared his throat to signify a new matter, tapping restless fingers on the sheet of heavy vellum that lay on the table before him. Writing on vellum was considered sufficiently traditional that receiving it would not insult either pre- or post-technological societies. It was, therefore, habitually utilized for formal interplanetary notifications.
“Newholme has received a communication from … from the Questioner,” he said in a voice that was usually dry and emotionless but trembled now, very slightly. “The Questioner intends to visit Newholme, and it sends a formal announcement of that fact via a freighter that now sits outside Naibah. Does anyone here have any idea why it would be coming just now?” He regarded the problematical document, biting his lip, as though the meaning might become clear through protracted observation.
The ECMOB shifted restlessly, each member glancing covertly at his neighbors. Slab g’Tupoar, a portly fellow with dark, squirming eyebrows, snarled, “For Family’s sake, ‘Stif. You know why now. There’s only two reasons it could be! Coming just now, I mean.”
Bony Bin g’Kiffle, moved to immediate belligerence, muttered, “Of all the stupid … Why must we deal with this?”
Myrphee g’Mindon struggled to his feet and wobbled unsteadily toward the information wall. “Questioner,” he said. “Enlighten.”
“Bionic construct,” murmured the wall. “Nominally female. Containing, in words of enactment, text and commentaries on Haraldson’s Edicts of Equity as well as wisdom of ages acquired since inception.” The wall hummed a moment, as though thinking. “Wisdom of ages not susceptible of definition.”
“Purpose of,” Myrphee grated in an annoyed tone. “Enlighten.”
“Purpose of Questioner,” said the wall. “Primary assignment: Assess member worlds of COW on regular schedule to determine continued compliance with edicts of Haraldson. Secondary assignment: Assess other mankind-settled worlds to determine if cultures meet minimal standards of ethical conduct regarding human rights. Final assignment: Take every opportunity to accumulate knowledge about cultures, mankind and other. Report to COW any divergence from council edicts applying to all mankind settlements, whether members or nonmembers of COW, regarding human rights, age, or gender rights, or rights of indigenous races.” The machine silenced itself, then, with a whir said, almost conversationally, “Questioner is also authorized to order disposal of mankind populations who are egregiously transgressing the edicts.”