“I have heard it suggested that the Quaggi, a star-roving race, have succeeded in reinventing Euclidean geometry, and, since they have no actual experience of plane surfaces, consider it an arcane lore fraught with metaphysical significance.”
“But,” murmured Ellin, “you’re not suggesting we should change our ways to emulate any of those races, are you?” She placed her ace of management on the Questioner’s CEO, took the trick and led with the queen of labor.
“Clever girl. You had the ace all along. No, we should not emulate other people. We probably couldn’t emulate the Korm. Any mankind person worth his salt can simultaneously incubate whole clutches of ideas that are either contradictory or mutually exclusive. For instance, mankind has persuaded itself that its race is perfectible, though it hasn’t changed physically, mentally, or psychologically since the Cro-Magnon. Mankind has also persuaded itself that each individual is unique, though each person shares ninety-nine and ninety-nine one hundredths of his DNA and roughly the same percentage of his ideas with thousands or even millions of other persons.”
Bao, with a sidelong glance at Ellin, said with an ironic grin, “It is being true that persons want very much to be singular and individual.”
Ellen made a face at him. “I have complained about being a clone, that’s all.” She took the next trick, leading with the jack of labor, a union organizer.
The Questioner nodded ponderously. “Individuality is more imagined than real. Persons are more alike than they care to admit. On Newholme, however, their social structure is based upon the theory that each family line is unique.”
“Is that what we’ll ask about on Newholme?” asked Ellin. “Individuality?”
The last few cards clicked down, with Ellin the undisputed winner of the hand.
“Among other things.” The Questioner rocked slowly in her chair, considering. “Very nicely played, my dear. You deal the next hand.”
Bao took a deep breath, shaking his head. “The briefing documents are also mentioning an indigenous race. Precolonization reports are saying no indigenes. This is most confusing.”
Questioner smiled grimly, with determination. “Confusing, yes. The entire surface of that planet had supposedly been examined up and down and sideways before any settlement was allowed. If there are now indigenes, someone falsified a report, or failed to file one, or the confusion is intentional, designed to mislead me. I always find the truth, however, no matter how many red herrings colonists drag across my path.”
She picked up her hand and smiled a tigerish smile. “It is likely there have been grave infractions of the edicts on Newholme. Every few years I do find a planet that must be punished for its infractions, with all its people.”
“Would you really punish a whole world?” Bao asked with some trepidation.
“If it were indicated. It is too early to know what is indicated. We are going to Newholme to see what is true and what is false, and in either case, what can be done about it.”
“I’ve read every document, but I don’t understand what any of them have to do with us,” murmured Ellin as she picked up her own cards. “Why did you ask for dancers?”
The Questioner nodded. “It wouldn’t be in the documents because it was an informal report, but one of my spies has mentioned that the indigenes are dancers.”
Ellin drew in a deep breath. “So?”
The Questioner said sagaciously, “Trust is strengthened by similarity of interest, either apparent or real. If they are dancers, they may talk to other dancers. If they dance for you, you will dance for them … “
Ellin frowned, unconvinced. “If nobody knows anything about this indigenous race, how does anyone know that they dance?”
The Questioner shrugged, an unandroidish movement. “How did my spy find out? He probably sat in a tavern, listening to drunken conversation and putting two and two together. Or he bribed someone. Or, he planted a few mobile sensors. I didn’t ask how, specifically. I do know he is a reliable source.”
They played out the game, which Questioner won, putting her in a good humor, after which Bao and Ellin were shown to their own quarters, where they huddled together in their salon, whispering.