things on a fairly even level for them. Most don't have our ability to change sex, and so controlling the birth rate is the only way to do it. One wonders how it would be done in the greater universe."
"Pardon?"
"I mean, out there, among the stars. I know there are civilizations out there—some of them fall into Gates and wind up here. But they're not under the control of a computer-regulated biosphere. I wonder how they control their population, that's all."
She laughed. "They don't. Some of them just keep over-populating until famine and war and disease pare them down, and others have been known to virtually die out because they stop reproducing at all." It was only after she said this that she realized it was information she shouldn't have known. So much for undercover. It had to be this blue stuff . . .
"Indeed? And how do you know this?"
She tried to clear away the brain fog and recover. "We had two outsiders appear as Kalindans not long ago, and my parents were among those who had to evaluate them and where they would fit into our society. I had a chance to talk to them myself. A lot of chances, really, since they were held for so long by the security forces because they didn't know what to do with them. Just hearing about their worlds made it clear that things go their own way out there."
Quick thinking, Ari told her. Wonder if he'll buy it?
Kalimbuch made a face. "How terrible to live like that! It makes situations like the one we're now in bearable, knowing that the Well will correct things over time. Life is chaotic enough for all that here; I can't imagine adding more randomness to life."
She shrugged. "I dunno. This world was set up to develop and test races for real places out there, and, I mean, there has to be some reason for intelligence."
"Eh?"
"Well, think about it. Most species aren't really intelligent, let alone civilized. It's all just food-chain stuff. Why are we smart? Why do we build cities, create all sorts of projects and all that? I mean, if the idea is just to keep the race going, then giving us sharp teeth and nasty dispositions would be enough.
Intelligence, too, is a survival trait. I'm not sure we'd ever have developed it on our own in Kalinda, but it's obviously needed on the world the Makers were intending to send us to. You've got to figure that the home world out there was a pretty mean place if we had to develop the smarts and tools and weapons and all to make it. Of course, I wonder if we did?"
"What's that?"
"Make it. I mean, have you ever heard of any of our kind coming here from the stars? You've got to wonder if our kind made it out there even with the smarts."
Kalimbuch thought a moment. "There were stories, tales, but no, I can't recall anyone who have come through resembling us." It struck him then what she'd been saying. "Oh, my goodness! Then we—we might be it for our people!"
"Exactly. You never know, though. My parents said that far fewer water breathers came through than gas breathers by maybe four or five to one. They just might not have developed spaceships yet."
"Urn, yes. I suspect you're going to give them fits at university. Providing you get there, of course."
She suddenly tensed, in spite of the mild drug. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, our instructions are that all female Kalindans outside of the country are to remain outside, and that it is every Kalindan's duty to bear children, particularly males. That means remaining outside for the term. Perhaps longer. That's what the Yabbans are worried about, you see."
"You mean we won't be allowed back ?But that's absurd! We came from the border only a day ago and there was a lot of cross-border traffic!"
"Yes, but official business, including commerce, must continue even in the emergency. For females, this applies primarily to those who are not here on a governmental or commercial mission or who aren't essential to one. Like you, in fact. Our government states that it is your patriotic duty to
"Pardon?"
"I mean, out there, among the stars. I know there are civilizations out there—some of them fall into Gates and wind up here. But they're not under the control of a computer-regulated biosphere. I wonder how they control their population, that's all."
She laughed. "They don't. Some of them just keep over-populating until famine and war and disease pare them down, and others have been known to virtually die out because they stop reproducing at all." It was only after she said this that she realized it was information she shouldn't have known. So much for undercover. It had to be this blue stuff . . .
"Indeed? And how do you know this?"
She tried to clear away the brain fog and recover. "We had two outsiders appear as Kalindans not long ago, and my parents were among those who had to evaluate them and where they would fit into our society. I had a chance to talk to them myself. A lot of chances, really, since they were held for so long by the security forces because they didn't know what to do with them. Just hearing about their worlds made it clear that things go their own way out there."
Quick thinking, Ari told her. Wonder if he'll buy it?
Kalimbuch made a face. "How terrible to live like that! It makes situations like the one we're now in bearable, knowing that the Well will correct things over time. Life is chaotic enough for all that here; I can't imagine adding more randomness to life."
She shrugged. "I dunno. This world was set up to develop and test races for real places out there, and, I mean, there has to be some reason for intelligence."
"Eh?"
"Well, think about it. Most species aren't really intelligent, let alone civilized. It's all just food-chain stuff. Why are we smart? Why do we build cities, create all sorts of projects and all that? I mean, if the idea is just to keep the race going, then giving us sharp teeth and nasty dispositions would be enough.
Intelligence, too, is a survival trait. I'm not sure we'd ever have developed it on our own in Kalinda, but it's obviously needed on the world the Makers were intending to send us to. You've got to figure that the home world out there was a pretty mean place if we had to develop the smarts and tools and weapons and all to make it. Of course, I wonder if we did?"
"What's that?"
"Make it. I mean, have you ever heard of any of our kind coming here from the stars? You've got to wonder if our kind made it out there even with the smarts."
Kalimbuch thought a moment. "There were stories, tales, but no, I can't recall anyone who have come through resembling us." It struck him then what she'd been saying. "Oh, my goodness! Then we—we might be it for our people!"
"Exactly. You never know, though. My parents said that far fewer water breathers came through than gas breathers by maybe four or five to one. They just might not have developed spaceships yet."
"Urn, yes. I suspect you're going to give them fits at university. Providing you get there, of course."
She suddenly tensed, in spite of the mild drug. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, our instructions are that all female Kalindans outside of the country are to remain outside, and that it is every Kalindan's duty to bear children, particularly males. That means remaining outside for the term. Perhaps longer. That's what the Yabbans are worried about, you see."
"You mean we won't be allowed back ?But that's absurd! We came from the border only a day ago and there was a lot of cross-border traffic!"
"Yes, but official business, including commerce, must continue even in the emergency. For females, this applies primarily to those who are not here on a governmental or commercial mission or who aren't essential to one. Like you, in fact. Our government states that it is your patriotic duty to
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