already told it a dozen times, and been questioned about every aspect of
it. He spoke plainly and concisely, without any trace of anger or self-pity. Nabhomani had taught him that those with power over others were not moved by crude attempts to manipulate their
emotions. It implied weakness, and powerful people despised weakness. It was always best to keep your story simple and straightforward, without qualifications or justifications or special
pleading.
There was a long pause after he finished. The bird sang on with inexhaustible invention, as if it was singing the world into being, moment to moment to moment. Bright packets of information
fluttered by. Hari believed that most of Ma Sakitei’s attention was focused on these little messengers. As far as she was concerned, he was a trivial problem, a blip in the calm flow of the
days and years of tending this forest biome and the wild forests and deserts of Vesta. Yet his life turned on the hinge-point of her decision.
At last, she said, ‘Usually, we prosecute trespassers. Two of your fellow prisoners, for instance, are traders in biologics who attempted to plunder Vesta’s ecosystems.’
‘I had no choice. My ship was badly damaged.’
‘You could have allowed your pursuers to capture you.’
‘I have been given an important mission. I will not give it up so easily. I would like to thank you,’ Hari said, ‘for rescuing me.’
‘We did not rescue you,’ Ma Sakitei said. ‘We arrested you before you could harm the man-apes. They were created by Trues, who used to hunt them with spears and take their
heads as trophies. We believe that it is our duty to care for them as best we can, to atone for all that has been done to them in the past. We do not allow anyone to interfere with them.’
Hari apologised and said that he had meant the man-apes no harm, had only been trying to drive them off after they had attacked him.
‘They attacked you because you trespassed on their territory,’ Ma Sakitei said.
Nabhomani had taught Hari that, even when negotiating from a position of strength, it was important to control your emotions. Pride gave you confidence and motivated you to maximise outcomes and
build strong relationships, but you should never let it tip over into arrogance and conceit, or use it to humble or belittle other people. And sometimes, if you overreached yourself during
negotiations, if the other side uncovered a transgression or exposed an attempt to deceive or trick them, it was necessary to swallow your pride, express guilt and contrition, and accept
responsibility for your actions. It was necessary to expose your throat to the teeth of your opponents, and hope for mercy.
Exposing his throat now, Hari said, ‘I realise that I have made some foolish mistakes. I hope I can learn from them.’
‘I hope you do,’ Ma Sakitei said. ‘Tell me about the head you were carrying. The head of the tick-tock philosopher, Dr Gagarian. Why do your pursuers think it so
valuable?’
‘They didn’t tell me. I assume it has something to with his research into the Bright Moment.’
‘With the files locked inside his head.’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you open them?’
‘No. That’s why I was heading towards Tannhauser Gate.’
‘Where your family’s broker lived.’
‘He and his partner were supposed to help me.’
‘And they were murdered.’
‘That’s what your commissars told me.’
‘It seems that your pursuers have a long reach. That they are no ordinary dacoits.’
‘I’m not sure what they are,’ Hari said. ‘I do know that I would surrender the head at once, if I could be certain they would give me my family’s ship and any of my
family who might still be alive.’
‘But they were all killed during the hijack. Only you are left alive.’
‘I think so.’
Hari was amazed that he could speak so calmly about his dead.
‘Your pursuers tell a somewhat different story,’ Ma Sakitei said.
‘You have spoken to them?
it. He spoke plainly and concisely, without any trace of anger or self-pity. Nabhomani had taught him that those with power over others were not moved by crude attempts to manipulate their
emotions. It implied weakness, and powerful people despised weakness. It was always best to keep your story simple and straightforward, without qualifications or justifications or special
pleading.
There was a long pause after he finished. The bird sang on with inexhaustible invention, as if it was singing the world into being, moment to moment to moment. Bright packets of information
fluttered by. Hari believed that most of Ma Sakitei’s attention was focused on these little messengers. As far as she was concerned, he was a trivial problem, a blip in the calm flow of the
days and years of tending this forest biome and the wild forests and deserts of Vesta. Yet his life turned on the hinge-point of her decision.
At last, she said, ‘Usually, we prosecute trespassers. Two of your fellow prisoners, for instance, are traders in biologics who attempted to plunder Vesta’s ecosystems.’
‘I had no choice. My ship was badly damaged.’
‘You could have allowed your pursuers to capture you.’
‘I have been given an important mission. I will not give it up so easily. I would like to thank you,’ Hari said, ‘for rescuing me.’
‘We did not rescue you,’ Ma Sakitei said. ‘We arrested you before you could harm the man-apes. They were created by Trues, who used to hunt them with spears and take their
heads as trophies. We believe that it is our duty to care for them as best we can, to atone for all that has been done to them in the past. We do not allow anyone to interfere with them.’
Hari apologised and said that he had meant the man-apes no harm, had only been trying to drive them off after they had attacked him.
‘They attacked you because you trespassed on their territory,’ Ma Sakitei said.
Nabhomani had taught Hari that, even when negotiating from a position of strength, it was important to control your emotions. Pride gave you confidence and motivated you to maximise outcomes and
build strong relationships, but you should never let it tip over into arrogance and conceit, or use it to humble or belittle other people. And sometimes, if you overreached yourself during
negotiations, if the other side uncovered a transgression or exposed an attempt to deceive or trick them, it was necessary to swallow your pride, express guilt and contrition, and accept
responsibility for your actions. It was necessary to expose your throat to the teeth of your opponents, and hope for mercy.
Exposing his throat now, Hari said, ‘I realise that I have made some foolish mistakes. I hope I can learn from them.’
‘I hope you do,’ Ma Sakitei said. ‘Tell me about the head you were carrying. The head of the tick-tock philosopher, Dr Gagarian. Why do your pursuers think it so
valuable?’
‘They didn’t tell me. I assume it has something to with his research into the Bright Moment.’
‘With the files locked inside his head.’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you open them?’
‘No. That’s why I was heading towards Tannhauser Gate.’
‘Where your family’s broker lived.’
‘He and his partner were supposed to help me.’
‘And they were murdered.’
‘That’s what your commissars told me.’
‘It seems that your pursuers have a long reach. That they are no ordinary dacoits.’
‘I’m not sure what they are,’ Hari said. ‘I do know that I would surrender the head at once, if I could be certain they would give me my family’s ship and any of my
family who might still be alive.’
‘But they were all killed during the hijack. Only you are left alive.’
‘I think so.’
Hari was amazed that he could speak so calmly about his dead.
‘Your pursuers tell a somewhat different story,’ Ma Sakitei said.
‘You have spoken to them?
Similar Books
