The Knights of the Black Earth by Margaret Weis, Don Perrin Page A

Commander.
Ohme didn’t want to kill the subject, who might prove useful to him later. Ohme
wanted to study the effects of the device on the micromachines in the subject’s
bloodstream.”
    “How did Ohme
manage to keep such an experiment on the subject secret?” The mechanical voice
held no inflection, but the officer could discern that his superior was
skeptical.
    “The subject was a
male, in his late twenties, and, according to the record, a Loti.”
    “Slang term for
habitual drug user, if I’m not mistaken?”
    “Yes, Knight
Commander.”
    “An expression
that has its roots on Earth. The fruit of the lotus or lotophagi, as the
Greeks termed it, was supposed to induce in those who ate it a state of dreamy
forgetfulness, a loss of desire to return home. One might almost consider the
entire human race as lotus-eaters. But they will remember their home.” The
voice was soft, ominous. “We will make them remember.”
    A pause, then the
voice returned to business. “Surely such a heavy drug user as a Loti would be
an inappropriate candidate for testing?”
    “Ohme recognized
this problem, sir, but determined that the drugs in the subject’s system would
have no influence on the micromachines and vice versa. It appears, from my
preliminary investigation of the files, that Ohme was correct.”
    The Knight
Commander was not convinced. “Ohme was a genius, there is no doubt about that,
but he did not possess the patience and meticulous mind of a good researcher.
He obviously chose this Loti because the man was convenient and not liable to
ask questions. However, we must work with what we have. What were the results
of his experiment?”
    “Unfortunately,
Commander, the exact results of the test are not recorded in the files. The
last entry is dated the day on which Ohme was murdered. It reads, ‘The
experiment has been highly successful.’ Nothing more. Bosk makes some attempt
to fill in the experiment’s results, but he was not in Ohme’s complete
confidence. Careful analysis proves that Bosk knew very little; most of what he
added was mere speculation gained from observing the test subject, who lived
and worked in Ohme’s mansion.”
    Silence from the
commlink. Then, “There is nothing more?”
    “No, Knight
Commander.”
    “Are you certain,
Knight Officer?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Damn!” said the
Commander. “We need more information!”
    Silence. The
Knight Officer, having nothing further to contribute, maintained disciplined
quiet. He made no suggestion as to their next course of action, would make none
unless he was asked. Looking out the viewscreen, he watched the planet Laskar
dwindle to a small green marble.
    A wretched planet,
corrupt, vile, he thought. But really no different from countless others in the
galaxy. Humanity trashes its home, flees it, seeks out others, and ends up
destroying them. It is only a matter of time before it will all end out here.
Then the swarm of humanity will turn their faces homeward again. Then they will
come to us and say humbly, “We are sorry.” ...
    “It would be
extremely valuable to us”—the Commander spoke suddenly and abruptly, startling
the Knight Officer—”if we could get our hands on the test subject.”
    “Yes, Commander.”
The officer brought up the file containing information on the Loti. “Bosk had
the same idea, apparently. He began to search for the man, but only in the most
desultory and haphazard fashion. He soon gave up. The subject is an Adonian, as
was Snaga Ohme. You are familiar with the Adonians, Commander?”
    “A degenerate race
of people who live solely for their own pleasure and gratification.
Intelligent, charming, and completely amoral. Ohme was typical of his breed. I
suppose this Loti is another?”
    “A hired assassin,
Commander. Specializing in chemical poisonings, as one might expect from
someone who is dependent on chemicals. Ohme kept this Loti around to perform ‘odd’
jobs now and then. Ohme surrounded himself