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There must be another mechanism working here, something we have not
previously observed. Since fractionate interval theory has never been tested
on such a large scale before, some unanticipated results are to be expected,
but this ..." He taps the screen again. "This is different. Two weeks ago,
some new effect was introduced.
"Maybe it's cumulative," Aiah suggests. "You get a certain amount of mass
into this configuration and then the effect multiplies.
Rohder draws on his cigaret, lets the smoke drift slowly past his lips while
he continues to contemplate the figures. "Could be," he says. "We're basing
this only on meter readings, and the meters are not really designed to produce
the more sensitive data we need to understand the phenomenon. However, I
think I can promise you considerably more plasm for your Strategic Plasm
Reserve than you anticipated.
Reflected columns of gold figures glitter in Constantine's eyes. "May we keep
this information between us?" he says. "I see no reason to inform the
government when all these figures are so preliminary.
Rohder shrugs. "You're the boss. But allow me to point out that if this
phenomenon continues, and if you can postpone your offensive for a few months,
I'll be able to keep it going for a lot longer. Perhaps as much as a week.
Constantine gives a minute shake of his head. "Not possible. There are
time-dependent considerations.
Aiah looks at the screen and feels a fist gently tighten on her throat. Those
considerations have to do with the six days left on the Escaliers' contract.
But Constantine is absorbed by another thought entirely. "After the war, I
want to dedicate the Plasm Reserve to work with Havilak's Freestanding
Hermetic Transformations. . . and possibly even more.
"Atmospheric generation?" Rohder's watery blue eyes gaze thoughtfully at
Constantine.
"Yes.
"You'll need some highly trained people.
"You're talking about building things out of air?" Aiah asks.
Constantine nods. "Hermetics transforms one thing into another, base matter
into food, say, or plastic. Why not a freestanding, plasm-generating
structure assembled reassembled really out of thin air?" He shrugs. "It's
not a new idea. .. . There are mages who specialize in such
transformations, in places inaccessible or dangerous for people. Reactor
cores, say.
Rohder puffs as he muses on the notion. "Those mages are too specialized for
what you have in mind. You'll need to create teams of specialists from
scratch.
Constantine gives a shrug. "One thing a war leaves is rubble, and rubble
would seem to be the perfect experimental medium. If things go wrong in
training, we create only more rubble. It seems a safe enough experiment, well
worth the risk.
"If you say so," Aiah says. "But it seems horribly complex.
"Mathematics is complex," Constantine says, "but it begins with one plus one.
Aiah turns to the golden figures shimmering in Rohder's computer display, and
feels unease roll through her mind. "Some unanticipated results are to be
expected," she says, quoting Rohder; and the others nod. Constantine's eyes
are agleam.
"One plus one," he says, "and then you keep going," and he laughs, happy in
the world of the unanticipated.
PROVISIONALS ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF BREAKING TRUCE"SIMPLE REDEPLOYMENTS," SAYS
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMANAfter the meeting, as they walk toward Aiah's office,
Constantine observes, "I understand you have paid two visits to Karlo's
Brigade and General Ceison.
"Yes." She glances up at him. "They are my army my power base, as you would
call it and I want to know them better.
"How well have you succeeded?
"Somewhat. I have asked a great many naive questions and, one Cunning Person
to another, General Ceison and Mage-Major Aratha have answered them without
condescending too very much.
He looks down at her, and the calculation in his glance belies the humor in
his tone. "I hope you will let the government borrow your army for this
offensive.
Aiah answers the glance and not the voice. "Perhaps I will, if they are not
simply to be thrown away. Ceison told me of your plans for the Dalavan Guard,
hurled in a diversionary attack against the Island.
"May we not speak so loudly when it comes to these matters?" Constantine
cautions. He lifts one brow in thought. "I wonder where your friends heard
that story. Surely not from any official briefing.
Aiah smiles and keeps her voice low. "We private armies keep track of one
another. I understand that Parq is very happy with his army's prominent role
in the offensive, but then Parq is very vain and not a general.
"Whereas you are.
"Whereas," she corrects, "I hope to be, and I listen to those who are. My
first lesson concerned the difference between an offensive and a suicide.
Constantine sighs. "Assaulting Lorkhin Island is a job best suited to
fanatics who do not measure the odds. And Parq has raised a unit of fanatics
who will be very useful as long as the war lasts, and very inconvenient
afterward. If they join their faith's long line of martyrs, both they and I
will have reason to be satisfied.
Aiah tries to view this slaughter from the point of view of one of the Cunning
People. A true daughter of Karlo and Chonah would have no qualms at two
enemies massacring each other.
Looking through the twin organic lenses of a human being, however, Aiah finds
the idea of the carnage more than a little horrifying.
But ultimately the Dalavan Guard is Parq's worry, not hers. "As long as my
army is not added to the martyrs' list," she says, "there will be plenty of
satisfaction to go around.
"Your army consists of motorized troops who will be used to exploit any
breakthrough. They will capitalize on any victory won at the cost of others."
Sharply. "I hope that will satisfy you.
"Yes, r think so.
She wonders about another private army, Sorya's Force of the Interior, a more
nebulous organization than the Dalavan Guard, and far less inclined to
self-immolation. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl karpacz24.htw.pl
There must be another mechanism working here, something we have not
previously observed. Since fractionate interval theory has never been tested
on such a large scale before, some unanticipated results are to be expected,
but this ..." He taps the screen again. "This is different. Two weeks ago,
some new effect was introduced.
"Maybe it's cumulative," Aiah suggests. "You get a certain amount of mass
into this configuration and then the effect multiplies.
Rohder draws on his cigaret, lets the smoke drift slowly past his lips while
he continues to contemplate the figures. "Could be," he says. "We're basing
this only on meter readings, and the meters are not really designed to produce
the more sensitive data we need to understand the phenomenon. However, I
think I can promise you considerably more plasm for your Strategic Plasm
Reserve than you anticipated.
Reflected columns of gold figures glitter in Constantine's eyes. "May we keep
this information between us?" he says. "I see no reason to inform the
government when all these figures are so preliminary.
Rohder shrugs. "You're the boss. But allow me to point out that if this
phenomenon continues, and if you can postpone your offensive for a few months,
I'll be able to keep it going for a lot longer. Perhaps as much as a week.
Constantine gives a minute shake of his head. "Not possible. There are
time-dependent considerations.
Aiah looks at the screen and feels a fist gently tighten on her throat. Those
considerations have to do with the six days left on the Escaliers' contract.
But Constantine is absorbed by another thought entirely. "After the war, I
want to dedicate the Plasm Reserve to work with Havilak's Freestanding
Hermetic Transformations. . . and possibly even more.
"Atmospheric generation?" Rohder's watery blue eyes gaze thoughtfully at
Constantine.
"Yes.
"You'll need some highly trained people.
"You're talking about building things out of air?" Aiah asks.
Constantine nods. "Hermetics transforms one thing into another, base matter
into food, say, or plastic. Why not a freestanding, plasm-generating
structure assembled reassembled really out of thin air?" He shrugs. "It's
not a new idea. .. . There are mages who specialize in such
transformations, in places inaccessible or dangerous for people. Reactor
cores, say.
Rohder puffs as he muses on the notion. "Those mages are too specialized for
what you have in mind. You'll need to create teams of specialists from
scratch.
Constantine gives a shrug. "One thing a war leaves is rubble, and rubble
would seem to be the perfect experimental medium. If things go wrong in
training, we create only more rubble. It seems a safe enough experiment, well
worth the risk.
"If you say so," Aiah says. "But it seems horribly complex.
"Mathematics is complex," Constantine says, "but it begins with one plus one.
Aiah turns to the golden figures shimmering in Rohder's computer display, and
feels unease roll through her mind. "Some unanticipated results are to be
expected," she says, quoting Rohder; and the others nod. Constantine's eyes
are agleam.
"One plus one," he says, "and then you keep going," and he laughs, happy in
the world of the unanticipated.
PROVISIONALS ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF BREAKING TRUCE"SIMPLE REDEPLOYMENTS," SAYS
GOVERNMENT SPOKESMANAfter the meeting, as they walk toward Aiah's office,
Constantine observes, "I understand you have paid two visits to Karlo's
Brigade and General Ceison.
"Yes." She glances up at him. "They are my army my power base, as you would
call it and I want to know them better.
"How well have you succeeded?
"Somewhat. I have asked a great many naive questions and, one Cunning Person
to another, General Ceison and Mage-Major Aratha have answered them without
condescending too very much.
He looks down at her, and the calculation in his glance belies the humor in
his tone. "I hope you will let the government borrow your army for this
offensive.
Aiah answers the glance and not the voice. "Perhaps I will, if they are not
simply to be thrown away. Ceison told me of your plans for the Dalavan Guard,
hurled in a diversionary attack against the Island.
"May we not speak so loudly when it comes to these matters?" Constantine
cautions. He lifts one brow in thought. "I wonder where your friends heard
that story. Surely not from any official briefing.
Aiah smiles and keeps her voice low. "We private armies keep track of one
another. I understand that Parq is very happy with his army's prominent role
in the offensive, but then Parq is very vain and not a general.
"Whereas you are.
"Whereas," she corrects, "I hope to be, and I listen to those who are. My
first lesson concerned the difference between an offensive and a suicide.
Constantine sighs. "Assaulting Lorkhin Island is a job best suited to
fanatics who do not measure the odds. And Parq has raised a unit of fanatics
who will be very useful as long as the war lasts, and very inconvenient
afterward. If they join their faith's long line of martyrs, both they and I
will have reason to be satisfied.
Aiah tries to view this slaughter from the point of view of one of the Cunning
People. A true daughter of Karlo and Chonah would have no qualms at two
enemies massacring each other.
Looking through the twin organic lenses of a human being, however, Aiah finds
the idea of the carnage more than a little horrifying.
But ultimately the Dalavan Guard is Parq's worry, not hers. "As long as my
army is not added to the martyrs' list," she says, "there will be plenty of
satisfaction to go around.
"Your army consists of motorized troops who will be used to exploit any
breakthrough. They will capitalize on any victory won at the cost of others."
Sharply. "I hope that will satisfy you.
"Yes, r think so.
She wonders about another private army, Sorya's Force of the Interior, a more
nebulous organization than the Dalavan Guard, and far less inclined to
self-immolation. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]