"There is no indication of this in my information."
"Perhaps because it is not a machine thing. They can't program what they lack. It's like lacking a soul."
"A mythical concept useful mainly to keep ignorant peasants in line."
He blew out his cheeks in another Havoc mannerism. "My work is cut out for me. I shall have to persuade you that you need this quality of personality."
"You would have to change my programming. Only the machines can do that."
"Qualification: only the machines can change your programming. But I can satisfy you that you need that change."
"If you do, you will merely cause me to desire what I can never have. I doubt that this is your intention."
"It is not my intention," he agreed. But she knew that she did not properly understand his full intention. This was no simple incidental creature. He was a dangerously powerful Glamor of a species that threatened the orderly schedule of the machines. She knew she should be afraid of him. But fear was another emotion she lacked. She couldn't afford to let such a thing inhibit her at such time as she had to tackle some serious challenge.
All of which seemed irrelevant to the situation of the moment. "Further dialogue of this nature seems pointless."
"At the moment." Again, he was conceding nothing of substance.
"What else do you have in mind for me?"
"You will need to see the near future paths."
"I can't do that. Only the far future, and that not well."
"The different ranges seem to be mutually incompatible. But it may be a matter of tuning. We shall try to adapt your far-future circuits to near-future orientation. That will help you enormously in relating to living people."
"Doubt."
He took her hands in his and gazed into her face. "Focus."
She looked into his eyes. Their black irises seemed to become dark pools. She felt as if she were falling into them, discovering a nocturnal passage beyond them. She was plummeting down that tunnel. "Disorientation."
"Hypnosis. Here are the paths."
And she saw a series of parallel pictures, of the two of them standing there, holding hands and locking their gazes. Each picture diverged into other pictures, which in turn diverged, until there was such a welter it was impossible to track any individual one.
The vast majority were identical, or almost so, but a few differed. She focused on one of the different ones, and saw how it led to the separation of the two of them earlier than was the case with the majority. In that sequence she turned around and walked out the door.
But then that sequence changed. Warp went to the door to block her way. She tried to dodge around him, but he intercepted her regardless. She could not avoid him.
Then they were back facing each other. Warp broke their connection. "What was that?" she asked, dizzy.
"I lent you my near future paths seeing. We followed one. You could not avoid me because I can see the paths and you can't. I saw what you would do, and chose paths to block it. But if you could see them, you could counter me as readily as I countered you. That is why you need this seeing."
"Need it for what? To counter you?"
"To counter any ordinary person, especially any who mean you harm. To find the best path through the maze that is ordinary human interaction. It is an immensely valuable ability."
"Awe. I wish I could have it."
"You can have it. I will teach you. In the course of our month's association."
"We are together a whole month?" she asked, not pleased. "You are my chore this month, yes."
"As I was Ennui's chore last month."
"Affirmation. She spoke well of you."
"She's a good woman."
"Affirmation. Now you will meet another good woman."
"Question?"
"The lady Symbol."
"Havoc's former mistress, and one he values still."
He nodded. "When Pa and Ma adopted us, Ma was already pregnant with Voila. She had to use a magic amulet to freshen her breasts immediately. But there were three of us, and only two breasts. So Symbol nursed Flame, and sometimes Weft and me." He smiled fleetingly "Flame is a level-headed woman. But don't say anything to her to disparage Symbol. She might scorch you before she thought."
"And that is literal." It was in her background data: the red-headed baby was a flame hurler before she expanded to full Glamor powers.
"Also: Symbol carried Voila's ikon, but had to give it up when we battled Earth. For her, it was an enormous sacrifice, but she did it willingly. She remains uncommonly close to Voila. We treat her with respect."
"Understanding."
"I will take us there. Then I will show you the near future paths. Try to fathom the best one."
"Warp," she said, disturbed. "The near future paths are what the machines lack, and want so badly they will spare your entire culture for Voila's services. If I should actually be able to learn to see them, the machines will in due course have that from me. I don't think you want to do this."
"I share your doubt," he said with surprising candor. "But Idyll says this is indicated."
"But Idyll can see only up to a month—the intermediate future. The consequence of this is beyond that time."
"There are devices of seeing that enhance the limits. Ma discovered a way to triple them, if we go to the plant culture world. Voila works with Idyll, and they have followed this three months ahead. This is the course."
"Maybe Voila plans to make the deal with the machines, and this will facilitate that."
"Doubt."
Shee shrugged. "I merely try to understand. This near-future-paths business is complicated for me."
"Agreement." He took her hands, and they were standing on a path in a forest. Ahead was a glade with a picket fence enclosing an absolutely lovely flower garden. Amidst the riot of flowers was a picture-perfect cottage. "Now see the paths."
She saw them, with his guidance. Most had them going to the door and meeting a lovely woman.
Most were awkward. One was less so, though it surprised her. The timing and result differed.
The seeing ended. "What's his name?"
"Haven. He's her fourth, conceived first."
"Named after Havoc, surely." For Havoc would be the father.
"Affirmation."
They waited a few minutes, until relating to the different path. This one was timed for when Symbol was occupied in the bathroom. Then they walked to the house; Warp stood back while Shee knocked on the door. It opened and a five year old boy faced them.
Shee dropped to her knees and hugged him. "Hi, Haven. I am Shee. I come to see your mother." She kissed his forehead and let him go. She felt ridiculous, but this was literally the path to success.
The boy smiled shyly, clearly fazed by the hug and kiss. Already he took after his lusty natural father. He turned and ran into the house. As he ran, he faded from view.
"They're Air Chroma, naturally invisible," Warp murmured. "They appear to us only by illusion. It's not perfect with the children. They forget when distracted."
"Comprehension," she said, smiling.
In a moment a beautiful older woman appeared. "Who?" Then she saw Warp coming up behind. "Warp!" He had resumed his own identity.
"Symbol, this is Shee—S H E E—who is to be Havoc's new mistress."
"Expletive! I don't want to meet her."
"Too late," Warp said. "Haven likes her."
Indeed, the boy, visible again, had come up to hug Shee's legs, now that she was standing.
"Obscenity!" But Symbol was smiling ruefully. "You always did know how to get around me, Warp, even as a baby." She kissed him. "Come in."
"We used the near future paths," Warp said.
"Which is how you knew how to get around me. All of you Glamor brats did." Symbol was mortal, but clearly had no awe of the royal Glamors. She had nursed them and changed their diapers. Shee envied her that status.