"That is what I came to tell you. We tried to prevent you from reaching Oak, so you would never know, but we were unsuccessful. We had not counted on a Glamor defending you personally."
Yet she was suspicious. "Why didn't you just tell Havoc?"
"As a Glamor, he is immune to mental intrusion. We could not reach him. We could not warn him of the trap he was walking into."
"He knows about the fifths. How could he not know this?"
"It is subtle. We specialize in mental manipulation, and so were able to fathom it."
"You're an alien culture? Why do you care what happens to the human culture?"
"The coming machine thrust is against the human culture. The following one will be against our culture. We are next in line. We would much prefer to have the humans stop the machines, as we will not be able to. If the humans are doomed, so are we."
"This is hard to believe."
"Touch me." The woman extended a hand.
Opaline took her hand. Suddenly she was in full mental contact. Everything the woman had told her was true, from her alien origin to the threat against the human culture. It was not possible to doubt.
Opaline knew she had to leave Oak, and perhaps destroy her own mind so the machines could not collect what she already knew.
"I have completed my mission," the alien said.
At that point the expression of the woman changed, becoming blank, then confused. "Where am I?"
This was the borrowed host, who had no knowledge of the message she had delivered. "You have strayed," Opaline told her. "Some alien magic distorted your awareness, but it is gone now. Go to the village and ask the Elder for help finding your way home."
"I shall do so," the woman agreed, and set off for the center of the village.
Opaline walked slowly back to the house. Could she believe what she had been told? The alien might have infused her with an artificial belief to make her do something she shouldn't. Yet how could she risk it?
She would have to ask someone she knew could handle it. Havoc. He could blank her mind to save Oak, if that proved to be necessary.
She went tearfully to Pot and Kettle. "Torment! I have been told something horrible," she blurted.
"What is it, dear?" Kettle asked.
She couldn't tell the truth. She had to confine it to part of the truth, as Havoc had done with her at first. "I may be endangering Oak, and risk hurting us all. I must leave immediately."
"Of course you are free to depart at any time," Pot said. "But we do not desire this."
"We know you mean us no ill," Kettle said. "Oak loves you, and so do we."
Opaline's tears flowed freely. "Agreement. But—but it is as if I carry a bad disease, that will spread and kill you all. I must go."
They saw the way of it. "Will you return?" Kettle asked.
What could she say? "If I can. But I may be—changed." She hugged Pot, and Kettle, and finally Oak, who of course didn't understand. Then she quickly packed her backpack, donned her traveling clothes, and set off for the village.
The Village Elder was in charge of travel arrangements. The woman who had hosted the alien was there, awaiting someone going her way. Opaline approached them.
Then a Black Chroma man appeared, entering the village from the opposite path. He was astonishingly dark, from skin to clothing, causing children to stare. They seldom saw full Chroma folk here. "A greeting, Elder," he said courteously. "I am Fifth." He smiled. "That is my name, and my status. I am actually an undesired fourth."
A fifth? Opaline wondered, as he did not at all resemble her. It wasn't just a matter of Chroma; nothing matched.
"Acknowledged," the Elder said. "What is your business here?"
"I am out of my Chroma, as you can see, and have no magic here. I wish to have a traveling companion, male or female."
"Destination?"
"Triumph City."
The woman shook her head. "That is not where I'm going."
"But it is for me," Opaline said.
The Elder looked at her. "You are traveling, Opaline?"
"Regretfully," Opaline said.
"Return soon. We like you here."
"I wish I could. This trip is not my choice." Opaline struggled to keep the tears at bay. Now that she had to leave it, she was realizing how much this community of Nonesuch had come to mean to her. She was accepted and respected as an adult. And of course Oak needed her. What would become of him?
"Will you travel with me?" Fifth asked. "I assure you I am of good character, but I am not well conversant with nonChroma conventions."
"Can you protect me?"
"I have a Chroma stone to use in emergency."
This was almost too convenient. But she knew better than to try to travel alone. "I will travel with you."
"No fault?"
That took her aback. Of course it would be no fault. She was now sexually experienced. "Agreement."
"Then let's proceed."
They started walking. When they were out of earshot of others, he spoke again. "I am obliged to make an Oath of Friendship with you."
Opaline looked at him, startled. "But we just met!"
"Our meeting is not coincidence."
That made her wary. "What is it you want of such an oath that you can't have via no fault?"
"I do not know."
She stopped walking. "You make me wary. I am not sure I should travel with you."
"Explanation: I was told by the king's daughter Voila to find you here and make the oath. She can see the future paths. She knows what I do not. The oath is not my choice, but her word can not be doubted."
"So it isn't sex."
"I would like to have sex, but I will leave you alone, if that is your preference."
She evaded that issue. She discovered that she was eager for sex with a truly responsive independent man, but she could not afford to let that govern her decision. "My preference is not to get into something I can't get out of. Friendship is for life; such an oath can't be undone. I have never made such an oath, and hope to be most careful before I do, if I ever do."
"So you understand its significance."
"I do. That is why I balk."
"King Havoc made an Oath of Friendship with an older woman he had just met, reluctantly. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life. That woman, Ennui, has essentially run the planet for twenty five years and is his most trusted adviser."
"I have not heard of her."
"That is the way she prefers it. But if you should try to see the king in Triumph City, you will have to go through her."
"I do mean to see the king there."
"And I mean to see the queen there."
She laughed. "We seem to share big ambitions. But this is not oath-worthy."
"Voila required her father to make the Oath with the ruler of Earth, Monochrome. Neither wished to, but now she is his official mistress, and they are very close."
Opaline was impressed. "I met Monochrome. She's nice."
"Affirmation. How may I persuade you?"
Opaline considered. "Somehow you have. I agree."
"I proffer you the Oath of Friendship."
"Acceptance."
"There remains the question of no fault travel. Do you prefer it to be pristine?"
"Negation. Sex is expected."
"As you wish." They walked on.
"Perhaps we should come to know each other," she suggested.
"Suggestion: Shall we exchange capsule histories, then go from there as we choose?"
"I am Opaline, of Sourberry Village. I am a fifth."
"Question?"
"I think it differs from you. It is a classification for synthetic people, that is, made, not born. We all have the same orange eyes, marking us, and all are adopted by families who want more than four. We are otherwise mostly normal, but there is some discrimination and it can be awkward to find marriage partners. So I set out for Triumph City, where things are more liberal. The Minstrel Hayseed came to accompany me."