"Understanding," Idyll said. Warp remained silent, letting her handle it. She could be considerably more diplomatic than he.
"How is it that your culture accepts such a thing among you?" Vra asked.
"And we gather others?" Arv said. "Other robots."
"I think you should meet Shee, Havoc's robot mistress," Idyll said. "She is a Glamor."
The two stared at her, appalled.
"I request your trust, at least for this interview," Idyll said. "If you are not satisfied, you may withdraw your fleet, as this is a condition we did not acquaint you with before."
The twins exchanged an expressive glance. "We will meet her," Arv said grimly.
"Shee," Idyll said.
Shee appeared. "Greetings, Idyll, Warp, and twins."
The two remained silent. Warp had not seen them so alarmed before. "These are Glamors of the Twins culture," Idyll said. "Associating with Warp. They are extremely wary of self-willed machines."
"Understanding," Shee said.
"We are in a war of extinction with the machines," Vra said. "They are the enemy. They destroyed our neighboring culture, and will soon attack us. We do not understand how the human culture, aware of the threat, tolerates any self-willed machines within its demesnes."
"Let alone promoting one to Glamor status," Arv said. "The Glamors are the primary opposition to the machines."
Shee smiled. "Your confusion is sensible. When I came here, I half expected to be destroyed on contact, though I am a nexus."
"A nexus," Arv said. "In what manner?"
"This is something neither side understands well," Shee said. "A nexus is a place, person or situation that relates to the future of the struggle. The humans see the near future paths; the machines see the far future paths. A nexus seems to connect the two in such manner that it is to the advantage of neither side to terminate it unilaterally. It is perhaps like a game with rules; only by following the rules can a person or culture prevail. So a nexus is tolerated, rather than suffer the disadvantage. Each side hopes in some way to turn it to its own advantage."
"How could tolerating such a deadly device be to the advantage of the humans?" Vra asked.
"In my case, they are learning significant things about the background of the machines that may enable them to defeat the machines. But that issue remains obscure. A nexus can't be fathomed before its time. So I am here, a piece being played by both sides."
"This seems to us more like catching a bomb your enemy hurls at you," Arv said. "You do have to catch it, lest it detonate immediately and destroy you. But it remains best to get rid of it as quickly as is feasible. Why do the humans keep you among them?"
"The Glamors are not afraid of the machines," Shee said. "They demonstrate that by welcoming them to their society and using them freely."
"Them?" Vra asked alertly. "How many self-willed machines are among you?"
"Seven. Five bath girls, Ikon, and me. Havoc has taken me and the bath girls as mistresses, and Weft has taken Ikon."
"Seven bombs!" Arv said. "I realize that they may be programmed to serve human beings, and may even believe they are loyal. But they can be reverted to the machines' cause at any time, involuntarily. To keep them is suicidally risky."
"Negation," Shee said. "The Glamors have surveyed their futures, and know that no reversion takes place within a month. If the machines do revert them, we will know a month ahead, and prevent them from harming us. I understand you are learning the near future seeing technique; even if you can't see that far, you must know that this security is valid."
"We?" Vra asked. "You are not human. You are not even alive. You are an enemy machine."
"I was an enemy-crafted machine," Shee said. "But when I became a Glamor, I advanced beyond the power of the machines that made me, both emotionally and physically. They have lost me. I am a converted enemy machine, a greater potential danger to the machines than any ordinary living creature. I love Havoc, and will never betray him.
Havoc knew this would happen; that's why he facilitated my entry to the society of Glamors. The agent sent to subvert him is now his ally. He has already won this ploy of the machines, by doing what they never anticipated."
The twins were reassessing. "So do you no longer argue the case of the machines?" Arv asked.
Shee shook her head ruefully. "I still do argue the case they programmed me with. I want Voila to enlist with the machines—to save the human culture. It is the only way, because if she does, the machines will spare that culture, and Havoc and all he associates with will survive. If she does not, the machines will destroy it all. They are overwhelmingly powerful; nothing can stand against them. So I still argue their case because it is valid, and I love Havoc."
"But will he heed you?" Vra asked.
"Negation. He thinks he can fight the machines. Therefore we are all doomed. All I can do is love him desperately, the little while I can."
"Then what is the point of this discussion?" Arv asked.
"For you who have no bargaining position, you are doomed regardless whether you fight or accept it. You have a greater chance of survival if you fight. Therefore you should do it in as rational and effective a manner as possible. First, you must recognize that not all machines are your enemies."
"We think you are our enemy," Vra said.
"I am not. But I am referring to other machines. There are a few other machine cultures in the galaxy, and they oppose the conquering machines. You need to make common cause with them."
"What other machine cultures?" Arv asked.
"For example, the Bee-chines. They helped me become a Glamor, and support the living cause."
The twins exchanged another glance. "We should check this," Vra said. They were definitely wavering.
Actually, their reluctance in this respect was a strong indication of their validity as allies. Warp respected them for it.
"Queen Gale can take you there," Shee said. "Gale?"
Gale appeared. "Agreement," she said.
The twins looked at Warp. "I'll go too," he said. "Ma?"
Warp and Gale took hands with the twins, ready to conjure there. He knew the twins would change their minds. They might even become friends with Shee, in time. Regardless, he looked forward to a close relationship with them.
Chapter 18 Quarrel
Gale was no sooner back from the Bee-chines when Voila called her. Mother.
She suppressed a sigh. She had hoped for a rest, maybe some time to relax with Havoc before embarking on another mission. She conjured to Voila's room. "Yes?"
"There's a quarrel between two cultures that distracts them from the common effort. It needs to be resolved. You're the one to do that."
"No one else could handle it? I had something in mind for your father."
"He has something in mind for Opaline. He'll be done with her by the time you finish this."
"Havoc has a wife, an Earth mistress, a robot mistress, five eager bath girls, and he's fixated on a garden variety fifth peasant girl?"
"Mother, just be glad he has not yet connected with Weft."
"Yet? "
"He'll be traveling with her soon, no fault."
Gale let that pass. "What two cultures?"
"One is Fungus, the other Alga. Both covet an unoccupied planet between their systems. They are verging on war. A mediator is needed."
"Fungus? Alga? Put them together and you have lichen."
"And you are the Glamor of Lichen."
Gale suppressed another sigh. She was stuck for it.
She fetched Vila and went first to the fungus culture, after doing a spot study of its details. They were expecting her, and had a compatible environment set up within a huge dome-like chamber, though as a Glamor she could get along without it. It did make it easier for Vila, though.