There were three Kiint in the water, Nang and Lieria, a pair who worked in the Laymil project Physiology Division, and a baby. Tranquillity had reported its appearance as soon as Ione woke up that morning, although the personality refused to show her its own memory of the birth, which had come sometime in the night. Would you like recordings of your labour pains shown to xenocs simply because they were morbidly curious?it asked sternly.
She had acquiesced with bad grace.
The baby Kiint was about two metres long, its body more rounded than the adults and slightly whiter. The legs were a metre high, which brought the top of the head level with Iones. It was clearly having a rare old time in the water. The tractamorphic arms were formshifting at a frantic rate, first scoops, then paddles slapped about to raise sheets of spray, now bulblike pods which squirted out jets of water. Its beak was flapping open and shut.
The parents were patting and stroking it with their arms as it charged about in circles. Then it caught sight of Ione.
Panic. Alarm. Incredulity. Thing has not enough legs. Topple walk. Fall over not. Why why why? What is it?
Ione blinked against the sudden wash of jumbled emotions and frantic questions that seemed to be shouted into her mind.
Thatll teach you to creep up on entities,tranquillity said drily.
The baby Kiint butted up against Lierias flank, hiding itself from Ione.
What is it? What is it? Fear strangeness.
Ione caught the briefest exchange of mental images that the adult Kiints directed at the baby, an information stream more complex than anything shed known before. The speed was bewildering, over almost as it began.
She stopped with her feet in the warm, clear water and gave the adults a small bow. Nang, Lieria, I came to offer my congratulations on the birth, and to see if your child has any special requirements. My apologies if I intrude.
Thank you, Ione Saldana,lieria said. there was a suggestion of lofty amusement behind the mental voice. Your interest and concern is gratifying, no apology is required. This is Haile, our daughter.
Welcome to Tranquillity, Haile,ione told the baby, projecting as much warmth and delight as she could muster. It came easily, the little Kiint was so cute. Very different from the solemn adults.
Haile pushed her head comically round Lierias neck, huge violet-tinged eyes looked steadily at Ione. It communicates! Alive think.
There was another fast mental communiqu from one of the adults. The baby turned to look at Nang, then back at Ione. The tumult of emotions leaking into the affinity band began to slow.
Formal address wrongness. Much sorriness. Greetings ritual observance.the thoughts stopped abruptly, almost like a mental gathering of breath. Hello Ione Saldana. Rightness?
Very much.
Human you are?
I am.
I Haile am.
Hello, Haile, Im pleased to meet you.
Haile squirmed round excitedly, water frothed around her eight feet. It likes me! Happiness feel much.
Im glad.
Human identity query: Part of the all-around?
She means me,tranquillity said.
No, Im not part of the all-around. Were just good friends.
Haile surged forward, ploughing the water aside. She still hadnt quite got the hang of walking, and her rear pair of legs almost tripped her up.
This time Ione could understand the adults warning perfectly. Careful!
Haile stopped a metre short of her. Warm breath exhaled from the facial vents smelt slightly spicy, and the tractamorphic arms waved about. She held her hand out, palm facing the baby, fingers spread. Haile tried to imitate the hand; her attempt looked like a melted wax model.
Fail! Sorrowness. Show me how, Ione Saldana.
I cant, mines always like this.
Haile emitted a burst of shock.
Ione giggled. Its all right. Im very happy with the way I am.
It is rightness?
It is rightness.
There is so much strangeness to life,haile said wistfully.
Youre right there.
Haile bent her neck almost double to look back round at her parents. The fast affinity exchange which followed made Ione feel woefully inadequate.
Are you my friend, Ione Saldana?haile asked tentatively.
I think I could be, yes.
Will you show me the all-around? It has a vastness. I dont want to go alone. Loneliness fear.
It would be a pleasure,she said, surprised.
Hailes arms hit the water sending up a giant plume of spray. Ione was instantly drenched. She pulled the wet hair from her eyes, sighing ruefully.
You have no liking of water?haile asked anxiously.
Ill have you know Im a better swimmer than you.
Much gleeful!
Ione,tranquillity said. The Lady Macbeth has just emerged from a ZTT jump. Joshua has requested docking permission.
Joshua! Ione shouted. Too late she remembered Kiint did have auditory senses.
Hailes arms writhed in alarm. Panic. Fright. Joy shared.she shied back from ione and promptly fell down.
Oh, Im sorry, Ione splashed towards her.
Nang and Lieria came up and slipped their arms under Hailes belly, while the baby Kiint coiled an arm tip around Iones hand. She tugged.
Query Joshua identity?haile asked as she regained her feet and stood swaying unsteadily.
Hes another friend of mine.
More friends? My friend? I meet him?
Ione opened her mouththen thought about it. Away at the back of her mind Tranquillity was registering a serene hauteur.
Ione closed her mouth. I think well wait until you understand humans a little better.
It was almost an infallible rule that to be an Edenist a human must have affinity and live in a habitat; certainly every Edenist returned to a habitat for their death, or had their thoughts transferred to one after death. Physically, the bitek systems integral to their society were capable of sustaining a very high standard of living at little financial cost: the price of steering asteroidal rubble into a habitat maw, the internal mechanical systems like starscraper lifts and the tube carriage network. Culturally though the symbiosis was much more subtle. With the exception of Serpents, there were no psychological problems among the Edenist population; although they displayed a full emotional range, as individuals there were all extremely well adjusted. The knowledge that they would continue as part of the habitat personality after bodily death acted as a tremendous stabilizing influence, banishing a great many common human psychoses. It was a liberation which bestowed them with a universal confidence and poise that Adamists nearly always considered to be unbridled arrogance. The disparity in wealth between the two cultures also contributed to the image of Edenists being humanitys aristocrats.
Edenism, then, was dependent on habitats. And bitek habitats were only to be found orbiting gas giants. They were totally reliant on the vast magnetospheres of such worlds for power. Photosynthesis was a wholly impractical method of supplying a habitats energy demands; it necessitated the deployment of vast leaf-analogue membranes, and the numerous difficulties inherent in doing so from a rotating structure, as well as being unacceptably susceptible to damage from both particle impact and cosmic radiation. So the Edenists were confined to colonizing the Confederations gas giants.