In its own way it was a little masterpiece and I had to suppress my urge to give ironic applause. A thought struck me and I asked the Convenor for the right of reply. She agreed with some relief, to the not-quite-concealed irritation of the Representative. I walked down to the floor of the Assembly, the Representative moving to one side with ill grace. I slowly turned round, letting the members all see my face, and opened my mind to them. Most of them would not understand my thoughts without translation, but they could assess my sincerity.
‘Much of what the honourable Representative has told you of humanity is true. You are already aware of that, from your own observations going back over centuries. But he has told only a part of our story. You also know of our art, our literature, our music, our philosophies. You know we have struggled against our failings throughout our history, have constantly sought to build a better world. We have shared your most noble aspirations, have fought to uphold the standard of civilisation. Yes, we have all too often failed. But for the first time, we have a chance, thanks entirely to you. Your generous decision to reveal your existence, to offer your aid, is the most important event in the history of mankind. With your help, we can overcome our failings and make a fresh start. The request for armed forces to New Earth was entirely prompted by the threats the Representative made to the General Assembly. If you agree to his request, if you allow any saurian settlement, you will ultimately be condemning New Earth to be a battleground for an interspecies war. I ask you, do not agree to the transfer of any armed forces or weapons to New Earth, either human or saurian. Humanity once destroyed itself on New Earth. Now, with your help, we have a chance to redeem ourselves and to reach our full potential. This is the greatest boon that one civilised species has ever had the chance to offer another. Please, do not turn your backs on us now.’
At the Convenor’s request, the Representative and I left the Assembly to deliberate the issue in private. As we left the building, he turned towards me with a wordless hiss. I saw the ferocity in his eyes as he dropped his mental barriers and his mind hammered his hatred against mine. It was like a physical blow and I staggered under the assault until I recovered and shored up my mental defences, blocking the worst of his attack. He glared at me furiously. ‘Human!’ he grated in vicious disgust, then turned and hopped away. I paused to recover for a minute before making my way rather shakily back to the dwelling; fortunately, in a different part of the town from the one occupied by the Representative. Once in my room – newly fitted with a lock – I pulled the case from under the bed and took out the P.A.W.. I tipped the magazines and the ammunition onto the bed, then slowly loaded the magazines to capacity, sliding in each heavy round in turn. I pushed one of the magazines into the gun until it clicked into place, then pulled back and released the cocking handle to chamber the first round. I put on the safety catch and returned the weapon to the case.
That evening, my three friends came back from the Assembly in a mood of quiet jubilation. ‘You won!’ They chorused. ‘The Assembly has agreed not only to ban all military transfers to New Earth, but also to reject the Representative’s request for access to a slider machine!’ We celebrated with an extravagant variety of fruit and nuts – I had a wistful memory of champagne – and I sent a reassuring message to the General Secretary. We were chatting and joking together when a chilling message came from the Convenor.
‘We have just heard from our Ambassador on S2. He is being restrained, and fears for his life. If we do not do what the Rulers of S2 want, he will be killed!’
Almost immediately, another message broke through, an agonised wail from the mother of the town’s child. ‘The Representative – he has taken my daughter – he is holding a knife to her throat!’
14
The Representative was standing by the slider machine in the centre of the arena. He held the child tucked under one arm, his other hand holding a curved blade pressed against her throat. The arena was ringed with saurians, the air roiling with powerful emotions, but they dared go no closer. It was growing dark, but a gibbous moon provided more than enough light for our night-adapted eyes. I linked with Tertia, desperate to understand what was going on. The Representative growled something full of menace and intention. A brief pause, and then I heard the translation in my mind.
‘Bring the parts you have removed from the machine and switch it on. I will then release the child and leave. Otherwise the child dies!’
A sigh passed like a wave around the arena. I stepped forward from the crowd and spoke with my voice as well as my mind. ‘He lies! He knows what will happen if he goes through the slider machine while conscious. As soon as the hole is opened, the arena will be filled with his soldiers and everyone here will become a hostage! His sole aim is to get control of the slider machine.’
As soon as the translation reached him, the Representative hissed and pressed the knife more firmly against the child’s throat. She was wide-eyed and frozen with terror. I swung the P.A.W. up to my shoulder, looked through the sights and steadied the gleaming red dot on his face.
‘If she dies, you die. Instantly.’
He bared his teeth and stood his ground. It was stalemate. I tried to maintain an aura of calm certainty, but my throat was dry and my pulse was hammering. I sent a private message to the Convenor.
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘We must save the child!’
I thought for a moment then spoke to the Representative again. ‘You may leave. The machine will be started. You will then release the child unharmed and pass through the hole, which will instantly be closed. If you harm the child, you will die. If you attempt to take her through the hole, you will die. If anyone comes through the hole, you will die first – then they will. Is that understood?’
A long silence. Then a single, spat syllable. ‘Yes!’
Technicians carrying equipment hopped forwards and fiddled inside the machine. I hoped they would hurry up; my arms were beginning to ache from the weight of the heavy gun but I dared not move the aim from his face. The machine started its usual climb up through the frequencies as it warmed up. I felt myself tensing, and deliberately relaxed my trigger finger for a moment. The hole popped open. The Representative spat an untranslated word, hurled the child at the crowd and dived through the hole. A brief but satisfying flash of his agony swept across the arena before he disappeared. A technician threw a switch and the hole flicked out of existence. I released my breath in a long, shaky, sigh and lowered the P.A.W.. The parents were crouched over their daughter; a tense moment followed before their relief swept over the crowd, to be returned in great waves of emotion. The parents walked slowly away, both holding on to their child, pouring love and reassurance into her. Relief turned to joy in the arena as the realisation sank in that they had escaped two awful alternatives.