They went across the cloistered garden to the main hall— this monastery was as much castle as church—and went down a wide, curving stair. Gwen glanced about her at huge kegs and barrels, but the stair went farther—and farther, and farther. Finally a landing opened out before a simple wooden door. A monk knelt by it on a prie-dieu, reading his Office. He looked up in surprise.
"We must enter, Brother Milton," the Abbot said softly.
The monk cast a startled glance at the veiled figure beside the Abbot, then leaped up to haul open the door, protesting, "Milord. . . . this is highly irregular. ..."
"Even so. Therefore you will accompany us, Brother Milton, to still the tongue of Rumor."
"But milord—it will not speak to me!" Then Brother Milton realized what he had said and in whose presence and clapped a hand over his mouth, appalled.
"Be more cautious in the future," the Abbot admonished him, "but be not chagrined today. The lady has already guessed what lies beneath our cloister."
Brother Milton stared at Gwen, amazed, but was silent as he lit a lamp, handed it to the Abbot, and followed them through the simple oaken door, closing it behind them.
The flickering flame illuminated a small room perhaps six feet square—with a curving floor that rang softly underfoot.
Gwen looked down at the gleam of metal. Brother Milton bent to catch a handle and lifted it. A circle of metal swung back, and Gwen looked down into a lightless hole.
"Be of stout heart, milady," the Abbot said softly. "Nothing within will give hurt to any of us—though it will not speak to me, either. It has not spoken to anyone since Father Ricci left our monastery—or at least, it has spoken only to say it will not speak."
Gwen fought off a wave of apprehension and stepped through the circle, bending to catch hold of the edge. Her feet found narrow steps where she had expected the rungs of a ladder; a bright and sourceless light sprang up, and she descended with a bit more confidence.
She stepped down onto softness. Looking about her, Gwen saw that she had descended into the twenty-sixth century. She was in a ship's companionway, its carpet faded, its chrome dulled, but unquestionably modern—at least in terms of the off-planet civilization she knew. She stood looking about her, trying to accustom herself to an environment that was at once both familiar and alien.
Brother Milton stepped past her, beckoning. "Follow, milady, if you will." His eyes were wide and his face glistened; she realized he wasn't all that tranquil about this expedition either. The sight of his nervousness lent her calm; she knew there was nothing to be afraid of. This ship and its computer had been made to protect people, not to harm them. She followed Brother Milton down the companionway, the Abbot close behind her.
Brother Milton entered an elevator, whites showing all around his irises. Gwen and the abbot followed; Brother Milton pressed the top button, and the car rose. He swallowed heavily.
" 'Tis not a spell," Gwen murmured. "I would know if 'twere."
Brother Milton nodded. "I know that with my mind, milady, but not with my heart."
The car stopped, the doors opened—and Gwen found herself on the bridge. The captain's couch and console stood in the center, facing four huge screens. Between them stood the consoles and couches for the other ship's officers.
"Sit in the central chair," the Abbot advised. "It will speak to you there."
But Gwen shook her head. "I have not the right of command over such a ship as this, and the computer would know it." She moved over to the observer's couch and sat down, aware of the two monks' startled stares.
Nothing happened.
"It will not speak to any save they who sit in the central chair," Brother Milton protested.
"Small wonder that it would challenge any who sat there." Gwen frowned, thinking, then called out, "Starship's computer! An you do hear me, answer!"
"I receive and am attentive," a resonant voice answered.
The two monks started and glanced at one another wide-eyed, then back at Gwen.
"I am a descendant of the colonists of this planet," Gwen said.
"Acknowledged. Classified information is denied to all except those of administrative rank. All other information is freely available."
The Abbot watched keenly; he had come this far before. So had Brother Milton.
"I require information regarding neurology and psychiatry."
"I regret to inform you that your request must be denied without authorization."
Gwen bit her lip in disappointment. "I am worthy of such authorization."
"Valid authorization must be issued by the captain or his representative."
"The captain and his officers are long dead," Gwen explained.
"I acknowledge this datum. However, there may be those among his descendants who may function as his representative."
Gwen's mind raced. "What is the purpose of such restriction of information?"
"To avoid cultural contamination," the computer answered. "The colonists of this planet were quite insistent on preventing any knowledge of modern technology becoming widespread."
Gwen thought it through. "Then you may provide information to those who are already aware of contemporary technology and events in the Terran Sphere beyond this planet."
The computer was silent. The two monks exchanged glances, then turned back to watch, frowning.
"That is reasonable," the computer finally said. "Any person already containing such knowledge is either committing cultural contamination or is wisely refraining from doing so. Under such circumstances, my furnishing of knowledge would not contribute to further aggravation of the condition."
Gwen heaved a sigh of relief. She had made it past the first hurdle.
The two monks watched her in amazement.
"However," said the computer, "you must demonstrate such knowledge."
"Then ask questions and I shall answer."
"More is required," the computer countered. "Many such questions can be answered by deduction and conjecture. I require that you yourself pose questions demonstrating such knowledge."
Gwen frowned, searched for a question, and found one. As she opened her mouth to ask it, the computer intoned, "Such questions would constitute a breach of security. Unauthorized personnel might memorize the answers and present them as proof of right to know. Please hold while security measures are instituted."
"What manner of measures?" Gwen asked, alarmed, but a blue light lanced down from the ceiling, enveloping her in a transparent cone.
The two monks' mouths opened in a shout of alarm and they came plunging toward her—but she could not hear them.
The blue cone winked out. "Session will be terminated if security precautions are not observed," the computer said.
The Abbot reached her first. "Are you well, Lady Gallowglass?"
"I am unhurt, Lord Abbot." Gwen smiled. "It is but the computer's means of assuring that our conversation shall not be overheard. I will ask you to bide in patience—and to pardon me for excluding yourself and Brother Milton from this event."
Brother Milton looked uncertain; so, for that matter, did the Abbot—but he stepped back, nodding, though doubtfully. " 'Tis not you who do exclude us, but the machine. Well, we must abide it—but if you are in the slightest distress, Lady Gallowglass, you have but to beckon."
"The subject will not be harmed," the computer assured him. "Please withdraw from the area in question."
Reluctantly, the two monks stepped back, and the blue cone sprang into being again.
"Please ask a question demonstrating knowledge of the modern world," the computer said. "The gentlemen who accompany you will hear neither your voice nor my own."
"Well enough." Gwen pondered. "Art you conversant with events occurring in the Terran Sphere since this planet was colonized?"