[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.What we do is, in its most basic sense,natural.Things done because there is no other choice.""Sometimes you make me feel ignorant, Mother Superior.""Excellent! That's beginning wisdom.There are many kinds of ignorance,Streggi.The basest is to follow your own desires without examining them.Sometimes, we do it unconsciously.Hone your sensitivity.Be aware of what youdo unconsciously.Always ask: 'When I did that, what was I trying to gain?' "They crested the final hill before Eldio and Odrade welcomed a reflexive moment.Someone behind her murmured, "There's the sea.""Stop here," Odrade ordered as they neared a wide turnout at a curve overlookingthe sea.Clairby knew the place and was prepared for it.Odrade often askedhim to stop here.He brought them to a halt where she wanted.The car creakedas it settled.They heard the bus pull up behind, a loud voice back therecalling on companions to "Look at that!"Eldio lay off to Odrade's left far down there: delicate buildings, some raisedoff the ground on slender pipes, wind passing under and through them.This wasfar enough south and down off the heights where Central perched that it was much warmer.Small vertical-axis windmills, toys from this distance, whirled at thecorners of Eldio's buildings to help power the community.Odrade pointed themout to Streggi."We thought of them as independence from bondage to a complex technologycontrolled by others."As she spoke, Odrade shifted her attention to the right.The sea! It was adreadfully condensed remnant of its once glorious expanse.Sea Child hated whatshe saw.Warm vapor lifted from the sea.The dim purple of dry hills drew a blurredoutline of horizon on the far side of the water.She saw that Weather hadintroduced a wind to disperse saturated air.The result was a choppy froth ofwaves beating against the shingle below this vantage.There had been a string of fishing villages here, Odrade recalled.Now that thesea had receded, villages lay farther back up the slope.Once, the villages hadbeen a colorful accent along the shore.Much of their population had beensiphoned off in the new Scattering.People who remained had built a tram to gettheir boats to and from the water.She approved of this and deplored it.Energy conservation.The whole situationstruck her suddenly as grim -- like one of those Old Empire geriatricinstallations where people waited around to die.How long until these places die?"The sea is so small!" It was a voice from the rear of the car.Odraderecognized it.An Archives clerk.One of Bell's damned spies.Leaning forward, Odrade tapped Clairby on the shoulder."Take us down to thenear shore, that cove almost directly below us.I wish to swim in our sea,Clairby, while it still exists."Streggi and two other acolytes joined her in the warm waters of the cove.Theothers walked along the shore or watched this odd scene from the car and bus.Mother Superior swimming nude in the sea!Odrade felt energizing water around her.Swimming was required because ofcommand decisions she must make.How much of this last great sea could they afford to maintain during these finaldays of their planet's temperate life? The desert was coming -- total desert tomatch that of lost Dune.If the axe-bearer gives us time.The threat felt veryclose and the chasm deep.Damn this wild talent! Why do I have to know?Slowly, Sea Child and wave motions restored her sense of balance.This body ofwater was a major complication -- much more important than scattered small seasand lakes.Moisture lifted from here in significant amounts.Energy to chargeunwanted deviations in Weather's barely controlled management.Yet, this seastill fed Chapterhouse.It was a communication and transport route.Seacarriers were cheapest.Energy costs must be balanced against other elements inher decision.But the sea would vanish.That was sure.Whole populationsfaced new displacements. Sea Child's memories interfered.Nostalgia.It blocked paths of properjudgment.How fast must the sea go? That was the question.All of theinevitable relocations and resettlements waited on that decision.Best it were done quickly.The pain banished into our past.Let us get on withit!She swam to the shallows and looked up at a puzzled Tamalane.Tam's robedskirts were dark with splashings from an unexpected wave.Odrade lifted herhead clear of the small surges."Tam! Eliminate the sea as fast as possible.Get Weather to plot a swiftdehydration scheme.Food and Transport will have to be brought into it.I'llapprove the final plan after our usual review."Tamalane turned away without speaking.She beckoned appropriate Sisters toaccompany her, glancing only once at Mother Superior as she did this.See! Iwas right to bring along the necessary cadre!Odrade climbed from the water.Wet sand gritted under her feet.Soon, it willbe dry sand.She dressed without bothering to towel herself
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]