As the party trickled in, not talking and not carrying much booty, the cheering died away. After they saw that Hatchet was not in the party, none of the Kings had much to say. Killeen just kept walking, carrying Toby through the dusty dawn light. Jocelyn and some of the Bishops came out and tried to talk but he carried Toby into his small hut and put the boy to bed.
By that time Ledroff and Fornax were speaking with the rest of the party but Killeen did not go out to them. He sat for a moment on his own bed, his thinking going like gravel sliding downhill. Then he was blinking awake hours later with blades of yellow Denixlight striking him in the face.
He judged the time by where Denix hung against a distant backdrop of dark stardust. Though he had not slept more than a few hours, he felt rested. What was left of the fatigue became a mildness that he could feel giving him a sure sense of purpose. He checked on Toby, who slept sprawled open and easy.
Seeing his son, he remembered when the spectacle of Toby’s breathing had transfixed him in this room. It had been so long ago. Seeing Toby again, but this time knowing his son would come bounding up as soon as he awoke, was worth every bit of what had happened. And worth what would come next.
Then he went outside.
It went with Ledroff much the way Killeen had expected it. He listened, nodding every once in a while to show he was paying attention, but thinking ahead. There would have to be a Witnessing, yes, he saw that. No, he didn’t want to say that he had shot Hatchet by mistake while he was trying to hit the other thing. Yes, he was sure of that. Of course he understood that this was a serious matter. Yes, the others were right, the Mantis was staying out of Metropolis. There was no threat from it right away No, Killeen did not want to see the woman Hatchet lived with and explain to her how it had happened. That would come out in the Witnessing. He would speak for himself and didn’t need Ledroff to say anything much or make a plea to the assembled Families. Of course he saw that this was a serious matter. Of course.
Ledroff had Killeen’s hut searched. Just a precaution, Ledroff said. He confiscated the small flask of alcohol in Killeen’s carrypack. Killeen chuckled quietly when Ledroff stalked out with the flask held contemptuously at arm’s length. He understood that the Cap’n meant it to be both a humiliation and a way to undercut Killeen’s status with others. What Ledroff did not know was that such things did not matter to Killeen anymore.
He went back inside but Toby wasn’t awake yet. Killeen watched his boy for a while, thinking. His Aspects sent tinny voices lacing through his sensorium, plucking at his attention. He could feel their anxiety building.
Shibo came by. They rounded up some food for their carrypacks and checked out their equipment. This habit came from the years of running; you got ready to move again, first thing after you stopped.
Toby woke up and wanted to go out. Reluctantly Killeen went along, but guided them away from Metropolis. He did not want to meet people and talk about what had happened.
They strolled into the nearby hills, saying little. Shibo confirmed Killeen’s guess. While they had slept, she said, the Mantis had spoken to Ledroff and Fornax. It had offered to shelter them in Metropolis.
The Mantis knew something of human psychology. It framed its arguments as an even bargain.
The Mantis said it would protect Metropolis, using artful deception of its superiors. It would deflect Marauders away. It would only “harvest” old people, when they were near death anyway.
In return—and here the Mantis revealed its understanding of human pride—the Families would undertake raids on selected mech cities. What they stole would provide the Mantis with barter goods. These it could use to amass wealth in mech society. Finally, neatly tying the loop, this added power of the Mantis would enable it to in turn cover the presence of the vermin humans.
Killeen was numbed by Shibo’s clear explanation. The proposition was clever. It let humanity retain some of its dignity. To a Metropolis still shocked by the loss of Hatchet, it would seem a godsend.
And Killeen could see no way to counter it.
They walked through low canyons between steep hills. Toby showed no fatigue and even dashed about, chasing the vagrant small animals who lived beneath scrub bushes.
Shibo said little, just reported what people were saying. Ledroff and Fornax had told several of the Mantis’s presence beyond Metropolis, and rumors spread everywhere.
The Witnessing to come would first take up Hatchet’s death. Then it would move to the discussion of the Mantis’s proposal.
Killeen said sourly, “I think I can predict what they’ll decide.”
“Yeasay,” Shibo said forlornly.
From up a nearby arroyo came a woman’s shout. “Hail! Killeen, Shibo—is that you?”
From behind a knot of bushes came a mech. Killeen automatically reached for a weapon and then saw that it was the manmech, last seen back at the mechplex.
“I have journeyed far, pursuing you,” the womanly voice called.
The mech was dusty, dented, and marred. Broken links hung from its treads.
Shibo gaped. “How… ?”
“I attached a tracer to Toby’s ankle. See?”
The mech gestured with an extruded arm at Toby’s boots. A tiny patch no larger than a fingernail was stuck there. “I know the ways of mech transport. I followed your trail until I saw that you had returned to your Duster. It took a while to find an air-hauler I could assume command of. But I did, and have followed you. Ruff!”
Toby laughed. “The dog mech.”
Killeen shook his head wonderingly “I’m afraid things’ve changed since we saw you.”
The woman’s voice was incongruous, coming from the mech’s speaker. “I sighted a large mech as I approached. I believe it could be quite dangerous. It moves among these hills. You should alert the human community here—”
“We know,” Toby said. “It’s the Mantis.”
The manmech went on enthusiastically, “Very well then. Still, I must follow my time-honored injunction. I remind you, humans, that I need only the correct key to deliver to you information.”
Killeen shook his head tiredly. “Don’t think old lore’s much use now. See, we—”
“No, wait,” Toby said. “Dad, ’member what that thing in the sky said?”
“What—the magnetic mind? Listen, I didn’t understand much what it said either, and—”
“We figured it said somethin” ’bout old things,” Toby said earnestly. “A city or somethin’, right?”
Killeen frowned. “I doubt it, but… let’s see, what’d it say…?”
Shibo said precisely, “Do not build a Citadel.”
Killeen smiled without humor. “Good advice, but too late. Citadels draw Marauders. Metropolis isn’t any Citadel, but it’s already built.”
Toby added, “There was somethin’ else. Right—it said. ’AskfortheArgo.’”
Suddenly the manmech cried, “Ruff! The sanctioned key! Thank you! Thank you!”
They all stared at the mech as it spun with joy on its treads, barking.
“Argo! Argo! This word is my key. It licenses me to deliver my message at last.”
Killeen asked, “Argo? Some old human city?”
“Oh no! Argo is a ship. Long ago my brothers and I concealed it. I know the place. I know where the Argo lies!”
Toby said wonderingly, “A ship…”
Killeen consulted his Face, Bud, and asked, “For oceans?” He shrugged. “No big water left on Snowglade.”
“No! It navigates between stars. The craft was completed long ago. I helped bury it. It can sail toward the Mandikini.”
“In the sky?” Shibo asked doubtfully.
“Yes! Humanity made the Argo especially to accept only human-tinged commands. I and a hundred of my brothers were charged with carrying information of its location. If humanity ever needed a long-voyager, and could not fashion one themselves, we were to speak. But only to the descendants of those who made the Argo—such as are you, since you know the key word, the ship itself!” The manmech finished with a resounding bark.