18_the_end_of_the_circle-第47章

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YOU　ARE　SUCH　PETTY　AND　UNTHINKING　ORGANISMS。　NO　WONDER　YOU　CAME　TO　THE　PITIFUL　STATE　IN　WHICH　I　FOUND　YOU。

The　Elders　shot　back；　You　need　the　Flowers！

I　HAVE　ALREADY　MADE　THAT　KNOWN　TO　THE　PRAXIANS；　the　great　head　sent　forth　its　words。

What？　No！　You　must　take　them　by　surprise；　smash　all　resistance　with　your　first　blow！　The　artificial　world　must　al璻eady　be　depleted　by　construction　of　the　sphere　ships；　surely　it　could　not　sustain　a　prolonged　war。

Haydon　drew　back；　light　as　a　feather　though　he　stirred　immense　air　currents　with　his　movement。　YOU　KNOW　NOTHING。　THERE　ARE　OTHER　WAYS　TO　ACPLISH　GOALS　BESIDES　MURDER　AND　DESTRUCTION。

As　he　hung　in　the　air；　Haydon　worked　yet　another　change　upon　himself。　This　time　the　Elders　were　so　shocked　that　even　their　crotchety　sourness　of　spirit　failed　them。


Power　systems　had　long　since　been　installed　on　New　Praxis；　but　tonight's　ceremony　decreed　the　light　of　torches。

The　city　had　the　look　of　traditional　Amazonian　architecture；　which　often　reminded　humans　of　a　blend　of　classical　Japanese　and　Dark　Ages　Nordic。　Here；　though；　it　was　worked　in　local　materials；　the　rough…cut　stone　being　little　different　but　the　lumber　taken　from　Flowers　permitted　to　grow　to　massive　fruition。　Though　the　feud　wars　of　the　Praxians　had　ended　generations　ago；　their　buildings　still　had　the　look　of　fortifications。

The　importance　of　the　Second　Generation　Flowers　went　far　beyond　building　supplies。　As　the　only　plex　plant　that　would　thrive　in　Opteran　soil；　it　sustained　much　of　the　CO2…oxygen　cycle　that　made　the　planet　inhabitable。　Thus；　much　of　the　Praxians'　effort　at　recolonization　had　been　directed　at　a　third　seeding　of　the　place。

Down　the　center　way　of　their　rebuilt　city　the　Sisterhood　came　in　a　throng；　marching　somberly；　torches　held　high。　They　were　turned　out　in　their　best　armor　and　accoutrements；　weapons　sharpened　and　polished；　their　fantastic　war　helms　burnished。

At　the　end　of　the　main　avenue　of　their　old　cities　was　usually　the　Whaashi；　a　birthing　center　or　creche。　Though　the　women　warriors　knew　nothing　of　courtship；　sexuality；　or　pregnancy；　at　least　until　the　Sentinels　War；　the　monolithic　Whaashi　saw　to　it　that　their　race　endured。　It　had　always　been　so；　since　the　legend　times　of　Haydon's　appearance。

That　was　no　Whaashi；　though；　at　the　end　of　the　main　thoroughfare　of　the　new　Sisterhood　capital　of　Zanshar。　It　was　a　big　block　of　a　place；　reminiscent　of　the　birthing　places；　but　had　been　built　with　Tirolian　and　human　help…because　all　the　Whaashi　had　been　lost　when　Praxis　had　been　rent　by　planetary　apocalypse。

Among　the　Sisters　trooping　along　in　silence　with　their　fluttering　firebrands；　a　few　smaller　figures　could　be　seen…a　child　sheltered　under　the　flow　of　a　mother's　embroidered　cape　or　walking　alongside；　trotting　to　keep　up。

They　were　children…all　female。　Some　were　from　the　Praxians'　contact　with　humans　or；　in　a　handful　of　cases；　clones　of　Tirol。　But　they　were　few；　and　while　they　were　loved；　they　were　not　the　offspring　of　the　Whaashi；　and　the　rites　and　gifts　of　the　Whaashi　were　ingrained　in　the　Amazon　psyche。

The　building　at　the　end　of　the　avenue　was　another　kind　of　lifeplace；　where　the　sciences　of　Tirol　could　bring　forth　clones　of　Sisters　who　longed　for　progeny。　These　children；　too；　were　cherished　and　made　wele；　but　they　were　not　the　blessing　of　the　Whaashi；　either；　and　most　Sisters　yearned　for　the　mental　munion　with　the　Whaashi　that　brought　forth　a　new　and　destined　infant。

Waiting　at　the　top　of　the　steps　at　the　cloning　center　was　Bela；　a　rank　of　guardswomen　below　her；　also　bearing　torches。　As　the　crowd　entered　the　plaza　before　her　and　spread　out　to　fill　it；　Bela　threw　back　her　campaign　greatcloak　to　expose　her　sword　hilt；　its　grip　wound　in　golden　wire；　its　pommel　a　flashing　blue　gem　held　in　a　claw　of　black　iron。　From　the　other　side　of　her　belt　hung　a　big；　use…worn　Badger　pistol。

She　rested　her　gauntleted　hand　on　the　sword　hilt。　Out　of　the　sky　darted　a　bright　shape　of　silver…blurring　double　wing　sets。　Hagane；　Bela's　malthi；　perched　on　her　shoulder　and　gave　a　piercing　warning　cry。　When　the　Sisters　had　poured　into　the　plaza　and　there　was　silence；　Bela　spoke。

〃I　have　had　the　dreams；　even　as　all　of　you　have。　I　have　seen　the　reports　of　how　the　stars　are　disappearing　from　the　sky。　What　these　things　mean；　I　do　not　know。　Yet；　as　we　were　called　to　this　place　and　time　by　voices　within　us；　so　we　have　e。

〃Has　Haydon　truly　spoken　to　us？　I　cannot　say；　and　all　the　reports　and　messages　from　other　worlds　are　in　conflict　and　confusion。　But　the　dream　I　dreamed　showed　me　a　rebuilt　Whaashi；　even　as　it　did　you；　and…〃

She　stopped；　feeling　a　presence　behind　her。　Hagane　uttered　a　jarring　whistle　but　then　fell　uncharacteristically　silent。　The　throng　gasped；　and　Bela　turned　to　see　Haydon。　It　took　her　a　moment　to　find　her　tongue。

〃Greetings；　O　Mother；〃　Bela　cried；　and　kowtowed。　The　rest　of　the　Praxians　genuflected。

Over　them　hung　the　image　of　the　changed　Haydon；　a　Haydon　of　the　Yin　aspect。　The　conformations　of　the　blank　skull；　the　contours　of　the　vast　body　under　its　cloak；　the　very　emanations　the　figure　gave　off…these　left　nothing　in　doubt。　Haydon　was　as　Haydon　had　been　in　a　bygone　age。

The　final　proof　lay　in　the　tone　of　the　mindvoice；　unmistakably　feminine。　AS　I　SAID　I　WOULD　SO　LONG　AGO；　I　HAVE　E　BACK　TO　THE　SISTERHOOD　OF　PRAXIS。

The　figure　had　e　from　nowhere　and　might　as　easily　have　been　some　transignal　image　or　holograph。　But　the　Praxians'　inner　senses　knew　differently。

〃We　thank　you；〃　the　thousands　of　voices　murmured　together。

It　was　the　great　secret　the　Praxians　had　hidden　from　all　others；　even　their　Sentinel　allies：　the　distaff　side　of　Haydon's　Godhead　that　had　made　itself　manifest　nowhere　else　in　the　universe。

I　WILL　RESTORE　THE　WHAASHI。　AND　IN　RETURN　YOU　WILL　DO　THAT　WHICH　I　REQUIRE　OF　YOU。

Bela　had　always　considered　herself　devout；　and　the　very　thought　of　a　new　Whaashi　was　enough　to　make　her　heart　leap。　But　something　had　happened　to　her　in　her　service　with　the　Sentinels；　experiences　that　had　taught　her　that　a　leader　could　not　afford　the　simple；　open　faith　that　others　clung　to。

Thus；　when　the　glad　shouts　of　the　Amazons　died　away；　Bela　raised　her　formidable　voice。　〃We　thank　you　and　praise　yon　for　this　benevolence；　Haydon；　First　Mother！　Yet　what　is　do　nature　of　the　task　you　require　of　us？〃

There　were　some　angry　mutterings　from　her　subjects　over　her　impertinence。

GO　FORTH　NOW　AND　GATHER　IN　ALL　OF　THE　FLOWERS　OF　LIFE　THAT　HAVE　NOT　REACHED　FRUITION。　THOSE　THAT　HAVE　BORNE　FRUIT　OR　WILL　BEAR　IT；　LET　BE。　ALL　OTHERS　ARE　NOW　CONSECRATED　TO　ME。　Immature　Flowers？　〃Protoculture；〃　Bela　breathed　to　herself；　not　daring　to　say　it　aloud。　Then；　as　loudly　as　she　could；　she　demanded；　〃Why　does　the　First　Mother　want　Protoculture？　We；　who　have　fought　in　wars　caused　by　it；　must　know　for　what　purpose　it　is　intended！〃

The　objections　and　chastisements　of　the　crowd　were　louder。　〃What　does　it　matter？〃　〃You　blaspheme！〃　〃Anything！　Anything　for　the　Whaashi！〃

The　former　Sentinel　allies　had　engaged　in　open　bat；　and　the　political　brew　of　the　Local　Group　was　turning　toxic。　The　concerns　and　dangers　of　other　planets　were　no　longer　the　Praxians'　affair；　especially　since　defying　Haydon　would　jeopardize　the　granting　of　the　Whaashi。　Such　was　the　popular　sentiment　in　the　plaza。

The　singular　organ　in　the　center　of　Haydon's　forehead　burgeoned　open　and　lit　like　a　star。　Her　wrathful　voice　filled　their　minds。　THAT　IS　NOT　FOR　YOU　TO　QUESTION！　DO　AS　I　BID　YOU　OR　FEEL　MY　DISPLEASURE！

Even　more　terrifyingly；　Optera/New　Praxis　ground　like　ill璮itting　bones　under　their　feet。　The　Amazons；　who　had　already　lost　one　homeworld　to　upheaval；　moaned　their　dismay。

There　were　hundreds　of　voices　crying　out　to　surrender　the　Flowers。　Bela　drew　her　weighty；　two…handed　shortsword　from　its　scabbard　so　that　the　blade　flashed　with　light　from　the　torches　and　from　glimmering　Haydon。

〃I　forbid　it！　Not　until　we　know　the　purpose　behind　this　mandment。〃

She　had　received　word　of　the　SDF…3's　disappearance；　of　course；　and　the　events　at　Haydon　IV…conflicting　reports　that　only　added　to　her　misgivings　about　setting　free　more　Protoculture。　The　apparition　Haydon　might　even　somehow　be　the　trick　of　an　unknown　enemy。

But　the　crowd　was　not　with　her。　Their　fear　of　Haydon's　anger　and　planetary　catastrophe　and　their　need　for　the　Whaashi　were　too　great。　With　a　unified　roar；　they　swept　up　the　steps。

Bela's　personal　bodyguard　wavered；　some　of　them　more　attuned　to　the　crowd's　position　than　to　the　queen's。　But　it　hardly　mattered；　hesitating　to　hack　or　open　fire　on　their　own　Sisters；　they　went　down　under　the　wave　of　tall　fighting　women。

Bela　herself　stood　straddle…legged　on　the　steps；　sword　in　one　fist；　assault　pistol　in　the　other；　to　meet　them。　But　when　she　saw　faces　she　loved；　rades　she'd　served　with；　mothers　of　children　she'd　held　ing　for　her；　she　knew　she　could　not　do　them　harm。

The　crowd　had　stopped　short　before　her；　daunted　by　her　even　in　the　extremity　of　their　passion。

Bela　holstered　her　pistol；　sheathed　her　sword；　and　stood　with　arms　hanging　limply　at　her　sides。　The　crowd　turned　back　the　way　it　had　e。　Already　Amazons　were　organizing　harvesting　operations。　Haydon；　looking　down；　found　Her　handiwork　good。


〃And　so　the