The Sinners of Erspia

“Indeed? Why not?"

Placing down his cup, Kwenis fidgeted, and then sighed. “As a guardian of Ormazd, I am unable to lie.

We would have obeyed Klystar's instructions and switched off our projector, no matter what it cost us.

But the Ahrimanic servitors were of a different mind and refused to do so. We are fearful of what the consequences would be down below if only the Ahrimanic mode of thought were to operate—though, as a matter of fact, switching one or other of the projectors on again for a short period was to have constituted an additional sub-programme. So we have left matters as they are. To be honest, it is in our interest to do so."

“Oh? How is that?"

Kwenis raised his eyebrows. “Why, because we are immortal for as long as the experiment remains in force. How else could Klystar ensure that we can service his equipment for centuries? When the experiment is finished, the life-giving force is withdrawn also."

After absorbing this, Laedo snorted. “Perhaps motivation is another aspect of human behaviour that Klystar didn't understand,” he suggested acidly.

Kwenis shrugged. “Perhaps. As I said, we would have obeyed. The backwash from the projector irradiates us, you know, and makes us truthful, honest and conscientious. But with the Ahrimanic servitors it is another matter, and there I can well believe that Klystar miscalculated. It is lucky you did not fall into their hands, for one can imagine how it is with them, steeped in deceit, selfishness and hatred.

It is a wonder they have not all killed one another, but we know they are still alive, for every year they send us the obligatory signal. Klystar, no doubt, saw to their survival. As for ourselves, what harm is done? It is plain that Klystar is not going to return. We are happy here, living in harmony with one another, in benevolence, truthfulness and chastity. And our lives do not end."

“The losers, of course, are the people on Erspia, who don't have possession of their own minds."

“Neither do we,” Kwenis reminded him. “Does anyone? That was the point of Klystar's experiment. And anyway, it is better for them than if Ahriman were to reign supreme. That is the alternative."

Nodding, Laedo decided to drop the subject. It was not politic to criticise the people he was hoping would help him.

“My own star drive is broken,” he said, coming straight to the point. “Can you help me repair it? It's a simple sort of repair. Then I can be away from here—I'm sure you don't want me as a permanent guest."

“I shall have to see. Lylos, Dugas and Markeer are our technical experts. I'll ask them what they can do.

Meantime I'll show you to the sleeping quarters you can occupy while here."

He rose, then turned to Laedo, blushing slightly. “You will, of course, occupy separate sleeping quarters from your companion's. I know you have been down on Erspia where licentiousness is rife, but we can brook no such behaviour here!"

“What?” Laedo rose too, a disbelieving grin on his face. “But you just admitted Ormazdian morality is all arbitrary—the product of a machine!"

Shaking his head, Kwenis put up his hand as though thrusting away such an interpretation. “We are chaste, and kind to one another. We take seriously our role as Guardians of Ormazd."

Oh boy, Laedo thought, wouldn't Klystar like to see this! Knowledge conquered by suggestion! But he said no more, and obediently allowed Kwenis to lead him away.

The next ‘day', as the guardians reckoned time, was as frustrating to Laedo as had been his experience with the metal-worker on Erspia. The ‘technicians’ prided themselves on being able to repair the projector and any of the equipment on the station. But their repair work, he discovered, consisted of pulling out malfunctioning modules and plugging in replacements from a ready-made stock, an operation which was required on average once every ten years. Klystar, like many technically proficient beings, did not have a fetish about sophistication. The whole thing could have been handled automatically with a little built-in redundancy, or, with better components, could have been made unnecessary. From the look of the station, Laedo guessed it had been put together in a cursory, even careless, manner. Hence the human crew: they were good enough, so why take more trouble?

When Laedo showed them his broken transductor, they clucked, tutted, and shook their heads.

He told Histrina. She became depressed. Already she had promised herself a wider world than Erspia.

He detected, in her disappointment, a private fury.

“So when do we go back to Erspia?” she asked bitterly.

“We don't go back,” he said in a low voice.

“How... ?"

“There's still a star drive here. I can hope to persuade the guardians to use it."

“Or we can steal it,” she said quickly.

“I don't see how."

“No ... you wouldn't."

Her tone was contemptuous. She walked away, her bare feet leaving damp imprints on the shiny floor.