Free Nancy Kress - Crossfire 02 by Crucible Page A

everything else, go in cycles. When I left Earth, good society had gone formal again.”
    Good society? What was that? wondered Alex, aware that all her life she had essentially known only one society. But that wasn’t right, was it, in light of what Lau-Wah had told her two weeks ago. Greentrees had more separate, and separated, societies than she had been aware of.
    She said to Julian, “Why did your brother say that you came to the right place when he heard the words ’consul’ and ’triumvirate’?”
    “I have an interest in the history of ancient Rome.”
    “In the empire,” Jake said flatly.
    “No, more in the military movements of the republic.”
    Lau-Wah said, “I’m afraid you will find each successive generation on Greentrees less interested in Terran history than the one before. For our young people, Earth is so remote.”
    “Understandable,” Julian said, “but regrettable. One thing Terran history teaches us is the necessity of being prepared for external attack. Mr. Holman was explaining to me the great importance of increasing fortification against the Furs.”
    Had Jake said that to Julian? Alex couldn’t remember. But certainly Jake believed it.
    Lau-Wah said, “I’m sure Jake has also explained to you the possibility that Furs may never attack here again, either because Karim’s infected shipload of Furs has neutralized the threat, or because of the great distances and time dilations involved.”
    “Which are both much reduced by the McAndrew Drive,” Julian said. “And, of course, the pronounced Fur territoriality and xenophobia argue in favor of attack.”
    How did he know so much about Furs, their ships, and the entire situation? The Terrans had only just arrived.
    “You appear to know quite a lot about us,” Jake said.
    “I have accessed your library deebees, with Dr. Areola’s kind assistance.”
    Alex laughed. “I’m surprised the deebees still work.”
    Jake said, “When did you have time to do that, Commander?”
    “Last night. Perhaps you are not aware, Mr. Holman, that I am genetically engineered to sleep only an hour or so each night?”
    Stillness took everyone.
    “Only an hour?” Alex finally blurted. “Night after night?”
    Julian smiled. “Yes. A genemod developed after you left Terra, I believe.”
    “Don’t you miss it?” The instant she said it, she knew how stupid the words sounded. Of course he didn’t miss what he’d never known.
    “I’m told a long sleep can be quite pleasant,” Julian said. “But of’ course, life offers many different pleasures.”
    “It would seem there’s a lot we don’t know about you,” Lau-Wahj said, with such grave courtesy that Alex knew he, too, disliked Julian. Jake, Lau-Wah … what did they see that she was missing?
    “I’m willing to answer any question you wish.”
    “May we have the same access to your library deebees that you have to ours?”
    “Of course. In fact, your scientists aboard the Crucible already have that.”
    “Then perhaps,” Lau-Wah said, “you can give us a brief version of life on Earth when you left it fifty years ago.”
    Ashraf Shanti had crept noiselessly into their little group. The three Greenies and Jake, who was both Terran and Greenie, waited for Julian’s answer. His eyes, Alex saw, those glittering living emeralds, reflected all light. You couldn’t see into them.
    “You are very lucky to have been born on Greentrees,” Julian said quietly, “or to have emigrated here. Very little of Earth is lefts livable. The C02 level is one point five percent at sea level, which is not breathable. Worldwide warming moved tropical diseases into northern areas, which had no defenses against them. Shifting populations led to food shortages, which in turn led to war, some of it by biological agents. When ninety percent of your ethnic group is predicted to perish anyway, you don’t mind releasing pathogens that will kill a third of your people but also a third of the enemy. One way