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ioning, even when the penis was visible.
Gene had used skin paint to draw a map on Mcistersinger's table. Two paralle l
lines ran east and west, and other lines cut the space between into rectan
gles. it was the inner rim of Gaea, spread out and seen from above.
"Here's Hyperion," he said, jabbing with a paint-reddened finger. "On the west
, Occanus, on the cast . . . what did you call it?"
"Rhea. "
"Right. Then comes Crius. There's support cables nunning here, here, and h
ere. Titanides live in east Hyperion, and west Crius. But there are no ang els
in Rhea. Do you know why, Rocky? Because they live in the spokes."
"What's this about, anyway?"
"Bear with me. Make him understand, will you?"
She did her best. After several attempts, he looked interested and put one or
ange-nailed finger near a dot in west Hyperion.
"This, then, would be the great stairway to heaven near the village?"
"Yes, and Titantown is next to it."
Meistersinger frowned. "Why do I see it not?"
"I got that," Gene said, in English. "'Cause I've drawed it not," he sang. Wit
h a flourish, he made another dot beside the larger one.
"How will these lines-kill all of the angels?" Meistersinger asked.
Gene turned to Cirocco. "Did he ask why I'm drawing all this?"
"No, he asked what this has to do with killing angels, and I'd like to add a
question of my own, which is, what in hell are you doing? I forbid you to g o
on with this discussion. We can't aid either side of two warring nations.
Didn't you read the Geneva Contact Protocols?"
Gene was silent for a moment, looking away from her. When he looked back, he
spoke quietly.
"Don't you remember that slaughter, or did you really miss it all? They got
wiped out, Rocky. Fifteen of these jackasses jumped. All but one died, and so
did two more that were with you. The angels lost two, plus one wounded.
"
"Three. You didn't see what happened to the third." It still made her sick to
th ink of it.
"Whatever. The thing is, it was a new tactic. The angels hitched a ride on to
p of the blimp. At first we thought the angels had made an alliance with the
blimps, but it turns out the blimps are upset, too. They're neutrals. The ang
els got aboard during a storm, so the blimp thought the extra weight was just
water. He gains a couple tons when it rains."
"What's all this 'we' stuff? Are you making an alliance? You don't have that
power. I do, as ship's Captain."
"Maybe I should point out that your ship is gone." If he had meant to wound
her, his aim could not have been better. She cleared her throat, and went on
. "Gene, we're not here as military advisors."
"Hell, I just thought I'd show them a, few things. Like this map. You can't
plan strategy without a map. Theyll need some new tactics, too, but-~"
Meistersinger made the high whistle that served as a throatclearing sound.
Cirocco realized they had been ignoring him.
"Pardon me," he sang. "This drawing is a fine thing indeed. I will have it p
ainted on my chest at the next tricity jamboree. But we were speaking of way s
to kill angels. I would be pleased to hear more of the gray powder of viol
ence you mentioned earlier."
"Je-zus, Gene!" Cirocco exploded, then controlled her voice. "Meistersing er.
My friend, whose command of your songs is poor, must have expressed h imself
badly. I know of no such powder."
Meistersinger's eyes were bland pools. "If not the gray powder, then speak to
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
me of the device for hurling spears into the air farther than the hand can t
hrow."
"Again, you must have misunderstood. Bear with me for a moment longer, pleas
e." She turned to Gene, trying for a calm front. "Gene, get out. I'll talk t o
you later."
"Rocky, all I want to do is --"
"That's an order, Gene." He hesitated. She was trained in hand combat and ha d
the longer reach, but he was trained, too, and had more strength. She was far
from sure she could beat him, but got ready to try.
The moment passed. Gene relaxed, then slammed his palm on the table and s
talked from the room. Mcistersinger had followed it with eyes that missed
nothing.
"I'm sorry if I caused bad feeling to flow between you and your friend," the
Titanide sang.
"It was not your fault." Her hands were cold now that the confrontation was
over. "I ... see here, Mcistersinger," she sang in equals mode. "Which did you
believe? Me, or Gene?"
"Face it, Rah-kee, you looked like you had something to hide."
Cirocco chewed a knuckle while wondering what to do. The Titanide was su re
she was lying, but how much did he already know?
"You're right," she sang at last. "We have a powder of violence, strong enou
gh to destroy this entire town. We know secrets of destruction that I am ash
amed to even hint at ;things that could blow a hole in your world and leak t
he air you breathe into cold space."
"We need nothing like that," Meistersinger sang looking interested. "The pow
der will do nicely."
"I can't give it to you. We brought none with us."
The Titanide had obviously considered his song carefully when he finally sa ng
again.
"Your friend Gene thought it possible to make these things. We are clever wi
th wood, and the chemistry of living things."
Cirocco sighed. "He's probably right. But we cannot give you the secrets."
Meistersinger was silent.
"My own personal feelings have little to do with the matter," she explained
. "Those who are above me, the wise ones of my kind, have said this should he
so."
Meistersinger shrugged. "If your elders command it, you have little choice."
"I'm glad you see it that way."
"Yes." He paused, again choosing his song carefully.
"Your friend Gene is not so respectful of his elders. If I asked him again, he
might tell me things that I need for victory."
Her heart sank, but she tried not to let him see.
"Gene was forgetful. He had a difficult time in his journey; his thoughts w
andered, but now I have reminded him of his duty."
"I see." He pondered again, offering her a glass of wine, which she drank gra
tefully.
"I believe I myself could construct a launcher of spears. A flexible stick,
end s tied together with a thong."
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