TMV (Jim Able: Offworld Book 3) by Ed Charlton (good fiction books to read TXT) 📗

would learn otherwise.

“Show me his writings again,” said Tella. “I must learn to express things better, even more as he does. This is the game.”

They spent several hours reading the correspondence over before Tella tried again.

#

angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp

Greetings, Angara Myourn.

Perhaps you are correct, and your most clear and lucid definition of “audnir” is an end to the matter.

Then we are not wise in any regard, and our visit is most foolish. For this truth, that the people of Earth, of Neraff, and the Regdenir are different, that they have different paths to walk, that they have different concerns and responsibilities, this is obvious to all. To learn this, we could have spent but a moment in thought while still resting in our beds and never traveled through the stars.

Unless, of course, it is this difference itself that brings us.

Unless, of course, we know that we do not already possess all knowledge and all wisdom.

Unless, of course, we know that by seeking out others, different from ourselves, we can be enriched where we are lacking, and enrich where we find lack.

If we knew already the outcome before each such meeting, perhaps we would seldom need to travel. But we do not know what will happen when we travel. Angara Myourn, do you?

If in our uncertainty we travel so far, in your certainty how far will you travel?

g101VnectVlatsinVux

#

“Now we shall see what this Turcanian is made of!” said Tella, slapping a hand down on the control panel.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this,” muttered Jim, yawning.

#

g101VnectVlatsinVux

Greetings, visitors.

Perhaps you are correct, and I am corrected.

Then our ways are flawed, and for uncounted centuries we have been unknowingly crippled, awaiting only this chance encounter so that we may lean on your wisdom and your ways to make us whole.

Unless, of course, it is we who know Beauty and you who do not.

Unless, of course, it is we who are whole and you who limp your way from star to star, spreading your distorted vision as you go.

angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp

#

Jim became angry. Tella laughed again.

“He’s arguing against what he wrote before!” shouted Jim, dragging his fingers through his hair.

Tella shook his head. “He is arguing. We do not yet see against what or whom.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Remember what you learned about the Regdekol. All their writings are there, all the ideas available to all.”

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

“This correspondence is also taking place within the bounds of the Regdekol.”

“But...” Jim caught his breath. “So what?”

“It is not against himself or against us that he argues. He is laying down the philosophical justification for our meeting. They have been isolated for a long time. They need to remember that it is permissible to deal with the audnir. He is already convinced, but he must not seem to be acting individually. He needs a theoretical basis for his actions.”

“And he wants us to provide it.”

“If we cannot, he cannot. He cannot be seen to have instigated this. He is looking, perhaps, for something specific from us.”

#

angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp

Greetings, Angara Myourn.

Perhaps you are correct, and we are corrected.

Then you are the doctors to whose expertise we must submit and have our vision healed.

Unless, of course, the distortion you diagnose comes not from disease or injury but from the differences in what we have seen.

Is it possible, Angara Myourn, that others have seen Beauty elsewhere?

Is it possible, Regdenir, that you protect and serve but one instance of Beauty and that Beauty is manifest in other places in the universe?

Would this not be a glorious discovery?

Is the chance of this not worth a small consideration?

g101VnectVlatsinVux

#

g101VnectVlatsinVux

Greetings, visitors.

We have for many centuries lamented the blindness of our audnir. They look where we look, but see it not. They know what we know, and understand it not.

You suggest that you are audnir of a different kind, who do not see what we see and see something we do not, and yet who know what we know and understand what we understand.

That such a differentiation exists between audnir on our world and audnir from other worlds is not an idea with which we are yet comfortable.

As for your claim that Beauty is not unique? I must keep in mind that your voice is neither that of a child nor an audnir of this world nor a heretical Regdenir but a new voice. I should warn you strangers that tongues were burnt out for such words in days past, though I do not believe it is our practice today.

To know if this could be true would require the investigation and analysis of our greatest minds. If this could be true, the Regdenir would face a profound change. This is not a light matter. This is of deep and lasting consequence.

I do not know how best to proceed to investigate such a claim.

My colleagues and I will need to address this matter with all haste.

Continue with your proposal to land at the Berwashe Retreat House until more discussion can take place.

Rest in Beauty.

angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp

#

Tella clapped its hands together. “As you say, Jim, ‘Bingo!’”

“Unbelievable. You think we’ve done it?”

“It is done. He needs only to arrange which of his ‘greatest minds’ will meet us.”

“Do you want to orbit TMV or its moon?” asked Jim as they arrived in the Turcanis Major system.

“The moon. There is no need for secrecy.”

“We should find out what Madhar Nect has arranged for us.”

Tella nodded. “She should be prepared for me. I fear they will find me more alien than they did you.”

Jim nodded. “I’d suggest covering up as much as possible.”

“We usually do,” Tella replied, and Jim thought he detected a tinge of sadness.

#

madharVnectVlatsinVux

Greetings, Madhar Nect.

We have arrived.

I am here with Tella of Neraff, whose appearance is different from mine, but I know you’ll get along fine. How have the arrangements worked out?

Jim Able

g101VnectVlatsinVux

#

g101VnectVlatsinVux

Greetings, Jim Able.

Not good. Things, as I told you, are fluid in our government. Already, three of the officials I talked to have been moved into positions where they can no longer assist us.

Your imminent arrival has fed something of a frenzy. All are looking for