The City of the Sun Read Online Free PDF Page B

parasite cells can only mask their real nature...and we have the means to get behind the mask. It probably won’t pose much of a problem to us, if only....”
    “...if only we can persuade them that it’s a problem,” Nathan finished for me. I hated him pinching my punch line like that.
    I shrugged. “People do get used to things,” I said. “They may not see this stuff quite as we see it. They may like black stripes growing all over them.”
    “Well,” said Linda, with commendable pragmatism, “if the parasite really doesn’t do them any harm, they can afford to like it, can’t they? And we can afford to let them.”
    “I think,” I said, “that I’d like to reserve judgment on that issue too. Until I’ve had a much longer and much closer look. I’ve got this strong suspicion, still, that there’s a lot more to this than we’ve so far guessed.”
    “Isn’t there always?” put in Karen.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    It was a long day inside the ship, waiting for something to happen. My patience wore pretty thin, not helped by the fact that having to wear a protective suit inside precludes just about every chance you might have of being comfortable. I wasn’t convinced that the suit was necessary—it seemed to me unlikely that the parasite reproduced via aerial spores, although communal protozoa characteristically reproduce by fragmentation of the community and binary fission of individual cells. However, with something like this I wasn’t prepared to take chances. We had to take every possible measure to protect the rest of the crew from even the smallest risk.
    We didn’t particularly expect a fast decision, but by the time that Pete announced the approach of strangers dusk was falling, and we felt that they’d overdone it somewhat.
    I took a quick look at the screen to see what was happening—it was the same dark-skinned man with what looked like the same six archers in attendance. One of the archers was leading two spare mounts. Behind me, I heard Nathan say: “Suit up, Mariel.”
    “Is that wise?” I asked.
    “Mariel’s the best way we have of getting a lot of information fast,” he said. “I want to get on top of this one quickly—I want to know just what their attitudes are toward us, this parasite, and life in general.”
    “They’ve only brought two spare mounts. Maybe they’ll hold us to two visitors.”
    “In that case,” he said, “you stay.”
    Mariel had paused to hear the beginning of the exchange, but now she set off for the lock to get a suit.
    “Oh no,” I said. “This is my play as much as it is yours. Those parasites are my business...and I want to get a line on this just as much as you do. I’m coming in with you.”
    He ducked the issue. “They probably brought two mounts because they’re expecting two of us,” he said. “You can ride with Mariel...you’re the only one of us who’s had practice riding all manner of weird creatures. You help her and I’ll manage on my own.”
    He turned away as soon as he finished, not leaving me space to argue. I cursed silently and followed him, thinking: At least I get to see how you explain why we’re now all dressed up in plastic bags.
    But I was wrong. He didn’t explain. He just stepped out of the lock and went to meet our silver-clad friend as if nothing could be more natural than wearing a plastic bag. I watched the dark man/woman’s eyes narrow slightly in surprise, but he/she made no reference to the matter. Politeness is a wonderful thing.
    “You may come to the city,” he/she said. “The Ego will interrogate you. Then the Self will decide whether you are to stay.”
    Then he/she saw Mariel coming out of the lock behind us.
    His/her only comment was: “Two of you must ride together.”
    The archers were waiting with the spare mounts at the same respectful distance they had maintained during our morning meeting. But now we could approach them. I set off with an eager stride, glancing up at the dark man/woman as I