Wine of the Gods 4: Explorers Read online

  Roxy cleared her throat, and stepped up beside Jerry. "Quite apart from the government's attempts at diplomacy, I represent a company that searches for mineral deposits and mines them. The situation, with no one claiming the opposite hemisphere, leaves us a bit uncertain as to whom we should be negotiating with for mining rights. King Leano mentioned the possibility of a joint committee of all five polities to negotiate with us. I have a letter explaining our usual contracting policies, if you would be so kind as to send this to the appropriate persons. I have included a copy for your own information." Thank you Lon, for sending so many alternate sorts of letters!

  "Thank you. Miss Seabaugh, was it?" He accepted the sealed envelope and the copy with a faint nod of his head. "Mr. Hastings, Mr. Kolnavik, perhaps you should take lessons in how to sound intelligent from her. Thank you for coming by, it has been most enlightening."

  Roxy headed for the door.

  Jerry gave it one more try. "We might trade for horseless carriages."

  "Noisy, smelly, ugly. Go away."

  The DONA Agents reluctantly joined the general exodus.

  Outside he scowled at Roxy. "It's not a good idea to undermine each other like that."

  Dr. Galina snorted. "Jerry, you are your own worst enemy. You are talking down to these people as if they are little children. Find some common sense and talk to them as if they were honest to god human beings, some of them considerably smarter than you are."

  "They are primitives." Jerry snapped, and sat in the rear passenger seat, no doubt trying to emphasize that Roxy was a mere company driver. Rae took the front seat, leaving Ivan to join Jerry in the back. Like a child.

  Once they were moving, Rae happily removed sticky spots from her hands and sealed them in plastic envelops, carefully filling out labels. "DNA samples," she said. "Every time I touch someone, I collect cells. I should have thousands, by the time we head home. I just wish I had my equipment here, so I could analyze them."

  Ivan snorted. "Where's everyone else, today?"

  "Farnsworth is at the bank. He used opening an account as an opening to find out all about their monetary system. Anne Jenkins is back at the farmer's market. I doubt we'll see much of her. Meyers and Prescott are walking around listening to people, jaws dropped in amazement or something." Roxy glanced back over her shoulder. "Are you understanding everything they say? I can translate if you need me to. You should have said something." She turned up their alley and swung into the 'stables'.

  Jerry waved that irritably away. "We're both experienced at picking up new dialects. These guys are easier than most English derived cultures." He thumped into the house, taking his ire out in stomping around. "That wasn't worth waiting almost two weeks for."

  Ivan sighed. "He was right about that speech, though. Let's see if we can fix it, before we talk to the Auralians, next week."

  "We're not allowed to fix the speeches."

  Julianne stuck her head over the balcony railings. "Either Scott or I had better go with you. Their language is a hodgepodge of English, Spanish and Arabic."

  Roxy nodded. "Yes, Please. Do you think they'll have a problem with a letter in Merican?"

  "I expect they'll get the gist of it. After all, they deal with the Kingdom all the time."

  The Auralian Ambassador got to his feet and walked around the group, looking them all over. Finally he shook his head. "After that bombastic tripe, I was tempted to punish your presumption in so addressing the direct representative of the Amma by keeping one of your women, but they are too old. I wouldn't insult my gardener by sending one on to him." He stopped and stepped into Jerry's personal space. "But one can always use another eunuch. So mind your tongue."

  Roxy repeated her Company spiel, and sat the letter and copy on the Ambassador's desk.

  He sniffed. "A woman, doing business? How unimpressive." He sat back and spoke to the group, using as many foreign words as he could. The gist seemed to be that he thanked them for the forewarning of what sort of people the Earthers were, judging by the representatives they sent. He expressed considerable lack of interest in either diplomatic relations or mining agreements.

  He bared perfectly straight white teeth. "Unless, of course, you are offering me weapons."

  "Weapons?" Jerry recoiled.

  "I understand that you want a single government to negotiate with. Let's not be naive. The proven method is though warfare. If you want a single ruler, let's talk about what weapons you have, how many you will be 'selling' us and how many men you will send to train the Amma's army in the new methods."

  "We do not arm natives! Not ever!"

  The Ambassador grinned ferally. "Really? I think that's enough. Leave me."

  Jerold glumly rewatched the vid of the meeting. It hadn't been pretty.

  Scott and Julianne were shaking their heads over it.

  Scott was explaining. "He was using Arabic and Spanish words to insult you. All the English was unobjectionable. There he called you stupid. There that you were born a Eunuch. There a whore. That phrase implied your mother was into bestiality."

  Julianne was frowning at the vid. "His whole attitude was amused, arrogant and knowing."

  Jerry nodded. "At least the Veronans were merely skeptical. But I couldn't even interest them in the gyps. 'Noisy and smelly' they said."

  Ivan knocked and walked in. "Some possible good news. We've all been invited to the Cove Islands Embassy for a party. The anniversary of their current king's ascension to the throne. Maybe we can actually talk to people, instead of playing these games, one upping each other."

  They stared at him. Jerry shook his slowly. "Ivan, haven't you ever been to an Embassy party? It's all one-upmanship. And you Ladies had better beware. Trying to compromise your reputations is fair game."

  "Worse than that would be a reputation of being unfashionable. Frumpy." Julianne frowned. "How are we doing for funds? We are all going to need clothes. Let me talk to Mrs. Groiter about styles and who to see for a really top quality gown."

  Jerold gritted his teeth. "Are you going to use embassy or company funds? Oh, never mind. We're all in this together, and the amount of work the four of you are doing for DONA is enormous."

  Roxy sniffed. He'd have no idea how often he was being insulted without Scott and Julianne. Anne Jerkins was spending her time down in the Native market, learning about farming and middle to low class tradesmen's culture. Farnsworth had gotten an introduction to a banker and broker who dealt with financing large projects, insuring them and underwriting ones they weren't directly involved with. He was very impressed with their financial system. Jerold had to know his report home, however disappointing diplomatically, was going to be an excellent in-depth look at this society. The main holes, in fact, were the upper class, religion and the teleporting. The "magic" that those four "gods" could do. Rae was tearing her hair out, with all the samples she'd collected, and her laboratory half a world away. She was certain that the "magic" had to be genetically conferred. Roxy was keeping what she considered a healthy skepticism. There could be a high tech explanation, and these people either didn't know it, having lost the ability to build it, or perhaps they kept their position at the top of this society by pretending they did magic. She rather leaned toward the later, it would explain a lot.

  Jerry cleared his throat. "Right. Well, this party may give us some contacts in the upper class, which would be useful. Right now, I think I'll take a drive down to that 'Temple of Ba'al.' It's that place the Romeo guy teleported to, here in the City. We really ought to find out what happened. Everyone swears by these 'Old Gods' but that ruin is the only church I've ever seen." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "More than half our time is gone and we've spoken to only three of the five governments on the planet."

  The front door slammed and Rae came in grinning. "I just saw Never and Question. They're here on business, and I invited them to come see the embassy when they're done, which should be in about three hours."

  Jerry nodded. "Ma
ybe they know something about Ba'al." He stomped out.

  Roxy hesitated, unsure of the wisdom of letting him go out alone. Lon would have a fit. Especially since they'd all been ignoring that rule, once they got used to the city. But those ruins . . . She sighed and headed for the door. She flagged down a cabby with a light weight trap pulled by a single horse. Once one got used to the overall horsey smell of the place, it was quite a nice city.

  The cabby dropped her off at the front gates of the ruined church and left immediately. Roxy wondered if she wasn't breaking one of Lon's rules herself, coming here alone, but Jerry's gyp was parked in the shade of a big tree to one side of the main building. She trotted up the steps and peeked through the open doorway.

  The building was one huge room. Circular, with tiers leading down perhaps ten meters to the central floor. Toward the back of the circular floor, four steps enclosed a raised square platform, and at the back of the platform, a thick square column of black rock rose until she was looking slightly up, from where she stood, at an ornate golden throne. Jerry was looking at something on the steps up to the square platform. He looked around at her footfalls.

  "Yeah, I know. Never go out alone. But look at this weird thing."

  It was a statue. It lolled on the steps, naked, a bit more than life size.

  "Looks like someone needs to go on a diet." She tapped the bronze arm, but didn't raise a sound. "And perhaps surgery. Although I suppose the over abundance of testicles is probably symbolic of fertility or virility."

  "It's an incredible work of art. Look at the detailing of the musculature. He's strong, as well as a bit fat. And as you say, symbolic."

  "The Great God Ba'al is not a symbol. He is the god himself, made metal, to serve his worshippers through the ages."

  They both turned and eyed the woman, up on one of many hanging balconies above ground level.

  "What happened?" Roxy waved at the charred ceiling, the partial collapse had obviously been long enough ago for the floor to have been cleared.

  "Two witches ensorcelled the god, and goaded him into a rampage through his followers. They were evil women, the Black Goat of Scoone served them, fought with them. Finally the god broke free and stopped himself from harming any more people."

  "By turning back into a statue?"

  "Yes. We moved him back here, and he is slowly reforming into his usual self." The woman smiled thinly. "I see you doubt me, but come every week and see for yourself if the god does not move."

  Roxy edged nervously toward the door.

  Jerry eyed the woman. "We're here to establish diplomatic relations. I'd like to talk to your religious leaders."

  "I am the Divine Bride of the God, General of his Armies. Speak."

  "Erm, I assume you mean army of faithful followers, not fighters."

  "All the faithful are trained to defend the church. The King has dismantled our Army, but when the God calls them, they will return, trained soldiers and officers alike."

  "You seem to be the only religion on the world. My government is a strong supporter of religious freedom. We like working with religious leaders, who can carry our words to the populous."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I will deliver my people to you? Convince me that your government would be better for the god than the King and his Council."

  Jerry 's shoulders relaxed, and he beamed at the woman. "It is our policy, in taxing our subject worlds to first give ten percent to the Church."

  "Ah. Taxes. You speak as a conqueror, rather than a trading partner. The God bows to no one, and admits no superior power. I will wait and see what you and your government actually do, and consult with the god before speaking further. You should go now."

  Roxy headed for the door, and glanced back at the lagging Jerry. The lolling statue seemed to be frowning in their direction. Larger than life size, or should I say, about the size of the Auld Wulf, who also claimed to be a god?

  Back at the 'embassy', Roxy followed the high pitched voices.

  "Hey, Roxy. You guys having fun in town?" Never looked cool and self possessed in something that looked both businesslike and feminine in cream, with dark blue accents. She must have just arrived, she was still carrying a leather briefcase.

  Julianne flushed. "I think we've been getting a taste of our own medicine. The Veronians looked at us like we were dirty, and the Auralians treated us like clever little talking monkeys. Farnsworth is having the most fun. He got a recommendation from your Wolf person to a banker. He says your monetary policies are all very conservative, and the banks well run. Anne has talked to the city planners. She still can't believe that a city that depends on horsepower can be this clean."

  "It takes work. And composting, and hauling it outside the city. Good for the soil, in the long run. Have you sorted out all the languages?"

  "Oh, that was interesting. Pity the Auralians are so . . . Well, their language derives from English, Spanish and Arabic. It uses mostly casual English grammar, with added vocabulary from the other two. It's fascinating. The Cove Islanders are English derived, but different than Western English. And Veronian English, which has a few more Spanish and Arabic words added, even uses a few grammar rules from Spanish. If it weren't for the disastrous diplomacy, I'd be happy as can be."

  "Well, perhaps if the next contact is a bit more polite, we can start some useful trading. Possibly lease mining rights, which I understand is a major consideration. I'm sure we'll want many of your machines, so trade would be advantageous for both of us."

  Julianne snorted. "Don't count on getting the good stuff. They only trade trash to natives."

  Never sighed. "The attitude is seriously engrained. You lot need a serious shaking up. I just hope we don't have to be the ones that do the shaking."

  "We could sell you fertilizer and pesticides. Increase your crop yields."

  "Umm, I did mention all the horse manure. We add nitrogen as well. And then we use magic to keep the pests down. Almost everyone has enough magic to keep the bugs away. It's a very low powered spell."

  "I did notice the nice produce." Julianne sighed. "When I asked, everyone just shrugs. 'It's the summer dance that does it.' Or 'Dad's way too mean to let bugs into his garden.' Really, it's sad the way you lot believe in your magic. Do you worship Ba'al? Jerold's been looking into the Church. It seems like it's the only religion you have."

  Question scowled. "Hideous thing, I wish he was dead."

  Never wrinkled her nose. "I don't want to get into a long discussion about Ba'al. It's complicated. I have as little to do with Ba'al as possible."

  Roxy eye the two natives. Two witches ensorcelled the god . . .

  Rae sniffed. "Everyone swears by 'the Old Gods.' But I don't see any other churches."

  "Umm. I guess we're pretty atheist. The Old Gods, well, there are thirteen of them. Let's see. The Goddesses of Mercy, Fertility and Health, and Logic. The Gods of War, Peace, Love, Travel, Virtue, Vice, Youth, Chance, Art and Just Deserts."

  "Just Deserts?" Roxy grinned, and looked around as Anne bustled in.

  "Hysterical, isn't it? Sort of like your concept of Karma, I suppose. Ba'al was supposed to be the God of Virtue, but it got all twisted around and nasty. There are still plenty of worshipers around, but if they preach, they get arrested."

  "Hmm. Attacking a religion is difficult." Anne plunked a bag of veggies on the table and started unloading them.

  "Yes, because the actual battleground is inside people's heads." Never looked thoughtfully at her. "Ba'al is something different from the Old Gods. I understand that the God of Love has a temple in Verona. Travelers give lip service to the God of the Roads. I don't think any of the others have anything even that tepid.

  "Ba'al though . . . I don't really understand, but being the focus of prayers and ceremonies, the metal statues of Ba'al collected magical power like your batteries collect electricity, and it could also be dispensed by ceremonies. Proof, not faith, drove that church, and still drives the believers."


  "Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. As long as a church is obeying the law, people can worship there." Anne eyed the native woman.

  Never nodded. "The authorities here had trouble with the believers' sacrifices to the god. Animals, no problem. Their first born son's testicles, problem. The whole child, big problem." She waved southeast, in the general direction of the temple. "The damage happened when a major ceremony involving the sacrifice of two unwilling women went badly wrong. The god was enraged by their escape and killed sixty-two of his own worshipers, as well as six soldiers who were trying to stop the rampage." The Native woman frowned, hesitated. "Rumor has it that the god was defeated, and froze in a prone position. When the believers reorganized they took the statue back into the temple. They claim it is still moving, slowly reseating itself."

  "I've heard it's an outstanding work of art." Julianne shook herself. "Move indeed! Very realistic except for umm, the excess number of testicles."

  Never wrinkled her nose. "Not my idea of art. I guess it has too much baggage for me to appreciate the workmanship."

  Roxy jumped in. "I heard it was two witches and a goat, that fought the god. Let's see, you, Question and which one of the guys turned into a goat?"

  A corner of Never's mouth quirked up. "Dydit. Lefty's much too sensible to morph."

  They all eyed her uncertainly, while her smile broadened.

  Julianne cleared her throat. "Speaking of workmanship, what do you know about women's dresses? We're invited to a party and are wondering about the proper dress."

  "I'm the wrong person to ask. But I know the right person. When I was dragged here, kicking and screaming, to be presented, Lady Florence managed to get me into the right clothing. She was utterly horrified by my going out in this, today." This was a very businesslike matching jacket and skirt, in pale wool, with a blue silk shirt the same color as her eyes.