Wyst: Alastor 1716 Read Online Free

Delfin’s
fervor.”
    Orgold spoke for the first time, in plangent disgust: “We
sound like a gaggle of cackshaws.”
    The Connatic said reflectively: “A thousand a week in a
population of three billion is not a large percentage.”
    Orgold replied in a business-like manner, which affected the
Connatic more favorably than did Orgold’s coarse and vaguely untidy appearance.
“Our facilities already are overextended. At this moment we need eighteen new
sturge plants—”
    Lemiste helpfully inserted an annotation: “‘Sturge’ is raw
food-slurry.”
    “—a new deep layer of drains, tanks and feeders, a thousand
new blocks. The toil involved is tremendous. The Arm-bins do not wish to devote
whole lifetimes to toil. So steps must be taken. First, and perhaps least—if
only to quiet Delfin—the influx of immigrants must be halted.”
    “Difficult,” said the Connatic. “Basic Law guarantees freedom
of movement.”
    Delfin cried out: “Egalism is envied across the Cluster!
Since all Alastor cannot come to Arrabus, then egalism must be spread across
the Cluster. This should be your immediate duty!”
    The Connatic showed the trace of a somber smile. “I must
study your ideas with care. At the moment their logic eludes me.”
    Delfin muttered_ under his breath, and swung sulkily sideways
in his chair. He snapped across his shoulder: “The logic is the immigrants’
feet; in their multitudes they march on Arrabus!”
    “A thousand a week? Ten times as many Arrabins commit suicide.”
    “Nothing is, thereby proved!”
    The Connatic gave an indifferent shrug and turned a dispassionate
inspection around the group. Odd, he reflected, that Orgold, Lemiste and
Fausgard, while patently uninterested in Delfin’s views, should allow him to
act as spokesman, and to present absurd demands, thereby diminishing the dignity
of them all. Lemiste’s perceptions were perhaps the keenest of the group. He
managed a deprecatory smile. “The Whispers are necessarily strong-minded, and
we do not always agree on how best to solve our problems.”
    Fausgard said shortly: “Or even to identify them, for that
matter.”
    Lemiste paid her no heed. “In essence, our machinery is obsolescent.
We need new equipment, to produce more goods more efficiently.”
    “Are you then requesting a grant of money?”
    “This certainly would help, on a continuing basis.”
    “Why not reclaim the lands to north and south? At one time
they supported a population.”
    Lemiste gave his head a dubious shake. “Arrabins are an
urban folk; we know nothing of agriculture.”
    The Connatic rose to his feet. “I will send expert investigators
to Arrabus. They will analyze your situation and make recommendations.”
    Tension broke loose in Fausgard; she exclaimed sharply: “We
don’t want investigators or study commissions; they’ll tell us: ‘Do this! Do
that!’—all contra-egalistic! We want no more competition and greed; we can’t
abandon our gains!”
    “Be assured that I will personally study the matter,” said
the Connatic.
    Orgold dropped his air of stolid detachment. “Then you will
come to Wyst?”
    “Remember,” Lemiste called out cheerfully, “you are invited
to participate at the Centenary!”
    “I will consider the invitation most carefully. Now then, I
noticed you showed only small interest in the collation I set forth; you might
prefer a more adventurous cuisine, and I wish you to be my guests. Along
the lower promenades are hundreds of excellent restaurants; please dine where
you like and instruct the attendant to place all charges to the Connatic’s
account.”
    “Thank you,” said Fausgard rather tersely. “That is most gracious.”
    The Connatic turned to go, then halted as if on sudden
thought. “By the way, who is Jantiff Ravensroke?”
    The Whispers stared at him in frozen attitudes of doubt and
wonder. Lemiste said at last: “Jantiff Ravensroke? I do not recognize the name.”
    “Nor I!” cried Delfin, hoarse and