ET E R N I TY 97

As they adjourned to a meeting room in the complex beneath the arena, introductions were made all around, with a social awkwardness that Lanier found amusing, considering the circumstances. Human convention could trivialize even the most momentous occasions, and perhaps

that was its purpose--to bring enormous events down to a human scale.

Korzenowski pointedly did not go into detail about Mirsky.

"We have some complicated and important evidence to bring before the Nexus and the president," Korzenowski said as they took seats Page 174

around a small round table.

"I have one question, and I can't wait to ask it," Eula Mason said, features stern. "I know very little about Ser Mirsky. He's an Old Native --pardon me, a Terrestrialtand he has Russian ancestry, but your introduction doesn't explain his importance, Set Korzenowski. Where does he come from?"

"From a great distance in space and in time," the Engineer said. "He's presented us with some disturbing news, and he's ready to testify before this select group. I warn you--you've never experienced anything like such testimony, even in city memory."

"I make it a habit to avoid city memory," Mason said. "I respect you, Ser Korzenowski, but I dislike mystery and I certainly dislike having my time wasted."

For ostensible allies united against the re-opening, Lanier thought Mason was being remarkably uncongenial to Korzenowski.

Korzenowski was unfazed. "I've asked the four of you here because this is so unusual a circumstance, and I'd like a kind of rehearsal before we go on to the full Nexus."

"Will we need aspirin?" Hoffman asked Lanier, leaning in his direction.

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"Probably," Lanier said.

Negranes's design as a homorph was a little too extreme for Lanier's tastes; her facial features were' too small on her head, and her body was proportioned in ways. that exceeded the natural---emphasis on length of legs and thickness of thighs, extremely long fingers, an almost masculine chest. Yet her bearing was regal and it was obvious she knew her place in this room, and on Thistledown. "Is this evidence designed to discourage re-opening, Ser Engineer?"

"I think it may allow us to reach a compromise," Korzenowski said.

That's a bit optimistic, Lanier thought.

Mason squinted with unconcealed suspicion. Obviously, Korzenowski was not completely trusted in his own camp. That was hardly surprising; he had designed the Way in the first place.

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