Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 294
own urging.
"Why not just ask the Winds of another world?" asked
the queen.
"There are no other Winds. There is no other place like
Ventus."
Jordan watched Galas’ eyes widen. He remembered
sympathetically how he had reacted when Calandria told him
the same thing. "But," she started, "you just spoke of millions
of worlds--trillions of people--"
"There are a million organizing principles in human
space. None resemble Ventus. Your world is unique, and the
records of the design of the Winds were lost in a war centuries
ago. Most of humanity lives in something known as the
Archipelago--an immense region whose boundaries are so
vague that much of its citizenry doesn’t even know of its
existence."
"Now you’re talking madness," smiled the queen. "Not
that anything you’ve said so far would survive debate in the
House."
"Archipelago is the only answer to ruling a population of
trillions, who own a million different cultures, mores and
histories." He shrugged. "It is simple: an artificial
intelligence--a mechal brain, if you will--exists that mediates
things. It knows each and every citizen personally, and
orchestrates their meetings with others, communications and so
on so as to avoid irreconcilable conflict. Beyond that, it stays
out of sight, for it has no values, no desires of its own. It is as
if every person had their own guardian spirit, and these spirits
never warred, but acted in concert to improve people’s lives."
"A tyranny of condescension," said Galas.
"Yes. You worried earlier that everything was known.
Well, yes and no. The government of the Archipelago has the