01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
"It is my servant and protector, I can assure you that it will only react if I command it to do
so, or if it is touched. It is an example of the technology of New Earth."
Lyot rolled the word around his tongue.
"Technology - a strange word. Stranger, I do not understand you or your - technology.
Until we can decide what to do with you, you will remain in the custody of my son, Danyk.
You will be treated with respect, but you will be expected to offer us the same courtesy.
Danyk will try to unravel the confusion in your mind - for our benefit as well as for yours."
Steve bowed slightly the interview was at an end.
"I thank you for your hospitality, you may rest assured that the people of New Earth never
abuse the hospitality of a host."
It was hard to see whether Lyot believed him, after all he could read his thoughts and see
the roughhouse antics of the Martian miners, and probably, a lot of other things that would be
better kept hidden.
Steve followed Danyk out of the big room, conscious of the eyes of the courtiers. Lyot
stared after them steadily until they re-entered the great room, even then, Steve had the
impression of being watched by the big man. They marched silently to a side aperture that
opened on to a paved area. Instinctively, Steve looked up into the clear sky and studied the
stars. The air was very clear and they were crystal bright, almost unwinking, pressing down
on the silent countryside. That was how they must have been once on Old Earth. It was a pity
they didn't have a moon - it would have completed the fantasy.
"You are sad."
Danyk spoke within his mind, Steve jerked, he had allowed his thoughts to wander.
"I was looking at your world and remembering that mine was once like this."
Danyk nodded, a dim silhouette against the lights of the house.
"Your thoughts did not concern your world or this. You were remembering one that you
consider to be spoiled. There is only one world, our world of Lynxe - and yet, then I look into
your mind I see fantasies that can only come from your inner mind. They are like dreams
which you believe to be reality."
Steve groped for words, the conversation was verbal, he wasn't quite sure why, unless
Danyk was trying to reassure him that he wasn't trying to take advantage.
"Surely, the people of this world of Lynxe had some concept of planets and star systems
outside of their own? Unless you have, you can't hope to make technological advances. Your
race will stagnate! Unless you understand that there are other worlds - even round the Lynxe
star - you won't take the steps which will lead to space travel."
Danyk stared at him and, no doubt, read a great deal more than what was spoken. He shook
his head.
"You can't be serious. When Laoni told me of her meeting with you and what she read in
your thoughts about being a man from the stars, I thought she was as mad as you sound. Now
I can see why she was so insistent."
Steve responded softly and steadily.
"And what do you make of the Bole? Is it a fantasy or reality?"
Danyk shifted restlessly.
"I am still not convinced that you aren't some clever animal bred by the Adepts - and that
the - Bole - isn't one of their ingenious inventions."
"Do you really think your Adepts are clever enough to invent the technology that had to go
into the Bole?"
"You use that word technology again. It has no meaning to us. It is time for the evening
feast, join us."
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