Part 9 (1/2)
”Yes, sir.” Wesley loosened up as he went along. ”There wasn't that much information in the Federation files, so I did a little searching. The Sojourners were originally a small religious group that began in the Endrayan Realm-that's the province next to the one where the government is now-about two thousand years ago. They believed in coexisting with nature. I guess you could say that belief was the basis for their whole religion. The realm where they lived wasn't very fertile, but it was possible to farm there with the help of irrigation. And there were lots of mineral and ore deposits, so mining also got started there.”
”On a small scale, no doubt?” said Picard.
”Very small, sir, since there wasn't any industrialization at all on Thiopa until about a century ago. But the other Endrayans, the ones who didn't join the Sojourners, started exploiting the land, digging irrigation ditches, diverting streams and rivers, digging mines. To the Sojourners, all those things were violations of the land-they call Thiopa their Mother World.”
”An image,” Data interjected, ”that is common to many primitive humanoid cultures throughout the galaxy.”
”Anyway,” Wes continued, ”the Sojourners left the settled part of Endraya and moved out into a really isolated desert area called the Sa'drit Void. Even today the Void is pretty much unsettled. When they got there, they built a village in a place called Sanctuary 98 Canyon. They have a very strong belief in sacred places, and they decided this would be the most sacred Sojourner place in the whole world” ”What happened after that?” said Picard.
”This small religious village existed for a couple of hundred years, almost like a monastery.
Some people left the group, some others came to join it, but the population never varied much from three or four hundred. The Sojourners did a lot of writing and praying, and they sent what they called mentors out to other parts of the world to try to convert people to the Sojourner way, without much success. The movement broke up after two hundred years, and the Sojourners blended back into the developing society in Endraya-was ”Until Ruer Stross led his military coup and took over Thiopa,” Data interrupted.
Picard gave him a sidelong glance. ”Thank you, Mr. Data-but Ensign Crusher is doing fine.”
”Data's right, sir,” Wesley vent on.
”When Stross became sovereign protector and started dealing with the Nuarans, it was as if Thiopan society went into fast forward. A lot of people who weren't Sojourners got scared by what was happening.
A teacher named Evain, who lived in Endraya, started studying what the original Sojourners had written down almost two thousand years ago. Those writings are known as the Testaments. Evain started updating all those old books and preaching a modern version of the old religion.”
”How large a following did he have?” asked Riker.
”Not very large at first, maybe a few thousand. But they tended to be young, well-educated people. Then, 99 after ten years or so, Thiopa started seeing the negative side of uncontrolled technology-like all the pollution down there now. And more and more people started paying attention to what Evain and the other Sojourners were talking about. They had demonstrations and riots and strikes. The government even had to declare martial law for almost two years. They had troops guarding factories, and they started arresting suspected Sojourners.” ”Interesting,” Picard said. ”Did they arrest this Evain?” ”Not right away.
Things got better for a while, then worse again.
Especially in Endraya, which was the least prosperous realm on the planet, because of the dry climate out there. About twenty years ago, the Endrayans started running out of water for irrigation, and more and more people there joined the Sojourners, or at least sympathized with them. Stross was afraid the Sojourners threatened his government. So they arrested Evain.”
”Did they execute him?”
”No, sir. But he died in prison a few years later, or so they say. At about the same time, the most dedicated Sojourners moved out to the Sa'drit Void, where their religion got started.
And that's where they still live. As we've already seen, they're capable of mounting very successful terrorist attacks on the government, even right in Bareesh, the capital.”
”Hmmm,” Picard mused. ”I wonder where these Sojourners are getting their weapons?”
”I wondered about that, too, Captain,”
Wesley said. ”But I couldn't find out anything.”
”Thank you, Mr. Crusher-very thorough job of research,” Data said.
”Better watch your back, Data.” A smile played across Riker's lips. Data's head swiveled as he took the phrase literally.
”That is difficult without a mirror, sir.”
Riker and the others stifled their laughter. ”Never mind, Data.”
”Ahh,” said Data after a moment. ”A colloquialism.”
He and Wes returned to their bridge s.h.i.+ft, leaving Picard and Riker to their deliberations.
”There's obviously a lot of symbolism involved in this conflict,” said the first officer. ”Two thousand years of religious pa.s.sions unleashed ...”
”Mmmm. Are you a religious man, Number One?”
”You can't grow up in Alaska, as I did, with all that pristine natural beauty around you, and not wonder about how it got there.” Riker's voice took on a husky reverence. ”Standing on the edge of a glacier, with amazing mountains on one side and a pod of orcas leaping out of an icy ocean on the other-that's a religious experience. But if you mean religious in the formal, organized sense, no, sir.”
Picard rested his chin on his hand. ”I sang in a church choir when I was a boy.”
”I never knew that, sir.”
”Yes, well, it was more of a musical experience than a religious one. But we sang in one of those magnificent cathedrals ... must've been a thousand years old, taken generations to build.
Incredible architecture and workmans.h.i.+p, soaring spires and arches.”
”I know the kind you mean. I saw some when I toured Europe.”
Picard fell silent for a lingering moment, then looked directly at Riker. ”But I never felt a holy presence in that place, Number One. Never felt that sensation of wonder and belonging until my first voyage into deep s.p.a.ce. That's when it dawned on me that no structure or philosophy devised by man could ever hope to represent or replicate divinity.” He shrugged. ”At least, that's my opinion.”
”Mine, too, Captain. So here we are, mixed up in a fight that seems to be as much religious as it is political.”
”Yes. I wish I had a better grasp of the inflammatory capabilities that seem to be inherent in that combination. What's your prognosis for a peaceful settlement on Thiopa?”
”Not good, sir.”
The intercom tone was followed by Data's voice.
”Captain Picard?” ”Yes, Data?”
”I am beaming down to Thiopa now for my meeting with Dr. Keat. Is there anything specific about which you would like me to attempt to gather information?”
”Yes. Obviously, find out what you can about this proposed weather control project. But we also need to know more about the role of science and scientists in this society-and how all that relates to the conflict between the government and the Sojourners. Give me a full report as soon as you return.”
”Yes, sir.”
Data stepped onto the transporter pad.
”Energize.” His form sparkled and faded-then resumed its solid shape in the lobby of the Thiopan Science Council building, one of the glistening government structures in Bareesh. Kael Keat was just coming down a broad 102 curving staircase to welcome him. ”Commander Data, I've got transportation waiting outside. There are some things I'd like to show you.” In contrast to the elegant attire she'd worn the previous evening, Dr. Keat was dressed in khaki shorts and a breezy opennecked blouse.
The vehicle was low and sleek, with a tinted canopy allowing the pa.s.sengers an un.o.bstructed view. Data climbed into the pa.s.senger seat as Keat slid in beside him. Door panels glided into place as the bubble top closed automatically over them. Keat touched a hand throttle and they accelerated smoothly, with only the faintest thrum of an engine. ”This is our newest model. Solar powered, clean and quiet. We got the technology from the Nuarans before our split. This way, we won't waste fossil fuel on transportation.”
”Will that make much difference in your airpollution quotient?” ”Not much. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to convince the powers at the top that we should phase out all fossil-fuel burning. So what we save on transportation I'm afraid we'll just burn for some other kind of energy production.”
”Would it be correct to surmise that you and your government are not in accord on environmental policies?”
Keat threw back her head and laughed. ”Are you programmed for understatement, Commander?”
Humor, Data thought. Another chance to master the art. The android gazed blankly at her for a moment, then grimaced in the best imitation of her laugh he could muster. ”No,” he said, instantly resuming his normal equability.