Part 41 (2/2)

”Then, my dear, we shall treat them as we would our right companions. We have had enough of misunderstanding and violence.” He looked about and again discovered no refutation. ”Meeting adjourned.”

Veg turned to Tamme. ”But why did that other Tamme attack us? If they were at this meeting -- or one like it -- she would have known there was no percentage in fighting.”

”Their meeting differed from ours,” she said. ”They had not been injured in battles with their doubles, and perhaps there were no Cals to clarify matters. They must have decided that it was each frame for itself. There must be many like that, still out to terminate the opposition -- as I was at the start. Before I went normal.”

”Yeah.” He faced about. ”Let's go.”

”Don't you want to chat with Cal and Aquilon?”

”Yeah -- but I'm afraid you'll take off with the wrong Veg again.”

She laughed -- but realized it wasn't funny to him. The presence of his friends, who he knew were not his original ones, made him nervous.

They had to wait their turn for use of the projector. There were actually many projectors here, but the others were labeled for other loops, and further exploration seemed pointless. Meanwhile, the bazaar was fascinating.

Then on through to the --

-- Jungle gym, this time encountering no opposition; --

-- the fog world, for a brief reunion with their friends there; --

-- the orchestra, --

-- and the forest.

”Before we go on,” Veg said. ”About remembering -- ”

”Yes,” she said. She had known this was coming and was prepared. ”There is something you should know. I am strong again, but I am changed, as Taler is, as all of us at the meeting are. I have full emotional control, but it is as though my program has been modified -- and can not now be reverted to the original. Not without erasure and resetting -- which seem unlikely in view of events.”

He watched her, the wild hope coalescing. ”Then -- ”

”I still love you,” she said.

”But I thought -- ”

”I said I had recovered control. I knew that if I died, or if we were separated, it would be best that you not know the truth. And there was still substantial risk of such an outcome. Therefore, I exercised that control to protect the one I loved.” She lowered her eyes. ”I did what I felt was necessary. I did not enjoy it. Now I know we shall be together. I shall not again conceal my feeling from you. But I must advise you that my love is now as fixed as my prior conditioning. I shall not be casually set aside.”

”That's for sure!” he agreed. He looked at his hexaflexagon. ”Next world's Blizzard, then back to the City. We don't have to rush it.”

”We'll never have to rush it,” she agreed.

Chapter 16.

REQUISITION.

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