kehuanzhijialooked up at Mr Snow. 'You knew I was coming... How?"kehuanzhijia

'There's no mystery about it. I keep telling you. All things are
known to the Sky Voices."

Steve tried to bite back a smile. 'In that case you must have known
what was going to happen yesterday."

'Not necessarily. I said "All things are known to the Sky Voices".

That does not mean that I know everything."

Steve breathed an inward sigh of relief. 'Okay. But why should these
red-heads want to jump on me? "That path is already drawn" - isn't
that what you keep telling me? So how can whatever's happened be my
fault? You can't have it both ways. If you guys are not happy with
the way things are going why don't you take it up with Talisman, or the
Sky Voices, or whoever it is that's supposed to be running things up
there?"

'Good point,' conceded Mr Snow.

'Here's another,' continued Steve. 'There's no need for anyone to get
worked up about this - not unless they're deliberately trying to stir
up trouble. If I had bumped into Clearwater on any other day I would
never have known that she and Cadillac were straights. And even if, by
chance, I had discovered the truth, why should it be such a big
secret?

You and I discussed this weeks ago. The Southern Mutes have been
trading in straights for centuries."

'Not female straights."

'True,' admitted Steve. 'I overlooked that."

It was a lie, of course. Steve knew perfectly well that, ever since
the Break-Out in 2464 when the Federation first learned of the
existence of unmarked, smooth-skinned Mutes and the first rare
specimens were found, no female straight had ever been captured or
handed over in lieu of tribute. Indeed, it was widely believed that,
due to some genetic quirk in an already flawed process, female
straights simply did not exist. The M'Calls had not only produced one
- they possessed a perfectly formed, highly intelligent, breeding
pair!

It was the kind of hard data that the Amtrak Executive would give their
eye teeth for and was bound to earn him good grades at his next
assessment. Always assuming there was one.

Steve thought back to something Mr Snow had said in an earlier
conversation. About the ancestors of the Mutes being straight-limbed
people from the Old Time. Up to the moment of discovering the true
colour of Cadillac's and Clearwater's skin, Steve had believed that to
be a grotesque lie. Since birth he had been taught that the Trackers
were the only true descendants of those who lived before the
Holocaust.

The hellfires that had consumed the Blue-Sky World had been ignited by
the Mutes who - according to the Archives - were already subhuman.

But what if Mr Snow's version of history contained an element of
truth?

What if Cadillac and Clearwater proceeded to give birth to their own
kind, and more like them amongst the other Plainfolk clans spawned
succeeding generations of straights? Mutes would no longer be Mutes.

The whole basis for the centuries-old conflict would disappear.

Christopher Columbus I How would the Federation function if it had no
one to fight? For over five hundred years, dispensing death had become
the way of life for generations of Trackers. In every aspect of its
organisation, in thought, word and deed, the Federation was geared to
the conflict with the Mutes. Since the age of five his own life had
been totally dedicated to learning how to kill lumpheads.

What would wingmen like himself do without a war?


As the complications multiplied rapidly, Steve blocked off this
alarming train of thought and switched back on to Mr Snow. He found
the old wordsmith watching him with an amused expression. 'You've
overlooked something too.

I'm your prisoner. You've ribbed me about escaping but we both know
I'm not going anywhere. Who am I going to tell?"

Mr Snow shrugged. 'Who knows? Things happen."

Steve wasn't sure what that meant but couldn't be bothered to find
out.

The old wordsmith loved to make things sound mysterious. Why not?

Keeping people's attention was part of his job. 'Tell me something is
Motor-Head one of the guys who've got it in for me?"

'He's not the leader but, yes - he's one of them. And you are right.

Despite what I've told them about you being under Talisman's
protection, they have been looking for an excuse to get rid of you.

Your, uhh - how can I put it... ?

Your interest in Clearwater could be the opportunity they've been
waiting for."

'Who said I'm interested?"

'Come on, Brickman - it's written all over your face."

Steve felt his cheeks begin to burn again.

'Don't be embarrassed. It happens to all of us. It's nothing to feel
bad about." Mr Snow stopped and studied Steve intently. ,I'm wrong.

You really are upset. Is it because she's a Mute?"

'She's not a -' Steve bit on his lip to stop himself getting in
deeper.

'Yes, I see what you mean." Mr Snow nodded understandingly.

'It must be difficult for you."

'Look,' said Steve. 'You're way off base, believe me. The fact that I
now know Cadillac is a straight does not alter the way I feel about
him. Clearwater is - well, another matter entirely. I can understand
the clan wanting to keep her under wraps. Let's face it, she's ..."

'... unique?"

Steve answered cautiously. 'I wouldn't know about that.

She's certainly a rare specimen. But then you know that.

Just make sure you take good care of her."

Mr Snow chuckled. 'She can look after herself."

'This is nothing to laugh at,' insisted Steve. 'The wagon trains will
be back. Lots of them. It's only a matter of time before the
Federation starts treading on your turf. When they do, the M'Calls may
be glad of the opportunity to trade Clearwater instead of paying
tribute. She's your greatest asset. Put her together with Cadillac
and you'll be able to write your own deal."

Mr Snow shook his head. 'The Plainfolk have never paid tribute and
never will. What you say is true - Cadillac and Clearwater are like
bright jewels in the crown worn by a great king of the Old Time. But
we possess something of even greater value. The greatest asset of the
M'Calls is our readiness to accept our destiny. That demands a courage
be]fond your understanding."

'You're right,' replied Steve. 'I don't understand."

'You will one day."

It sounded more like a threaVthan a promise. Steve gazed at Mr Snow in
silence then said, 'So... what do you suggest I do?"

'Do?" Mr Snow shrugged. 'You play it as written. Life goes on. The
Wheel turns."

'Is that all?"

'Not quite. I've taken the liberty of assuring the clan elders that
you will say or do nothing now or in the future that will harm
Clearwater or her relationship with Cadillac.

And that you will not attempt to approach her or converse with her
except in the presence of others and only if requested to do so. Is
that clear - and do you accept?"

Steve laughed. 'What d'you think I'm planning to do run off with
her?"

He saw the old wordsmith's expression and wiped the grin off his
face.

'I'm sorry. Yes, of course I accept.. I don't imagine I have much
choice - right?"

Mr Snow waved the question away. 'I've also told them that you will
never, under any circumstances, reveal the existence of either to
anyone outside this clan. Unreasonable?"

'No, unlikely. As I already pointed out, I'm a prisoner but, yeah,
sure, I'll go along with that."
kehuanzhijia