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swift-Kalat stood at the doorway, toweling off the dripping arachne.
 He said I should bring the arachne because it s easier for him to talk to me
this way.
 All right, said Tocohl.  What is this about, swift-Kalat?
 It s about Maggy. He strode toward them, wiping rain from his arms as he
came. The arachne scuttled along at his heels.
 About me? Maggy asked, putting just the proper amount of surprise into her
phrasing.
Draping the towel around his neck, swift-Kalat watched the arachne for a
moment. Maggy, not receiving an answer to her question, trotted the arachne
around to tug at Geremy s ankle. Geremy bent to lift it onto the bed, where
Maggy sent it delicately the length of Tocohl s body to stare up at
swift-Kalat.  About me? she repeated and began to rock the arachne.
Tocohl pointed a long finger, knowing Maggy could see equally well from the
rear of the arachne, and said,  Stop that. The arachne stopped instantly.
 What about Maggy, swift-Kalat?
He frowned, first at her and then at the arachne. Bayd said, in
Jenji,  Would you find it more appropriate to speak your own language?
His frown deepened.  No, he said at last,  Maggy must understand what I say.
 I speak Jenji, Maggy said, sounding offended.
 He means no offense, Maggy, Tocohl said.  He means to make things easier for
you. He s being polite. Your Jenji really isn t good enough to handle complex
ideas.
 If you say so, Maggy said.  No offense taken, swift-Kalat.
 I can translate for you, if you like, Tocohl said.
Again he hesitated. Then he looked down at the arachne.  Maggy, are you
sentient?
Maggy gave the question her due-consideration pause, then she said,  Not
legally.
 Yes, not legally, swift-Kalat said,  but without reference to legalities,
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Maggy are you sentient?
Tocohl, who had been hoping the question wouldn t be raised publicly, frowned
at the arachne.  Just a moment, Maggy. Geremy, watch the door; warn us if
anyone comes. When Geremy was in position, Tocohl said,  All right, Maggy.
I d like to hear your answer to that too.
 Yes, said Maggy, then,  Yes! Yes! and the arachne bounced to her
excitement. This time Tocohl did nothing to inhibit the arachne s display. In
a moment, it stopped rocking of its own accord, ran the length of Tocohl s
body not nearly as delicately as it had the first time to peer at her from her
pillow.
 You re not surprised, Maggy said, accusingly.  Not a single sensor s worth!
There was a pause, as if
she were double-checking.  You re worried. The arachne hunched, reflecting
that worry.
Tocohl laid a hand on its side.  A gesture meant to reassure, she explained.
 You haven t done anything wrong, Maggy, but yes, I m worried. She cocked
her head to look at swift-Kalat, considering him carefully.  I should have
expected swift-Kalat to notice.
 You mean you re not surprised because you knew?
 Exactly. Ask Bayd and Geremy if you don t believe me.
 She s been expecting it for some time, Bayd said; she too kept her eyes on
swift-Kalat.
 Then why are you worried? I don t understand.
 Because swift-Kalat expects me to take your case to the byworld judges there
are four of them.
That was your thought, wasn t it, swift-Kalat?
 Yes, of course. He looked puzzled.  If you can prove the three legal
requisites, Tocohl. No one could deny her ability to use language, and she
invented the Hellspark ritual of change.
Tocohl raised an eyebrow.  Perhaps I told her to say that, she suggested.
(You !) said Maggy, but she kept her outrage private.
lie
(Please wait, Maggy. I promise I ll explain.)
(You d better,) Maggy replied, a touch of warning in her voice.
Swift-Kalat frowned at Tocohl.  You were not in contact with her at the time.
 True, but perhaps I left her with the idea in case of an emergency.
 And told her to claim responsibility as well?
 Why not?
Swift-Kalat jammed his bracelets against his elbow.  I see: That is the
argument the judges will take.
Abruptly, he switched to Jenji, 
Did you invent the Hellspark ritual of change?
 No, answered Tocohl in the same language,  I did not. Maggy did.
 Tocohl, the judges all speak and understand Jenji reliably. He
snapped his forearm and his bracelets dislodged to clash authoritatively.
In GalLing , he went on,  There remains only art to prove her legal
sentience.
In spite of herself, Tocohl chuckled.  Oh, swift-Kalat forgive me for saying
so, but you did not hear the full import of Maggy s ritual of change.
 What have I missed?
 She might, very simply, have said: You re now my sister, swift-Kalat. She
didn t. She added,  Hey, presto!  and that, in no uncertain terms, is art.
 Yes! Yes, of course! Swift-Kalat smiled broadly.  You can prove her
sentience to the judges!
 No.
The word came out more sharply than she d intended, and swift-Kalat stiffened, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]