“And the colonization of Garden was so gentle on the natives the first time around,” said Olivenko.
“Since we’re going into Larfold in the past, it will give them many generations there before the Visitors come,” said Umbo.
“If they make weapons in Odinfold,” said Param, “and bring down destruction on that wallfold, they will still survive in Larfold—along with the knowledge of weapons-making, I assume.”
“So many possible plans,” said Rigg. “No, I don’t think I’ll let them pass through the Wall.”
Again they chattered into Loaf’s ear.
“Tell them not to bother with another set of lies,” said Rigg.
“They know,” said Loaf. “They want you to understand that they assumed you would see them all, and didn’t understand why you hadn’t already mentioned their presence.”
“Another lie,” said Rigg. “They didn’t have to come stealthily, they could have done it openly. They chose to be deceptive.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Umbo.
“There are more than a hundred mice on the flyer,” said Rigg. “Since they were traveling ‘with’ us, I suppose they thought that would qualify them to go through the Wall.”
“Where are they?” asked Param.
“There are two in your hair,” said Rigg.
Param shrieked and combed through her hair with her fingers; the mice leapt out onto the seat back and then out of sight behind the chairs.
“In all our clothes,” said Rigg. “I’d appreciate it if they’d all assemble here in plain sight.”
Within moments, a swarm of mice was visible, tightly packed on the floor, perched on chair backs, and at the controls of the flyer.
“The flyer is not to obey any commands from the mice,” said Rigg.
“Understood,” said the voice of the ship’s computer.
“Have they given you any commands?” asked Rigg.
“They chose the point where the flyer should land,” said the ship’s voice.
“Silbom’s left . . .” began Umbo.
“This is way beyond Silbom,” said Olivenko.
“I didn’t hear them command anything,” said Loaf.
“They click their teeth, they tap their toes,” said the ship’s voice. “They slide and brush against surfaces, they sigh and gasp. It is a language as complete as any other. They taught me centuries ago.”
“Were they prepared to crash the flyer?” asked Rigg.
“Yes,” said the ship’s voice. “If you made any attempt to kill them, I was to make a fatal impact into the ground.”
“So I’m not in charge of you at all,” said Rigg.
“You had not yet commanded me not to obey the mice.”
“Very smart group,” said Rigg. “Much smarter than we are, with so many here.”
“Not really,” said Loaf. “They can handle more tasks and recall more data, when there are this many. But they aren’t any wiser, necessarily. It depends on how you define ‘smart.’”
“After all the times we’ve been lied to,” said Umbo, “I can’t believe I was believing mice.”