“You have no idea what the consequences would be,” said the ship. “Bringing down the Wall may destroy the careful work of eleven thousand, one hundred ninety-one years of directed evolution, because a rapacious, expansive group of humans would have access to weaker or less violent or less technologically developed wallfolds.”
“General Citizen might go a-conquering.”
“Ramfold is not the most technologically advanced wallfold,” said the voice. “But your assessment is correct insofar as the attempt is concerned.”
“General Citizen would try, and he would fail.”
“The likelihood of bloody slaughter is very high.”
“So I shouldn’t take control of the ships,” said Rigg.
“That is one choice.”
“What are the other choices?” asked Rigg.
“The expendable Ram suggests that I not answer your question.”
“What!” This was the first reliable confirmation Rigg had received that Father was not dead after all.
“The expendable Ram suggests that I not—”
“I heard you the first time.”
“I know you did.”
“Why does Father think you shouldn’t answer my question?”
“Because you already know the answers.”
Rigg felt a wave of fury wash over him. “I’m not in the woods with him now! He’s not my father, and I finally know he’s not my father, and I don’t have to submit to his endless quizzing.”
“That is all correct.”
“So answer me. What are my choices?”
“The expendable Ram suggests that I not answer your—”
“I know my choices!” Rigg shouted. “I just want to know if I’ve left any out.”
“If you list the choices you know about, I will be happy to supplement your list.”
Rigg swallowed his anger and complied. “I can take control of the ships but still not bring down the Wall.”
The voice said nothing.
“I don’t know how this works,” said Rigg. “Once I leave this room, am I still in control of the ship?”
“You are the ship’s commander,” said the ship.
“How will I communicate with you?”
“By asking me, as you’re doing now.”
“You can talk to me after I leave here?”
“Only while you’re on the ship,” said the voice.
“So how can I get information from you after leaving the ship? How do I get information from the other ships?”