Ivan Cat - The Burning Heart of Night

deep-root reservoirs and irreparably damaging the very ground we live on. All because of lack of space.

And despite our best efforts," Tesla looked, not unkindly, at Burke Hedren, "all attempts to increase that space have failed."

Burke nodded grimly. "The Wart is a total loss."

The domestics glowed sympathetically.

It had been Burke's idea to attempt grafting a smaller ring-island onto the Enclave. Humans and domestics had worked night and day to splice water-carrying roots to keep it alive, but the only result was a dry skrag, dissolving month by month outside the battlements near Gate Three.

"Of course, we've been dealing with these problems for years," said Onos, head of Construction.

"That's right," Tesla agreed. "There is a more serious problem, however. Our practice of reconning nearby Feral islands to maintain domestic population is at an end. Colonel Halifax and his brave Guards have stripped every island within twenty kiloyards."

All eyes turned to Halifax. "We can't keep it up," he admitted. "Deep recon sorties range farther and farther into Feral Territory to find fewer and fewer litters. Ferals fight hard. Casualties are high."

Halifax's words had a chilling effect on the Consuls. The old warrior had a reputation for brutal honesty.

"And so what do you propose, Prime Consul?" Bragg asked in rehearsed sort of way.

Tesla stood up.

The domestics, listening as intently as the humans, went dim with anticipation and trepidation.

Here it comes, warned Rusty.

"We must widen our defensive perimeter to encompass not just this island, but new islands with room for expansion. We must open up new sources for domestics? and we must do it now. Our present stock will be depleted by year's end. Within two years none will be left alive to participate in Sacrament."

The domestics went from dim to somber blue.

They didn't need to be told what that meant: their humans would die. They would die, too, but not one of the quadrupeds was worried about that. Nothing was more important than the lives of their humans. It was only due to Jenette's tireless efforts that they believed their own lives were important at all and that they now could understand how Tesla's plan would mean more fighting between humans and Ferals.

More kits would be taken from the wild. And concerted attack by humans on Ferals would short-circuit Jenette's plans for peace and the hopes of getting Feral help to find a cure for Scourge.

No, Jenette would not like Tesla's plan.

What to do, what to do?

Must do something!

But what?

Not know. This bad surprise. Not think this far ahead.

Maybe humans know what to do?

Humans drunk!

Maybe firehead seeds work soon?

A few of the scientists were rubbing their temples, but they still seemed unfocused. Only Bigelow attempted to stir up dissent.

"Colonel Halifax," he asked casually, "how many troops would you require to implement such a plan?"

Halifax considered. "High three figures, ballpark."

There were gasps, even from Tesla's supporters. Such a number would be over a third of the Enclave's human population.

"Surely," Dr. Bigelow pressed, "you are not in favor of widening the conflict between humans and Ferals?"

Halifax chose his words carefully. "What I am in favor of is not important. I am a servant of the Body.

Widening the conflict is a decision of the Body, and I? and my Guardsmen? will do whatever the Body requires." Having stated his position, Halifax met the eyes of both Bigelow and Tesla unflinchingly. "It does mean more risk. Ferals constantly change tactics. Recently they started throwing things. Last week they brought down a skimmer."

Several scientists around Yll muttered amongst themselves. Tesla was quick to interject.

"Concerns, Doctor?"

Yll twitched nervously. "Only that, um, if you call the Reserves, it will be difficult to research a cure for the Scourge with a depleted staff."

Tesla smiled reassuringly. "You told me yourself that Science is close to a major breakthrough."

Yll looked around his colleagues for support, but, being good scientists and therefore bad politicians, they were of no help. "Actually, Prime Consul, what I said was that recent attempts to humanize plant antibodies have yielded promising results, however we cannot put a definitive time frame on? "

Tesla cut the old biochemist off with the wave of a hand. "The Body Pure will prevail. All we need is more time and more domestics and Science will find a solution."

Yll not confident like Tesla.

Yll have hard job. Cure hard to find.

Rrrr.

And Yll have no friends same age to help. All scientist humans, Yll trained them. All think like him.

Nobody thinks different. Not good for thinking new things.

True, true.

Human reaction to Tesla's confidence in Yll varied around the table. A vaccine for Scourge had been elusive for twenty-three years. Few but the most optimistic humans believed Science would succeed anytime soon, which made Tesla's next argument even stronger.

"In the meantime," the Prime Consul emphasized, "this Enclave must survive."

He paused to find each face around the table, stabbing each with the force of his resolve. "Some of you have questions. About the expenditure of domestics. About Sacrament. Some of you are concerned. You are saddened. This is natural. I, too, am concerned, and saddened. And I am open to any reasonable alternate course of action. But until one is found, I feel we must proceed with what we can do now." Many Consuls nodded or grunted assent at that sentiment, including many of Jenette's friends. "As is my right as Prime Consul, I call the Body to account, now.

The assembled humans were too shocked to know what to say or do. Tesla took the official stimpaper and a stylus, and handed them to the first person on his left, Subconsul Bragg.

"You will vote yea or nay," said Tesla, "as is your will."

Bragg scribbled enthusiastically and passed the paper to the Consul next to him.

Rusty shook his head despondently. Clever, clever.

Urrkurrkurrk, agreed Patton, looking at the arrangement of the seating. Tesla friends vote first.

Bragg of the VF, Roddi and Yorn in Operations, Trurl in Maintenance, Withor in Logistics, Logars and Mats in Fabrication, Luca, Ulf and Hedda in Administration, and a dozen other Tesla supporters would put their signatures on the paper before the first dissenter in Science or Medicine even touched it.

Many yeas .

Much pressure.

It would be hard for Jenette's friends to choose nay in such a public vote. They would side with Tesla.

Why humans always pick Tesla? Patton grumbled. Humans hate Tesla.

Lesser of evils, sighed Rusty.

Patton tired of lesser of evils.

Rusty too. Nothing changes.

Maybe time to pick greater of evils.

Tengen flashed nervously. Rusty and Patton talking funny.

Urrr. Tengen right. Rusty old. One Sacrament left.

Patton old too. And not know what to do.

What Jenette say to do? Tengen asked.

Not say. Patton answered. Jenette gone.

Gone where?

Nobody knows.

Suddenly Rusty flashed brightly and head-butted Patton and Tengen.

That it! That it! Nobody knows! Genius!

Tengen clattered his teeth. Genius? How? ?

But Rusty was making his way up the table to Bronte. They flashed secretly together, then Bronte moved up beside Dr. Bigelow. Bigelow, who was looking rather glum, leaned down and listened as she whispered in his ear.

Bigelow's human expression lightened. He stood, abruptly, and waved his hands, theatrically.

"Stop the vote! Cease and desist this breach of Enclave law!"

Human hands froze over the stimpaper. Even Tesla blinked at the force of Bigelow's words.