Vladimir Orlov - Danilov the Violist

Others dealt with global problems. Danilov heard many new buzz words and new expressions. Many were already current on Earth and had reached Danilov through the popular press. In one scholarly dispute they kept shouting the words "hyperspace!" "hypertravel!" Other words were being used, too: "subunit," "scintillation," "priming wave," "correlative memory," "isolated system," and so forth. Danilov was pleasantly surprised to learn that a demonstration with a French baguette was now called "the effect of contillusionist communications within given parameters." Not bad. The institute paid attention even to the achievements of other minds. Danilov saw a multitude of Earth publications, both scientific and popular, including a recent issue of Knowledge Is Power.

Danilov discovered that the problem of the origins of the Nine Layers was being more urgently pursued now. Many new hypotheses had surfaced. Of course, almost all of them were not very different from the old ones. But there were a few daring theories, which questioned the superiority of the inhabitants of the Nine Layers to, say, Earthlings. In particular, the hypothesis of the inside-out stocking, which posited that the pendulum of development was now rushing in the opposite direction. There was a certain sense of doom in this theory, and it was considered flawed.

There were also several solid, optimistic hypotheses. But they all had sticking points, too, Danilov learned. Why the big blue bull in the Nine Layers? What was he for? (Of course, the question was never put that baldly for fear of making the bull angry, in case such doubts ever reached him. But it was not at all clear why he was there and what would happen without him.) In Danilov's youth, no one ever talked about the big bull; his existence was considered self-explanatory. Now they were talking about him. And even with the present level of knowledge the origins of the big bull were mysterious. Did he take his position under the Nine Layers on his own, or was he placed there? Does he serve as a kind of basis and reason for the Nine Layers, or is he simply an animal?

The problem of the big blue bull usually was avoided, but everyone knew that he held the Nine Layers on his back, that he stood there, that he was alive and blinking. In short, the mystery of the big bull was of general concern. "Karmadon tried being a blue bull on Earth," thought Danilov, "in order to experience important observations and sensations...."

Danilov stood in a large auditorium, and gaped, as learned demons debated the transformation of evil. The scientists were practically shouting at each other, and they were clearly interested in having an audience. "You still think in terms of daggers, poisons, and the plague. But the bonfires no longer blaze on public squares!" shouted one scientist, waving an enormous yellow leather folder. His opponent was also angry, but he condescended to the other demon as being a fad-conscious blowhard. "Yes," he said, "but have you moved any farther away from that?"

And then New Margarit appeared. He had an entourage. It was obvious he was a star. The argument died as everyone looked at New Margarit and bowed to him. He quickly bowed back. As he passed Danilov, he noticed him, too.

"Come to see me in a half hour. I'll summon you," New Margarit said in passing and walked on.

39

A half hour later, Danilov entered the blue sphere, which floated in a room high in the castle. New Margarit sat on a couch upholstered in light blue velvet. Danilov looked around and saw soft oval bookshelves; metal shop tools; and lab tables, one with electronic apparatus, the other clearly for black magic. Something that sounded like a cricket made noise beyond the wall.

"Yes," New Margarit said with a nod, "I cannot work without a cricket. Sit down." He indicated the couch. "Well, Danilov, you're still young-looking and slender. How do I look to you? You probably didn't recognize me, do you?"

Actually, when Karmadon had described New Margarit back on Earth, he'd been unfair. Danilov had expected worse. Yes, New Margarit had grown older and was as bald as a Ceylonese soothsayer, but his body was still that of an athlete. In his youth New Margarit had been high-strung, but now he was obviously in a state of spiritual calm. Apparently he had learned much, and it had agreed with him.

"You've changed," Danilov said, returning New Margarit's familiar tone. "Now you are more serious and contented."

"Contented? I wonder." New Margarit smiled. Then he asked. "How's life, Danilov?"

"Not bad," Danilov replied. "Thanks. How about you?"

"As you can see ..."

"Yes, I can," Danilov said just in case.

"Were you summoned here?"

"Yes," Danilov said. "That is, summoned not to you, but here in general..."

"Uh-hum," New Margarit said in agreement.

"What a stupid conversation!" Danilov thought. "Why did I come here? Should I get up and leave?"

"You've rarely looked in at the Fifth Layer before..."

"There's much I don't understand here."

"There's much I don't understand!" New Margarit exclaimed happily. "I don't see the need for understanding much. And what I do understand, I cannot change."

"I think you exaggerate."

"Undoubtedly," New Margarit agreed. And was pleased again. "And even if I could change something, I am not usually so inclined."

"Is he talking about my problems?" thought Danilov. He spoke: "Perhaps that's why you seem contented to me...

But maybe you're bored?"

This question embarrassed Danilov himself. It should have been posed only to an equal and only during a frank conversation. Danilov would be put in his place, and quickly.

"No, I'm not," said New Margarit. "You aren't bored by your music, are you? I know, I know ... But I'm not bored yet. I'm not talking about the important things -- I still derive some amusement from even the silliest scientific arguments. It's fun. Even an empty brawl like the one you heard."

"Whose side were you on in that brawl?"

"Both are right. And both are wrong. Both are mediocrities. But one is more of an operator."

New Margarit shared these indiscretions as with an equal who held the same opinions. New Margarit had always been a liberal, and even though he was frequently complained about, he persisted in showing off his liberality. He had succeeded in his scientific career because many serious and self-disciplined personages who controlled his upward mobility secretly considered themselves liberals but could not allow themselves the latitude New Margarit did. So they expressed their own feelings by supporting him.

"Because he is an operator," New Margarit said, "he's managed to get better funding. But that goes without saying..."

The two brawling demons represented different approaches. Here New Margarit discoursed on the theory of the transformation of evil. In the Nine Layers, "evil" was a work term. Just a necessary component of their work. They determined what evil meant to various Earthlings and what kind of evil suited a particular era.

"But still," Danilov said, "what do you care about brass buttons? And why so much expense on mermaids? What do they have to do nowadays with what is going on on Earth?"

"You're mistaken about the mermaids," New Margarit said.

"Really?" Danilov replied.

"The more sophisticated a civilization becomes, the greater its interest in its own naпve childhood. Fashion turns to childhood fairy tales. You'll see, there'll be a nostalgia for witches and mermaids ... Overlayed with superiority, irony, and without fear, but still... We've seen this happen before. We had to set up new apparati at the stations of spiritual answers. More and more people on Earth were playing with Ouija boards, calling on the spirits. And we didn't have the power to move all those tables. That's why we're not skimping on mermaids now."