“Some officials have tried several times to impose the rule of the Good Man on Old Natives,” Olmy reminded him. “Even on the honorable Nader’s contemporaries…” How long ago had it been since a fanatic orthodox Naderite corprep had recommended using an illegal psychobiological to convert the faithless to Star, Fate and Pneuma? Fifteen years? Olmy and Ram Kikura had helped suppress that notion before it had even reached a secret Nexus session, but Olmy had almost converted overnight to her radical views.

“We’ve dealt with these miscreants,” Farren Siliom said.

“Perhaps not harshly enough. Many are still in positions of influence and continue their campaigns. At any rate, none of these movements advocate open rebellion.”

“Civil disobedience?”

“That is a protected right in the Hexamon,” Olmy said.

“Used very seldom the past few decades,” Farren Siliom countered. “And what about the Renewed Enterprisers?”

“Not a threat.”

“No?” The president seemed almost disappointed.

“No. Their reverence for the Hexamon is genuine, whatever their other beliefs. Besides, their leader died three weeks ago in the old territory of Nevada.”

“A natural death, Ser President,” Tikk said. “That’s an important distinction. She refused offers of extension or downloading to implants—”

“Refused them,” Olmy said, “because they were not offered to her followers.”

“We do not have the resources to give every citizen of the Terrestrial Hexamon immortality,” Farren Siliom said. “And they would not be socially prepared, at any rate.”

“True,” Olmy acknowledged. “At any rate…they never opposed Hexamon plans beyond their immediate territory.”

“Did you meet with Senator Kanazawa in Hawaii?” Ras Mishiney asked with a hint of distaste. Olmy suddenly understood why the senator was attending. Ras Mishiney was heart and soul in the camp of the orbiting bodies.

“No,” Olmy answered. “I wasn’t aware he had been anything but cooperative with the Hexamon.”

“He’s gathered a lot of power to himself in the past few years. Particularly in the Pacific Rim.”

“He’s a competent politician and administrator,” Farren Siliom said, reining in the senator with a glance. “It isn’t our duty to keep power forever. We’re doctors and teachers, not tyrants. Is there anything else of significance, Ser Olmy?”

There was, but Olmy knew it would not be discussed before these partials.

“No, sir. The details are all on record.”

“Gentlemen,” the president said, raising his arms and opening his hands to them. “Have you any final questions for Ser Olmy?”

“Just one,” Tikk’s partial said. “How do you stand on the re-opening of the Way?”

Olmy smiled. “My views on that issue are not important, Ser Tikk.”

“My original is most curious about the views of those who remember the Way vividly.” Tikk had not been born until after the Sundering; he was one of the youngest neo-Geshels on Axis Euclid.

“Ser Olmy has a right to keep his opinions to himself,” Farren Siliom said.

Tikk’s partial apologized without any deep sincerity.