9.  We do not appear to feel greed for anything except perhaps learning.

INFERIOR

1.  Until we made the first speaking-boxes Workers could not speak aloud. The speaking-boxes we now manufacture from a Saeli design are effective and flexible, but we cannot give our vocal communications tone, as humans and Saeli can.

2.  Human hands are very flexible, and can do some things easily that Workers can do only with difficulty or with special tools.

3.  Humans claim to gain healthful pleasure from scents, tastes, and eros, which we cannot experience.

4.  We may or may not have souls. Humans definitely do.

V. On the Good Life (Part 2)

“I have sometimes thought,” I said to Sokrates, “that Plato was perhaps writing more for us than for humanity. Humans have many handicaps of body and spirit, when it comes to obeying Plato’s strictures, of which we are fortunately free. If all citizens were Workers, how much easier everything would be.”

“Then have you ever considered,” Sokrates replied at once, “setting up such a city? The most part of this planet is vacant, and unsuitable for human colonies, being untamed and wild. But since you do not eat or drink, once you had established the means to draw down sunlight to feed yourselves you could live out there as easily as here. Have you considered venturing into the wilderness and founding your own Platonic city, a City of Workers?”

18. Jason

18

JASON

“What a relief to be away from Jathery!” Marsilia said as soon as the door was closed. Then she turned to Ikaros. “You can come with us if you like. We’re going the same direction most of the way. Once we get to the street of Hermes you’ll be able to find Thessaly. The Old City is the same as it always was.”

“I remember it well. Laid out on Proclus’s pattern of the soul, a grid with long diagonals,” Ikaros said. “But this is like nothing I remember. And it’s so cold!” He pulled up the hood of his black robe. It was a chilly starry night, and really late now. There were no more lights from windows, only the low strips of street lighting. Sensible people were all asleep.

“The harbor district is all new since the Relocation,” Marsilia said.

“Grandfather said once that there used to be a stony beach here, originally,” Thetis put in.

We all moved off down the street. After a few paces, Ikaros checked himself and made a movement back towards the door. “I forgot my books,” he said. “But I don’t think I’d better go back in for them.”

“They will be safe in my house,” Hilfa said, reassuringly.

“I’m sure they will.” Ikaros looked longingly back at the closed door as we began to walk again.

“What’s so precious?” Sokrates asked. “More forbidden books?”