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didn t think you knew.
But his sudden look of surprise told her she was completely wrong. She turned
to Darragh, hoping for an explanation.
The one she got was not the one she expected. Darragh said, Om im was our
backup. If you hadn t asked for a sentience judgment on Maggy, he d have asked
for one on the sprookjes.
But that was already decided&
Not as far as the government knows. And since we all traveled here for a
sentience hearing a wave of her hand ran the range, from smiling Mirrrit to
scowling Windhoek the government pays our travel expenses, not you.
Oh, said Maggy, that s good! That means we have lots of money left over for
more memory!
Darragh laughed and Tocohl laughed along with her. As for who told me,
Darragh said, it was
Maggy herself. It was clear from her behavior that she d gone well beyond what
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we normally think of as standard behavior, even for an extrapolative computer.
I asked her for the details.
I told you she was a mean trader, Maggy volunteered.
Tocohl eyed the arachne curiously. And what did you get in return?
Nothing, said Maggy, hunching the arachne, unless you count the
experience.
Taking advantage of children, Nevelen? said Om im. I m surprised at you.
So am I, said Tocohl. Maggy, what exactly was the deal?
I wanted to know what had happened to other people who had claimed to be
byworld judges. She offered to trade a complete file on judges and
judgments for information about me but she said I
couldn t open it until after the four of them had judged you. And they didn t,
so I can t and I got nothing, and I promise you, Tocohl, I ll know better next
time.
Darragh wiped a hand across her face, her shoulders shaking.
Maggy, said Tocohl, they did judge me. You have every right to open that
file.
I do?
Tocohl looked pointedly at Darragh who said, Yes, Maggy, you do.
Oh, good, said Maggy, then I m not such a bad trader after all! She
fell silent, probably to examine the information Darragh had given her.
I have one last message, Tocohl, Darragh said. Your father invites you to
join him for a little on the job training. I suggest you take him up on the
offer. The talent may run in the family, but experience always fines it. I m
headed that way myself. Perhaps you and Maggy would like to tag along?
Yes, said Tocohl, I think that s a fine idea.
Me too, said Maggy, emerging from her studies momentarily. We didn t see
Tocohl Sisumo at the
Festival of Ste. Veschke. And, mirroring Tocohl s sentiments exactly, she
added, I miss him.
Tocohl and Maggy made their good-byes. Alfvaen returned them in perfect Jenji.
Bayd grinned and promised to keep up her lessons, at least until the team s
pickup arrived, and sent Tocohl off with a pile of tapes for Sisumo.
Somehow Tocohl found it was hardest to take leave of layli-layli calulan
, who had lost so much on
Flashfever. But the shaman smiled her brilliant smile. May the threads of our
lives twist together again and again, she said, and may the two of you
always dream as well as you did here.
Then Tocohl gestured Darragh and Geremy into Maggy s skiff. We have, as
usual, a storm to run,
she reminded them.
Om im stopped her with a gesture. There s nothing more I can do here, Ish
shan, he said. Do you have an opening for a seasoned judge s aide?
The question surprised her but not greatly. At last, she said, Om im, I d
like that very much, but not just yet. Maggy and I have a great deal
to work out between us and I think I know you d be something of a
distraction.
He laughed and bowed. I understand. And I heard the not just yet. I ll see
you at the Festival of
Ste. Veschke in a few years, Ish shan, and I ll ask you again.
Done. Tocohl snapped her fingers and climbed in, glancing back for one last
sight of the merry eyes that glittered beneath gilded brows.. She found
herself still chuckling after she had delivered Geremy and
Darragh to their respective ships.
Then all three were on their way and there was nothing much to do except to
consider all that had happened. Once again, Om im s impish cheer sprang to her
mind.
A seasoned judge s aide! she thought suddenly.
Maggy, she said, I think I ve been had.
You? said Maggy. Tocohl looked down: the arachne sat at her heels, still
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activated.
Me, said Tocohl. I think I may just have been thrown in that situation
deliberately to see what I
would do. I don t know the extent of the setup involved, but I m going to find
out.
I can t tell from Judge Darragh s files but maybe you could, Maggy offered.
Good idea, Maggy. What would I do without you?
You d be bored, Maggy said authoritatively, as she presented an
index on the spectacles for
Tocohl to examine.
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