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The Sakuriji

Council Chambers


“Thank you, Warden chastaMeir, for your report,” said Chair gorminAstir. “Before the Council moves on to its next order of business, I wonder—is the Oracle for Civilization quite well?”

Bentamin inclined his head, carefully. He had been expecting this question to arise rather sooner, and had prepared for it as best he could.

“Asta vesterGranz enjoys her usual robust health, Chair gorminAstir.”

“Good, good. It has been so long since she has had a word for us that I feared she might be ill.”

“You speak with the Oracle every day, Warden?” That was Councilor tryaBent, who surely knew the answer to that question. Bentamin recruited himself to patience.

“The Warden’s list of mandated duties includes a daily consultation with the Oracle.”

But the famously ill-tempered councilor was not to be put off so easily as that.

“Yes, it is. I merely wondered if you were doing your duty.”

That was forthright, even for tryaBent—and it was, Bentamin acknowledged, a perfectly reasonable question.

“I am doing my duty, ma’am. If you doubt it, you may take testimony from the Oracle’s staff, or pull the Wardian’s security tapes.”

“The Oracle has been at her post for a number of years now,” azieEm said, cutting off whatever might have been tryaBent’s answer. “Gifts do wear out, as we all know. If the Oracle’s Eyes are closing, ought we instate another, and allow one who has served for so long to return to her family?”

azieEm was one of the younger councilors. While an awareness of her youth made her timid, Bentamin had found her thoughtful, and forward-looking. She of course honored history and tradition, but did not always look for answers there.

“In fact, the Oracle has spoken of retirement,” Bentamin said carefully.

“Retirement?” seelyFaire exclaimed. “How should she retire?”

azieEm turned to look at her.

“Asta vesterGranz has exercised her Gift to Civilization’s benefit for many years. Why shouldn’t she retire, bearing our very great thanks for her service?”

“An Oracle might retire,” said Chair gorminAstir, “but in the past, a new Oracle has arisen first.” She looked to Bentamin.

“Has a new Oracle arisen, Warden?”

“Not to my knowledge,” Bentamin admitted. “The present Oracle has suggested that this is because Civilization no longer has need.”

“What!” cried tryaBent. “Ridiculous! We are the judge of what Civilization requires, and an Oracle who does her duty is a necessity! Chair—”

She rose abruptly, and bowed to the table.

“Chair gorminAstir, I suggest that what we have here is a case of malingering. The Oracle has grown tired of duty, and is withholding information from the Warden, and thus from the Council, because she wishes to retire!”

“Sit down, Coracta,” the council chair said, and when she had done so, added, “Do you have a course of action to propose?”

“Chair, I propose that the Oracle for Civilization be called to this chamber at our next meeting, so that she may explain herself to us.”

“I agree,” said seelyFaire. “There has possibly been a misunderstanding. Even more than that, the Oracle’s duty is to Civilization. As the representatives of Civilization, the Oracle is ultimately accountable to us.”

Chair gorminAstir looked around the table.

“Does anyone else wish to speak to this issue?”

“I think it will be very helpful to us to see the Oracle and listen to what she may have to say to us,” said azieEm. “Our Warden has been a faithful go-between, but as has been said, the Council is ultimately responsible for both the Oracle’s duty and Civilization itself.”

Councilor targElmina shifted, and leaned across the table to address Archivist ivenAlyatta.

“Has it ever been done, that the Oracle came to the Council?”

The archivist frowned.

“I’ll research it. It seems to me that, in the very early days, the Oracle didn’t just report to the Council, but was a sitting member.”

“Ridiculous,” tryaBent muttered.

“Other discussion?” asked the council chair.

No one spoke.

“Very well, we will vote. All in favor of inviting the Oracle for Civilization to visit the Council at its next meeting, raise your hand.”

Bentamin looked around the table. All had raised their hands, with the exception of Majel ziaGorn, who had sent that he was required at Pacazahno, on business of the Citizens Coalition.

“The question passes,” Chair gorminAstir said. “Warden, will you please extend the Council’s invitation to the Oracle?”

“Yes,” Bentamin said. “I’ll speak to her this evening.”


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