Empire & Ecolitan by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Page A

faster than a quick walk, it came around a wide curve and through two cylindrical pillars, one on each side of the road. Each rose five meters and was topped with a bronze triangle set inside a dark metal circle. The dark gray stones were set so tightly that the joints were hairline cracks. No mortar was visible.
    Below, in a circular valley, stood the Institute. The placement of the low buildings, the muted greens and browns, and the symmetry of the landscaping all stated that the valley housed an institute. Beyond the buildings, the ground rose to a lake, then to a series of small hills that flanked the lake before climbing into a series of foothills, then into low mountains nearly as high as those whose flanks had been scored by the Grand Highway of the Imperial Engineers.
    â€œImpressive.”
    â€œYou think so?”
    â€œYes. Very powerful.”
    â€œPowerful?”
    Jimjoy nodded before speaking. “Tremendous sense of power, of knowledge, of purpose. Especially purpose.”
    â€œSo that’s why you’re here.”
    â€œI’m not sure I know why I’m here myself, young lady. Would you care to explain?”
    â€œI shouldn’t have spoken out.”
    â€œNo reason to stop now, and besides, your thoughts won’t doom either one of us.”
    The driver laughed lightly, uneasily. “No.” Her voice turned more serious. “Not this time. I suppose I do owe you some explanation.” She did not look back at him as she let the groundcar roll down the curving drive toward a circular building at the front of the Institute. “Most visitors make some comment about how rustic the Institute is, or how isolated, or how beautiful. All that’s true, but it’s not why we’re here. You’re the first I know of who instinctively saw—really saw—it as it is.”
    Jimjoy wondered if she had shivered or merely shifted position as she completed her admission.
    â€œAre you as dangerous as they say, Major Wright?”
    Jimjoy repressed a smile. After more than two hours, Mera had finally used her own admitted weakness as a lever to ask a question to which she had wanted an answer.
    â€œDon’t know who they are. Or what they say. Done some dangerous things, and a lot of stupid things. Probably more dangerous to me than to anybody else. Don’t know how else to answer your question.”
    Mera nodded. She pursed her lips, then licked them and looked at the building she was guiding the car toward.
    Jimjoy followed her glance, realized that he had seen but a handful of vehicles. He was betting that some of the gentle hills were artificial and housed both aircraft and groundcars.
    â€œMajor…”
    Jimjoy waited.
    â€œIf you’re dangerous to yourself…what you learn here can only make that worse…”
    He frowned and opened his mouth to question her observation.
    â€œHere we are, Major. It looks like the Prime himself is here to greet you. That’s quite an honor, you know.”
    Jimjoy focused on the silver-haired and slender man in an unmarked forest-green tunic and trousers who was walking from the circular building down the walkway lined with a flowering hedge. The tiny flowers were a brilliant yellow.
    Both car and Ecolitan would arrive nearly together.
    Jimjoy smiled wryly, briefly.
    Mera’s pause on the hilltop overlooking the Institute had been for more than just letting him get a good look at the facilities. He just wondered what other signals he would discover after the fact while he was at the Institute.

XV
    â€œH E’S ADDRESSED AS ‘Prime,’” noted Mera, as Jimjoy reached for the groundcar’s door latch.
    â€œPrime what?”
    â€œJust ‘Prime.’ He’s the Prime Ecolitan.”
    The Imperial Major shrugged, then opened the door.
    â€œDon’t worry about your bags. We’ll get them to your quarters. Besides, you don’t need to drag them out.”
    Jimjoy