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shut out the ambimorphs? And could they continue to shut out the ambimorphs
if
the ambimorphs discovered that they were only reading the surface level? And
then there was the most fascinating question of them all-how were the Nomads
able to infallibly identify ambimorphs for what they were-"the false
ones"-without the shapechangers catching on?
Part of the answer had to do with circumstances. Ambimorphs did not often try
to
pass as Nomads. They had arrived on Purgatory by passing as humans. In the
controlled environment of the Purgatory settlements, it would have been
difficult for them to breed unnoticed, so they had found safer places to
breed
out in the wild high country. While they were developing, it was easier for
them
to take on the aspect of the various small creatures indigenous to the high
country and the desert. In this manner, they survived until they matured and
became large enough to take on human form and infiltrate the human
settlements,
which was their main priority. Until recently, there had been no reason for
them
to infiltrate the Nomad tribes. They were at war with us, not with the
Nomads.
However, it had apparently occurred to them that if they could exert a
controlling influence upon the Nomads, they could conceivably turn them
against
the human settlements, and so some of them had started trying to infiltrate
the
tribes in Nomad form.
Only it wasn't working. Because the males so vastly outnumbered the females
in
the Nomad tribes, the ambimorphs naturally attempted to infiltrate the tribes
by
taking on the form of Nomad males, hoping to get lost in the numbers. But
while
they had no trouble getting in, they had trouble staying there for any length
of
time, because the moment they tried to do anything, they were taken out. So
long
as they remained within the tribe as young, unmated Nomad males, the Nomads
accepted them and didn't bother them. But the moment they tried to do
anything
to exert any influence within the tribe, the shapechangers ran into a dead
end.
They could not take on the form of Nomad females because every Nomad female
was
known by every other male and female within the tribe and the only way to
supplant one of them would be to kill the original and take her place. Much
easier said than done, especially when your quarry can read your mind without
your knowing it. And males did not have any voice in a matriarchal tribal
leadership. If the ambimorph imposters tried to press the issue, they were
immediately challenged by other young Nomad males and killed. The manner in
which it was done made it appear as if it were a perfectly normal part of
tribal
life-unmated, young males frequently challenged one another in an attempt to
prove themselves in the eyes of females who might consider them as potential
mates and these ritual combats were always to the death. A bit extreme,
perhaps,
but males were a surplus commodity and the weaker ones were expendable. It
improved the tribal gene pool. These ritual combats between unmated males
invariably resulted in the defeat of ambimorphs trying to pass as Nomads,
because they were at a marked disadvantage. They could not take on any other
form without revealing themselves for what they were and their telepathy did
not
avail them in trying to win these fights, because there was always at least
one
female watching the contest and she would telepathically anticipate the next
move the ambimorph imposter would make and communicate it to the Nomad male
it
was fighting via the secondary brain. And the ambimorphs never realized what
was
going on.
The shapechangers had not yet managed to catch on that they were being
systematically "weeded out" of the tribes in this manner. But it was only a
matter of time before they'd figure it out and the Nomads knew that. For the
time being, some of the ambimorphs were trying out the strategy of taking on
the
form of Nomad gods, taking their cues from the representational art and
ritual
dances of the tribes, but when it became clear that that wasn't working
either,
it would have to occur to the ambimorphs that something was going on that
they
didn't know about. They had never before encountered a species that could
recognize them in any guise and they were confused. But eventually they'd
figure
it out. The Nomads knew they would not be. able to remain neutral any longer.
They had to take sides.
Why us? Because we were the logical choice. They knew their odds of coming
out
ahead were far greater if they came in on our side than if they helped the
ambimorphs.
"It makes perfect sense," said Breck. "For one thing, the shapechangers never
asked for their help, they tried to compel it. Bad mistake. They were even
more
invasive than we were. We only came in and took some of their land. The
shapechangers tried to take their identities. But beyond that, if the Nomads
were to fight with the ambimorphs against us, they'd be much more vulnerable
because they couldn't shapechange and they'd have damn little defense against
our weapons. On the other hand, we'd cut just about any deal with them if it
would help us against the ambimorphs, including pulling out of Purgatory and
probably providing them with some technological support and weapons systems.
That way, they could not only use any weapons we gave them against the
ambimorphs remaining here, they could also turn them against us if we ever
tried
to double-cross them. Trusting us is still a risk for them, but it's a
calculated one. And it looks as if we need them a lot more than they need us.
I'd say they've thought it out quite well and made the best possible
decision.
They learn quickly."
The sun was getting high as we walked up the mountain trail. I felt exposed
and
uncomfortable in my hand-me-down Nomad hides. Even though they had belonged to
a
very young male in Tyla's tal-ken, they were way too big for me. The
proportions
were all wrong. Nomad males were truly massive in the chest and shoulders.
Their
arms and legs were longer and thicker than ours. They were generally size
extra
extra large. A child's hides would have been too small and the only other
alternative would have been to wear female clothing, which would have looked
even sillier on me than the outsize hides. I looked like some sort of
futuristic
barbarian with my weapons strapped on over my hides. A futuristic barbarian
who
could have done without the cold drafts finding their way into my ensemble.
There were about two dozen Nomad males with us, along with four females,
including Tali and Tyla. All were armed with their long spears and stone
axes. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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