there didn't
seem to be any genetic tampering, as in the case of the Sandemans--just
a pseudo-virus, one that enhanced the sex drive, which had surfaced
about thirty years ago, and a mutation in Odeon that somehow mimicked
it. That, Medart was certain, was natural rather than engineered; the
Kingdoms' medical care was more advanced than the Sandemans' had been
at Annexation, but it certainly wasn't up to genetic engineering.

He spent the rest of the trip studying the tapes DeLayne transmitted,
including what teaching tapes he'd transcribed for Odeon, and brushing
up on Roman Catholic theology of the mid-twenty-second century. The
church had been starting to splinter then, but from what little Odeon
let slip, it seemed safe to concentrate on what was currently called
the Traditional branch--while keeping firmly in mind that this was a
variant, possibly in more than the Persons of the Trinity and the names
of God and Devil.

29. Arrival

The Columbus left as soon as Medart's ship, the Empress Lindner,
entered orbit. Battle cruisers were far too large to land in a gravity
field as strong as St. Thomas', so he came down in one of the bus-sized
landers along with a single pilot/bodyguard. There was none of the
pomp or ceremony Cortin would have expected when royalty from one realm
visited another, but Colonel Bradford had decided to leave the Strike
Force troops in place because of the Brotherhood, so she was able to
have a proper military formation, at least. The Ranger had asked for
informality, though, so she and Odeon were the only ones who approached
to greet him when he emerged from the lander, followed by his
bodyguard. They exchanged introductions, and Medart confirmed Cortin's
guess that the small, dark-skinned blond was indeed one of the
genetically engineered Sandeman warriors, Lieutenant Keith DarElwyn.

"I thought it might reassure you," Medart said, "if I brought along one
of the people we were able to make friends with thirty years ago. I've
got Traiti aboard as well, but I don't think you're quite ready for
them." Cortin, he thought, was more impressive in person than on
screen. She was medium height and build, with straight brown hair not
quite shoulder length, wearing a gray uniform with wide-brimmed
hat--but it was her eyes that struck him. They were a light brown,
with pupils that seemed blacker than space, making them seem to look
through you.

Even though he was familiar with Odeon