Strength of Stones by Greg Bear Read Free Book Online Page B

in a manner of speaking."
    "They found humanity wanting."
    "Simply put. One of the original directives of the city was that socially destructive people -- those who did not live their faith as Jews or Christians -- would be either reformed or exiled. The cities were constantly aware of human activity and motivation. After a few decades they decided everybody was socially destructive in one way or another."
    "We are all sinners."
    "This way," Thinner directed. They came to the moving walkway around the central shaft and stepped onto it, "The cities weren't capable of realizing human checks and balances. By the time the problem was discovered, it was too late. The cities went on emergency systems and isolated themselves, because each city reported that it was full of antisocials. They were never coordinated again. It takes people to reinstate the interurban links."
    Jeshua looked at Thinner warily, trying to judge the truth of the story. It was hard to accept -- a thousand years of self-disgust and misery because of bad design! "Why did the ships leave the sky?"
    "This world was under a colony contract and received support only so long as it stayed productive. Production dropped off sharply, so there was no profit, and considerable expense and danger in keeping contact. There were tens of millions of desperate people here then. After a time, God-Does-Battle was written off as a loss."
    "Then we are not sinners, we did not break El's laws?"
    "No more than any other living thing."
    Jeshua felt a slow hatred begin inside. "There are others who must learn this," he said.
    "Sorry," Thinner said. "You're in it for the duration. We'll get off here."
    "I will not be a prisoner," Jeshua said.
    "It's not a matter of being held prisoner. The city is in for another move. It's been trying to get rid of the architect, but it can't -- it never will. It would go against a directive for city cohesion. And so would you if you try to leave now. Whatever is in the city just before a move is catalogued and kept careful track of by watcher units."
    "What can any of you do to stop me?" Jeshua asked, his face set as if he'd come across a piece of steel difficult to hammer. He walked away from the shaft exit, wondering what Thinner would try.
    The floor rocked back and forth and knocked him on his hands and knees. Streamers of brown and green crawled over a near wall, flexing and curling. The wall came away, shivered as if in agony, then fell on its side. The sections around it did likewise until a modular room had been disassembled. Its contents were neatly packed by scurrying coat-trees, each with a fringe of arms and a heavier frame for loads. All around the central shaft, walls were being plucked out and rooms dismantled. Thinner kneeled next to Jeshua and patted him on the shoulder.
    "Best you come with this unit and avoid the problems here. I can guarantee safe passage until the city has reassembled."
    Jeshua hesitated, then looked up and saw a cantilever arch throwing out green fluid ropes like a spider spinning silk. The ropes caught on opposite bracings and the arch lowered itself. Jeshua stood up on the uncertain flooring and followed Thinner.
    "This is only preliminary work," Thinner said as he took him into the cyborg room. "In a few hours the big structural units will start to come down, then the bulkheads, ceiling, and floor pieces, then the rest. By this evening, the whole city will be mobile. The girl will be here in a few minutes -- you can travel together if you want to. This unit will give you instructions on how to avoid injury during reassembly."
    But Jeshua had other plans. He did as Thinner told him, resting on one of the racks like a cyborg, stiffening as the girl came in from another door and positioned herself several aisles down. He was sweating profusely, and the smell of his fear nauseated him.
    The girl looked at him curiously. "You know 'at dis you in fo'?" she asked.
    He shook his head.
    The clamps on the rack closed and