The Left Hand Of Darkness (Hainish Cycle #4) - Ursula K. Le Guin Page 0,98

how does it happen that we are informed by our own Embassy that he’s in Pulefen Farm? – He’s not there, look for yourselves. – No, no, of course not, we accept the word of the Commensals of Orgoreyn … But a few weeks after these exchanges, the Envoy appears in North Karhide, having escaped from Pulefen Farm. Consternation in Mishnory, indignation in Erhenrang. Loss of face for the Commensals, caught lying. You will be a treasure, a long-lost hearth-brother, to King Argaven, Genry. For a while. You must send for your Star Ship at once, at the first chance you get. Bring your people to Karhide and accomplish your mission, at once, before Argaven has had time to see the possible enemy in you, before Tibe or some other councillor frightens him once more, playing on his madness. If he makes the bargain with you, he will keep it. To break it would be to break his own shifgrethor. The Harge kings keep their promises. But you must act fast, and bring the Ship down soon.’

‘I will, if I receive the slightest sign of welcome.’

‘No: forgive my advising you, but you must not wait for welcome. You will be welcomed. I think. So will the Ship. Karhide has been sorely humbled this past half-year. You will give Argaven the chance to turn the tables. I think he will take the chance.’

‘Very well. But you, meanwhile—’

‘I am Estraven the Traitor. I have nothing whatever to do with you.’

‘At first.’

‘At first,’ he agreed.

‘You’ll be able to hide out, if there is danger at first?’

‘Oh yes, certainly.’

Our food was ready, and we fell to. Eating was so important and engrossing a business that we never talked any more while we ate; the taboo was now in its complete, perhaps its original form, not a word said till the last crumb was gone. When it was, he said, ‘Well, I hope I’ve guessed well. You will … you do forgive …’

‘Your giving me direct advice?’ I said, for there were certain things I had finally come to understand. ‘Of course I do, Therem. Really, how can you doubt it? You know I have no shifgrethor to waive.’ That amused him, but he was still brooding.

‘Why,’ he said at last, ‘why did you come alone – why were you sent alone? Everything, still, will depend upon that ship coming. Why was it made so difficult for you, and for us?’

‘It’s the Ekumen’s custom, and there are reasons for it. Though in fact I begin to wonder if I’ve ever understood the reasons. I thought it was for your sake that I came alone, so obviously alone, so vulnerable, that I could in myself pose no threat, change no balance: not an invasion, but a mere messenger-boy. But there’s more to it than that. Alone, I cannot change your world. But I can be changed by it. Alone, I must listen, as well as speak. Alone, the relationship I finally make, if I make one, is not impersonal and not only political: it is individual, it is personal, it is both more and less than political. Not We and They; not I and It; but I and Thou. Not political, not pragmatic, but mystical. In a certain sense the Ekumen is not a body politic, but a body mystic. It considers beginnings to be extremely important. Beginnings, and means. Its doctrine is just the reverse of the doctrine that the end justifies the means. It proceeds, therefore, by subtle ways, and slow ones, and queer risky ones; rather as evolution does, which is in certain senses its model … So I was sent alone, for your sake? Or for my own? I don’t know. Yes, it has made things difficult. But I might ask you as profitably why you’ve never seen fit to invent airborne vehicles? One small stolen airplane would have spared you and me a great deal of difficulty!’

‘How would it ever occur to a sane man that he could fly?’ Estraven said sternly. It was a fair response, on a world where no living thing is winged, and the very angels of the Yomesh Hierarchy of the Holy do not fly but only drift, wingless, down to earth like a soft snow falling, like the windborne seeds of that flowerless world.

Towards the middle of Nimmer, after much wind and bitter cold, we came into a quiet weather for many days. If there was storm it was far south of us, down there,