We were met by the Ambassador Sugna's chief secretary, who spoke nearly flawless Quen.We were met by the Ambassador Sugna's chief secretary, who spoke nearly flawless Quen. "Ambassador Arraon, so pleased to see you once more." "Mister Secretary," Arraon said in equally flawless llerki. But was it the AI who did that, or Arraon himself who spoke llerki? The secretary turned and led us further into the building, up a flight of stairs and out onto a large covered balcony. The atmosphere gave the setting sun a coppery color which complemented the stonework of the palace. The Secretary asked us to sit and wait. Ambassador Sugna arrived ten minutes later. I asked Jamis (our AI on llerkin) for a visual display of the language actually being spoken at any given moment, since Arraon was speaking in llerki, yet I 'saw' his lips move in accord with the Quen I was hearing. And the ambassador, who spoke no Quen himself, also moved his lips in accordance with the Quen I heard. I asked Jamis to cut it out with the lip- synching. Now the conversation was slightly less disorienting, although it was at times like watching a poorly translated foreign film. I banished the visual display from my eyes. I could pretty much tell at this point who was saying what. "We're to dine in less than ten minutes. I hope your ready to eat." Arraon had a slight smile. "What's the difference?" I asked. "The BCA will handle it." "That's not the point. Other than direct caustics, BCA translates all sensation accurately." "Oh," I said. "What's for dinner?" "They cook their food, Vatare', have no fear. But it is reptilian." "Will you stop calling me that!" I said, looking up at him. It's hard to feel fierce with someone who is double my weight and towers over me by at least ten centimeteres. "I apologize, but I must." He switched over to internal transmission; I 'heard' his voice in my head. ``They're probably listening to us; this is the royal palace, after all. Your legend precedes you, and even if you don't like it, you have to play the part. |