The silence was broken by a woman pressing through the crowd, shouting, holding a crying baby over her head.

"We should leave," said Jin-yao.

"No! Wait a moment!"

The woman reached the wagon, and held up her child. "He is sick, with a fever. Please, Lady; heal my son."

The child screamed, drawing up his knees when Kati took him. She held him close, pa.s.sed a hand over his face and body, and the screams instantly stopped. She handed the baby back to his mother, and said, "He is well, with the blessings of First Mother. Take him home, and feed him milk fresh from the stores."

There were smiles now, and tearful faces in the crowd, amulets waving. The wagon moved, and the people followed them, some crying out, and falling down prostrate. Kati waved serenely, but nervously, then turned to Mengmoshu.

She fed him spoiled milk! He was cramped!

There is no refrigeration. Food poisoning is common here.

"How did she know to come to me?"

Jin-yao turned around. "Relatives of those in the hospitals. Word travels fast here." He paused, then said, "My Lady, you heal in the name of First Mother."

"Yes. All that I do comes from Her."

"The word in the streets is different, My Lady. The unbelievers call you a magician, but the others-the

believers-they say that First Mother has come to them in person. They say you are First Mother."I didn't intend this!

"I only represent her, Jin-yao. You must tell them that."

"I will, My Lady." He slapped the horses with the reins, and the cart jerked forward.

What will She think?

Don't worry. I've never seen those amulets displayed so openly before now, and I think there will be many new believers within the city because of the time you've spent here. She will be pleased.

They thought I performed miracles?

The people hope a G.o.ddess will come to ease their lives, but they are wrong. Change will come when a new person sits on the throne of Shanji.

Shan-lan?

No.

Who, then?

We shall see-and don't probe me so hard. There's nothing more I can tell you at this point. Stop trying!

She didn't, but he resisted her efforts, and she finally gave up when they reached the edge of the city and saw the men and horses waiting there to take them to the factories.

They traveled four days in order to spend two with the people. Along the way they saw many travelers, hand carts loaded with families and meager possessions, headed towards an uncertain future in the city. Kati was now cautious about her actions and asked not to visit the small clinic in the unnamed town built around the smelting plants. Being thought of as First Mother had shaken and confused her badly. Her serene smile had disappeared, and there was now a stern expression when she asked her questions. The plant managers saw her as a spy for the n.o.bles. But they were quick to learn how to judge her reactions to their answers by noting the color of her eyes, and after a few false starts were honest with her.

Production was erratic and inefficient, workers often idle, or laid off, the furnaces continually turned off and on again because of unpredictable delivery schedules of ores from the mines in the north only two hundred kilometers distant. She wanted to visit the mines, but it was not on their itinerary, and Mengmoshu personally felt her anger for that.

Hydroelectric power production by the river called Dahe was enormous, enough to power the plants, the town, Wanchou and more. She asked why a line hadn't been run to Wanchou, and was told the n.o.bles had decided it was unnecessary.

She asked why the workers' apartments had lighting and electric stoves, but no heating or cooling systems.

The n.o.bles had decided it was unnecessary.

Electric vehicles? Mag-rails?

Unnecessary, and expensive. Horse and cart were sufficient for the needs of Shanji and kept the people busy. Only the sick and the very old were unemployed, and they were cared for by the system. Kati saw their lies. She asked why ingots of copper, zinc, tin, lead and all manner of steels were piling up in several warehouses around the plants.

The n.o.bles had no immediate use for them, but you never could tell when there might be a need.

Kati was frustrated, tired, and discouraged. Their last evening within sight of the tall stacks belching steam was spent briefly on the bank of the river Dahe, Shanji's largest. Water crashed past them over rocks and sprayed them with mist as they sat on a carpet of moss, momentarily mesmerized by sound.

This is impossible. The n.o.bles control everything and do nothing to make improvements. First Mother says there will be a new Emperor, and you say it is not Shan-lan. I say whoever it is makes no difference. What we need is not a new Emperor, but a new system, a new way of doing things.

And what is that new system?

I don't know.

That's not helpful, Kati.

I don't know! I've just seen these things.

Then talk it over with Huomeng. Tell him the problems you see. Ask his advice. Share your ideas.

He'll only be critical.

Good! A worthwhile idea must withstand criticism. Work out a reformation plan with him. I will tell

Huomeng I've a.s.signed it to you as an exercise.

You won't!

I will. It's done. Now get some sleep. We get up early in the morning.

You sound like a father! I will go to sleep when I'm ready!

She was on her feet, glaring redly at him before he could move. And then she tossed her head angrily, hitched up her robe, and stomped away from him. I am getting tired of dealing with MEN!

Minutes after she was gone, Mengmoshu dared to wonder what it would be like to deal with an Empress who had temper tantrums, especially an Empress with the powers of First Mother.

Their final stop was a farming community east of the factories, and they followed their guide in silence the entire day. The land changed from rock-covered sand to gra.s.s, then suddenly there were lines of yar, their p.r.i.c.kly branches shading meandering streams from shallow aquifers at higher elevations to the north. Beyond the streams the land was suddenly green with bean fields and rice paddies, and their destination appeared, a circular cl.u.s.ter of huts made from red clay. The roofs were thatched with tied bundles of dried gra.s.s, and people were cooking outside over small fires, sitting together in little groups to eat. Mengmoshu smelled meat cooking, and it was wonderful.

Kati was still in her purple robe, a bit soiled and rumpled, and Mengmoshu had changed back to his black one for the occasion. The first time he'd ridden into such a village in full military armor, the people had thrown stones at him, thinking he'd come to take away the land they regarded as theirs. These were independent people and keepers of the land. Their belief in First Mother was devout.

When they saw Kati, her rumpled robe and face glistening with sweat, they arose from where they were sitting, and bowed directly to her as if Mengmoshu were not present.

Two men hurried to help her dismount. A woman came with a basin of water and bathed her face and hands with a moist cloth. Everyone was stoic and silent, until Kati spoke.

"I bring you greetings from First Mother."

"You are welcome here," said the woman who had bathed her. "We have a place ready for you in our circle. This way."

The woman led Kati to a circle of older people. A saddle had been placed there and covered with a blanket. Kati looked expectantly over her shoulder at Mengmoshu.

"Your servant will be fed," said the woman, and Kati smiled.

I love that!

We both play our parts.

"I'd prefer that he sit with me. He's an old, and trusted advisor," Kati said smugly.

The woman motioned to Mengmoshu, and he joined them at the circle, sitting on a square of cowhide to her right while she perched on her throne. Everyone sat down, and another woman served them ayrog in clay mugs. There were no introductions; everyone sat silently, watching Kati.

Her eyes were amber. She took a sip from her mug, and the others did likewise. "Ayrog!" she exclaimed. "I haven't tasted this since I was a child!""You're not Hansui," said the woman who'd bathed her, and seemed to be a village elder of some kind."No, I'm Tumatsin."

"The hill people. How is it that you come to be in the employ of the Emperor?"Kati's eyes glowed red in an instant. "I do not come from the Emperor, or the n.o.bles. I've been sent here by First Mother. She chose me as Her servant when I was a child."

Eyes widened around the circle, but the woman who'd questioned her showed no reaction. "Why do you come here?"

"To learn about your lives; to see what can be done to make them better."

The woman shrugged. "First Mother is good to us. We have the land, the rains, and many children.

We're never hungry, and have shelter. What more could we want?"

"You have no sickness?"

"Oh yes. Many of our children die, but First Mother sends more. People become ill, and often die, but we isolate them before the disease can spread. There have been no plagues of disease here."

"First Mother would have you all live to an old age. There are medicines for treating many illnesses."

"She has given medicines to the Emperor and his n.o.bles, and the land to us. If that is Her will, we are

content with it. Please say our thanks to First Mother for all Her gifts. Maybe She feels our prayers have not been enough."

"I will," said Kati, eyes amber again.

Food was served: beans, and strips of beef over a mound of rice, all in great quant.i.ty. Mengmoshu stuffed himself, and even Kati ate more quickly than usual.

They see no problems.

Yes, but disease is rampant here. Only a fourth of their children reach adulthood. All the water is polluted by the human waste they use as fertilizer in the fields, and they don't boil it properly. Their deaths are often horrible.

They ate silently, because Kati was silent. The people would only respond if she said something, yet Mengmoshu knew they chatted constantly among themselves when left alone. They would not even exchange names with people they regarded as strangers.

Kati put down her empty bowl. "Are there any sick people among you now?"

"Only a child. He'll soon be with First Mother."

"Please take me to the child, and I'll show you Her will for him."

That's a big risk, Kati!

I have to do something! The people are too accepting about their lives! They think everything is the will of Mandughai! They live blindly!

Tengri-Khan was touching the horizon when the woman took them to a hut where a lantern had been lit. The clay walls were bare, the floor earthen. The room was five paces on a side, without furniture, some shelves of wood separated by stones holding a few meager possessions of clothing and hand-tools. Two straw mattresses were on the floor; a boy, perhaps four years old, lay on one of them, eyes closed. In the dim light, his face was ashen. A woman sat beside him, holding his hand, her face a mask of sorrow and resignation.

Kati knelt by the boy and moved her hands over him. She turned him on one side, and explored his back, looking at that thing Mengmoshu could not see.

Pneumonia, and a weak immunogenic system. No fever. His lungs are filling up.

The elderwoman winced when Kati looked at her with blazing green eyes, and said, "It's First Mother's will that this child should live. Do you have a shrine here?"

"Of course," said the woman.

"Please take me there."

The shrine was an altar of field stones in a neighboring hut. A single, fist-sized greenstone sat on the altar, surrounded by six flickering candles. Mengmoshu and the elderwoman stood in the door as Kati

went to the altar, bowed, and stood silently for several seconds, eyes closed. Then she stretched out her hands towards the altar, raising them slowly, the candle flames lengthening in response, and in seconds the candles were puddles on stone.