Valhai (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter 26

VION MADE HIS way into the voting chamber in his skyrise, the 367th. When his father died, he would accede to the 49th floor, but his father was still a strong man, and for the time being his place was in the third highest family chair. His sister, Aracely, took up the final fourth place in the circle. The heights of the chairs went down as in all voting chambers. First his father and then down in height to his sister. They waited anxiously for the tridi to start. It was to be a momentous occasion.

“What was it like, Vion? Being in the ortholake?” Aracely asked him. Vion opened his mouth to answer, but his father forestalled him.

“I want no opinions from this family, mind.” He gave Vion a direct glare. “Do not think that having a seat in this vote entitles you to speak out in front of all Sell. If anybody of this house is required to speak, then I will speak for all of us. Is that clear?” The other three members of his family nodded. He remained unconvinced. “I don’t want you putting your opinions forward, Vion.”

Vion looked hurt. “Have I said anything?” he asked.

His father gave a guffaw. “Didn’t have to. I won’t have you getting this family into trouble. It would kill your mother.”

“Very well.” Vion inclined his head.

“Look what a mess Xenon has got himself into. All because he didn’t exercise enough control! Never live it down. End of the 256th house, for sure. That silly little Grace!”

“She isn’t …” Then Vion subsided. Defending Grace in front of his stern father would be a move he was not foolish enough to make. “… that is, she isn’t genetically modified,” he finished, lamely.

“Quite.” This comment met with his father’s complete agreement. “Now you can see why I had you both genetically modified. Well, you can thank Cian I did. That little spit of a girl has brought down a house of fifty generations of Sellites. I was called in yesterday to attend Amanita, you know. Quite overcome. She has been sadly affected by these developments. She had tried so hard to help Grace find the right track for her life. A terrible shame.”

Vion nodded and hid a grin. He knew exactly how Amanita had tried to help Grace, and couldn’t feel much sympathy for her, despite his genetic enhancement.

At that moment the tridi came to life, which attracted the full attention of the family.

A magnificently robed Mandalon was standing at the centre of the enormous hemisphere, a somber expression on his face. There was no sign of the shrieking tyrant Vion had seen in the bubble. The man addressing his nation was calm and dignified. There was an aura of authoritative credibility which was enhanced by the many magmite columns supporting the vaulted roof of the Valhai Voting Dome.

“People of Sell,” he began, in a mellifluous voice. “I stand here before you today, a modest man of the Almagest Triangle, in …”

Aracely put a finger down her throat and made gagging sounds. Vion looked over towards his sister and burst out laughing. This earned their father’s displeasure, and they missed most of the speech.

“… Therefore I would ask you, my fellow Sellites, as a matter of national security, to vote for your government, for your families, for your country!” Mandalon finished his speech in a thrilling bass designed to forment patriotism, inclined his portly figure to the nation and then stepped back.

“Voting will now commence,” said a metallic voice. “Sellites, please cast your votes on my mark. First point: the acceptance of negotiations with the entity Arcan. Mark!” There was a small pause and then. “Passed. Second point: repudiation of the 256th house of Sell.” Another small pause, during which Vion’s father shot him a meaningful look and watched attentively to see what button his son pushed. “Passed. Third point: authorization of all necessary force.” A longer pause, during which Vion’s finger did not go near the button. Then. “Passed. That concludes the votation. Thank you.”