Hidden Empire Read Free Page B

launched from orbit. Bright lights shot
     into the planetary body, tunneling deep to where they would paint a wormhole target far below. The torpedo probes, developed
     from ancient Klikiss designs, vanished into the cloud decks, leaving not even a ripple.
    Beneto watched, marking every detail, which he would pass on through prayer to the eager and curious worldforest. Though he
     was the second son of the Theron ruling family, he served little purpose here at Oncier other than to send instantaneous news
     of the ambitious test via the worldtrees, much faster than any standard electromagnetic communication, which even at the speed
     of light would have taken months or perhaps years to reach the nearest Hansa outpost.
    Using the interconnected trees, any green priest could communicate with any of his counterparts, regardless of location. Any
     single tree was a manifestation of the whole worldforest, identical quantum images of each other. What one treeling knew,
     they all knew, and green priests could tap into that information reservoir whenever they chose. They could use it to send
     messages.
    Now, while the spectators watched the wormhole anchors disappearing into the Oncier clouds, Beneto touched the treeling again.
     He let his mind melt through the trunk until his thoughts emerged in other parts of the worldforest back home. When his eyes
     focused and he returned to the observation platform, he looked up to see Chairman Wenceslas looking at him expectantly.
    Beneto kept his face calm and dignified. His tattooed features were handsome and noble. His eyes had the vestiges of epicanthic
     folds, giving them a rounded almond appearance. “My Father Idriss and Mother Alexa offer the prayers of all the Theron people
     for the success of this test.”
    “I always appreciate kind words from your parents,” Basil said, “though I would prefer Theroc had more formalized business
     dealings with the Hansa.”
    Beneto kept his voice neutral. “The worldforest’s plans and wishes do not always match the needs of the Hansa, Chairman. However,
     you would do better to discuss such matters with my elder brother Reynald, or my sister Sarein. They are both more inclined
     to business than I.” He touched the feathery leaves of the treeling, as if to emphasize his priestly status. “As the second
     son, my destiny has always been to serve the worldforest.”
    “And you do your job admirably. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.”
    “With the support and the benevolence of the worldtrees, I am rarely uncomfortable.”
    The young man could imagine no other calling. Because of his high-born position, Beneto was expected to participate in showy
     events, such as this spectacle. He did not want to perform his priestly duties merely for
show
, however. Given the choice, he would rather have helped to spread the worldforest across the Spiral Arm, so the treelings
     could thrive on other planets.
    Green priests were few, and their vital telink skills were in such demand that some missionary priests lived in opulent mansions,
     subsidized by the Hansa or colony governments, well paid to send and receive instantaneous messages. Other priests, however,
     lived a more austere life and spent their time simply planting and tending treelings. That was what Beneto would have preferred
     to do.
    The Hansa had begged to hire as many green priests as Theroc would provide, but the merchants and politicians were constantly
     frustrated. Although Hanseatic envoys insisted that priests must serve the needs of humanity, Father Idriss and Mother Alexa
     had no interest in expanding their personal power. Instead, they allowed the priests to choose their postings for themselves.
    Carefully selecting healthy specimens from the sentient forest on Theroc, the priests distributed treelings on scattered colony
     worlds or carried them aboard mercantile ships. More than sunlight and fertilization, the worldforest hungered for new information,
     data to