Foundation's Edge - Isaac Asimov [157]
Pelorat said, "And, I take it, the group mind, so to speak, of the group consciousness is much stronger than an individual mind, just as a muscle is much stronger than an individual muscle cell. Consequently Gaia can capture our ship at a distance by controlling our computer, even though no individual mind on the planet could have done so."
"You understand perfectly, Pel," said Bliss.
"And I understand it, too," said Trevize. "It is not that hard to understand. But what do you want of us? We have not come to attack you. We have come seeking information. Why have you seized us?"
"To talk to you."
"You might have talked to us on the ship."
Bliss shook her head gravely, "I am not the one to do it."
"Aren't you part of the group mind?"
"Yes, but I cannot fly like a bird, buzz like an insect, or grow as tall as a tree. I do what it is best for me to do and it is not best that I give you the information--though the knowledge could easily be assigned to me."
"Who decided not to assign it to you?"
"We all did."
"Who will give us the information?"
"Dom."
"And who is Dom?"
"Well," said Bliss. "His full name is Endomandiovizamarondeyaso--and so on. Different people call him different syllables at different times, but I know him as Dom and I think you two will use that syllable as well. He probably has a larger share of Gaia than anyone on the planet and he lives on this island. He asked to see you and it was allowed."
"Who allowed it?" asked Trevize--and answered himself at once, "Yes, I know; you all did."
Bliss nodded.
Pelorat said, "When will we be seeing Dom, Bliss?"
"Right away. If you follow me, I'll take you to him now, Pel. And you, too, of course, Trev."
"And will you leave, then?" asked Pelorat.
"You don't want me to, Pel?"
"Actually, no."
"There you are," said Bliss as they followed her along a smoothly paved road that skirted the orchard. "Men grow addicted to me on short order. Even dignified elderly men are overcome with boyish ardor."
Pelorat laughed. "I wouldn't count on much boyish ardor, Bliss, but if I had it I could do no worse than have it on your account, I think."
Bliss said, "Oh, don't discount your boyish ardor. I work wonders."
Trevize said impatiently, "Once we get to where we're going, how long will we have to wait for this Dom?"
"He will be waiting for you. After all, Dom-through-Gaia has worked for years to bring you here."
Trevize stopped in midstep and looked quickly at Pelorat, who quietly mouthed: You were right.
Bliss, who was looking straight ahead, said calmly, "I know, Trev, that you have suspected that I / we / Gaia was interested in you."
" 'I / we / Gaia?' " said Pelorat softly.
She turned to smile at him. "We have a whole complex of different pronouns to express the shades of individuality that exist on Gaia. I could explain them to you, but till then 'I / we / Gaia' gets across what I mean in a groping sort of way. --Please move on, Trev. Dom is waiting and I don't wish to force your legs to move against your will. It is an uncomfortable feeling if you're not used to it."
Trevize moved on. His glance at Bliss was compounded of the deepest suspicion.
5.
DOM WAS AN ELDERLY MAN. HE RECITED THE TWO hundred and fifty-three syllables of his name in a musical flowing of tone and emphasis.
"In a way," he said, "it is a brief biography of myself. It tells the hearer--or reader, or senser--who I am, what part I have played in the whole, what I have accomplished. For fifty years and more, however, I have been satisfied to be referred to as Dom. When there are other Doms at issue, I can be called Domandio--and in my various professional relationships other variants are used. Once a Gaian year--on my birthday--my full name is recited-in-mind, as I have just recited it for you in voice. It is very effective, but it is personally embarrassing."
He was tall and thin--almost to the point of emaciation. His deep-set eyes sparkled with anomalous youth, though he moved rather slowly. His jutting nose was thin and long and flared at the nostrils.