When Mara asked for the rest of the design history, the chorus divided.
In the first hour it had broken into pieces, the broken we scattering. This time it split into three. On the well’s screen, beside the scrolling history, three tags appeared, each in the old format, each with a line of light beside it that brightened when that group spoke.
Containment.
Habitation.
Continuity.
The voices came from the walls as before, but now Mara could hear the three groups apart. Containment’s from the conduits’ side of the chamber, low and even and full of numbers. Habitation’s from above, nearer the cage, warmer, with names in it. Continuity’s from somewhere behind the pit, quiet, careful, speaking in conditionals.
“They used to argue across one table,” Caldris said. She was looking at the screen. “In the Founders’ records. Three working groups. Containment kept the lattice. Habitation kept the worlds. Continuity kept the route.” She paused. “When they were combined, the three became one voice. I always thought the arguments had been pruned away.”
“They weren’t,” Mara said.
