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relevant to us. We're interested in the Conspiracy not only as a work Mauser drew upon for his arguments, but because we believe it came to the opposite conclusion: that humanity should voluntarily extinguish itself."
    "Sounds like the Swimmers read that one," Webber said. "Maybe you should ask them for it."
    "If you could get me in touch with the Swimmers, I'd get you inside Absolution even if I had to tear down the walls with my teeth."
    Rada rose to refill her cup. "What's it like in there, anyway? I've read some reports, but I'm guessing your information's a little more up to date."
    Fell leaned back in his chair, brushing crumbs from his robe. "You know the basics, yes? That these are people religiously committed to a pre-plague way of life? Well, are you aware they are not a singular religion, but are in fact three different sects?"
    "I thought it was four," Webber said.
    "Technically, but the Plains and Pilgrims are so similar I rarely find it useful to differentiate them. Now, are you all familiar with pre-plague theology?" The monk looked around the table, met by three blank stares. He sighed. "Well, I had this wonderful parable of the king who owned a ring that embodied his right to rule. However, he had three sons, each of whom expected to receive the ring on their father's death. But the king was wise indeed. Before expiring, he made two copies of the ring. These were so pure and perfect that none of his sons could be certain who had the 'true' ring. These three rings, of course, represented the three Abrahamic faiths…"
    He trailed off. If his audience had been puzzled before, they were now thoroughly baffled. Fell scowled and sipped coffee. "Well, much as those three religions shared a common ring of truth—faith in the God of Abraham—so do the three sects of Absolution: that the Swimmers were sent here to punish us for destroying our environment."
    "That's not why they invaded us," Rada laughed. "That was just a cover story to justify it to themselves. It was a land grab, same as most wars."
    "Probably, but the humans of the day didn't exactly have many discussions with the Swimmers, so who knows? Regardless, the three sects are as follows: the Xenoists, who fear and worship the aliens as purifiers who came to show us the truth. Then there are the Pilgrims, who perceive the Swimmers as nothing more than an instrument of punishment, meant to set us back on the road of pre-plague culture. Lastly, there is the Wrath, a chaotic people who follow the preaching of their mad prophet."
    MacAdams belched. "They all manage to coexist in one little city?"
    "Not without their share of disputes."
    "Now we're talking." Rada stretched her legs over the stone floor. "I don't care about their theology. The only thing I care about is finding our man."
    "You are very impatient." Fell pursed his lips. "Then again, so is much of life. Perhaps that is the Way."
    Webber rolled his eyes. "Is there anything that isn't the Way?"
    "There is a reason it is called 'Ever-Changing.' And that fools like me spend a lifetime trying to unravel it. Our monastery shares many common interests with the Xenoists, so that's where you're most likely to end up. As long as you can talk Swimmers with them, you should be fine. By contrast, the Pilgrims evaluate their recruits by their ability to be productive citizens within three months of arrival. If you're taken in by them, work hard in the fields or construction, and no one will pay you any mind."
    "And if you place us with the Wrath?" Rada said.
    He chuckled. "Then I will have much repenting to do."
    Done with their coffee, Fell left to take care of some business around the monastery and to make some preliminary inquiries at Absolution. While he was still out, a message came in from Toman.
    LOTR had run their search. They had not turned up a copy of the Conspiracy . But, through Webber's alternate methods, they had turned up a slew of fragments, including fifteen pages of verified text, and scores