It didn’t sound like it had much to do with religion. “I guess you have to ask why that would happen. Why would plebeians die when patricians were conceived? If there’s a reason, then it’s not a coincidence. Sorry,” she added, realizing it wasn’t much of an answer. “Guess I’m not much of a prodigy tonight.”
“You’re good enough.” He straightened up in his chair. “So. What did you want to talk about?”
“I went to a church service today. Church of Humanity,” she clarified. “I thought it would be like a guide for moral living and human principles. But mostly it seemed like a way to enforce loyalty to the country’s policies.”
“They’re the same. That’s what religions do—a higher power tells people how to live. Only, this message comes from a reasonable set of humans, not a capricious made-up entity.”
“Religions give you a sense of purpose. They connect you with something bigger in the universe and help you understand why you’re here,” she argued.
He gave her a teasing smile. “Isn’t that what I just said?”
“No. I don’t think so.” She frowned. “If I find a church—a real one, like the one I went to back home—will you arrest me? Or will it get you in trouble?”
“Only if you attempt treason. There are two here in the city that are pretty good matches. Licensed and harmless. You can go if you want.”
She didn’t say anything, but she wondered just how much the RUNA’s idea of “licensed and harmless” would truly match the faith she’d been raised in. Instead, she told him, “Oh. I kind of have a date.”
That snapped him to attention. “What? With who?”
“The guy I went to church with.” Tessa shifted uncomfortably. “Cynthia said it was okay when I asked earlier.”
“That’s because she was never a teenage boy,” he said. “Two weeks here, and you’re already giving me gray hairs. Give me his name so I can run a check and then make sure he comes by to meet me.”
Tessa couldn’t help but be a little surprised. Thus far, Justin hadn’t really seemed all that interested in her activities.
“I’m just going to a concert,” Tessa said, trying to reassure him. “I’m hoping it’ll give me some footage for my class.”
“Footage?”
“I’m in a media class now. Part of our project is to do a documentary, and I’m doing mine on Gemman culture from an outsider’s perspective.” Tessa was excited about the prospect, and not just because it freed her from inane Spanish lessons.
“Huh,” he said. “Budding reporter. I never saw that coming. Don’t record anything around here without asking me.”
“I know.”
He stared off thoughtfully. “There’s a lot of power with cameras and editing, you know. It lets you define the truth.”
“Isn’t that what you do?” she asked. “Servitor veritatis. ‘Servant of the truth.’ Don’t you define the truth too?”
That got her another laugh and a rueful head-shake. “Go to bed, prodigy. You’re too smart for your own good. And mine.”
CHAPTER 19
GRATEFUL TO BE IN THE FOLDS OF CIVILIZATION
Mae wasn’t thrilled that she and Justin were down to their last land-grant investigation: the Nordics. She had no desire to visit her homeland and secretly hoped he’d cancel the trip altogether since he was now caught up in the idea of a vengeful geneticist being behind the murders. He had inquiries out to the various castes, requesting records of any other “genetic indiscretions,” as they were officially called. Although he believed in the geneticist theory, she knew he wasn’t optimistic about getting results. Most patricians were conceived in vitro, meaning there was a wealth of fertility clinics out there that were always coming and going.
He’d also requested information from the various families about the victims’ conceptions but had received muddled answers. Some swore they hadn’t used in vitro. Others provided the names of doctors who didn’t seem to exist. Confusing things further was that many castals resented the RUNA’s prohibitions against genetic research, some of whom worked at high levels of castal government and could help cover up illegal clinics.
In the meantime, Justin still doggedly pursued his religious leads, though Mae suspected it was out of desperation. He kept up his overconfident persona, but she knew he was getting anxious about time. They were more than halfway through the month now, and each day that passed meant they were closer to another murder and his potential return to exile. He claimed he’d gotten a lead from Geraki’s tirade, which surprised her since little of that madman’s ramblings had made sense. She was even more surprised when Justin said they’d be going to the RUNA’s borderlands.