When the communication was over and the normal lighting took over the dome again, the Executives looked at each other in a sign of an agreement that would have been unanimous and harmonious if it hadn't been for the frown on Clyella's scowling face. Like the only discordant note of a single instrument in the middle of a large orchestra, she was ignored and Kidhe went on, reiterating his idea on what to do about Flavio, the one with the male body, the one who was about to graduate in Statistics.

«Satan's last statement seems unmistakable» he said to the Assembly, «it's better to let him die than allowing him to go through the torture that awaits him...»

«Let's not talk crap!» resonated Clyella's forceful outcry, striking with such intensity that it could rival the power of the most trained contralto.

The silence echoed for an endless moment over the whole Assembly, hovering over expressions that ranged from wide-eyed astonishment to the embarrassment of mouths that tried in vain to find a hiding place.

«Clyella...» the president resumed calmly, «we have to restore the Samādhi Plan, or Flavio will die anyway.»

Clyella's eyes shone, welled with anger and helplessness. She furrowed her brows, lowered her gaze and gave the hint of a nod, if not in approval, at least to acknowledge that she had no better proposals to offer.

«I believe we have a few days, or even weeks, to decide the best way to eliminate him» Kidhe continued, and his voice revealed the effort it took him to maintain detachment. Then he turned to Sleeld: «Now it's more urgent to start working on a program of interventions to adjust the Samādhi Plan to the new circumstances.»

Right away, the members of the Assembly began to organize themselves to produce project models, while keeping one ear on the ideas and directions of the Executives.

Sleeld reacted to Kidhe's gaze. «So now I should go back to working blindly? I know everything about the Plan by now, no matter how hard I try I wouldn't be neutral anymore.»

«No need for that anymore,» the president replied, «we can work as a team again, taking turns to make decisions should minimize the accumulation of non-random and systematic influences.»

For once, Wilol seemed concerned to the point where he couldn't find anything to jest about. «But even if the work we have left to do is minimal, time is extremely tight, Kidhe. We will have to be very quick and responsive, I don't know if it is possible for us all to agree on time to approve the decisions to be made. Maybe it would be better for us to reduce the number of Executives in charge. Four or five might be fine.»

Clyella's head of fair honey curls snapped up to look at Wilol, then turned excitedly to Kidhe. «I have a better idea: I'll go in person to Earth, I'll take care of it on site, by myself!»

«Of course, if one of us could act directly on site, they could be much more efficient than working from here with sensors» commented Riklev, «although...»

«No... no really!» Kidhe's cut him off. «No... no, no, no and no! It's madness, you can't do it, not counting the huge risk you'd be taking, you'd certainly produce a statistical drift.»

While Kidhe shook his head in the most stubborn refusal, Clyella held his gaze with determination. «Well, who gives a damn about statistics!»

«Well said!» Wilol supported her with the smile for special occasions. «Tell that to Flavio when you're over there, I'm curious to see how he responds...»

Kidhe shook his head with increasingly wide movements and a palm pressed to his forehead. All around, however, Clyella could see that her proposal was gaining some consensus among the other Executives and was convincing many members of the Assembly.

«No! You can't take such a risk. I forbid it, end of the story» Kidhe sentenced, and the ferment that animated the Assembly seemed to subside at once in submission to the president. «Now let's get back to what we were doing...»

«I'm not going along with this!» Clyella raised her voice. With clenched fists she had stood up and stamped her foot on the ground, sinking it into the soft lawn. «I'll resign if you continue with the idea of killing Flavio!» she added in total silence, with all eyes fixed on her.

An unprecedented astonishment in the Assembly, dense and crystalline like jelly, had frozen all those under the dome. The computer remained silent as Clyella scanned with fiery eyes the silent multitude that stared at her dumbfounded. When her sight had swept over the entirety of the present crowd, she exhaled from her nose like a boiler that vents excess pressure and let go of the tensions that stiffened her muscles.

«Listen...» she said in a calm voice that resonated clear in the silence, «we have never been so close to succeeding in a plan involving Earth. There are only a few details to sort out. One person is enough to handle everything and, at this point, statistical drifts are not so risky anymore.»

Confident in his own mental calculations, Cronquit was the first to address her. «The probability of ruining everything at this point may not be very high. However, do you have any idea» he said stressing the question with evident affection, «of how much is at stake for us?»

Clyella nodded without hesitation. «I'll take responsibility» she assured with conviction. «If I mess everything up, I commit to dedicating myself solely to Earth until everything is fixed.»

Worry had not slipped away from Kidhe's face, but he had listened attentively, showing that he had moderately softened his position. «You do realize» he finally asked, «that if you make a mistake the price you would have to pay could be millennia to devoted exclusively to that hellish planet, right?»

«Yes» Clyella promptly confirmed , «I'm willing to take the risk.»

Kidhe rubbed his palm on his forehead again, pressing his lips together in a clear gesture of disagreement.

«Alright, I get it... you're crazy, no doubt. Completely crazy» he declared in the end, then took a short pause to spread his arms. «Fine by me!»

Wilol approached both of them, smiling with all his teeth on display. «Hey, we have to celebrate!» he exclaimed cheerfully. «One way or another we have finally gotten rid of Earth! The celebrations in your honor will be worthy of such an unparalleled altruism! Oh, I'm sorry you had to make such an atrocious sacrifice, after all now statistics says that 100% of the problems are yours... but "who gives a damn about statistics", I say!»