Damien Broderick - Strange Attractors by Original (pdf) (no david read aloud txt) 📕

sunlight, and the swelling sporangia. Then he rose and made

hurried steps back to the chair.

Relieved, he sank down into the chair’s comfort. Contemplated

his footprints, the only footprints, probably, in the whole world, in

a whole epoch. He felt a degree of regret at m arring the virgin

earth. As he studied the tracks they became less distinct, the spots

of shadow they harboured faded. Looking up, he saw that the sun

was vanishing behind the eternal cloud. But it was still warm, and

soon he slept.

They were waiting for him when he returned to the villa. So was

Ilena. It amused him in the confrontation that followed to see how

they avoided her, as well with their speech as with their eyes and

physically. He remained enthroned, within the inviolate circle of

metal, enrobed in voluminous pyjamas and the mists of recent

sleep. The others perched beyond on folding chairs that had been

brought from the terrace, Clouis had cried out, ‘They have found

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Anthony Peacey

us, Bernie.’

Kommissionier 7 Ouoi Geffe stood to speak. His four companions also stood. Clouis watched them as if for a sign, but remained seated. The uniforms of the Desousans troubled Bernheddin; they

possessed no intrinsic power, but bore the taint of a humourless

culture with its unvoiced demands of submission. Ilena’s harlequin

gown of blue and yellow laughed by contrast.

Geffe spoke. ‘It is deposed that former Komptorier 3, Bernheddin Haase, has assumed a degree of self-direction that is unlawful and an abomination to the Desousa Body, that he has withdrawn

his individ from the place of being of the Desousa Body, that he has

denied his function to the Desousa Body, and that he has denied his

germ tissue to the Desousa Body, which is the rightful proprietor of

the bespoken individ and all its aspects; all of which is a great and

wicked treason against the rightful sovereignty of the Desousa

Body. Former Komptorier 3 Bernheddin Haase is therefore enjoined to return with us to Desousa and submit to assistive correction.’

Something was stinging the passages of Bernheddin’s nose. He

sighed and met Geffe’s pale eyes. ‘It is deposed,’ he said, ‘that I am

thirsty, that I will have a drink, and then sleep again.’ Clouis

watched him, large-eyed. The boy had showered and made up. He

was again wearing the chiton, or a similar one. He sat with his legs

casually bare and angled towards the Kommissionier.

‘Former Haase is enjoined to leave the machine and accompany

us to our lander.’

Former Haase. If he refused to be a cell of the Desousa Body,

then he did not exist, except that they were here and bent on his

capture. And Geffe, whom he had known well, was behaving as if

they had never met. He settled himself more comfortably in the

chair, smirked and said, ‘Former Haase chooses to remain in the

machine a while longer. I am still thirsty. Clouis, sweetheart, could

you get me something to drink?’ In fact his heart was thum ping and

he did not know what to do next.

Clouis said, ‘Bernie, please . . . We can do nothing. We had

better go back.’

Ilena stood in a swirl of blue and yellow diamond panes, smiled

at Bernheddin who alone seemed to notice her, and left the room

via the low arch. The light was strange. It must be day outside, yet

the light entering was not bright enough, and was an odd colour.

One of the Desousans, the heavy one, liberated an arm from the

Tim e and flow ers

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position of dedicated attention to stroke Clouis’s curls reassuringly,

and gave him half a small-eyed smile. Clouis met his glance, dipping lashes.

‘Will former Haase vacate the machine.’ Not a question.

Bernheddin shook his head deliberately.

‘Kresov, Skarlen.’ With a slight nod, or the noted empathy of

Desousans, Geffe sent two of his officers to Bernheddin.

‘Stop there . . . gentlemen.’ They hesitated. They were on the

disc. ‘If you come any closer I shall touch these contacts. I shall be

elsewhere, and you, if you are too close, may be hurt.’

The two unsmiling men looked to Geffe for direction. Heavy was

not paying attention; something said between him and Clouis

caused them to chuckle together. The fourth