Damien Broderick - Strange Attractors

them gold in the
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Haase, has assumed a degree of self-direction that is unlawful and an abomination to the Desousa Body, that he has withdrawn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