Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [168]
‘Dr Kelly, is it true that the first death came here from another dimension? Another world?’
Everett forced a smile. ‘Only if you call the Borderlands another dimension. From what I’ve heard, the description is probably apt.’
The crowd laughed with him and more questions followed. He wished he could be completely honest about the whole matter, and the ramifications, but ASSIST had been clear. His line of delivery could not waver. He was under their control and had to keep to the strict boundaries of disclosure. He had to. That way, they wouldn’t see it coming.
‘Just get them comfortable with the notion of a life span,’ the board of directors had told him. ‘Most are so detached from their relatives in Cryo that they won’t be missed.’
‘I’m not so certain,’ Everett had answered. He rubbed his ring finger.
‘We are. Remember, we need at least a billion death certificates in the next month. Get onto it.’
There was no misunderstanding ASSIST. They’d been looking for a reason to reverse the immortality protocol for decades and now they had it. It didn’t matter to Everett that their motives were for their own convenience. The results would be the same. A more or less natural life cycle would be reintroduced, and with finite lifetimes the population would be renewed. What ASSIST didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. He nodded to a reporter towards the back, waving the others silent. He’d take one last question and wrap it up.
‘Dr Kelly, has there been definitive proof of life after death and has that been the reason for the shift in policy?’
‘You mean life after life?’
The crowd cheered.
He never answered this question directly, but he implied the response, as he had been instructed to do. A swarm of questions followed. He nodded to the security team on either side and they stepped forward. ‘That’s all we have time for today. Thank you for coming.’
The crowd cheered louder, pressing in, arms reaching towards the platform. He slipped out of the auditorium and headed back to his office. He had three hours to go before his last meeting, three hours before he would collect his things and get out. Then I’m done. Finished with it all. No more ASSIST, no more press, no more death certificates, no more lies, and hopefully no more bad dreams. He was escaping to the Borderlands, and he hoped to all powers that they actually did exist.
EARTH & GAELA—TIME: FORWARD
CHAPTER 40
Rosette floated above the crowd. She felt as if the wind would blow right through her.
It actually does blow right through you, Maudi.
She wanted to smile, but the effort seemed too great. Can you tell me what’s going on? I’m muddled. I don’t remember why we’re here. I’m not even sure where this ‘here’ is.
Temple Los Loma, Earth. The place Kreshkali was looking for when we answered the Caller.
I’m glad it’s clear for you. I don’t remember anything.
It’ll all return in time.
That’s just it, Dray. I don’t even remember what’s not coming back. I’ve forgotten what I’m worried about forgetting. I don’t know what I’m meant to be doing. She heard him purring. At least there was no forgetting how good that sounded.
Kreshkali’s here, Maudi, and Jarrod and Grayson. They will help. Everyone is helping.
Why, again?
To get you back into your body. Come closer. Can you see?
She could. Everyone in the room was filing past the altar, pausing next to her corpse. All the people were smiling and laughing as they told stories. She hadn’t been listening before, but they were talking about themselves now and how they knew her, telling yarns and snatches of memories that clearly filled them with delight. It was bringing her delight too. It made her want to giggle and she drew closer to catch the details. The stories were funny and warm and interesting—things she hadn’t thought of since they’d happened but were a comfort and joy to her now. I can remember this!
I told you it’d come back.
Her body was no longer shrouded in the black bag.