Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [85]
‘Crux!’ exclaimed Mira.
Thales’s gaze followed hers to the centre of the dais where a huge shard of green glass thrust up towards the ceiling. Tiny lights glowed along the myriad cracks that it contained, some appearing to be moving up and down along the fissures. The whole sculpture shone with both reflected and internal light. Though scarred and irregular it was the most beautiful thing Thales had ever seen.
‘Spectacular indeed,’ agreed the Lamin. ‘This monolith of glass was damaged during the construction of the Floating Palaces of the Armina-Pulchra Raj. The artist transported it to his home where he continued to place the material under duress. It is said that he dropped it repeatedly. He then lowered it onto a deep ice-well and left it there for several years. When he retrieved it a silica symbiote had taken up residence in the fissures. It is now the most valuable recycled sculpture in Orion. Although shortlived. The symbiotes will eventually swell the fissures and then one day it will explode.’
‘But before that it will glow brighter and brighter,’ said the Baronessa.
The Lamin nodded. ‘The artist is already selling tickets to the final event.’
‘And what is that alongside it?’ Thales pointed to a small naked humanesque form reclining on a pedestal, unmistakably an aroused male. The sculpture’s expression alternated between lascivious and haughty. The height and strength of its erection also changed as the sculpture appeared to liquefy and re-form.
‘It is one of our few quixite sculptures.’
‘Few?’ asked Mira Fedor.
‘Quixite is a rare and expensive naturally occurring metal alloy which has many applications. Many think that using it for art is immoral.’ The Lamin bared its teeth. ‘It is certainly a sign of wealth and status. Only our most successful artists can afford it. This is called “The Travelling Companion” and is quite new, I believe.’
‘Quixite?’ said the Baronessa in a sharp voice. ‘Who is the artist?’
‘I am unsure. Now we must meet Commander Farr for refreshments.’
Commander Lasper Farr was seated in an armchair under a foil marquee decorated with small bouquets made from iron, brass and aluminium swarfs. The God-Discoverer, Josef Rasterovich, was on his right, and on his left an obese shapeless creature took up an entire couch.
‘Everything is so bright, so clean,’ said the Baronessa. ‘How is that possible?’
‘Commander Farr has very high standards.’ The Lamin nodded as he spoke, as if to emphasise that statement. ‘Edo laboratories have patented a rust-eating parasite. It is effective, but over-colonisation by the parasite can also weaken the material. It is a fine and lucrative balancing act.’
Farr stood when he saw them approach. He gave the Baronessa a brief bow. ‘I see you were admiring the Fest’s centrepiece. Please let me introduce you to the artist, Fenralia.’ He waved a hand at the large jelly-like creature with trailing tendrils and a rudimentary face. ‘And of course you have already met Josef.’
Fenralia’s body shivered as if it was preparing to move.
The Baronessa forestalled it with a curtsy and a series of quiet glubbing noises.
Fenralia stopped shivering and responded in kind.
The Baronessa rose. ‘I am hoping that you speak ‘esque as well, Fenralia. My Uralian is very basic and learned only from Studium simulations.’
The artist emitted an odorous liquid from underneath its body, which pooled on the couch and began to drip onto the floor of the marquee. ‘Well-enough-so.’
Thales could not discern the origin of the mechanism that Fenralia used to speak.
‘You are educated, Baronessa,’ said Lasper Farr. ‘And you will find Fenralia to be so as well.’
‘Flatter-Carnage-me-more.’ Fenralia’s ‘voice’ was high-pitched and unformed like that of a very young child.
‘May I say that your sculpture is magnificent,’ said Thales. ‘I have never seen the like of it. So powerful.