Engineman - Eric Brown [151]
To become a human Effectuator - to hover on the cusp of the nada-continuum and push 'ships at fantastic speeds from star to star - was the ultimate goal of all Enginemen and Enginewomen. Not many were chosen, not many were suitable, which made the accolade of becoming an Effectuator all the greater.
Human Effectuators lasted for a maximum of three years in the comatose state required to push fastships through the continuum. Then, inevitably, they slipped finally from the physical realm and merged with the One.
Dan savoured his beer and considered what he was leaving.
Six months after his return to Earth from the Reach, he had sold his Agency and signed up with the newly re-formed Canterbury Line. For the next fourteen years he had pushed bigships from Earth to the Core, for that long he had known again the ecstasy of the flux, and between stints in the tank enjoyed the camaraderie of his team.
Every time he'd returned to Earth, he made a point of looking up Ralph Mirren and Caroline. Ralph had enjoyed his last few years with his ex-wife - ten years, not the forcast eight - and succumbed peacefully to Heine's five year ago.
A year ago, Dan had applied to become an Effectuator - six hours of flux every ten days was just not enough - and after a series of thorough medicals and performance assessments, he was accepted.
He was finishing his beer and contemplating making his way across to The Sublime Ascension, when the door of the bar swung open. Dan stood, arms wide, and Ella hurried across the room and hugged him.
She stood back. "Why this late, Dan?"
He shrugged. "I didn't want the goodbyes to drag on."
He smiled down at her. She'd grown a lot since the first time he'd met her, fifteen years ago - not so much in size as in spirit. She had never become the great artist she'd wanted to be, though she still painted. Over the years she had worked with her father to bring aid and succour to the planets liberated from the tyrannical regime of the Danzig Organisation.
"How's Hirst?" Dan asked.
"He's well. I keep telling him that at his age he really ought to think about retiring, but you know my father."
"He's still working for the UC?"
"He never stops. Oh, he send his regards, by the way."
"Say hi when you see him." Dan noticed the officers on the tarmac, signalling to him. "That's the call. You can come as far as the 'ship."
They left the patio and strolled across the tarmac. Last night he'd thrown a farewell party for his friends in Paris. Ella had attended, but he had wanted to say goodbye to her alone.
They stood in the shadow of the fastship. Ella said, "I'll miss you, Dan..."
"I'm going to a better thing," he reminded her.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just being selfish, that's all."
They paused before the ramp that sloped to the brightly illuminated interior of the 'ship. He embraced Ella for the last time.
"Look after yourself, Ella. Work hard."
She stared up at him, tears in her eyes. "Hell, why are farewells always so damned difficult?"
"Hey, this isn't a farewell. We'll meet again, okay?"
Ella laughed. "Don't forget to greet me when I arrive in the continuum," she said. "I'll be a... oh - a red and silver yin-yang comet trailing fire, okay?"
Dan said, "I won't forget."
He walked up and into the 'ship, following the officers. On the threshold he paused and waved down at Ella. She gave a small wave in return as the ramp slowly lifted. Then Dan entered the main chamber of The Sublime Ascension, ready at last for the ultimate rendezvous with the glory of the nada-continuum.
The Engineman Stories
The Girl Who Died for Art and Lived
The Phoenix Experiment
Big Trouble Upstairs
The Star of Epsilon
The Time-Lapsed Man
The Pineal Zen Equation
The Art of Acceptance
Elegy Perpetuum
//The Girl Who Died for Art and Lived
I knew Lin Chakra, the famous hologram artist, for two brief days in spring. Our acquaintance changed my life.
I first met her at the party held by my agent to celebrate the exhibition of my crystal, The Wreck