Flinx Transcendent_ A Pip & Flinx Adventure - Alan Dean Foster [156]
Flinx grasped only the minimal amount of what he was being told, but it was enough to give him an idea of what was going to happen. He did not need to know the exact how and why of what the ship was going to do, only if it worked. Lying on the platform, feeling neither thirst nor hunger, pleasure or pain, he had time to wonder what it might be like to exist thus. Casually putting the query to his ancient physical and mental host, he was somewhat surprised to receive a reaction.
YOU CONJECTURE BOREDOM ON MY PART. THAT IS AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT. I DO NOT FEEL BOREDOM. I DO NOT FEEL. I EXIST AND I REACT TO MY SURROUNDINGS. NOTHING MORE.
“It's like that for you for millennia?” Flinx wondered silently in his sleep.
FOR FOREVER, the ultimate weapon of the Tar-Aiym told him.
“I have one other question,” Flinx thought.
ASK.
Flinx considered carefully as he shifted his body slightly against the smooth surface of the platform. Above his head, Pip reacted accordingly.
“What, exactly, is a ‘Class-A’ mind?”
The planet-sized ship showed him.
“He moved! I saw him move. I'm sure of it!” Rising so abruptly from where she had been sitting that a startled Scrap had to spread his wings to keep from falling off her shoulder, Clarity lunged toward the crackling, flaring, energy-engulfed dais. Heedless of any danger, she ignored the lambent, writhing bolts of distilled lightning exploding all around her.
Using both foothands and truhands, a pursuing Sylzenzuzex caught the distraught Clarity and gently but forcefully drew her back.
“It doesn't matter that he may have moved,” the security officer click-whistled. “I agree that any sign of life is a good sign. But we must wait to celebrate until he sits up and waves.”
Recognizing the truth of the thranx's observation as well as the danger inherent in approaching the furiously flaring platform too closely, a despondent Clarity reluctantly restrained herself.
Having lost contact with the Teacher and unable to influence the airlock exit, they had been moving back and forth between the shuttlecraft and the chamber containing the galvanized contact platform for over a week now. The shuttlecraft's limited stock of supplies had compelled them to ration their food and drink. Carefully allocated, they had enough to last several additional weeks. After that…
Meanwhile, the vivid electrical fury enveloping the dais and the young man lying at its center gave no indication of abating.
“I just wish I knew what was happening.” Pulling her knees up to her chest, Clarity wrapped her arms around them and lowered her face forward until her chin was resting on her forearms.
Though no less vexed, Sylzenzuzex tried to raise the spirits of her human friend. “You said that you saw him move.”
Clarity's head came up to meet the young thranx's multilensed gaze. “I did. I'm sure of it.”
“Then at least we know he's still alive.” Sylzenzuzex gestured second-degree encouragement.
“I regret to say that we know nothing of the sort.”
Truzenzuzex had walked over to join them. “The fact that Flinx's body may have moved is inconclusive. The nervous system of humans and thranx alike can continue to function for some time after the brain, for example, has been permanently shut down.”
“Thanks for that encouragement.” Clarity dropped her head back onto her arms.
“I did not say that was what I think to be the case.” Truzenzuzex gestured disapproval of her acrimony. “I only point out what is possible.” Looking past her, he gazed at the continuing barrage of light and sound. In his compound eyes was reflected a wealth of ejected color. “I believe that shrouded inside that wellspring of erupting energy Flinx not only lives but carries on.”
Wanting desperately to