Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [105]
How do you know that? free-mind asked with suspicion.
A Bifurcation Device. Thought only to be a fancy.
Explain, demanded Tekton. Quickly. The ship’s security will have detected my moud activation.
It’s an organic system representing sentient behaviour. With this level of information its possible to predict outcomes. Altering the course of precursor events will change those outcomes.
God-meddling, thought Tekton.
Indeed. Logic-mind was in agreement. Commander Farr is using a system that should not be possible.
Unless a god created it.
For whom? Logic-mind pondered.
For its most deserving acolyte. Cousin Ra. But why would Ra supply an object of such potential to Lasper Farr?
Who better to play OLOSS against Post-Species? free-mind chimed in.
What can be gained from such meddling? Tekton peered closer at the spinning, weaving lights. Can it be interpreted?
Of course, said logic-mind.
Then get it to explain how I best find my way out of this hapless situation, and back to ranking most highly in Sole’s favour.
The twinkling lights brightened and he found himself awash in rapidly moving images; scenes of what had been and what would be. At odd instants, an image would freeze, allowing his mind time to create a sequence.
The deluge continued as he made a series of choices and the narrative ravelled: his rescue by Jelly Hob, meeting Samuelle, sharing her cabin aboard ship, and finally an image of a distraught and dishevelled woman, clutching her stomach in a dirty corridor.
Who in Sole’s prickless body is that? asked Tekton.
Baronessa Mira Fedor, logic-mind declared.
What’s she doing there - in my future? Tekton might have stamped his foot. He wasn’t sure.
She is significant to it somehow.
Tekton stared at the Baronessa’s round belly. Good gonads, the woman is having a baby!
Yes. That seems to be rather the point.
Tekton didn’t like the idea of his life being tied up with the pregnant Baronessa at all. Review previous sequences.
New images flared: Lasper on the bridge, the Baronessa again with an equally unkempt Thales Berniere in a tiny and unrecognisable room. And then a final picture of the Baronessa, Thales and Samuelle in intense conversation.
‘What does it mean?’ Tekton cried aloud in frustration.
Actual events and potential outcomes, surmised logic-mind.
‘But which is which?’
‘Tekkie?’ A familiar voice dragged him away from the hypnosis of Farr’s Bifurcation Device and back to the present.
Jelly Hob was standing on one foot in the doorway of the cabin. He looked ill at ease and edgy. ‘You ain’t supposed to be in here. Commander’ll have your conkers.’
Tekton fixed the old pilot with his most appealing smile. ‘Jeremy? I want you to fly me to Belle-Monde near Mintaka.’
Jelly Hob’s expression fell into perplexed lines. ‘When?’ he asked. ‘In what ship?’
‘Quite soon,’ replied Tekton. He widened his smile. ‘In this one.’
TRIN
Trin wanted to shout at them. It was taking too long to allocate the carrying of the shells and the remainder of the xoc and weed, and his desire to leave this place had suddenly become acute.
They’d all ingested the first of their weed pods, which seemed to engender confusion rather than energy as the stimulant began to rage through their depleted bodies.
Djes was next to him. She’d said nothing since Kristo had spoken out in support of Trin.
‘What is wrong?’ she asked him now.
Trin swivelled, glancing around. Semantic was rising at least, giving them light to travel by. ‘Something . . .’
‘We’re ready, Principe,’ said Juno Genarro.
‘You will go ahead, Juno, and I will lead the group. Vespa, stay at the back, make sure nobody lags behind.’
‘I’ll watch our backs with Malocchi,’ said Kristo.
It was the first time one of Mulravey’s men had offered freely to help. Trin glanced at Juno, and the Carabinere nodded.
‘Si,’ Trin agreed.
‘But Kristo, I need you to help with Thorn,’ protested Cass Mulravey.
‘C’n walk on my own, Cass,’ snarled the subject of her concern.
Trin looked at him. They were all thin, but Mulravey’s man Thomaas