Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [34]
‘Why does the wall - is that what you call it? - meander in such an erratic fashion?’
‘I will assume that you refer to the existence of the Bare World through and around the Hue. The explanation is simple. The nutrient wall - that is a less than satisfactory term - is a fluid and ever-changing filter and protective sac not unlike the humanesque amnion. However, the wall absorbs the raw materials from the Bare World, not a parent creature. It then recomposes the proteins and acids to provide the Hue with necessary living requirements.’
‘You mean food and fluids?’
‘Not only. It can manipulate matter to create any manner of desired material or object.’
‘That is why your world seemed virtual and yet solid.’ Mira reached the top of the first ridge and stopped to stare. Ahead lay a wide corridor of flat, caked clay cracked into symmetrical patterns. On either side, though, the wall rose in such a way that she could not be sure what was sky and what was not. The peculiar visual trick made her nauseous. ‘So you cannibalise the real planet in order to exist?’
‘Mira-fedor’s tone and choice of words imply a negative appreciation of the situation.’
‘Well, what happens when you run out of raw material?’
‘That is not an issue.’ Wanton-poda, she thought, sounded smug. ‘We have seeded the Bare World with a regeneration accelerant.’
Mira picked her way slowly down the rocky ridge. Her feet felt bruised and tender. Perhaps her soft detention stockings would fare better on the clay. ‘It does not appear to be working.’
‘That is why we must hurry, Mira-fedor. Wanton’s references suggest that the Bare World is close to its regeneration point. To be caught in that. . .’
‘What? What will happen?’
Wanton squirmed against her neck, making her flesh prickle. She wanted to scratch the area but couldn’t without dislodging the Extro.
‘Wanton will be unaffected, but it is unknown what the effect might be on you or your child.’
Mira’s heart thumped.
‘Wanton has distressed you,’ said Wanton.
‘Tell me where we are going.’
‘Wanton is not sure, exactly. Wanton’s initial thought was to escape permanent death, and now, to escape the worst of the regeneration.’
‘But how can we survive until then? I need food and water.’
‘That is not a difficulty. Mira-fedor can feed from the nutrient wall as long as she is subtle and sparing.’
Mira remembered the boost of energy the wall had given her. Relief that she would not starve or dehydrate was tempered by a faint distaste at the thought of having to be in regular contact with the amnion sac around the Extro world.
‘I don’t understand why we have to hurry if you’re unsure where we are going. We need to devise a strategy. Some way to get off this world.’
‘Leave here?’
‘I would wish so,’ said Mira.
‘But there is much prejudice against our kind. Wanton is safest here.’
‘Not now that you have helped me to escape.’
Wanton issued a strange, unhappy sound, then fell to muttering something that Mira couldn’t understand.
It continued its mumbling as they walked until, eventually, she could stand it no longer. The baby, it seemed, was of the same mind, delivering light jabs to the base of her abdomen.
‘Wanton-poda! Where am I going? I cannot continue to walk without a destination. I am not a brainless Host.’
The Extro paused. ‘Please, Mira-fedor. Address Wanton merely as “Wanton”. Poda is no more. Or, perhaps, “Wanton-mira”.’
Wanton-mira. The idea of it made Mira’s nausea return. She halted. ‘Wanton,’ she said clearly and with quiet determination. ‘Where are we going?’
‘According to the studium notes there is a mamelon that is not affected during the regeneration.’
‘Mamelon? You mean a lava flow?’
‘A lava mountain.’
‘Do you have a way to locate it?’
Wanton stayed silent for a moment. ‘Mira-fedor’s manner of speech is most shameless.’
Most shameless? She hesitated. The Extro was attempting to distract her with indignation. ‘You have answered many of my direct questions now. Why would this one cause offence - unless you cannot answer it?’
‘Mira-fedor sounds different.