Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [85]
‘I suppose that is true. It could be that he saved my life to divert blame for my later disappearance.’ His head ached with the effort of second-guessing Lasper Farr. ‘Whatever the reason, I was saved by a. . . woman . . .’ He stumbled on that concept. Fariss was a woman but that alone seemed an insufficient way to describe her. ‘. . . and brought here.’
‘And now?’
But Thales was still not prepared to give away information without reciprocation. ‘Yes, sir?’
Tekton gave a small and humourless smile. ‘You are wise not to be as trusting these days, Thales. A lesson hard-learned. Poor fellow, I am pleased to see your face less raw.’
Thales inclined his head and waited.
‘In truth I’m not sure what now. Hob tells me this place stands independent of Farr and that I shall be safe here. I assume the same would stand for you. My instinct is to leave quickly and return to Belle-Monde, but that may not be so simple. OLOSS have gathered a force at all the res-stations that access Araldis. The Extropists have control of the planet. I think trouble is imminent. Travel may be difficult.’
Tekton shifted his injured legs with care and rearranged the bedcovers.
Beautiful linen, Thales noticed. The kind you would expect in the best of hotels. In fact, little signs of Ampere’s wealth were everywhere. The infirmary, though small, was ergonomically elegant and fitted with the most sophisticated equipment. The guards he’d seen wore a ceremonial livery, not nano-suits. He snapped his attention back. Tekton was speaking again.
‘Would you mind, Thales, telling me why they are taking samples of your DNA? I could offer you advice on the situation.’
Thales vacillated. The Godhead seemed different somehow, less arrogant (other than the vomiting - which given his physical state was forgivable) and more genuine. Experience could be a swift educator, Thales knew. ‘They wish to prove that Lasper Farr infected me with bacteria. I expect they are accumulating evidence. And staying cognisant with the tricks he is using.’
‘Ah,’ said Tekton. ‘But perhaps I could save them some time.’
Thales’s eyes widened. ‘You would tell them what you know about the creator of the DNA I collected?’
‘For the right outcomes, yes.’
‘And they would be?’
‘Lasper Farr is a man who conducts himself beyond what is appropriate. He is also a man who is extraordinarily well informed. Did Bethany, by chance, ever mention how he accrues his knowledge?’
‘No,’ said Thales truthfully. ‘But she was never comfortable with his ambitions and she was fearful of his uncanny prescience. Why do you ask?’
‘Prescience, you say. Hmmmm ... I saw something in his prayer room that would indicate that his prescience is the benefit of some advanced technology.’
‘Weapons?’
‘It could be thought of that way.’ Tekton sat up straighter and sipped fluid from the straw-pouch dangling in front of him. ‘Have you met this Samuelle?’
Thales nodded and rolled his eyes.
‘What would you consider her position on affairs?’
‘She is involved with Consilience, and not altogether enamoured with Commander Farr’s self-serving ways.’
‘She would oppose him?’ asked Tekton, softly.
‘I believe so. But I should not give too much weight to my opinion after one brief meeting with the woman.’
Tekton considered that for a moment. ‘I have a feeling that things around us may change quickly, Thales. I would like to consider you an ally when this happens. I will do my best to help you find answers, if I can count on you in return.’
Thales stared across at Tekton. Even across the distance of two beds, he thought the tyro seemed vulnerable, even a little desperate. Thales’s reserve thawed. Tekton valued him - more than that, needed him. ‘I think it would be most sensible of us to help each other out of this, sir.’
‘Splendid.’ Tekton’s pasty grey skin infused with a little colour, lending it a mottled appearance. ‘Now listen carefully. The woman behind the creation of the DNA is a tyro on Belle-Monde called Dieter Miranda Seeward. Brilliant and totally untrustworthy. A woman of appetites.’
Thales blinked