COVER:

James BEVERIDGE

YNEW FICTION:
_Steve MOHN
Keith SCOTT
~ Rebecca M. SENESE
so. LYSTER
Donna MCMAHON
_ Linda J. DUNN
~-Marianne O. NIELSEN
Leslie BROWN

DISPLAY iilll’ SPECIAL THEME ISSdE:

1) | i FUTURE CRIME &
Me www.icomm.ca/onspec/
 The Science Fiction and Fantasy
Writers’ Workshop

The 33rd Annual Workshop

June I - July 22, 2000
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 UilSrec
Spring 2000

Theme: “FOTUGRE CRIME”

FICTION
Sonny’ Boy sssiissiciicsesacsaietes S606: MOR siccesccsteessecctiseetiedcescet
nadia 9

A Slope So Slippery ..........ssseseeseees Keith: Scott icicsentivvanntwuwnenes 20

The Echo of Bones isiccccssscsssesssssessseane Rebecca M. Sénese scstsscsccscasssessucrsnncstessés 34

Corrective Surgery «...sisiscssssessrsessane JS: LyHOt sicccscscssscsissmtertissianesh

ate 48

SQUAL sskit dear tiectiesientereieaee

Mises Donna McMahon .......esesesesscesseseseseeeeees 56

Sonata in Weapons ..........ccceeeeeeees Linda). Dini sosicsuisndoniantennn: 75

Alten: Intents ican Marianne O. Nielsen ....ccssssessssseeeees 86

Nor Iron Bars a Cage ou... Leslie: Brow wiscccssssivessscsstssstisevessteets 100

ART
Frontispiece: “Alien Intents” ............ PPCLEE WHS saciiens aoliastitvesasastnenttvacssesiitss 3

NONFICTION
FUGA: CHINE ssssenscsccuessscsovssveasetencivectoans Marianne O. Nielsen ....ececcceesssseeeeeseeeees 6

About our contributors..........cceee Authors and A7tists ...cccecceeceeeeeeeieees 111

COVER:
“T do gotz a Rolex. It’s a cozy little Class M homeworld in the Specularus Oneria
Cluster. It’s got no moons but I can set yaz up wit one as a package deal. Cheap, like
downtown, ya wan’ it?” the sly little alien intoned to me as the noxious drip from the
puffalox on his cheek dangled, refusing to fall.

© 2000 James Beveridge

www.icomm.ca/onspec
Volume 12, Number 1, #40 Spring 2000
 VIP Srec
rf a ae

Vol. 12, No. 1, #40 Spring 2000

Publisher: The Copper Pig Writers’ Society

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 Frontispiece:
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illustrated by Peter Watts
4 ON SPEC, Spring 2000
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On this issue...

Future Crime
Marianne O. Nielsen, PhD Criminology

— AND WRITERS OF SPECULATIVE FICTION

do a lot of unsavory things to support their habit. I teach
criminology and criminal justice, which is probably a step above
robbing drugstores or mugging Microsoft executives, though
some of my students might disagree with that, especially around
final exam time.
One of the surest foundations of Criminology is that as long as humans
interact with each other, there will be crime. I can’t presume to say the same
for other species, of course, but I’d bet on it...legally bet, of course. Hu-
man groups set boundaries between what is acceptable behavior and what
is not. If you’re on “this” side of the line you’re a good citizen; if you’re on
“that” side, you’re a scoundrel, a witch, a deviant, or a criminal. Every hu-
man society, in every time period has set boundaries. It has been said that
even in a society of saints there will be sinners.
Perhaps someone glops too much jam on her morning bread, or some-
one ties his sash with an unorthodox knot. How much straying over the line
will be tolerated? It depends on the people in power. The people who con-
trol a society control its definitions of what is a crime and what is not.
When we understand who has power in a future society, what they value
and what gives them pleasure, then we have a good idea of what the crimes
might be. Therefore, crime will never be “cured” because criminals are
socially created, unless of course, we grow up 4 lot as a species in the next
millennium or so. In other words, it’s likely that crime will be a good sub-
ject for speculative fiction for a long time to come.
Okay. So-if there will always be crime, what’s it likely to be?
Extrapolating from current causes of crime—sex, greed and power: the
Big Three—will still be the main contributing factors. And maybe self-right-
eousness (though maybe that’s wanting power over other people’s
 ON SPEC, Spring 2000 7

beliefs...?). However, because crime is socially constructed, there are no acts

that are absolute crimes.
“Not even killing?” someone might ask.
No, there’s a difference between killing and murder; for example, kill-
ing is legal in times of war, or in self-defense, or in police pursuit, or in capital
punishment. These acts may be reprehensible and a waste of life, but not
illegal.
So what specific crimes will the citizenry create? The majority of people
are and will continue to be afraid of personal violence. Crime that is up close
and personal is much more scarey than crime that costs the taxpayer bil-
lions of dollars but happens in someone else’s abandoned back lot.
So-violence in all its forms, based on the Big Three. Afer that, it becomes
a little tougher to predict.
Vice crimes-—i.e. anythingIenjoy but your righteous beliefs prohibit you
from doing—change the fastest.
Drugs, sex, gambling. Tobacco is moving into the category.
What could be next?
Fast food, hot cars, silent movies, bad shoes—There’s lots of potential for
stories there.
Once-horrifying crimes described by speculative fiction forty or fifty ago
are now here and seemingly unremarkable: toxic dumping, organ theft,
mass killings, designer drugs, homicide by infection. As each new medical
discovery and technological breakthrough appears, someone somewhere
figures out how to abuse it: computer virus terrorism, laughable hazardous
work safety laws, theft of privacy through surveillance, blackmail through
biological warfare, nuclear blackmail. With each change in the human con-
dition—technological, cultural, economic, political, ecological, demographic,
and certainly, legal—new crimes become possible.
Of course, so do new means of prevention, detection, and resolution or
punishment. But there is an inevitable time lag as social control agencies
catch up. Right now, the FBI is desperate to hire forensic accountants, chem-
ists, and computer programmers. I’m sure the RCMP empathizes. Seeing
a market niche, a notorious group of former hackers just incorporated as a
multimillion dollar private security company-supporting once again the
truism that it takes one to catch one.
And that’s just dealing with the human species. What happens when we
eventually meet the Other? How close or far from our boundaries will their
normal everyday behavior take them? And how much will we, in our in-
nocent, day to day lives, stomp on their boundaries? The potential for con-
flict, crime—and stories—seems infinite.
I must admit, I get tired of homicides, bank robberies, aggravated assaults,
break and enters. Sometimes, secretly, I hope that someone somewhere will
discover a new crime, preferably not a grisly one, just one that takes my
breath away, one that is so audacious and unexpected, that it makes me
laugh out loud. One that stuns us so much that it takes at least a month for
8 ON SPEC, Spring 2000

the hubbub to die down and for zealous politicians to leap to the floor of
the legislature to make a new law that bans it.
Until that happens, I guess I will just have to keep looking in the pages
of speculative fiction. Here I am sure to find one or two, or three or four.

About our cover artist

JAMES BEVERIDGE is still playing with pixels although his mainstay is still
airbrushing vehicles. His cut scene background work for Prelusion’s
(prelusion.com) adventure title, “Gilbert Goodmate and the Mushroom of
Phungoria,” last year comes out in March. Until he’s requested to join in
any other reindeer games, he’s going to keep pushing paint on the public’s
ocular orifices.
Please see his website: http://members.home.net/jimbeveridge or con-
tact him at ICQ:7069051.

Short Story Contest update

We should have a short list soon, with winners announced in our sum-
mer issue. Keep checking the On Spec website for updates:
http://www.icomm.ca/onspec

ConSpec is coming!
For updates, keep your browser pointed at our website:
http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/clear/conspec.htm %

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 Family is everything, but Blake Garnet is having trouble opening
his heart to this new-found son...

Sonny Boy
Steve Mohn

(a4 We DREXLER SUGGESTED, “THE NAVEL

pattern is different.”
“It’s immaterial.” Blake Garnet spread his hands above two square meters
of top-flight executive desk, of the same matte Mercedes Gray in which the
rest of his corner office was done. The carpet could have been cut from the
same bolt of flannel as the suit a Michelangelo of fabric had carved for him.
The circulating air had the hush of still water; the light was that buffed sil-
ver cinematographers strive for when they want a look of understated el-
egance only megatons of money can buy.
Garnet, lacing his hands behind his head, sat back in a squeeze of leather,
gray eyes locked on Drexler, his attorney. “I never authorized this. They
grow organs for me. Skin. Marrow. Glands. I never authorized a total. What
the hell would I want one for? I have real children, thank you.” Garnet
rocked slightly, eyes on Drexler, then unlaced his hands and patted the
desktop as if appraising it. “I suppose it wants money.”
Drexler looked at office glass tinted steel blue. “Actually, he—”
“It,” Garnet insisted, jaw like rock, eyes of ice.
“It,” Drexler acquiesced with a nod to one side, “requested an interview.”
Garnet nodded. “It wants money. All right, I’ll give it money. After I sue
GenMed to extinction. That’s the first thing I want. They totalled me with-
out my consent, then this thing got away—”
“It wasn’t like that, exactly,” Drexler cautioned. “There’s a warrant out
on the man who did the total. That may have been some anticlonal state-
ment on his part, or he might have been out to disrupt your affairs particu-
larly. GenMed should be going over its personnel records and sorting
through freezers to find out if any other subscribers have been likewise
contradicted.”
Garnet winced. “Contradicted?”
10 Sonny Boy

“That’s the term.” Drexler But he slid the smarty back across
shrugged. “Look, Blake, we’re lim- the desk.
ited as to what we can do here. I “This—” He used an obscene
can’t get him, or it, completely out word precisely. “—did the total?”
of your life. It has your genes, every Drexler nodded, uncomfortable.
one of them. As I said, the navel “Who obtained the warrant?”
pattern is different. There are some “You did, through me.”
scars picked up here and there. It is “Tf the documentation is sound,
not you but it is derived from you what’s the charge?”
and the statutes are clear on this. “Conspiracy, manipulation, gene-
Unless you prove the derivative nap. The kind of warrant we never
material was illegally obtained, you got before we started making peo-
must acknowledge progenitorship.” le.”
Garnet smacked the desktop. “It “It’s not people. What’s Gen-
was illegally obtained!” Med’s position?”
“GenMed’s records show other- Drexler shrugged. “You gave
wise. All the paperwork’s in order. consent. After that, the clone was
Consent forms, gene-smear signa- farmed out to a host. GenMed’s re-
tures.” Garnet wiped his face down sponsibility ceased. They don’t
with both hands and sat back, eyes even do prenatal, in a case like that.
open wide. Drexler said, “That’s They grow replacement orgs, skins
why I think this was either an inside and marrows. Bones to order.
act of anticlonal protest, or your Freeze the rest and charge you for
enemies wanted a bomb in your maintenance. All in all, they have a
basement with a long fuse. Proving good record, lots of happy custom-
the documentation false will be ers, no bad mutes. And they’re big,
tough-it might be impossible, a little too big to elbow.”
Blake. Unless we find this guy...” “So I can’t sue them down to
Drexler pulled a legal-size smarty smoking ruins,” said Garnet.
from his briefcase, told the clear “Not likely,” Drexler said, “un-
sheet, “Show the Leeb file,” and slid less we find this Lewis Leeb.” He
it across. pointed at the smart sheet. “He may
In the left top corner, the smart have things to say but he may want
sheet showed the head-and-shoul- money. To go up against GenMed,
ders hologram of a man in his for- he may want a lot.”
ties. He had that thick yellow-blond “Would they kill him,” Garnet
hair that looks greasy and glossy at considered, “if they found him
the same time, and hostile pale blue first?”
eyes. Without the smug mouth, he Drexler shrugged. “Would you, if
might have been good-looking. The you ran GenMed?”
rest was print: personal stats, educa- Garnet didn’t answer. Client-at-
tion, vita. Garnet scrolled, not read- torney privileges extended only so
ing. Others would do it for him. far among an elite who risked a lot
Right, he thought, like GenMed by speaking their minds. He stood.
would do what I told them to do. “Under no circumstances will I
 Steve Mohn 11

be ‘interviewed’ by this thing—I’ll intoxicating. Priscilla did the same.

thaw one of my livers and talk with They would never grow sickly as
that first.” Buttoning his jacket, they aged, would never be worn by
Garnet ticked his chin at the door. wearying routines of anti-rejection
“It’s not waiting out there, is it?” drugs. They would live to be a hun-
“No.” Drexler stood, slid the dred and fifty, possibly more, with
smarty into his briefcase and sealed practical immortality around the
it around with thumb and forefin- corner, if you believed, as Garnet
ger. “He would—it would never did, the predictions of cutting-edge
walk into a building it couldn’t be research. To be like a tree, Garnet
fairly sure of leaving alive.” thought, clutching the earth with
Garnet smoothed his steel-gray invincible roots! And if it was only
temple with one hand, checked his for the rich, well, that would
mirror image and tweaked the change. The rich pioneered expen-
necktie dimple. “That’s intelligent sive procedures that, in time, be-
of it.” came less so. Garnet was not
selfish—let all humanity mature to
IN THE HEADLIGHTS, THE WEST- that wise old age devoutly wished
chester County roads were furry to for but never, until now, attainable.
either side with scrub and low But this thing, this Trew, this liv-
growth that hid the estates, even the ing theft grated on Garnet’s charity,
higher windows. At the wheel of his as if some part of him had snuck off
Zedong, listening to Sorabji’s to live a disgusting life. (God knew
“Gulistan,” Garnet recalled what he where it had been!) Now here it was
had looked like, what he had been hanging around, drooling, one eye-
like, at age nineteen, the age of his lid drooping, leering with broken
illegitimate Other. What infuriated teeth, beseeching him to cut a deal
him was not the intrusion into con- while waving statutes at him. Gar-
sciousness of a clone making net felt grimy. He knew men and
claims, but that this “Trew Garnet,” women who had gone total, even
as it called itself, had stolen Garnet’s further, into incest, if that was what
own best years. Those stolen years it was. Such matters were still being
would wither on the branch, as had worked out in law. He didn’t want
Garnet’s own, but that was no con- people thinking he had bred Trew
solation. for that!
It all went back to why Blake “All right,” he said aloud, “so he
Garnet, having realized sufficient has a damn life.” Sulking, he slowed
wealth, had opened the organ bank for his turn. He’s not his own, he’s
for himself and Priscilla and the two mine—he’s my stuff:
girls. In the war on death, the prime He pulled into his driveway. Two
weapon was one’s own young flesh square piles of stone, black iron
and vigorous blood, like nectar and rings embedded in the stone, stood
ambrosia. Biannually, he enjoyed a to either side. After that was a gate
transfusion of the purest blood, his invisible from the road. The drive-
own but so richly new it was way curved through grass gray in
12 Sonny Boy

the headlights as volcanic ash. Gar- “Garnet,” Priscilla said patiently.

net parked behind a car he didn’t “Miranda is at Groton.”
know. He shut his eyes, apologetically
Connecticut plate. Trew’s attor- nodding, and drank more. “So I
ney was with a Hartford firm— suppose it looks like me.”
Drexler had said... Her hand gestured to one side,
Garnet sat building steam. In my like a falling leaf: Of course.
own home, he thought. In my Garnet said, “I’m not anxious to
goddamn home! He stood from the see myself young.” Priscilla said
car, slammed the door. Heard nothing. He said, “You know what
crickets, saw lightning bugs. For the this is like for me? That thing in
first time in years he wanted a ciga- there is not my son. It’s my medi-
rette. He thought of the handgun in cal insurance. It’s my heart and
his desk drawer upstairs, then saw lungs out for a walk, wearing my
a mental picture of handcuffs, the skin. It has no business—” He
newsreel perp walk (handheld, stopped and drank more. “I have to
zooming in on his stony face), and sue GenMed now. There’s a war-
went inside. rant out on that man who did the
The hall was dark. He hung his total, someone Leeb—”
coat, listening to the fuzz of speech “Lewis Leeb,” said Priscilla, knit-
in the living room, then went down ting her eyebrows. “He’s here as
the hall to the kitchen. He made a well.”
drink. Garnet stared. “Jesus Christ, do
Priscilla came in. She had heard you realize—” He finished the drink
him. Tall and thin, with sheaves of fast. “There’s a good chance Gen-
pale blond hair, she pressed the Med might try to kill him. He’s my
door to the dining room shut with lawsuit!” He thumped open the din-
her back and said, “Susan brought ing room door-it made Priscilla
them. They found her at school.” jump out of the way, then follow—
Garnet nodded, pecked at his and passed through the dark dining
drink. Susan attended Yale. room into the next. “Lewis Leeb?”
“Did you at least try to make he almost yelled. He fed his hands
them leave?” to his pockets and swept the room,
“Garnet, for God’s sake.” She noting Susan (the younger version
touched her forehead. “I don’t of her mother except for shorter
think he’s after money. If I’m not hair shaved oddly) and the obvious
mistaken, this attorney he brought attorney of middle years. His glance
with him costs five hundred an cut right past a slim dark-haired boy
hour.” who had stood. Garnet felt his legs
“We'll know when we get the bill. would fail him but he got his eyes
How long have they been here?” past that person and steadied him-
“About an hour. Susan,” she said, self to look at the only person left,
“seems quite taken with him.” the one he had seen hologrammed
“Is she? How nice. Where’s on the smart sheet: that thick yel-
Miranda?” low-blond hair, the pale-blue eyes,
 Steve Mohn 13

that smugness of mouth kept under records, my gene-smears. You

control. think that’s nothing?” Before Leeb
He had stood too, one hand ex- could answer, Garnet had turned
tended. on the attorney. “Have you ex-
“No, we don’t shake hands,” Gar- plained none of this to him?”
net told him. “And if it weren’t for The man cleared his throat as if
the fact that I need you, and you he had a shoe lodged in it. “Mr.
need me more, I'd throw you out Garnet, I think you should hear
on your ass just to see if you what young Mr. Garnet has to say.”
bounce. There’s undoubtedly a “He’s not young Mr. Garnet!”
contract on your life as we speak. Garnet yelled. “He’s an illegitimate
I’m suing GenMed over your mal- sack of guts!”
feasance. I’m the only thing be- Susan, all exasperation, said,
tween you and a gas laser cutting “He’s a human being, Daddy.”
your skull. Are you even faintly “As to that,” the clone said,
aware of what I’m talking about?” shrugging, “I’m what I am.”
He was barking by then and ev- Finally, Garnet looked at it—him—
eryone had frozen. It was not the he was—
kind of room where people barked.
Priscilla hovered near. Susan sighed IT WAS LIKE THAT TIME HE AND
hugely. Trew’s attorney, eyes like Priscilla had returned from Japan,
hen’s eggs behind his thick glasses, so jet-lagged neither one could eat
stood to clear his throat. or talk. Somehow he had fallen
The clone said in Garnet’s asleep and then, of course, woke in
younger voice, “Mr. Garnet.” the middle of the night, noticed
“Don’t talk to me.” Garnet went lights on and followed them down
on looking at Lewis. “There’s a to the kitchen, where a perfect
warrant out on you. Now I can have stranger stood eating yogurt at the
those charges dropped if—” open refrigerator, a woman with
“What charges?” Lewis flung out pale blond hair. Then a pair of gi-
his hands. Sharp points of light iced ant hands reached in to adjust the
his blue eyes but he laughed. “I’ve rear-view mirror of perception and
done nothing wrong!” His mouth he’d recognized his wife. It was like
warped. that. Garnet did not see his reflec-
“How about kidnapping?” Gar- tion. It was not the mirror image but
net said. “That’s what it’s called the holographic one, the image oth-
when you run off with someone ers have of you. He was a hand-
against their will. That’s what you some boy with almost wavy blue-
did with me, my cells, my—” Garnet black hair, steel eyes. He wore a
flailed for the word. “—my fucking black Nehru coat (those had come
mitochondria! Now I’m telling you, back but just for kids) and skin-tight
you don’t have a lot of options here. black jeans fed into a pair of green
You interfered with my body, you lizard-skin cowboy boots. The only
took parts of me—grew me without thing Garnet recognized was the
my consent. Faked my GenMed look, a contemporary take on kool
14 Sonny Boy

vampyrs he had seen in fashion “And you’ve been with Lewis?

grams. All that time?”
“You think this is easy, don’t Trew hesitated. “With, yes.”
you? You think it’s the cutest thing Garnet swirled the brandy,
that’s ever happened, like some watching it liquefy the light. So
adopted kid finding his birth there are things little Trew doesn’t
mother. You’re not even supposed want to tell Papa. Garnet grinned
to exist.” and grandly waved his glass. “Fill
The clone politely shrugged me in, please. I’d like to know about
again. “Excuse me for existing.” you.”
“T don’t excuse you. I’m not ex- Trew edged into it but was soon
cusing any of this.” But Garnet was talking confidently. To Garnet it
starting to feel that no one in the sounded expertly prepared. It was
room was on his side. Priscilla was clear that Priscilla and Susan had
so embarrassed by his language and heard it all, Susan for the third time.
behavior that she would not look at The attorney listened in the age-old
him. Susan was openly glaring, very manner of attorneys, sleeping like a
mad at Daddy. The attorney was rattlesnake. Lewis’s eyes had glazed
polishing his glasses; without them, over but his lips had an ugly, hun-
his eyes had that boiled look. Gar- gry droop, like an ogre ina fairy tale
net glanced at Lewis Leeb’s hostile cutting into hot kid pie. A lock of
blue eyes and smug mouth and that blue-black hair Garnet no
said, “All right, let’s just everyone sit longer had fell onto Trew’s white
down.” He went to the liquor cabi- forehead as he spoke in a voice
net, felt like gulping brandy right Garnet more and more remem-
from the bottle, but managed to bered.
pour some into six small tulip- The story itself was not much. A
shaped glasses. New Jersey woman had hosted the
They all sat down and feigned fetus; had hosted several more, then
being comfortable. retired to Wyoming where a stal-
“Trew, why don’t you tell me lion trampled her to death at a wild-
exactly what’s on your mind?” west show. Corroborative Witness
“Well, first of all,” Trew said, sit- Number One, dust to dust. Lewis
ting forward, holding his brandy in and Trew then took their little cir-
both hands as if to warm them, “I’m cus to Seattle, where Lewis free-
delighted to meet you at last.” lanced as a gene cutter, earning
Garnet nodded, made some sort enough that he could afford a series
of noise. A corner of his mouth of private tutors. That sounded far-
hooked up in what passed for a fetched, but Garnet let the yarn
smile. Fatherly, it wasn’t, nor avun- spin, noting only that Trew had at-
cular. “How long have you known tended neither public nor private
who you were? Are?” He laughed school till he was fifteen, when they
angrily. joined a commune (those had
“Not long,” Trew said. “About come back too) in Alabama, where
five years.” he had earned his high school
 Steve Mohn 15

equivalent. So far, he had not at- of Miranda as he’d seen her last:
tended college, though he seemed long hair, as blue-black as Trew’s,
smarter than Lewis. parted in the middle, lips un-
“How’s the money situation?” touched by color, not speaking, her
Garnet asked. mother’s eyes—crying: Daddy?
Trew said, “Fine,” and Lewis Garnet knew that he must speak,
looked at him. Looked. say anything.
Much smarter than Lewis. Gar- “Wait a minute, give me a
net set the little glass on its fancy minute. I won’t try to trace the call,
little foot. “Fascinating.” What I I just need a minute. Please.
thought, he told himself: they’re Please!”
broke. In his trousers pocket, his “You can take a minute, Mr. Gar-
pager throbbed. He took it out, read net.”
the number and stood, dropping “Thank you, just...” He set the
the pager in his pocket like a coin. phone down and put his head be-
“Would you excuse me, please? I tween his knees. His fingers dug
have a call.” into his hair. He did not need words
Trew stood and, fetching a quick, to line up what was happening. It
deep sigh, said, “Of course.” He was a moment of pure knowing.
seemed, suddenly, relieved. Then Trew. GenMed. And Lewis Leeb.
again, almost electrified. He felt that he could write the ex-
tortion himself and read it back.
GARNET DIDN’T CARE WHO IT WAS; When he was sure that his voice
the call got him out of the room and would not fail, Garnet raised the
back into himself. In his third-floor phone. “I’m listening.”
study he settled back in his desk “All right, Mr. Garnet, this is
chair and took the call on a secure what we want you to do. Get Lewis
line. Leeb out in the back yard. Just you
“Mr. Garnet?” A male voice, not and Lewis. Say you have to talk to
one he knew. him privately. Offer him money.
“Yes, who’s calling, please?” Lewis likes money. Once he’s out-
“You have a daughter at Groton?” side, we’ll take it from there.”
Miranda. Garnet sat forward. “And then?”
“Yes, is something wrong? Is she all “We'll take it from there, Mr.
right?” Garnet.”
“Yes, and she can stay that way. “And my daughter—” But the call
Or the three gentlemen with her ended.
can rape her every way they can He held the dead phone, open-
think of and send her back to you mouthed. My back yard, he
in pieces. Don’t hang up or that’s thought. There are people in my
exactly what they'll do.” back yard. This threat to Priscilla
A gust of air got out of Garnet. and Susan forked through his chest.
His hand locked onto an arm of the But he could not picture Miranda—
chair. His other hand locked on the could not let himself picture her
phone. His brain locked on pictures with those three men, could only
16 Sonny Boy

feel that knife at his balls. outside with me a moment,

“Okay,” he said. “Okay.” He please?”
started from the room like a man From his first desperate lie he had
drawn by voodoo; it being an an- closely watched the gene-cutter’s
tique phone, receiver still in hand, face, had seen cautious hostility
he pulled the whole thing off the venture toward cool superiority,
desk. It hit the rug. You have no mes- achieve gloating and finally em-
sages. He lifted the phone from the brace greed, a foundation Garnet
floor, circled his desk then set it could build on. He’s going to do it,
back on the floor. “Okay.” He left he told himself. Garnet smiled at
the study and stood at the top of the Trew. Susan’s mouth curled
stairs, holding his chin, staring at sweetly. Lewis stood. “Another
the diamond pattern of a leaded brandy?” Garnet suggested. Lewis
glass window. felt up to it.
He went down some stairs, They walked their brandies
turned on a landing, down some through the dark formal dining
more stairs, turned. Easy: stairs room, the big bright kitchen and
went down. By the time he reached out to what had been a potting
the main floor, Garnet no longer shed, screened in, all-weather car-
felt as white as he looked. At the peted. Garnet pushed the screen
kitchen sink he splashed hot water door wide and stumbled on the
on his face and rubbed with a plank steps.
dishtowel to put some color in his “Careful,” Lewis cautioned.
cheeks. Garnet laughed. “Nothing
In the living room, Priscilla and spilled.”
Trew’s attorney were chatting like “Who was it called?”
old friends, Priscilla nodding as the “My attorney,” said Garnet. He
man said, “Vinyl just sounds better.” had forgotten the man’s name.
Something vinyl creaked on the Lewis said, “Oh. Trew met him
Panta turntable. Susan, reassuring this morning. At the certification.”
Trew, holding his hand, glanced at “Right. Sorry I couldn’t be
Garnet. Forgiven, he thought, so there.”
long as I’m good. “You are?”
He leaned over Lewis Leeb and “In light of...” Garnet peered
spoke softly: into the darkness. Adrenalin had
“Lewis, that call I took was opened his eyes to the darkness. He
mostly about you. I’m afraid—” His saw it in metallic tones: his lawn of
voice cracked but he made self- wire-brushed lead, trees stamped
mocking laughter of it. “This is out of tin and burnt black in a fire,
embarrassing for me, after how I sky of anciently tarnished silver
behaved. But this new information burred with stars. “In light of what
...we should talk. ’ve been wrong I’ve just been told,” he said, paus-
about this. There might be some ing to swirl brandy, sip and roll it on
money-like a finder’s fee. I know his tongue. He looked up at the
that sounds—could you come stars. Where were they? “How
 Steve Mohn 17

much money would you...” He took a corner of the stretcher and

stopped to consider his total worth, lifted. They ran off the way they
could not recall a dime of it, and had come.
went on: “I take it you and Trew, “It’s in...” Garnet clawed one
are you—” He took a breath. “—that side of his numb face. “Groton,
is, the two of you—?” that’s...” He couldn’t remember
Fast, it was. A bright blue wire of where.
light, straight as geometry, flicked
on from somewhere at the back of HE HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG HE
the lawn, jarred slightly to one side stood, forgotten brandy in hand, till
and went out. At the same time, Trew’s (and Garnet’s) voice said
Garnet heard a sizzle like raw egg from the top plank step, “Too bad
hitting bacon grease. Lewis went, about Lewis.”
“Uhh...” and fell on his face like a Garnet looked back. He saw
concrete garden statue. nothing.
Garnet stood up to his eyes in “T’ve hated him,” Trew said,
terror so deep he could not feel it. “since I learned about you. Longer
The night silence howled. He could than five years ago. It was in Seattle.”
not decide if space was expanding Garnet’s mouth tried to shape
away from him in all directions or words but nothing came.
closing in to smother him in damp “You know why he made me?”
black wool. His glance jumpcut Trew asked.
from the corpse toward rapid, softly Garnet shook his head. “Some
thudding footfalls. He made out kind of...statement? Anticlone...?”
four men in ninja black, like giant “Sex,” Trew replied.
ants in night goggles. Three carried Helplessly, Garnet turned away.
something rectangular and flat. “I don’t know what you’re talking
One came right up and hissed in his about.”
face: “He wanted a toy.” Trew waited
“It’s okay, Mr. Garnet. We'll take but Garnet said nothing, could not
it from here. Your daughter is fine.” link this with anything he thought
“My daughter,” Garnet said as if he understood. “He was an addict,”
a dentist had frozen his jaw. He had Trew said. “He learned early that
forgotten her name. hitting that button was better than
“She’s fine, Mr. Garnet,” the fea- any other dope. And he had a
tureless dark face hissed. His three theory that if you raised a child to
bravos set the black rectangle next be thoroughly sexual, it would
to Lewis. Crouched beside him, never rebel, but would always be
they counted: “One-two-three!” there for you. It would always know
and lifted him onto the stretcher. exactly what you wanted. It would
Belts were buckled. The man in enjoy it, you see. Like food. It
front of Garnet backed away. would know nothing else. And
“Never was in any danger. Shit, that’s true about me. I know noth-
man, I don’t even know where ing else.”
Groton is.” He joined the others, Garnet hung as if he might tip
18 Sonny Boy

over, working on it, fitting it up. He could go to you some day. So he

heard the lizard skin cowboy boots didn’t slack on education. I had to
thunk three times on the planks be someone you could see fit to
then softly crush the grass, damp acknowledge.”
with dew. Garnet felt the cool night Realizing that he still had some
air revive him. brandy, Garnet drank it.
“That’s not true, that you know “Give me a cigarette,” he said.
nothing else. You’re intelligent, the “Are you sure?”
way you talk...” “Give me a cigarette. I can grow
Trew considered it, head bowed, lungs too.”
hands lightly laced at his crotch. Trew shook one up, lit it for him.
Then he shrugged. “Lewis didn’t After a while Garnet said, “Are
want a moron. Morons drool, have you sure?”
no speech, can’t use the toilet. I “Sure of what?”
have an education. Lewis hired tu- Garnet blew smoke and flicked
tors. I was taught well. You’re a away the cigarette. “You sure
smart man, Blake. And I have your you're what you say you are? My
genes. I’m smart as smart sheets— clone, my total? ’ve always thought
but with nothing like the same I was cold-blooded, but what runs
transparency.” in your veins must be liquid at forty
A match flared and Garnet below.”
winced. Trew’s lean face, the lock “It may be,” Trew said. “I just
of blue-black hair fallen onto the killed my lover of nineteen years. I
forehead like Superman’s, grew out watched from in there.” He nodded
of the orange pool of light as he lit toward the screened-in porch. “I
the cigarette. The tobacco smell want my birthright, Blake. You may
made Garnet swallow with the dry be the victim of a theft but so am I.
thirst of longing but he said, “You My whole life was stolen by that
shouldn’t smoke.” man. And there are things you
“Oh, that’s all right,” Trew said as learn early, so early you can’t un-
he blew out smoke. “I'll grow anew learn them. I’m what I am. But ev-
set of lungs in that organ bank erything I’ve done, I’ve done to put
you're going to open for me. After things as right as they can be. I can’t
you adopt me.” He pointed with the reinvent myself. But I can re-create
cigarette toward the back of the myself.”
lawn. “Those weren’t GenMed He drew on his cigarette and
guys. I hired them. If you didn’t flicked it after Garnet’s.
have Lewis, you had no case. The “That man,” Garnet pointed to-
derivative material was not illegally ward the end of the lawn, “said
obtained and you'd have to ac- Miranda was never in danger.”
knowledge that I’m your clone—it’s “Tt cost a lot to hire those four,”
like ABC. But Lewis would have Trew said. “The rest was theater.”
said anything for enough money. Garnet swallowed. The kid was
That’s what he wanted—that’s why brilliant. In one day he had shown
he cloned you. He knew that he up, passed certification, jumped
 Steve Mohn 19

over to Yale to present himself to there, loving vinyl. Priscilla was in

Susan then come here, Lewis riding the kitchen.
along, never knowing: the cued “Where’s Susan?”
phone call, the cool threat to The man popped his eyes open.
Miranda that had given Garnet no “Went to find Trew.”
time to think about police. Like a “And Lewis?” Garnet asked, his
robot, he had taken the sacrifice to ears roaring.
the lawn. He recalled the quick blue Sleepily, the man closed his eyes.
beam of light, how it had jigged to Smiled. “Ill be sending you my
one side, slicing bone and frontal bill.” His fingers strummed on his
lobes. He said, “What happens belly.
to...to the body?” Garnet poured a brandy and sat
“It gets fed to a supercritical wa- with it on a sofa, thinking of the
ter oxidizer. It’ll reduce to water, prodigal son and the hundredth
some carbon dioxide, some ash.” lamb and the loaves and fishes.
It, thought Garnet. “Just like None of it fit. He would have to tell,
that,” he said. what’s his name, Drexler, to kill that
“Just like that,” said Trew. warrant.
Garnet looked around. He was The attorney rose from his vinyl
out of brandy. “You mind if I get bliss, religiously put away the record
away from you for a few minutes? and announced that he must go.
I’m not sure you won’t take my Garnet saw him out. He stood in
head off and eat it.” the driveway, watching the Con-
Trew said nothing. Garnet went necticut plate disappear in the dark.
inside. Why he felt guilty for what He felt torn in two but redeemed,
he had said was beyond him. like a coupon. He finished the
He called Miranda. brandy and held the empty glass
She asked, “Is anything, like, upside down by the foot, in the fork
wrong?” of two fingers. He heard Susan
“No, everything’s fine,” he said. laugh and looked toward the sound.
“Sorry to have called so late.” Vaguely, he saw her and Trew,
“You're, like, being really formal.” walking in that part of the grounds
You don’t know what formal is, he had put into meadow. He wanted
he thought. Trew Garnet, with true to shout to her: Be careful! You've no
blue windshield washer in his idea! But he just watched them. To-
veins. That’s formal. He went morrow he would have Drexler
downstairs. The attorney was still draw up the adoption papers. *

www.icomm.ca/onspec
 Once you start sliding, how do you stop?

A Slope So Slippery
Keith Scott

GAIN THE QUESTION PULLED AT KAZ SIMIC.

What was he doing in this sleaze shop? He knew damn
well how Lance Packer kept his TV show on top of the ratings
war. Packer did it by serving up a potent mix of slime and per-
version five days a week for an adoring worldwide audience.
So why was Kaz here?
Need. A great unrelenting need brought him to New York and The Lance
Packer Show studios in a converted theatre just off Times Square. It was what
the Inuit called The Great Necessity, the excuse of survival. He knew he
couldn’t survive without Laura.
Kaz had worked his way through a forest of doubts during the hour-long
flight down from Toronto. But now his doubts returned in smothering waves
as he looked up the conference table at Lance Packer, the celebrated
SleazeMeister and host of the show.
Kaz stopped himself firmly. No sense going into all that crap once again.
Besides, he had just made an offer to Packer that he knew the SleazeMeister
wouldn’t refuse. That meant he was committed, in for the money, practi-
cally a done deal.
There was silence when Kaz stopped talking. Then the third man at the
table, a thin gray figure sitting across from Kaz, cleared his throat.
“This is higher than we’ve ever gone before, Mr. Packer,” the thin man
said.
“Take him anyway, Fenton!” Packer growled. “It’s worth a million to put
Cozi Knugel and his fashion world in the tank. It might stretch to two, maybe
three shows.” Packer began to rise from his chair. “Besides, I can smell it
from here. This guy’s hungry as shit...and I like that.”
 Keith Scott 21

Kaz glared up to where Packer twenty paces. Why not? Hadn’t he

now stood with his bodyguard be- been a fashion photographer for
side him. He looked smaller than nearly twenty years?
he did on his show, Kaz noted. Art- God, was it nearly twenty years?
ful camera angling, he thought in Packer stopped behind his chair
retaliation for Packer’s crack about and placed a hand on Kaz’s shoul-
him being hungry. But the gravelly der. Kaz fought to keep his shoulder
Bronx accent was the same as on steady under the touch. He disliked
TV; so was the great mane of dark being touched by strangers. Dis-
feathercut hair with its trendy flash liked it intensely. It did nothing to
of gray at each temple. As Kaz dispel his bitter mood.
watched, the telegenic smile faded “Don’t let me down, hungry
from Packer’s face. man,” Packer said in his deep street
“I want him, Fenton,” Packer re- voice. “We blaze Cozi Knugel this
peated. time. Right?” Packer laughed and
“Of course, sir,” Fenton said squeezed Kaz’s shoulder. Hard
quickly. enough to hurt.
Kaz took time out from his sour Packer’s bodyguard hustled be-
reactions to admire the efficiency of fore him to the door and opened it.
centralized command with its clean, Nobody moved until the Sleaze-
inarguable edicts. At least Packer Meister and his bodyguard left the
runs a taut ship, he noted. room.
He tried to bring back the focus Fenton shifted uneasily in his
he had reached, or thought he had chair across the table.
reached, in the week before this “Maybe I agree. Maybe I don’t,”
interview. He tried to center on he said defensively, eyeing the air
Laura back in Toronto and her dire above Kaz’s head. He looks like an
need, tried to convince himself accountant, Kaz thought. Thick bi-
once again that her precarious po- focal glasses, off-the-rack wool and
sition left him no other choice. polyester blend suit, ratty un-
The license of necessity. matched tie, nervous fluttery fingers
Now he watched Packer come stirring through the papers before
down the table toward him, tread- him. Fenton had everyday conven-
ing softly on the balls of his feet, the tionality written all over him.
all-purpose smile back on his face, Kaz wondered. What the hell was
his eyes partly hidden behind rose- a cookie-cutter accountant doing
colored wrap-around Corelli shades. here?
This guy’s on camera all the time, “You'll lose the use of one eye,”
Kaz told himself. But it was the Fenton was saying to him. “Your
black suit with its hand-sewn details choice, left or right. Most of the
that his eyes went back to because paparazzi we get pick the left. I
the smooth hang of the coat on don’t know why.” Fenton lowered
Packer’s shoulders was a dead give- his gaze to Kaz’s face and waited.
away. Kaz liked to think he could Kaz nodded.
spot a Hugo Boss suit from ten, “Then we cap one of your molars
22 A Slope So Slippery

with the transmission circuitry. We Kaz was puzzled. It sounded like

go all organic these days to escape Fenton really meant it. Sincerity? In
detection.” this place?
Kaz nodded again. “Let’s go over it,” Kaz said, want-
Abruptly a flash of real feeling ing to get it done. “I’m contracting
crossed Fenton’s face. “Why are with your netshow to do a major
you doing this, Mr. Simic?” he said. expose of my friend Cozi Knugel,
Said it out of nowhere, as though the international fashion leader. At
Kaz’s presence was bothering him least a half-hour wired eye shoot at
all to hell. “I know it’s none of my one of his monthly pool bashes in
business—” Toronto.”
“You're right, Mr. Fenton,” Kaz “You know Cozi Knugel very
stopped him. But it really was well?”
Fenton’s business, he thought “Well enough to get an invita-
sickly. He was giving in finally to tion,” Kaz said.
the justifying necessity that had “Good,” Fenton said. “You'll get
brought him here. And clearly, that an advance when the surgery is
made it Fenton’s business too. done here in New York. The re-
“Most of the contract paparazzi mainder after the material is on
we get are crud,” Fenton persisted. disk. Paid directly to you or your
“You're a presentable, educated designated heirs.” He stopped, then
man—” added severely, “We've never gone
“With a wife who’s got acute lym- this high before—”
phoma,” Kaz stopped him. “As the “What happens to the eye?”
big man says, that makes me ‘hun- Fenton’s gaze slid back above
gry as shit.’ Please, let’s skip the Kaz’s head. “Our eye surgeon grafts
personal questions, Mr. Fenton.” in a scanner to the fovea at the back
Laura would kill him if she knew. of your eyeball.” He paused. “I’m
He had wavered about how much afraid the surgery is sometimes ir-
to tell her. She had been wildly ex- reversible, Mr. Simic.”
cited when the specialist called to “Sometimes...?”
say he’d found a million-to-one “Twenty percent of reverses
bone marrow match. There’d be a don’t work. That is, if you decide to
ninety-five percent chance it would give up this line of work.”
work for her, the doctor said. Christ! Kaz had known it would
It was like getting that last minute be a brutally desperate move. But
phone call when you're sitting on this...sometimes irreversible? A
death row, Laura had said ecstati- sick dread began to work through
cally. In the end, Kaz couldn’t bring him. He’d been afraid of something
himself to tell her very much about like this, still he’d put the possibil-
his first meeting with Charlie ity of permanent eye damage out of
Walsh, the million-to-one bone his mind. You hold onto hope,
marrow match. don’t you? Right up until the last
“Sorry about your wife,” Fenton moment.
was saying from across the table. Not that he hadn’t tried every
 Keith Scott 23

other angle in the past two weeks, “That a Porsche?” Walsh asked
every possibility, direction, combi- him, motioning toward the street
nation. His friends had rallied and below. The whine in his voice, Kaz
made gestures, mostly sincere and noted with dismay, went with the
heartfelt, but in the end everything hurt eyes.
fell through. What Charlie Walsh, “No,” he said. “It’s a BMW 425i—”
the potential donor, wanted for his “Nice car.” Walsh was looking
bone marrow was out of Kaz’s out the window again. “A fellow
reach in the short time frame facing like me would love a car like that,
Laura. Mr. Simic.”
Laura’s family was outraged. Her Kaz said nothing.
brother made insane suggestions “They laid me off, Mr. Simic.
about finding a crooked medical Even when the tests showed I don’t
establishment, then kidnapping have leukemia. That’s why they did
Walsh, the possible donor, and tak- the goddamn bone marrow tests.”
ing his bone marrow. Kaz tried to “Yes, I was told—”
tell him that there was no way, in “Did they tell you what that
this supposedly free society of 2006, means to someone like me? I got no
to force a donation of bone marrow. chance out there. Nearly sixty.
Even if it were a made-in-heaven Know nothing from shit but driving
match. a forklift.” Walsh paused and
Laura’s brother was still sifting snorted in derision. “Take a com-
through wild schemes. puter course, they told me.”
Thinking back on it, Kaz would “We're not wealthy, Charlie, but
class his first encounter with Charlie we can manage something.” Kaz
Walsh, the possible donor, as an knew the instant he used the first
absolute disaster. He’d parked the name that he’d made a mistake. A
BMW in front of a shabby rooming huge mistake.
house on Bleaker Street in down- “Oh yeah,” Walsh shouted.
town Toronto. Walsh’s room was “Charlie this! Charlie that! Why
on the third floor, facing the street, not? Dumbshit Charlie.”
after a long climb up a narrow stair- “I didn’t mean anything—”
case filled with creaking stair steps “Sure you did, Mister Simic,”
and indefinably offensive smells. Walsh said, “I know your kind.”
Kaz knocked and walked in Kaz was stunned. “I don’t know
when a voice behind the closed what to say.”
door directed him to do so. Walsh “Well, I know what to say! I’m
was standing at the window. He was gonna say I want one million for
an average-sized man with wild my bone stuff. One million, up
graying hair, perhaps in his late fif- front. D’you love your wife that
ties, a working man well into early much, Mr. Simic?”
aging. But Kaz really braced him- “I can’t get that kind of money,
self when he saw the faded blue Mr. Walsh.”
eyes. The eyes were mired in hurt. “You can get it a lot better than I
Totally mired. can.
”
24 _ A Slope So Slippery

Kaz had tried two more meet- Kaz was setting up for him. Forget
ings, followed by several phone all that!
conversations with Walsh. Then the No matter that Cozi was a preda-
specialist called to say that any tory, self-indulgent, totally arrogant
more delay might be unfortunate prick. No matter that Cozi believed
for Laura. rules were made for the rest of the
But Charlie Walsh wouldn’t lis- world, and not for him. No matter
ten, wouldn’t lower his price, ...because these really weren’t the
wouldn’t agree to installments. reasons pushing Kaz into blazing
Nothing worked. The world had his friend.
treated Charlie Walsh shabbily and He needed quick money and Cozi
for this Laura was going to pay with spelled quick money.
her life...
Kaz pulled his attention back to THE EYE AND TOOTH WORK WERE
the conference room. done on an outpatient basis. Kaz
“Our legal position is still not to- made up a phony story about being
tally clear,” Fenton continued, “I held over in New York so that his
mean, since the Diana Code was added three-day absence for the
adopted. We claim our electronic procedure, not to mention the eye
eyeballs are not covered—” patch, wouldn’t spook Laura. He
“You'll pay regardless of any le- knew she would be violently op-
gal action?” posed to the entire crazy plan.
“As I said, we pay the balance Kaz had simply told her that
immediately, Mr. Simic.” Charlie had come down dramati-
“And it’s a delayed airing?” Kaz cally in his price. Laura was so over-
asked. come with gratitude that she
“Absolutely! We edit everything wanted to phone Charlie Walsh
in The Lance Packer Show,” Fenton with her thanks. Kaz lied his way
seemed keen to emphasize this out of that by saying Charlie was
point. “Mr. Packer insists on this.” taking a short vacation before going
So, the SleazeMeister has some into hospital for the bone marrow
scruples? Kaz wondered. transfer.
In any event, the interview was Getting used to single-eyed vision
over, the die was cast. Kaz signed a was totally another thing.
sheaf of papers that he barely read, Kaz was devastated by the result-
unusual for him, and pocketed his ing loss in his depth perception. He
advance check. was terrified that his days as a top
Over to you, Cozi Knugel, he fashion photographer might well be
vowed grimly as he left. This was over. He begged off a major assign-
no time to develop an appetite for ment, saying he wanted a week to
morality, or ethics, or a need for get over a flu bug and waited, in a
justification. Forget that Cozi complete funk, for his eye graft to
Knugel, his onetime boss and some- heal at a hotel near JFK Airport.
time friend, had done nothing to Curiously, the job he’d ducked
him to deserve the supreme dump was with Cozi Knugel’s fashion
 Keith Scott 25

house. Kaz had done many major shows, had been marred when Cozi
contracts with Cozi Knugel over the left a climbing companion to die
years since he had branched out on just above the Hilary Step on the
his own. It had been Cozi’s interest Nepal side of the mountain.
and support that had raised Kaz Cozi Knugel’s uncaring explana-
into the top dozen of fashion cam- tion, aired on international televi-
eramen. sion, about why he’d left his rope
Kaz had known of The Lance partner in the Death Zone above
Packer Show’s interest in Knugel for 25,000 feet, had shocked Kaz. To
several months. They had ap- him, and most of the climbing fra-
proached him earlier for a “re- ternity, it was sheer betrayal. Now
search interview,” which Kaz had it was providing him part of his own
turned down flatly. Now, whatever rationale for betraying his longtime
convictions he had felt earlier about relationship with the man. Betrayal
dumping ona friend had dissipated involved calling up the fashion
in the face of “The Great Necessity.” leader and getting an invitation,
Cozi Knugel was a German citi- freely given by a surprised Cozi, to
zen who spent most of his working his next pool bash in Toronto.
and playing life in North America— When Kaz arrived at Cozi’s 3,000
New York, Los Angeles, and Tor- square meter home on Post Road in
onto, where he maintained a home. Toronto, he was holding, shakily,
He was the son of a storied onto his mission. He parked his
Luftwaffe fighter ace who flew dur- BMW beside a collection of auto-
ing World War II. Cozi had inher- motive exotica in the large parking
ited the arrogance and supreme area, screened off from the main
confidence of the father along with house by cedar hedges. It looked
his fantastic good looks. like he was the last arrival at
Even though he was in his late tonight’s festivities.
fifties, Cozi Knugel stopped the “Okay, Simic,” Lance Packer’s
conversation in any room he voice suddenly boomed within his
walked into. His fabulously success- head, “We’re going to cut transmis-
ful fashion house was the leader in sion now until you clear security.”
the “hooker chic” look he’d made “Right,” Kaz said dazedly. “Can
so popular in the mid-nineties. you drop the volume a notch?”
“All the world’s my oyster,” Cozi “Yeah...okay,” Packer grumbled.
liked to say. Too often. Kaz had to steady himself twice
He collected experiences and as he walked to the entrance foyer
happenings like his father had col- of the vast house. His balance was
lected kills. When “commercial” affected by one-eyed vision. In the
climbing expeditions began on Mt. short training period he had had
Everest, it was only a matter of time with Fenton, Kaz learned how to
before Cozi “summitted” the high- minimize this loss. The Lance Packer
est piece of real estate on earth. This Show was interested in escaping
accomplishment in 2001, thor- detection from any source, particu-
oughly chronicled on all the tab larly from conspicuous loss of any
26 A Slope So Slippery

physical capacity in their paparazzi. without thinking at his guide to see

There was a glass-roofed atrium if he’d heard Packer. The man
in the center of the house with vast smiled back at him, clearly oblivi-
wings running off it in three direc- ous to any voice in Kaz’s head. He
tions. Kaz was met by a doorman, stopped and pointed to an archway.
an unsmiling Asian, who carefully “Please join Mr. Knugel and his
checked a clipboard in his hand other guests,” he said.
and then directed Kaz to step “Stop overreacting, Simic,”
through an elaborate detection gate. Packer admonished him.
Following this, the man carefully Kaz stepped into a low-ceilinged
“swept” Kaz with a hand wand. Kaz room and was instantly transported
held his breath, hoping Fenton had in memory back to a Bavarian bar
been right about the detectability of he and Laura had visited outside
the implants. The doorman was Munich years before. The wood
thorough in his check, but finally he panels and ceiling beams looked
stepped back. completely authentic, as did the rest
“That’s fine, Mr. Simic,” the man of the furnishings. Kaz gazed about
said with a slight trace of accent. in wonder.
“This will be the last time you are “Yes, yes!” Cozi Knugel shouted
identified by name this evening.” from the bar, “they are absolutely
Then he handed a short black face the real thing, my friend.”
mask to Kaz. On the top of the He approached Kaz and shook
mask there was painted a small his hand warmly. “I had the origi-
white number five. “Please wear nal dismantled and brought here.
this,” the man added. “You will be Do you like it?”
more comfortable with it.” Cozi was wearing a golden mask
“Like this?” Kaz pressed the with the number one painted in the
mask to his face and removed his center of the forehead. It went with
hand. The mask stayed firmly in the zippered gold flight suit he was
place, covering the upper part of his wearing. He put his arm around
face, held there by strategically Kaz’s shoulder and led him to the
placed adhesive patches. bar where three informally dressed
“Very good,” the doorman said men in numbered black masks
with a brief smile. “It will even stay stood.
put under water.” “According to the rules of our
They walked across the marble little club,” Cozi began, “No faces,
floored foyer toward an archway no names. Friend number two,
leading to one of the wings of the meet friend five...”
house. Kaz could hear music and The three other guests moved
the sound of laughter. forward, drinks in hand, to shake
Lance Packer’s voice in his head Kaz’s hand. Two of them, he ob-
broke in again. “We're back, Simic. served, had reached the boisterous
Nod if I’m coming through clear stage but he had little time to study
enough.” them.
Kaz nearly stumbled. He looked Packer’s voice was growling
 Keith Scott 27

again in his head. “Don’t look away, a flowerpot, or whatever. Just don’t
Simic! Keep the eye steady on their get drunk!”
faces. I don’t care if they got masks Cozi wrapped his arm around
on. We got a good chance of iden- Kaz’s shoulder again as the rest of
tifying them. Steady on the faces.” the group returned to the bar.
“Okay,” Kaz said aloud. “I didn’t know we had a parallel
Cozi looked at him with a startled interest my friend,” he began in a
smile on his face. quiet and serious tone. “After all
“Okay?” he asked, puzzled for these years? I was surprised when
the moment. Then he said. “Yes, you called—”
yes. It is okay, my friend. This is “More ways than one to swing,”
very okay! Right?” Kaz threw in.
He laughed in his golden bari- “Yes, yes!” Cozi enthused. “I
tone and pulled Kaz to the bar. Kaz have underestimated you, my
ordered a screwdriver, very light on friend.”
the vodka. The bartender stopped The evening and boisterous level
and looked to Cozi Knugel for di- progressed rapidly. Kaz made
rections. inane conversation with the rest of
“Correction, number five,” Cozi the guests. It was strange how little
roared, “We are all drinking sledge- worthwhile you find to talk about
hammers tonight.” The rest of the when you are desperate to hide
guests shouted approval and Kaz your identity. One man, number
felt trapped. Normally he was a three, the quietest of the group,
light drinker. He couldn’t remem- started to recount an anecdote to
ber the last time he’d been drunk. Kaz that very nearly gave his iden-
The bartender poured the drink tity away.
and pushed the glass across the bar “Oh my God,” number three
toward him. Kaz didn’t move. stopped suddenly, “What am I say-
There was an awkward silence. ing?”
“Go along with it, you asshole,” “Forget it—” Kaz started to reas-
Packer snapped in his head, sure him.
One of the guests, a short round “Forget it, be damned!” Packer
man in a Blue Jays jacket, laughed interjected. “Stay with him, Simic.
and swept up Kaz’s drink from the This guy, if I’m right, practically
bar and brought it to him. owns a major bank.”
“Don’t poop on our little party, Number three’s embarrassment
number five,” he said with mock was mercifully ended when Cozi
severity, but his eyes glittered announced to one and all that their
through the eyeholes of his mask. “other” guests had arrived and it
Kaz pulled himself together. He was “pool time.”
took the glass and raised it. “To our They filed out of the transplanted
little party,” he proposed and took Bavarian bar to a glassed in viewing
a long drink. Everyone cheered. area overlooking a large pool and
“Jesus!” Packer came in again. spa. Easy chairs were arranged
“Don’t get drunk, Simic. Dump it in along the glass and another bar,
28 A Slope So Slippery

more modest this time, filled the the pool and shouted, “Bottoms
back wall. up!”
Kaz’s attention was drawn to the Promptly the kids wriggled out of
pool. their bathing trunks and began an-
“Pan it slowly,” Packer directed other frenetic burst of activity, chas-
him. “An establishing shot. Left to ing each other in and out of the
right.” water, jumping off the diving board,
Kaz did as he was directed. There watching the men out of the corners
were four young boys, barely into of their eyes.
their teen years, running around the “Beee-utiful,” Packer breathed in
pool clad in brightly colored Kaz’s head. “Stay with it.”
Spandex swim trunks. They were With a sudden jolt, Kaz now saw
joined by two smaller youths enter- that two of the “boys” were really
ing from a door across the pool. girls, so young that their tiny breasts
“Yes, yes,” Cozi Knugel said. hadn’t registered to his single eye.
“This is nice?” He felt the bile rise in his throat.
He got supportive murmurs from “We flew these little beauties in
the rest of the masked men. Cozi from South America,” Cozi an-
rapped on the glass and the boys nounced. Kaz immediately thought
turned, as one, and waved gaily to of Knugel’s gold corporate jet, a
the gallery. Kaz felt a sick mix of Canadair Challenger with world-
apprehension and disgust begin to wide range. Of course, that would
build at the pit of his stomach. He be the way to keep it discreet and
tried to tell himself that this was life, hidden. It would be easy to bring
that it takes all kinds and practices— these kids in and out of the country
but the disgust stayed with him. with no one being the wiser.
His feelings strengthened when Cozi turned to the men. “Shall
he saw that the boys wore makeup we join them?” he asked. “You'll
and were obviously posing pro- find towels and bathing trunks, if
vocatively for the benefit of the gal- you need them, in the dressing
lery. One youngster, perhaps ten room. Bon appetit.”
years old, made a pathetically rogu- Kaz held back so that he was the
ish face and blew them a kiss. Kaz last to go. There were individual
started to turn away from it. change cubicles in the dressing
“Stay with it, Simic!” the Sleaze- room and Kaz sat back in his cu-
Meister buzzed in his head. bicle and closed his eyes. He didn’t
Kaz brought his eyes back to the know which bothered him most.
pool scene. Two of the older boys Distaste for what he had witnessed
were now simulating a sex act on so far or profound distaste for what
the diving board. There was a hoot might come next. An overwhelm-
of appreciation from the gallery. ing sense of foreboding filled him,
My God, Kaz thought, where do nearly robbing him of movement.
these kids come from? Where do “Better get going,” a voice warned
these men come from? him. It took him a moment to real-
Cozi opened the sliding door to ize that it was Fenton speaking, good
 Keith Scott 29

old gray Fenton, the cookie-cutter. he said. “Isn’t she adorable, number
Still, Kaz felt better that Fenton was five?”
there also with Packer in the control The child’s huge brown eyes
booth at the studios just off Times were on him, speculatively, going-
Square. on-eighteen in their knowing. She
He rose and went out to the pool. would be perhaps seven or eight,
Most of his party were there already Kaz thought, barely out of her baby
and two of the men were in the pool fat, pouty lips artfully touched up,
having a splash fight with the kids. finger and toenails painted a plumy
Kaz noted with relief that the rest of red.
the guests had chosen to wear their Kaz found her deadly.
trunks. “Hello, Shari,” he greeted her.
His host was talking to one of his “Allo,” she said in a small voice.
Asian staff members, his rock-hard Kaz saw that the child was a
and deeply tanned body fully dis- product, schooled in every provo-
played by the briefest of thongs. He cation and wile, disturbing...and
looked, Kaz thought, like a Greek enchanting. Without hesitation she
athlete as depicted in the ancient let go Cozi’s hand and climbed up
murals of the Olympic Games. He on Kaz’s lap. She curled up with her
looked completely at home in his head on his chest, and closed her
practically unclothed state. As if it eyes. Her sleepiness was possibly
was the most natural thing in the the only authentic thing about her,
world. Kaz stepped to the bar and Kaz thought.
accepted another sledgehammer His first inclination was to push
from the bartender. her off his lap. Then he realized
Lance Packer spoke up sharply Packer would be hungry to record
within his head, “I warned you, every move, every salacious detail
Simic—” of this encounter.
“Get off my ass!” Kaz snapped in “Have you read Nabokov, num-
front of the startled bartender. He ber five?” Cozi pulled another chair
made an airy “forget it” swing of his beside Kaz and sat down. He
hand to the man and moved un- reached out and stroked Shari’s hair
steadily to an extended pool chair gently. “Strange, the fascination the
by the diving board. very young hold for us.”
“Listen up, Packer,” he mur- Kaz remembered reading Nab-
mured as he sat down. “I’m going okov’s Lolita. He had found it dis-
to deliver, but I’m sure as hell not turbing and unpleasant reading.
going to love this, or love you—” Just as he found a strange naked
“Just deliver, asshole,” the child on his lap disturbing...and
SleazeMeister cut him off. mostly unpleasant.
Kaz waited for more. It didn’t “There are depths in each of us
come because Cozi Knugel was that defy knowing, number five,”
approaching, leading the smallest of Cozi continued. “Perhaps these are
the children by the hand. depths that should not have been
“I want for you to meet, Shari,” explored by Mr. Nabokov.”
30 A Slope So Slippery

“Why?” Kaz asked. “Because his good eye that one of the hard-
Nabokov’s middle-aged ‘hero’ actu- faced Asians was trying to get
ally found his actions to be evil in Cozi’s attention. He also noted a
the end?” hard bulge under the left armpit of
“Possibly. But remember, the the guard’s jacket. These guys could
child on your lap will probably earn play rough, he warned himself.
the largest dowry in her village to- “Ciao,” Knugel said when he saw
night.” Cozi took his hand away the man and moved to him.
and sat back, “Don’t ask questions, “God damn it, Simic!” The
my friend. Just enjoy. Yes?” SleazeMeister broke into Kaz’s
“Yeah, sure,” Kaz pressed on. tangled thoughts. “What are you
“But maybe I’ll find something evil trying to prove? I'll do all the mor-
like Nabokov’s man did?” alizing on this show—”
He knew he shouldn’t have said “You can’t even spell the word,
it. He saw the smile harden on the Packer.”
fashion designer’s face. Kaz had “Up your ass!”
encountered this hardness before in Kaz was watching Cozi Knugel’s
the man, over the years, seen his face as he listened to the security
exploitation of people and situa- man. His face was settling into that
tions, his complete ruthlessness. hard brittle smile Kaz knew so well.
Always with that smile. “Got to go, sweetheart,” he mut-
“Jee-sus, Simic.” Packer moaned tered drunkenly to Packer.
in the back of his head. Cozi was now nodding firmly as
But Cozi only laughed. “Evil? As the security man spoke. Finally, he
opposed to good? Yes, yes. But turned from the man and clapped
these are human constructs. Com- his hands for silence.
pletely false, my friend.” “Yes, yes,” he began, “Every-
“My friend, you say?” Kaz body out of the pool, please.”
blurted on. “As in ‘friendly’ rope There was a laughing, grudging
partner on a mountain top? Is that compliance and soon the entire
what you mean, Cozi?” group was gathered about the div-
It was vodka-fed perversity. Kaz ing board and Kaz’s chair. Shari
recoiled from his own stupidity. He had stirred on his lap when Knugel
would never have had the guts to called out, but she settled back to
tangle with Cozi Knugel sober. So sleep. Kaz finished his drink, savor-
why now? What the hell was he try- ing its fiery plunge down his throat,
ing to do? and then he carefully placed the
Cozi laughed again. “You forget empty glass on the tiled pool deck.
the rules, number five. No names Where in the hell was this
tonight.” He reached forward again evening going?
and stroked Shari’s hair. Suddenly “My people tell me there is an
he was very serious. “Anyway electronic signal leaving this
...things become very clear on house,” Cozi said to the assembled
mountain tops, number five.” group. “It is hard to believe that
Kaz noticed out of the corner of anyone would repay my hospitality
 Keith Scott 3

by spying. Yes? I think, yes. But we two, moved forward, making an

can check this.” unfunny show of it. He was fol-
They would be all asked, he went lowed unsteadily by number four.
on, one at a time to be scanned That left the two of them.
again by the detector. Two more Kaz felt Knugel’s eyes on him,
security men appeared rolling out hard, cold, mountain top eyes.
the scan gate. Kaz’s eye went back “My God, Packer!” Kaz said
to his host. The affable, charming without moving his lips. “Are we off
Cozi Knugel had quite gone. the air?”
“Shall we start?” Knugel asked. Mocking silence was his answer.
Kaz froze in terror. Now he was Kaz’s mind went icy in spite of the
seeing the man who could leave a false bravado of the liquor he’d
rope partner on the Everest drunk. Had the Sleaze Meister killed
mountainside. Now he could see the connection? Or was he count-
the son of a father who shot down ing on recording a weird “snuff”
over a hundred Allied flyers in WW scene with him, Kaz Simic, as the
II. subject? He could see the show’s
“We'll start with the boys,” Cozi ratings skyrocketing on his lurid
said still smiling. “Through the gate, departure.
boys.” He pulled his attention back to
Kaz sat up in his chair and gen- the pool. Number three was speak-
tly nudged Shari off his lap. “Turn ing earnestly to Cozi Knugel.
it off, Packer,” he mumbled as “T didn’t think about my pace-
though he was talking to Shari. He maker,” he said with a nervous
realized with horror that he had no laugh.
way of knowing if Packer would “A pacemaker?” Cozi sounded
turn off his transmission. unbelieving, “But why didn’t we
The boys moved through the pick it up at the start?”
gate and then Shari joined the other “This model transmits only every
girl and they both walked through ten minutes,” number three ex-
hand in hand. Kaz was surprised plained. “To a monitoring service.”
when a dark haired woman, her “And we missed it?”
eyes wide with fright, was ushered “I guess so. Sorry.”
to the gate by the head guard. She Relief began to flood Kaz, He
must be the handler of the kids’ could have hugged the confused fig-
group, Kaz thought. She walked ure standing in line before him. But
through the gate and then was he wasn’t prepared for the fashion
swept by the wand. Even more sur- designer’s next move.
prising, each of the security detail “Yes, yes,” Cozi roared. “Let us
passed through the gate themselves. see. Come through. Come through!”
Cozi Knugel now turned to the Number three stepped hesitantly
men. “Now, our guests please.” through the gate. Immediately
Kaz started forward ending up at there was an angry electronic buzz-
the end of the line behind number ing and everyone began laughing.
three. The loud fat man, number “One pacemaker registered,”
32 A Slope So Slippery

Cozi Knugel shouted. “Now you, teeth.

number five. What surprises do you “You can thank Fenton for that,
have?” Simic,” the Sleaze Meister answered
Kaz tried to bluffit, spreading his him promptly. “What happened?”
arms and doing a tipsy pirouette. Kaz was about to answer when
Everyone laughed again, but Cozi Shari reappeared and climbed back
was not to be denied. onto his lap. He was reminded that
“Come through, number five,” this monstrous evening was far
he ordered. from over.
As happened in the bar earlier, Sometime later he felt a small
everything went silent. God. How moist hand slip under his bathing
long ago had that been, Kaz trunks.
thought? Kaz recoiled groggily. “Don’t do
He cleared his throat, his mind in that.;.:”
a whirl. What do you do now?
Reach up and take your mask off? THE NEXT MORNING, KAZ PICKED
Make a clean breast of it? He felt as up the messages on his business
though he was being drawn into a phone in the studio. Laura was still
whirlpool, a vortex of deception. sleeping upstairs, well out of ear-
His lies, Cozi’s lies, everyone else’s shot. He had spent the early hours
lies in this cavernous room, stinking of the morning sleeping off the
of chlorine and filled with sleaze vodka in his BMW in the cedar
and shivering painted kids, all of it lined parking lot at Cozi Knugel’s
pulled at him. monster house on Post Road.
Kaz took a deep breath and He dimly remembered leaving
walked into the gate, expecting an the house. What had happened af-
angry wasp’s nest of sound. But it ter the final screening by the detec-
didn’t come. There wasn’t even a tor was disturbingly blurred to him.
hint of sound. In fact, he was terrified to think
Instantly everyone was slapping what might have happened.
him on the back and congratulating He did remember Fenton talking
him. It was weird, the palpable re- him out of the house, guiding him
lief of everyone. They all seemed to the BMW. Good gray old
bonded by a sense of guilt and de- Fenton, every drunk’s friend, every
ception. It brought an instant mo- feckless paparazzi’s savior.
ment of camaraderie, a sharing of Kaz fumbled with the answering
the guilt, perhaps? It lasted for only machine on his desk. The first mes-
a moment, then the bartender cir- sage was from Laura’s brother. He
culated with a fresh round of drinks. had located a medical clinic that
The pool bash cranked up again. would cooperate in an unwilling
Kaz wove his way back to his bone marrow “donation.” They
chair and dropped onto it, prickles would even supply the knockout
of nervous perspiration springing to pills to get the donor subject to their
his chest and armpits. establishment...
“Thanks,” he said through his Kaz made a face in irritation.
 Keith Scott 33

The second message was from have the money this afternoon. All
Charlie Walsh. cash, man!”
Kaz waited as the phone rang in “Not good enough, Mr. Simic,
Walsh’s room. He was about to We have to rethink this whole
hang up on the fifth ring when thing. I gotta have more—”
Charlie answered blearily. Kaz’s head began to spin.
“Hi, Charlie,” Kaz said into the “Okay, okay, Charlie,” he said
phone. “Kaz Simic. You called me slowly, “I'll get back to you. I prom-
last night?” ise, Pll get back to you within an
“Oh yeah,” Charlie said, “I been hour.”
thinking, Mr. Simic, and the more Kaz put the phone down quietly.
I think, the more I’m against—” He had a wild urge to laugh, but he
“What are you against, Charlie?” resisted because it might wake
“The whole thing,” Charlie started Laura. He stared at the wall for a
to whine. “Like, a friend told me it long moment thinking how far he
hurts like hell to give bone stuff... had come in the last week.
and I really got to thinking—” Then he reached for the phone
“Charlie! We made a deal. I'll and dialed Laura’s brother.

Goodbye, Keith
Keith Scott died at home in Toronto on Wednesday, November 17th, 1999 in his 79th
year. I never got to meet him in person, but we sent countless e-mails back and forth
between Edmonton and Toronto over the years as we discussed everything from one of
his current story submissions to flying in small planes to advances in laser surgery for eyes.
We first saw Keith’s talent when he sent us his story “Water,” which appeared in our Fall
1991 issue and in our anthology, On Spec: The First Five Years. It’s funny: even though we
don’t accept submissions over 6000 words, “Water” was so well-written, we didn’t care.
Come to think about it, I don’t think we even noticed.

I knew Keith was in his late seventies, and I knew he was very ill. News of his death still
came as a shock, and I was deeply saddened. But when I told Susan MacGregor, editor
of the Divine Realms anthology, she said: “I met him at the Divine Realms launch in Tor-
onto. He was a true sweetheart, and I'm glad to have met him. I feel he was an inspira-
tion—not just with his writing, but how he approached life and everyone he met. Some-
times, when people get old, the crap has all fallen away, and you feel that they are com-
pletely real and human and vulnerable and strong at the same time when you meet them.
I hope I can be like that some day. I’m sad to hear he’s gone, but on the other hand, I
also see death as a release, so a lot of that sadness is tempered by a faith/intuitive feeling
that he’s within a greater and more meaningful reality. So I’m glad of that. I remember
his ‘gold’ and I don’t think that part of him dies. Ever.”
My editors and I are pleased and proud to have been able to showcase some of that gold,
and share it with you. Fly high, Keith.
—Jena Snyder
 No bone had ever held its secret from Natalie before.
Why was this one so different?

The Echo of Bones

Rebecca M. Senese

|T HAD BEEN A DRY SPRING, A BLESSING AFTER THE

cold, damp winter. Leaves crunched under my feet like brittle
bones. I pushed the image from my mind as I followed the con-
stable through the woods.
It had never been this dry so early, at least not when I was a young girl
vacationing with my family along these shores. But if it hadn’t been so dry,
the boy wouldn’t have been allowed to play with his dog in the woods be-
hind their cottage. Too much mud usually, the mother said. But with such
nice weather...
With such nice weather the boy’s dog had managed to dig up the remains
of a shattered skull.
Through the trees, I spotted the familiar yellow shimmer of a police bar-
ricade. The force field opaqued the area from prying eyes and stopped fur-
ther contamination of a crime scene. Odd to see such an adult feature in a
landscape that belonged to my childhood.
I pulled my dark hair back and secured it in a pony tail. Reaching the
perimeter, the constable handed me a wafer-thin containment suit. With
practiced ease, I slipped into it, ignoring his surprised look. I knew he
thought I was a crank but his opinion didn’t matter. Bone reading might
not be admissible in court but it definitely had its uses.
I slid the faceguard into place as the constable triggered open a section
of the barrier. The yellow shimmer dissolved and I caught sight of white-
suited figures moving inside like ghosts. I stepped through, heading for the
one whose suit looked like it was about to burst.
Mitchell turned as I reached him. The faceguard did nothing to hide his
grim expression.
“Just bones, Natalie.” He gestured, causing the arm seams to tear slightly
 Rebecca M. Senese 35

around his bicep. most people didn’t put much stock

Past him, I saw O’Donnell, the in bone readers. The emotional
forensic anthropologist, already energy dissipated quickly, within a
squatting by a pile of disarticulated week after a highly emotional inci-
bones. Pieces, mostly. I recognized dent such as violent death. But
the chewed edge of a long bone, bones held echoes, too minute to be
probably a femur. The face of the measured even by the sensitive
skull was smashed, leaving the bar- Desmond tracking equipment. It
est trace of the upper ridge of the took a human bone reader with a
optical orbits. special ability, honed to perfection,
“Any teeth left?” I asked to hear the delicate echoing whisper
O’Donnell. of bones.
He glanced up, thick glasses mag- I was reluctant to do a reading
nifying his eyes. “None. Probably under such skeptical glares but it
removed to prevent identification.” was always better to read a bone in
“What can you tell so far?” its natural resting place. Of course,
Mitchell asked. Mitchell noticed my hesitation. He
“All I’ve got are rough guesses.” knew me too damned well.
Mitchell waved impatiently. “If you're finished, doc, Detective
“Yeah, yeah.” Morgan can do an initial reading
O’Donnell shrugged. “Okay. I'd now.”
say it’s been here since the fall. O’Donnell nodded and stood up.
There isn’t much new growth I glared briefly at Mitchell. He was
around the bones, just what’s too disciplined to grin butInoticed
started so far this spring. If it had that devilish twinkle in his eye. His
been last summer, the boy might teasing look but I knew him just as
have found them before his parents well.
closed the cottage for the winter, so “Thanks, Denny,” I whispered,
I’m thinking fall.” too low for others to hear. Mitchell
“Can you sex it yet?” I asked. scowled at the hated abbreviation
“Tl have to take it to the lab. No of his name.
pelvis. Probably taken by scaveng- As O’Donnell stepped away, I
ing animals.” A smile crossed his took his place inside the perimeter
face. “You’d probably be able to tell around the bones. The vegetation
more than me.” had been cleared to expose the
Around us, a couple of the con- bones fully, but not before the tech-
stables snickered. Mitchell silenced nicians had taken numerous pic-
them with a glare. I appreciated his tures, videos and holos of the area.
support but it didn’t stop the jokes Boy, I couldn’t wait to review those.
or hostility. Even after Dr. Fredric “Tll work on the long bone,” I
Desmond had authenticated the announced, pulling off the thin
existence of high emotional electro- glove. On my left, a technician
static energy and created his detec- aimed his camera at me. They
tor to measure levels after death, needed to keep track of what I
36 The Echo of Bones

touched, to record potential con- “Anything?” Mitchell asked be-

tamination. hind me, his voice tight.
I took a deep breath, smelling the “Not much, Dennis.” My voice
fresh, wet earth, the heavy musk of trembled. I took a breath to steady
old grass and the crisp, freshness of it. “Pll write it up. Possibly Pll get
new buds filtered through the more when we take it inside.”
faceguard. Peaceful. I allowed the Stepping back from the bones, I
calmness to center me before I was aware of the amused looks only
reached for the bone. half hidden. I ignored them, strug-
It felt smooth in my fingers, gling to slip the glove back on.
slightly grainy from the dirt. I traced Naturally, they were easy to get on
some slight irregularities, coming the first time, but a bitch the second.
across a small nick, perhaps from an “Tough break, Natalie,” O’Don-
old injury. Or a new one. I pushed nell said. “But you can’t read them
such speculations from my mind. I all.”
wasn’t here to think. Only to listen. As he turned to supervise the
Closing my eyes, I concentrated packing up of the remains, I
on breathing, on listening. Wind clenched my teeth. This had never
rustled the leaves, boots crunched happened before, not to me. I'd al-
on the ground. My heart beat a ways been able to read bones the
steady rhythm in my ears, and be- way some people were born with
neath that...beneath... perfect pitch. There had never been
A whisper. Soft. A sigh on the any bone that had held its secret
wind. Now a room, vague, ill-de- from me.
fined. Shadows. Perspiration damp- Frowning, I watched them lift the
ened my forehead, beaded on my skull gently from the forest floor.
cheeks as I concentrated. Frag-
ments, only fragments. But that BONE READING RAN IN MY FAMILY,
couldn’t be right. The only bones who considered it almost a sacred
that held echoes so weak were thou- tradition. Much to my mother’s dis-
sands of years old. These bones may, I’d shunned the family voca-
couldn’t possibly be that age. tion and entered police college af-
I breathed, listening, struggling to ter my father’s death. My older sis-
bring the room into focus. Someone ter had already gone into archeol-
else was there, a suggestion only, no ogy. I thought I could make a bet-
physical definition. I frowned. The ter contribution by helping the liv-
acrid odor of fear. The sharp, white- ing. ’d downplayed my family
noise of pain. background, but when your mother
My fingers trembled as I released has been involved in piecing to-
the bone. Beneath the containment gether detailed histories of several
suit, my shirt stuck to my back, Egyptian pharaohs as well as read-
drenched with sweat. My heart ing the bones of JFK, it’s hard to go
thudded in my ears, pounding with unnoticed. Most of my fellow cops
effort. I fumbled a tissue out of my thought I was a joke and acted ac-
pocket, wiped my forehead. cordingly. Several were downright
 Rebecca M. Senese 37

hostile, and only a few had ever ap- I think they lost the damned thing.
proached anything close to respect. They’re so...”
Fortunately for me, my partner was “And if the acid destroyed the
one of them. DNA?” J interrupted.
I followed Mitchell toward the The pathologist shrugged his nar-
pathologist’s lab. Mitchell didn’t row shoulders. “We’ve also found
walk as much as swoop down a hall- indications of deformity, maybe
way, barreling through anything in some kind of genetic disorder. I’m
his way. Since he was the size of a running a search through our medi-
small mountain, not many people cal databases. Not all the unusual
made that mistake. I followed in his pitting is from the acid, but the
wake like a tumbleweed. damage is even making that diffi-
“Acid,” Harrison, the pathologist, cult to trace.”
announced as Mitchell and I He ran a gloved finger over a
walked in. “Our perpetrator was cracked humerus. I stared at the
trying to destroy the skeleton, or at bones lying on the gleaming steel
least make identification difficult. table. So many secrets locked in-
Hence the removal of the teeth and side. A lifetime. I should be able to
the bashing of the cranium.” unlock them, to bring them into the
Mitchell turned away from the light, but I hadn’t been able to. I
autopsy table that held the bones hadn’t tried again since the initial
and followed his arms. Muscles discovery three days ago, but I
bulged in his shirt. “Can you piece knew I probably wouldn’t be able
together the skull?” to glean anything more.
“O’Donnell is working on it,” And what did that tell me?
Harrison said. “He should know in “He wasn’t just trying to stop
a couple of hours if he can salvage identification,” I said.
anything. The hole in the occipital “What do you think, Natalie?”
bone matches the exit wound from Mitchell took a step closer, tower-
a projectile gun. And there’s cut ing over me. His gray eyes bored
marks at the joints, indicative of into me, willing me to think harder.
dismemberment.” “He was trying to fragment the
“Charming. What about DNA?” bone charge, destroy any residual
Mitchell asked. memory.”
“We’ve done some extractions Harrison turned away. I recog-
from the femur.” The pathologist nized disbelief in his movements
moved a gloved finger over the but I didn’t care what he thought.
bone, pointing out the new incision. He didn’t have any say in the han-
“Tf we’re lucky, we can get DNA dling of this case. Mitchell had the
from the marrow if the acid didn’t lead, and he was listening.
penetrate too far and completely “You think the perp knew
destroy it, but it’s going to take enough to do that?” he asked.
awhile to get the results. The usual “This wasn’t an accident,” I said.
backlog. I sent one sample three “They’ve tried every other way to
weeks ago and they’re still stalling. muddle identification but there’s
38 The Echo of Bones

residual memory, even in ashes. rest using comparison equations.”

Sure it’s damaged but not like this. As he talked, he touched several
This was on purpose. I bet they’ve keys and the holo image of the head
been exposed to some kind of elec- began to change shape. The cheek-
trical charge.” bones sharpened, the chin nar-
“So how many people know rowed. Eyes peered out from
about bone reading?” Mitchell said. beneath delicate brows. Muscle lay-
I shrugged. “It’s not exactly a ered overtop, creating more human
widely recognized forensic science, features. Skin completed the trans-
not like the Desmond tracker.” formation. A final keystroke and
Harrison snickered, covered it with the face looked out at us with a soul-
a cough. I ignored him. ful gaze.
“Some universities, criminolo- A woman, maybe in her fifties.
gists, other law enforcement agen- Hard to know for sure. Would she
cies. Even with the success of such have wrinkled around the eyes in
readings as those done at archeo- precisely that way? O’Donnell hit
logical sites and on dead celebrities, another key and hair appeared,
most of the public doesn’t think of shifting through several different
it in terms of forensics.” styles.
Mitchell chewed his lower lip, “What’s the accuracy?” Mitchell
the signal that he was thinking. asked.
“How long for the DNA, doc?” “With such extensive damage,
“Call me tomorrow,” Harrison only ninety percent.” O’Donnell
said. sounded apologetic.
“Let’s go talk to O’Donnell,” I Mitchell snorted. “Pretty pa-
said, “then I’ve got an idea.” thetic.”
O’Donnell fidgeted with his
O’DONNELL POINTED AT THE glasses. “I know, I’m sorry.”
generic human head that floated “Don’t listen to him,” I said.
above the desktop. “I always like to “You're sure it’s female?”
start with a blank head, kind of like “Eighty-five percent probability,”
a blank slate.” O’Donnell said. “The DNA will tell
I smiled politely at his joke. Be- you for sure. Talk to Harrison about
hind me, Mitchell grunted. that.”
O’Donnell pushed his glasses up his “Can we get a copy?” I gestured
nose and turned back to the com- at the holo.
puter keyboard. He loaded it onto a chip that I
“Right. I scanned the entire skull tucked into my pocket. As the door
into the computer. We can tell a lot, slid closed behind us, I pinched
even when the maxilla and nasal Mitchell’s arm.
bones have been removed. The He jumped. “Ouch! What’s that
shape of what’s remaining of the for?”
orbits help us with the mapping and “For scaring him. All they see is
the Central Forensic Database con- your ugly face; they don’t know
firms our conclusions and fills in the you're a comedian.”
 Rebecca M. Senese 39

He pouted with great exaggera- nothing but dead ends. At night in

tion but gave it up when he saw I my apartment, I stared at her face
was ignoring him. “You said you floating like an apparition above
had an idea.” my coffee table until the curve of
“I do, but we’ll need special per- her cheek became as familiar as my
mission.” own. When staring at fragments of
bone it was easy to forget they had
WHILE MITCHELL BLITZED THE MEDIA once been a real person. The least
with copies of the holo, I petitioned I could do for her was give her back
the courts for a release. It took two her name, and I'd done a poor job
days but finally they gave me cus- of it so far.
tody of a two-centimeter piece of I attached the leads and made
the femur. Harrison had already sure everything was set. Mitchell
used it in his DNA tests. So far there folded his arms across his barrel
was no match in the public data- chest.
bases and it always took time to “All ready, Dr. Frankenstein?”
convince the corporations to search “Watch it, Igor.”
theirs. Meanwhile, I was going to I pressed the button. The leads
try another bone reading. glowed red to show they were in
I tightened the clamps that held use, otherwise nothing much hap-
the fragment in place, careful not to pened. I timed out five seconds,
touch it directly. Even through wa- then cut the power.
fer gloves I would sense something Mitchell raised an eyebrow.
and I didn’t want any layering in After unplugging the generator, I
my reading. This was going to be disconnected the leads and stripped
tricky enough. off the wafer gloves. My plan was to
“Are you sure this will work?” slowly increase the amperage and
Mitchell reclined in a worn plastic the exposure time while attempting
chair. He leaned farther back, caus- a reading between each try. Men-
ing the chair to creak in protest. tally, ’'d decided that a thirty sec-
“It can’t hurt,” I said. “A brief ond exposure was my cut-off point.
electrical current of the right am- Chances were that if I couldn’t pull
perage might restore some of the something coherent out of the bone
echo. We don’t really know how by then, it wouldn’t happen.
bones hold memory echoes, so we Taking a deep breath, I sat down
can’t be precisely sure how to de- on the stool in front of the bone
stroy them.” fragment. I listened to the hum of
I could tell I was pushing even the overhead lights, allowed my
Mitchell’s faith but he merely breathing to match it. My fingers
pursed his lips. Hell, I didn’t know reached out to the bone.
if I believed it, but like I’d said, it I closed my eyes.
couldn’t hurt. A room. Cramped. Cheap, slide-
Certainly nothing else had out bed. Old fashioned, audio-only
helped. We still didn’t know who phone. Neon light leaking in
she was. Our media blitz yielded through the curtained window.
40 ‘The Echo of Bones

Lower class motel. Battered suitcase me

on the floor beside the dresser, a The woman who answered the
purse on the bed. She probably had vidphone was an older, more suc-
identification in it, but it did me no cessful version of me. She wore the
good. I could only watch through latest fashion, her hair molded per-
her eyes, a silent witness to the last fectly to accentuate her cheeks.
moments of her life. Hell, who was I kidding, even with
The image held a moment the best clothes and hairstyle I
longer, then fragmented. I became would never match the perfection
aware of the sweat sticking to my of my sister.
skin and the ache in my shoulders. “Hello, Claire, is Mother there?”
My fingers felt like they were crack- I asked.
ing as I peeled them off the bone. One perfect eyebrow arched.
“Well?” Mitchell asked. “Natalie. This is a surprise. I
“A beginning,” I said. thought you were busy saving the
I didn’t get much beyond that, no world.”
matter how long or how high the “Sorry to interrupt your toenail-
current. Soon the image began to clipping, but I need to talk to
degrade, forcing me to stop. I didn’t Mother,” I said.
want to lose it. Claire glared at me and I could
For what felt like the hundredth imagine my face held the same
time, I stripped off the wafer gloves. closed expression. We had never
They stuck to my fingers, damn gotten along.
things. I wrenched them off, tearing “There’s no reason to be rude,”
one in half. she said. “But you never needed a
“A motel room,” Mitchell reason, did you? Your talent is
drawled. “That’s useful.” wasted on you. You won’t ever ap-
His mouth snapped shut when I preciate it or use it properly.”
glared at him. Fatigue reduced my I bit back an angry retort as
sense of humor to zero. Claire turned away from the
“Sorry, Natalie. Iknow you tried vidphone. A deep breath lowered
your best.” my blood pressure as I peeled my
I turned away from him. That fingers out of my chair’s armrests.
had always been the problem. My Thank God, they were below the
best wasn’t good enough. I’d never viewing screen.
matched up to the flash and speed Mother appeared, all elegance
of my mother and older sister, and decorum.
Claire. “Natalie, darling.”
The thought was almost painful “Hello, Mother. I have a favor to
in my head, but I was too profes- ask.”
sional to ignore it. My shaky ego
didn’t rank against this woman’s MOTHER ARRIVED IN SEDATE (FOR
death. her) fashion. Her plush limocopter
“I have to make a call,” I told deposited her on the roof of the po-
Mitchell. lice station. As it took off, whipping
 Rebecca M. Senese 41

my hair into a frenzy, Mother keep records.”

moved regally across the roof to Her rigid posture told me she
meet me. Not a hair out of place. wanted to protest. “You called me
Naturally. about this.”
I managed to guide her to my “Yes, I did and I told you exactly
office in twenty minutes, a trip that what I needed. If you can’t do this,
should take five, but the officers I'll call someone else.” I stepped
who normally ignored or laughed toward the door. There really
at me stopped my mother for an wasn’t anyone else to call; I knew it
autograph or a chat. Mother was and she knew I did, but I wasn’t
always happy to oblige, gifted at going to back down on this.
setting people at ease in a moment. She sighed elaborately. “Fine.
Well, most people. Make your recording.”
As the door slid shut, I snapped She settled into the chair and
on the privacy shield. The familiar began the deep breathing relax-
background hum from the outer ation exercises. Her eyelids closed,
office faded to a heavy silence. the muscles of her face slackened.
Mother cast an appraising look Her hand rested on the desk beside
around the office, noting my bland the fragment.
metal desk, cheap plastic chairs and It felt strange to watch her, to not
half empty coffee cups piled beside be doing it myself. It reminded me
my decrepit keyboard. Finally her of the demonstrations she’d give me
gaze settled on the sliver of bone as a child when I was first learning
resting on a cloth on my desk. to tap into this strange, profound
“This is what you wish me to talent. She always made it look so
read.” easy with none of the side effects I
“Yes,” I said. “It’s from a case. I experienced, like fatigue or head-
can’t tell you any more.” aches.
Her hand flashed up in a dra- Her fingers twitched, moved to
matic gesture. “I don’t want to touch the fragment. As I watched,
know more.” She took a step to- her forehead creased as she concen-
ward the bone. As always with my trated. Was she seeing the motel
mother, I felt a powerful urge to room? Was she seeing more?
look around for cameras. “Mother, what do you see?” I
“I need to know everything you kept my voice soft, to prompt her to
see, in detail.” I triggered the pin speak without losing the memory
mike on my desk. “Just speak in a thread she was reading.
normal voice.” “A room. Motel. Very small,
Her gray eyes flashed as she cramped. A strange place, not fa-
tossed her scarf over her shoulder. miliar, not home. Waiting for some-
“T don’t allow my readings to be one. Impatient. The room’s
recorded.” shaking. We’re pacing.”
My cheeks flushed with anger but In my mind’s eye, I could see the
my voice stayed calm. “This is an woman, pacing the narrow space
official police investigation. We between the bed and the wall.
42 The Echo of Bones

“What else?” I prompted. don’t have any more time to spare.

Her head jerked. “Noise. The Besides, I don’t think I'll get any-
door, someone at the door. Moving thing else; the damage to the echo
toward it.” is extensive.”
She paused and I held my breath, She brushed a wisp of gray hair
waiting. The woman had answered from her face and I noticed her fin-
the door; letting in her killer? Could gers trembling. The emotional out-
my mother see well enough to de- pouring had disturbed her more
scribe the person? At least we’d than she’d admitted. She’d always
have something to go on. been so proud of her detachment
A sharp intake of breath drew my but she’d rarely been consulted on
attention. Mother’s eyes snapped such recent violent deaths. The in-
open. She jerked away from the tensity took some getting used to. I
bone. The chair toppled to the should have warned her.
floor, landing with a crash as she “Thanks for trying,” I said. Turn-
jumped to her feet. Her lipstick ing off the privacy shield, I began to
shone blood red against her white show her out. At the door, she
face. grabbed my shoulders and pulled
“Mom, are you okay?” I touched me into a stiff embrace.
her arm tentatively. She suddenly “T’ve always been proud of you,
looked old, lines etching across her Natalie, even though you think I
skin, following the line of muscle haven’t noticed.”
and bone. She clutched my hand. I was speechless all the way to the
Her desperate stare unnerved me. roof.
“Mom, what is it? What did you
see?” “OKAY, LET ME SUMMARIZE: A
She blinked and seemed to shake cramped motel room, a knock at
herself. Her hand pulled away as the door, violent emotions. Have I
she stood taller. The fleeting missed anything?”
glimpse of vulnerability faded, leav- The french fry I whipped at
ing behind her normal, crisp self- Mitchell missed by a foot.
control. “It was worth a shot,” I grumbled.
“Just a shock,” she said. “The sud- “At least we know your mother
denness, it startled me. I wasn’t pre- can’t walk on water,” Mitchell
pared.” quipped.
“Can you describe the attacker?” Normally I was happy to indulge
“No. It got very jumbled. Disrup- in a round of good natured parent-
tion, like you mentioned. More bashing but her visit had left me
emotional content than visual any- uneasy. I’d caught a glimpse of hu-
way.” manity beneath the icy exterior.
I frowned. I’d been hoping for Bashing her wasn’t fun anymore; it
more. “Why don’t you rest a mo- felt shameful.
ment, then we can try again.” “The damage to the echo was too
“I don’t think I can.” She pushed extensive,” I said. “Do we have any-
her scarf back over her shoulder. “I thing else?”
 Rebecca M. Senese 43

“Final reports from pathology. “No mistake, Natalie. They con-

The usual in excruciating detail. firmed.”
O’Donnell even included all the The paper crumpled, ripping, as
metric equations for the femur and my fingers clenched. There had to
cranium to support his hypothesis be some explanation.
on age and sex. A little light read- Maybe Mother’s reaction to her
ing.” reading wasn’t from the violence of
He tossed the disk to me. the death, maybe she recognized
“Harrison’s still trying to track something. Or someone.
the DNA, promised an update The room blurred. I shook my
within the hour.” The fax machine head to clear it. Mitchell’s warm fin-
ring interrupted him. gers jolted me as he tried to pry
“There we are.” Mitchell hoisted open my fists.
his bulk out of the chair behind his “Natalie, let go of the fax.”
desk. It practically groaned with I released it, watching it crumple
relief. He scanned the pages to my desk and start soaking up my
quickly, a frown building on his spilled coffee. Mitchell hung on to
face. my hands. I marveled at how warm
“Dennis?” his flesh felt, warm and alive. My
He stared at me. “We got a match fingers were shards of ice.
on a relative in the public service “Natalie, we have to work this
database.” lead. Focus on the case.”
He stopped. I gestured at him. His voice, firm, reasonable, reso-
“Yeah?” nated inside my skull, finally allow-
“It’s you.” ing me to push back the icy fear.
I dropped my coffee cup. The last Beneath it, I felt a core of red hot
dregs splashed across the desk. anger that flushed adrenaline
“What?” through my system and cleared my
He handed me the fax. I stared at head. We had a job, a case. A
the codes, a partial match, showing woman was dead and I was going
we'd shared a parent. That was im- to know what happened.
possible. I had only one sister. I stood up. “I want to see the
“Run it again,” I hissed. bones.”
Mitchell punched at _ the
vidphone to call for confirmation. PATHOLOGY WAS CLOSED BY THE
My fingers whitened as I clenched time we reached the office, but a
the paper. It had to be a mistake, scan of our ID implants and retinal
someone had miskeyed the infor- confirmation got us waved through.
mation, looked in the wrong data- I plowed down the hall as Mitchell
base, misread the code. followed. His reluctance was palat-
Blood roared in my ears while I able, a sour taste on the air.
waited for Mitchell to finish. He “Why can’t you just try the frag-
disconnected and turned back to ment again?” he repeated for the
me, his expression carefully con- fifth time.
trolled. “T need a larger sample, more
44 The Echo of Bones

bone density.” I pressed my hand to the mirror my whole life.

the palm reader by the door. The Carrying her skull to the gurney,
scan tickled my flesh. The door slid I could already feel impressions fil-
open and fluorescent lights winked tering into my consciousness.
on like a sleepy person blinking Quickly, I attached leads to the gen-
awake. erator and pasted them onto the
“We need to get permission for skull.
this,” Mitchell insisted. “T need the rubber mat too,” I
I set the case carrying the por- told Mitchell.
table electrical generator on the He pulled it out of the case and
floor by a shining steel gurney. I laid it on the gurney. I placed the
turned to face him. skull on top, checked the generator
“Do you want to leave, Dennis? a final time, then powered up.
If you go now you won't be break- I counted off a twenty second
ing any regulations. I can do this burst, then shut down. Even as I
myself.” peeled the leads off the occipital
His lips tightened. A muscle bone I could feel the echo was
jumped along the side of his jaw. stronger. My fingers trembled.
“Dammit, Natalie.” I took a shuddering breath, nod-
“I’m doing this. Stay or don’t.” ded to Mitchell, and closed my
Tension, thick as fog, stretched eyes.
between us. I didn’t want him to go;
Mitchell had always been the rock THE MOTEL ROOM, IN SHARPER
I leaned against, my protection focus. Cracked plaster along the
from the various blows in the office door frames betrays the age and
and on cases, but I had to have an- class of the place but it’s something
swers. I had to have some way of we're used to. We understand the
combating my fear. bottom because we’ve been
His massive shoulders slumped. scrounging all our lives. But that’s
“Hurry up,” he murmured. about to end.
I bent to open the case, blinking Pacing, pacing, impatient. A
back sudden tears. My fingers knock echoes like a cannon blast.
fumbled on the latches until Sharp relief and eager anticipation.
Mitchell’s hands covered my own. No more cheap rooms like this.
“Get what you need, I'll unpack The door, old fashioned, with a
this.” knob and hinges that we have to
Harrison had filed her under Jane turn and pull to open. The hallway
Doe. My palm print unlocked the beyond: dark, ominous. The figure
drawer and I carefully lifted out her in the doorway wears a large dark
shattered skull. Seeing her damaged coat with a deep hood. A glimpse of
face made me wince. The image of porcelain skin glints in the hood
her holo reconstruction filled my folds.
mind and I realized why it had been We step back to allow entrance.
so easy to memorize her features; The figure steps forward, raising a
I'd been looking at similar ones in hand. A gun. The lightning flash of
 Rebecca M. Senese 45

panic does not obscure the final “Oh there’s something else. Ev-
glimpse of the porcelain face in the erything else. I saw a face.”
hood. “Who?” he demanded.
That face. Oh so familiar. “My sister, Claire,” I said.
The pain obliterates us.
MY MOTHER’S HOUSE WAS THE
“NATALIE!” essence of seclusion; built into the
Mitchell’s voice was a bare side of a mountain, surrounded on
squeak against the wailing of my three sides by fifty acres of forest
pounding head. I became aware of with the ocean on the fourth. Ac-
the floor, cold against my back, my cess was by a private road that
legs, my arms. Why was the room wound through the trees unless you
dark? Then I realized my eyes were had a limocopter to land on the roof
closed. pad.
Light poured in like molten lava, Being lowly detectives, Mitchell
tearing my eyes madly and igniting and I only had access to a regular
anew pulse of agony in my head. I groundcar. I stared out at the pass-
groaned. ing trees as Mitchell drove. He al-
Mitchell helped me sit up. I ways insisted on driving manually,
leaned against the expanse of his distrustful of the computerized
shoulder. guidance routes that blanketed the
“What happened?” I whispered. city. Here in the country there were
“You screamed and passed out. no guidance routes to tap into and
I’ve been trying to wake you for I was grateful for his manual driv-
almost ten minutes.” His voice ing experience.
whined in near panic. The trees parted as we drove
“Tm okay. Help me up.” around a curve, and the house
I struggled to my feet, bracing sprang into view. With walls of
myself against the gurney. My legs brown and green, elegant sloping
trembled, threatening to spill me windows and towers shaped like
again but I promised them a sooth- trees, the house looked like it had
ing bath, massage, hot oil, whatever grown out of the mountainside. I
to keep me upright. Begrudgingly, heard Mitchell’s sharp intake of
they complied. breath. He’d known my mother
“What did you see?” Mitchell was rich; now he saw the extent of
asked. my rebellion.
Surprisingly, now that I knew, I As we stepped from the car, the
wasn’t afraid or even angry. I didn’t door slid open. Mitchell started.
feel anything but numb. “Sensor field,” I said. “Mother
“The motel room,” I said. “She always has the latest gadgets. Some-
was expecting someone. There was times even before the military. My
a knock at the door and she opens DNA’s on file for full access.”
it. A figure in a dark coat and hood “And if it wasn’t?”
comes in and shoots her.” “We'd be gassed with a strong
“That’s it? Nothing else?” tranquilizer while the house
46 The Echo of Bones

contacted the police.” full of ourselves then, we thought

Mitchell blinked. “Oh.” we could improve our talent. In-
We entered the house and I led stead we made genetic disasters.
the way straight to the back parlor. We tried splicing our genetic mate-
Here the outside wall was com- rial, subjected it to various tests, try-
pletely transparent, affording a ing to isolate and boost our bone
breathtaking view of the sea. It was reading ability. Most of our experi-
my mother’s favorite room; she ments never made it past the em-
could survey the wilds of nature bryonic stage. The ones that
without actually letting it touch her. survived full incubation died very
But the wildness had invaded any- young, not viable.” She looked
way. Despite her best efforts. away and her voice grew wistful.
She stood with her back to the “She wasn’t supposed to live past
door as we entered. I stopped just ten, not with her deformities. But I
inside the doorway but she made thought she deserved whatever
no sign of hearing us. Of course she time she had so I sent her away. I
had; the alarm system would have lost track of her. I never told any-
notified her immediately. one, not even your father. I never
“Where’s Claire?” really thought...”
“She’s not here,” Mother said. “She thought,” I said sourly.
“She’s been working very hard and “She found you.”
needed a rest.” “I received a letter. She wanted
My nails dug into my palms as I contact, money. Claire was there
clenched my fists. Anger made me when I got the message and I had
jumpy but I forced myself to be still. to tell her. We discussed it. It
“Who was she?” I growled. “We wouldn’t have taken much to ap-
know she’s related to me. We’re pease her. I thought Claire agreed.”
going to find out.” “Claire agreed all right,” I
Finally, Mother turned to us. snapped. “She agreed so much she
Stress had aged her in hours in a shot our sister, dismembered her
way the years had never done. and tried to destroy her remains.
Dark circles hung from her eyes, Failing that, she dumped them in
her cheekbones sharply defined. the woods.”
Even her hair lay flat in its upswept Mother’s eyes flashed. “You can’t
style. prove that. You can’t prove any of
“You won’t find anything,” she this.”
said. “Because we kept no records. “Where is your daughter, Ms.
It was a stupid, arrogant attempt. A Morgan?” Mitchell’s deep voice
fifty-year-old mistake that should carried through the room.
never have happened.” Her resistance evaporated. Sorrow
“Who?” I repeated. etched lines deeper into her face.
She sighed the way she always “She’s gone. She won’t come
did when I was being particularly back, I’ve made sure of it.”
stubborn. “Your sister. An experi- I shuddered. “Mother, where is
ment. My colleagues and I were so she?”
 Rebecca M. Senese 47

“At rest. She was so tired.” toward the car.

“Mother...” Wind rustled the hair on my
Her eyes pleaded. “Natalie, you sister’s forehead. Her image blurred
have to understand my position. as tears filled my eyes. I wanted to
Everything I’ve worked for. I tried touch her, to know for sure, but I
so hard.” couldn’t contaminate the scene.
Staring at her, I backed away, out Besides, I knew there would be
of the room. Mitchell followed, nothing to read. A heart attack or
questions darkening his face, but I maybe an aneurysm, the triggering
knew, I already knew. agent already absorbed. Even if I
We found Claire outside, sitting was allowed to do a bone reading,
upright in a lounge chair, facing the it wouldn’t make any difference.
sea. Mitchell checked her vital signs Inadmissible.
even though it was obvious she’d I didn’t even flinch when the gun-
been dead for several hours. shot sounded from inside the house.
“Pll make the call.” Mitchell Closing my eyes, I waited for the
touched my arm, then turned sirens.

Science Fiction Deposit Research Collection

at the University of Alberta Library
The University of Alberta Library is soliciting donations to its recently
established Science Fiction Deposit Research Collection to create a
still larger, publicly accessible, research collection of regional and
national significance, similar to that of Toronto’s Merril Collection of
Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy.

Science fiction and fantasy novels, journals, pulp magazines, archives,

and ephemera, as well as UFOlogy are being sought. Donations are
eligible for tax receipts for their appraised value.

For further information about the

collection and donation procedures
contact:
Mermill Distad
at (780) 492-1429
([email protected])
or
Randy Reichardt
at (780) 492-7911
([email protected]).
 He wanted to call out his ex’s name...but he couldn't remember it.
Humane therapy for an obsession, or mental cruelty?

Corrective Surgery
J.S. Lyster

I SAW HER ON CHURCHILL STREET, A MANE OF

raven-hair hanging straight down her back. Achingly famil-
iar. Ilooked up at the Royal Center building, my destination, and
said aloud to myself, “The shrink can wait.” Then I followed her,
keeping pace just meters behind. She wore a black skirt that
stopped at her knees, a narrow skirt that slowed her down. My
mouth hurt, lips pressed together to the point of welcome pain.
She didn’t see me. I kept pace with her, my hands in the pockets of my
wine-colored ski jacket, my collar hitched up like Dracula’s cloak. She
marched down the snow-littered sidewalk with a purposeful stride, and I
knew in that moment that she was meeting someone along here, someone
in one of the coffee shops along Churchill. I could see ahead of us the rec-
tangular green-bordered sign of the Center Street Cafe. My hands became
fists in my pockets.
My feet were cold; I’d opted for sneakers this morning, not my winter
boots, since I was taking the underground most of the way here—Churchill
Station was half a block away.
She hiked her enormous purse up higher onto her shoulder. I sucked a
breath through my nose, smelled gasoline and perfume. I was in her vapor
trail.
I wanted to call her name. But I couldn’t remember it.
She wasn’t going into the Center Street. But someone else stepped out
just as she neared the door, and this woman walked towards me. She hada
face that was narrow, and made of sharp corners rather than soft slopes. A
shock of dark brown hair perched on the top of her head. My eyes flickered
 J.S. Lyster 49

from her to the other, and IJrealized quarters...

I'd made a mistake. She didn’t have “Goddamn!” I said. A tall man
long black hair. She was this one walking past me glanced my way,
walking towards me, past me, shock drawing his mouth into a
glancing my way and flickering a line.
detached smile at me. I turned and I stopped and watched after the
looked at the back of her head, then plump woman as she continued on
looked at the woman I had been down Churchill. A moment later
following. She was one of them, she she turned at the corner of Arthur
had to be. I looked back and forth, Street, and was gone. I shut my
struggling to find a memory that fit eyes.
either of them. One in a skirt and David would be waiting. I
jacket and black hose; the other in ground my teeth together and
a long mahogany coat, her hair shoved my hands into my pockets.
shaved from the back of her neck Then I strode up the marble steps
where her collar met her skull. and into the warmth of the building.
That was her. I turned and started His receptionist showed me into
following. his office.
In minutes I was outside my “How are the wife and kids?” I
shrink’s office building again. She said, almost sneering at him.
passed a plump woman with a fake “They’re fine. How have you
fur hat on her head. I gasped. Some been?” David Mitchelson was a tall
essence of her leaped from the thin skinny balding bastard wearing
woman, and my attention shifted dress pants and a cream-colored
again. sweater—trying to look professional
I hunted my thoughts for her and casual at the same time.
name. Maureen? No, that had been He motioned me to his burgundy
my mother’s name. It was... couch. I dropped my ass into it.
Stephanie. That was it. “Fucked,” I said, by way of answer-
No; Stephanie was that girl I ing his question. “I’m totally fucked.
knew in high school, in my last I can’t think.” I pounded the side of
year. I took her to my graduation my head with my right palm. “This
and danced badly with her beneath thing is wrecking my brain.”
the hard yellowish lights of R.H. “It doesn’t cause damage,”
Talbot High’s gymnasium. Mitchelson said calmly. “It simply
“Shit,” I muttered. Her face was randomizes your memories when
gone from my mind. No, not quite you attempt to focus on your obses-
gone: changing. Constantly shift- sion.”
ing. Her eyes were wide apart, sepa- “It’s driving me crazy.”
rated by the bridge of her too-large Mitchelson shook his head. “Ja-
nose. No, they were close, sharp son, the loop doesn’t change your
and piercing above a sharp nose memories, doesn’t wipe them. We
and angular face, eyes like am- can’t do that. All it does is disrupt
ethysts—no, brown eyes as big as your recall. You don’t remember
50 Corrective Surgery

her properly, so you add false de- worked. He hadn’t been keen on
tails to your own memories. Over having me work there when he
time you will no longer be able to learned I was up on charges, but he
fixate on your obsession.” He couldn’t fire me on that account. I
smiled. “Like trying to remember a was careful to make sure the till tal-
face in a dream. lied every day.
My obsession. That’s what he I'd lost my job at the Radio Shack
called my ex. Like she was some at the Railway Square Mall after the
kind of drug. He didn’t get it at all. cops took me in the first time. That
We were going to get married. She hurt.
was supposed to keep her promises. “This damn thing is driving me
“Tt isn’t right,” I murmured. out of my head.” My voice came
Mitchelson pursed his lips and out shrill and girlish. I ran my fin-
leaned back in his easy chair. His gers along the line of bristles along
“office” looked like a living room the side of my head. They had
out of a movie: old-style leather shaved a track around my head
couch, with ornate wooden arm- above my ears. After three weeks
rests; a chair that matched the the stitches were out and the hair
couch. There were bookcases all was growing back.
over the place, and he kept a coffee “Tt will come out when you can
pot on a round wooden three- show us you’re able to manage your
legged table next to the windows. obsession,” Mitchelson said.
He actually had drapes for his win- I looked at him hopefully, and
dows, not Venetian blinds like wrapped my coat around myself. I
those in his outer office. was sweating like a son-of-a-bitch,
He had a couple of family photos but I couldn’t take the coat off. It
on his bookcases. His wife was was a shield between me and him.
pretty. Envy stabbed at my belly. “What can I do to speed things
“That may be true,” he said. along?”
“And you can always change your “Just get on with your life. Put her
mind about the surgery. You can behind you. What did you do to-
choose jail.” day?”
“Great fucking choice.” “It’s my day off, like usual.” I
“There’s no call for language like shrugged. “I saw her again, on the
that.” street outside. What does the law
“Fuckin’ A.” say about her hassling me?”
He smiled in forced sympathy. Mitchelson straightened up. His
“What have you been doing with mouth was a pencil line. “You
yourself lately?” know that Ms...your ex, I mean,
I made a crude motion with my hasn’t been near you. She has no
fist. “Lots of this. And work. Bob reason to be.”
looks at me like I crawled out of the “Well, she was.” Then I remem-
sewers and into his lock-box.” Bob bered how she’d changed, right in
owned the parking lot where I front of me, raven hair to brown
 J.S. Lyster 51

omer ing a knife to the side of my head,

“Shit,” I breathed. “I screwed up, seeing if I could run a serrated
didn’t I?” blade through the skin, cut the wire,
Mitchelson watched me through free my brain.
narrowed eyes. I looked at the mess on my cof-
“All right,” I said hastily. “I just fee table. Then I laid my arm across
thought I saw her. Big deal.” the table and swept all the junk onto
“Jason,” the shrinker said, “you the carpet. I collected a Glad bag
have to get out of this zone you’re from the kitchen, and started filling
in. Find something to do with your- it with the crap on the carpet. A
self when you start thinking about bunch of old magazines, Time and
her. Get your focus off her.” Road & Track. The latest issue of
Discover had an article about the
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I loop in my head. I threw it into the
dropped my coat next to my door bag also. Out went all the papers
and grabbed a beer can from the they’d given me after my court
fridge, then sat down in the living hearing. Screw it all.
room and picked up the remote. I picked up a little red book from
Click click click, through the cable amid the papers. For a moment I
band. didn’t recognize it. My address
The crap on my coffee table was book. I opened it and turned pages.
piling up. I hadn’t done anything Addresses and phone numbers: my
with the papers they'd given me brother out west; a couple of com-
about the surgery; I still had the puter dealers, from when I was
brochure—they actually put out a hunting for a new machine; my
brochure advertising it, a three-fold, work numbers. I lifted the book and
double-sided glossy. My tax dollars aimed it at the bag.
at work. I opened it with my thumb as I
The Cure, the cover said. The pic- readied to throw, and my eyes
ture showed a silhouette of a human caught the page I held. A name:
head, outlined in black. And within Alison Bly.
it, the loop, just above the ears, a Recognition. I looked at the ad-
noose around the brain instead of dress below her name. 4378B
the neck. Grafton Street. Newcastle. That was
I looked like I had a punk-rock her. She lived up in the ’burb.
haircut, what with the shaven strip My heart wound up. Damn,
around my head. I could feel the damn, damn. I had her name again,
loop beneath my skin in some the way it had been on the tip of my
places, like along my forehead just tongue for weeks, never quite com-
above my brow. They didn’t have ing to me.
to crack my skull-bone to put it in, Don’t think about it, I said to my-
just opened the skin and laid it in self. Don’t think about it or it’ll go
the flesh. away.
Sometimes I thought about tak- I felt like I had just woken up
52 Corrective Surgery

when I reached the bus stop. There “Thanks.” I heaved myself up and
was a book in my hand. My thumb hurried off the bus.
on the page. I looked down at it. I could feel the heavy rhythm of
In big red letters somebody had my heartbeat as I walked. My hand
written: held the book by its bottom edge,
Jason: a page folding over and creasing in
my grip. I fell into a routine of
Trust me. The address above glancing down at the page every
is HERS. Don’t forget. few seconds, absorbing the message
there and the address, keeping my
Signed, You. memory on track.
Once (or twice, or maybe more)
Hers? thought. Whose? I turned up the wrong walkway and
Then I remembered. I looked at double-checked the address.
the numbers. Grafton Street. Was The building was a duplex, a
that where she lived now? My house with a bottom floor (A) and
breathing raced. a top (B). The siding was aluminum,
I caught the number 101 to and the balcony railing was wood
Newcastle, flashed my bus pass at painted brown. Snow had been
the driver. He was a fat mustached shoveled off the sidewalk and onto
guy with dark skin. “Uh, listen, I the lawn.
said. “I don’t know Newcastle very The entrance walkway led to a
well. Can you tell me when we door tucked between the side of the
reach Grafton Street?” house and a hedge. I hitched up my
“Sure.” His voice sounded like collar and strode down the concrete
gravel pouring out of a dump-truck. slope. My thumb landed on the
I nodded thank you and sat down white tab of the doorbell button.
in one of the empty old-folks seats My breath made a white haze be-
at the front. fore me. I had to look down at the
The bus rattled north into address book again to remember
Newcastle. I watched the traffic go why I was here.
by. My folks lived in Newcastle. Footsteps, the rapid-fire sound of
“Grafton Street,” the driver said. feet descending a staircase. Then a
Mom and Dad lived on Robert click of the deadbolt going back.
Street. I sat looking at the back of The door opened slightly.
the bus. Nobody was getting off. “Jason? Dammit—!”
The other four people on the bus I saw a sliver of darkness and a
stared at me like I was dogshit. pair of wide eyes. I slammed my
“This is Grafton Street,” the shoulder against the door and it
driver rumbled, and glared at me. burst from her hands.
I looked down. My address book. “You aren’t supposed to be
An address: Grafton. here,” the woman said. Her eyes
Jason. Trust me. The address above is were big beneath her straight
hers. blonde hair. She stumbled back
“Shit,” I muttered. Then, louder, against the steps behind her. They
 J.S.Lyster 53

were covered in worn green carpet. She looked me up and down an-
She fell and caught herself with her grily. “What do you want to tell
left arm. her?”
I knew her, but she didn’t matter; Suddenly I wasn’t sure what I
she wasn’t her. wanted to say. What words were
“Where is she?” I demanded. there? During that period in my
“Who?” She spoke in a voice I life-the one year we were to-
could barely hear. gether—I’d been whole, complete.
I closed my eyes and sucked I'd found that one who was meant
breath through my teeth. Struggled for me. I could look at her and see
for a name. Stephanie? Gwen. No, kids and grandkids, all the pieces
Gwen was my sister. Yvette? No, fitting together like a grand puzzle.
she was... And ever since we’d come apart,
“Her,” I said. “You know who I my life was out of my control.
mean. We were together for almost The words came out exactly as I
a year.” A book was in my hand. I had thought them, stream-of-con-
lifted it, saw a name. “Alison.” sciousness. I stood gasping, almost
The blonde’s eyes took in the sobbing, salt water stinging my
address book. “Oh. Her.” eyes.
“She’s here, isn’t she?” The blonde shook her head.
The woman’s mouth seemed to “There’s no such thing as the only
chew on something that tasted bad. one. You watch too much televi-
“No, she’s not.” Her throat twitched. sion.”
I felt like Iwas looking down on her “We were meant for each other;
from some great height, like she was don’t you understand that?”
a bug on the pavement. “She disagrees.” The woman’s
“Where is she?” I put a rough mouth pinched. “You want a fairy
timbre into my words. tale, that’s your problem. But phon-
“She moved,” the blonde blurted ing constantly all night, and yelling
out. “She moved away. I don’t threats from the front lawn, those
know where. France, maybe.” aren’t exactly tried-and-true wooing
“Don’t bullshit me; she’s here.” I techniques, especially after she says
stepped over her and bounded up it’s over. The balcony scene worked
the steps. The layout was what I for Romeo—but Juliet wanted him.
remembered, though the furniture Now you can get out or I’ll phone
had changed—I'd taken mine with the police.”
me. The couch was smaller than
mine, and with a dark flower print. SHE CALLED THE COPS ANYWAY.
White bookcases, a small portable They nailed me a block from the
Sanyo stereo with detached speakers. house, on my way back to the bus
“You aren’t supposed to be stop. One of them, a tubby guy in
here,” the blonde said. “There’s a sunglasses, came up to me and
court order against you.” Her jaw asked me my name, and when I
hardened. “Get out. Now.” told him he said I was under arrest
“Can you get a message to her?” for violation of an order of the
54 Corrective Surgery

court. His partner was bald and seems to be working.”

black. He opened the police car’s “I think it’s in my client’s best
rear door. interests,” Garfield piped up, “to
Tubby Cop put his big meaty remain in the community. He is
hand on the top of my head when clearly no danger to society; no-
I bent down, and pushed me into body was threatened in this inci-
the back. dent.”
They put me in a cell that stank The cop’s mouth formed a sneer.
to high heaven of cleaning prod- “Ms. Bly says Mr. Parsons practi-
ucts. An hour later, Dave Mitch- cally kicked her door in.”
elson and my lawyer, Mr. Garfield, “That’s not what I found in your
arrived. Another cop—a lady this report. Ms. Bly stated—”
time, small and plump, with her “Perry Mason,” I said casually,
dark hair tied in a bun behind her “shut up for once.”
head—led me to a tiny room with Garfield stared at me. “Mr. Par-
gray walls that looked like they had sons—”
been whitewashed in a previous Theld up my hand, snapping my
epoch. fingers out in front of him. The lady
“Don’t say anything,” was the cop opened her mouth to speak.
first thing Garfield told me. “Let me “My hack lawyer wasn’t paying
handle this.” attention,” I said. “You can’t hold
I shut up. The cop told them how me, and even you can figure out
I had gone to visit my ex and how why. The court order says I can’t go
the cops were notified that I had near my ex or her house, right?” I
“violated a court injunction forbid- grinned. “Well, it says nothing
ding the suspect from approaching about Ms. Bly or whatever the hell
within 200 meters of his former that blonde’s name is. I didn’t see
cohabitant or her domicile.” my ex, so how did I violate her
She was really gone. Some people dickhead court order? And her
say they knew when their mothers friend told me she doesn’t even live
or wives or husbands died—they felt there anymore, so how the hell was
it like a thread tearing apart be- I anywhere near my ex’s doe-mi-
tween them. I felt that too; a con- cile?”
nection between us was broken. The lady cop stared at me with a
Then I played back what the lady look that suggested she’d sat on a
cop had said. tack and didn’t know how to get up
She was still talking. “This is gracefully.
grounds for having Mr. Parsons re- David pursed his lips.
turned to minimum security.” Her Garfield’s gaze bounced around
gaze fixed on Dave the shrink. the room, me to Dave to the Ms.
“I don’t believe that would be Sunshine and back.
wise,” he said in his high-brow The shrink was the first to talk. “I
voice. “This treatment is experi- think we should finish this discus-
mental, but for the most part it sion without Mr. Parsons here.”
 J.S. Lyster 55

“Hey, you can’t put me back ina torn out near the front. I didn’t re-
cell.” member doing that; but lately I
The cop got up and went to the didn’t remember a lot of things.
door. The two constables who Dave gave me a lift back down-
brought me in stood outside, and town, to my apartment building.
they made it clear that, yes, they “You'll be all right?” he asked.
could put me back in a box. “Yeah, sure.”
But ten minutes later I was out. “Good,” he smiled. “I'll see you
The lady cop did the talking. next week.” His car pulled away
“We've decided that you’re right. from the curb.
There isn’t any point in holding She was gone. I could feel it now.
you.” There was a hollow place in me.
Dave and Garfield led me to the But when I turned, I saw her half
front desk and told me to sign for a block away. Short dark hair, her
my coat and a little red book they’d body clad in a thick blue parka,
found in my pocket. I picked up the jeans, black boots. Casually walking
book, wondering why the hell I’'d away. I opened my mouth to yell,
brought it with me. I opened it and to call her back.
twigged that it was my address My tongue stalled. I couldn’t re-
book. A couple of pages had been member her name.

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 Technology may change, but an age-old problem remains—
What happens when an innocent man is convicted...
and nobody cares?

Squat
Donna McMahon

é| sually ’m proud of my job and I don’t let any crap worry

me. When I served with the Peacekeepers in Peru and
Estonia, I saw a lot worse. But Friday morning as I watched the
Special Duty guy, Kahlifa, set the magnetic brakes on the gurney
and check the prisoner’s restraints, I felt something inside me
snap. I shoved my clammy hands roughly into my pockets and
swallowed hard, telling myself it was just after-effects of all the
meds during quarantine before I shipped up to orbit.
Kahlifa’s gloved fingers searched the prisoner’s thin brown wrist, look-
ing for a good vein for the IV needle. Behind him a sweaty saline bag hung
from the IV tree, transparent tubing snaking down from it. In a couple of
minutes, Kahlifa would take hold of that tube and inject it with sodium
pentathol, then with the lethal stuff.
I didn’t want to watch until I had to, so I stared at the name tag on the
prisoner’s coveralls (“Pajit”), but my gaze strayed to his face. His eyes were
open, giant drug-glazed pupils staring up. He looked about fourteen, I re-
alized with sick shock. He blinked, and for a second I was back in the Bloor
Street copshop watching Jimmy emerge shame-faced from the holding area
into the brightly lit waiting room, blinking, trying to hold himself tall, too
scared and ashamed to meet his father’s eyes. My stomach churned.
“No!” I said suddenly.
Kahlifa turned to look at me, and for a second I thought his impenetrable
Arab face might be showing surprise behind the surgical mask. That’s
another dicking regulation, by the way. There’s nothing medical about
 Donna McMahon 57

executions—I figure the masks are control rooms, tech junctions, crew
for us to hide behind. Like a death quarters, and spoke access. Total
squad. monotony. The only way you can
Kahlifa glanced at the prisoner, tell the doors apart is to read the
then nodded towards the door, but signs. Except...
I didn’t want a conference. I pulled My head whipped around, I
off my mask and hurled it. missed a step and plowed into a
“I’m not witnessing this,” I said bulkhead with my shoulder, skid-
through a tight throat. “Find some- ded to a stop, and then backtracked
body else.” to the door of the Legal Office.
I wanted to slam my way out, but Since my last shift, an ornate sign
the big air-seal doors on space sta- had been painted on it with fancy
tions don’t slam. I punched the re- engraving script.
lease lever and hauled at the door
too hard, losing my balance and BJ. Quinn, LL.D.
tripping over the sill. ?d only been Please present your card to the Clerk
back a few days after a year dirtside of the Chambers for an appointment
and I was still getting my low-grav-
ity reflexes back. I studied it with awe and not just
Mad at myself and Kahlifa and for its up-your-regs boldness. I al-
everybody else, I started jogging ways admire guys with talent-I’m
anti-spinward along Corridor One, just dead average at everything.
compensating automatically for the Then an idea hit me and I pressed
weird effects caused by one-quarter the buzzer.
gee of inertial pull along the outer “Not in!” boomed a voice, dis-
edge of the station. Running is easy tantly audible even through the
once your eyes and inner ear get thick door.
used to it—the real trick is stopping “It’s Olmstead,” I shouted.
your mass with limited traction, es- “Here on business?”
pecially on the anti-spinward or “Nope,” I lied.
downhill slope. It’s kind of like ice “Oh. Very well. Enter.”
skating inside a big tire. I punched the release and the
I fought back a sudden panicky door swung slowly open, revealing
sense of being trapped. It hits all of a large man sandwiched behind a
us sometimes when we start think- small plastiche desk littered with
ing there’s nowhere to go. I couldn’t clipboards and datadisks. Plastiche,
face reporting back to my shift. I by the way, is a vegetable-based
wasn’t ready to sleep in my cube or gloop that’s extruded into molds
eat in the mess, so that left the gym, and hardens instantly in a vacuum.
where I could beat on something It looks like old chewing gum under
until I felt better. fluorescent lights and it feels like
And it didn’t matter which way I slimy marble. Ben hadn’t changed
went, I’d get there. Corridor One much since I’d last seen him.
circles the outside of the whole Maybe a little less hair up top, a
wheel-shaped station, accessing little more gray in his non-regula-
58 Squat

tion beard, and a few extra pounds “Playing hooky?”

on his paunch. He’s way over the “Pulled witness duty.”
weight limit for station personnel, “Ah. Pajit.” Ben dropped thejo-
but the consortium has a hard time vial act and looked at me sympa-
finding qualified lawyers who’ll thetically. “Sure about that dram?”
spend a year on a prison space sta- “Maybe later. Look, what the
tion. Ben gets away with a lot. hell’s that kid doing here? He looks
He reached over and offered his about fourteen.”
hand without standing up. “I don’t send them up here,” ob-
“Commiserations, old man. I see served Ben coolly, and I realized
we have our Canadian back on the that my voice had come out too
Mount.” harsh. Like I was blaming him.
It was always strange to hear that I tried to unclench my hands and
deep, polished English voice com- relax.
ing out ofa slob. I shook Ben’s hand “Sorry, Ben—I’m carrying some
and made myself grin. “I see they’re voltage.”
still scraping the bottom of the legal He shrugged and stared down
barrel.” into his ’shine.
“The legal bottle, don’t you “I doubt there’d be many crimi-
mean?” He gestured with his coffee nal lawyers if we had to witness the
mug. “Care for a dram?” consequences of our actions,” he
I shook my head and grabbed the said with sudden bitterness, and I
visitor’s chair. Most guys put up realized suddenly that he was quite
landscapes on the walls to make the drunk.
rooms seem bigger, but Ben has “Yeah, well, I refused.”
flimsies of floor-to-ceiling book- He frowned up at me for a sec-
cases packed with old books. I ond, then I saw understanding
could almost smell the dust. And dawn. His eyebrows rose.
Ben’s chairs had been detached “I could have sworn I heard you
from their floor bolts, rigged to tilt say ‘refused.’ ”
backwards, and upholstered with “Yeah,” I said defensively, trying
vandalized bedding. All against not to feel like an idiot. This was
regs, of course. I sat back and raised going to buy me trouble I didn’t
my feet onto his desk with a satis- even want to think about yet. “It
fying thump. What we all wouldn’t wasn’t right!”
give to do this in the main control “‘Right?? What a quaintly Kant-
room... ian notion to issue forth from a cog
“I trust you won’t mind if I top in the great wheel of incarceration.”
mine up,” said Ben, reaching into I don’t always understand Ben,
his desk drawer. Booze is against but I know when I’m being sneered
regs, too, but we make “Mountain at, and it must have showed on my
’shine” and Ben’s into it all the time. face. Ben waved a conciliatory
That’s probably why he’s here in- hand at me.
stead of in some high-priced firm “Sorry, Mike. So I assume you're
planetside. here to ask me about Pajit.”
 Donna McMahon 59

I nodded. Ben sighed and in Beijing had the idea of transfer-

reached for his antique keyboard. ring him here. He was sent up five
Yeah, keyboard. Montgolfier Sta- months ago.”
tion was knocked together a decade He paused for a long swig from
ago from old industrial overstock his mug.
and army surplus—cheap antiques. “Meanwhile, relatives of the vic-
I try not to think about it too much. tims appealed Pajit’s sentence in
Ben’s eyes flicked to the ancient Chinese court, demanding the
tube monitor that takes up half his death penalty. They won, but then
desk, but I didn’t think he really had to apply to International Court,
needed to look at the records. He which presides over Montgolfier
just does it for show. Station. International Court reluc-
“Manuel Pajit. Wharf rat from tantly agreed, mostly I think be-
Bangkok. He’s a squat, of course, cause they didn’t want the expense
but independent cargo carriers hire of contesting the case. Hence, our
a lot of illegals. Pajit was arrested in execution order.
Hong Kong for the rape and mur- “Now, this is where our case be-
der of two boys in different ports. comes interesting.” Ben’s voice
Young cretin claimed to be eigh- took on dramatic relish. “Police in
teen, but I very much doubt it. He Panama became interested in one
was tried in adult court and con- of Pajit’s erstwhile crewmates. Ear-
victed in short order since he lier this month, they hauled him in
couldn’t afford a live lawyer. He and thanks to their gentle persua-
received a twenty-five-year sen- sions, he confessed to several mur-
tence.” ders, including those that Pajit was
“So what’s he doing here?” I in- convicted of.”
terrupted. Most of our inmates are “Hold, it,” I said, startled. “Are
politicals—terrorists, counter-intelli- you telling me that Pajit’s inno-
gence, ex-government and corpo- cent?”
rate execs mainly, shipped up for “It would certainly appear so.”
low-gravity manufacturing work. For a second I just stared at him.
Governments pay to get rid of them “But we nearly killed him!”
and the consortium gets free labor. Ben gave a genial shrug.
I hear there’s dirtside lawyers work- “It’s a question of process, Mike.
ing on appeals and more appeals An execution order has gone
but nobody’s left here yet. Alive, through. To cancel it, a stay must be
that is. filed via Panama, China and Inter-
“Patience, Mike, I’m giving you national Court. Pajit, of course, has
background. Most nations extradite no country to initiate legal action on
foreign criminals if they can, but his behalf. Which leaves it in the
Pajit is a third-generation refugee— hands of your local spinning char-
no citizenship—so China was stuck ity barrister. I’m putting together
with him. Then a last-minute slot the formware for a stay and full
opened up in their Montgolfier pardon, but the backlog of Interna-
quota and some bright bureaucrat tional cases is immense, even for
60 Squat

items classified as urgent.” and officials were evil. People just

“That’s insane! Surely you can do followed goddamned regs and then
something—pull strings!” let evil happen while we all sat on
“I think you’d be more comfort- our goddamned hands!”
able sitting, old man,” said Ben qui- I had to stop because I realized
etly, and I realized that I was that I was close to breaking down.
standing up with both fists I’ve been doing that lately. Remem-
clenched. I controlled myself with bering too much about Peru, I
effort and sat. guess. Ben was giving me a strange
Ben leaned forward, put his el- look so I tried to pull myself to-
bows on the desk and steepled his gether.
fingers. “You can’t fix the world, Mike.”
“I appreciate your indignation, “I’m not trying to. I can’t even do
but let us for a moment discuss re- the right thing half the time. But I
ality. I’m the sole official legal coun- can stop from doing wrong things
sel for over two hundred prisoners when I know they’re wrong.”
whose jurisdictional and legal status Ben opened his desk drawer
on this geosynchronous gulag is so again, then said acidly: “I quit try-
complicated that nobody, including ing a long time ago, old man. I’m
me, understands it. It takes me days just one of the evil minions of the
just to wade through the Byzantine law, and a contributor to countless
mess of international records. Fur- horrors.”
thermore, I have no ‘pull.’ land my There was a brittle silence be-
antique amanuensis are at the very tween us as he poured from the
nadir of the legal food chain. With flask with the studied carefulness of
enormous effort, I might get a par- someone who’s very drunk. I sat
don through quickly, but not there fighting for calm. I’'d never
quickly enough.” intended to get so upset about Pajit,
He paused, then added causti- but when I thought back on him
cally, “And, between you and me, lying on that gurney I knew I
why should I?” couldn’t let it go. I took a deep
“Because he’s not guilty!” I breath and tried to speak levelly.
snapped, furious at his indifference. “Look, you said you needed time.
Ben shrugged. How much?”
“A lethal injection is more mer- Ben sighed and tugged at his
ciful than life as a squat, or a sen- beard. “A week. Two would be bet-
tence of involuntary buggery up ter.”
here, for that matter.” “If I buy you that time, will you
“So we should Kill him?” My do it?”
hands clenched the padded chair as “You won’t get the time, Mike.”
I fought for words. “Look, I know “Look, Kahlifa’s the only guy on
the law doesn’t care what’s right or this shift who’s rated to do execu-
wrong, just what’s legal. I’ve seen tions, and UN regs say he has to
how it works, Ben. All those people have a witness. I know him; he’ll
didn’t die in Peru because soldiers follow regs.”
 Donna McMahon 61

“True, but there are plenty of dumped several pats of butter into
men on this station who want to a steaming bowl of oatmeal, then
earn a witnessing bonus.” sprinkled it with salt and pepper,
“That’s my problem. Will you do and started opening shrinkpacks of
it?” syrup. I stared. I’d forgotten about
“Damnation!” he growled, but I his breakfasts. He caught my look.
heard a trace of amusement in his “So what’s it to you, Olmstead? I
voice and I knew I had him. I suppose you still eat fried pig
leaned forward. slices?”
“Just say yes, Ben.” “Uh...yeah.”
He sighed heavily. He snapped back the ZG lid on
“Heaven defend me from ideal- his cup and took a swig of coffee. I
ists and Canadians.” expected him to start giving me
“Thanks.” hell, but he surprised me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I CHECKED THE TIME AFTER I LEFT “What do you mean?”
Ben’s office. Five twenty. “D” watch “Something’s been burning you
ended at oh six hundred and my ever since you came up. How’s
boss came on duty at “A” watch. Jimmy?”
He’d want to chew me out, so why “Fine.”
wait for an invitation? Besides, I “Uh huh.”
needed to talk to him. He ate in silence while I sat. I
When Geir Eldjarnsson walked knew this tactic. He’d wait me out
in carrying his breakfast tray, I had until I told him something. Well,
my butt planted in the regulation Geir had kids, too. I shifted awk-
uncomfortable plastiche visitor’s wardly.
chair in the office. During C/D “Last month I got one of those
watch, I sit in the uncomfortable four a.m. calls—the kind other par-
boss’ chair behind the desk since ents get. ‘Come down and post
I’m C/D watch supervisor. During bail.’ I thought Jimmy was sleeping
A/B, that chair is Geir’s because at a friend’s place for the weekend.
he’s the station commander. I just Stupid, eh? Turns out they were out
hoped I'd be sitting back there at riding the T-line for drips, trips and
eighteen hundred hours. The con- break-ins. He promised it wouldn’t
sortium doesn’t like people who happen again, but hell, he’s fifteen
accept an assignment and then cop and I’m gone for another year...”
out. I risked looking over. Geir’s face
Compared to Ben’s office, ours is was somber.
spartan. The only personal touch is “Sorry to hear that, Mike. I worry
the family pictures. On the spinside about mine when I’m up here, too.”
bulkhead I'd posted flimsies of “Yeah.”
Jimmy, my mom, and my wife Ash, Geir studied me with shrewd
who died in the ’28 pandemic. The blue eyes. He has white-blond hair
other wall is for Geir’s wife and kids and an angelic face that makes him
in Reykjavik. Geir ignored me and look much younger than forty, but
62 Squat

he’s no fool and he’s tough. He was killing most of the viral shits we got
an officer in the Peacekeepers for up here. But Pajit is different.”
fourteen years. Geir made a sour face.
“The med staff recommended “Different, yeah, he’s a god-
you for another six months down- damned nightmare and I'll be glad
time. What the hell are you doing to get rid of him. He’s useless up
back?” here. No skills. And too young.
“Shit! I thought medical files Every horny con has been shagging
were confidential!” him. We’ve had to put him in soli-
“Read your contract.” tary twice to heal up.”
I hunched my shoulders uncom- “Ben says it’s a false conviction.”
fortably. “T heard.”
“Med leave is half pay. Can’t af- “So what’re you doing about it?”
ford it.” Geir glared at me.
“Maybe you can’t afford not to.” “I protested when he was sent up
I didn’t answer. Geir sighed. and I protested the execution order.
“Look, Mike, after Idemobbed I HQ took it ‘under advisement.’ So
got a real case of the PTs. I was I tried climbing rank and I was told
smooth all those years under fire, flat to shut up. That’s all I can do.”
but back home I started getting “You could refuse.”
nightmares, flashbacks—everything. “On what grounds?”
Scared hell out of my family. I “I don’t know! Something!”
ended up bunking in the Post “Uh huh.” He drummed on his
Trauma ward for five months.” coffee mug. “We’re not breaking
“I didn’t know,” I said, startled. UN rules and there’s no risk to the
Geir always seemed so much in safety of station personnel, so that’s
control. it. And you know it. So you’re ask-
“[’m just saying maybe you ing me to put my ass on the line,
should try it.” aren’t you?”
“Tl be okay,” I told him, stub- I nodded, uncomfortably aware
bornly. “Anyway, I’m talking to of Geir’s daughters smiling down
somebody. Twice a week. I’m fine.” from the wall. Things are even
“T hope so. I can’t afford a case of tougher in Europe these days than
PTs up here, Mike, especially a Canada, especially for vets. Hell,
watch boss. I’m telling you straight every guy up here was desperate to
that if you give me headaches, Pll keep his job. Geir seemed to read
replace you in mid-shift and you'll my mind.
have to eat the performance fines.” “And do I tell the crew to disobey
“I’m okay,” I repeated, trying to too, maybe get fired?”
sound convincing. I leaned back in “But damn it, Ben says it’s just a
the chair, wishing it tilted like Ben’s. matter of time until the pardon
Geir pushed aside his tray. comes through!”
“So you just walked out on wit- “IT sat on the order for two
ness duty.” goddamned weeks but HQ says I
“Look, I don’t have a problem face discipline if I delay any
 Donna McMahon’ 63

longer.” groaned. “I don’t want to think

“But what happens when the par- about it. Anyway, you’d never pull
don comes in and he’s already it off. You’d need everybody, includ-
dead!” ing Kahlifa.”
“Not much. He’s just a squat, and “T can do that,” I said, faking con-
anyway those ’crats downstairs pass fidence I didn’t feel. I rose and
the buck at escape velocity.” Geir’s headed for the door. Geir’s voice
voice was bitter. “They’ll all be came from behind me.
genuinely sorry for the fuck up but “Pajit’s re-scheduled for oh six
it really wasn’t their job and they hundred tomorrow. You’ve got
couldn’t do anything about it.” until then.”
“Geir, that’s just what you’re say-
ing.” I HATE PITCHING. I GOT AJOB AS A
Geir’s face went rigid, and he salesman once, and didn’t last three
glared at me. When he spoke, his weeks. But I couldn’t see any
voice was tight with fury. choice. So I started with the guys
“T’m not going to be your god- who’d just come off D shift and
damned martyr, Olmstead! If were eating in the mess.
you’re so big on morals you can They surprised me. At first they
wave your own balls in the wind.” didn’t say much, but when I ex-
I crossed my arms, face burning, plained what Ben said about Pajit
and looked away for a few seconds being innocent, they all began talk-
while I calmed down. ing about the asshole ’crats down-
“Look, I’m sorry,” I managed fi- stairs and how we’d be the ones to
nally. “It’s just...” catch the blame for the kid’s death,
But I couldn’t find any words. not them. After a bit they even got
What the hell was my problem any- enthusiastic. Face it, there’s not
way? I heard a squeal of plastiche much to do up here. This could be
as Geir leaned back in his chair, the biggest event since the ’31 riot.
locking his hands behind his head. I caught some other guys on coffee
There was a long silence. break and then, at twelve hundred
“How many of the guys are talk- hours, the watch changeover. By
ing like this, Mike?” he asked at last. twelve-thirty I figured I could count
“Lots,” I lied. “They feel the on seventeen out of twenty crew,
same.” and two would cave in with enough
Geir sighed. pressure. I’d provide the pressure if
“Look, I don’t want to see the kid I had to.
dead either. But I’m not going to That left Kahlifa, our “Special
take a dry dive. They'll bust you Duty” guy. Executioners get a bo-
and me and everyone else down the nus, but the consortium still has
line until one guy says yes.” trouble finding volunteers. For one
I thought it over. thing, everybody tends to avoid the
“What if I get unanimous sup- Special Duty guy—he’s kind of a
port?” social leper. But I couldn’t put off
“A job action? Shit!” Geir talking to Kahlifa any longer, so I
64 Squat

went to his bunk and buzzed. “With your support I can. I need
I don’t know what I was expect- everyone on the station.”
ing, but what I found wasn’t it. “To the contrary,” he pointed
Kahlifa sat cross-legged on his bed out. “You do not need me. I cannot
wearing an embroidered Moroccan carry out an execution without a
cap and a bright blue caftan, play- legal witness.”
ing chess against the computer. “We all have to stand together,”
He’d used part of his precious five- I said desperately, aware that we
kilo baggage allowance to bring up treated Kahlifa like an outcast. He
a colorful striped floor mat and one didn’t owe us anything. “Look,” I
of those little stools with a Koran on tried, “This is an injustice. Surely
it. One wall was covered with fam- you don’t want to see an innocent
ily pictures. I pulled down the drop man die.”
seat and squeezed my knees into He shrugged.
the space between the seat and the “Inshallah. God is just. If He wills,
bed. Before I could say anything he the boy will not die.”
pulled out a thermal flask of coffee, “So it’s not our problem?” I
so I had to sit there and drink with glared at him with open fury, but he
him and try to make small talk. Not just shrugged again.
easy. There’s no weather on the “Tm sure the consortium appre-
Mount and I’m sick of jokes about ciates your loyalty,” I told him bit-
Toronto’s. terly, and started to get up.
I’d used my supervisor clearance “Mr. Olmstead, have you talked
to peek at his file and found to my to Pajit?”
surprise that Kahlifa was only I stopped, suddenly speechless.
thirty-seven—five years younger Hell, Ihadn’t even thought about it.
than me. It was his craggy brown And right now that kid was waiting
weather-seamed face that made to face his second execution. Shit.
him look like he’d spent decades “T will,” I managed finally. I tried
trekking through the desert. And to think of something more to say
maybe he had. He’d served three but couldn’t.
hitches in the Moroccan army and Kahlifa had turned his attention
one in the Peacekeepers. back to the chess game, and he
Finally I figured I could get down added in a mild, almost absent
to it, so I gave him my pitch and tone:
then waited a long uncomfortable “IT wonder, who are you doing
minute, fighting back a sinking this for? A boy you do not know?
sense of futility. Icouldn’t read any Or yourself?”
expression in his dark eyes, and my I felt a sudden violent urge to hit
words sounded awkward and un- him, and just barely held my self
convincing, even to me. control.
“This is very interesting, Mr. “I’m not the one who’s going to
Olmstead, but I do not think you die!” I snapped, and strode out into
will succeed,” he said finally in his the corridor, where I stood leaning
formal, heavily accented English. against the bulkhead, shaking.
 Donna McMahon’ 65

Jesus, I’d fucked that up. Pd said “Well, it would mean something
all the wrong things and then nearly to me.”
assaulted another crew member. If That got to him—I saw a flash of
I had, Geir would ship me down on anger and he looked up.
the next shuttle. “You be leaving this shithole. I be
And maybe he should, maybe I fucked in the ass.”
was cracking up. I’d seen guys “If you’re pardoned, you leave,”
come apart in the station before. I said even as the sinking realization
Despite all the screenings, there’s dawned that I hadn’t thought this
always a few who can’t take it. But through.
this was my fifth tour. I should be “No squat don’t leave.”
fine. I just needed more sleep. Ad- He had a point. Montgolfier is a
justing to the station always takes a profit operation and shuttle pay-
week or two. Then Id be okay. loads cost. I couldn’t see anybody
I took lots of long deep breaths, footing the bill for a squat, pardon
then straightened up and headed or no pardon. I stood there speech-
for Solitary on Level 2, my stomach less, feeling like the world’s biggest
churning queasily with guilt. Kah- asshole. I hadn’t even thought
lifa had been right, damn him. I had about what would happen to the
to talk to the kid. kid if he lived.
At close range, Pajit was a skinny That’s when I noticed that his fin-
mongrel, all eyes and elbows and gernails were bitten back to the
sullen scowl, his brown face domi- quick. I looked higher and saw him
nated by a bony nose and stained, chewing his lip, looking just like
crooked teeth. Scars and bruises Jimmy does when he’s trying not to
underlay the dark stubble on his cry. Abruptly I thought: this boy is
scalp. He huddled defensively on somebody’s son.
the bunk as I swung the door open. “We'll find a way to get you
He hadn’t been sleeping. He down.”
looked up at me like a trapped ani- “Bullshit!” His voice cracked.
mal as I halted with my arms I leaned forward to pat his shoul-
crossed, wishing there was a seat. der and he flinched violently.
I knew his English wasn’t good, Wrong move. I backed off, straight-
so I kept it simple, explaining that ened, and put on my best Sergeant’s
we hoped to delay the execution voice.
until his pardon went through. He “Listen up, mister!”
just glowered down at his hands. Pajit was startled into glancing at
“You understand?” I tried. me, mouth slightly agape.
uSt. ‘T’m giving you orders, and you're
“We’re trying to keep you alive. going to follow them! You have three
Not killed,” I said. orders.”
No response. I rapped one finger across my
“Doesn’t that mean anything to alm.
you?” “One. You'll need a job. Decide
“Nyet.” what kind of job you want and what
66 Squat

you need to get it.” Pajit had pulled hunched forward and ran my hand
his mouth shut, but he seemed miserably across my stubbly station
stunned. I don’t imagine he’d had cut. Finally I shrugged.
any experience with career counsel- “T think I fucked up.”
ing military style. I rapped two fin- Geir glared at me some more
gers on my palm. from the screen.
“Two. You need education. “Well, you damn well better fix
School. Reading and writing. There it, Olmstead. You tell the kid you
are lessons on the net. I'll pay for were wrong, and you do it now. He
the net time.” deserves that.”
That, at least, Iknew I could do. The screen blanked. I was turn-
“Three. Exercise.” I mimed ing away when it flashed on again.
weight-lifting. “Up here you lose “And you’ve got twenty-four
your muscles fast. You have to ex- hours to call and book a psych ap-
ercise. Now, you got that?” pointment or I’m flagging you for a
He blinked. medical review. Don’t make me do
“Understand?” I bellowed. it!”
“Yeah.” The screen blanked again and
“Okay,” I said. “Get to work.” stayed dark, and I stared at it, feel-
I kept up that false air of author- ing wretched and furious. When I
ity all the way back to my cabin, thought about facing Pajit again, I
then I sat down on the bunk and wanted to puke. It would be like
put my head in my hands. I felt sick. kicking one of those mangy little
What in the hell had I just prom- street dogs in Lima. Funny, I’d
ised? I had no reason to believe that learned to shoot at armed children,
I could arrange any of it. Me and but I never could get myself to
my goddamned mouth. Geir was shoot those dogs.
going to erupt. Well, I couldn’t do it now. Not
He did. yet.
“You said what?” His pixeled im- I stripped off, palmed the light
age stared incredulously from my panel, and pulled the sheet over
screen. “That’s bullshit! There isn’t me, but my mind raced in loops,
a country in the world that accepts trying to think of some way to get
squats. He isn’t even qualified for a Pajit off the station. Then the flash-
UN refugee camp.” backs from Peru started, and when
“Maybe someone could sponsor I shoved those down I found myself
him as an immigrant,” I suggested remembering the look I’d seen on
weakly. Jimmy’s face when he came home
“For Christsakes, take on some and found his dad in bed crying at
gees, Mike! Look, the kid will find four in the afternoon. I finally
a nice big boyfriend and he’ll be dozed off for a few minutes and
okay. But you—you’re way out of woke up tangled, sweaty and gasp-
line. What in the hell was going ing, with the walls closing in around
through your head?” me. The techs tell us that the air cir-
I was out of smart answers. I culation on the Mount is fine, but
 Donna McMahon’ 67

most of us get the phobes anyway, never did.”

and a few even jam doors open “T take it you didn’t consider
while they sleep. Suffocation is one that?”
of our two constant nightmares—the I shook my head, feeling stupid.
other is explosive decompression. “And Geir...”
I hit the lights and sat up. I “Not his problem.” It came out
needed a drink. more savagely than I had intended
Luckily Ben was still awake and and I felt ashamed. I would have
he invited me to his cabin. When I done the same in Geir’s shoes. I
got there, I peered around curi- asked: “You know anything about
ously. His walls were postered with immigration?”
paintings and sculptures; famous Ben leaned back against the wall,
ones probably. Clothes were tossed and raised an eyebrow.
on the floor and the unmade bed. “Not a great deal, old man, but
Ben still wore his standard issue enough to tell you that his only
jumpsuit, very rumpled and hope would be a sponsorship and
stretched tight across the stomach. that is, to understate the case, un-
He didn’t seem any more drunk likely. I don’t know about Canada,
than earlier, but it was always hard but E.U. sponsors have to guaran-
to tell. tee financial support for ten years,
“About that drink...” I said. and they’re liable for fines and legal
He pulled open a drawer under penalties if he gets in any trouble.
his bunk and took out a plastiche And the process, even by legal stan-
flask. I opened it and sniffed. It dards, is complicated, expensive,
smelled like schnapps and indus- and time consuming. I can’t imag-
trial waste. I took a large burning ine that anyone would go through
swallow and passed it back. Ben it, never mind for a squat they’d
lifted the flask ceremoniously. never met.”
“To the real Scottish mothers’ I clenched the flask and winced,
milk, nectar of the gods, and may but forced the words out anyway.
we taste it again soon,” he intoned, “What if I did it? Could you help
then drank. me?”
I sank into the drop seat, eyes Ben stared at me.
watering, trying to suppress a cough “I do believe you’ve had too
but savoring the wonderful glow in much, Mike. Or maybe not
my stomach that I'd pay like hell for enough.”
in a few hours. I didn’t care. I drank I glared back at him. “What the
some more. hell else am I supposed to do, Ben?
“To what do I owe the honor of I started this whole damned thing
this visit?” and by God I have to finish it.”
“Pajit.” “Mike, do you know exactly
“Ah. Your campaign not going what sort of expense I’m talking
well?” about here?”
“If he doesn’t get death, he gets I shook my head miserably, and
a lifetime in orbit for something he gota slight dizzy sensation from the
68 Squat

Coriolis force. The alcohol on an you, I am a callous son of a bitch, a

empty stomach was hitting me vicious bastard, and a miserable
hard. Then Ben gave me a cost es- failure. I like to think it gives me
timate and I got really dizzy. something in common with my cli-
“Do you have that much?” ents.”
“Hell, no,” I said, fighting down The tone of Ben’s voice chilled
panic. “But I can find it. I’ve been me. Under his contrived good hu-
broke before.” But not at my age, mor was an edge of anger so intense
with a mother and son to support. that I found myself leaning away
And I couldn’t expect them to un- from him.
derstand, especially Jimmy. I “You’re a good lawyer,” I said
drained the flask. awkwardly.
“The formware sometimes takes He snorted.
years.” “Tl let you in on a secret, Mike.
“Years?” I’m not that good. And I don’t ac-
“°Fraid so.” Ben studied me for a tually care about these pathetic
little while, then said quietly: sods.”
“Drop it, Mike.” He must have seen something in
“1 can’t.” my face and realized that he’d gone
“Yes, you can. Look, consider too far. Abruptly he changed the
this. For the first time in Pajit’s life subject.
he’s got enough food, clothes, meds “Look, I'll give you the name of
and even net access. He won’t get a good immigration lawyer, but for
maimed in a cargo carrier or pick what it’s worth, I think it’s lunacy.
up any of the nasty viruses running Leave the poor bastard alone.”
through the squats. Ironic, isn’t it? I think it was his mocking tone
We bring the masterminds of hu- that sparked my temper. I stood
man atrocity to our hotel, while abruptly, spitting words at him.
their victims die in the dirt.” “You know what I hate, Ben—it’s
I didn’t bother answering. I’d the way you sit around and play the
heard it before. Great Cynic. Nothing’s worth try-
“So why are you doing this, ing, nothing’s worth doing, nothing
Mike? Surely you Canucks aren’t will work. And you snipe at any-
really that nice?” body who tries. You and your fuck-
It must have been the booze that ing sophistication, and your cynical
made me try to answer. horseshit!”
“Ben, it’s... You don’t have any I threw the flask against the wall.
kids, do you?” It bounced and rebounded, nar-
“T have two.” rowly missing me. I saw Ben flinch,
“Yeah?” I was startled. He had but his face had gone quite blank.
no pics of family—never mentioned “Well, I’m going to go out and do
any. “Then maybe you know about something stupid, and when I fail
how kids...well, change you.” you can sit there all smug, laughing
“T doubt it,” he said icily. “As my because you were right. But at least
ex-wife would be happy to inform I'll be able to look myself in the
 Donna McMahon 69

mirror. ll be someone my kid can restraints bolted to the metal frame

be proud of. And you'll still be of the gurney. I found myself star-
drunk and miserable and alone.” ing at them. Thinking about that
kid’s skinny wrists.
AT EIGHTEEN HUNDRED HOURS I But I had a son already and re-
staggered on duty with a crashing sponsibilities. If I lost my job, his
hangover. I took a spell at the moni- future might go with it. I owed
tors—a real snore job where we Jimmy. And I owed him to be a
watch a bank of flatscreens scan- good father, to do the right thing. I
ning randomly through all the looked at my hands. I couldn’t hold
prison levels of the station, trying to them steady.
catch something that computer sur- I turned around and went to the
veillance would miss—but I couldn’t mess. Geir was there eating dinner.
concentrate at all. I tried drinking I asked him to meet me in the of-
coffee, then had to run out and fice, then I waited until the door
puke it up. closed behind us.
When I got back, Themba came “Book me down,” I said.
to talk to me. He’s southern Afri- He looked at me a long time.
can, very black, with an infectious Angry. Disappointed.
white-toothed grin. But he wasn’t “You sure?”
smiling this time. “Like you said, you can’t afford
“Mike, you sick?” the PTs. Station’s short enough on
“Went drinking with Ben. Guess crew already.”
I’m out of practice.” There was a long pause, then he
“Ah.” There was relief in Them- cleared his throat.
ba’s eyes. That was a better reason “Okay. Next shuttle is at oh five
for my shakes than the one he’d twenty. I'll check the payload and
been thinking of. His habitual grin see if] can get you on. No baggage,
reappeared. “I think maybe you go though.”
back to bed, get up later. We cover “Right,” I said. I swallowed. “Uh,
for you, no sweat.” look, just as a favor, don’t let on that
It was a good offer, but I fought I’m shipping out, okay? I’d like the
down a burning flash of humilia- guys to find out after I’m gone.”
tion. I’d never sicked out on my He nodded shortly.
watch before. I couldn’t trust my “Tl do what I can.”
voice, so I nodded, then got up and Back in my quarters I fought
left, not looking at the others, but down waves of nausea and then
feeling their eyes on my back. panic. I wanted to call Geir back,
On the way to my quarters I tell him to cancel the shuttle, I’d
passed Sickbay, and on a sudden stay. Hell, Toronto was full of guys
impulse I went in. The gurney like me sleeping twelve-to-a-room
stood in the middle of the room, in welfare shelters. But ’d commit-
sheets folded neatly on top, with the ted myself now. I had to see it
IV tree beside it. It looked com- through.
pletely benign, except for the There was no point trying to
70 Squat

sleep, so I plugged into entertain- my breath with relief. I entered a

ment vids. I don’t remember any of series of special overrides. They’d
them. I thought about calling home, be automatically canceled at the
but calls were expensive and they start of the next watch, but my plan
wouldn’t change anything. I’d face shouldn’t take that long.
my family later. Next I let myself into the security
Just before oh four hundred, I sector on Level Two using Them-
went down to the mess and caught ba’s dogtags. Pajit was awake in the
Themba on his break. He was alone solitary cell, watching the
like I'd hoped for—usually he took plexiglass-armored screen on the
his break with me. I told him I was wall. English lessons. Somehow I
feeling better and I’d help him load felt immensely relieved. Maybe
the shuttle. He looked so pleased there was hope for him. When I
and relieved that I felt like an utter ordered him into wrist restraints he
shit as I fetched a coffee for him and looked frightened, though he tried
carefully slipped a knock-out into it. to hide it behind a scowl. Fortu-
I wasn’t sure what would happen, nately he didn’t ask questions. I
but we just talked for a bit, then he didn’t have time to explain.
got a strange look on his face, lay My overrides worked. Pajit’s im-
his head down on the table and plant alarm failed to go off when we
started snoring. I jumped up and left Solitary. But that was the last
checked the corridor, then grabbed thing that went according to plan.
Themba under his shoulders and The crew locker room should
dragged his slumped body, grateful have been empty, but when I
for the slight advantage of low grav. walked in herding Pajit in front of
It couldn’t have taken more than me there was somebody standing
fifteen or twenty seconds to haul with his back turned. I froze, swear-
him to the nearest empty cube, but ing silently to myself. I didn’t have
it seemed longer, especially the last a “Plan B.” Before I could back up,
part where his heels caught on the he turned around. It was Kahlifa.
lip of the pressure door. I finished He frowned at Pajit and then me,
by taking his dog tags. and I heard my heart pounding in
My next stop was the deserted my ears.
backup command center, where I “This is a secure area.”
plugged my dogtags into the com- “I’m taking him to the shuttle
mand panel and logged on with my bay,” I said gruffly, trying to keep
passcode. New guys often expect my face blank. “His pardon came
retinal scans or voice recognition, through. He’s going back.”
but our antiques work okay. My It was a stupid lie but the only
palms were sweaty and my stomach one I could think of. Imarched Pajit
knotted with tension. Everything towards my locker and pulled it
I'd planned would be impossible if open, hoping desperately Kahlifa
Geir had already canceled my su- would leave. I pulled out my
pervisor passcode. environment suit and turned to see
The panel chimed and I caught him standing with crossed arms,
 Donna McMahon 71

watching. “OLMSTEAD” stamped on the suit.

For a second I considered trying Still, he wasn’t much of an impos-
to jump Kahlifa, but he was ready tor. As we rose up-spoke, with the
and I wasn’t sure I could take him, weird sensation of sliding into the
anyway. So I gambled. spinward elevator wall and lifting
“Don’t just stand there! Help me off the floor, the suit stretched up on
suit him up.” the kid until he could barely peer
To my complete surprise, Kahlifa over the bottom edge of the face
grinned. It made him look entirely plate. Well, there was nothing I
different—younger. He walked over could do about it.
and grabbed my suit, nodding at The thump of the elevator doors
Pajit’s wrist restraints. “Take those echoed loudly against bare metal
off.” walls, girders, and pipes in the
I pulled my mouth shut and un- cargo bay. I had Pajit grab my
locked them, astounded but grate- shoulder and went hand-over-hand
ful for the help. I needed it. The suit along a zero-gee guide cable to a
was far too large for Pajit and he dim corner behind some cargo nets
was clumsy with inexperience. We where I anchored him next to a sign
struggled to get him into it, then I reading “Mass Matters! WATCH
grabbed Themba’s suit out of his YOUR FINGERS!” He looked nau-
locker. It was loose in the shoulders seous. I hoped he wasn’t going to
and tight in the feet, but otherwise puke in my suit and then kicked
not too bad a fit. I could have saved myself. If this worked, I wouldn’t
more time by skipping the safety see that suit again.
check, but the habit’s too ingrained. I logged into the manifest for
I ran through it, then slipped off the loading instructions. It’s usually a
helmet and left it hanging down my two-man job, so it was a good thing
back. Kahlifa had done Pajit’s the load had been trimmed, and
check and was waiting for me, hold- even better that the shuttle was run-
ing the kid’s arm. I couldn’t resist. ning five minutes late. I was just
“So what happened to Ynshal- barely ready when the first klaxon
lah’?”T asked. went off at our antique hatch—a relic
Kahlifa shrugged. from the years before standardized
“Who am I to say that you are not docking equipment. I closed my
the hand of Allah?” helmet, as per regs, and then went
I was still trying to get my head through the docking check-list
around that one as I herded Pajit to while trying not to look back to-
the elevator and punched through wards the elevator doors. Surely
the security procedure for the trip somebody was onto me by now.
up-spoke to the station’s hub. I told But no alarms went off. I finished
Pajit not to say or do anything, then the final pressure checks and the
I turned off his mike and secured hatch swung wide with a slight hiss.
his helmet. With reflected lights it All lights green. I flipped up my
was hard to see his face, and there helmet and attempted not to look
was no mistaking the big orange appalled as it occurred to me that I
72 Squat

might know one of the pilots. What monofilament and scientific glass-
if they recognized me? Hell, what if ware, then there was an agonizing
anybody noticed I was wearing a suit delay while the pilots struggled and
labeled “MBUNDU”? swore at the folding emergency seat
When the co-pilot floated out I and I watched with adrenaline
thanked the gods that at least Pd pounding in my veins.
never seen her before. She wrinkled When the docking hatch finally
her nose at the station air, which thumped shut, I could barely be-
smells exactly like two hundred lieve it. Ihung there stupidly in the
guys have been living in it for ten empty bay, trying to feel some kind
years. She scowled. of triumph, but not succeeding.
“What’s with this unscheduled There went my job and maybe a lot
crew transfer?” she demanded. more. The consortium could file
“He’s got the phobes.” criminal charges. Damn, I didn’t
“Then they shouldn’t have sent want to think about that. Suddenly
him up!” it seemed less important that Pajit
I shrugged and my shoulders was somebody’s son. That my son
clunked around in Themba’s suit. spent a year at a time in Toronto
The pilot looked around. without me and I hoped to God that
“Well, where the hell is he?” if he got in trouble some stranger
“T'll get him. He’s tranked to the would look out for him.
eyeballs.” Two guys from Geir’s watch
When I reached Pajit, I caught a turned up then, looking for me, and
glimpse of his frightened face so I I felt my mood get heavier along
mimed at him to close his eyes, pre- with the gravity as we sank back to
tend to be asleep. Then I launched Level 1. In the office, Geir was mak-
him gently at the ZG scale. A laser ing calls. He ignored me, so I
flashed just before he hit the pad, slumped wearily in the chair and
then the read-out showed velocity/ listened. Kagoshima spaceport was
impact results. Pajit, suit and all, furious. HQ was incensed. Newsers
massed less than sixty kilos. I felt a had just picked up the “escape”
rush of apprehension. He was story and they were overjoyed.
much too small for a crewman. The door buzzed and Sam stuck
The pilot turned from the scale his head in.
and looked piercingly at me. “Geir? Themba’s awake. Medic
“You tell your CO that if there’s says he’s fine.”
any more of this last minute screw- Geir grunted. Sam hesitated and
ing around with our payload, we’re gave me a look burning with curi-
filing a formal complaint. It isn’t just osity. Behind him I caught a
a goddamned nuisance, it’s a safety glimpse of other guys peering in. I
hazard.” looked away. Sam backed out.
I nodded numbly. The com chirruped with a coded
It took about fifteen minutes to priority call from the Consortium’s
unload supplies from the shuttle Director of Operations. She
and re-load it with packs of meds, sounded mad as hell.
 Donna McMahon 73

“T very much hope that the ru- “Ubas.”

mors of an escape from Montgolfier The door buzzed again.
are unfounded, Mr. Eldjarnsson.” “I thought someone here might
“There’s been no escape, ma’am. require the services of a lawyer,”
Just an...expedited early release.” came Ben’s sardonic voice.
I couldn’t see the Director’s face I stood, feeling my face go hot.
from where I sat, but her tone of “I owe you an apology...” I
voice was ominous. started.
“Release? And whose initiative Ben interrupted me.
was this?” “No need, old man. Must have
A heartbeat’s pause, then Geir been the hooch.”
said: His smile didn’t quite make it to
“Mine.” his eyes, and his tone was a little too
“You’ve exceeded your author- hearty. I offered him my chair but
ity.” he shook his head and leaned
“Ma’am, I believe that if you against the wall. Geir filled him in.
check all the records very carefully “What do you think they’ll do?”
you might discover that my orders he asked finally.
came from the Board of Directors. “If you’re lucky, nothing. The
Yesterday.” Consortium is very anxious to
My jaw dropped as I realized that avoid any suggestion of mishap on
Geir was asking the Director to bail their penitential flagship. Prosecut-
him out. ing the station commander or even
“This sounds remarkably like a...” Ben gave me a sour glance.
blackmail.” “...crusading Canadian would be
“No, ma’am. Absolutely not.” difficult to explain. But you'll have
said Geir grimly. “It’s simply the to ensure that everybody up here
best answer I can come up with tells the same story and nobody
under the circumstances.” talks to newsers. They'll be calling
Another pause. with offers if they haven’t already.”
“T'll call you back.” “I cut non-priority communica-
The link went dead. Geir let out tions forty minutes ago,” said Geir,
a gusty breath, leaned back and with a trace of satisfaction.
then spoke to me for the first time. I wasn’t thinking very straight. It
“Olmstead, as God is my witness, took me a minute to add it up and
if they don’t kill you, I’m going to realize that I’d been suiting Pajit up
string you up myself.” forty minutes ago. Geir had known.
I was staring at him incredu- I found myself staring at him, feel-
lously. “You didn’t have to do that!” ing the first impossible glow of ris-
He opened his eyes to glare at ing hope.
me. “What happens to Pajit now?” I
“Let me get this straight. Are you asked, trying to keep my voice
telling menot to do something blind level.
stupid just because I happen to “Kagoshima Security will prob-
think it’s right?” ably send him to the nearest UN
74 Squat

camp.” the corridor was crowded with

“Tl talk to immigration...” I be- guys, all trying to look as if they just
gan, but Ben interrupted. happened to be standing there. I
“There’s another option.” I could hear air recirc fans (Soyuz,
turned in surprise. Ben didn’t look discontinued 1989) whining under
at me. He spoke to Geir. “I pulled the unusual load. Themba was up
some strings. If Pajit can pass an front.
English proficiency exam, I believe “Uh, look I’m sorry...” I started,
I can arrange a European student but he interrupted me.
visa. After that it’s up to him.” “What has happened?”
He turned for the door, but I held up crossed fingers and then
jumped in front of him and held out broke into a grin.
my hand. “Geir backed me up.”
“I’m sorry for what I said. Really. Someone cheered, then guys
But thanks for making me so mad.” started slapping me on the back.
I managed a grin. Themba drummed the wall with his
Ben hesitated, then took my hand hands, making an eerie reverbera-
reluctantly. tion through the corridor. It was the
“Apology accepted,” he said most excitement I could ever re-
gruffly. member seeing on the Mount.
I took my foot away from the I caught sight of Kahlifa leaning
door. He started to open it, then against the wall a little distance
looked back at me and added in a from the rest, and I walked over. I
slightly husky voice, “I believe your spoke deliberately loudly
son will be very proud.” “Buy you a coffee?”
Geir shuffled things on his desk He hesitated, giving me one of
until I could pull myself together, those inscrutable looks.
then told me that until he heard from “No, don’t tell me,” I said.
dirtside I was on suspension and “Inshallah. Right?”
med review. It sounded wonderful. His face split into a big smile.
When I pulled the door open I “Allah is merciful. I take four
was glad I’d wiped my face because sugars.”

In upcoming issues...
In upcoming issues of On Spec, look for new work by L.E. MODESITT,
JR.,
EDO VAN BELKOM, VOL RANGER, MELISSA HARDY, TERRY HAYMAN,
HOLLY PHILLIPS, A.M. DE GIORGIO, CATHERINE MACLEOD, MICI GOLD,
Joy HEWITT MANN, JOHN CRAIG, E.L. CHEN, MICHAEL VANCE, D. PE-
TER MACLEOD, JAMES KEENAN, and many more!
 Some cadets would do anything to advance a chair
in the orchestra. But did one kill for it?

Sonata in Weapons
Linda J. Dunn

[°" LEANED HER STUN RIFLE AGAINST THE DIRT

wall of the foxhole and unpacked her viola. She sat down
on the spongy earth, savoring the musty scent of the walls around
her. A laughing bird chuckled in a tree nearby, filling the air with
a melody so sweet and alien that no human composer could ever
hope to capture its beauty.
After four years at PAX’s military conservatory in Maryland, Luci still
couldn’t shake the feeling that she was living on an alien world. She’d never
set foot outside the city before arriving at Patuxent River, and the rural
environment had been a shock to her senses. She hadn’t expected the mili-
tary conservatory at the academy to be anything like the Bostonian kibbutz
she left behind; but she was still totally unprepared her for the wild varia-
tions in nature that didn’t exist within the sterile environment of her child-
hood classrooms. The standard western even-tempered scale consisted of
twelve notes. Always. Beside her, the laughing bird warbled out its chuck-
ling melody in a scale clearly composed of seventeen, not twelve, notes.
Luci picked up her bow and contemplated her odds of success in this fi-
nal competition. The viola was a fretless instrument, more analog than digi-
tal, and allowed her to capture the music of nature more readily than the
other instrument she could play. Unfortunately, the one in her hands now
was a sterile military-issued viola of metal alloy that could survive being
bashed against a brick wall without a scratch; and it produced exactly the
kind of sound that would make a true musician want to shatter it against
that wall. Whoever decreed the musical quality produced from this was
comparable to that of the old-style wooden violas was deaf, stupid, or both.
Fortunately, she’d made a deal with the devil, also known as Cadet Eric
76 Sonata in Weapons

Shelton, to borrow his viola for the “What kind?”

competition in return for certain “Eric Shelton’s dead. Suicide. I
favors that included sitting in this think you just made fourth chair.”
foxhole when he was supposed to “Eric? But why? He was always
be the one sitting here. first. Wing Choi could never even
Luci made a face at the viola and come close competing against
started playing the sonata she in- Eric.” Lucianne stared up into
tended to submit for the final com- Mac’s eyes, hoping against hope
petition. The library chip, a part of that this was another one of Mac’s
Luci’s mind since her arrival, in- set-ups for some sick joke.
truded on her consciousness and “Eric may have been first in the
nudged her back to traditional orchestra, but he was struggling
styles. Bach, Mozart, Strauss, with academics. The pressure must
Bartok, and all the other maestros have finally gotten to him. He—”
of past centuries wouldn’t have this Mac hesitated and Luci waited,
problem. They, however, only had wondering what could possibly
to worry about starvation if the make it worse.
masses didn’t like their work. At no “He smashed his viola.”
time did anyone ever tell them the Luci’s stomach twisted into knots
only venue for a professional per- and her voice, when she finally
former was the government-funded managed to speak, came out as a
and controlled orchestras—and if faint whisper. “Can it be repaired?”
you didn’t like it, you could enjoy “I’m sorry. I know you had a deal
music as a hobby. with him to use his viola during
Luci shut her eyes tightly, push- competition, but it’s shattered.”
ing against the suggestions from the Luci stared off into the distance,
chip. The fools don’t even understand trying to figure out how she felt.
what they’ve lost, let alone why they’ve Eric was never a friend, occasion-
lost it. ally an enemy, and always a com-
The sound of footsteps—muted petitor who didn’t believe the rules
whispers on the spongy earth— applied to him. She couldn’t force
moved closer and she checked her herself to feel anything over his
watch, startled to realize her patrol death other than bitterness over the
was almost over. Mac would be loss of the viola and certainty that
approaching—another lost cause the only reason he’d done it was to
who had turned in a composition twist the knife he’d planted in her
that barely met the requirements back four years ago, one last time.
because, as he put it, he was too far “Did he leave a note?” she asked.
behind and the only way he could “Not exactly a note,” Mac said.
win third chair on his chosen instru- “He called his sonata Death at the
ment was if ten other saxophone Academy. Nobody thought anything
players suddenly drowned during about it when he turned it in, but
maneuvers. now—”
“There’s trouble back at the bar- Luci closed her eyes and leaned
racks,” Mac said. her head against the dirt wall. It was
 Linda J. Dunn 77

hopeless. Without that borrowed better than the food.

viola, there was no chance she She sleepwalked through the
could advance to third chair. She’d day, partially due to exhaustion and
put all her dreams into one sonata partially due to the shock wave that
based on the capabilities of Eric’s rocked through the academy. It was
antique viola; and now she’d be difficult to believe such an outstand-
forced to play it with a standard, ing musician would suicide. Diffi-
military-issued viola. cult? Hell, it was impossible.
Several words formed on her lips, The same foxhole waited for her
but what she finally said was, that night as she’d used the night
“Thanks for telling me.” before. The whole deal with fox-
“T wouldn’t want you to walk into holes was stupidly outdated, but
something like that unprepared. whenever she challenged it, the in-
Everyone’s a little crazy right now. structors always replied with the
Wing’s locked himself in his room one-word answer given to every-
and his roommate is on the other thing she challenged, “Discipline.”
side of the door, screaming that his I could learn discipline just as
clarinet is inside and he needs to well inside a well-lit and insulated
practice.” building.
“Bet he’s upset.” No mimic echoed her notes to-
“Sure is. He’s fourth chair. The night, and if a bird sang nearby, she
pressure’s real intense.” didn’t hear it. The only music Luci
With that statement, Mac’s ear- heard tonight was the sonata play-
lier words hit home. She was fourth ing in her head. She danced the
chair now. Luci braced herself bow across the four strings of the
against the wall, hating the feeling viola, struggling to keep pace with
of elation flowing through her body the sonata playing in her mind.
and wishing she could grieve for When she finished, she knew she
Eric. had finally created something truly
She returned to the dorm she original that captured the beauty of
shared with Twyresa, a flutist of the landscape around her. The in-
little talent whose place was secured structors preferred works that were
by connections, not ability. Half- airy and light, whereas hers was
eaten and abandoned food rested dark. Still, the music was full of
on Luci’s bed, not Twyresa’s, and power and she felt confident that
old-fashioned music sheets were even the usual prejudices of the
scattered haphazardly around the judges would not stand between her
room. and third chair.
Luci bit back anger and scooped Luci played the sonata one more
everything from her side of the time with the library chip record-
room and tossed it onto Twyresa’s ing, and then uploaded the final
bed before heading down to the work and sealed it for the competi-
cafeteria for a breakfast filled with tion.
too-greasy, inedible offerings and Commandant Rowlett himself
gossip that didn’t go down any arrived as dawn beckoned. He
78 Sonata in Weapons

stared down at her and she imme- going to your classes.”

diately saluted. Luci entered the cafeteria a few
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” minutes later and all heads turned.
he asked. When she sat down at a table, con-
“Sir?” versation stopped and everyone
“Your sonata.” suddenly stood up and moved
“T don’t understand, sir.” away. She sat alone, eating slowly
“That’s Cadet Shelton’s suicide and refusing to look away when-
sonata.” ever someone stared in her direc-
She stared up at Rowlett, words tion.
lost upon her lips and confusion Now she could understand why
fogging her brain until she couldn’t Eric killed himself. He must have
think what she could possibly say. known the truth would come out,
“It’s my sonata,” finally stumbled but why steal from her in the first
out. “Mine. I’ve been struggling place? Why not confess before kill-
with this for days.” ing himself? And how did he ever
“No. It’s Cadet Shelton’s sonata. manage to pull this off? What did
He recorded it in the library before he have to gain from stealing her
his death. Tap into the library. Go music? His works were always spec-
ahead.” tacular and distinct—maybe a little
He folded his arms across his too distinct. Had he been cheating
chest and waited. Luci knew, even all along?
before she tried, what she would Eric wasn’t the type who could
find in the library. It was her work, steal records from another cadet’s
only slightly altered—an earlier ver- library chip. It wasn’t that he was
sion that wasn’t, at least not in her too noble. He simply wouldn’t
mind, as strong as the final compo- know how. So if he didn’t do it, who
sition. did?
“Do you know the penalty for Someone who wanted third
stealing the work of another?” chair? Wanted it badly enough to
“J didn’t steal it. I never heard kill one person and frame another
Eric’s recording until just now. I for plagiarism? That meant Brenda
wrote this myself.” or Tera. Both moved up with Eric’s
Rowlett stared at her for a time death, and casting suspicion upon
that seemed to stretch into infinity. her eliminated all reasonable com-
“When do you claim that you first petition. How could she hope to
began this composition?” convince Rowlett that she was inno-
“About two weeks ago, but I fin- cent and someone else must have
ished it last night. It’s my style. stolen her sonata and placed it in
Have someone check my personal the library in Eric’s name before
library storage. That'll prove it’s killing him?
mine.” She never even got a chance.
He stared a few moments longer “Stealing from the dead is an un-
before turning away. “Report to my pardonable sin,” Rowlett said.
office after breakfast. Don’t bother “It’s my sonata,” Luci said. “You
 Linda J. Dunn 79

must have found the evidence in wanted to try; but why bother? The
my personal files.” instructors already referred to her
Rowlett’s gaze never faltered. as the generalist who couldn’t com-
“We've checked your records and ply with regulations.
there’s nothing there at all.” He “Youre a square peg trying to fit
leaned forward and Luci stared into into a round hole, Cadet Duplessy.
deep blue eyes that cared nothing What are we to do with you?”
about her and everything about the Luci stared into his eyes. “It was
reputation of his precious academy. my sonata.”
“The same is true for Cadet Shel- “I know that,” he said. “Who else
ton. It’s as though both sonatas sud- here would dare break all the rules
denly appeared out of the blue, like that? Certainly not Eric. The
without any preliminary work. very reason he was first chair was
Highly irregular.” because he had a natural gift for
“But I-” imitation, rather than originality.”
“You do not have permission to Rowlett sighed heavily and
speak.” looked at the notepad on his desk.
Luci clenched her hands into “It would be better for you and the
tight fists and felt her fingernails rest of the world if I dismissed you.
biting into the palm of her hands. It The reason the government took
was unfair and totally wrong. This over the entertainment industry
was her sonata, but she couldn’t was to save the world from people
prove it. like you, who challenge us to look
“T asked security to investigate at all of reality and not just the
and they assure me that your pleasant aspects. Look what a mess
records have not been accessed the world was in, even at the begin-
except by you. However—” ning of the millennium, before the
He leaned back in his chair and government began censoring the
his gaze shifted, growing softer. performing arts.”
“Ah, Luci, it must be tragic to be “We've lost much in the process,”
born a century or more too late. In Luci said, half-surprised at herself
a different era, you would have for daring to voice her thoughts
been one of those rare child prodi- aloud.
gies that the rich made into pets and “But look what we’ve gained,”
provided with toys. Give you an Rowlett said. “All crime statistics
instrument you’ve never seen be- are down and dropping ever lower
fore, and within the day, you can as violence becomes a part of our
play it like most professionals; dimly remembered past. Someday,
which is not to say that you can play we won’t even have armies any-
it as well as required by PAX’s high more—just schools like this one and
standards. You’ve made fifth chair the usual disaster relief units.”
in how many instruments now?” He paused and stared at Luci for
“Ten,” Luci said, looking down at a moment. “You’re too young to
her feet. She could have achieved as remember, whereas I’m too old to
much in a few dozen more if she’d forget. Maybe you'll feel a little
80 Sonata in Weapons

differently after I tell you that Eric Luci shook her head. “I do not
Shelton didn’t kill himself.” understand. Are you saying I’m
“But the cameras—” supposed to write this sonata and
“Tapes can be modified, and I someone is going to try to kill me to
think these were.” get it?”
“But who? And why?” “That’s what I hope,” Rowlett
“That’s what I want you to help said. “Don’t worry. I'll have people
me discover,” Rowlett said. “I’m watching and you’re the top student
convinced there’s a cheating ring in martial arts.”
here. Some of our students, like “What if I refuse?” Luci asked.
your roommate, should have Rowlett leaned forward and his
washed out long ago. Instead, eyes were hard and cold. “I'll wash
they've managed to keep their you out of this program so fast that
places by producing compositions you'll be out of here yesterday.”
that far exceed their ability. I Luci stared at him for a long
tracked it to Cadet Shelton before moment, half-tempted to tell him
he died. Someone killed him to exactly what he could do with his
cover his tracks and that same precious program, which rejected
someone probably substituted your originality and rewarded blandness.
sonata for Cadet Shelton’s real one She stood up, never looking away
so he could sell Shelton’s sonata to from his face. Eric was more enemy
another viola player. Now my than friend—but she wanted who-
thought is that this person is prob- ever killed him stopped.
ably greedy enough to go after “T haven’t much choice, have I,
some bait I intend to dangle in front sir?”
of his face.” “No, cadet, you haven’t.” He
“Bait?” turned back to the work on his
“You've never fished?” desk, dismissing her without even
“Kill animals?” bothering to ask if she agreed to risk
He smiled. “Ah-the generation her life to catch Eric’s murderer.
gap reveals itself again. Let’s just say Luci turned and left the room,
that if you want to graduate, you’re heading to her dorm. People
going to have to write another so- stepped out of her way, giving her
nata. Use a synthesizer and put a wide berth. Tears ran down her
some of the more popular instru- face as she half-ran and half-walked
ments into it. Your roommate is across the campus. Eric’s death had
gone, so if you start now, and walk been a shock when he’d killed him-
out of here with an expression that self, but now—how could anyone
will make rumors fly, we should be kill another human being? They did
able to set a trap that will bring it in practice all the time, but those
murder and mayhem to your door- were just maneuvers and no one
step. Maybe then you'll understand ever really expected to do this in
why it is that true genius is no real life.
longer valued if it cannot be con- She wrapped her arms around
fined within our regulations.” herself, feeling a cold chill rush
 Linda J. Dunn 81

through her body despite the prepared to upload to the library

warmth of the sun filtering through when she realized that this would
the window into the dorm hallways. be listed as Luci Duplessy’s final
Obviously, someone did take those composition. Do J really want this on
maneuvers seriously. my record? As a competition piece,
Twyresa’s clutter had strayed into it was as good as any other, but it
her territory again and this time lacked originality and that’s why
Luci looked at it for a long moment she’d abandoned it.
from the doorway before picking The academy wanted elevator
up the mess and tossing it onto music, not original compositions.
Twyresa’s bed. Why would anyone They wanted tunes that were light
use paper music sheets? Or waste so and airy. All right. Let’s give them
much time and effort fixing her hair what they want with that unique
into some old-fashioned style that Duplessy twist that hits them where they
would just be destroyed during least expect it. Luci bit back a grin at
morning exercises? the crisis-inspired thought. Tchai-
Someone knocked at the door kovsky’s 7872 Overture had cannons
and Luci started forward, then hesi- for effect. What would happen if
tated. If that’s the murderer, he’s here she wrote a light and airy composi-
too soon. I haven’t even started the so- tion, using arc cannons, laser rifles,
nata. and the pings and splats of the fake
“Sir, this plebe is delivering a syn- artillery weapons they used in prac-
thesizer to you, sir.” tice? She’d write it, encrypt it and
Luci moved forward slowly and then add a time stamp. Forward it
checked through the viewer before to Rowlett and then the academy’s
unlocking the door. “Thank you,” legal department and they wouldn’t
she said. be able to open it without her key,
Stealing from the masters was an but she could prove she finished on
old quick-and-dirty solution for be- time and within their requirements.
ginning students and if you filed off The sonata didn’t have to be for
the serial numbers carefully and your selected instrument. It’s just
reworked the notes properly before that few people ever got away with
switching instruments, you could originality. Few? Hell, none!
have what passed for an original Two sonatas in one night? Well,
creation without much effort. Most if ’m a genius, why not?
of the students did it this way. Luci The sonata in weapons, oddly
was one of the few who insisted on enough, flowed from her mind to
beginning with a blank slate. Fortu- the keys more effortlessly than any-
nately, she’d composed a dozen thing she’d ever written in the past.
sonatas in her mind and stored If only they were all like this. She
them on the chip without uploading looked up at the window after fin-
them. It was a simple task to take ishing, amazed to find it was dark
one of her earlier efforts and modify outside. Was it pure adrenaline that
it to meet Rowlett’s need. She used made her last work so effortless or
the synthesizer to record it and was it something else—confidence—
82 Sonata in Weapons

that she’d never felt before? had she taken?

Luci secured the documents and Luci sat down on the side of her
uploaded them, and then collapsed bed and waited, watching the clock
into bed for a much-needed rest. tick away hours in a single minute
She was just starting to drift off to and finding her mind twisting and
sleep when Rowlett’s words drifted flowing with possibilities for concer-
back into her head. Bait. She was a tos that had never occurred to her
piece of cheese in a mousetrap. before. Speed-alpha. That had to be
One of her classmates or an instruc- what this was. Nothing else could
tor could be standing on the other have that kind of creativity. Well, at
side of her door right now, armed least this cleared Twyresa from be-
to the teeth and ready to break into ing involved in Eric’s death. Her
her room. short bursts of creativity were obvi-
Damn Rowlett. He sent me a syn- ously due to drug use. It was against
thesizer and what I really needed regulations and she’d be dismissed,
was a stun rifle. but she wasn’t a murderer.
Luci stood up and walked to So who is?
Twyresa’s footlocker. It wasn’t dif- It seemed forever before some-
ficult to pick the lock, and she’d one knocked at her door.
done that a few times in the past, “Luci? Can you stand some com-
when she wanted to recover some- pany?”
thing Twyresa had “borrowed” “Mac? What are you doing
from her and “forgotten” to return. here?”
There was something she needed “T couldn’t stand to see you
now more than ever before and she shunned like this. I figured you
was desperate enough to take the needed a strong shoulder to cry
risk. A Stay-Awake patch. Nor- upon right about now.”
mally, she’d never consider such a Luci swung the door open. “You
thing, but she’d gone a long time don’t know how good it is to see
without sleep and she needed to be someone who doesn’t—” Her words
awake. Never mind that Rowlett died on her lips and the smile faded
thought he had her closely watched when she saw the stunner Mac
and guarded. She wasn’t trusting pointed at her.
her life to anybody. “Sorry, Luci. One of the little sac-
Luci rolled up her sleeve and rifices Ihave to make for my career.
applied the patch. Nothing hap- I’m sure you’d understand if I had
pened for a few moments; then she the time to explain it to you.”
felt adrenaline racing through her He fired and Luci collapsed at his
body. Her mind was wide awake. feet. He dragged her back into the
Lucid. Racing. The stay-awake room and closed the door. Mac
drugs flowed through her body, dropped a bag on the bed and
blaring Reveille. Everything was in turned his attention to the cameras.
slow motion. “I must have missed my true call-
Damn! That was not a Stay- ing in the theatrical guild.”
Awake patch. What kind of drug Luci lay on the floor, not moving.
 Linda J. Dunn 83

She didn’t dare respond or he’d fire legs. She missed and caught the
again. How much of her body was back of his legs, sending him
really stunned and how much was sprawling. She’d lost.
being kept fluid by the drug was The drug could partially counter-
something she didn’t even know act a stun, but she wasn’t working at
herself. full capacity. Her fingers and toes
Mac finished doing whatever he tingled with the feeling of a thou-
was doing outside her line of sight. sand needles prickling them and
She couldn’t turn her head to watch her legs and arms felt wooden.
but her hearing—that was the unmis- Think fast.
takable sound of a bag being set on She struggled to her feet, fighting
the nightstand. A moment later, she to force herself to stand upon feet
heard the sound of a small box she couldn’t feel. Everything ached.
open and the click of metal. Her fingers couldn’t curl into fists
“Slicing a vein is always so messy. anymore. Her vision blurred. Ev-
Right now you're probably expect- erything hurt and nothing felt natu-
ing me to explain why you’re about ral.
to die. Sorry. I don’t believe in wast- Think faster.
ing time on things like that.” “Tried to play a trick on me,
He moved closer and she saw a didn’t you?” Mac said, standing up
shoe carefully encased in dispos- and facing her. “Well, I guess ’m
able environmental protective gear. going to have to change my plans.
The covering would catch all the Too many bruises. You'll just have
splattered blood and he could toss to disappear now.”
it into the bin on his way out, leav- His words didn’t touch her. Noth-
ing himself trace-free of any part in ing did. She was frozen and floating
her death. high above the floor, almost unable
Everyone would believe it was to move at all. Only the drug and
suicide except Commandant pure adrenaline kept her upright at
Rowlett. all.
Who will they choose for bait He would move soon. What was
next? Or will they simply cover up he waiting for? Did he know she
everything to protect the academy’s was almost helpless? That a few
precious reputation? more minutes and she’d topple
Mac bent over and grabbed her without effort?
under the arms, dragging her to the “A Stay-Awake patch doesn’t last
bed. Luci caught her foot on a chair, very long against a stunner.”
knocking it over. Mac bent to pull Okay. He knew.
her foot loose and she moved fast— “And if you got into Twyresa’s
or at least, as fast as she could. harder stuff, then you should know
Surprise was a weapon that could that it’s potent, but doesn’t last very
be used only once and Mac out- long. You should be falling over
weighed her by at least fifty pounds. real soon now. All I have to do is
Luci aimed as best she could, hop- wait.”
ing her foot connected between his She wanted to fall. Her body
84 Sonata in Weapons

already thought it was horizontal. startle the visiting dignitaries who

Everything was so blurred that she didn’t expect to hear their whis-
could barely hear his voice. She pered conversations shouted back
forced her left hand to move a few at them by some furry little crea-
inches. The neck of the viola lay on ture.
the bed and when Mac turned and Luci stood in formation with the
bent over to pull something out of other waiting cadets, anxious to re-
his bag, Luci grabbed the viola. ceive her medallion and learn her
Was it the drug or her own body, class standing.
fighting for mad survival, that She glanced sideways only once.
caused time to slow around her? The formation had holes that
Everything was slow motion again Rowlett elected not to fill. Let those
with her arm moving ever so slowly gaps serve as a reminder to the un-
as she swung, pushing against resis- dergraduates that cheating and vio-
tance from the air around her, un- lence would never be tolerated.
til the viola crashed hard against Several students were dismissed
Mac’s head. and some were arrested. Mac was
He fell. gone without a trace and no one
Time flowed fast again and she knew what fate awaited him. Ru-
felt herself lifting out of her body mors flew through the campus
and standing aside to watch this about who resigned and why; but
image of herself bash the viola no one, least of all the instructors,
against Mac’s head again and again. would ever confirm or deny any of
The door burst open and she those rumors.
looked up to see Commandant Luci stared down at her glove-
Rowlett standing there with the encased hands. In her mind’s eye,
military police. He smiled and said, they were still caked with blood and
“Well, I see the cavalry’s a little no amount of scrubbing could ever
late.” His eyes took in the viola, her remove the stains from her hands.
blood-splattered figure, and Mac’s It hurt to think how she’d felt while
body and he added, “See! The mili- hammering Mac with that viola
tary-issue violas are better than again and again until Rowlett ar-
those antiques you favor. If Cadet rived. Exhilaration.Joy. Pure eu-
Shelton had used one of these in- phoria. No wonder violence was so
stead of his wood viola—” common in centuries past.
Luci staggered forward. “You—” The doctors said Mac would
The next thing she knew, she probably live, although what kind
woke up in the infirmary. of life he’d have after surgery and
therapy was something she didn’t
GRADUATION DAY DAWNED HOT want to consider.
and beautiful. Laughing birds She’d rewritten her sonata after
settled in the trees near the cer- that. The judges allowed it. A spe-
emony grounds and somehow a cial exception, they'd said. The re-
mimic managed to slip past the pro- sulting sonata was light and airy and
tective fence and both delight and carried not a hint of darkness or
 Linda J. Dunn 85

power. It did, however, have a scale Another officer stepped forward

of seventeen notes and that alone and pinned a medallion upon her
had raised more than a few eye- shirt. She stepped back, desperate
brows during judging. The elevator to know her standing, but unable to
music with weapons was something look at her own medallion without
she’d tossed at Rowlett as a chal- breaking form.
lenge. He’d seemed first amused, “Congratulations, Lieutenant,”
and then intrigued by it, and pro- the Admiral said before calling the
nounced her record cleared of all next cadet.
suspicion. Straining her neck, Luci tried to
The Admiral selected to address read the medallion. She looked at
the cadets droned on and on until Wing in formation beside her. He
Luci began to wonder if his inten- grinned and mouthed, “What am
tion was to kill the entire academy I?”
from boredom. Finally, his speech “First chair, viola.” Luci mouthed
ended and he began moving back. “What am I?”
through the ranks, his officers be- He stared for a moment and
side him. burst into laughter. Heads turned
One by one, the cadets stepped and he immediately snapped back
forward, saluted, received their to attention.
medallions, and returned to the She waited a few moments and
line. turned back to look. Wing was still
“Lucianne Duplessy.” struggling with laughter but he fi-
She stepped forward and saluted. nally managed to mouth the words,
The Admiral returned her salute. “First chair, weapons.”

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 All kinds of conditions precipitate homicide, but when you have
two different species involved, and a third trying to solve the crime,
"Why dunnit?” becomes the key question.

Alien Intents

Marianne O. Nielsen

Oland was grading the 81st student term paper out of 233 wait-
ing in the computer file when the secretary of the Criminology
Department peered around the door frame to timidly announce
that there was a Kohoet in the Department Office and it? he?
wanted to see Dr. Oland...now.

Oland, overwhelmed by misused theories and dead-wrong observations

on “the media’s role in the development of the fear of crime,” had to blink
a few times to clear his head. The secretary glanced over her shoulder. “Here
he comes! I told him to wait but...” She made a face and Oland pushed his
chair back. If the Kohoet approaching was who Oland thought it was, then
“he” was actually a “she,” but the secretary (and probably 98% of human
beings) couldn’t tell the difference. As it was, there was only one Kohoet
who would come looking for him; there was only one Kohoet who knew
him on a face to...beak basis.
The secretary made a squeaking noise and hurried away. Looming in the
doorway was Kah’hatten, Elder of the Kah-Hochut Clan, and the one mem-
ber of that avian species Oland had grown to understand enough to know
that he didn’t understand them. Even after working with her and members
of her Clan last year to solve a particularly gruesome murder.
Kah’hatten made a bird-like bobbing motion of her head. Oland bowed
his head, the closest human equivalent to this Kohoet sign of respect. He
stood back and the Kohoet stepped into his office. Kah’hatten looked about,
her gaze lingering on a reproduction of a Michael Cardinal watercolor that
hung above the com center. Kohoet had a fascination with human fine arts—
not to mention not-so-fine arts, and some stuff that, in Oland’s opinion, was
really appalling junk.
The Kohoet looked older, her crest feathers more faded, her stride less
vigorous than when Oland had h-elp with two killings.”
seen her last. Oland’s smile stilled. “You mean
Oland motioned towards the rug solving two killings—I hope.” The
in front of his desk. “Perhaps you’d Kohoet had evolved from preda-
like to sit here?” The Kohoet tory stock and killing prey was a
stepped over to the rug and settled normal part of adolescence—as was
her large ostrich-like body, ruffling learning to control those instincts.
her bronze and rusty red feathers Rather like human young people
slightly as she did so. learning to control their sex drive,
“Ah hat ho hent; ’m honored that if you got right down to it. Unfortu-
you enter my nest,” Oland said as nately, last year, a Kohoet “teen-
he sat down, hoping he had said the ager,” unable to control his
greeting without too ugly an accent. hormonally-based urges, had killed
The Kohoet’s crest rose, a sign a human. The Edmonton Police
Oland knew, of curiosity. “Th-ihs Service called on Oland, a cultural
place you live is sm-ahll,” she said. criminologist, for help in solving
Oops, Oland thought. Wrong the murder. He had later assisted
greeting. He smiled. “Actually this the Kohoet in developing several
is where I work. I live in an apart- alternative treatment strategies.
ment. I’ll have to show you some The Kohoet blinked. “Yes. I can-
time.” not imagine wha—at else you wou-
The Kohoet made a clicking ould think.”
sound of amusement. “The phrase, “Er, nothing.” Oland felt a slight
th-en, you seek is ‘AA hat ho tahten blush of embarrassment. “Who has
hat’, 1am h-onored to greet you.” been murdered? Not a human...?”
“Thank you. I’ll remember.” “Two of our young people. Not
The Kohoet continued to survey on Earth,” she added.
the room. Her gaze lingered on the The Kohoet were very attached
vidscreen, the shelves of old books, to their young people, and often
the collection of Hopi Kaatsina brought them on their long voy-
dolls. “Some of those carvings lo- ages. The murder of two of them
ook like birds,” she noted. must have been a terrible blow to
“Yes,” Oland said. “They repre- their Clan. “Not yours...? Oland
sent spirits who are agents of social asked.
control among the Hopi. My “No,” the Kohoet agreed. “But
favorite’s the mouse warrior.” He we-e are faced with a difficult situ-
pointed to a short, rotund, brown ation. Their Clan is demanding res-
figure with whiskers, a tail and a titution from the Teledt, but the
bow. Teledt, these...people, do not seem
The Kohoet’s crest stood up a to understand wha-at they must do.
little taller, then sank. “We wi-ihll And what action we must take if
save this discussion for another they don’t do as they should.”
time.” She blinked twice, a slow A loud beep sounded from
movement more lizard-like than Oland’s computer screen. He
bird-like. “I came to h-ask your glanced down. Out off Kah’hatten’s
88 Alien Intents

line of sight, the secretary’s image opportunity.

appeared and the words “The
Chair wants to know—do you need THE KOHOET COMPOUND WAS
help with your visitor?” ran across located in southern Alberta, about
the top of his screen. The 400 kilometers southeast of Edmon-
secretary’s image in the vidscreen ton. At the speed Kohoet run,
reflected obvious apprehension and Kah’hatten could have covered the
a touch of excitement. She was too distance in seven or eight hours, but
new to know the exact details of last instead Oland and Kah’hatten flew
year’s incident (though she was go- in a small specially-adapted plane
ing to get the scoop from her lunch with Kah’hatten piloting. On the
mates later today, no doubt), but way, Kah’hatten told him what little
the lordly Chair asking her to check they know about the deaths. Two
up on him would be more than children dead, trampled to death.
enough to rouse her curiosity. No other information was available,
Oland shook his head slightly. and the Kohoet didn’t know how to
She looked disappointed and her get more, Oland gathered from
image blinked off. Kah’hatten’s reluctant comments.
“Sorry,” he said to Kah’hatten. The compound near the landing
“The Teledt...? You said the Teledt strip was a gutted and renovated
killed two Kohoet? Who are the motel that now served as the Earth
Teledt?” home of the Kah-Hochut Clan.
Kah’hatten looked at Oland’s “Iam honored that you enter my
vidscreen with contempt. “I cannot nest,” she said to Oland.
show you on ¢ha-aht thing. You will He bowed. It was much as he
come with me.” remembered it from his visit last
Oland looked at the term paper year. The inside was still full of tap-
that still dominated his screen: “The estries and layered rugs, junk, art
ancient media art of T.B. produced and artifacts scattered everywhere.
many a great new innovation...” Kah’hatten led him across the con-
“You’ve convinced me,” he said. verted ballroom/lobby to the far
The papers could wait a day, and an wall, where she tugged on a tapes-
opportunity like this to learn about try that slid aside to reveal the
yet another sentient species was not smooth brown surface of a commu-
something to be missed. The Koho- nication panel. She hooted and a
et were interstellar travelers and very section of the surface lit up. She
close-mouthed... Oland glanced at made a short clicking noise and a
Kah’hatten while he pulled on his figure appeared in front of the sur-
coat. Close-beaked...about them- face. It rotated slowly, showing a
selves and their knowledge of the short, spindly-legged, more or less
greater universe. He knew at least human-appearing creature. It had
four xeno-anthropologists and a three-fingered hands, and its long
score of sociologists who would jaw suggested that it had a ruminant
give up their first-born—maybe somewhere in its genetic ancestry.
even a graduate assistant—for this A small knob protruded above each
 Marianne O. Nielsen 89

large eye, like a vestigial antler. ha-ndling a killing of our own

“Ts this the Teledt who killed the kind.”
young people?” Oland asked. Oland could well imagine. The
“No. This is just a Teledt, so that Kohoet had not exactly been forth-
you can see what they loo-ok like. coming about their military or other
We cah-nnot get images of the ac- coercive capabilities, but consider-
tual killers. Their authorities are ing they were a predator species
protecting them.” The scene shifted with interstellar travel and small
and began to move. “These are files niceties like personal force-shields,
from our knowledge banks.” A flow their capacity for violence was un-
of Teledt paraded in front of the doubtedly impressive—and seldom
surface, fading into and out of view. tested.
Kal’hatten clicked again and a “And you wish my help to...?”
murmur of noise swelled into the “Identify the Clan and to talk to
sounds of a busy city street. Bleat- them. We-e cannot make them un-
ing sounds seemed to be snatches of derstand.”
conversation. A Teledt darted Oland nodded. “But what about
across the street in front of some why the youngsters were killed?”
kind of vehicle. “They are swift,” Kah’hatten’s crest sank. She sat
Kah’hatten said, “but not fit.” very still, then bobbed her head. “I
Not fit. A shiver ran up the back had not considered that. Yes, per-
of Oland’s neck; the first time he’d haps it would be useful. To prevent
heard that phrase, it had been in another occurrence.”
connection with the grisly death of Oland gave a quick mental shake
the human who’d had the misfor- of his head. Just when he thought he
tune to be considered “fit” to hunt was beginning to understand them
by an out-of-control young Kohoet .-how could any individual, any
...who could run well over 80 kilo- society, not be curious about the
meters an hour. motive for a crime? How could
“And several of these ‘slow’ be- they not know how to investigate a
ings caught and killed two Kohoet criminal act? He made a mental
youngsters?” Oland asked, his tone note to pursue the subject later. He
doubtful. looked at the other Kohoet who
“We h-ave their bodies. They had drifted up to watch their con-
were trampled.” Kah’hatten’s voice versation. There was only one
was more hollow than usual. “It is youngster among them. But even
important that we know the Clan of one was a good sign. The Kohoet
the killers to demand restitution for must be having some luck with the
their deaths.” new kill-replacement therapies that
Oland looked at her. There was he had helped them develop to
a missing link of logic in her state- keep their young people from at-
ment-—what happened to investigat- tacking strange species. The adults
ing the crime? intermittently ruffled their feathers
Kah’hatten was still speaking, and softly clicked and chirped
“We are not accustomed to among themselves.
90 __—s Alien Intents

Maybe the Kohoet’s lack of excitement. He would have to talk

concern about the reason for the to the Teledt authorities and some-
deaths was because their concept of how make them understand.
justice was restitution- rather than Maybe if he knew more about their
retribution-based. The acknowledg- justice system... But first, he had to
ment of wrong by the offender, or get his Grad. Assistant to take over
his or her family, signified there his classes!
would be a change, and acknowl-
edgment came from an offer of res- TWO DAYS LATER, OLAND WOKE
titution—Oland suddenly wondered up in the University Hospital. The
what would happen if an offer last thing he remembered was feel-
wasn’t made, as in this case. He ing an enormous weight on his
asked. chest, a sharp pain in the same re-
Kah’hatten looked at him with gion, then nothing. Elaine
one eye then the other. “You-u Kaminsky, captain of the Homicide
have found the grit of the problem, Unit, and his old friend Detective
Oland. It has been a long time. On Al Forrestor were standing at the
our homeworld long ago this hap- foot of his bed, deep in conversa-
pened, but not often. Now wrong- tion. There was something up his
doers confess; it is the best way, for nose...
if the Clan did not come forward, Oland croaked. He tried to say,
the killed’s Clan would name three “To what do I owe this honor?” but
Clans among who-om they thought all that came out was a mumble.
might be the offender. And kill The two heard, however, and broke
them all.” off their discussion. Kaminsky
Oland heard the words but it pressed the call panel.
took a few seconds for them to sink The nurse arrived and asked
in. “Kill them all? That could be Oland nursely questions, checked
over 60 people!” the bed panel, said he was fine and
Kah’hatten blinked. “No, many just don’t tire him out to his visitors.
mo-ore. You see only a small num- They looked conscientious and
ber of our Clan here. The very promised not to.
aged, the young, the teachers, and “What are you doing here?”
others are not here.” Oland managed to whisper. The
Oland sat down. Marking those world and his voice felt thick...
term papers had suddenly become Then, groggily, “Better yet, what
a much more attractive proposition. am J doing here?”
Kohoet justice certainly presented Forrestor sat on the edge of the
an incentive for self-policing. No hospital bed. “You were brought in
wonder the Clans always paid up. by four Kohoet. They ran you from
He would have to visit the their ship to the police station.” He
Teledt-my God! Interstellar travel! paused. “Nice ship. Never seen one
A few odd scientists and politicians up close like that before.”
had made a trip so far, but what a The captain gave Forrestor an
chance! He shook off the surge of annoyed look. “I think they didn’t
 Marianne O. Nielsen 91

know where else to bring you. tains usually don’t wait beside hos-
Kah’hatten knew we worked pital beds...
together from last time.” She sat “Hi,” Oland said. “Why’re you
down in the chair. “The doctor says here?”
you're lucky you’re not on life sup- The captain laughed. It was a
port. You have 14 broken ribs, had nice laugh. “It’s either me or the
two collapsed lungs, and have sev- Department of Defense.”
eral nastily bruised internal organs. Oland must have looked as be-
You're not going anywhere for a wildered as he felt.
while.” “You were inside one of the Ko-
That explained the tube running hoet space craft. When you're bet-
into each nostril. He felt nothing in ter, they'll want to grill you till your
his throat, or chest for that matter, brain cells shrivel. Since the Koho-
but suspected he wasn’t going to et ‘hurt’ you and delivered you to
like it when he did. that matter, but us, we convinced them that you
suspected he wasn’t going to like it were in need of police protection.
when he did. “What happened?” he At least for now.”
asked. The world had a muffled, Of course. God, this was getting
dull and thick quality to it. complicated. And he still had to
Forrestor frowned. “Best we can help the Kohoet. He tried to sit up
tell, Kohoet ships start out at 10 in bed, but instead set off the bed
gravities, and your acceleration monitors. A nurse hurried into the
couch didn’t exactly fit human room. He gave the captain a re-
anatomy. Guess anti-gravity gen- proachful look and touched a panel
erators are still science fiction.” on the monitor.
Oland tried to absorb this: ten Oland felt like he’d been hit by a
gravities. Squashed. He’d been body-sized pillow. “Can you bring
squashed like road kill on the high- Kah’hatten here?” he managed to
way of...interstellar travel...what a ask the captain before the room
lousy simile... faded away again.
The world abruptly went away.
KAH’HATTEN CAME THE NEXT DAY
WHEN NEXT HE WOKE, THE CAPTAIN accompanied by another, younger,
was sitting beside the bed. She was Kohoet, the one who had pro-
dressed casually in a blue tunic and grammed the craft, but hadn’t prop-
pantalons. erly reprogrammed a couch to fit
“Hello. Nice you could make it,” Oland’s “peculiar” human shape.
she said. The data wasn’t in their banks. In
Oland smiled, then felt the pain somewhat awkward English, the
in his chest. Every breath was ac- younger Kohoet expressed her re-
companied by a tearing feeling. He grets and apologies.
breathed more shallowly. He’d “Tt was an accident,” Kah’hatten
been right; he didn’t like what he said.
felt. He focused on the captain. It “Yes,” Oland agreed, but a
was good to see her...but police cap- thought niggled at his mind. Those
92. ~=—sCAlien Intents

damned drugs were making his “Kah’hatten has explained what

head too fuzzy... youre trying to do. You know the
The Kohoet’s crest feathers were Tel-whoever are not going to share
now vertical. “We did not know if their files with you? Or anyone.
you wou-ould demand restitution. Cops are cops.” The captain smiled,
Humans have different ideas of jus- softening her words. “But you’re
tice.” going to tell me everything later,
“J don’t know about that,” Oland aren’t you?”
said. “Intent’s what’s important. It’s Oland nodded, not displeased at
not a crime if you didn’t mean to do the prospect. The nurse gave him
it.” voice control over the bed so he
Kah’hatten’s feathers settled. could move it into a slightly in-
“We-e think the same.” clined position, then left.
The younger Kohoet bobbed her Kah’hatten made a clicking
head and left. Kah’hatten knelt sound and the panel activated. The
down beside the bed into a sitting captain’s eyes widened at the Teledt
position. She looked as if she was street scene. “It’s not just Defense
going to ask a question, but a that’s going to want your butt after
strange face capped with a police this,” she said quietly. “You'll ex-
helmet peered through the open cuse us if we don’t stick around.”
door. Oland nodded somewhat Forrestor winked and closed the
painfully at the officer, who re- door behind them.
turned to his post. Oland watched the Teledt go
Oland said, “I’m going to be in about their everyday lives. A Koho-
here for a while. How long can you et voice-over came and went. “I
wait with the Teledt thing?” don’t suppose you could get an
The Kohoet peered at Oland English translation for that?” Oland
with one eye, then peered at the eventually asked.
monitor. “Not long. The Clan is Kah’hatten clicked and chirped
getting anxious and its younger and a human voice now gave the
members are urging action.” voice-over. It sounded suspiciously
Oland muttered, “Then we’ll like Oland’s own. Also, English
have to solve it from here.” words were superimposed over
The Kohoet peered at the moni- Teledt shop signs.
tor again. “We cou-ould bring our “Can you do the same with the
communications center here.” She Teledt conversations?” Oland
paused. “I wi-ill speak to your cap- asked, more out of curiosity than
tain. She will help us, I think.” anything else.
Later that day, an orderly moved “Not whe-ere there are so many.”
Oland to a new room. Two Koho- She hooted a series of notes and the
et finished doing mysterious things scene changed to several Teledt sit-
to a brown communicator panel as ting around a table in an eating es-
he was wheeled in. Kah’hatten, the tablishment of some kind. The
captain, and Forrestor waited for Teledt were dipping their snouts
him. into what seemed to be elaborate
 Marianne O. Nielsen 93

salads and discussing...politics? Or There were more street scenes, a

religion? Oland wasn’t sure. Some- tour of a large public building, then
thing to do with values, anyway. there was a scene from a park.
The word “should” appeared fre- Teledt lounged under trees. A
quently in the conversation. group of small ones played some
“Since you said the Teledt won’t kind of noisy game that involved
share their case information with bouncing a ball off their heads, and
you, is there anything like news ac- a great deal of butting. They were
counts? Maybe we can get some- watched by three chatting adult
thing from them..” Teledt. Oland focused on the
Kah’hatten touched the panel. A adults. There was something pecu-
series of annotated images flowed liar about them.
rapidly. Kah’hatten stopped it and “Can we get a close-up of that
the account appeared, with English group of adults?” he demanded.
over-voicing: The Kohoet enlarged the scene.
The adults had no protruding ves-
A minor incident in the city’s
tigial antlers.
park area was concluded when
Oland felt a small flash of excite-
a group of children was <un-
ment. “Are these females, do you
translatable> by <untranslat-
know?” he asked.
able> aliens. In the interests of
The Kohoet peered at the scene
a public sense ofwell-being, the
and blinked. “It has never con-
authorities wish all group
cerned me what their sexual char-
members to know the Kohoet
acteristics are. Perhaps they are.”
are dead. The public is safe.
“Are there any Kohoet on Teledt
Oland’s initial excitement at find- now? Can you contact them and
ing the news story died down. Too find out?”
bad they didn’t follow the info- Kah’hatten ruffled her feathers.
tainment model of newscasting so “If it is of importance.”
popular on Earth. Then they’d “It might be. And find out if
know more than they ever wanted... Teledt males and females reside
well, they did actually know a little together.”
more. Apparently there had been a The Kohoet’s crest fell like the
group of children involved. Maybe ears on a cat. “Not share a nest...”
that’s why the authorities were pro- The concept seemed repugnant to
tecting them? As young offenders? her.
Though the language of the an- “Just ask, it’s an idea, okay? I'll
nouncement implied rather explain in a minute.”
strongly the Kohoet had done “It will take longer than that to
something “untranslatable” to the get a message there and back.”
youngsters..? He looked at Kah’hat- “Okay.” Oland was relieved; he
ten. No, let it wait. His head hurt. felt drained. He half expected the
He asked to see more of the Teledt officious nurse to bustle in and
world. Maybe something would scold him. He continued to watch
translate. as various scenes of Teledt life
94 _—sC Allien Intents

played out in front of him. Kah’hat- watching the holographic display.

ten spoke softly to the panel. “Yes, they are females,” Kah’hat-
“They will find out.” Kah’hatten ten announced, waking him. “And
paused. “You know that we are not you were correct. They do not live
..-happy asking questions. It is a sign in Clans. Most males live in solitary
of weakness.” dwellings except for a few weeks of
Oland nodded. So it was—from the year. Females live with other
the Kohoet point of view. Their females and their young.”
ancestors had lived in hunting “Like elk do sometimes,” Oland
packs, which meant admitting said.
weakness to outsiders could invite Kah’hatten cocked her head.
attack. They used observation and “The Teledt evolved from rumi-
analysis of artifacts instead to satisfy nant stock,” Oland said. “Not pri-
their occasional need to know mate like us, or avian like you. I
about other species. He often won- once had a professor tell me we’d
dered why Kah’hatten put up with never understand what it meant to
his incessant questions. Of course, be human until we could compare
they were sure that humans were ourselves with another sentient spe-
already inferior beings... The previ- cies. She was right.”
ous niggling thought surfaced and Kah’hatten knelt down beside
this time stayed put: not asking Oland’s bed and watched the flow
questions meant the Kohoet were of life before them. She broke the
probably highly prone to making silence. “These pictures are telling
mistakes in dealing with other spe- you something.”
cies. Oland had heard about all Her statement sounded almost
kinds of situations on Earth, such as like a question, Oland noted, more
the incident where a Kohoet sensitive now. Had she ever asked
walked past the security guards at him a direct question? His thoughts
the White House, clueless about were diverted by a scene of Teledt
restricted zones. Luckily his force- youngsters being escorted across a
shield had been working when the busy intersection by a group of fe-
Secret Service tried to blow him males.
away. Or, ona less serious note, the “Hmm. Maybe...do you have a
Kohoet pair who walked into a scene of the site where the Kohoet
brothel in Thailand looking for were killed?”
soup, and caused a riot. Or Kah’hatten chirped and the scene
Kal’hatten’s shipmates squashing a changed. It was not far from the
human in their spacecraft quite re- same park that Oland had seen ear-
cently... He winced. How many lier. There was the same open field
times had the Kohoet gotten them- in the distant background. There
selves, or others, into deep shit be- were no crime scene markers like
cause of this little cultural foible? those found on Earth. “You said the
The Teledt were in more trouble Teledt investigated the killing?”
than they could imagine... Oland asked.
He must have fallen asleep “Yes, but they said it was the fault
 Marianne O. Nielsen 95

of the Kohoet. Therefore not a Kah’hatten. Once Defense got their

crime. They would tell us nothing hands on him...
more.” The captain grimaced. “I'll see
“They what?” Oland tried to sit what I can do.”
upright. A tearing pain in his chest Oland saw Kah’hatten waiting
quashed the attempt. “Why didn’t outside as the captain opened the
you tell me this before?” he de- door and left.
manded. “You are awake,” the Kohoet
Kah’hatten seemed unperturbed. stated.
Her crest only shifted. “Because it “Yeah. And it’s turning into a
is not possible.” wonderful day.”
“Maybe your young people The Kohoet looked at him with
chased the children. Tried to kill one eye, then the other. Sarcasm
them like that poor, confused kid of still escaped her. “Let’s get to work.
yours did here on Earth...” I need to see as many scenes of
“No, these young people had Teledt females with youngsters as
passed the testing. They would not you’ve got. There’s something
ee-ven chase Hareet when offered.” that’s been bothering me...”
“Maybe the treatment wore off!” Kal’hatten blinked, then clicked
Now Kah’hatten was perturbed; and hooted. The wall panel lit up.
her crest dropped flat to her head. In scene after scene, female Teledt,
“That is not possible. They might usually in groups of five to six,
want to kill something, but these herded groups of rambunctious
ones wo-ould not, could not, do it.” youngsters, usually in groups of 12
“There was no evidence they ac- to 15. The children were never still.
tually chased the kids?” They bounced around like young
“The Teledt told us that much. kids—goats, that is. They were
They did not.” amazingly fast compared to human
Oland was relieved when his youngsters. Oland doubted an adult
meal interrupted, though not at the human track star could touch them
medicinally green and fibrous qual- in a race. The Teledt females did
ity of it. If he had four stomachs and quite well, though. They weren’t
a cud to chew, maybe...he needed quite as agile as the youngsters, but
time to think about herd animals... they had a knack of being just a few
Thinking turned unintentionally steps ahead of any youngster that
into anap. When he woke, the cap- suddenly veered off from the group.
tain was back and the wall panel Amused, Oland realized the fe-
was quiet. She was in uniform, and males’ actions reminded him of
despite her smile, more than a little sheep dogs or cow ponies—except,
tense. of course, these were sentient be-
“Defense is getting twitchy. They ings who simply had some very dif-
want to talk to you. Preferably yes- ferent child-rearing practices.
terday.” Then a scene flicked by that gal-
Oland groaned. “Help?” he vanized Oland. “Stop! Play it
pleaded. He needed time to help back!”
96 __— Alien Intents

Kah’hatten reversed and re- alternatives to asking questions.

played the scene. In slow motion, a Something about seeing true mean-
group of females coalesced in be- ings in metaphors. No doubt it
tween a youngster and a large male made sense to the Kohoet. And
who shouted and stamped and Jungian psychologists...
made threats that were mainly un- The object in this scene was the
translatable. But the females under- wall of a large open stockade-like
stood. One lowered her head and space. It was intricately decorated
hunched her shoulders, a second with bas relief stalks of grain and
followed suit. The male abruptly tree trunks. Two adult males, sway-
shut up and started to back up. The ing slightly, were watching a horde
group shifted forward and he of older children. One adult whis-
turned and ran. The females pered to the other and the two be-
stopped, talked for a minute, then gan a gradual approach from the
shooed the child back to play with side, perhaps hoping to remain un-
the others. seen in the crowd. All the females
“Do you have any idea what that escorting the children had their
was about?” Oland asked Kah’hat- backs to the males. Yet— just as one
ten. male reached out to grab a child, a
The Kohoet blinked. “No.” female ran in between them. The
“Hmm, neither do I, but there females bleated loudly and the
was something odd about the fe- crowd stopped moving. The males
males’ movements. Okay. Let’s see turned and ran. The relationship
some more scenes.” Oland settled between Teledt males and their
back. children seemed...abusive, by hu-
man standards. Maybe adult males
BY MID-AFTERNOON OLAND WAS could have caused the Kohoet
sure he could teach a course in youngsters’ death?
Teledt family development and Oland replayed it again and
child discipline, if the University again, but nothing in the image
ever asked. He had seen infants gave him an answer. However, the
learning to run, “pre-schoolers” actions of the female fascinated
learning to count (base 6 instead of him. She had been moving before
10, he wasn’t surprised to see), and she saw the males. There was no
overly quarrelsome children head- doubt about it.
butted into submission by annoyed Oland turned his head on the pil-
females. As he felt like his eyeballs low, then said to Kah’hatten, “We
would fall from his head, he also need a P.I., a private investigator,
saw what he needed. someone to get information for us.”
Many of the scenes so far had Kah’hatten cocked one eye at
been incidental to Kohoet fascina- him.
tion with architecture, parks, statues “We need information we can’t
and other works of beauty. Exam- get here. I want your people on
ining art work was another of their Teledt to get us some answers.”
 Marianne O. Nielsen 97

Kal’hatten looked like she Ohanat hooted and ran off.

wanted to say something scathing, In the next scene, the Kohoet
or at least ask a question but, of reversed their roles. Ho’hanak qui-
course, she didn’t say a word. He etly walked up behind Ohant, who
told her the list of questions. She left was sitting on a bench in the midst
the room. of a large flower garden. There was
a group of noisy young Teledt, care-
LATE THAT AFTERNOON, THE KOHOET fully supervised, splashing and kick-
returned. Her crest was flat and an- ing around in a pond. Ho’hanak
gry. “My Clan members beh-lieve stood there for a minute. Ohanat
I am ending the clarity of adult- obviously didn’t hear or smell him.
hood, but I have the information Nothing happened until Ho’hanak
you want. There were no adult suddenly hooted loudly and ran off.
males at the crime scene. Ho’hanak Ohanat jumped, and shrieked
and Ohanat talked to an authority something untranslated, obviously
member who wished currency. startled.
Then they did as you aa-sked.” She In the next scene, the being on
chirped, and a series of intriguing the bench was a Teledt female. The
scenarios unfolded: pond was again occupied with
A single Kohoet, Ho’hanak, ran happy youngsters. Ohanat came up
into view. He flashed across a busy quietly behind her. Again the re-
street, barely avoiding several thun- sults were different; within seconds,
dering, exhaust-belching road ve- she got nervous, looked around,
hicles, then he paced down the and then jumped up to confront the
sidewalk. The second Kohoet, Kohoet, who simply nodded and
Ohanat, emerged from a side street strode off.
and ran silently up behind “You're sure the Teledts’ senses
Ho’hanak, staring intently at his are less keen that yours? You’re not
back as he followed. In the roar and just being, you know, ethnocen-
belching fumes of traffic, and on the tric?”
heavily populated sidewalk, there “We kn-ow this. We are not eth-
was little chance Ho’hanak could nocentric; we ave superior to them
have heard or smelled Ohanat. He in the wa-ays most important.”
paced on, and Ohanat broke off. Kah’hatten ruffled her head feath-
Then the scene was repeated, but ers.
this time it was a female Teledt be- Oland chose discretion over a
ing followed. But the result was dif- lecture on social values. And he had
ferent; within a few steps she no other source of information to
seemed to tense up, and trotted a go on. “Okay, and the Kohoet were
little faster. Ohanat kept pace. really careful not to tip off each
Without warning, the Teledt other in the control scenarios. So-
stopped, hopped sideways, and we know the first time she couldn’t
swung around to confront him. She have smelled or heard him, but she
lowered her head, ready to butt. might have seen him in a window;
98 __—s Allien Intents

the second time she definitely “So we do not need to ask for
didn’t see him, and they say she restitution?”
couldn’t have smelled or heard Oland shrugged, then regretted
him, so...” the motion, despite the growing
“Bu-ut that could only mean...” numbness. “The females were pro-
Kah’hatten hesitated. tecting their youngsters. Does that
“She felt him.” Oland finished require restitution?”
the sentence. Kah’hatten rose. “No,” she said,
Kah’hatten was silent for some looking down at the recumbent
time. Finally she spoke: “You are Oland. “I drink to you.” —High
saying that the females are empah- praise from a Kohoet. She strode
thic.” Not quite a question, but very out of the room.
close. Just a slight change in tone of Oland turned his head, feeling
voice was needed... Was this the his weight sink into the bed. The
normal Kohoet way of gathering Kohoet would have to withdraw
information, or was she beginning their youngsters from the Teledt
to trust humans enough to ask ques- homeworld, or add yet another step
tions? Or just him? to the kill replacement therapy.
“Yeah, I think they are. The way And then there was the question
the females were anticipating the of...questions, and trust...and social
runaway youngsters, the way they control structures on other worlds,
intervened in that kidnapping or and...but right now, he didn’t really
whatever it was—the herd instinct care. Another nap was imposing
developed to a higher level, I’d itself....and then he would have a
guess. And now we know they can long, pleasant talk with Kaminsky.
feel other people, not just Teledt.” Very pleasant indeed.
Kah’hatten sat up straighter. She
considered the wall panel for a LATER THAT DAY, THE TWO KOHOET
short time. “If you are correct, then technicians removed the wall panel.
the Teledt were also correct. Our Oland was sorry to see it go. If only
young people did ‘start it’ as the he knew how to operate it. What a
Teledt claim.” research resource it would be...
Oland nodded, the drugs begin- The captain arrived not long af-
ning to pull him under. “Yeah. They ter. Her first words were, “The De-
didn’t actually chase any young- fense Department...”
sters, but they wanted to, probably Oland groaned and shut his eyes.
very badly. They were frustrated, “...won’t be bothering you
angry, and longing. And the fe- again,” she continued with a grin.
males protecting the kids felt all Oland opened his eyes. “But...”
those negative, powerful emotions. She cut him off. “Kah’hatten and
They didn’t know the Kohoet I arranged for the Defense techies
young people wouldn’t—couldn’t— to have a tour of the Kohoet ship,
attack, so the females attacked ‘in gratitude for your assistance.’
first.” They got ten minutes. I told her not
 Marianne O. Nielsen 99

to trust them much longer than which read ‘Welcome Humans.’ ”

that...not that it did ’em a lot of The Captain squared her hands as
good.” Her grin went from wide to if framing a small sign high on the
wicked. wall. “’Course, the techies re-
Oland looked questioning. corded everything but they were
“Um, yes. Kah’hatten invited me pretty disappointed. You don’t
along ‘to supervise.’ Every piece of want to know what the major said.”
technology was dead as a doornail, “IT owe you,” Oland said.
turned off...” Kah’hatten, too. He thought of the
A picture of a round, brown, major stomping around the control
shiny room, furnished with only room, glaring, cursing no doubt
four fabric “nests,” i.e. acceleration with fluency and frustration. Laugh-
couches, and nothing else, passed ing hurt much worse than breath-
through Oland’s mind. “You two ing, but he didn’t care.
didn’t!” he said. “Welcome Humans!” Oh, yes!
“Well, all except one panel, He felt better already.

Canadian Speculative Fiction

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The NCF Guide to

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Her punishment was a thousand years of solitude. Finding out she
had company was not the reprieve she thought it would be.

Nor Iron Bars a Cage

Leslie Brown

| er eyes and lips were gummed together. Her brittle hair

crackled as she turned blindly towards the familiar hum.
“Elapsed time?” Her voice was a croak.
“Forty standard years, fifty-two planetary years.” Gaoler’s voice was re-
assuringly familiar.
“Good.” She sat up stiffly. But there was a vast ache inside. She felt cool
metal under her arms as Gaoler helped her stand. Sliding her feet across
the floor, she made it to the recovery couch and settled back on its heated
surface with a sigh. A straw was touched to her lips and she obediently
sucked up the restorative liquid at the other end. She blinked in the sub-
dued light.
“Still holding down the fort, Gaoler?” The machine, able to recognize a
rhetorical question after a four-year real time association, did not reply.
“Any news from home, Gaoler? A pardon perhaps, a recall?”
“None, Citizen Rasmulah.”
“As if I expected one. Gaoler, did he come? After?”
“The recordings of the perimeter are indexed and ready for viewing as
per your request, Citizen Rasmulah.”

WRAPPED IN A THICK ROBE, SHE SAT AT THE COMPUTER CONSOLE AND

watched the perimeter vids chronologically. The first time he was surprised
and then angry when the perimeter did not allow him to pass through. He
stood there and shouted for her to come out. She watched over the weeks
as the anger faded into despair and she waited for him to stop coming. In-
deed the visits dwindled from daily to weekly but they never stopped. He
would sit on the rock, the same place he had sat when they first met. She
could see his mouth moving and knew he was pretending that she was in
her usual place on the other side of the invisible barrier. Gaoler, never one
 Leslie Brown 101

to act on its own initiative, had only “God damn it, Gaoler! Why
made visual records and had not didn’t you wait until he was dead
turned on the audio pickups. before you woke me up?”
She had the machine skip ahead, The voice came from the walls.
cued to his presence. He still The actual physical extrusion of
brought her things. A spear point Gaoler was elsewhere.
he had made, a tanned kula hide, “Your instructions were for forty
once even a bird’s nest. A primitive’s standard years, Citizen Rasmulah.
idea ofgifts, she sneered, and cued There was no mention of extenuat-
the records ahead by ten years. He ing factors.” She put her head down
was there, older and with a crippled on the console and cried.
arm. She resisted the impulse to
rewind and find out when he had SHE HAD BEEN A TEENAGER HERSELF
been hurt. A small boy now came then, passionately fired with her
with him and played in the meadow beliefs, proud in her martyrdom but
while his father sat and talked to still secretly hoping that Daddy
empty air. So he took a wife after all, would save her. Unfortunately the
she said to herself, but without the Judgement Panel was not swayed
sneer. She cued ahead another ten by her father’s wealth or political
years. He was gray-haired already. influence. The Unitarian Gover-
Such a short life span these primi- nance was proud of its reputation
tives had. The small boy was now for unswerving justice. Her friends
a young hunter. She was surprised had already been sentenced and
that he was still patient enough to sent to their prisons. Their joint
come with his father to the House. statement still smoldered in the
She hit the button again, another downtown of the capital city as the
ten-year jump. He was still there, memorial services for the innocent
sitting just beyond her garden. The bystanders were being televised.
once fluid movements were now Her eyes were dark holes in her
halting and painful. There was a white face, which was made even
young girl with him now. His more pallid by the bilious green of
granddaughter? There was a rather the prison jumpsuit.
permanent-looking shelter built in One thousand years with Sus-
the meadow. He probably could no pend option. Quite a reasonable
longer make the journey back to sentence for a misguided youth. It
camp easily. She hit the cue button would be little different from a stint
one last time. Last week. A dodder- in a Social Correction Center ex-
ing old man, bald as an egg but with cept for the fact that when she came
the keen eyes of his youth, sat on home, everyone she had known
the rock. The young girl was a teen- would be dead for hundreds of
ager with a baby of her own on her years. In shock, her father blustered
hip. and her mother cried. At the desig-
She slammed the button that nated time, she was rendered un-
turned off the display. Her cry ech- conscious for the journey, and
oed down the hallways. awoke some time later in the
102 Nor Iron Bars a Cage

House. to her in real time; end it as soon as

The House was situated in a val- possible and be done with gilded
ley with gentle hills on one side and cages. Or she could live off and on,
a fairly impressive mountain range real time and Suspend, and finish
on the other. A dense forest of trees her millennium about fifty years
carpeted everything except the tops older than when she had started.
of the peaks and a perfectly circu- Celia Rasmulah put a high pre-
lar area around the House. The re- mium on survival; suicide never
sulting meadow was a riot of wild even occurred to her. She chose the
flowers, complemented by the tame third option.
flowers in her garden. The House She thought she was alone on the
was well appointed. There were planet until her third awakening.
both water and high freq showers. She was being prudent, sleeping for
The House computer contained five years and living real time for
every book and vis-entertainment the full year it took her body to re-
made in the last five hundred years. cover. She would juggle the inter-
The medical facilities were excel- vals a bit to make sure she wasn’t
lent and the cuisine quite adequate. totally decrepit when it came time
None of this made up for the lack to go home, but long sleeps fright-
of human companionship or ened her. Even the relatively short
helped her forget about the repel stint of five years left her as weak as
field just beyond the fragrant gar- a baby for a month. She spent that
dens that ringed the House. Gaoler, recovery time at the computer con-
an antigrav bot that was the mobile sole. The interactive games were
unit of the House computer, would too much for her weakened state,
respond to direct questions and and she couldn’t concentrate long
obey most of her commands. Its enough to finish a novel. Out of
designation was a string of numbers boredom, she finally opened the
and letters, but it would answer to assignment file that her wardens
“Gaoler.” One of the questions it had included in her datapak. She
would not answer was where she scanned the list with disbelief. Cli-
was. The planet was not one of the matic changes, meteorological data,
sixteen in the tri-solar Unity, and axis wobbling? If she had wanted to
the House computer would not al- be a planethugger, she would have
low her access to star charts to make taken planetary studies in school.
a further attempt at identification. Here she was in prison and they
The Suspend box was there in a expected to get free work out of her
room of its own, for use completely too. She tried to delete the file but
at her discretion. She could sleep of course the House computer re-
away her thousand-year prison fused her that privilege.
term, but there would be perma- She staggered out to the garden
nent physical deterioration result- to vent her anger on some flower-
ing from a prolonged Suspend beds. Real destruction was beyond
sleep. She could forego the box and her capabilities and she had to con-
live out the hundred or so years left tent herself with shuffling back and
 Leslie Brown 103

forth through the colored masses of ladder. He was probably a descen-

flowers. Gaoler would repair the dant of a lost colony ship over-
damage overnight, erasing all evi- looked by the Unitarian
dence of her slow-motion rampage. Governance when it had absorbed
She was leaning against one of the all the independent colonies in the
House’s smooth walls when a sector. Had the authorities known
movement out of the corner of her of a human presence on the planet,
eye made her jerk her head around. they never would have put the
The savage was standing just out- House here. No outside interfer-
side the perimeter. He looked wary ence with her punishment was to be
but not alarmed; accustomed, it tolerated.
seemed, to young women throwing This particular specimen had no
temper tantrums. Celia shouted at technological trappings about him.
the House. He wore a mustache and his hair
“Gaoler, repel field on!” was tied back with a leather thong.
“The field has been activated for His clothing was a curious mixture
the past ten minutes since the ap- of animal hides and crudely woven
pearance of the indigenous life textiles. Celia curled her lip at them.
form.” That would mean the savage “Can’t decide whether to be a
had been watching the entirety of hunter or a gatherer, eh?”
her tantrum. She wobbled over to The savage decided that she
the perimeter, confident in its abil- needed to start with the basics. He
ity to protect her. pointed carefully to himself and
“What do you want?” she asked clearly enunciated his name.
venomously, hoping that her tone “Olin.” Then he pointed at her to
would adequately convey her feel- make sure she got the idea. Celia
ings. The savage was not fazed in teetered, oblivious, on the edge of
the slightest, and put his hand out a momentous decision: Be offended
between them. It encountered the or submit to the humor of the situ-
prickly resistance of the repel field ation. The loneliness surged over
but he left it in place and looked at her and she smiled.
Celia with obvious enquiry. “Olin.” She pronounced care-
“Ah, so you are the curious pri- fully and then pointed at her own
mate, are you? The one who goes chest. “Celia.”
on to discover fire and toasted “Ceeleeah.” He repeated, proud
weenies while your friends huddle of her that she had understood so
in the dark and eat raw meat.” quickly. They talked for the rest of
The savage withdrew his hand the afternoon, pacing the perimeter
and hunkered down. That looked while Celia pointed at objects and
like a good idea and Celia allowed asked Olin for their names. As dusk
her legs to buckle underneath her. neared, Olin, with a great show of
The savage was pleased that she regret, pantomimed that he had to
had agreed to be sociable. At least leave. Celia spent the evening going
he seemed to be within a couple of over the vocabulary from their con-
rungs of her on the evolutionary versation, recorded by Gaoler as
104 Nor Iron Bars a Cage

instructed. She had always had a you.”

knack for languages and was able to “T don’t like the idea that you
repeat every word flawlessly for were watching me.”
Olin the next afternoon. It was only “Why? I watch you like I watch
a matter of weeks before they could the kula or the helias. To learn your
communicate reasonably well, well habits and to understand your
enough for Olin to ask her about spirit.”
the invisible barrier that separated Celia raised her eyebrows. “So
them. Could she not come out or he that you can hunt me?”
go in? Olin smiled, a flash of white in his
“No, it’s always there.” Celia lied. tanned face. “As a man hunts a
Actually, the repel field was too woman, perhaps.”
energy-demanding to be kept con- Celia snorted. “Fat chance you
stantly activated. Celia was kept have of that. I’m not letting you in
within the perimeter by a brain here ever, my skin-clad friend.”
implant wired to her pain centers. Olin cocked his head. He had
Olin persisted. “But the birds missed most of that reply but the
come and go. Once I saw a baby meaning was clear.
helias come in. You played with it “I think I have one, maybe two
until its mother called it back.” circles of seasons before you go into
Celia froze. That had been in her the tent not to come out again for
first year on the planet, before her many circles.” He paused looking
first Suspend. She looked at him for confirmation but Celia merely
coldly. raised an eyebrow at him. “I am a
“That was twenty seasons ago.” good talker. Maybe I can talk my-
She had to flash her fingers for the self in, like the birds. Then you will
word “twenty.” “How long have not go away.”
you been spying on me?” He did
not ask her what “spying” meant. It CELIA FOUND HERSELF HUMMING
was evident from the context. He as she prepared dinner that night.
did not look ashamed when he an- Her fork paused on the way to her
swered. mouth as she realized that she had
“Since I was a boy. The elders actually enjoying flirting with a
had forbidden anyone to come near hairy, louse-infested, spear-carrying
the tent with the smooth and shiny savage. What a comedown from the
walls, so of course I came. I most sought-after socialite in the tri-
watched you, but then you did not system. If her friends could see her
come for many circles of seasons. now, they'd burst a gut laughing.
When I was a new hunter, with my Except the few friends she had were
first blooding just behind me, you in prisons similar to her own with
came out of the tent again and I| just a bot to talk to. They didn’t
watched you. When you stopped have any inopportune savages
coming out, I waited, hoping you slinking around their perimeters.
would come back as before. When She swallowed her mouthful and
you did, I swore I would speak to addressed the walls. “Gaoler, have
 Leslie Brown 105

you reported Olin to the Wardens? I sleep so long, on and on. I am not
When are they coming to move here to pull you out of the stone
me?” age.” She used the formal /eh as
“T have no specific instructions well.
regarding indigenous sentient life “T do not understand, Ceeleeah.
forms, Citizen Rasmulah. No action We talk for many half-days and you
has been taken.” do not seem tired.”
Celia’s eyebrows raised in sur- “That’s the problem, Olin. You
prise. An oversight in Gaoler’s pro- don’t understand. You can’t talk
gramming. How delicious. She about anything that interests me.
could certainly take advantage of it. You are stupid.” She glanced side-
However, the savage was indeed ways to gauge his reaction.
inopportune to think that she would He rose. “I understand your
be interested in him. She would words. What I do not understand is
punish Olin for his presumption. why you use them to hurt. I would
She would not come out and talk to make better use of my time hunting.
him tomorrow. That should put a I will come back when talking to
crimp in his seduction schedule. me does not bore you.”
She held to her vow the next day Celia panicked. She had lost con-
but watched him through the vid trol of the situation.
pickups. He was worried rather “I’m sorry, Olin. I did not mean
than angry which surprised her. She those words and I will not stay in-
listened to him call her name, ask- side when you come. Please don’t
ing if she were ill or hurt. Celia leave.” She was vaguely aware that
found herself becoming increas- this was the first sincere apology of
ingly discomforted. As casually as her life. Olin was only slightly mol-
possible, she emerged from the lified.
House and strolled over to the pe- “T should not come tomorrow.
rimeter. Olin’s relief was obvious The elders complain that I do not
and turned to anger only after he spend enough time finding meat for
saw she was all right. my tribe. I should leave and follow
“You”—and he used the formal the helias herds until I have all the
leh instead of the familiar /ah— meat I will need for the winter.”
“should not do such things. If you Celia bit her lip. “Don’t leave. I
do not wish to speak with me, you said I was sorry. You upset me yes-
tell me, and then leave. You do not terday with your talk of hunting. I
let me stay out here for a quarter- do not wish to be hunted by you.”
day, thinking all is not well with “Ah,” comprehension lit Olin’s
you.” He stood with his arms across face. “You are playing a courting
his chest, his expression stony. game. You are right. I did not un-
Celia tossed her head. “I don’t derstand.”
have to answer to you. I did not feel Celia stamped her foot. “I’m not
like talking to you today. All I do is playing a stupid courting game. I
explain things to you and I’m tired am not interested in you as a mate.
of it. How does Gaoler fly, why do Get that through your head. We are
106 Nor Iron Bars a Cage

not the same, you and I. I can never word you will not try and cross the
leave this House. That is the truth. field?” Olin nodded, grinning
It would kill me to go through this broadly. Celia narrowed her eyes
wall.” She indicated the invisible but gave the order to negate the
perimeter with an open-palmed field.
wave. “Now throw it to me.”
“That would not matter. I would Olin complied good-naturedly
come to you, always.” Now he was and as soon as she had the bundle
using the intimate Jan rather than in her hands, she had Gaoler resur-
the familiar /ah. The man was a rect the field. She eagerly un-
good talker. wrapped it. It was a carving of a
“Olin, you were right when you helias, quite detailed and done ina
guessed that I would only be here black stone veined with silver. She
for four, maybe five more seasons. looked up at Olin, speechless.
Then I will go away to sleep for “Do you like my gift, Ceeleeah?”
seven circles of seasons. This can- “It’s beautiful, Olin.”
not change. I would like to be “I will bring more now and then,
friends with you while I am awake, so that you do not get bored talking
but I will not be your wife, and I to me.”
will not let you in here. Can you Celia reddened but met his eyes.
accept that?” “T’d like that, Olin.”
“I will until you tell me differ-
ently,” Olin replied without any OLIN DID HAVE TO LEAVE FOR
apparent dismay. He patted his several weeks to hunt and help his
robes. “I forgot. I brought a present semi-nomadic tribe move to their
for you.” He pulled out a hide- winter camp. Celia was lonely dur-
wrapped bundle. Celia eyed him ing his absence. She dove into the
suspiciously. datapak, selecting pictures from
“What is it?” each of the sixteen planets to show
“You will have to unwrap it to Olin on her port. He came back
see.” Olin replied, an open, inno- with the first snows and she ran to
cent expression on his face. Celia the perimeter, unaware that her
gnawed her lower lip. pleasure at his return showed
“All right, walk away from the clearly on her face.
perimeter. Stop there.” She turned As the days became shorter, Olin
her head towards the House and had to leave her earlier to get back
raised her voice. to the camp before dark. The noc-
“Gaoler, negate external repel turnal kulas were active in the win-
field.” tertime and would not hesitate to
“Are you certain, Citizen Rasmu- pull down a lone man. Celia and
lah? This unit will use deadly force Olin had been playing chess all day
against the indigenous life form if it on a crude facsimile of a board us-
should prove hostile.” ing pieces that he had carved from
“Youw’re not hostile, are you, the black stone. Celia always felt
Olin? And you will give me your slightly ridiculous playing out at the
 Leslie Brown 107

perimeter with a fire blazing on of the door and floundered through

Olin’s side and a portable heater set the snow, coatless and her feet clad
up on hers. The weather had been only in slippers.
particularly cold and both were “Lights!” she shouted and obedi-
bundled up with only their eyes ently the floodlights along the edge
showing. It would make much of the roof illuminated the tree line
more sense just to let him into the on the other side of the meadow.
House so they could play on a table Three figures raced towards her
in comfort, but Celia had no inten- across its snowy expanse. The lead
tion of appearing to yield to Olin’s figure had a strange flailing gait. A
persuasion. She bit her lower lip in man running on snowshoes, her mind
indecision as she watched him said, solving the abnormality. The
trudge off on his snowshoes. He two shapes behind were kulas, low
had left it too late this time and to the ground but bounding
would have to travel quickly to get through the snow as if their legs
home before nightfall. Maybe she were on springs.
should have offered to let him “Gaoler, turn off the external re-
spend the night in the House. He peller,” she ordered.
was a man of his word. If she asked “Citizen Rasmulah, there are
him to stay out of her room, he hostile life forms...”
would have. It was herself that she She interrupted the bot. “Gaoler,
didn’t trust. [¢’s just the loneliness, she you are an advanced machine.
thought. After three and half years Time it so that Olin can get in, then
real time on her own, even a savage lock out the kulas.”
would start to look good. It would “As instructed, Citizen Rasmulah.”
never do to admit to herself that he Celia had reached the limits of
had ceased being just a savage to her prison and was forced to watch
her weeks, no, months ago. helplessly as Olin floundered to-
She had just gone to bed when wards her. With an impossible
Gaoler’s voice suddenly burst from spring, the kula nearest to him leapt
the walls. into the air and sank its teeth into
“There are a number of indig- his leg. Olin fell face first in the
enous life forms near the perimeter, snow and desperately scrabbled
Citizen Rasmulah. The repel field is with his arms for any kind of pur-
activated for your safety.” chase to keep the kula from drag-
“Well what about it?” Celia ging him back into the woods. The
asked, annoyed at being startled. second kula joined them and
“It’s probably a pack of kulas ma- started worrying at the other leg.
rauding.” Celia screamed and pressed
“That is correct, Citizen Ras- against the perimeter until her head
mulah. However, your instructions was ready to split. Her cry seemed
have been to notify you when the to galvanize Olin and he twisted
life form known as ‘Olin’ is in the around in the kulas’ grip. With a
vicinity. One of the life forms out- hunter’s instinct, he held on to his
side is so identified.” Celia burst out spear and he stabbed at the first
108 Nor Iron Bars a Cage

kula. The beast yelped and sprang marveled at the fact that he was still
away. The other kula was confused conscious. He smiled.
and let go of Olin’s leg. It was prob- “You see. I was able to talk my
ably a pup, alarmed by the adult’s way into your tent.”
reaction to what should be helpless She sat down on the edge of his
prey. Olin started to painfully drag bed and smoothed the long hair
himself towards Celia. Two more back out of his eyes. “Well, you
kulas emerged from the forest edge. picked a hell of painful way to do it.
Celia knelt so as to be at eye level Any woman would feel flattered.”
with Olin. She beckoned frantically “You are not just any woman,
as if that could hurry him. Just short Ceeleeah.”
of the perimeter, he faltered. The “You area good talker.” She let
kulas had regrouped and were clos- him pull her down beside him.
ing fast. “What about your leg?”
“Damn you, Olin,” she screamed. “I will not be needing it right
“Don’t die on my doorstep.” Ignor- now.” He silenced her laughter with
ing the pain, she pushed into the his mouth.
perimeter. Her nose started pouring
blood and the pressure in her skull OLIN WAS HER GUEST FOR THE
felt like a vice closing. She hung in rest of the winter. She introduced
agony. Then she was in Olin’s arms him to the House computer and
as they fell backwards into the com- often had to drag him off the con-
pound. The lead kula smashed into sole for meals. He was learning how
the repel field and rebounded into to speak tri-system from a schooling
the meadow, shaking its head in database and honing his language
confusion. skills on the Day-in-the-Life vid se-
They lay in the snow, their arms rials. He was quite upset when he
wrapped tightly around each other reached the last installment in her
for the first time. library and Celia had to tell him
“Gaoler,” she whispered. “Medi- that she did not get updates. He
cal attention.” would not play board games with
the computer, only with her, and
SHE STOOD AT THE DOOR OF HER dismissed the interactive vid games
room watching him sleep. His leg as not useful. Celia suspected that
was bandaged from thigh to calf. the strange settings and weapons
The pup had only scratched the discomforted him more than he
other. She had wasted precious would admit. Gaoler had made a
time shouting at Gaoler before he wheel chair under protest to give
would extend the full capabilities of Olin limited mobility. He would
the House’s medical facilities to wheel himself to the viewing win-
Olin. The hunter would be weeks dows in the main room and watch
abed waiting for the muscle to re- the snow-covered mountain range
build under the biobandage. While with an intense concentration. Celia
she stood there, his eyes flickered finally realized that he was simply
open and fixed on her face. She willing himself to get well.
 Leslie Brown 109

She also slowly realized that off. Do you really think my destiny
when she had become his lover, he is to be the woman of a primitive on
made the assumption that she had some godforsaken planet?”
agreed to become his wife. In spite Olin’s face closed in on itself.
of that, she still joined him every “My love is all I have to offer you,
night. For a savage, he had some Ceeleeah.”
very sophisticated notions. She “Stop calling me that. My name
would not stay with him afterwards is Celia. If you can’t say it right,
but, instead, finished the night on don’t say it at all!” She turned to
the recovery couch in the Suspend storm out of the room but her
room. She knew she woke him each shoulder caught on the shelf that
time she slid out of the bed, but he Gaoler made for her, the one that
did not comment on it. Perhaps he held all of Olin’s presents. It shifted
thought it was some custom of and the little black helias, his first
people who dwelled in smooth- gift to her, teetered and fell to the
walled tents. All she understood is floor. It shattered and Celia fell to
that she did not want the intimacy her knees with an inarticulate cry.
of waking up beside him in the Olin started forward, his chair
morning. wheels crushing black fragments.
They still talked for hours, but He reached out to Celia but she
Celia gradually found herself draw- pulled back. Tears ran down her
ing away, which was difficult in face.
such close quarters. She hid in her “T shouldn’t care about this. I
vid games or walked the perimeter shouldn’t care about you. There are
endlessly. She knew Olin watched better things waiting for me, as soon
her from the window, wondering as I finish my sentence. You know
what kept her out there. He finally the slate gets wiped clean, after I’ve
broached the subject one day as she paid, don’t you, Olin? No one will
pulled her boots off, shaking from even mention the embarrassing fact
exhaustion. that I killed people. Didn’t you
“Ceeleeah, I will be better soon. even wonder why I am trapped in
I know you are not used to being this House? You know this is a
with me all the time. After we are prison, don’t you, Olin? It’s obvi-
married, I will have to spend time ous. How do you feel about having
at the camp and also I will be gone a wife who killed innocent people?
hunting. It will not be as hard for Maybe you should choose a bit
you.” more carefully.”
“Hard for me, Olin?” She There was only pain on Olin’s
shucked off her coat and stood star- face. “I have loved you since I was
ing at him. “The problem is, it’s too a child. I cannot turn away no mat-
easy. So easy, I could just stay here ter how much you want me to. It is
with you and let my life pass by. only you that keeps yourself from
And then where does that leave being happy.”
me? An old woman, too old to go “Happy? I don’t think I'll ever be
back home and take up where I left that here.” She left the room,
110 Nor Iron Bars a Cage

passing Gaoler, who was hovering fingertips up to his face as if to touch

at the door. “There’s a mess in there it. All she felt was the prickling of
to clean up, Gaoler.” the repel field.
Hours later, Olin said nothing “Olin,” she said softly.
when she slipped in beside him, “Ceeleeah.” He turned towards
merely opening his arms to her and her voice. “You have woken.”
stroking her hair while she cried.
Neither made mention of her out- THE LAST BREATH SHUDDERED OUT
burst again. of his spent frame. Celia gently
Finally the day came when the placed the hand she had been hold-
biobandage beeped and fell off ing on the still chest. She went to the
Olin’s leg. He was able to walk im- door of the room that had been
mediately, since the bandage had Olin’s for the last five years.
toned the muscles once they had “Gaoler,” she whispered. The bot
been rebuilt. She remembered with floated up silently.
amusement how she had to calm “Activate program 6, please.”
him when the bandage had started “Yes, Citizen Rasmulah.” The
its first massage cycle. He wanted to bot drifted out to the garden and
return to camp as soon as possible began cutting a hole in the ground
to mollify the elders who had not approximately six feet deep. Celia
been happy with his decision to re- stood at the window and watched
cuperate at the House. The snows him work. She looked beyond the
had given way to the leafy muck of garden to the village that had grown
spring. She stood at the doorway up around Olin’s shelter. The few
watching the crossed snowshoes remaining tents were being quickly
tied to his pack vanish into the replaced with square-timbered
woods. She closed the door softly houses. She saw a familiar figure
and turned to Gaoler. directing some men as they raised
“Prepare the Suspend room for a heavy beam to the top of a wall
me, Gaoler.” using a block and tackle. Celia
“What is the duration of your knew that as soon as he was finish-
Suspend sleep, Citizen Rasmulah?” ing supervising that job, Perral, who
“Make it forty standard years.” took his position as village head-
“As you wish, Citizen Rasmulah.” man a little too seriously, would be
pestering her for the artesian well
THE OLD MAN WAS BLIND. SHE design she had promised him. She
could see that, now that she was smiled tiredly and picked up the
closer. The teenage girl startled like heavy branch of ironwood that she
a helias, clutching her baby to her had asked Olin’s grandniece to
protectively. She opened her bring her. Not granddaughter. Olin
mouth to speak and Celia put her had never taken a tribeswoman to
fingers to her lips. The girl obedi- wife. She stepped into the Suspend
ently settled. After all, her grandfa- room and looked at the coffin-sized
ther must have told her about Celia. box.
She bent at the knees and put her “If only I had done this forty-five
 Leslie Brown 111

years ago.” She raised the branch in down? You should have told us; we
the air and brought it crashing would have repaired it.”
down on the transparent canopy. Celia smiled. “No need, Citizen,
“Well, better late than never.” The I opted to spend my sentence in
noise woke Olin’s great-grand- real time. Can I offer you some re-
nephew in the front room and Celia freshment? Oh, and I have com-
hurried to finish the job so that she pleted the assignment package
could go comfort the infant. included in the House computer’s
datapak. I'll put it on a port so you
THE SMALL ORBIT-TO-GROUND can take it with you. The satellite
transport ship touched down lightly picked up some very curious
in the meadow. A man stepped out weather patterns over the Southern
and walked up to the repel field, continent.”
frowning at the wooden and stone The visitor shook his head. “Citi-
buildings clustered in the meadow. zen Rasmulah, I have come to tell
He held a device out at waist level you that your sentence has been
and the field vanished, a sharp commuted to residency in a Social
smell of ozone drifting across the Correction Center. New develop-
garden to Celia. She shaded her ments in teenage psychology treat-
eyes to see better, brushing the ments have eliminated the asocial
white wisps of hair out of her eyes. inclinations that caused you to be
“Granny Celia, who is it?” asked sent here. The Review Panel felt
one of the children seated at her that society was at fault for not de-
feet. vising a cure in time to help you.
“Just a visitor, Ashla. You take With counseling, you may be re-
the others inside and get some leased on your own recognisance
drinks. Take your lessons with within a standard year.”
you.” The children picked up their Celia looked at the young man,
ports and went inside the House, barely into his twenties. “I refuse
casting sideways glances at the the commutation of my sentence.”
stranger waiting to talk to Celia. He frowned. “That is within your
There was a small gathering of vil- legal rights, Citizen, but why? Why
lagers forming at a polite distance. stay here in prison?”
“Citizen Celia Rasmulah?” The Celia took him gently by the el-
man asked doubtfully. bow and guided him around the
“The same, Citizen. What can I side of the House to the bench that
do for you?” served as Olin’s tombstone.
He looked at her with dismay. “It “Let me tell you about prisons,
has only been one hundred and ten young man. It’s a long story but by
years since you were transported the time I’m done, you'll under-
here. Did your Suspend box break stand that I’m already free.”
112 ON SPEC, Spring 2000

ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS

LESLIE BROWN (“Nor Iron Bars a Cage”), when not researching brain receptors at the
National Research Council in Ottawa, enjoys tormenting her female co-workers with in-
cremental chapters of an unfinished romance novel. This is her second published story.

LINDAJ.DUNN (“Sonata in Weapons”) is a computer specialist at a government facility

in Indianapolis, IN. She has two adult children with diverse interests, one of whom per-
forms in a rock band. Her website is at <http://www.sff.net/people/LJDUNN>.

J. S. LYSTER (“Corrective Surgery”) is the publisher and co-editor of B/M, a west-coast

magazine for writers and artist. His short story, “The Hunter if the Guileless” (Storyteller
Magazine, Fall 1998), was nominated for the Arthur Ellis award for crime fiction.

DONNA MCMAHON (“Squat”) lives a bisected West Coast life: one half in Vancouver
where the cafes are always full of people talking on cell phones, and the other half in
Gibson’s Landing, where the Bargain Store parking lot is always full of pick-up trucks.
Her interest in future crimes is strictly theoretical. Donna’s first novel, Dance ofKnives, will
be published by Tor in November 2000.

STEVE MOHN (“Sonny Boy”) lives and writes in Montreal.

MARIANNE O. NIELSEN (“Alien Intents”) is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at

Northern Arizona University. Her work has appeared in previous issues of On Spec and
in more academic journals that she really cares to think about this morning. (See “Alien
Rites and Wrongs” in On Spec Spring 1997, our Canadian Geographic theme issue, for
more on Oland and Kah’hatten.)

KEITH Scott (“A Slope So Slippery”) was born in Lunchingston, Manchuria, 1920, of
Missionary parents, and spent much of his youth in Korea, returning to Canada in the
mid-1930s. During World War II, he flew Spitfires in the RCAF. After the war, he met
his future wife and soulmate, Billie, to whom he was to be married for 52 years. A mem-
ber of Toronto’s Cecil Street Writers’ Group, Keith was the author of more than 20 pub-
lished sf/f stories; he also wrote radio-plays for CBC. On Specis pleased and proud to have
published seven of those 20 stories: “Water” (Fall 1991 and On Spec: The First Five Years),
“A Swim in the Rocks” (Fall 1993), “Whose Lifeboat?” (Winter 1994), “Duty Suit” (Win-
ter 1995), “Doomball” (Fall 1997), “Keffie and Scragman” (Winter 1998), and “A Slope
So Slippery” (Spring 2000).

REBECCA M. SENESE (“The Echo of Bones”) is a Toronto-based writer who writes crime
fiction, horror and science fiction, often all at once in the same story. Nominated for
numerous Aurora awards, her work has appeared in Deadbolt Magazine, On Spec, The
Vampire’s Crypt, imelod and Into the Darkness.

PETER WATTS (Frontispiece “Alien Intents”), although better known as the author of
Starfish (Tor 1999) surprised us all with an artistic side. About his illustration, he says: “This
shows the homicidal herbivores placed beneath an inverted trophic pyramid with a clas-
sic predator/prey equation expressed as an inequality. This last illo will be hailed as amaz-
ingly clever by animal ecology post-grad readers. ... I tried to make the beasties as alien
as I could while still being faithful to the descriptions: the Kohoet’s eye came out of a frog;
I based the texture of the talons on gazelle antlers; I think the beak was originally a
cashew.”
The Magazine Of Thoughtful Commentary On
The Culture, Politics and Economy Of Alberta.

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