“You’ve lost the love, that wonderful love for your ship, that’s given only to speshes. What did you get in return, Alex?”
No reply.
“Do you really think I am villainously withholding from humanity the remedy that returns their emotions to Old Testament norms? Come on! Humanity has always created everything for which there was a need. If there were a need, a blocker of altered emotions would have been created. And is it really all about the ethical factors that have been forced on them? You, for instance… you’ve taken the drug. Your artificially created kindness and sense of responsibility dissipated. So what prevented you, just a few minutes ago, from throwing my gel-crystal out into vacuum or frying it in a microwave?”
Alex looked him straight in the eye.
“I wasn’t watching what was going on inside the ship,” Edward added. “You’ve deprived me of the opportunity to do that. But I know people. You did want to put an end to me, right?”
“Yes. Because of what you’ve done to Kim. Because you took part in… I’m sure, one way or another, you took part in the conspiracy.”
Garlitsky gave a few slow nods.
“Of course, of course. What I’ve done to Kim! Evil me! I’ve given her the gift of destiny—one of a great spy, provocateur, a lady of the demimonde, madly adored by both men and women. A person who will work for dozens of secret services. Books will be written about her, and movies made! People of power will order this kind of intriguing specialization for their children. Little girls will play, pretending to be Kim O’Hara. You can’t even imagine what a fascinating life awaits this girl, Alex! Now she will help me gain a body, and then I will help her. We are both in for a most interesting life in this great and fascinating world! Although…” He raised his eyebrows. “You can change all that. Easily. I’d advise you to go the vacuum way—a fried gel-crystal reeks to high heaven, being organic after all. The stench will be too much like that of burnt human flesh. As for my participation in the conspiracy… you’re also mistaken.”
He got up, stretched, straightening his nonexistent body. Murmured:
“How I’d love to hear a creak in my sinews… hit a funny bone and feel the pain… or get a scratch… Well, what next, Alex? What will you do with me? Your murder blocks are off. You’re fully in charge of your states of mind. Here it is—freedom!”
Alex got up from the sand. Smiled, bitterly. And nodded to Garlitsky before exiting the gel-crystal.
Forever.
Kim was sitting in the chair, flipping through the book he’d left on the table. When Alex took off the neuro-terminal, she smiled at him.
“Sorry to intrude—your door wasn’t locked. Did you tell Edgar that everything was all right already?”
“No. I left it to you.”
“Then let me…”
He silently handed her the crystal and the neuro-shunt. Kim winked at him, before putting her hand under her blouse to hide Edward Garlitsky’s world in her own body. She said:
“I already turned in my report. Holmes said that in a couple of hours, when Janet finishes up the intensive treatment course for Sey-Zo, we’ll go in for landing. And Xang wanted to know if you’d let him pilot the ship?”
“Everything’s allowed now,” Alex replied.
“Here, listen to this…” Kim threw a quick glance at the page, put the book aside. She really did have perfect photographic memory.
“No poems, please,” said Alex.
“What?”
“I don’t want poems now. Even if they’re good.”
“Are you mad at me for some reason?” asked Kim, after a pause.
“No, baby. Everything’s all right.”
“Really?”
“Tell me, are you still in love with me?”
She fell into thought.
“Don’t worry, I won’t get offended,” said Alex. “You already know that pilot-speshes are incapable of love.”
“Alex…” Kim did nevertheless jump off her armchair, sidle up to him, and hug him around the shoulders. “Alex, dearest. I’m so…”
She stopped, smiled apologetically, then finished the phrase she had started.
“I’m so grateful to you. You helped me through a very difficult and very painful time. When I was all alone against the whole world. It must be destiny—that we have met.”
Alex hugged her. Kissed her hair, smelling of something warm, summery, floral. Gently, without any passion, to which he had no right anymore.
“I like to think that it really was destiny,” he agreed.
“And I so wanted you to fall in love with me. The way I am. Inexperienced, stupid… I tried so very hard…”
“Forgive me.”
Kim slid her hand along his cheek. A calm, assured gesture of a woman grown wise with experience.
“It’s all right. I understand everything now! But you and I had fun, right?”
Alex smiled.
“Did we ever! ‘Kitty scratch’—that was really something!”
Kim gave him a smacking little kiss on the cheek.
“Uh-huh. Well, I’ll be going, okay, Alex? I need to talk to… and discuss all the details.”
“Go ahead, baby.”
He even walked her to the hallway door. Just seven steps—but a sign of respect, nevertheless. And slapped her on her behind so that she let out a happy little squeal.
“To hell with all of it…” said Alex, after the door had closed. He didn’t finish his phrase. Rolled up the sleeve of his jersey, looked at the Demon.
The little devil was crouching, its head down on its knees, so that the face couldn’t be seen.
Alex had no need for an emotion scanner now, but he was glad to see the Demon anyway. His old, trusted friend.
“We’ll make it, buddy,” he said. “Plenty of pretty girls in the galaxy, right?”
The little devil didn’t stir. Alex walked up to the terminal.
“Connect to Janet Ruello’s quarters.”
“Blocked…” replied the service program in a regretful tone.
“Captain’s access,” said Alex, after a brief hesitation. “Unilateral surveillance.”
A screen appeared.
Janet Ruello and Puck Generalov were sitting on the bed. Janet was naked. Puck was half-dressed.
“Still unpleasant?” asked Janet. She was holding Generalov’s hand to her chest.
“I don’t know… feels strange…” Puck heaved a deep sigh. “But why is it so big?”
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be,” said Janet gently. “Relax.”
“But you gotta understand, this is a perversion for me!” said Generalov piteously. “And then Kim… what she did… that was so…”
“My body is made much more simply,” said Janet, soothingly caressing his braid. “Trust me. You’ve been meaning to expand your life’s experience? And now if we don’t counter those negative impressions—all will be lost! I think we’d better start with something you’re more accustomed to—”
Alex switched off the screen. Stood still for a second. And then burst out laughing. Said, to the Demon, or maybe to himself:
“So, the genetically altered emotions get blocked? Interesting…”
He lay down on the bed, yawned. Really wanted to take another look at the Demon—could it, too, appreciate the irony of the situation? Or was it still crouching there, hiding its tear-stained face?
But it made no difference, in the end.
Afterword
This too was a sky.
From horizon to horizon stretched greenish-white oval leaves, drifting through the air at the height of about ten thousand feet.
Clouds, condensing to form a light mist under the giant lotuses, seemed to be fine pollen falling from the leaves. The city, sheltered from the deadly luminary by a living shield, was wrapped in mysterious shade. A glider gamboled high up, carefully avoiding the precious green cover. Sharp needles of skyscrapers seemed to bend, afraid to scratch the soft flesh of the plants. The slow drifting of the lotuses was almost imperceptible to the eye.