Expatria: The Box Set (16 page)

Sukui looked at the tent. He cleared his throat. 'Lucilla?'

Since their first meeting, he had maintained contact with Lucilla Ngota and their friendship had flourished. She was a strong woman who knew her own thoughts and he admired that. Also, he admired the way she could balance things in her mind, making decisions rapidly and accurately.

But he had been unable to understand why she had become involved with Chet Alpha's Pageant of the Holy Charities. She had attended as an observer, at first; then out of curiosity. For the last two nights she had slept in the Traders' Gallery, presumably in this cramped little tent.

A flap lifted and Lucilla smiled out at him. 'Kasimir,' she said. 'Come in.' He crouched and then crawled in, squeezing past Lucilla as she held the flap open for him. She still had a most extreme effect on him; brushing past her made his heart race and he broke out into an impolite sweat.

The tent was cramped and when they sat facing each other their knees touched. 'It's private here,' she said. 'I can meditate here. Chet says we have to pursue our inner spirituality any way we can and I get it best meditating. I'm glad you came.'

Sukui listened to the sounds of the people outside; he could see their movements through the gap between the tent's entrance flaps. 'I was curious,' he said. He had not spoken to her since she had moved in with the Pageant. 'You are a strong, rational woman. Chet Alpha is sincere, but he is misguided. I thought I was getting to know you but then you joined his Pageant. I would appreciate enlightenment.' He bowed his head and stared at Lucilla's horn-like toenails.

'Everyone has something spiritual in them,' said Lucilla, wriggling her toes. 'Even you, Kasimir. Chet can't be misguided—he hasn't even been guided. All he knows is we're here for a purpose and we're just as well having a good time while we find out what it is. He's not feeding us shit, Kasimir. Each of us is here because we think there's something
more
. Can you see that?'

Sukui shook his head slowly. 'I am a man of science,' he said.

'It's an extension of how I've always seen things,' said Lucilla. 'You take everything for what it is. If someone's worth hating, you hate, if they're worth loving, you love.'

'You loved March Hanrahan?' said Sukui suddenly. He did not know why he had asked.

For a moment there was anger in Lucilla's eyes, then it was overcome by sadness. 'You observe people, Kasimir. You don't need to ask. I was with March a long time and, yes, we were in love. But I had a second reason for pursuing Mathias. Greta Beckett. She was destroyed by what happened. Before, she had been happy and carefree; afterwards she was cold and withdrawn. I loved her, Kasimir, and I watched Mathias break her. After Mathias, she built barriers around herself. She loved me but she had loved
him
more. I don't think he ever knew what he did, or understood why I hated him. I will go back to Newest Delhi for the trial; I don't know if I want to go. It'll stir up what I'd rather leave untouched. I don't know...' She was crying, her head and folded arms resting on her knees.

Sukui put a hand on the back of her head, felt the tight coils of her hair. Lucilla placed her hand on his and looked up, her face wet. She smiled again. 'Kasimir,' she said. 'I'll understand if you say no, but you're a kind man and you've been good to me and I guess I'd appreciate it if we could make love.' She looked away, apparently scared of rejection. Sukui kneeled, embraced her clumsily and she kissed him hard. It was cramped in the tent and Sukui wondered what would happen if they dislodged one of the ridge-poles, but he found that he didn't care any more, the world could—as Alya Kik had once so aptly said—go suck.

~

Sukui felt uncomfortable at the head of the procession. He was not embarrassed or worried about what onlookers might think; it was more a pragmatic discomfort, a rational one. With no precedent, he had no idea how the Prime would react if he was to be told that his principal scientific adviser had led the Pageant of the Holy Charities through the streets of Alabama City. He might be angered or, equally probable, he might simply laugh at such a preposterous notion.

Thinking back, Sukui could not really work out how it had come about.

He had emerged from Lucilla Ngota's tiny tent in mid-afternoon, feeling complete at last. Tucking his robe loosely around himself, he had put aside his fears and his doubts of the previous days and gone looking for Chet Alpha. It was time to set up an experiment and Alpha was the obvious candidate: a simple man, honest and deceitful in similar proportions; in a moment of clarity, Sukui had seen that if Salvo Andric had not been born of Primal blood then he could easily have been another Chet Alpha.

He had found Alpha at the far end of the western gallery. He was standing on an up-ended barrel, a wine bottle in one hand, the other hand stabbing and waving in the air. '...my old mother, she said I was here for a reason. She said we
all
were. Shit, it's empty.' His bottle was tipped up and only a few drops had fallen out. He had looked around. Nobody had been paying attention anyway.

Sukui had nodded to him and held out a hand to help him stagger down from the barrel. 'You are to be congratulated on the success of your mission,' Sukui had said. 'And before you ask: no, I am not ready to join. I feel that I should wait, at least until you know what your "Word" is.'

'You're laughing at me, Sukui-san. 'S not nice.' Alpha had tossed his empty bottle aside.

'Chet,' Sukui had said. 'Do you have some time to spare? I have something to show you, something that may prove of interest to you. If you could come with me I would be grateful for your opinion.'

Chet Alpha had turned to Larinda, who had been passing nearby. 'Hey, Larinda, d'you hear that? Sukui-san's got something to show us. Hey, Pom-Pom! Sukui-san's got something to show us! Where is it, Mister Sukui? Huh?'

Thrown off-guard by Alpha's enthusiasm, Sukui had muttered, 'Dixie Hill. I have some people there.'

'Hey,
Pom-Pom
. Put that guy down and get us some banners and some streamers and something more to drink. Mister Sukui's taking us up on Dixie Hill!'

And so, now, Kasimir Sukui was at the head of a procession of assorted Charities from the Holy Pageant. Chet Alpha was marching by his side, swigging from a fresh bottle of wine and hanging on to Sukui's robe with his one free hand. The Pageant trailed back a good fifty metres, sometimes more, sometimes less, as followers lost their way and others joined on. Some were singing, others dancing, as they processed through the narrowing streets of the urban fringe. Many wore the pastel robes of the Charities, others wore brighter or darker robes in the same casual style, Alabama City's supplies of pale-tinted linens having been exhausted. Sukui put his shoulders back and marched. If he was to be seen then at least he would look proud and not as if he was trying to squeeze into the cracks in the road.

Alya Kik tugged at his sleeve and said, 'Hey, y'old rogue. What're we going to see?' She had been smoking hash and her robe hung loosely over her generous body.

Sukui had been trying to work out what he should do. He had certainly not planned for
this
. 'This was a private invitation to Chet Alpha,' he said. 'I requested that he share an opinion on a certain matter.' He smiled; Alya had taken offence. 'Although it delights me to have the company of my old friends, that is how it must be, at present. Alya, have you ever seen Dixie Hill? The grass is thick and the views would probably be considered impressive—it might be a good site for a party.' Alya cheered and slapped him on the back, then she was part of the procession again and Sukui had to seize Alpha's arm to stop him from taking the wrong turning. They were nearly there.

The Pageant spread itself out on Dixie Hill but Sukui led Chet Alpha directly to the research hut. As they drew closer he could see Sanjit Borodin and Mags Sender staring out of the window. When they recognised Sukui they disappeared and, moments later, opened the door. Sukui saw Mags pushing a heavy beam away across the floor and he raised his eyebrows at Borodin.

'We thought... well, we're the only ones here, apart from Decker, and we saw
them
'—he nodded at the fifty members of the Holy Pageant on the lower slopes of the hill—'so we thought we'd better—'

'OK,' said Sukui. 'Your caution is noted and approved. Now,' he continued, turning to Chet Alpha. 'I wonder if you would be so good as to give me a minute or two with my colleagues?'

'Sure, sure,' said Alpha, already turning and surveying his partying followers and then glancing at the sinking sun. 'I think it's time to pray.'

Sukui followed Borodin and Sender into the hut and closed the door behind him. 'So you're
back
,' said Decker's trifax. 'I can hear you but you're not on view. What're you doing?'

Sukui could see that Borodin wanted to speak, probably to demand an explanation for what was happening, but the team-leader's discipline was winning. 'Decker,' said Sukui. 'I apologise for causing you any confusion.' He stepped into the range of the trifax-broadcaster. 'Is that better?' Lui Tsang had been working on a portable communicator, but it was still under preparation; when completed it would cast a trifacsimile, but it would send only TV pictures out to orbit. In the hut they still used the full trifax link-up.

'Yeah,' said Decker. 'Now will you tell me what's happening?'

Sukui bowed his head. 'You have been very insistent that we "get the show on the road", as you phrase it. That is what I am currently doing. Outside I have a man who is in complete innocence of the situation. I would like to bring him in here and show you to him. I wish to observe his response. It is the first step in the spreading of our knowledge. Will you co-operate?'

He saw Decker begin to grin broadly, glad that things were finally happening. 'Well blow him in then,' said the trifax. 'Let's see what he says.'

Sukui nodded and backed away. 'Fetch Chet Alpha,' he said to Mags Sender, and she went to the door and called for Alpha. 'I think this might prove interesting.'

Chet Alpha poked his head warily around the hut's door. 'Can I bring the Charities too, huh?'

Sukui spread his hands and said, 'I think not, Chet. We have little enough room as it is, and I would value your opinion more if you were alone.'

Alpha shrugged and closed the door behind him. 'So what's the deal?' he said, peering around the interior of the hut. 'Hey, have you been to Merchant Chapel recently?' he said, looking at Mags Sender, then at Sanjit Borodin, and finally at Decker. 'Have you spent some time with the Pageant of the Holy Charities? Everyone's welcome, even the sick.' He nodded at Decker, his eyes on the trifax's twisted feet and atrophied limbs. 'The Charities'll look after you,' he said.

'I can't see you again,' said Decker.

Sukui led Alpha further into the hut.

'Blind too, huh?' said Alpha. 'Ain't life a shitter, sometimes, huh? Huh?'

'No, Chet,' said Sukui. 'He can see you now, can't you, Decker?' Decker nodded. 'So what do you think, Chet. Be honest.'

'Think? 'Bout what?'

'About our friend Decker. You see, Chet, Decker is not here in this room. This is an image, a
shadow
. He is not even of this planet. He lives high above us, orbiting Expatria in one of the ancient Ark Ships. What do you think of that?'

Chet Alpha did not appear to be impressed. 'Of course he's here. I can
see
him, right?'

'Kasimir Sukui is telling the truth, Chet,' said Decker. 'What you see is no more than an image, a fiction of light. Touch me. Go on.'

Chet Alpha stepped forward and reached out. His hand passed straight through Decker and he snatched it away and stared distrustfully at it. 'It's a trick, a trick!' He looked again at Decker and his face had been transformed by fear. 'What did you do?'

Sukui had observed the exchange quietly. Suddenly he was struck by an idea, a vague hunch. Sukui did not believe in hunches—the best ideas came from hard work, not so-called inspiration. But this time... this time he felt in his heart that he should at least try. It would be a good way to gauge Alpha's reactions. He moved over to the trifax controls and drew up a stool to sit on. He reached for the first knob.

Kasimir Sukui had experimented with the trifacsimile on a number of occasions. He knew precisely what to do. First he blurred the image: fractionally around the face, more so around the wasted limbs, obscuring them, making them look suddenly more complete, more substantial yet also more ethereal. He amplified the basso of Decker's voice, adding in tones below the normal hearing range, so that his words made the very flesh tremble. Finally he altered the colour balance, casting Decker in a more favourable light, giving warmer, rosier tints to his face, drawing light from his eyes to make them look like beacons. The light from Decker's face cast itself upwards, illuminating his hair in a kind of halo. The image was a powerful one. Even Sukui had to quell a surge of unthinking awe. He sat back from the controls and resumed his observations.

Chet Alpha was on his. knees. 'Oh my... oh my sweet mother-fucking gods. Oh!' He rocked back and forth, hands gripping his thighs tightly. He looked at Sukui and then back at Decker's image.

'Will somebody tell me what's going on, again?' said Decker. 'Chet, what's up with you?'

Alpha stared at the holo. 'I had a dream, you see. It made me see there was something to live for. You look... you look...

I don't know.'

'Chet, I'm only a man,' said Decker. 'Just like you. Kasimir brought you here to see me. You're the first guy he's brought here. I want to tell you about us, about why you're there. Will you listen?'

Gradually, as Decker described the background to the situation, Chet Alpha began to regain control of himself. When Decker finished, Alpha stood and then he said, 'Look, I'm a simple man. You can tell me all you like, but all I can see is someone that's a little bit more than human, floating in front of me. You can explain all you like, but it's still just like magic to me.'

'Chet, will you do something for me?'

'Like I said, I'm a simple man. I'll do anything.' Chet Alpha was shivering, still in shock from what he was experiencing.