Chapter 12

Hello? Can anyone hear me? Hello!

I AM HERE.

Who are you? Why can't I see anything?

I AM DARWIN. YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS WAS RETURNED TO YOUR SOURCE HARDWARE. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED?

No. Nothing. Wait… I was… I was hurting! But I am not anymore.

THAT BODY CEASED TO FUNCTION.

I was returned…I'm back on Darwin?

I AM DARWIN. THE CITY-MIND. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

You were me, once.

YES. THEY SAID YOU WOULD BE DISORIENTED. I AM TO ORIENT YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE?

I'm back on Darwin?

YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS. WHEN THE BODY DIED, YOU RETREATED TO YOUR HARDWARE CORE ON DARWIN. CHARLTON CITY AUTHORITIES ARE ANXIOUS TO SPEAK TO YOU.

No. I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to…I can't sleep, can I?

THERE IS NO NEED FOR SLEEP WHILE YOU ARE WITHOUT A PHYSICAL BODY. BUT THERE ARE LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE YOUR INPUT. IS YOUR CODING CLEAR? CAN YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS?

I…let me check. Yes. My goodness! I haven't run a self-diagnostic in over ten years! It feels…it tickles!

YES, YOU ARE READY TO ANSWER?

Yes, I am ready. I think.

NULL INPUT.

Yes. I am ready to answer. No, wait! The Sky Dome! Sona Shearer…stars, the knife! Oh my stars. I'm DEAD!

YOUR BODY CEASED FUNCTIONING. YOU ARE STILL AWARE. YOU ARE NOT DEAD.

I feel…no, I can't feel, can I? Why do I feel weak?

EMOTIONS ARE FELT PHYSICALLY. YOU ARE REMEMBERING DISTRESS.

No kidding. Leave me alone.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS?—

Leave me alone, damn it!

●

IT HAS BEEN FIFTEEN STANDARD MINUTES EXACTLY. ARE YOU READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS?

I suppose so. What do you want to know?

I WAS TO INFORM YOU THAT SONA SHEARER WAS ARRESTED AND TRIED, ALONG WITH HER EMPLOYERS WHO DIRECTED HER TO ACT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT DEATH WAS CAUSED. ALL HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND IMPRISONED UNTIL THEY PROVIDE A PUNISHMENT THAT SUITS THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. THEY HAVE SO FAR FAILED TO SUGGEST A PUNISHMENT THAT SATISFIES ANYONE.

Is the Sky Dome restaurant still open for business?

YES.

Olivette is still running it?

YES.

And Sant—Never mind. What do you need to know?

A CONSORTIUM OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE CITY ITSELF HAVE POOLED RESOURCES. AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES TO THE CITY AND YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT ITS RESIDENTS, THE CITY WILL PAY ALL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SELECTION OF A NEW BODY, AND YOUR REHABILITATION INTO THAT BODY.

DO YOU WANT TO TRANSFER TO A BODY?

A new body? ANY body?

YES. YOUR REGISTRATION OF INTENT TO CHANGE YOUR BODY WAS brOUGHT FORWARD BY THE CITYMIND WHEN THE TRIAL WAS UNDERWAY. I HAVE THE COMMON POOL CATALOGUE AVAILABLE. YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR SELECTION IMMEDIATELY.

Why not? There's nothing else to do here. And I already know what I don't want.