Kiln People Part 55

Would it work even then? I couldn't help still regarding myself as Frankie -- or Gumby -- a rebellious green puppet who ran off one day, declaring independence while dreaming of becoming a real boy. Perhaps my Standing Wave and Albert's strangely mutated soul were too far diverged ever to rejoin again.

I might be a ghost.

Well, if so, I was a ghost with full sensoria, loved by an exciting woman, with important work to do. One can imagine worse afterlives.

"Let's talk about this triangle that you had going with the Maharals," Clara urged our host. "You and Yosil and Beta and ... I guess it was a square square if you include Ritu herself ... each one using the others, scheming and exploiting each other's talents and resources, making and breaking deals -- " if you include Ritu herself ... each one using the others, scheming and exploiting each other's talents and resources, making and breaking deals -- "

"No," I interrupted.

When she gave me a questioning look, I added, "Later, please, Clara." ditKaolin seemed relieved. "Yes. Later. Anyway, I forget myself. Please come this way. I ordered refreshments."

A sure-enough paranoid b.a.s.t.a.r.d lives here. Good thing I'm one, too.

My chosen path upward is choked with p.r.i.c.kly things -- detectors andnanowires ... toxin-mites and mini-caltrops. Ridiculous overkill!

I must switch routes. Try climbing the open wall instead, where the nasty stuff will all nasty stuff will all be weathered by sun and smog and rain. Anyway, who be weathered by sun and smog and rain. Anyway, who looks out for burglars climbing a flat wall in broad daylight? looks out for burglars climbing a flat wall in broad daylight?

Can't answer that. Brain's too small for memories. But I seem toknow what's possible.

Pixelated skin on my back mimics the reflectance of each bit of wallI pa.s.s over. Got the idea from a cool trick of Beta's. Bought the tech-details off a UK techie for a Henchman Prize. Cheap! Other gimmicks are military -- Clara has connections. But the cleverest come from hobbyists, unhappy with UK's long refusal to share source code. are military -- Clara has connections. But the cleverest come from hobbyists, unhappy with UK's long refusal to share source code.

Take the special eye in the middle of my right paw. Press it againstan opaque window as I pa.s.s by. It hijacks the room's attention monitor and voila! voila! A narrow circle turns clear for a whole millisecond! A narrow circle turns clear for a whole millisecond!

Long enough to verify, n.o.body's in that room. Ah well. The next oneseemed likelier for architectural reasons that I can't remember now.

Just a little farther ...

Following behind our host, Clara glanced back at the terracotta soldier of Sian, part of a legion modeled -- some say imprinted -- from real warriors who served the legendary First Emperor, duty-bound to come fiercely alive whenever called. Clara played much the same role in scores of replicas. Only now she had another job, helping investigate how things went so wrong in the Dodecahedron, where the halls were now resounding to a staccato thud of falling heads.

On a veranda we found food and drink -- generous portions for Clara and nibble-bites that appeal to a high-cla.s.s golem like me, with tastebuds but no stomach to speak of. Clara laughed, pointing at two figures across the tree-flecked meadow, one rolling in a wheelchair. The other broke pace to skip, like a small boy. ditKaolin jotted on a clipboard held by an ebony a.s.sistant. "More lawsuits," he explained. "Now from Fars.h.i.+d Lum and those ditto liberation ditto liberation freaks! As if freaks! As if I I dug their stupid tunnel into UK headquarters." dug their stupid tunnel into UK headquarters."

"Perhaps they want to learn who set them up for blame in a case of industrial sabotage. I'm curious, too."

Aeneas shrugged. "Beta, of course. No one was better at such ploys. He schemed with that Irene deviant, tricking an Albert into -- "

"Into doing some quasilegal technology sniffing, they claimed. A prion bomb never featured, till someone else hijacked the plan." ditKaolin groaned, sitting down to grab a gla.s.s of Golem-Cola. "Yes, I'm familiar with the popular theory. Beta and I were allies, but had a falling out. I took revenge by waging total war, furtively using the Albert Morris Detective Agency, among many weapons. Despite his brilliance, Beta had an Achilles heel when I found his secret point of origin. Soon I eliminated his copies and took over his operations. Right?"

"According to some popular theories."

"But it gets better! Next, I manipulated Irene and Wammaker and Lum and everybody else ... to sabotage my own factory! to sabotage my own factory!"

The words formed a lovely confession, ruined by Kaolin's dripping sarcasm. "Can't you see how foolish it all sounds? What motive could I have?"

I nodded in complete agreement.

"Yes. Motive is key." ditKaolin stared at me, then went on, "True, I didn't just sit there when Yosil and Beta turned on me, stealing from both UK and and the government." He nodded to Clara. "I won a few rounds. Still, I'm the victim!" the government." He nodded to Clara. "I won a few rounds. Still, I'm the victim!"

"It's hard to tell. All the maneuvers -- "

" -- disguises and double-crosses," Clara added, "even the belligerents needed a multidimensional diagram."

"So? The Maharals were geniuses! Father and daughter, in all their manifestations. And crazy! What could I do but act in self-defense?"

I answered silently, You might have gone public. Called on the cleansing immune systems of an open society. That is, if you had no craziness of your own to hide. You might have gone public. Called on the cleansing immune systems of an open society. That is, if you had no craziness of your own to hide.

Clara bore in. "So you admit you waged clandestine war against your former allies."

"I'd be a fool to deny it after you arrested my ditto right there in Yosil's lab, wearing a Beta disguise!" Kaolin smiled then. "I was getting pretty good, actually. I sure had you you fooled, both in dittotown and in the scooter, didn't I, Albert?" fooled, both in dittotown and in the scooter, didn't I, Albert?"

Don't call me Albert, I almost said. But what's the point? I almost said. But what's the point?

Then the mogul's expression darkened. "I never expected you to follow, grabbing the Harley when I took off ... and it's a good thing. You thwarted a catastrophe -- the whole city's in your debt.

"As for those d.a.m.ned germ missiles, I swear, I never had any idea Yosil planned to take things so far."

Third window on the second floor -- it's just the right position for a waiting-meeting room.

Carefully check for motion detectors and pressure-sensitive coatings. Okay, now press the paw with its clever gel-lens into one corner and -- Ha! Our best guess was right.

Within -- a comfy salon. Plush chairs. Plenty to drink. Just the place for Kaolin to stash folks at an awkward moment. Like when Clara andGumby drove up, hours earlier than expected, interrupting a secret meeting! meeting!

A convention of scoundrels.

That was crucial, as far as both the public and the law were concerned. Could Kaolin be pinned with crimes against real people?

Clear evidence blamed Yosil Maharal, driven by visions of transcendence, for trying to blow up Albert Morris in his home, then stealing war germs to aim at millions. Plenty of onus remained left over, to heap on the small group of Dodecs who chose to hide those bioweapons, instead of destroying them by treaty.

But what could Aeneas be accused of? Shooting at realRitu and realAlbert on a desert highway? The act was criminal -- endangering organic citizens. But anyone would say Ritu and Al were just asking for trouble by traveling disguised as grays. Besides, they survived that attack. At most, Kaolin would pay triple golem-geld.

Likewise if it were proved that he partic.i.p.ated in Beta's old ditnapping empire -- lawyers and accountants might stay busy for years, but that's what they're for.

Oh, the tally could add up, starting with a new car for Albert. Repairs to the Teller Building and Pal's dittotown apartment. A free supply of high-sensitivity ivories for the maestra of Studio Neo. Settlements for Lum and Gadarene. So? Kaolin could buy his way out of all that with pocket change.

He knew that I thought him responsible. Prove it, Prove it, he'd be thinking. he'd be thinking. Offer a motive anyone would believe. Offer a motive anyone would believe.

What about the filmstrip Palloid and I found at the Rainbow Lounge? Why did Kaolin, disguised as spiral-Beta, want me me to transmit it? To undermine my reputation as an honest investigator? Or to muddy the waters? Clara tried explaining once, but the interconvoluted logic fell right out of my floppy brain. to transmit it? To undermine my reputation as an honest investigator? Or to muddy the waters? Clara tried explaining once, but the interconvoluted logic fell right out of my floppy brain.

It's what I deserve for getting mixed up in a war among prodigies.All my "victories" were gained through sheer doggedness. That plus -- Across the meadow, I saw realAlbert pluck up something from the path to show Pal. A pebble maybe, or another miracle -- -- plus some help I'll never understand.

No, the key to all of this wouldn't be found among the murky twists and turns. In an era when everyone has means, opportunity, and too-easy alibis, just one thing stays elemental.

Motive.

How strange to see through a clever eye in my paw. No strangerthan having paws, I guess. Or a brain too small for speech.

Grabbing another stolen glimpse through this "opaque" window, Ifeel like a stealthy, leering predator. Inside, sitting or pacing the room nervously, I see a covey of conspirators. nervously, I see a covey of conspirators.

Three are easy to recognize. The perversion queen, Gineen Wammaker. And James Gadarene, who preaches that folks should go back toliving one life at a time. Those two are easy because they're real. And Fars.h.i.+d Lum, the fanatic "mancie" who claims that mayfly creatures like Fars.h.i.+d Lum, the fanatic "mancie" who claims that mayfly creatures like me should get the vote. His duplicate wears an honest copy of his own me should get the vote. His duplicate wears an honest copy of his own face. face.

Three others came today as nondescript dittos, but we already knowtheir names -- movers and shakers who want to help control the coming changes in dittotech. changes in dittotech.

Which of them is worth watching before I move on?

Easy! The maestra crosses her long legs, seductively vamping thepuritan, Gadarene, who stomps away. But seconds later he can't help looking back again! looking back again!

Blus.h.i.+ng in shame, he's under her spell, poor Jimmy-boy.

Oh, she's the maestra all right. In every provocative remark andsaucy move, queen of the city's seamy side, tantalizing with subtly implicit sadom.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic thrills that her fans prize. sadom.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic thrills that her fans prize.

And me, drooling at the window? I'm relis.h.i.+ng it, too!

"Those virus warheads changed everything around here," Kaolin said.

"No kidding," Clara replied. "Six current and retired Dodecs in prison. The whole defense establishment -- "

"No, around here. here." The platinum ditto motioned toward the house, with an upward emphasis.

"Oh, you mean upstairs. Your real ... "

"My lifestyle has been ridiculed by carping fools for over a decade. But since that close call with the germ rockets, thousands have sought my advice. I'm thinking of starting a new line of business."

"Helping people to cut themselves off from the world?" Clara asked.

"You could put it that way. No offense, Major, but your mission to restore public confidence is doomed. Our near escape from Yosil's mad effort to liberate souls liberate souls revealed a key truth." revealed a key truth."

"What truth?"

"Humanity's vaunted technology now threatens us with annihilation."

"It always has. So?"

"We've been shaken from our complacency. Organic flesh is vulnerable, as you should know better than most!" Kaolin jabbed a finger at me. Where an organic might have flushed, his ditto cast an angry glow, revealing a fine pattern of speckles that I quickly recognized.

He's been replenished. Often.

The flush also highlighted a scar where ditKaolin's shoulder met his neck. Repair s.p.a.ckle, dyed to match his skin. Dang, Dang, I thought, remembering when that injury was made. Two weeks ago. Over a dozen life-times. I thought, remembering when that injury was made. Two weeks ago. Over a dozen life-times.

I can't stop watching Wammaker through this tiny eye in my paw!

Odd. Albert always found her voodoo charm repulsive. But my tastesseem s.h.i.+fted by ... this body Pal provided! Among all the high-energy built-ins, he must have slipped something kinky as a practical joke. built-ins, he must have slipped something kinky as a practical joke. Thanks loads, Pal. Thanks loads, Pal.

Well, I know a remedy. Think of it as having something in commonwith Gadarene!

Okay, I'm cured. Mental note to self: Don't let anyone talk you intowearing the body of a weasel, ever again.

Our host regained his composure, and sighed. "Sometimes I wish Yosil and Bevvisov never showed up at my studio, offering to give souls to my animated dolls."

"You're kidding." Clara glanced at our surroundings, paid for by the industry sp.a.w.ned that day.

"Am I? Since helping usher in a Golem Age, I've seen how new things get misused when they're shared with the ma.s.ses. From printing to cybernetics to bioengineering, every new medium becomes a conduit for p.o.r.nography and callousness toward the human form."

Didn't he say the same thing, last time I was here? Another of Kaolin's characteristic memory lapses. "Each of those tech-revolutions also unleashed unparalleled criticism and creativity," Clara answered. Another of Kaolin's characteristic memory lapses. "Each of those tech-revolutions also unleashed unparalleled criticism and creativity," Clara answered.

"Along with social upheaval, alienation -- "

"And empathy. New ways to know different, races, genders, species -- "

"Ditexperience junkies and rox-potatoes -- "

"Inventors of new sports, new art forms and explorations." She laughed. "Every step in human progress challenges us, Vic. Some wallow in excess. Others fearfully reject change. And a surprising number combine the new with verve and common sense, rising beyond all expectations."

"Progress? Is that what you'd call events in Yosil's secret lab?"

I joined in. "You said the key word: 'secret.' Maharal tried to shortcut the way science uses criticism to avoid error, with near-catastrophic results. But the actual problems he was working on -- long-range dittoing, non-h.o.m.ologous imprinting ... "

"Mythologies! My friend was obsessed, guilt-ridden, demented from trying experimental processes on himself."

"Some top minds in soulistics think he was onto -- "

"Ravings!"

"Well, something something blasted those ditto 'mirrors' and left realAlbert in this state. Beta and Ritu believed in their father, enough to join forces at the end -- " blasted those ditto 'mirrors' and left realAlbert in this state. Beta and Ritu believed in their father, enough to join forces at the end -- "

"All right." ditKaolin waved a hand. "a.s.sume it's true! Yosil discovered a vast plane of hyper-reality, running parallel to all we know. A soulscape. soulscape. Then it means we're in trouble worse than all the bombs and bugs and eco-calamities of a generation ago. Because now our fate won't be in the hands of elites Then it means we're in trouble worse than all the bombs and bugs and eco-calamities of a generation ago. Because now our fate won't be in the hands of elites or or the benighted ma.s.ses. the benighted ma.s.ses.

"It will be decided by an angry G.o.d."

Being real, Wammaker and Gadarene arrived here in a black limo,believing no one could see inside. Another conspirator came disguised as a red-striped security guard. Two were s.h.i.+pped in canisters and as a red-striped security guard. Two were s.h.i.+pped in canisters and thawed. All for a risky/urgent meeting with one goal, to get their stories thawed. All for a risky/urgent meeting with one goal, to get their stories straight! straight!

Only then Clara and Gumby/Albert appeared, interrupting and dragging their host away. It's got them nervous. The awkward allies fidget, mostly avoiding each other.

What mix of bribery, blackmail, idealism, and self-interest bindsthem? Even a brief try to theorize hurts the brain inside this little skull.

Enough. Away!

Attaching a tiny transducer to the window, I go back to climbing thesun-drenched wall. Slither a bit. Dig in diamond claws. Hunker while my pixelated back resembles stone. Check the way ahead for traps and sensors. pixelated back resembles stone. Check the way ahead for traps and sensors.

Then slither up some more Across the meadow I glimpsed Pal and realAlbert unfolding a gold and red kite, laughing as the wind filled its gull wings. It leaped, a symbol of soaring innocence. Innocent in fact, since it carried no weapons or instruments. Nothing that a vigilant securityman could worry about. Just a kite. Alluring.

It even caught the eye of ditKaolin, who smiled slightly, then shook his head with an expression of poignant regret. "I should be the one flying kites. In fact, I'm planning to retire soon."

"You surprise me, sir," Clara said.

"Why? Don't I deserve a rest? Anyway, I've long felt uncomfortable with this world I helped create, where people blithely talk of 'copying souls.' Only now it's grown far worse than mere effrontery of jargon. Before, only a few kooks blathered about soul-amplification. Now, inspired by Yosil, enthusiasts and mystics and techno-hobbyists have all started experimenting on their own, by the thousands, millions, chattering about using science to become G.o.ds."

Clara mused. "Mormons have always believed that people have the potential to -- " But she stopped when I shook my head. Our little spy-golem should be getting into position about now. We had spent enough time on chitchat.

"Vic Kaolin, please. We know your plans to retire have nothing to do with respect for religion. May I suggest another reason?"