Jane poked her head through the door and, seeing Helena jacked into the computer systems, asked, ‘What are you doing?’
‘Shush,’ said Helena; she didn’t see the expression Jane pulled. Quickly finding the geosynchronous satellite over Scandinavia, Isen, she used her old diplomatic codes to access and request permission for a shot of the Ålbæk Bugt, the bay they were skirting. Ignoring warning messages, politely but firmly asking her not to openly target the satellite’s telescopic functions, she zoomed in on the bay. It didn’t take her long to spot the fleet heading towards Frederikshavn. There were fewer ships than she’d anticipated. Her primary AI revised its estimate to seven days before any splinter force reached the northern tip of the peninsula.
Sensing her companions’ nervousness for the first time since she’d returned from the beach she patched what she was seeing through to their own augmented reality systems.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Jane.
Perhaps six thousand soldiers,said Helena’s AI.A splinter of two hundred would suffice for the northern tip.
David said nothing, but was rubbing his chin with the palm of his hand. The satellite’s security systems finally caught up with Helena and the picture cut off as security protocols designed to protect the satellite from orbital weapons platforms severed their unencrypted communication.
‘Six brigades,’ said David eventually, placing one arm on the back of his seat and looking out of the window, almost as if he were taking in the afternoon ambience.
‘That’s my guess,’ said Helena.
‘Where are they?’ asked Jane, her voice on the edge of panic. Helena looked at her, taking in the dry lips, the paling skin. She sincerely hoped they wouldn’t get caught in a firefight; Jane would get them killed.
‘A few kilometres out, moving slowly towards the port; there’re a couple of small islands, my maps are telling me they’re called Hirsholmene. I suspect they’ll come through the shallow gap between them and assault the city sometime early tomorrow morning.’
‘Why so many?’ asked Jane, looking at Helena guiltily. ‘Hels, it’s just that, until I see it I can’t believe they’d wipe out an entire town.’
David started to say something and then stopped himself. Helena knew what he’d wanted to say but didn’t dare voice. There was the possibility the strike force was aimed at them.
‘Well,’ said Helena, ‘at least they’re not coming up this way. My best guess is for them to barely glance in this direction. If they’re going to secure the heart of the peninsula, they’ll not be able to spare anything but a splinter for Skagen.’
David nodded in agreement. ‘Six days?’ he asked.
‘I was thinking seven,’ said Helena.
I was thinking seven, reminded her AI.
You’ve never minded me talking this way before, thought Helena, slightly nonplussed at having to answer for her turn of phrase.
We were never two before, said her AI.
I’ve not the security to explain to them, thought Helena. Can you live with it?
For now,said her AI, then,I would appreciate being able to discuss it with you.
‘Have we got time to investigate your leads, David?’ asked Jane.
David looked at Helena. ‘I think so.’ Helena nodded ever so slightly.
‘I suppose this is jolly good news really,’ said Jane.
‘Excuse me?’ asked Helena.
‘Well,’ said Jane, sitting herself down as David lifted the hovercraft into the air, ‘if Indexiv really are wiping out everything in their path, dissident Normals will cease to present a problem.’
‘Yes,’ said Helena, her voice trailing off. David said nothing and, looking straight ahead, took them north.
An hour later, Skagen emerged from a small forest that stretched across the narrowing strip of land leading to the meeting of the Baltic and north seas. There were no spires; the town was home to Normals and not a lot else. Helena’s maps showed a small settlement called Højen, just on the western edge of the town. Their destination was through Skagen and to the very northern tip of the peninsula, a small spur of land called the Grenen. As far as she could tell, her mother was most likely to be located near an old round house and a feature called Drachmanns Grav. They nipped into the small town. Helena, although staring out, was lost in thought, seeing nothing.
‘It’s quiet here,’ said David. Helena focussed on empty streets; the town stood without its inhabitants. Lighted windows and heat signatures showed it wasn’t deserted, but David was right, the roads were silent and uninhabited.
‘They couldn’t know about the task force,’ said Jane questioningly.
Weapons, said Helena’s tertiary AI suddenly. In her field of view, for less than a second, a figure highlighted in blue by her AI stood with some sort of rifle trained on them.
‘Did you get that?’ asked Helena as the figure was obscured by the movement of the hovercraft.
‘What?’ asked David.
Helena paused. ‘Does this thing have a friend or foe system?’
‘Of course,’ said David looking about warily. ‘Why?’
Jane was looking out towards where Helena had seen the armed party.
‘I saw something,’ said Helena.
‘Are you sure?’ asked Jane. David said nothing; Helena hoped it was because he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t say anything unless she was certain.
‘If it’s who we’re looking for, we’d best leave them be. If they are armed we’re not in a position to subdue them until we’ve at least followed up our most promising lead.’
Helena worked through his suggestion. ‘I agree: stopping now may be just what they’re hoping for.’
‘I didn’t see anything,’ said Jane frowning. ‘How can you be so sure?’
Helena’s first urge was to ignore Jane, but given that they were about to corner her own mother and ask questions even Jane would work out had nothing to do with David’s supposed investigation, she knew good will was a premium she had to maintain. ‘I’ve worked for Euros’ military diplomatic corps on and off for forty years; my AIs are equipped with their own threat sensitivities. If our observer didn’t register on the flyer’s systems it’s because their weapons were not electronic.’
‘Or they’re a more recent issue than those uploaded into our hovercraft’s AI,’ said Jane worriedly.
Helena flicked a glance at David but he studiously kept his eyes on the path ahead. No one fired at them and, a minute later, they left behind the last of the buildings that made up the small town. An old road left the highway and ran north-west, marking off a clear boundary between the edge of the town and the scrub leading down to the sea.
‘What are we looking for?’ asked Jane as David powered across the landscape.
‘A tall, round building,’ said Helena, not really knowing what to expect.
‘Do you mean a lighthouse?’ asked Jane.
‘I... possibly,’ said Helena. ‘What’s a lighthouse?’
‘They used them to send beams of light out into the ocean to warn and guide ships around the shore.’
‘You mean ships saw the lights and so knew to avoid that direction?’ asked David.
‘Pretty much,’ said Jane.
‘Then that’s what we’re looking for,’ replied David, pointing at a white pillar coming up in front of them. At the top it was transparent and Helena realised this was where it would signal shipping. Slowing the hovercraft, David pulled them across country and made straight for the tower. Approximately a hundred metres from the old building, they were forced to stop by a stone wall which ran around the tower, forming a small, enclosed compound. Navigating along it, they came to a well-used road leading through a pair of decrepit but sealed gates. No one seemed to be watching for them or anyone else.
They set the flyer down and clambered out. As they did so, a naked, bronzed youth came lazily vaulting over the three metre wall, almost landing on them. Helena was aware of her mother’s tastes and p
references, but the man’s penis was so big she found it difficult to look away. Pulling her gaze from his groin, she saw Jane and David were both as unprepared for the sight as she was.
‘Can I help you?’ asked the youth languidly, standing before them completely unconcerned, his gaze as confident as only the very young can be.
‘We’re looking for Edith Woolf,’ said Helena. The youth was not an oligarch but, despite his teenage appearance, was easily into his forties, engineered for exactly the type of services his body screamed he was capable of providing.
He winked at Helena and said, ‘Aren’t we all.’
‘So you don’t know?’ said David, his voice thick.
The boy rolled his eyes at David’s question and answered, ‘Humour not your strong point is it? She’s inside.’ He sighed theatrically. ‘Painting.’
‘Well I guess that answers that,’ said Helena.
‘What?’ asked Jane.
‘Bringing rent boys with her but choosing to paint instead; she’s still the woman I remember.’
Chapter 4
‘HOLD ON,’ said the nude before leaping back over the wall. Helena wanted to get out, but David threw her a look that said, stay put. A few moments later, the main gates rolled inwards and David slid the hovercraft into the compound. Climbing out of the flyer, Helena gazed around, trying to gauge her surroundings. The compound was laid out as neglected gardens; a small woodland lay either side of the wall as it ran north-south to their left; the rest of the landscape was a mixture of coarse tufted dunes running down to meet the dull grey ocean. Immediately to their right was a three-storey house, dating back to before the time of the Families and built from wood and stone. A small patch of hard standing ran alongside a road which led to the base of the lighthouse, standing on a defiant outcrop of basalt right on the edge of the water.
A number of young men, without exception nude and painfully endowed, moved around the grounds; some were tending a variety of plants which had been grouped together near the house. The rest of them, mainly in pairs, could be seen idling, playing or simply sitting in peace. Looking at the lighthouse, Helena could see a figure in the housing at its peak. She guessed it was Edith. Painting.
The gates quietly shut behind them and their host stood in silent contemplation, idly stroking the flat of his stomach with the palms of his hands, picking at imaginary blemishes.
‘How do you do things Helena?’ asked David. Jane looked puzzled.
‘She likes her guests to be announced,’ said Helena. The nude looked up at her comment, nodded then trotted towards the lighthouse.
‘Who does?’ asked Jane. ‘Helena, do you know the suspect?’ Helena noted the depth of curiosity in Jane’s voice; it was somewhere beyond surprise. Jane knew something planned was taking place.
‘Edith Anna Woolf is Helena’s biological mother,’ said David. ‘She has, in the past, worked in social engineering. As such I believe she might have an interest in the current situation as well as information on how to deal with it.’
Helena didn’t know her mother well enough to say whether David was telling the truth. The most Helena could say was that it sounded consistent with her character.
‘When I found out Helena was working in operations, it seemed sensible to bring her along. Edith Woolf is not known for her tolerance of what she considers foolishness.’
Helena smiled wryly under Jane’s gaze. ‘She once punched the executive director of marketing in the face for daring to suggest a paper she had written didn’t put Euros in a flattering light,’ said Helena fondly.
‘Why’s she here?’ asked Jane. Then, answering her own question, she said, ‘The light here is supposed to be beautiful...’ Jane trailed off as the three of them looked skywards, trying to fathom what quality made the place so special.
‘She considers herself an artist at heart,’ said Helena as if this explained everything. Much to Helena’s surprise Jane nodded as if she knew what she meant. Watching the lighthouse, Helena saw the figure at its peak stand up and move round to get a clear view of them.
Are you ready for this? asked her AI.
What? she responded.
Your stress levels are elevated.
I’m fine, thought Helena, not sure she was convincing even herself.
The nude came cantering out from the base of the lighthouse, ‘She’ll see you in an hour.’
‘Excuse me?’ said David.
The youth looked at him with disdain and repeated his message.
‘She’ll see us now,’ said David calmly.
‘I know you’re not deaf, so why don’t you understand me?’ said the man. Around them, the other nudes had stopped whatever they were doing to watch the exchange. Helena was the only one to see them inching closer. There was little chance their voices were loud enough to be overheard, which meant the concubines shared some sort of neural network. They weren’t simply sex objects; they were her mother’s protection as well.
‘They’re staring at us,’ said Jane. ‘David, leave him, it’s not his fault.’
‘She’s right,’ sighed Helena, knowing he’d have to be levered away from his decision to see Edith right at that moment. ‘If you barge in on her she’ll be of no use to us, David. This is her place; we’re going to have to play by her rules.’
She saw David unclench his fists. The nudes around them relaxed slightly. Turning to the youth she said, ‘What do you suggest we do?’
‘Go to the house; eat something. If you’re planning on staying overnight, then now would be a good time to unpack. Some of the young men will happily be of service should you wish to have intercourse.’ Facing David, he finished off. ‘It’s obvious you are heterosexual. There are no women here apart from those you’ve brought with you. Sorry.’ He smiled to himself and walked away towards the beach, leaving them alone.
‘Nice,’ said David.
‘It’s only what he was created to do,’ said Helena. Seeing Jane’s face, she realised the woman had never seen a genetically engineered concubine before, male or female. What a sheltered life she’s led, thought Helena, bemused by the idea of her innocence.
David shrugged. ‘I wonder what his parents hoped for him when he was born.’
‘Don’t be so sentimental David,’ said Helena. ‘They altered the foetus in the womb to grow up into what you see wading into the ocean precisely so he would find work with a Family. This was exactly what they hoped for him.’
He said nothing, instead turning to face the sea.
‘You realise we didn’t bring any luggage,’ said Helena.
Jane laughed nervously. ‘No, I don’t think we imagined we’d be here overnight.’
‘Stupid really,’ said Helena. ‘I should have guessed she’d delight in making us wait.’
‘Well let’s hope she’s going to be ready in less than six days,’ said David thoughtfully, looking up at the figure in the lighthouse.
‘I knew they did it,’ said Jane. ‘I just never realised.’ Helena glanced over at her, but Jane was thinking out loud. Helena wanted to offer some sort of commentary but couldn’t decide on the right words so instead she just trudged up to the house.
An hour later, they reconvened, having settled in discontentedly when they found the accommodation was verging on the stone age. Looking resentfully out of the bedroom window Helena caught herself short when the sight of three of her mother’s concubines sparked a memory of Noenieput. She reflected how quickly the sharp reality of horrendous suffering dulled to the point that she was irritated so deeply by the prospect of sleeping in an uncomfortable wooden bed.
The house was spread over three floors, with the ground and first floors showing signs of occupation by her mother’s concubines — not that they made much of an impact, since they didn’t appear to own more than a single set of clothes each. They’ve been granted enough nanomachines to keep their skin and appearances healthy and to slightly retard the appearance of ageing.
Why the fascination with the siz
e of their penises? asked her AI.
Hard to explain, said Helena and ignored any further attempts to discuss the subject.
She found David and Jane, chatting, in the lounge. The room was sparsely furnished; her mother did not consider the concubines to have any desires beyond satisfying her. Three threadbare, brown corduroy sofas, covered in some aged synthetic material, were shoved up against the straight walls. David and Jane were standing near the bay window, facing partly towards each other and the window. If Helena hadn’t known better, she would have said they were flirting. Again.
She suddenly wanted to know what they were talking about.
‘Hi Helena darling,’ said Jane with a wide smile on her face. David, whose back had been turned towards the door, looked around and greeted her as well.
‘No news from the exalted one?’ asked Helena.
David looked puzzled for a moment and then said, ‘No. You can see the lighthouse from here and she’s still sat at the top in front of her canvas.’
‘What is it with you and your mother?’ asked Jane.
‘I suppose you get on with yours,’ said Helena, resigned to explaining their relationship.
‘We have our moments,’ said Jane defensively, folding her arms before unfolding them again and finally settling them at her sides. Helena stopped herself from saying ‘sure’ and moved over to the window.
The clouds outside hadn’t shifted but, despite the progressing evening, the light of the day refused to fade. She’d never been this far north and didn’t know how long daylight would continue to drizzle its way through the overcast sky.
Do you want me to calculate? asked her AI
The mystery is part of the thought; it doesn’t need solving, replied Helena.
‘She doesn’t care,’ said Helena, still looking out onto the compound’s yellow dunes and bursts of lush greens, crusted with dried sea salt. Her mother’s attendants were visible, moving to and fro around the compound. One of them, a tall man with short blond hair on his head, under his arms and around his genitals appeared to be tapping the wall surrounding the grounds. Something about it seemed odd, and Helena focussed in on what he was doing. Zooming in on his fingers, she realised he was using a small keyboard that was settled in the stone. She was impressed in spite of herself.
A People's War (The Oligarchy Book 2) Page 8
