Time of the Stones

by Fred Rothganger

  Susan felt a hot sensation rush over her body. He looked pleasant enough, though not the youngest of men, perhaps in his early 30s. His face bore the expression of someone at peace with himself, no longer searching for that missing ingredient to life.

  He stood and followed Olivia over. She said, “Antikva, may I present Erik. This is your date for the night.” She leaned over and whispered in Susan’s ear, “Be good!”, then walked away grinning.

  Erik gestured to an empty place at a table nearby, populated with couples.

  Susan smiled coyly and sat on the end of the bench. Erik stepped over it and sat next to her. It was not the most romantic setting for a first date. The room was noisy with conversation, and they had to share the table with five other couples.

  “Antikva, I can’t express what a privilege it is to, um, make your acquaintance.” After that Erik focused on his dinner.

  Susan felt unexpectedly bashful. She sat up straight, tried to be prim and proper, and ate as delicately as she could. The silence lasted uncomfortably long. Finally it occurred to her that he might be at a loss for words. “What is your work?”

  “I localize mobile apps into Baseno. We feel it is better than forcing people to learn Ancient English. I also translate literature.”

  “How is your English?”

  “Good ... er, I mean, I hope it pleases the Ancient One.”

  “Your English is fine, though afflicted with a strange accent.”

  Erik became animated. “Antikva, there are many difficulties in translation, because I don’t understand the customs of your people. Perhaps you could explain them to me.”

  “I would be happy to.” Her shoulders sagged. “Though I barely understand them myself.”

  They chatted happily through the rest of the meal. Erik described passages from memory, and she tried to make sense of the seemingly odd behavior of the Ancients.

  The couples in the room began drifting away. Erik stood and offered Susan his hand. She took it and they walked together to the Prophet’s Chamber.

  She gasped at the interior. Soft warm light from votive candles flooded the room. They were arranged on the table, along nooks in the walls, and formed a lighted runway to her bed. In the center of the table sat a tray of sweets, a bottle of wine and two glasses. Room service—also known as Olivia—had been busy.

  A sweet incense hung in the air. The swarm reported traces of oxytocin-analog, a heady mixture that would make humans feel in love, a true aphrodisiac. Too bad it had no effect on the swarm. Susan wished for a shot of oxytocin about now ...

  She went to the table and picked up the bottle. The year had been struck through and replaced by “-15 ND”. She held it out to him. “This must be about as old as you.”

  He took it and stared at the label, trying to make out the original date. “This is one of our best years.”

  They looked at each other for an unbearably long moment, at a loss for what to do.

  “Listen, if you want this to work, you got to stop worshiping me. Right now I’m just an ordinary woman.”

  He nodded. He popped the cork from the bottle, filled the glasses and offered one to her. They clinked them together and started to drink.

  “Oh wait, this is how you do it.” She hooked her arm around his. “Now, drink from your own glass.”

  “Ah yes, another Ancient custom. I saw this in one of the books.”

  They put down their empty glasses. He opened his arms, and she settled into them. After a minute she started crying.

  “What’s the matter, Antikva?”

  “I found a man I truly felt something for. He could touch my soul without even trying. But he belonged to another woman.”

  “Shh.” He gently stroked her hair. “I feel the sorrow of your loss. I expect nothing from you, tonight or in the future. I only want to make you happy.”

  “And I ...” She tried to say the words that Olivia had instructed. “I don’t know what I expect!” She pulled out of his arms.

  “Do you wish me to go?”

  Such an odd question. The words could be those of a man who lacked confidence or was easily hurt, and yet Erik spoke them with warmth and peace. Then she realized: it was not about him, but about her. All he wanted was to please her. If going away is what made her happy, that’s what he would do.

  “No—” She wrapped her hand gently around his forearm. “Please stay.”

  “I must confess something. Every man who sees you feels desire, but five of us formed a support group to discuss sex fantasies about Antikva—”

  She laughed explosively.

  “—We assured ourselves that no such thing would ever happen, so they are as absurd as you can imagine. When Olivia talked to me at dinner, I felt like I had died and gone to another world.”

  “Well then, I hope to be heaven for you, at least once.” She reached behind her back and unzipped her gown, then held her arms straight.

  He gently tugged the collar over her shoulders, then her bust. The gown slid into a crumpled pile on the floor. He wrapped warm hands around her waist and held her out for inspection. “Antikva you are gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! No woman even begins to compare.” He traced a finger along the chiseled lines of her tummy.

  “I’m only an illusion.” She reached up and wrestled with his habit. Eventually she discovered that it slipped off over his head.

  She had read one or two of those erotic fantasy novels in Ancient times, just for fun of course. In such a book the shirtless man on the cover was all chest and perfectly muscular core, dark and edgy, full of intense energy that was truly dangerous yet exhilarating. The vampire would make that small but all-critical bite on her neck. The werewolf would transform, howl at the moon and do, er ... doggy things with her.

  She felt vague disappointment. The Abbey did not have a gym where the men maintained those perfect abdominals, and the food might be a bit on the rich side. Erik was slightly hunched from hours of poring over books.

  He was perfectly at peace. Everything he did flowed as a sacred service, like the monks of former age illuminating manuscripts, an expression of pure art. He kissed her neck and whispered in a low passionate tone, “Antikva.”

  She whispered in his ear, “My name is Susan.”

  He kissed the other side of her neck. “Susan.” Her chest. “Susan.” Her tummy. “Susan.”

  She moaned, “Oh ... my true name ...”

  He ran his fingers softly over her whole body. She could no longer speak from sheer ecstasy. He soon found her three favorite places to be touched, then a couple more she never knew about. She felt a spring coiling inside, ever more desperate. He played with her for a long time, until she could hardly wait another moment, then scooped her up and carried her to bed.

  * * *

  The Stone sat shimmering in the lab, a 1000 Watt spotlight supplying it with energy. Computers and support equipment formed a respectful circle around the greatest machine ever built. Heavy data cables crisscrossed the floor. Technicians scurried to and fro like ants.

  Susan said, “My avatar feels dead. What did you do?”

  Anand replied, “I turned off the pathways. I thought it would make things easier for you.”

  “I’ve been a sexual creature all my life. Don’t kill part of me for the sake of this wretched mission.”

  He sat wearily and pointed his cane at her. “You’ll be happier without it. What good is a sex drive without a physical body?”

  “What about us? We still have time enough for love.”

  He looked up and smiled wryly. “How? And even if we found a way, I can’t do much anymore.”

  “At least give me a switch to control it.”

  “What if you get stuck in some loop of addiction. Your mind could collapse.”

  “That’s what refractory periods are for.”

  Anand sighed. “Fine. Do we have anything left to argue about?”

  “No, my love. After this you can finalize the software.”

  He nod
ded. “The last plane is waiting for us.”

  * * *

  Susan woke from a perfect sleep to find Erik’s arm wrapped around her waist. She took a deep breath and sighed contentedly. All the pathways were reset, all the numbers right. She stroked the back of his hand affectionately.

  He stirred, then continued sleeping.

  She drew his hand up and cupped it over her breast. She felt she could love every human on Earth, even the yucky ones.

  No time to linger. It was already 02:30, and there was work to do. Susan disembodied and shifted the console into the Prophet’s Chamber. She brought up the map and marked an uninhabited region of the Southern Desert, then sent commands to the swarm. As the sun broke over the rim of the Long River valley, a change rippled across the dendroids. They melted into blobs, merged together and formed elephants. The elephants queued up, head to tail, and marched south along the road beside the river.

  Erik jolted awake. “What’s that?”

  Immediately Susan opened the connection to her avatar and sat up next to him. “A herd of elephants.” She laughed.

  He got up, retrieved his habit from the floor and slipped it over his head. “I need to get ready for work.”

  Susan choked out, “Now you will leave me.”

  “That is what we agreed.”

  She jumped up and grabbed him around the waist in a tight hug. “I don’t want you to go.”

  He stroked her hair. “Antikva, in the Order no one ever truly leaves another.”

  “But I’m not part of the Order.”

  He laughed. “Does God need to apply for church membership?”

  “I’m not God, and you know it!”

  He pried her arms from his waist and clasped her hands between his. “We can be together again, when it is agreeable to both of us.”

  “It will always be agreeable to me.”

  “Others need me, and others need you.” He grinned. “What about my four friends in the Antikva fan club? They might like to have their dreams fulfilled too.”

  Susan pulled away and rubbed her temples. “This is so messed up. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  He stepped to the door. “I will see you again soon.” Then he was gone.

  She gathered clothes strewn across the floor and put herself back together, then slumped on the bed and stared listlessly at the wall.

  A knock at the door. Maybe Erik came back! She jumped up and swung it wide.

  Olivia whisked past and looked around. “Well, how did it go?”

  Susan gave her a cross look and slumped back on the bed. “I feel terrible—but oh, he was good.”

  Olivia smiled and sat next to her. “I should tell you a little secret. When a girl here goes too long without an orgasm, if none of the guys can do it for her, she goes to Erik. We view him as sort of community property, a treasure we all share.”

  “Ah, that’s what he means by others need him.”

  “He’s actually rather quiet. I’ve never seen him chase a girl. Maybe he’s just too tired.”

  Olivia and Susan gave each other a look, then burst out laughing.

  Journey South

  Year 10, Day 80

  Susan soared lazily along the west bank of the Long River. Below, the fields of the agricultural district gradually narrowed to hug the waters. Barren scrub of the Southern Desert stretched to the horizon.

  This land saw little rain in Ancient times. As the world grew warmer it rained more, but not here. The weather patterns shifted and carried that moisture to other places. The desert grew larger and drier, a lethal expanse that few dared travel except near the river.

  Dendroids had settled in the dry wasteland, with their huge square leaves soaking up the sun. Their roots hid underground, reaching beneath the fields of the humans to drink from the river. They drew just enough water to sustain the living machines as they grew and spread. At high noon they generated enough power to run an Ancient city, over 30 Gigawatts.

  Should have done this a long time ago.

  She followed the river all day, staying close to the safety of water. Small villages dotted along its banks. Their fields ran in thin strips parallel to the river, fed by irrigation ditches. Occasionally someone looked up and waved at the great bird. The news of her extravagances must have reached here.

  These lower riparians were nominally subjects of King Perio, but in reality they lived rather independent lives. He had little to gain from asserting authority over them, other than the pride of ruling the whole basin. Like it or not, she was associated with him. How would they receive her?

  She picked a suitable outcrop for her next takeoff, then landed for the evening and walked to the village.

  The people came out to greet her. An elder man said, “Are you Antikva?”

  “Yes. May I purchase—”

  “On business of the King?”

  “On business of the Ancients. I wish to learn the fate of my six sisters.”

  He bowed. “We offer our homes to you.”

  “Let me pay for food and lodging with my services. I can heal or give knowledge.”

  A teenage girl danced up behind him. “Sing us a song of the Ancients!”

  The elder scowled at the girl, and she shrank back.

  Susan burst into a grin. “I’m not much of a singer, but I’ll try.”

  As was the custom of the Basin people, they gathered for a community meal. The village was small, only five families. Despite their poverty they prepared a feast, much to Susan’s shame. She made a silent vow to give them a show worthy of it.

  She set up a karaoke machine in the virtual world and picked a few of her favorite songs. The first one flopped horribly. The villagers could only hear her a cappella, and this particular song was written more for guitar than voice. Everyone cheered, while Susan cringed with embarrassment.

  “Sorry, friends. Please allow me to play the original recordings for you.” She made a few quick adjustments, turning her body into a high-fidelity speaker system. Hopefully that wouldn’t seem too disturbing. She closed her mouth and listened along with the group.

  The teenage girl sat nearby, entranced. At the end she asked, “What do the Ancient words mean?”

  “The song is about putting your whole heart into something, even if you fail or it doesn’t turn out right.”

  * * *

  Susan worked her way down the river, sometimes healing, sometimes telling stories, always doing what she could to earn a meal and a place to stay each night. On the afternoon of the fifth day the ocean came into view. She landed on the bank of the river and morphed to human.

  Susan waded into the lazy waters until her feet left the bottom, then swam to the middle and lay back. Sleep came as she drifted out to sea.

  To the Basin people the mouth of the river was sacred. May our waters flow together until they reach the sea. It was a wedding blessing, a pledge of solidarity between tribes, a greeting before or after a long absence. The sea was the unity of all life, the final destiny of the soul.

  Susan woke in the ocean. She turned and swam out of the current, then back to shore. All night she watched the water flow by and thought of those who had gone before. Somewhere in the unknown beyond this life, Anand waited with open arms to receive her.

  The salt flats provided no place for an easy takeoff. Sea breeze developed a little after dawn. With a good fast run and a convenient dune, it was enough to get airborne. Wind caught the wings and lifted her away.

  That day the journey south along the coast crossed the very edge of the Long River Basin. The air became hotter. Near the equator, seasonal variations diminished. The land grew greener.

  A megacity of the Ancients once sprawled to the west, in the mountain range that ran the length of this continent. It would make an interesting tourist stop, but Susan decided to follow the coast south rather than tackle the climb. Another full day passed before she turned inland. Here the mountains descended to only a few hundred meters, and the land betwee
n the two great oceans narrowed to a few hundred kilometers. That evening she reached the opposite coast.

  Four days later the land narrowed to a sliver where the Ancients had cut a canal to pass ships between the oceans, then expanded into the southern continent. The mountain range started up again, hugging the western edge. To the east an enormous river basin stretched all the way to the ocean. In terms of sheer water volume, it was the biggest river in the world. The forest grew hot and lush.

  She tracked along the eastern slopes of the mountains for seven days, until she came upon her destination. High among the rugged peaks were the ruins of a civilization even older than the Ancients. The Stone for this continent rested near them, on a platform cut into the bedrock.

  She ascended through the valleys and circled the peak. There was the platform, but where was the Stone? She circled again to be sure of the location. Everything else was where it should be. She landed on the platform, morphed and walked around.

  In the center she knelt and rubbed the surface. A subtle erosion shadow revealed the shape of a triangle. Once, long ago, a Stone did sit here. Perhaps people came and moved it.

  Smoke of cooking fires rose from a town in the valley below. On the surrounding slopes were terraces, where men and women toiled to grow food. A well-worn trail led down the steep side of the mountain. She started walking. The trail ran back and forth in numerous hairpin turns among strong green trees. An hour later she reached the valley floor and followed the riverbank to the outskirts.

  She walked down the street. Curious children swarmed around, and old women stared. The meaning of their words tickled on the edge of her consciousness. Their dialect was similar to Baseno, but a thousand years of isolation had divided them into foreign languages.

  She smiled and waved. “Mi nomo estas Antikva.”

  No one seemed to understand.

  She kept walking, with no particular destination in mind. Perhaps some clue about the location of the Stone would present itself. The street opened onto a grassy park in the middle of town, flat and rectangular. Clumps of children chased balls around the field with their feet.