Evolution (4 page)

‘I suppose I could be, if necessary,’ I’m trying to size him up and I suspect he’s doing the same with me.

I gesture for him to take a seat on the opposite side of the desk and he eases his long frame into the comfort of the shaper, his legs set wide under his robe. He exudes genial self-confidence.

‘Which compound have you come from?’ I ask.

‘C97 or Compound Creative as we prefer to call it,’ he tells me with a wide grin. ‘We concentrate on the creative arts, you see.’

We all do that to reach our targets. There’s no need for him to boast about that. ‘I think you must be a warrior, a big guy like you,’ I can’t resist saying.

He leans forward, hands on his wide apart knees and opens his four eyes wide. The thin mask-like face says, ‘Kata-Mbula is a peaceful king. He doesn’t fight, but he has many troubles. Many problems. Sometimes he feels like he wants to kill himself.’

Before I realise what he intends to do, he stands up, pulls out a knife from inside his robe, holds it high in the air and plunges it into his heart. Uttering a mighty cry he collapses and lands in a rolling heap on the floor. He twists and turns, shrieks and groans. A few more tortuous rotations of his
body, one final jerk and he lands flat on his back, eyes wide open, unblinking, silent.

I stumble round the desk. Good Zeus, he’s killed himself and I’m left with a dead humanoid giant in my office.

I stand staring down at the lifeless body. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

One of the four eyes blinks. He sits up, pulls himself to his feet and starts to laugh, that deep booming laugh. It seems he will never stop.

He goes on and on laughing and puts his hands on my shoulders to pull himself up. Whether out of relief at him being miraculously restored to life or shame at being duped, I start laughing too.

I can’t believe it. The devil really had me fooled. ‘For a moment I thought you’d topped yourself.’

Another huge guffaw and, his arm slung round my shoulder, he says, ‘Forgive me, brother. I couldn’t resist it. Once an actor always an actor you know.’

He hands me the knife.

‘The famous Kuba King, my ancestor, Shamba Bolongongo, substituted this wooden knife for war weapons and always carried it with him as a sign of peace. We at Compound Creative follow in his footsteps. We are all men of peace. Performers. Actors. Dancers. The only deaths we know are on stage. So far.’

I finger the wooden knife. It’s carved with images of birds and animals. I hand it back to him. ‘It’s beautiful.’

In Compound Creative we have many beautiful things. We’re passionate about creativity.’

I’m not sure why he’s telling me this. Again I think that all mutant humanoids are encouraged to be creative.

I decide to ask outright what he’s doing here. ‘Did you ask for a transfer?’

‘Oh no. Athene invited me. Didn’t she tell you?’ The thin lips of the elongated head attempt a tight smile.

The other head adds, ‘I think it’s wonderful what she’s doing. She’s only been CEO for a few months and already she’s visited all the compounds and talked to many of us personally. She wants to know what we would like to do now that the Earth is no longer polluted. She’s a true believer in democracy.’

He’s a fool. Athene’s frequent visits to the other compounds may be in the name of democracy but their intention is to consolidate her position as CEO.

‘She has made very few decisions as yet,’ I point out.

Poker face nods ambiguously. Big face grins but says nothing. I screw up my eyes. What does he know that makes him so smug?

I stroll round my workstation, back to my swivel-shaper and sit down. ‘Tell me, why did you agree to come here?’

‘Athene made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,’ says poker face.

‘She asked me to dance at her inaugural ceremony,’ says the other.

Shit. She asked me to organise that ceremony but I haven’t got round to it. To be honest, I hoped I would have managed to replace her as leader before it took place. Seems she’s going ahead without my help.

‘To dance?’

‘Yes. The Kings of Kuba have always been dancers as well as rulers,’ explains wide face. ‘Just wait until you see our costumes.’

‘And masks,’ adds poker face.

I can’t help thinking that a face that inscrutable doesn’t need a mask.

The two heads look very different, but, like Sati’s, each head seems to think as one, often finishing each other’s sentences.

I stand up. ‘I have a treat to look forward to then,’ I say, holding out my hand. ‘I look forward to seeing you perform.’

‘I shall be honoured to dance here.’ Kat takes my hand across the desk and gives a bow.

‘Especially as Athene has agreed to dance with me,’ adds the other head with a smug smile.

A sick ache in the pit of my stomach tells me how I feel about that.

Athene has an office even more spacious and luxurious than mine. She has personalised it since it belonged to previous CEO, three-headed Ra. Feminised it. The pictures on the walls are swirls of colour and the shapers are covered in pink and silver silk.

‘Heracles, take a seat. We need to talk.’

Sounds ominous.

I choose a double-shaper and lounge on it, one of my legs splayed over the back, another over an arm and the other stretched out on the seat.

Athene frowns at my casual pose. ‘I hear you’ve met Kata-Mbula. A fascinating humanoid don’t you think?’

I raise my eyebrows. ‘Fascinating indeed.’

‘What do you know about him?’

‘That he’s to dance at your inauguration.’

She smiles, ‘And….’

‘That he’s a man of peace.’

‘What else?’

‘Nothing else.’

‘He didn’t tell you why I’ve brought him here?’

I shake my head.

‘As I thought, he’s discreet. He’s left it to me to tell you. I’ve brought him here, Heracles, because he’s a brilliant designer.’

‘He told me about the costumes and masks for his dance. Says they’re really something.’

‘When I visited his compound, I was knocked out by
the performance he put on for me. You do realise that Kata-Mbula is the Head of C97, Compound Creative. What he has achieved there is astonishing. He uses everyone’s creative talents to the full, puts on pieces of theatre and dance and involves the entire sectoid. Those who want to dance or act or perform in any way do so. Others design the sets, costumes and lighting or compose music. Those with a more practical bent construct the scenery and make the costumes, wigs and masks. The show I saw was a veritable spectacle. It told the story of some famous Kuban king from the seventeenth century in dance and mime. I was gripped from beginning to end.’

‘That would be Shamba Bolongongo. He was one of Kata-Mbula’s ancestors, the most famous of the Kuban kings. He brought peace to his people.’

Athene’s eyebrow shoots up. ‘How do you know all that?’

‘I make it my business to know.’

‘You continue to surprise me, Heracles. Well done.’

‘You were so impressed with his performance you invited him here to dance?’

‘Not just him, his entire sectoid. Kat is to be the artistic director of the biggest spectacle that mutant humanoids have ever performed or witnessed.’

I sit up. ‘You want his entire sectoid to come here and perform here for us?’

‘You’re thinking too small, Heracles. They are going to perform not only for us, but for everyone.’

‘Ah, you will transmit it on the big screen.’

‘For those who can’t come yes, but every single humanoid from every compound will be invited here to see it. The first to apply will be awarded seats. This will be the first big event to be held on Earth, since before The Great Plague. The first of many I hope.’

‘In the open air?’

‘Kat is to design a huge amphitheatre. It will have a roof, but an adjustable one that can be rolled open if the weather is fine and closed if it’s wet or cold.’

I sit up. ‘What can I do to help?’

‘I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic, Heracles. There have been times lately when I’ve wondered if you are really with me.’

‘I’m with you all the way, Athene. You should know that. I’m sure I can incorporate some of my own ideas into this project.’

‘I’m sure you can. I want this to be an experience that everyone can share, something to remember forever. An inspiration.’

‘It sounds great, really great.’

She needs Kat more than me. I am merely a bit player in this event she’s dreaming up. I feel power slipping away from me.

I pull myself to my feet. ‘I’ll give it some thought, Athene, see what contribution I can make to this – this spectacle.’

I’ll make sure it’s a spectacle all right, a spectacle that will result in the end of her reign as CEO. I start to amble off, hoping she notices my athlete’s roll.

‘Don’t go yet, Heracles, there are several other things I need to discuss with you.’

I look over my shoulder at her, amble back and sink back on the shaper.

‘The first concerns your prisoners, Durga and Sati. I’ve allowed you a free hand with them. After all, you saved C99 from invasion and you deserved your show of power. But it’s time for an amnesty. I want you to pardon them both and give them their freedom.’

That makes me sit up again. ‘But….’

‘If you don’t release them, I will.’

I stand, stride up to her workstation and face her across it. ‘This is not just, Athene.’

‘It is just. You’ve had your revenge and made your point. Now let them go.’

I can’t believe what she’s saying. ‘What the hell are they going to do once they’re free?’

Athene shrugs. ‘That’s rather up to them. That’s what freedom means.’

She hesitates, moves smoothly round her workstation, perches on the edge of it next to me, her one eye looking deeply into the central one of my three.

‘I need Kata-Mbula to stay here to design the amphitheatre. But that will create a power vacuum in C97. My suggestion is that you go there as head administrator and oversee The Big Event there. By the way, that’s what I’ve decided to call the inauguration ceremony: The Big Event.’

I don’t say a word.

‘What do you think about this opportunity I’m offering you – to be Head of Compound Creative? It will give you a real chance to try out your leadership skills. Good experience, as you’ve never been in charge of a sectoid before. You’d still be my deputy, of course. That goes without saying.’

In spite of that last comment, I can’t help thinking that this is her way of getting rid of me. She wants to replace me with that two-headed giant. That’s what all this is about. I try to keep calm.

‘What about Durga and Sati?’ I ask.

‘Leave Durga to me. She can stay here in C99 for the time being, until I find a position appropriate to her skills. As for Sati….’

‘I’d like to take Sati with me,’ I interrupt.

‘As your concubine?’

‘As my assistant,’ I tell her. ‘Remember how useful she was helping Kali to reorganise the recreational facilities in C55 before she….’

‘Decided to take over?’ Athene smiles.

‘That won’t happen this time. There’s no way she’ll get the better of me.’

‘I’m sure she won’t.’ Athene slides off the workstation. ‘But just remember, Heracles, she isn’t your prisoner any more. The amnesty is for Sati as well as Durga.’

Athene is fobbing me off by presenting me with my own compound and my own workforce. At first I’m furious with her, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this solution is not so bad. It’s Kata-Mbula who is being deposed, not me. I am to be in charge of the sectoid that was previously his. He may take over my office and multi-screen compu for the project in hand, but I am still Athene’s deputy. She has left me in no doubt about that. This is a chance for me to prove myself a valuable leader.

There are advantages of moving to another compound, away from Athene’s eagle eye. I can spend time plotting a takeover without her looking over my shoulder.

I am just about to leave her office again when Athene adds, ‘By the way, you do realise that when I say everyone will be welcome to attend The Big Event that I mean completes too. I intend to send invitations to every single member of the Symposium on Planet Oasis.’

I go to see Durga first, tell her I forgive her and that she is free to go.

She tosses back her red hair. ‘Free to go where? Back to C98, my compound, to turf out that traitorous sister-wife of mine, Jagadgauri?’

‘That’s not my decision,’ I tell her. ‘You must discuss that with Athene.’

Durga scowls at me and starts to gather up her possessions.

Sati doesn’t seem grateful to be set free either. ‘Gee, thanks for nothing,’ she says. ‘Actually I’m quite comfortable here in this luxury aparto.’

She spends most of her time lounging on the huge circular bunku watching filmograms, with breaks for her beauty treatments. It’s only at night when I return to the boudoir that she has to work for her living.

‘Comfortable, eh? That’s a pity because I thought we’d go on a road trip.’

She becomes curious when I speak the lingo of the filmograms and badgers me until I tell her what sort of road trip I’m talking about. ‘I’m to be Chief Administrator of Compound 97 and you’ll be my Number Two,’ I announce.

‘I don’t intend to be anybody’s Number Two.’ She shakes her curly blond hair. ‘I’ll be Number One or nothing,’ adds the black-haired head, dark eyes flashing.

‘OK. You win. You can be my Number One.’

Christ, females are so stupid. Unbelievable.

Sati spends a lot of time deciding what to take with her. She’d like to take the circular bed.

‘I’ll buy you a new one when we get there,’ I promise.

The only thing I want to take is my drive-saver. I copy all my files on to it and wipe the compu clean. I don’t intend to make it an easy changeover for Kata-Mbula.

He wanders in while I’m doing this, but doesn’t seem to notice.

His main concern is that I look after the members of his sectoid.

‘They need nurturing,’ he tells me. ‘Make sure you give them lots of praise, even the less talented ones.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ I say. ‘I get it. Lots of encouragement to reach their targets.’