Free The Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton Page A

her brain sprang the
wonderful lazy awakening on a soft mattress as dawn stoked the sky over
Makkathran. A kiss touched Edeard’s cheek, the phantom touch sending a
delightful tingle along Araminta’s spine. A nose nuzzled her ear. Then a hand
could be felt sliding down her/his stomach, and her smile widened at the
naughty sensation. Jessile giggled close by and thousands of years ago. “Now,
that’s what I call rising to greet the dawn,” she said.
    The other girl giggled as well. Edeard’s eyes snapped open, and Araminta
looked out through them into his maisonette.

    The Ellezelin forces capsule slid over the smooth fast-moving surface of
the Cairns. Directly ahead was a big old house with walls of white arches
filled with purple and silver glass, surrounded by balconies that overhung a
pool whose water glimmered an inviting turquoise. Well-maintained formal
gardens flowed down the slope to the southern bank of the broad river. Even
under the wan light that filtered through the gray clouds scudding against
Colwyn City’s weather dome force field, the place looked inviting, a real home.
    “Very fancy,” Beckia muttered as the capsule floated down onto the broad
lawns. “The building supplies game must pay more than I realized.”
    “In an External planet economy, going multiple is just a smart way of
avoiding taxes,” Tomansio said dismissively. “Bovey wouldn’t be able to afford
this if every one of hims paid income tax.”
    The capsule door expanded.
    “Can I trust you?” Oscar asked quietly. The other two froze, then looked
at him. Beckia’s gaiafield emissions were spitting out resentment. Tomansio was
amused more than anything.
    “You can trust us,” Tomansio said, pushing a warm sensation of confidence
into the gaiafield.
    “She founded you. You wouldn’t even exist without her. And you’re all
waiting for her return.”
    “Common mistake,” Tomansio said. “We all understand her flaws, but we
don’t forgive her. We were born out of her determination, but now we have grown
far beyond her.”
    “Pupil and master relationship, huh?” Oscar queried.
    “Exactly. She accomplished a lot in her time, most of which was
disastrous. We are about the only good thing that ever emerged from the Cat’s
life.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless she did have children …”
    Oscar simply responded with a wry smile.
    “Quite,” Tomansio continued. “So her continuing existence, albeit in
suspension, is something of an embarrassment to us. It leads to
misunderstandings like this one.”
    “Far Away rioted when Investigator Myo arrested her,” Oscar countered.
    “Far Away did,” Beckia said. “We didn’t. By that time she’d grown to a
symbol of Far Away’s independence. Arresting her was seen as a political act of
repression against the planetary government by an authoritarian Commonwealth.
I’d point out the riots didn’t last long once the details of the Pantar
Cathedral atrocity became known.”
    “But her principles remain with us,” Tomansio said. “The dedication to
strength. Ever since our founding we have never broken our code. We stay loyal
to our client, no matter what. Not even the Cat broke that. And we certainly
wouldn’t double-cross you . Oscar, you demonstrated
the ultimate human strength when you martyred yourself so our species could
survive. I told you before, we respect you almost as much as the Cat.”
    Oscar looked into Tomansio’s handsome face, so redolent with sincerity, a
note backed up by his gaiafield emission. He fervently hoped his own
embarrassment at such a proclamation wasn’t evident. “Okay, then.”
    “Besides, that wasn’t our Cat, not the founder of the Knights Guardian.
If we weren’t committed to you, I would take a great deal of satisfaction in
tracking her down and finding out exactly which faction has violated our Cat
for its own ends. Didn’t you say they’d cloned more of her?”
    “Not anymore,” Oscar said flatly, and walked out of the