"Will we get to see that other Aquadome?" I asked, thinking that would be a nice variation in our routine.
Susan groaned. "Shatoya said we would not like what we saw. It's quite different, evolved quite unlike Pacifica, it's over crowded and social norms are… what word did she use?"
"Novel," David said with a grin. "Shatoya said their protocols are quite novel. Communication with other Aquadomes is difficult at depth because of the salinity of the water, but there are occasional transmissions and the locals seem to know what life is like on the other habitats."
"And Atlantica is the worst," Susan added. "I don't think I’d like to go there."
After listening to their description of Atlantica it seemed an even more desirable place to visit. Maybe I needed the adrenalin rush. Everyday rituals were getting to me: sleep on a hard bed, breakfast, gaze out a window at swimming creatures, short discussions with David and Susan on topics of little import, eat again, wander the Aquadome, browse through libraries of audio disks, eat then sleep again on a hard bed.
"I'd like to go," I said. "It'll be something…novel. Besides, if our goal was to move Aquarius Pacifica to shallower water, that's been accomplished. What else is there for our Godships to do, here?"
"Yes, you are quite right," David said. "Indeed, Gilgamesh will return for us very soon–I'm not sure when, but we can ask Gill."
It was later that same day that I ran into Gill. He was in conversation with Lucas. They were both smiling at each other as though each was captivated by the other presence. Gill had his hand on Lucas' shoulder, fingers rubbing his neck. Lucas was massaging a set of immature gills. I hated to interrupt such an affectionate ceremony.
"Gill? Could I ask a question?" I said.
They both immediately snapped to attention. Gill looked almost professorial. "Yes, Gordon, what is it you would like to ask?" Lucas spun about and walked away at speed.
"When will Gilgamesh return and will we be able to visit Aquarius Atlantica?" I said.
"Yes, Atlantica. Gilgamesh has completed his task there and we will return and we will leave planet Earth."
"No! I'd like to stay for a while longer, to visit Atlantica, to visit other places on land! Perhaps we can…"
Gill raised his hand to end my rant. "All that is quite possible," Gill said. "Gilgamesh has no immediate mission planned. We can go wherever you wish."
"First Atlantica, then maybe Burlington."
"Burlington?"
"That's where we lived, Susan, David and I. It's on a beautiful lake. It was lovely, serene, peaceful, idyllic, green–as I remember it. Susan had a burger joint, pork burgers with fried onions and…"
"Then that's where we will go," Gill said with finality.
Part 11.7
It was evening and I asked Susan if we could spend the night in our bedroom, on our Godship.
"Why are you asking me, of all people?" she said.
"Well…how should I put this? I know you're in close contact with Gilgamesh because of that–that thing on your neck, with hairs."
Susan went red in her cheeks and looked away.
"Oh, Gordie, I'm so sorry. I was afraid to mention it, fearing it would upset you."
"I was upset, but I haven't seen any evidence of the scar for some time. I assume it was an implant."
"It was actually a biological growth, induced by Gilgamesh," she said, the redness slowly fading from the cheeks. "The hairs were antennas and after some months it's been removed, dissolved…sort of. It never helped me much. David's is much more developed and Gill, of course, is a biological extension of the Godship itself and needs no communication devices."
"That's okay. After a while I understood its function and when it sort of disappeared I assumed you were free of Gilgamesh's grasp."
The pink returned to Susan's cheeks. "No, I'm still in intimate contact, but I leave difficult details to David and especially to Gill." Then she took my hand and asked: "Why did you want to spend the night in our bedroom, on board our Godship?"
"Well, I'm not very good at sexual activity, but…"
"I'm perfectly aware of that, Gordon Blend!" she said angrily. "I was beginning to feel that you'd prefer Lucas after your visit to the Copulation Center."
"No, no! We never went there!" I said, my voice shaking. "It was a joke, a ploy to make you…well, jealous. I felt you falling away from me, becoming remote, distant. I thought if I pretended…"
"Gordon Blend, you are a scoundrel!" she squealed.
"Please, Susan, let me explain. I see you with David, talking quietly as though you didn’t want me to hear. When I come near, you stop talking. I hear you laughing, but only when you're near him, never with me. I often feel that you are sorry you married me. I know I’m a crashing bore, but I do love you and…”
Susan put her arms about my neck and gave me a great hug and a hard kiss on the lips.
'Oh Gordie, you are so very sweet. My conversations with David concern Godship maneuvers. He explains things that I didn't quite understand when I mind-talk. Sometimes my ignorance is something to laugh at. You wouldn't have the slightest interest in dark matter conversion, graviton control and black hole confinement." Susan paused and gave me a tiny peck on my cheek. "Now, Mr. Blend, tell me why you wanted to spend the night in our bedroom, with me."
"Babies," I said, blurting it out. "I mean, our original intention when we came on board–I just thought, you know, we would have something, make a little cuddly something to bind us together and…"
Susan stood back and stared at me in amazement. I stopped talking, expecting a verbal blast. Her eyes closed. She frowned. She shook her head and mumbled something I couldn't hear. Then her eyes opened and she smiled at me.
"It's all arranged," she said with exceptional vigor. "Gilgamesh understands our intentions and has made all the necessary arrangements."
"Uh…he understands? You just talked to him? Does he have to know what we'll be doing? What arrangements are necessary? I just thought we'd, you know, just…"
"Silly boy, we will do–you know."
I've rarely seen my wife so happy. Have I really been that impassive? I've always recognized that sex didn't play a big role in my life. I never read pornographic stuff, never had the dreams my classmates had, never felt sexually deprived. I always felt that Susan felt the same way and never pushed for sexual intimacy. I was wrong, as usual. What did she ever see in me, anyway? She was so beautiful, inside as well as outside. In fact, she has become more beautiful as a result of our time on the Godship. She was smart and devoted to my welfare. I was a lucky man.
And I couldn't wait until tonight.
Part 11.8
We met David and Gill in the machine room where molecular transports took place. It seemed that returning to Gilgamesh for the night was on everyone's mind. Susan ran to David and whispered in his ear. David looked at me and grinned, an evil grin. Did Susan have to advertise our intentions? Then I remembered that David could just walk right through the wall of our bedroom; no knocking, no warning. Just, poof, he would be there beside our bed, standing, watching, maybe giving guidance while we did our thing.
"David is happy," Susan said, skipping back to stand by my side.
"What did you tell him? Did you invite him to watch, to provide encouragement, supervision?"
"Gordon! What a thing to ask. David is happy for us. He says God will be by our side."
"What has God to do with anything? I really don't think we need any blessed intervention, do you?"
"But God is always present at births. Did you not notice that the native births resulted in children ideally suited for ocean living? They have gills!"
"Oh shit! Do you mean our children will have gills?"
Susan looked puzzled. "I don't know," she said. "I really don't know."
"Then ask somebody who does know. Ask Gill!" I was almost yelling. I was beginning to think that making babies might be a very bad idea. We might have an audience, holy supervision and the outcome might be unexpected, unn
atural.
David and Gill were standing on the other side of the machine room and must have overheard us because David started walking in our direction.
"I couldn't help recognizing your concern," he said, speaking directly to me. "However, I can assure you that Gilgamesh will do nothing indecorous. Your child will reflect your genetic structure as well as Susan's–a randomly selected aggregation of characteristics."
Somebody behind me said: "God is probability." I turned to see Gill, all smiles, his ridiculous gills vibrating. "God may select a gender, a hair or eye color, temperament, then, in three months the miracle of birth."
"What! Three months! Are you kidding me? It's nine month, in case you didn't know. What kind of screwed up knowledge do you have–of human reproduction."
Just then we all began to dissolve. When we again emerged from the molecular transport, Susan and I were on our Godship, in our bedroom. I looked about. We were alone. Thank God.
I was pretty sure that Gilgamesh created our bedroom when we needed it, then it dissolved when we didn't, yet it always appeared the same: a comfortable over-sized bed, end tables with lamps, a couple of easy chairs, a sofa and small table with flowers…and the wonderful smell of lilac.
"Follow me," Susan said. Then she pulled me to the bed and pushed me into a position parallel to the plane of the bed. I quickly looked about expecting to see David or Gill standing by the wall or sitting in a chair, looking on with amusement. We were quite alone. Susan shook her head and the lights dimmed. I never knew the source of that illumination; it certainly wasn't the lamps on the end tables. While I was considering the mechanics of material fabrication and mind-talk illumination, Susan was getting undressed. I couldn't believe the swiftness with which she discarded clothes. Then she stood naked by the side of the bed, waiting. I felt slightly embarrassed. I guess it was my turn. I looked about once more and, seeing that we were still alone, began to undress.
After about an hour we both lay on the bed, exhausted and naked. Susan had her head on my chest and I was panting. The lights brightened and I could hear faint applause. I jumped out of bed and saw David, Gill, Tiesha and Hydra sitting by the wall, gently clapping their hands. Then they all stood and the applause became louder: "Bravo!" David said. Susan was out of bed and smiling. She was naked. I ran to gather her clothes and realized that I was naked. I couldn’t remember where I had put my trousers. Susan was laughing. She tossed me a robe that just seemed to materialize. I looked again at my wife. She was now in a crimson robe. How does she do that? We both stood side by side, in our robes, staring at the crowd by the wall. Susan was giggling. I was furious.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Part 12.1
When we were alone, I asked Susan if she was embarrassed. One doesn't usually have an audience. She shook her head and giggled. She seemed to giggle a lot these days. Why was she so happy? I was really upset.
"I think it worked," she said. Smiling brightly.
"Worked? What worked?"
"You done good," she said. Another giggle. "Now, just three more months."
"Hold on!" I said, agitated. "I don't want Gilgamesh or God or any other divine thing interfering in the natural course of events. How would we know it's ours? How can we be sure it isn't some vile creation that's intended to populate some planet in need of genetic diversity? How would we know…"
Susan placed her finger on my lips. "Shush, dear Gordie. Gilgamesh knows our wants, our needs, our dreams. He would never, ever go against our wishes."
"You've…uh, talked to him?"
"Of course? He arranged for our transport directly to our bedroom and was in tune with our thoughts on the subject of procreation."
"Our thoughts? What does that mean? I never talked to him. Exactly what did you ask for?"
Susan blushed a little. "A girl," she murmured. "I hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all, but what's this three month thing? Why not a natural, normal, traditional, healthy nine month pregnancy?"
"It isn't necessary. Three months is plenty of time for fetal development–with God's help. I already have a name for our child. David thinks it's appropriate."
"David! What the hell does he have to do with it? How would he even know?"
"Well, we were in mind-connect when you and I discussed baby making, in the machine room, in Aquarius. I thought 'girl' and David approved. I thought…well, I thought the name of the girl and he approved that as well."
"I see," I grunted. "You get David's approval and avoid any discussion with your husband."
Susan frowned, her smile transforming into a snarl. "Gordon Blend, you are impossible!" Then she lay flat on the bed, pulled the sheets over her head and refused to discuss things any further. I tossed and turned for over an hour. Why was I not consulted about the girl's name? Surely I had some rights as husband and father. Then I realized that Susan hadn't mentioned the 'appropriate' name that David had approved. I began to run through my choices for girl's names, alphabetically…Adele…Anita…Annie…
Part 12.2
When I awoke the next morning, I was alone in bed. I rolled out, quickly dressed and ran to the nearest wall, which promptly dissolved. When I arrived for breakfast I saw that there was a crowd: Susan, David, Gill, Tiesha, Hydra and even Shatoya, Althea and Lucas. Damn! I wasn't in the mood for small talk, I just wanted to discuss things with my wife.
"Good morning darling," Susan said sweetly and pointed to the empty chair next to her. The others nodded greetings. I noticed that Lucas was sitting beside Gill and Althea, next to Shatoya, was eating and frowning.
"Yes, good morning," I stuttered and sat on the empty chair next to Susan.
"I understand that congratulations are in order," Shatoya and Lucas said, together.
"Damn it! Is nothing private in this… this lunatic world?"
"I am so sorry," Shatoya said. "I assumed that you would be pleased."
Althea stopped chewing toast and snorted, "Your child will be deformed."
I jumped to my feet. Gill raised his hand. "Gordon, do not worry," he said. "Althea is mistaken. Your child will be very special, unique–but deformed is an unbefitting description."
"You and Susan have been blessed," David said. "You will be proud."
"I thought you understood," Shatoya said. "You and Susan and your child have apparently been chosen by God."
I looked at Susan. She was glowing with pride.
I looked at Tiesha. She was smiling–and no longer pregnant! When did that happen? It was just a month or two that she…she…how can she be happy?
"How can you behave this way?" I said to Gill. "Tiesha has given you child and yet you dally with Lucas." I looked at Tiesha. "How can you put up with this? Gill has jumped ship, bailed out, abandoned you, yet you sit there…calm and satisfied and smiling."
Tiesha smiled, a sort of smirk. "Anapos, our son," she said happily.
"Yes, Tiesha has given me a son, Anapos, named after a water god of Greek mythology," Gill said, "Lucas and I will raise it to do the will of God." Lucas looked slightly confused.
"Is Lucas leaving Aquarius or are you staying in the Aquadome?" I asked Gill, hoping for the latter.
"Lucas has asked to join us on the Godship and Gilgamesh has agreed."
I was appalled. I really wanted to go to Burlington, with my wife. Perhaps, after a very, very short visit to Aquarius Atlantica, we could return to our home on the lake. Life on our Godship was becoming ludicrous. Social norms discarded, switching partners at random, genetic reconfiguration, synthetic people–I longed for our former, simpler life.
Part 12.3
It was later in the day that I managed to get Susan to myself. She had been in conversation with Hydra, for whatever reason. Although Hydra was Susan's synthetic twin, they had absolutely nothing in common. In fact, Hydra seemed mentally incompetent. She had Susan's general appearance, but would not be able to carry on an intelligent conversation. My first question to Susan was about Hydra.
"
She's a precious thing," Susan said. "Pure of heart, always eager to please, simple in her needs yet elaborate in her emotional mannerisms. Don't you just love her?"
"I don't even know her," I said, truthfully. "I only remember her calling me Miss Blend and being stuck half in and half out of a wall. So what were you talking about?"
"About babies," Susan said gleefully. "She wanted to know about babies. She has been caring for Anapos, Gill's baby, a kind of baby sitter, but she didn't know how they came into being, how they were generated. She said 'hatched'. She's so cute."
I grunted. Only Susan could find that cute. A conversation with an idiot didn't seem cute to me.
"Okay, I'd like to know what you think about getting off in Burlington."
"Getting off? What does that mean?"
"It means getting off this galaxian bus, living our lives where we met, raising our child there…by the lake."
Susan frowned. "Where would we live, what would we eat, how would we keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer? Besides, God has plans for our child. I expect the plans do not include leaving the Godship."
"Damn his plans! I have plans! My plans trump God's plans!"
"You haven't answered my question about what we eat and where we live? Do you intend to rebuild our home from the rubble?"
Just then David appeared. Damn! That's all I needed just now. Another jerk who would support Susan.
"Susan is quite right," David said, apparently listening in to Susan's thoughts. "There is little left of Burlington. Charred buildings, ashes of forests, broken streets and little vegetation and, I believe, some rather small animals."
"Animals? Do animals live there? Did they survive? If so, then maybe some people survived." I was encouraged by David's remarks.
"No humans, just animals with gross malformities, the result of excessive radiation," David said. "Animals that survived by living beneath the ground, deep in the soil. All generations of humans live beneath the ocean. No earthquakes, no wildfires, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunami losses or flooding. No need to adapt to winter's chill or summer's heat. No dust storms to annihilate crops, no volcanoes to demolish cities. More food than one can possibly consume. An almost limitless supply of energy from the ocean…"
"Wait!" I barked. "Are you telling me that God has decided that human should live inside Aquadomes on the bottom of the ocean?"