Evolution (23 page)

Maybe Durga had planned this show of strength with her three sister-wives and the warriors at her side. Flushed with her recent coup at C98 where she’d ousted Jaga she might have thought another attack would be just as successful. If so, I was sure she was acting without the knowledge of her sister-wives. Kali would certainly not have colluded with such a plan.

My mind was in a spin.

I looked towards the far side of the arena, opposite the dais. Who else could have done it? My original suspicion returns. Someone acting on orders from Heracles.

His loyal right hand man. Thor.

I lowered myself to a kneeling position and looked at the inert body. I couldn’t believe what had happened, couldn’t believe that our popular leader, the beautiful, clever Athene, was no more.

A hand touched my elbow.

‘Come, Odysseus, come inside.’

I didn’t recognise the voice immediately. It was some time since I’d heard it. But there was something about its calm authority that made me obey. I started to get up but felt shaky. The hand on my elbow steadied me, helped me to my feet. I looked up, my eye blurred by tears. A miasma of blue and gold. Stella Jameson.

‘Come, Odysseus. We have a lot to arrange, you and I.’

She supported me to a bench in the mini-museum that I’d set up for the spectators to view in the covered part of the stadium.

Looking down on us were the special pieces I’d selected to provide a visual overview of the centuries, set out in a manner that was aesthetically pleasing. I’d planned it as something for the audience to view after the performance. No chance of any visitors seeing it now.

Stella told me what had already been done. Durga and her warriors were in pursuit of the assassin.

‘They will succeed in catching him. There is no doubt about that. Once he’s caught, we must set up an official enquiry. There may be more than one person involved in this. I’d like to chair that enquiry – if you don’t mind.’

I was confused. Why should my opinion matter to her? And why should Durga be trusted to go after the culprit? Wouldn’t she be a suspect herself?

Stella was still speaking. ‘Normally I don’t interfere in Earthly matters as you know, but in the circumstances….’ Stella opened her hands and shrugged her shoulders.

The shiny gold epaulettes and cuffs stood out against the deep blue of her jacket.

‘We need to make a list of people, completes and humanoids, who we think would be the right team to look into this dreadful business.’

She mentioned several names and looked at me for approval.

I agreed to them all with a nod. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t speak.

I kept hearing the shot over and over again. I saw that white robe splashed with Athene’s blood and her face, rigid, lifeless, a hole where her eye should have been.

Stella paused, aware I was not really with her.

‘You poor man,’ she said. ‘You’re in shock. It’s not surprising. You can leave the list to me if you like. No problem. I assume you’re willing to be on the enquiry panel?’

I nodded yet again, a wooden puppet.

She closed the tablet where she’d been making notes and stood up. I thought she was about to leave, but she turned round and said, ‘There is one more thing. I know it’s awfully soon, but I have to do this.’

She took a deep breath, looked me straight in my one eye, and said, ‘Odysseus, I would like to offer you the position of CEO of Worldwideculture, starting immediately.’

I stared at her, not able to believe what she was saying.

‘Please say you will do it. There is no one else I can trust. I know it’s too soon for you to think about this, but for the sake of a smooth transition, we must have a new leader at once.’

I went on staring at her.

‘I know you’re in grief. We all are. But remember how much Athene relied on you. She thought so highly of you, Odysseus. She made you her Chief Consultant. This is what she would have wanted. For you to continue her work.’

That’s when I realised that there was no way I could refuse her request. I had to take on the burden of leadership. As Stella rightly said, it is what Athene would have wanted.

As soon as I heard the shot and saw Athene fall I suspected the identity of the assassin. That’s why I left the podium so abruptly, intending to look for him, hoping my fears were unjustified. By the time I arrived at the other side of the stadium, where the shot had come from, he had fled and Durga’s warriors were in pursuit. Congratulations to them for a speedy arrest.

Why did I suspect Thor? Because I knew how his mind worked. He was always thinking about what would be best for me. He thought too much, actually. I told him time and time again to follow orders, not to act on his own initiative. But he’s always been impulsive.

You ask me to explain how Thor could have acquired the murder weapon. I’ve thought a lot about this. I remember that he accompanied me the day I visited C98. I went inside the compound to visit Isis and her baby. Durga can vouch for that. Thor stayed outside watching the warriors training. That’s when he must have discovered the weapon store and
decided to steal a rifle, but I swear I knew nothing about it. All this is mere supposition on my part.

You also asked me if I had any prior knowledge of Thor’s plan to shoot Athene. I wish to state categorically that I did not.

I do remember Thor saying that if The Big Event were successful it would consolidate Athene’s position as CEO and that something should be done about that. I thought no more about it at the time, never dreaming what he was planning to do.

It is difficult for me to come to terms with he’s done, to admit that Thor was responsible for this dreadful deed. The frightening thing is that he would honestly have believed he was doing it for my sake.

He’d always thought I would make a better leader than Athene and had not hesitated to tell me so. He continually urged me to take control. I thought he was crazy to suggest such a thing. Sure, some of Athene’s ideas and methods differed from mine. There were times when I was openly critical of her decisions but I’d never contemplated a takeover.

I had certainly never contemplated murdering anyone. Let alone Athene, who was not only our leader but was also expecting my child.

You ask me about the filmogram shown at The Big Event and the show of power it denoted. I can only say in my defence that it was a joke. One in bad taste, perhaps, but Athene had sanctioned its inclusion in the show. She appreciated its irony.

I would like to add one point. Up to that time Thor had proved a loyal friend and assistant to me. How he could have believed that I would condone such an act as this I do not know, but I have no doubt that he did this terrible thing because he believed he was helping me. I repeat that this
was far from the truth, but his intentions were based on his loyalty to me.

For this reason I ask you to judge him with a degree of leniency that the seriousness of such a crime wouldn’t normally warrant.

Once more I wish to assure every member of this enquiry that I had no prior knowledge of this plot to shoot Athene and am as shocked and dismayed by what happened as everyone else.

The enquiry finds Thor guilty of the assassination of Athene. After interviewing several other persons suspected of being involved in the murder plot, we find there is not enough evidence to prove complicity.

We confirm that the murder weapon has been recovered and returned to C98. In future the weapon stores are to be kept locked.

Thanks must go to Durga for detailing her warriors to capture Thor and for keeping him in custody for the duration of this enquiry.

The members of this enquiry wish it to be known that our objective is to reform rather than punish. In view of this it has been unanimously agreed that, as Heracles appears to understand the workings of Thor’s mind, he should be responsible for this reformation.

We deem it right therefore that, until further notice, the prisoner should be confined to house arrest in The Heracles Tower under the close supervision of Heracles. This ruling will be reviewed regularly.

I would like to thank my colleagues on the panel for their contributions to this enquiry.

As is her right, Stella Jameson has appointed a new CEO of Worldwideculture. She made her decision swiftly to make sure that life would go on smoothly on Planet Earth after Athene’s sudden death. I promise I will do my best to fulfil both Stella’s and Athene’s faith in me.

My first task is to express my personal sorrow for the loss of our beloved CEO, Athene, who was as wise as she was beautiful. It will be difficult for us to get through the next few weeks as we mourn this exceptional humanoid. Athene will be given a state funeral followed by a month’s official mourning. I suggest you use this time to reflect on her qualities and consider what we can learn from them. Let’s try to take away something positive from this tragedy.

As is my wont I would like to refer you to history, to assure you that it is normal after a tragedy such as this for those left behind to be in a state of shock. After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1964, a report from Washington declared: ‘There is horror, there is bewilderment, there is confusion, and there is that drawing together that comes after a catastrophe.’

It is natural for us too, to experience horror, disbelief and confusion and turn to each for support.

Now for a piece of good news: As most of you are aware, Athene was expecting a child. It was at the suggestion of Michael Court that her body was removed to Hos-sat in the hope that the baby could be saved. I am pleased to report that the wonderful medical team there have achieved this miracle. We now have a new life to celebrate. Athene’s spirit will live on in this child. Please do not ask if the child is a complete or a mutant. It is not something that should concern us. When Michael and I went to Hos-sat to see her, we found that she has very healthy lungs and a voice that
cries out to be heard. She promises to be just as determined as her mother.

It was Athene’s wish that The Big Event should be imprinted on our communal memory as a celebration of our progress, resilience and talent. Of course our memory of that day will be forever overshadowed by the tragedy of her death. But we mustn’t forget the effect of the performances we witnessed at The Big Event. They demonstrated our creativity, our power. We may have been locked up in windowless domes for two hundred years but who can now have reservations about our abilities as members of the human race? Let’s remember The Big Event as a celebration as well as a tragedy, just as Athene intended.

One more thought I’d like to leave with you. The Big Event was shared by completes and humanoids alike. Let’s have more shared events such as this in the future.

Kali, a mutant humanoid, showed us the way. She leapt into the stand reserved for completes in order to sit with her son, now a complete. Let’s all take similar leaps whenever we can. Think positively, be strong and journey into the future with optimism.

To be your leader was not something I looked for and certainly not in these circumstances. To quote Lyndon Baines Johnson who became President of the United States by default after Kennedy’s assassination, ‘I will do my best. This is all I can do. I ask for your help and God’s.’ I endorse those sentiments and promise to do my best to be the leader you deserve.

Dear Odysseus,

What a terrible shock for us all to have to witness the tragedy that ended The Big Event. Everyone in Compound
Creative admired Athene and respected her. She often visited us and took a personal interest in our creative work. A lovely, sensitive and wise humanoid. We shall miss her.

As this tragedy occurred at the end of The Big Event, you and I had no chance to meet as planned. I hope that can be rectified soon with a visit to Compound Creative where you can be sure of a warm welcome.

I’d like to congratulate you on your new role as CEO of Worldwideculture. However, in the unlikely event that I had been the one to select our new leader, I would certainly not have chosen you!

My choice would of course have been my beloved Kata-Mbula. He assures me that to be CEO of Worldwideculture is not a position he has ever coveted. But when I think of all those months he stayed in C99 designing the stadium and being Athene’s number one adviser on all kinds of matters, I cannot understand why Stella Jameson did not at least consider him as leader.

Kata-Mbula would be perfect for the job. He’s clever, creative, sensitive and loved by everyone who knows him. I could go on forever extolling his virtues. Look how he inspires all of us in Compound Creative. Just imagine what good work he could do if that creativity were extended to the other sectoids.

I concede that your inaugural speech was well thought out and sensible, a good mix of sadness and optimism. It was academic too – perhaps too much so – with its references to parallel events in history. But let me ask you one question. Was it inspiring? I’ll answer that. Not in the least. You haven’t got what I would call “the common touch.” Your words won’t touch the heart of the populace. It seems to me that Stella made the appointment too quickly, without giving a thought to Kata-Mbula’s superior abilities.

I’m sorry to sound a bit disgruntled. Put it down to the
menopause if you like. All these fecund females around me are making me grumpy.

Odysseus, please ignore what I’ve said. I’ve been rude to you without cause. Come and visit us soon, meet, not just me, but Kata-Mbula himself. I’m sure you and he have much to learn from each other. You could make him your adviser, your partner even. Don’t dismiss the idea out of hand. Explore the possibilities. Come and meet him, get to know him.

If nothing else I am sure you will make a new friend.

Please don’t be offended by this letter. It’s just my way to write what I feel.

Do come and see us soon.

Please be assured that I do wish you well.
Best Regards
Bathsheba

I have to admit that of all the missives I received after becoming CEO, most of them congratulating me, this one moved me the most. To gentle laughter. And to tears. Bathsheba, although not the most tactful humanoid on Earth, certainly has a gift for expressing what she thinks and feels.

I will write to Bathsheba, tell her I am far from offended by her communication, but, on the contrary, admire her loyalty to Kata-Mbula and look forward to meeting him and her. I will make my visit to Compound Creative a priority.

An amusing thought occurs to me just before I go to my bunku. Bathsheba is as loyal a friend to Kata-Mbula as Thor to Heracles. I do hope she doesn’t let her ambition for him
get the better of her and attempt to murder me. I’ll have to watch out that she doesn’t pop some poison in my food or drink during my proposed visit.

As I endeavour to drop off to sleep, tossing and turning from one side to the other, throwing the bunku covers on and off, that thought seems considerably less amusing than it did before.

Father and I considered that Kali’s leap over the barrier to join us in the stand for completes at The Big Event was a sign that we should follow her courageous example and go public about the secret of our past.

We were both nervous about exposing our personal lives to the press but knew we must do it before someone less scrupulous fabricated a distorted version of our origins.

We published our story on the Oasis News Site, outlining the simple facts of our lives.

The article was accompanied by one photograph of the two of us together. Our account and photograph went viral.

As expected, we did receive a number of negative reactions, both written and spoken, and our home was vandalized on more than one occasion. We repaired the broken windows and defaced walls without comment. To tell our story once was sufficient, we decided. Any further remarks could exacerbate the situation.

There were positive responses too, from friends and strangers. A man stopped my father in the street, shook his hand and praised him for his honesty.

‘What kind of society is it where we feel obliged to hide the secret of our birth?’ he asked. ‘No one should have to live a lie. Well done for sharing your personal history with us.’

There were other unexpected consequences. Our
“confession” encouraged others to “come out.” A spate of disclosures followed ours. More articles appeared on the Oasis website making public the fact that many other completes were born mutant humanoids. Many of them had disguised their mutations in order to gain access to the satellites, the safe havens in the sky. These further revelations had the effect of taking the focus off us. Our tale became just one of a plethora of confessions.

Father did not lose his ministerial position in the Symposium, as he had feared. At first his colleagues were a little wary of him; but it soon became cool to show how open-minded they could be. The human rights groups supported him and others followed their lead. Editorials were written applauding our integrity.

‘None of us are perfect,’ read one piece. ‘Our ancestors were responsible for what happened on Earth and we must all take responsibility for that. We are all contaminated, if not physically, then at least emotionally.’

On a personal level I found it a great relief to be able to confide in my friend, Jonathan. Just before the article was published online, I told him my past history. I was apprehensive about doing this, but felt it was better to tell him face to face. His reaction was very much in keeping with his character. He listened carefully and said: ‘I always thought there was something weird about you, man.’

‘What do you mean weird?’ I asked.