Machines by Raymond Henri

Author:Raymond Henri
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dystopian, science fiction, fantasy, science fantasy, coming of age, action & adventure, epic
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2021-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

The pending possibility of cohabitation with Sling gave Mink an even greater need to have some alone time. The chant and Immortalist investigations required more personal space than a shared living arrangement might proffer. To avoid the weight of it all, Mink decided on breaking the pattern and eating dinner at a new place. A bit of a dive. Junky, old, crowded, and in the opposite direction of the accustomed routine.

Colorful as Flavors was, this place, called Porter’s, was not. Plastics, metals, and stone common in Machinist architecture prevailed, creating a harsh and drab industrial ambiance. Porter’s seemed to do a better book of business, if the present crowd was any indication. Automate servers were all busy scuttling to tables and back to the kitchen with purpose-driven speed. With a heavy sigh, Mink flipped through the menu on WISP and gave more thought to matters at hand than the meal to follow.

Rooming with Sling made a lot of sense on paper. It would save money, they enjoyed each other’s company, and the way Sling had phrased the invite indicated they would have separate rooms. Clearly Mink would need a private place to keep working on the chants and pursue the Immortalist who took Gyov and the others away. It seemed Sling did a lot of work from home and the private moments could be fewer and farther than desired. The final decision would not have to be made until after going to the apartment and seeing if it would be comfortable enough.

Mink reached into a vest pocket and thumbed over a piece of glass harvested from the dish disaster of the other night. Such a simple little curved triangle of clear glass only a couple millimeters thick. Mink took to having glass on hand as much as subcutaneous hardware to ensure Malleability could be canceled after Mink effected it. Did that open up the possibility of people on Georra who had an affinity for glass? There were three areas of the world where someone could easily have been born with a glass affinity and the abnormality not been noticed.

“That’s the most interesting thing you’ve thought in weeks,” said a familiar voice inside Mink’s head. “And you’ve learned a new trick! That’s fantastic!”

“Hello, DJ. Is it time for another meeting?” Mink hoped the annoyance carried through the mental connection along with the words.

“Just us this time. It isn’t easy to coordinate everyone’s schedule, so one of the things I’d like to speak with you about is when we might be able to reconvene. After our last interruption, some of U.S. began to think of you as a waste of time. I’m not in that group, however. Especially now that you’ve discovered the chant rhythm for metal.”

An automate whizzed a straight path to Mink’s table, smoothly off-loading an appetizer sampler of various fried meats and grilled vegetables placed around a ruddy dipping sauce. Mink thanked the automate’s back as it sped back to the kitchen. The food steamed, sizzled, and crackled, seeming to cook right there on the plate.

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