OUTNUMBERING THE DEAD by Frederik Pohl

Author:Frederik Pohl
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

POLYNEICES: We forgive you. If you doubt it,

ask that zany Antigone, or Eteocles, or sweet Ismene.

ETEOCLES: You can't be all that bad.

ISMENE: After all, vous etes our dad.

'Now you, Rafiel,' Victorium said, nodding, and Rafiel took up his lines.

OEDIPUS: Calm? Come possibile for me to be calm?

I've killed my pop and shtupped my dear old mom.

ANTIGONE: It's okay, dad, we're all with you.

It'll be a lousy life but we'll be true.

Wherever you go-

'No, no,' Charlus cried, breaking in. 'Excuse me, Victorium, but no. Bruta, this is tap, not ballet. Keep your feet down on the floor, will you?'

''Aspet'!' Victorium snapped. 'I'm running this rehearsal, and if you keep interrupting-'

'But she's ruining it, don't you see?' the choreographer pleaded. 'Just give me a minute with her. Please? Bruta, I want you to tap on the turn, and give us a little disco hip rotation when you sing. And I want to hear every tap all by itself, loud and clear....'

There was, naturally, more objection from Victorium. Rafiel backed away to watch, not directly involved, and turned when he felt Docilia plucking at his arm.

'Be real careful,' she whispered. 'Don't let Mosay push you into anything. I think he wants you to really do it. The blinding,' she added impatiently when she saw that he hadn't understood.

Rafiel stared at her to see if she was joking. She wasn't. 'Believe me, that's what he wants from you,' she said, nodding. 'No faking it. He wants real blood. Real pain. Pieces of eyeball hanging out on your cheek.'

'Docilia!' he said, grimacing.

'Was ist das "Docilia"? Voi sapete how Mosay is. Oh, maybe he wouldn't expect you to permanently blind yourself. After the shooting was over he'd pay so the doctors could graft in some new eyes for you - but still.'

'Mosay wouldn't ask anybody to do that,' Rafiel protested.

'Wouldn't he? Especially considering- Well, when he comes back, just ask him,' she said, and stopped there.

Rafiel had grasped her meaning, anyway. Especially considering could only be that, in the long run, they were beginning to be looking on him as expendable.

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