The Books of The Black Current by Ian Watson

Author:Ian Watson [Watson, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Nelson Doubleday
Published: 1984-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Then there was Cesare, a burly fellow, a baritone singer at the Teatrodella Fenice.

Luigi, an art restorer; he seemed sly.

And finally: Patrizia, young, dark and fiery. She described herself as their theoretician.

I soon gathered that there were several dozen others of like heart in Venezia, organized into separate self-contained “cells”. Elsewhere too, in cities all across Europa, similar cells existed. This particular one was the “Doge’s Tavern cell”. (Oh, and a “doge” is the name for a chief magistrate of old, a city boss; no connection with four-legged barking beasts.)

Presently Luigi said to me, “Not everyone is so sure that you cherubs are aliens at all.”

“That’s dumb.”

“Is it? It’s a minority view—I don’t hold it personally. I’m sure no one here does. I merely mention it. But consider: maybe the Godmind manufactures you all in its private province over in America, and fills your heads with false memories?”

I gaped at him. “Whatever for?”

“Why, to give us tame idiots the illusion that human history is still happening—if not here, then somewhere in the galaxy! Thus we won’t lose heart and die out from lack of stimulus. Lack of events; lack of change.”

“Huh. Nothing much changed on my world for long enough. When something big did happen, I don’t know that it was such a boon!”

Bernardino said, “You must tell us how your world changed, hmm? And what part you played in that momentous event?”

“Did I say I did?” I clammed up; and ate a few clams.

“No, you didn’t say.” He chuckled. “But you showed it. Whatever Luigi says, / believe in you, my little visiting alien.”

“And I too!” exclaimed Tessa.

A little later Prof began to profess.

He said this: “The Godmind is well known to be the end product of intelligent intuitive self-directing machines built by our ancestors. But alas, our ancestors themselves weren’t too bright when it came to organizing the world. They brawled like brats, and they were on the verge of destroying this planet with incredible weapons.

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