The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany

Author:Samuel R. Delany [Delany, Samuel R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575119185
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2011-12-20T00:00:30+00:00

“Who wants to take part in an orgy of artificial insemination?” I asked.

“In a larger society,” Spider said, “things have to be carried on that way. Until there’s a general balancing out of the genetic reservoir, the only thing to do is to keep the genes mixing, mixing, mixing. But we have become clannish, more so in places like Branning-at-sea than in the hills. How to keep people from having no more than one child by the same partner. In a backwoods settlement, a few nights of license take care of it, pretty much. In Branning, things have to be assured by mathematical computation. And families have sprung up that would be quite glad to start doubling their children if given half a chance. Anyway, Green-eye just goes about his own business, occasionally saying very upsetting things to the wrong person. The fact that he’s different and immune to Kid Death, from a respected family, and rather chary of ritual observances makes him quite controversial. Everybody blames the business on his parthenogenetic birth.”

“They frown on that even where I come from,” I told Spider. “It means his genetic structure is identical with his mother’s. That will never do. If that happens enough, we shall all return to the great rock and the great roll in no time.”

“You sound like one of those pompous fools at Branning.” He was annoyed.

“Huh! That’s just what I’ve been taught.”

“Think a little more. Every time you say that, you bring Green-eye a little closer to death.”

“What?”

“They’ve tried to kill him before. Why do you think he was sent away?”

“Oh,” I said. “Then why is he coming back?”

“He wants to.” Spider shrugged. “Can’t very well stop him if he wants to.”

I grunted. “You don’t make Branning-at-sea sound like a very nice place. Too many people, half of them crazy, and they don’t even know how to have an orgy.” I took up my blade. “I don’t have time for nonsense like that.”

The music dirged from Spider. I played light piping sounds.

“Lobey.”

I looked back at him.

“Something’s happening, Lobey, something now that’s happened before, before when the others were here. Many of us are worried about it. We have the stories about what went on, what resulted when it happened to the others. It may be very serious. All of us may be hurt.”

“I’m tired of the old stories,” I said, “their stories. We’re not them; we’re new, new to this world, this life. I know the stories of Lo Orpheus and Lo Ringo. Those are the only ones I care about. I’ve got to find Friza.”

“Lobey-“

“This other is no concern of mine.” I let a shrill note. “Wake your herders, Spider. You have dragons to drive.”

I galloped My Mount forward. Spider didn’t call again.

Before the sun hit apogee the edge of the City cleft the horizon. As I swung my whip in the failing heat, I permutated Green-eye’s last words, beating out thoughts in time: if there were death, how might I gain Friza? That love was enough, if wise and articulate and daring.

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