The State Of The Art by Iain M. Banks
Author:Iain M. Banks [Banks, Iain]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781597800747
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 1997-09-15T22:00:00+00:00
A module dropped me in woods near Sandvika in the bright, early morning. I caught a bus to the centre and walked up to the Frogner park. I found the bridge over the river which Linter wanted to use as a rendezvous, and sat on the parapet.
I didn't recognize him at first. I usually recognize people from the way they walk, and Linter's gait had altered. He looked thinner and more pale; not so physically imposing and immediate. Same suit as in Paris, though it looked baggier on him now, and slightly shabby. He stopped a metre away.
'Hello.' I held out my hand. He shook it, nodded.
'It's good to see you again. How are you keeping?' His voice was weaker sounding, less sure, somehow.
I shook my head, smiling. 'Perfectly well, of course.'
'Oh yes, of course.' He was avoiding my eyes.
He made me feel a little awkward, just standing there, so I slid down off the parapet and stood in front of him. He seemed to be smaller than I remembered. He was rubbing his hands together as though it was cold, and looking up the broad avenue of bizarre Vigoland sculptures into the northern blue-morning sky. 'Do you want to walk?' he asked.
'Yes, let's.' We started across the bridge, towards the first flight of steps on the far side of the obelisk and fountain.
'Thank you for coming.' Linter looked at me, then quickly away.
'That's all right. Pleasant city.' I took off my leather jacket and slung it over my shoulder. I was wearing jeans and boots, but it was a blouse and skirt day, really. 'So, how are you getting on?'
'I'm still staying, if that's what you want to know.' Defensively.
'I assumed you were.'
He relaxed, coughed. We walked across the broad, empty bridge. It was still too early for most people to be up and about, and we seemed to be alone in the park. The severe, square, stone-plinthed lights of the bridge went slowly by, counterpoints to the curves of the strange statues.
'I… I wanted to give you this.' Linter stopped, felt inside his jacket and brought out what looked like a gold-plated Parker pen. He twisted the top off; where the nib should have been there was a grey tube covered in tiny coloured symbols which belonged to no language on Earth. A little red tell-tale winked lazily. It looked insignificant, somehow. He put the top back on the terminal. 'Will you take it?' he said, blinking.
'Yes, if you're sure.'
'I haven't used it for weeks.'
'How did you ask the ship to see me?'
'It sends down drones to talk to me. I offered the terminal to them, but they wouldn't take it. The ship won't take it. I don't think it wants to be responsible.'
'You want me to be?'
'As a friend. I'd like you to; please. Please take it.'
'Look, why not keep it but don't use it. In case there's some emergency -'
'No. No; just take it, please.' Linter looked into my eyes for a moment. 'It's just a formality.
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