Descending Road - LISTEN FOR THE NAME ENGEL by Dana W. Paxson

LISTEN FOR THE NAME ENGEL

1563 4D

Arlen reviewed the Luce matter. One mistake after another. At least he still had the biotrackers working. They’d found another sign of Luce in the City ore terminal. That was news. Why had Luce come back to the City? Maybe he’d put Parthren on the trail — with her, he didn’t need the biotrackers.

Arlen dug some congealed blood from under his nail. And maybe now, if he could find Luce‘s son, and hostage the father against the child, this approach would pay off.

And then there was Leil, the wife.

Raising his head, Arlen said, “Frei, please join me.” A minute later the intricate steel door again split in two from top to bottom along its crooked seam. A young man entered. The sentry hummed loudly. The young man started, dropping the datasheets he carried, and stooped to pick them up. Arlen studied the curves of the young man’s fingers and the bunching of the muscles of his body as he gathered the sheets and stood again.

“I’m very sorry,” the young man said. He wore a soft office coverall. His large eyes and gentle voice, even in his agitation, woke Arlen‘s desire. Arlen gazed in those eyes for a long moment. Beautiful. Parthren had sent this child to him many days ago — why had he waited so long to use him?

“Your name is Frei? Just that?”

“Yes, sir.”

“No family?”

“I’m… from the street, sir. I didn’t want their name.”

“Then I will give you one, to go with this indenture I gave you. Would you like that?”

“I… guess I would.” Frei looked down and away.

“Yes?”

“Yes.” Still looking away, nodding rapidly.

“You are now Frei Holden.” Arlen reached out with a long arm and put his hand on Frei‘s shoulder. He smiled. The young man’s eyes showed fear. Better go slow. “So.” He paused and looked Frei in the eyes. “You know the streets in Sobi, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to find Parthren Many Noses, your Parthren. Tell her Arlen has food for her to cook.”

Frei knotted his eyebrows. “She’s… I can find her.”

“And one other thing, first. Go to Mentrius and tell him I want him to bring two of his best choppers up here.” Frei‘s face tightened. Fear? “I have a debt to repay someone, maybe you know the name Engel?” he added.

“I’m sorry, sir, the name isn’t familiar.” Frei started to back away.

Arlen watched him retreat. He had pushed the boy too hard already. “Not so fast,” he said gently. Frei stopped moving. Arlen turned and reached into a low cabinet. “There’s no hurry. I have a small gift for you. Would you share a drink with me before you go?” He waited, holding out a dark-brown flask to Frei. Give the child room to choose.

“If you would like, sir.” Frei took the flask. Arlen held up two matching dark amber glasses and let him pour a finger of the syrupy fluid in each one.

“This is katschild, worth a thousand per swallow,” Arlen said, holding up the glass. “Among other things, it strengthens the mind and the heart.” He drank it, feeling it work its honeyed glow into his throat and nose. As he set down his glass, he watched Frei finish his own. Ah, lovely young man. And perhaps, if you aren’t immune to these sweet genetics, as I am, you will be my cat’s-paw, like Serreth was. How I miss Serreth. That huge rippled body… Arlen‘s fingers quivered slightly as, smiling steadily once again, he took Frei‘s glass and walked him to the wrought metal door.

“I will call for you in four days,” Arlen said. “I expect to know what Parthren says to you. Give her this. Trenzil?” He reached out; with a long tentacle the sentry placed a small sphere in his hand. “Do not play with this. It is dangerous to you. Just keep it in a pocket and hand it to her when you see her. Tell her it is from Arlen. And one other thing. Listen for the name Engel when you are back in Sobi. When you come back, tell me what you hear.” He nodded toward the door.

“Thank you, sir,” Frei said, lowering his eyes. He left the room. The heavy door swung silently inward to close.

Arlen turned to the curtained frame, where a drop of blood still oozed. He opened the curtain. “Tariall, what was your impression of him? Can he be trusted?”

The talking face blinked. “I… I… Wait, I’m losing stabil—" Its eyes widened and bulged, its jaw clenched and it shook in an epileptic spasm that sent blood spurting again from the damaged lip. Arlen watched with growing impatience; then he turned the rightmost of four knobs underneath the frame’s lower edge. The face relaxed; the eyes closed. “Thank you,” it whispered.

Arlen ground his teeth. “Answer my question.”

Slowly, dreamily, the face of Tariall opened its eyes again. “He is young. The katschild should work. You will have your new feline in a few months.”

“That was not what I asked you.”

“Until then, uncertain. He won’t associate the initial seizures with you. The worst is when he discovers his genetics changing. Please—" Tariall‘s face looked down at the floor, the corners of its mouth sagging. “Don’t bring Indrio here now. The blood—“

“She has seen much worse,” Arlen snapped, “And I enjoy seeing the two of you showing such concern for each other. That is one of the great mysteries I study: impossible love. How can she care for you, thing on the wall?” Anger surged in Arlen. “You betrayed her. You took her innocence, you twisted it to your desires, and destroyed yourself.”

“You destroyed me,” said the face of Tariall very softly.

“No,” Arlen said, “I simply reacted as you knew I would. Do you blame the force of gravity for deaths by falling? Now you can live with your self-determined circumstances. Indrio!”

A few breaths later, Indrio, her eyes looking at the floor, entered the room from a smaller door. Tariall‘s face closed its eyes. Her strong, supple arms and legs moved as if their joints could bend in any direction. She came and stood before Arlen, looking down at his chest, her back to the frame on the wall. The hint of furze of hair on her head lay patterned in swirls against her scalp. Except for a braided silver chain cinching her waist and dangling from her side, she stood naked.

“Undress me,” Arlen said to her. Her long fingers began to draw his jumpsuit open. She smiled. In a few moments they held each other; she caressed him as he ran his nails lightly over her shoulders and back. He shivered inside with desire and anticipation, hoping he had given her just enough Metarbor disaffective to keep her from pulling away. Too much of it, and she could not have responded to him when he called. “Tell me who you are,” he said.

“I am your Indrio,” she said in a low, resonant voice.

“Take me into you, Indrio,” he said.

“Yes.” And she did. They stood face to face. He drew her legs up around him, and turned until she faced Tariall‘s box. Her eyes widened. “Tariall,” she said softly. She did not move or resist Arlen as he turned them both to see Tariall‘s eyes open up. The two lovers gazed at each other. The sentry’s toe kept up a soft steady tap, tap.

“Indrio,” the face of Tariall said. Indrio stared at the blood on the frame; her eyes widened. She said nothing. As Arlen moved in her, tears came from her eyes and wet his chest. In that moment he climaxed.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	LISTEN FOR THE NAME ENGEL 1563 4D Arlen reviewed the Luce matter. One mistake after another. At least he still had the biotrackers working. They’d found another sign of Luce in the City ore terminal. That was news. Why had Luce come back to the City? Maybe he’d put Parthren on the trail — with her, he didn’t need the biotrackers. Arlen dug some congealed blood from under his nail. And maybe now, if he could find Luce‘s son, and hostage the father against the child, this approach would pay off. And then there was Leil, the wife. Raising his head, Arlen said, “Frei, please join me.” A minute later the intricate steel door again split in two from top to bottom along its crooked seam. A young man entered. The sentry hummed loudly. The young man started, dropping the datasheets he carried, and stooped to pick them up. Arlen studied the curves of the young man’s fingers and the bunching of the muscles of his body as he gathered the sheets and stood again. “I’m very sorry,” the young man said. He wore a soft office coverall. His large eyes and gentle voice, even in his agitation, woke Arlen‘s desire. Arlen gazed in those eyes for a long moment. Beautiful. Parthren had sent this child to him many days ago — why had he waited so long to use him? “Your name is Frei? Just that?” “Yes, sir.” “No family?” “I’m… from the street, sir. I didn’t want their name.” “Then I will give you one, to go with this indenture I gave you. Would you like that?” “I… guess I would.” Frei looked down and away. “Yes?” “Yes.” Still looking away, nodding rapidly. “You are now Frei Holden.” Arlen reached out with a long arm and put his hand on Frei‘s shoulder. He smiled. The young man’s eyes showed fear. Better go slow. “So.” He paused and looked Frei in the eyes. “You know the streets in Sobi, right?” “Yes, sir.” “I want you to find Parthren Many Noses, your Parthren. Tell her Arlen has food for her to cook.” Frei knotted his eyebrows. “She’s… I can find her.” “And one other thing, first. Go to Mentrius and tell him I want him to bring two of his best choppers up here.” Frei‘s face tightened. Fear? “I have a debt to repay someone, maybe you know the name Engel?” he added. “I’m sorry, sir, the name isn’t familiar.” Frei started to back away. Arlen watched him retreat. He had pushed the boy too hard already. “Not so fast,” he said gently. Frei stopped moving. Arlen turned and reached into a low cabinet. “There’s no hurry. I have a small gift for you. Would you share a drink with me before you go?” He waited, holding out a dark-brown flask to Frei. Give the child room to choose. “If you would like, sir.” Frei took the flask. Arlen held up two matching dark amber glasses and let him pour a finger of the syrupy fluid in each one. “This is katschild, worth a thousand per swallow,” Arlen said, holding up the glass. “Among other things, it strengthens the mind and the heart.” He drank it, feeling it work its honeyed glow into his throat and nose. As he set down his glass, he watched Frei finish his own. Ah, lovely young man. And perhaps, if you aren’t immune to these sweet genetics, as I am, you will be my cat’s-paw, like Serreth was. How I miss Serreth. That huge rippled body… Arlen‘s fingers quivered slightly as, smiling steadily once again, he took Frei‘s glass and walked him to the wrought metal door. “I will call for you in four days,” Arlen said. “I expect to know what Parthren says to you. Give her this. Trenzil?” He reached out; with a long tentacle the sentry placed a small sphere in his hand. “Do not play with this. It is dangerous to you. Just keep it in a pocket and hand it to her when you see her. Tell her it is from Arlen. And one other thing. Listen for the name Engel when you are back in Sobi. When you come back, tell me what you hear.” He nodded toward the door. “Thank you, sir,” Frei said, lowering his eyes. He left the room. The heavy door swung silently inward to close. Arlen turned to the curtained frame, where a drop of blood still oozed. He opened the curtain. “Tariall, what was your impression of him? Can he be trusted?” The talking face blinked. “I… I… Wait, I’m losing stabil—" Its eyes widened and bulged, its jaw clenched and it shook in an epileptic spasm that sent blood spurting again from the damaged lip. Arlen watched with growing impatience; then he turned the rightmost of four knobs underneath the frame’s lower edge. The face relaxed; the eyes closed. “Thank you,” it whispered. Arlen ground his teeth. “Answer my question.” Slowly, dreamily, the face of Tariall opened its eyes again. “He is young. The katschild should work. You will have your new feline in a few months.” “That was not what I asked you.” “Until then, uncertain. He won’t associate the initial seizures with you. The worst is when he discovers his genetics changing. Please—" Tariall‘s face looked down at the floor, the corners of its mouth sagging. “Don’t bring Indrio here now. The blood—“ “She has seen much worse,” Arlen snapped, “And I enjoy seeing the two of you showing such concern for each other. That is one of the great mysteries I study: impossible love. How can she care for you, thing on the wall?” Anger surged in Arlen. “You betrayed her. You took her innocence, you twisted it to your desires, and destroyed yourself.” “You destroyed me,” said the face of Tariall very softly. “No,” Arlen said, “I simply reacted as you knew I would. Do you blame the force of gravity for deaths by falling? Now you can live with your self-determined circumstances. Indrio!” A few breaths later, Indrio, her eyes looking at the floor, entered the room from a smaller door. Tariall‘s face closed its eyes. Her strong, supple arms and legs moved as if their joints could bend in any direction. She came and stood before Arlen, looking down at his chest, her back to the frame on the wall. The hint of furze of hair on her head lay patterned in swirls against her scalp. Except for a braided silver chain cinching her waist and dangling from her side, she stood naked. “Undress me,” Arlen said to her. Her long fingers began to draw his jumpsuit open. She smiled. In a few moments they held each other; she caressed him as he ran his nails lightly over her shoulders and back. He shivered inside with desire and anticipation, hoping he had given her just enough Metarbor disaffective to keep her from pulling away. Too much of it, and she could not have responded to him when he called. “Tell me who you are,” he said. “I am your Indrio,” she said in a low, resonant voice. “Take me into you, Indrio,” he said. “Yes.” And she did. They stood face to face. He drew her legs up around him, and turned until she faced Tariall‘s box. Her eyes widened. “Tariall,” she said softly. She did not move or resist Arlen as he turned them both to see Tariall‘s eyes open up. The two lovers gazed at each other. The sentry’s toe kept up a soft steady tap, tap. “Indrio,” the face of Tariall said. Indrio stared at the blood on the frame; her eyes widened. She said nothing. As Arlen moved in her, tears came from her eyes and wet his chest. In that moment he climaxed.