Divergence

“What about Maurice?”

Maurice was rubbing his head through his hood.

“Damn!” he said. “Damn!”

“What’s up, Maurice?”

“Damn, fuck and blast!”

“There’s a train coming,” said Constantine, and Saskia heard a descending whistle. A woman stuck her head around the corner, her pink head scarf fluttering in the wind of the approaching train.

“Going to DIANA? This way! The train’s just arriving.”

Judy set off towards her.

“Are you coming, Maurice?” asked Saskia.

“Oh fuck! Oh damn!” Maurice sounded close to tears as he followed them out onto the platform.

The Lite train was an airy transparent box that whisked them away across one of the bridges towards the tall icicle buildings lining the horizon. They sat on white leather seats and looked out at the scenery. Everything looked so beautiful.

“Look, there’s another lighthouse,” said Saskia. The black-and-white pillar swept close by the track, honey curling in the band around the top of it.

“It is watching us,” Judy breathed. “I can feel it through the meta-intelligence.”

Maurice sat near the back of the coach, his head in his hands.

“Are you okay, Maurice?” Saskia called.

He gave a grunt, and Saskia left him to sulk in silence.

“That’s pretty,” Edward said as they slid through a residential area. Silver cones of different heights sped by, their tops passing by above and below them. The brightly dressed people who walked in orderly patterns along the pedestrian ramps were a colorful blur as the train gathered speed. The hiss of air could be dimly heard outside the transit field.

Edward sat back in his seat, his posture one of happy contentment.

“I like it here,” he said. “I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.”

Maurice let out a tired laugh. “Oh, Edward. Don’t be such a fool.”

“Leave him alone,” Saskia said indignantly. “You have to admit, the place is beautiful.”

“Of course it is,” Maurice said. “That’s because it was made that way by the Watcher. And look at the people, smiling and happy and following the paths set out to make their lives satisfying and fulfilled.”

“Yes,” Edward said. “It’s nice.”

“No it’s not,” Maurice said. “This is the logical conclusion of the Watcher’s ideals. The whole process has just been accelerated since the arrival of the Dark Plants. The planet is on a war footing now, fighting the seeds and the BVBs, and that’s been sufficient excuse for corrupt leaders to do whatever they like, for all of history.”

“Well, I don’t see what is so bad about it,” Edward said, folding his arms defiantly.

“You will,” said Maurice. “You will.”

The Lite train dipped underground. Patterns of lights strobed past them as they descended to an I-train station.

“We’re stopping,” said Edward. “Are we there?”

“No,” said Maurice. “We’re changing to an I-train. It will cut a chord through the Earth…”