Patchwork Universe

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

The man nodded at Liason's request. "All in good time. Have you some blood disorder, perhaps?" He pursed his lips and peered at Liason's wound with well-concealed puzzlement while one of the nurses produced an assortment of devices and checked Liason's repiration, heart rate and blood pressure and wrote down the results to pass to the surgeon.

liason · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:18 am Post subject:

Half way through the process, the nurse stopped and looked back at the cuff. She tightened it a little and tried again. She couldn't get a sensible blood pressure reading at all. Also, attempts to locate a pulse had so far met with a similar level of success.

"No, sir, I don't have a blood disorder," Liason put one hand on the nurse's wrist and gently put a stop to her search for a pulse, "In fact I don't really have any blood at all to speak of. My apologies, I should probably have explained sooner."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

Arrogantly and eloquently expressing scornful disbelief, the surgeon prompted Liason to go into more detail and explain, if he could, this ridiculous notion that he did not "really have any blood at all to speak of" to someone who was eminently trained to disprove such a delusion, feeling free to be as technical as he liked since he was, after all, dealing with a learned man of science, by raising one eyebrow.

liason · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 5:02 pm Post subject:

Liason sighed inwardly. Given the extraordinary nature of the museum, he had briefly entertained the hope that the physician there might have at least a passing familiarity with beings outside the mortal norm. As it was, there was now no way this could end well.

"The fact of the matter is, sir, this is a rather sensitive concern," Liason inclined his head slightly towards the nurse, "if we might have a moment of privacy I will explain matters to you as best I am able."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

The surgeon nodded tentatively.

"Why don't you two step next door and see if they need any help holding down that homicidal maniac?"

The nurses quietly stepped out, closing the door behind them.

liason · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:

"I have no medical expertise," Liason began, "so probably the best approach is if I simply show you the relevant aspects of my physiology and allow you to draw your own conclusions."

This said, Liason issued silent instructions to his inner body.

External ritual requirement. Open the chest cavity.

There was a low hissing noise, followed by a sound like mice scuttling over a hard floor. Then a faint, dark line appeared down the centre of Liason's chest. Without further warning, the entire front of his chest then opened like wings unfolding to either side.

The complexity of what lay within was staggering. The overall effect was a little like the inside of a cathedral, with dozens of interwoven structural rods branching and joining then fanning out to hold a hundred other elements in place. Around and amongst the rigid structures were a great many tiny ropes and chains, some of them fixed in place but many moving constantly around pulleys and through rings. There were also numerous sheets of some incredibly fine, gauzy fabric stretched between various parts of the interior. They looked something like spiderwebs, but with a greater degree of solidity.

A great many small moving things covered the surfaces within Liason's chest. Some appeared to be tiny metal objects, like hexagonal nuts with wheels. Others looked like insects or spiders. A few of the small things even appeared to be tiny humans, dressed like monks, each no bigger than a thumbnail.

In the centre of the space was a copper cylinder carved with numerous tiny characters too small to read. It was spinning slowly. On the outside of this cylinder were four circular glass portholes and four tiny nozzles, each shaped like the head of a beast. From the mouth of the bull head came tiny, round stones. From the mouth of the lizard head came flashes of flame. From the mouth of the fish head came regular drips of water. From the mouth of the crane head came the low hissing sound heard earlier.

There were many other things in progress within, but too much for the eye to take in at a single glance.

"And just to make clear," Liason said, "there is no blood involved anywhere."

He kept his eye on the doctor's face, folding his chest closed again in case the man got any funny ideas about experimentation.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

The surgeon stood silently, eyes ruminantively fixed on Liason's now-closed chest for at least two full minutes.

For all practical purposes a minute is the second-smallest measure of time people can really use for day-to-day activity. Two is barely more than one. A two-minute lag in a conversation, though, seems like an incredibly long time.

When the surgeon moved again it was to apply merbromin and gauze to Liason's wound.

"Tell me, how long have you suffered from this condition?" he asked calmly.

He scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Liason. It said, "1 tsp. bicarb. of soda in water as needed."

liason · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 4:28 pm Post subject:

"Truthfully, I'm not exactly sure, but no longer than three years I am certain."

Liason became aware that he was rather tense, as though expecting a sudden and possibly dangerous outburst from the doctor at any moment. He consciously forced himself to relax.

Then Liason felt guilty as he realised he had briefly forgotten about Daphne entirely.

Once the dressing on his wound was completed Liason asked, "Would it be possible for me to see the Guide who brought me here ?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

Now the surgeon blinked in wide-eyed shock. "You mean you want to see her? I assume you mean that you intend revenge. As much as I sympathize, it would be unprofessional for me to assist you in that."

liason · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 4:58 pm Post subject:

"I think you misunderstand me doctor. She has assisted me greatly in my studies here. That an accident occurred in which she and I both sustained minor injuries is indeed unfortunate, but I do not hold her responsible."

Liason rose to his feet and began to carefully dress himself.

"If I cannot see her, then please could you at least reassure her that I am not seriously hurt ? Also, whilst I would prefer for her to continue as my Guide it may be that she is not able to do so. Should that be the case, I shall require another Guide."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

"Certainly you may see her," the surgeon said slowly, "and visitors are free to request any Guide they wish, but at the risk of being indelicate, perhaps an alienist would be of more assistance to you."

When Liason had dressed, the surgeon opened the door and stood aside. The next door was still shut and a couple of female cries of agony came through the door before it finally opened.

When the door opened, three nurses and the surgeon came stomping out. One of the nurses limped, another appeared to have the very beginnings of a black eye, and the surgeon was furious. Over their shoulders Daphne could be seen dressing. One arm was still bare to the shoulder and the nurse who remained to help her slammed the door at the impropriety of such exposure.

The door soon opened again and Daphne stepped out, worried and annoyed.

liason · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:32 am Post subject:

Liason moved over to Daphne, "If your business here is concluded, perhaps we could return upstairs ?"

He avoided saying anything more until he was certain of Daphne's state of mind. He had little doubt that recent injuries to te nurses had been inflicted by Daphne. In all probability, this was something she would not wish to discuss.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 380 Location: The Museum

"Are you certain?" Daphne asked, agony in her voice that had nothing to do with her own injury. "Are you sure you feel well enough? Would you rather a better Guide?"

liason · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:31 pm Post subject:

"I am certain."

Liason left matters there. There were a great many things he might have said in an attempt to reassure Daphne, but he was not sure any would be effective. The - as he saw it - contradiction between her fiercely independent spirit and her nervous deference to his status as a guest made her seem an enigma to him.

The more he thought about matters later whilst walking up the Museum's many stairs, the more he drew parallels between himself and Daphne. She was a servant of a large institution, at once loyal to it yet different in nature from her surroundings. She had her own passions and goals, different to those required by her role.

And what are my own goals ? Liason wondered to himself.

For now, more study. Then in due course he would return once more to the Imperial Foundry, before more trouble was caused in his absence.

liason · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 4:20 pm Post subject:

The rest of that day passed rather more peacefully for Ambassador Liason. He spent the time buried in old books, new books, copies of books, journals and papers and even microfiche.

He found many things to interest him, but it was really the absence of information on certain topics which drew his attention. Until he found an article in an obscure journal which finally gave him a clue.

The region known today as Colomara was at that time part of a large empire which covered most of the habitable lands Southeast of the Kielspar Ocean. Historical records show it to have once been vastly more prosperous than it is today. This is primarily for one simple reason: the Great Lake of Colomara did not exist at that time. We may reasonably conclude from the maps and records that we have that the seat of the empire actually lay within the region now occupied by the lake.

For some time it had been assumed that a natural disaster had befallen the region. However, it is now understood that the lake basin is man made. Exactly how such a vast crater was formed is not clear, but investigative geological and archaeological studies have already provided us with some clues. For example, we know that the physical material which must once have occupied the crater is not present in the region. We also know that many of the animal populations in the lands around the crater were severely harmed by the events of the time.

The one clue we do have as to the history of the region was discovered quite by chance. The natural rock to the South of the lake is riddled with small, artificially carved tunnels, each about 20cm across. At the time of writing their function remains unknown. They both predate the lake and follow its border closely, which has led many to speculate that they are all that remains of the mechanism which created the lake.

Liason rose from his chair and closed the journal. Feeling rather morose, he walked over to Daphne and bowed.

"My studies are, for the moment, at an end. I found what I was looking for."

He would be sorry to leave the Museum, but it was clearer than ever to him now that he was needed elsewhere.