And Eternity Read Free Page B

was naturally invisible, unless she made an effort to manifest optically or sonically. Only another ghost or an Incarnation could perceive her now.
    “Business settled?” Gaea inquired, spying Jolie.
    “Only begun, it seems,” Jolie replied. “My friend died because she lost her baby, and she wishes to find him. I told her I would help.”
    “By all means. You mean to check the Computer?”
    “Yes, by your leave.”
    “Granted. As it happens, I have a spot of research myself. Perhaps you could check that at the same time.”
    Gaea was always polite about her requests. The truth was that she had complete power over Jolie, who was now one of her staff members, but she never abused it. Quite the opposite! It was possible that she did have research to do-but as likely that this was merely a way of legitimizing Jolie’s mission. “Certainly. What do you need?”
    “This is a genetic laboratory. The gene splicing is routine, but the project isn’t. They have, they think, perfected a variety of fruit fly that will consume residual oil pollution, and they are breeding it in sufficient number to colonize the Gulf coastline where the spill of ‘ninety-five still festers. My concern is that a random mutation could direct those flies elsewhere. Here is the key aspect of the pattern; have the Computer run a check for possible mutations within my specified tolerance.” She held out a ghostly pebble.
    Jolie took the pebble, knowing that the pattern was imbued; the Purgatory Computer would know what to do with it. “I shall be back shortly, Gaea.”
    “And perhaps, thereafter, we shall make a visit,” Gaea murmured. “If you feel inclined.”
    “Always.” They never spoke directly of this particular matter; it was an understanding of long duration.
    The Purgatory Computer had not been changed in twenty years. At this point, the equipment of the mortals was far more sophisticated. But the Purgatory Computer had magic and personality, and it did the job, so there was no push to replace it. Jolie had come to know it well, in the course of her errands for Gaea; they got along just fine.
    A GREETING , BRIDE OF SATAN , the screen printed as she entered its main chamber.
    “And half a greeting to you, obsolescent machine,” she responded cheerily. “Got a pain in your nuts and bolts?”
    NOT UNTIL THIS MOMENT , GHOST GIRL .
    “Watch yourself, or I’ll kick you in your data base.”
    YOU CAN’T . IT WOULD BE ANACHRONISTIC FOR A THIRTEENTH-CENTURY PEASANT TO KNOW THAT TERM .
    “I learn quickly, you overachieving word processor.”
    ENOUGH OF THIS FOOLISH BANTER , EVIL EMISSARY . WHAT IS YOUR WILL?
    “Two items, you arrogant device. Run this sample through your files and see what it matches.” She fed the pebble into a little hopper.
    The computer blinked. THERE is A 15% PROBABILITY THAT THIS WILL MUTATE INTO A FUEL-EATING SPECIES WITHIN FIFTY YEARS. THE GREEN MOTHER WILL NOT LIKE THAT.
    “She certainly won’t! How much damage would occur if that happens?”
    DEPENDS ON THE FUEL . BY THAT TIME THERE MAY NOT BE A LOT OF CRUDE OIL LEFT , BUT IF THE FLY GOES FOR SYNTHETIC OIL , THERE COULD BE A MAJOR DISRUPTION . IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REVERSE SUCH A COURSE , ONCE ESTABLISHED .
    “In other words, the mortals are playing roulette again?”
    AGREED , SORCERESS .
    Jolie sighed. The mortal realm could be a real pain in the buttock on occasion. But that was Gaea’s problem; she might elect to force a prior problem that would wipe out the fly before it could mutate. The mortals would curse their misfortune, not understanding that they were being protected from worse.
    “Second item: the present location of the infant Gawain Junior, otherwise known as Gaw-Two, who died ten mortal days ago.”
    NOX .
    “What?”
    THAT INFANT WAS TAKEN BY NOX , THE INCARNATION OF NIGHT .
    “Oh, my!” Jolie breathed. She had not anticipated that. Usually babies were left to the Purgatory Playpen, because it took some time for them to