The Marriage of the Living Dark

“That’s what I thought”

“So what the fuck’s happening? Someone throw a party or something?”Kuei Jen shook his head. “No. And no one’s gone down sick, as far as I can make out” “Then maybe ifs got something to do with our declaration of Martial Law?” “It crossed my mind. But anyone who can afford to go to The Kitchen is going to be exempt from current legislation anyway. Oh, a handful might have been worried about the reaction of the common citizenry and not ventured out, but aH of them?”

“So maybe they know something we don’t”

“A coup?”

Egan nodded. “Are the palace defences in place?”

“It was the first thing I checked on.”

Egan stood there a while, thinking it through, then shook his head, more confused than ever. “No. It still doesn’t make sense. Why tip everyone the wink, then do nothing?”

“I don’t know.”

“My grandfather?”

“Is in Providence still.”

“Horton?”

“With Coover in Reno.”

“DeVore?”

Kuei Jen shook his head. “They’d not stay indoors for DeVore.”

‘Then whafi” He was getting twitchy now. “What in the gods’ names is going on?” There was a knock. Egan stared at the door a moment then went over to a drawer and took out a gun. He walked across, standing just to the side of the door. “Who is it?”

‘Ifs me. Li Han Ch’in.”

Egan turned, looking to his wife Kuei Jen nodded, then walked across and pulled open the door.

Li Han Ch’in stepped in, then turned, giving Egan a little bow. “Here,” he said, holding out a package for him to take “I think this might explain what1 s going on.”

It seemed a long wait, but finally the lid swung back and Egan sat up, looking dazed, but dearly none the worse for the experience. “Well?” Kuei Jen asked anxiously. “What is it like?” Egan climbed out then sat on the edge of the shell, staring at his hands and frowning. “It was ... wonderful.” He shivered, then looked up at his wife ‘1...” Kuei Jen came across and wrapped a cloak about Egan’s shoulders, then sat beside him. Li Han Ch’in stood across from them, looking on, his face creased with concern.

“You what?” Li Kuei Jen coaxed, his arm about him, his face looking into his.

“I... killed a man. A rival in love I... wanted to.” Li Kuei Jen looked to his half-brother and frowned. “What do you mean? It was a shell, Mark. A fiction. You didn’t really kill a man.” “No, but it was so real. So ...”

Again he shivered, not from cold, as Kuei Jen had first thought but from something else. Mark’s eyes were staring now, as if he could physically see something there in the air before him.

“I’ve never met anyone like her. She was so surprising... so funny, and ... so beautiful.”

“She?”

Egan turned his head and looked directly at her. “Helen. Her name is Helen. She

...”

“She doesn’t exist Mark. She’s a fiction”

“No. She exists. Somewhere She has to. He couldn’t possibly have invented her.” Again Kuei Jen looked to his half-brother, his concern growing. Then, standing up, he turned and stepped down, removing the tape from the slot “What are you doing?” Egan asked, his eyes suspicious.