Page 69 of Godslayer
“I know enough.” Then he turns. “Let’s continue our tour. As I said, in the Alphas, they harvest six times a day. They drain every last drop of spark out of every female, regardless of age, and they collect it in vats.”
“To power their cities?” I ask. Trying to make sense of this.
“To powerthemselves,” Xi says, looking over his shoulder.
I take a moment to think about what he’s saying. Trying my best to process things, but I have to be honest, at least with myself, I don’t understand what’s happening. I feel… adrift. Uneasy. A little bit dizzy. And while it’s become almost common to feel this way ever since I carried Jasina out of Tau City, it’s here, in this tower, talking to an actualgod, when it all catches up with me.
I turn away without answering, and walk over to the nearest tall, skinny window so I can pause the world and look out. Down below, there are many workers going about their day. Pushing crates, or walking quickly, or rebuilding something that has seen better days.
Jasina joins me. Hooking her arm into mine and leaning on me a little. But she doesn’t say anything.
After several minutes of quiet contemplation, the god must get impatient because he says, “Would you like to know whatthisis?”
Jasina and I both turn and find him standing next to the giant circle in the center of the room.
“It’s a conference table. Do you know what that is?”
I’m still thinking about how my entire world is a lie, so it’s Jasina who answers him, not me. “It’s where people meet to discuss important things.”
His eyes narrow a little as he stares at Jasina. “You’re a clever girl, aren’t you?” It’s a very condescending thing to say, so I look directly at him now, ready to defend Jasina Bell. Because she’s more than clever. She’s smart. But I think this was the reaction he was going for because he smiles at me. Then, before I can say anything, he keeps going.
“It’s a communication device, but yes. Very important things are discussed when the other gods and I take our places on the platform in conference.”
This must be what the glowing circles are for. Gods.
“We use these conference tables to meet up in person and discuss things,” Xi says. “Of course, here, in the Factory world, it’s more like an illusion than reality. But up there—” He looks up at the ceiling of the dome. “In our own dimension, we meet in person. This tower is but a rather sad copy of the one I possess there.”
Suddenly, I’m filled with rage. I’m angry about the betrayal of… well, everything. Not to mention the smugness of this god. This frustration comes out in my question. “What makesyouso special?”
“I’m sorry?” Xi looks taken aback.
“What makesyoua god? You don’t look any different than us. And sure, I guess you know more than us, but that’s onlybecause we’ve been lied to. So what makes you so fuckin’ special?”
“Well, for one, I am not human.”
“What are you, then?” Jasina asks. “Whatisa god, exactly?”
“We’re…” But he’s not ready with an answer, so there are several seconds of silence before he continues. “We’re… machines. Like these.” He points to the plates. “Minus the screens, obviously.” Again, he points to the plates, then his head. “But the programming that runs what you’re seeing on the screens also runs the intelligence inside the minds of gods.”
I look at Jasina and find the same confused look on her face that I feel is on mine. She says, “That’s fucking stupid.”
Which actually makes the god laugh. “Is it?”
“You’re expecting me to believe that you’re a machine? Like… a coffeemaker?”
He laughs again. “Slightly more intelligent than your average coffeemaker, but yes, Jasina. I am a machine. This body?” He points to himself. “It’s not even real. Come over here. Touch it.”
Jasina takes a step back. “What?”
“Touch me. Go ahead. Come see for yourself.”
She looks at me for… guidance, I guess. So I shrug. “You might as well, Jasina. It might be your only chance to touch a god.”
Which makes the god Xi shoot me a quizzical look. Probably wondering if I’m being facetious.
I am.
And these words, thought only in my head, seem to reach him. Because his eyes narrow in response. It’s fleeting, though. He recovers quickly, returning his attention to Jasina while extending his hand. “Come now. Shake my hand.”
