Absorption by John Meaney Read Free Book Online Page A

Inge held up one hand. ‘Here’s why we need you. Petra believes that a rocket could fly to the moon, because she’s been reading fantasies by Jules Verne.’
     
    ‘Honestly, Inge—’
     
    ‘But my encyclopaedia directly states that a rocket cannot fly in space because there is no air for it to push against . So how can you argue against that?’
     
    Gavriela looked from one face to the next.
     
    ‘Maybe one glass of Glühwein,’ she said.
     
     
    Not so far away, where the small town of Berchtesgaden crouched amid Bavarian forest, a small feverish man was alone in his room, surrounded by dark, insanely energetic paintings, the product of his own hand and strange imaginings. The more recent were like design sketches: gleaming cities, fluttering banners, romantic uniforms of black and scarlet.
     
    But words held the true power, the magic he had tapped into while the faceless bourgeoisie had tried to silence him, to lock him away in prison. And not just written words: as he stood before the mirror, eyes glaring, he rehearsed his mesmeric language, his visions of a warrior future, deeply aware of the magnetic hold he could have upon the mob. For they would act as if they had a single mind - he had studied the works of Gustav Lebon on mass psychology, and understood the weapon those books had given him - and if a mind could be unified, it could be controlled.
     
    I am become the darkness.
     
    Sweat poured from his skin as he gesticulated, imagining the visions that floated above a multitude, the spellbinding directives of his voice. Scattered around him like flowers on the floor were sheets of newspaper and printed notices, all related to him, the one who would master destiny, while in the background a compelling nine-note sequence played, product of a non-existent military band.
     
    One of his most dangerous rivals had turned to become a disciple, his adulation apparent in the new article lying here, in the Völkischer Beobachter.
     
    This was what young Göbbels had written, exhorting his comrades to bow to their rightful leader, ‘ with the manly, unbroken pride of the ancient Norsemen who stand upright before their Germanic feudal lord. ’
     
    And why would they not? For Göbbels was only acknowledging what had to happen, that: ‘ He is the instrument of the Divine Will that shapes history with fresh, creative passion. ’
     
    Artist, visionary and orator.
     
    I am become myself.
     
    Time passed in a manner beyond ordinary experience, until someone tapped at the door.
     
    ‘Supper is ready, Herr Hitler.’
     
    He expelled a breath.
     
    ‘You may come in.’
     

FIVE
     
    FULGOR, 2603 AD
     
    Watching Dr Helsen ascend from the plaza and draw near to the saucer-shaped balcony, Roger felt his skin tremble, like a membrane stretched across a drum. Helsen was a hard-faced woman, and she was staring at him. His fellow students still had not noticed her.
     
    They jumped as her voice issued from the circular tabletop.
     
    ‘ I’m Dr Helsen, and you can address me thus or simply as Doctor. ’
     
    A female student trailed her: pale and slender, coppery hair and turquoise eyes, taller than Roger
     
    ‘This is Alisha Spalding,’ continued Helsen, speaking normally instead of through the system, as she indicated the pale young woman. ‘She’s in your group. And you’re the Blackstone boy, is that right?’
     
    ‘Uh, yes, ma’am. Doctor.’
     
    ‘You weren’t startled by my voice’ - the location switched again - ‘ as it came from here, inside the table. ’
     
    ‘I saw you approaching.’
     
    ‘Psychosocial skills are based on sensory acuity, but they’re only a small part of what we work on here.’
     
    Stef’s mouth twisted to one side.
     
    ‘On the other hand,’ Helsen went on,’ we need to be careful as we interpret expressions, because derisory amusement might not be what you intend to convey, Stephanie Thrawle. Particularly since I have full access to your cognitive