Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher Read Free Book Online Page A

entire world used to be one empire, the Menschheit Letzte Imperium, I think it was called.”
    â€œWhere did you learn this?”
    â€œI read it.”
    Who the hells gave Morgen access to these books? Konig made a mental note to look into it later. “The gods realized a united humanity is not in their best interest.”
    â€œAnd that’s why I have to Ascend?”
    â€œYes. You will unite all mankind and give us a future we control. You will bring back the days of empire.” The boy stared up at him, unblinking. “You will be the Geborene Damonen god,” Konig finished, filling his words with stone certainty.
    Morgen glanced about his room, eyes damp. “I know. But . . . I fell down the other day and skinned my knee. I bled and cried. Do gods bleed? Do gods cry?”
    He must have no doubts . “Gods bleed if they choose to.” Konig glanced at Morgen’s knee. “Look at your knee now. There is no mark, only perfection. You are healed by the faith of your worshipers as only a god can be.” Konig swallowed his own doubts and pressed on. “You moved your toys without touching them. Do you think anyone can do this? I am an extremely powerful Geisteskranken, yet I can not do what you did.”
    Morgen stared at the motionless wood men and picked one up. He rotated it in his fingers, examining it from all angles, his face set in childish concentration. “It was effortless.” He set the peasant back on the table. “I wanted to see what would happen. I’m not even sure I was in control.”
    â€œOf course you were. These are signs of your impending Ascension. Reality bends to your will.” And you will bend to mine; you will have no choice .
    The boy’s perfect forehead crinkled in a childish frown, and for several seconds he gnawed on his lower lip while examining his fingernails in minute detail.
    What is he looking for, they’re perfectly clean. Has he forgotten I’m here?
    Konig cleared his throat and the boy glanced at him, face strangely expressionless.
    â€œWhat will my Ascension be like?” Morgen asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” asked Konig, both knowing and dreadingthe question. “Your Ascension will be the moment you become our god.”
    â€œIn the books I’ve read . . .” Morgen focused on Konig, stared him straight in the eyes in a way no one had in many years; most people instinctively shied from the gaze of a Gefahrgeist. “People only Ascend after their death.”
    Konig, face carefully blank, eyes drilling into the boy’s soul, willing him to drop the subject, asked, “What books?”
    Morgen shrugged and glanced away as if something more interesting had caught his attention. How had he done that? How had he broken eye contact so casually? It should have been a colossal effort.
    â€œHistories and religious texts. The Wahnvor Stellung have an entire pantheon of Ascended heroes as well as their old gods. There’s also local demigods, which are minor deities, Ascended people and spirits—”
    â€œI know what a demigod is,” Konig snapped, annoyed at being lectured by a child.
    â€œâ€”and in each and every case,” Morgen continued as if Konig hadn’t spoken, “they Ascended only after their death. I have been unable to find a single case of Ascension occurring before death.”
    And there it is. Will he ask the question? “There exists endless knowledge beyond that found in ancient texts,” said Konig.
    Morgen tilted his small face, thought about this for some moments, and then shrugged it away as if irrelevant, which of course it was. “I must die to Ascend,” he said.
    Interesting—not a question. Had Aufschlag already told the boy? “True,” said Konig. “You need not fear—”
    â€œI don’t.”
    Konig quelled a spike of anger at being interrupted yet again. “As I was saying, you need not fear;