The Post-Humans (Book 1): The League by Thurston Bassett Read Free Book Online Page B

human minds.
    He was doing up his thin black tie when Belinda came shuffling out of the bedroom in her gown. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”
    It’s still early then…
    “Fine. And thank you for letting me keep Brad up most of the night.” Athan smiled. “I thought you’d be gone by now.”
     
    “Yes, well, unless you keep an eye on a clock down here you never know what time it is. And I’m glad Brad had a friend to talk to, he’s up to all hours most nights. Doesn’t like to miss anything.” She nodded toward the many screens. “You know how he is I guess. I usually keep him company, because I’m a bit of a night owl too.”
    Athan slipped his suit jacket on, straightened his tie and checked for the list, which was still folded in the left breast pocket along with his money.
    Time to leave.
    “Thank Brad for his company. It’s good to have friends. And thank you for letting me stay with you, and for cleaning my clothes,” Athan said with a slight smile.
    “Anytime! We don’t often have guests. Actually, never. I was going to ask about the suit, why do…” she stopped suddenly.
    He had taken a step toward her for what she thought was an appreciative hug; then he was gone.
    Belinda looked about the screens that flickered around the room. The man had vanished.
    ***
    Sally Wolf, an orderly at the Ballarat Base Hospital, had just finished filling out a progress report at the foot of a patient’s bed and turned to leave, only to bump into a young man in a dark suit and tie.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. Can I help you?” she asked forcefully while clutching her clipboard. “This is a private ward you know?”
    “Forgive me, I must be lost.”
    “You aren’t supposed to be here if you aren’t visiting family,” the orderly stammered, clearly startled to find a stranger on her rounds.
    “I’m looking for my cousin David? David Li? He’s a coma patient here,” lied Athan.
    “Oh, rightio. I can show you. He’s just down the end on the left, behind the curtain.” The orderly looked at him suspiciously. This man was obviously not from the Chinese side of Mr Li’s family, but she thought, for him to have been sent this far by reception he must check out.
    “Thank you, Sally,” the man in the suit said.
    “How’d you know my name is Sally? Have we met before?”
    “Your name badge,” he said as he strolled down to the bed she had indicated and disappeared behind the curtain. She rolled her eyes at the obvious mistake and scurried off to finish her rounds. Maxine was getting her a coffee and it would be getting cold if she wasn’t quick with her rounds.
     
    She was nearly at the cafeteria when she realized her name badge was back on her desk where it waited to get a new pin.

Chapter 4
    THE GROUND WAS soft, like rubbery skin, and it looked like it too. Slightly spongy, soft in some places, firm in others.
    Athan stood and concentrated.
    He was listening to his instinct.
    From this place he could locate any human mind he was looking for. This world stood as an intermediary between every human consciousness. They were all here somewhere.
    He just had to concentrate.
    He would find what he was looking for.
    Athan trod lightly on the bony ridges that marked a spine-like furrow through the ground.
    This was the right way.
    He could feel it, or smell it.
    There was no such thing as smelling the location of a mind, of course, but that was the best way he could rationalize the sensation.
    He looked at the dark sky surrounding him. It would be day soon, at least what passed for day. The white glow would appear though the endless layers of drifting cloud and fog.
    Athan could navigate at night by using the pale yellow and pink glow that emanated from some holes in the fleshy canyons. It was bright enough to see by, but the holes would tighten and close if he made too much sound, like anemones in rock pools at the beach.
     
    There you are.
    The mind he was searching for was close, nestled in