I'KOSMAE: a Multiverse in the Balance: Chapter Five

 CHAPTER FIVE: Encounters and Revelations

 

“People who talk about revolution and class struggle without referring explicitly to everyday life, without understanding what is subversive about love and what is positive in the refusal of constraints, such people have a corpse in their mouth.”

—Raoul Vaneigem

 

Ambros’ return to Eugene in his own Line did not occur until almost a week after his post to the Kyklo. On his return from the scouting-and-sabotage mission, he’d found Voukli waiting with a series of RNA training sessions, interspersed with lessons on the practice field. Then he spent most of a day answering inquiries about his short essay; he repeatedly sent lower-ranking Warriors off with assignments to research and document whatever doubts they had about his suggestions. When at last he shook off all of that, he announced his intent to return to Line Seventeen: “That’s where I am supposed to be working most of the time, right?”

Voukli had to admit the truth of that.

When he dropped into the main room of his Salon, he immediately found himself swarmed by the women. Marie dragged him towards the bedroom while Luisa lectured him about such long absences. Kim unbuckled his red leather belt as they hauled him into the back room where his large tourney bed awaited them.

Quite some time later, he lay on his back with his eyes nearly closed.

“Catch me up, please.”

Kim rolled over and snuggled against him: “Well, your friend Arlen is keeping his people mostly in line. They stay in plain sight, but they are very orderly.”

“That guy O’Malley on the other hand...?” said Luisa, acidly: “He doesn’t even seem to try.”

Ambros chuckled a bit: “He’s got a tougher job. Controlling Borderers is inherently more like herding cats.” Luisa lay down and snuggled him on the other side.

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