Black Cat Weekly #91

Chapter 5-1

byI’m just about to inject myself to trigger Download when I hear Father shout my name. I replace the syringe cap and run from the Scriptorium, passing a Jared and a William, their eyes already clouded as worktime begins. Their pencils race across the paper.

When I enter Father’s office at the other side of the bunker-dugout-silo, I see an adult in a chemsuit standing next to Father. This is the first living adult other than Father and Uncle that I’ve seen in a long time. The adult’s gloved hand removes the respirator and hood, and I see that she is a female. I don’t think she’s a Mother; Father told us that our Mothers died in the Final War. Who is she? Why is she pointing a g*n at Father’s head?

Father smiles but radiates rage. “Emma Five,” he says. “How nice of you to finally join us. Go to your place in line.”

My stomach lurches as my confusion shifts to fear. Now I see the other-additional-extra Emmas and all the Amelias lined up opposite Father and the adult female. Ever since Emma Four died two months ago, my place lies between Emma Three and Emma Six. They separate so that I can slip between them. I can feel them tremble-shake-twitch beside me.

“Which one is she?” the female asks, pressing the g*n against Father’s head. Her eyes flit-shift-dart between us. “Which one is Madeline, you son of a b***h?”

Father’s smile doesn’t falter. “First things first. How’d you get past the guard?”

“He’s dead,” she says in a flattone. “No one is coming to save you.” Again she presses the g*n into Father’s temple. “Now give me back my daughter.”

She killed Uncle? At the same time I wonder: She has-owns-possesses a daughter? But Father told us our Mothers are dead.

Father winces. “Tell you what—Charlotte, is it? Tell you what, Charlotte. I know she was just a baby when you last saw her, but if you can pick her out of the group, you can take her.” He looks at us. “Stand still, girls. No fidgeting.”

Her face tightens-tautens-tenses. “So you remember me, then.”

Father sighs. “Of course. Look, why don’t you put the pistol down? I’m not armed.”

“I could do that. Or I could just shoot you.”

“Ah,” Father says, his eyes-oculi-orbs glittering-glinting-gleaming. “But then you’ll never find Madeline, will you?”

The female—Charlotte—stares at him but he doesn’t move. Neither do we girls. Father requires-demands-mandates obedience at alltimes.

“Why are you willing to let her go?” Charlotte asks. Suspicion leaks from her squinteyes, but I see that her resistance is weakening-diminishing-decreasing.

“Redundancy is built into the system,” Father says. “We—I—can afford to spare one if it means you’ll go away and leave us alone.”

After a moment-second-instant Charlotte lowers the pistol, and my breathing slows as the tension in the room dissipates. With a threatlook at Father, Charlotte turns and walks the length of the line-row-queue, starting with Emma One and ending with Amelia Six. After inspecting-examining-scrutinizing each of us, she turns her head to address Father. “None of them look like her.”

Now I see that Charlotte resembles Emma Four. Why doesn’t Father tell-inform-notify Charlotte about her? And why did Father tell-inform-notify us that our Mothers had died?

Father shrugs. “Why don’t you take a closer look? Say hello to our visitor, girls. Don’t be shy.”

Anger hardens-ossifies-petrifies Charlotte’s face as she returns to Emma One.

“Hi there,” Emma One says. “My name is Emma One. Pleased to meet you, Charlotte.”

Charlotte stares at her and walks-steps-strides to the next Emma.

Emma Two nods-bobs-dips her head. “My name is Emma Two. We’ve never had any visitors, Charlotte. I’m happy to see you.”

Charlotte moves on-progresses-advances. Emma Three has stopped trembling-shaking-twitching, and now she says-states-utters, “Welcome, Charlotte. I’m Emma Three. Is Madeline your daughter?”

Charlotte stops in front of me. My brain forms-shapes-fashions the words, Emma Five here, thank you for visiting-tarrying-stopping over, may we help-assist-aid you? But I must not show-display-reveal my affliction-disorder-disease, so my mouth stutters-stammers-falters, “Emma Five here. Thank you for visit…ing. May we help-a…help…you?” Sweat springs out-emerges-arises at my hairline.

Emma Five here, thank you for visiting-tarrying-stopping over, may we help-assist-aid you?Charlotte seems-appears-looks puzzled at my discomfiture-uneasiness-stiffness, and over her shoulder I see-view-perceive Father appraise-assess-evaluate me sciencewise, not Fatherwise. This brainstutter has been happening-occurring-taking place mornmore and I’m terrified-frightened-scared that my mind is breaking-cracking-fracturing. Father cannot find out. I cannot disappoint-dishearten-fail him.

I sway-wobble-stagger and fall-drop-descend to the gr—

Warm sky breeze grass soft wings flutter cheer-cheer-cheer pretty-pretty-pretty

Warm sky breeze grass soft wings flutter cheer-cheer-cheer pretty-pretty-prettyYou are my sunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when bee bee do you see the bzzz bzzz Mister Bee

You are my sunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when bee bee do you see the bzzz bzzz Mister BeeFlickering tickle cheerily cheer up cheer up cheerily cheer up you’ll never know dear how

Flickering tickle cheerily cheer up cheer up cheerily cheer up you’ll never know dear howSweet wafting trailing cheer-cheer-cheer pretty-pretty-pretty say ma-ma say ma-ma say ma-

Sweet wafting trailing cheer-cheer-cheer pretty-pretty-pretty say ma-ma say ma-ma say ma-Warm skin milk milk love you please don’t take

Warm skin milk milk love you please don’t take

That’s not Madeline. None of them…where is she.

Listen I…

Did you kill her.

Of course not. But she’s dead. Emma Four.

You said she was alive.

Well…gun to my head didn’t you.

When did she die.

A couple of months…

How do you know it was her.

Birth name Madeline LeBlanc. Born January thirteenth twenty-forty-three. Mother Charlotte LeBla…

Stop. Stop. How did she…

She cut herself…turned septic. I’m sorry.

No. No no no no.

I tried to save her. Antibiotics didn’t work.

Shut up. Liar. You’re a liar.

…nothing to be done. I’m sorry. I’m…

Sorry. Say. It. Again. You. Sick. f**k.

“—never happened before,” Father says-states-utters. “Can you hear me, Emma? Emma Five, wake up.”

The smell-odor-scent of ammonia assails-attacks-assaults my nose and my eyelids flutter-flitter-flicker open. I am lying-reclining-supining in my bunk. Father and Charlotte are hovering-overing-oscillating nexto the bed. I don’t understand-capisce-compapprehend what is befalling-betiding-happing but I am filled-crammed-jampacked with terrhorror.

“Tell me everything you remember before you passed out,” Father commands-orders-peremptorates.

Charlotte was inspecting-examining-scantinizing us girls all squinteyes looking-searching-explobing for her Madeline and when I spoke-enunverbated-palavered my brain stutshattered-stuck-cemented-shipwrecked shut shut shut sh—. “I don’t re…call,” I say-spit-mutter. Tears gush-spout-spurt-sport-spourt down my cheeks and soak-saturate-macerate-smacerate the pillow.

Charlotte was inspecting-examining-scantinizing us girls all squinteyes looking-searching-explobing for her Madeline and when I spoke-enunverbated-palavered my brain stutshattered-stuck-cemented-shipwrecked shut shut shut sh—.“Leave her alone,” Charlotte growls-grizzles-grouches-grouses-grumbles-grr-grr. “Can’t you see she’s exhausted?”

She takes-grabs-grasps-grips-grisps my hand.

Darkening chill wings flap caw caw caw stinging air hurry have to get out of the

Darkening chill wings flap caw caw caw stinging air hurry have to get out of theLaughing laughing running bouncing rain rain go away come again some

Laughing laughing running bouncing rain rain go away come again somePlap plap plap patter patter patter ooh it’s really coming down but we’re

Plap plap plap patter patter patter ooh it’s really coming down but we’reYou’re okay you’re okay

You’re okay you’re okayI’ll keep you safe and

I’ll keep you safe and

What happened to…

I don’t know. I think…hemorrhagic stroke.

What.

Brain bleed.

How do you know.

Paralysis…right side…drooling.

Stroke. But she’s ten years old.

Eleven.

How…you did this didn’t you.

It was always a risk.

How…how could…

Why do you care…not Madeline.

You s**t. You piece of s**t.

Now now.

Tell me what you did to her…them…did to Madeline.

Put that away…don’t need…

Fine. Talk.

Remember you signed…waiver…optogenetics.

What is blah blah blah genetics.

…form of genetic modification…neuromodulation.

You said…increase intelligence.

It’s…same…increase brain’s…to store information.

And that’s what caused…stroke.

Possibly.

Is that…killed Madeline.

No…told you…antibiotic-resistant infection.

Why should I believe…kidnapped children. My child…thirteen months old.

Saved. Saved. And preserved…human legacy.

What the f**k are you…I should shoot…

If you were…would have done it already.

Shut up. She’s…

“Emma. Emma.”

I openunlatch eyes, seeviewper nexto bunk. Father starepeers cold. Charlottemother seemslooks sadmad. Mother? Father dupefooled us. “You,” I sayutter. “Feather, how? I don’t no no no spelecify witter. Plea. Plea.” What happenoccurry? Mouth stuttstamm. Brain stuttstamm.

“Oh my God.” Mother criesweeps. Tears falldescend.

Father nodsbodips head. “Just what I thought. Stroke. Aphasia.”

“Aphasia?”

“Dysfunction of the language-processing areas of the brain. Pity.” He turnsspins to door.

Mother yellsshouts, “Where the f**k do you think you’re going? She needs help!”

Turnsspins. “There’s nothing I can do for her right now. If she lives, some function may return; we’ll have to wait and see. I’ll check on her later. I have more important things to worry about.”

Mother screes screes. “More important? Are you crazy? What’s more important than saving the life of a child?”

Father icyfrees. “I told you. I’m preserving the knowledge our species has amassed over three millennia. For future generations—if any. Obviously that supersedes the fate of one child. But you’re welcome to nurse her if that’s how you want to spend your free time.”

Mother eyes. Oh. Mouth. Oh.

“Now follow me so I can acquaint you with our security system before you start your shift tonight. It’s just the two of us. Since you killed our guard.”

Water warm plip plip plip plip dripping from the yes yes that’s rubber duckie look he

Water warm plip plip plip plip dripping from the yes yes that’s rubber duckie look heSplash plash plash five little ducks went out one day over the hill and far

Splash plash plash five little ducks went out one day over the hill and farOh I could just eat you up num num num those cheeks those chunky say ma-ma say ma-

Oh I could just eat you up num num num those cheeks those chunky say ma-ma say ma-You’re mama’s baby girl you’re my

You’re mama’s baby girl you’re myMother duck says quack quack quack quack but only one little duck came

Mother duck says quack quack quack quack but only one little duck came

She’s still alive I see. Have you…all night.

Yes.

Has she awakened.

No…think she’ll get any better.

I don’t know. Again why do…not your daughter.

Someone has to.

Aww…sentimental.

You’re such a…

This is boring. Is your vocabulary always so…

Fuck you.

…my point.

I noticed she…tracks on her arms. Is…addict.

Ha. In a way.

Tell me what you’re…swear to God I’ll…

Calm down. She injects luminopsin. They all do.

What’s…

Protein derived from firefly luciferase.

What is…

Remember what fireflies are…bioluminescent. They emit light.

So.

Luciferase is…enzyme…injected it’s an internal light source.

Internal…but why.

It’s the substance that triggers Download…genemod brains.

Download. Download of what.

Books. Journals. Articles. Everything we know. Knew.

What are…talking…

I knew the day would come when…destroy ourselves and…we had ever built. I couldn’t bear it. Not the loss of…life but of millennia of Western knowledge…cultural achievements. Imagine…start over from scratch…another Dark Age of irrationality, superstition, brutality…no. I could not let that happen. No.

But how did you…

You commissioned me…child with enhanced intelligence. Many others…most popular genetic modification. One of the ways…increase the storage capacity of an embryo’s brain.

Okay but I still don’t see…

…me finish. I’d already chosen the most important…each branch of human knowledge…once I’d increased storage capacity, I merely uploaded optical scans…embryos’ brains.