Watching the young man carefully, Balot raised a hand to feel what she was wearing. A hospital gown made from insulating material—just like she’d been wearing when she first met the Doctor. The same size, performing the same function.
The young man wore clothes of the same material as Balot. He took something from his pants pocket and rolled it toward Balot. It stopped by her knee. The young man pointed at his ear. Balot picked up the earphone and, staring at the young man, placed it in her right ear.
–Hello.
The earphone spoke. Balot looked at the young man in surprise.
–I heard that your snarc abilities give you an Interference Rate of over 80 percent. Really amazing! So I thought this would be easier for you than speaking.
The young man pushed his forelocks apart. Somewhat surprisingly, Balot saw a protuberance on his forehead, almost like the horn of a young deer.
He tapped his forehead.
–I can speak using this. And listen to what you have to say. So I don’t need earphones.
He used the same finger to roll up his sleeves and rub his upper arm.
–This is what you use to speak with. You might have a good Interference Rate, but your reception abilities aren’t too developed yet, are they? I imagine that the best you can do is reduce a bit of electronic data into basic audiovisual signals.
The young man grinned, head tilted to one side. Balot nodded.
–In my case, it’s not that I can’t speak, it’s just that I forget to speak. To breathe as well. So whenever I do speak it tires me out. You can’t speak either, right?
Balot started to nod again, then stared at the young man’s mouth.
She sensed his pulse and tried to calculate his breathing patterns based on it.
–This is Paradise.
The young man waved his arm in a broad circle, indicating his surroundings.
–Originally, it was the Facility for Experimental Space Strategy. Now everyone just calls it Paradise. I think I can understand why. It’s a very peaceful place, after all.
Balot’s eyes opened wide. Not at what he said. Rather because he wasn’t breathing at all.
–My name’s Tweedledee, the young man said.
–Welcome to the birthplace of all forbidden technologies—Paradise. Rune-Balot. Looks like we’re brother and sister.
–Can I get you anything? Tweedledee asked. He opened a compartment in the wall, reaching in to pull out a cup.
–How about a coffee? My mouth’s sole purpose in life is now to taste things, you see…
Balot didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure if she could trust this Tweedledee, and she had no idea where she was now—couldn’t make up her mind about the place she was in.
And if she couldn’t make up her mind for herself then she wanted someone she could trust.
–Where’s the Doctor? Balot asked Tweedledee. She wasn’t so much snarcing him by interfering with the currents in the air anymore; it was more like she was thinking the words at him.
–The Doctor? Oh, you mean Dr. Easter? He seems to be busy at the moment.
–Will you let me see him?
She tried to stand, but her whole body was aching. Her muscles cried out in pain. Heat compresses were wrapped around both her wrists, with similar patches all over her body.
With a jerk, Balot thrust both legs out of the bed. There was a pair of slippers to the side of the bed, and she struggled to reach them.
–Bruises all over. But your bones seem fine at least! Something about Balot’s condition seemed to amuse Tweedledee.
–You really would be better off resting, you know. If you don’t like coffee, there are plenty of other drinks on offer—take your pick.
–I want to see the Doctor.
–What do you need him for?
