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| It was Girish Catheny, the man he had met on the hydrofoil. Almost without a will of his own, the disoriented Pinter allowed himself to be ushered to one of the tables which were set out on the esplanade for the benefit of passers-by. Catheny bit his lip and looked uncomfortable, before coming straight to the point. "Doctor Pinter, I can see that something unfortunate has happened. Perhaps it will help if I acquaint you with the character of Intelligent Molecular's work here in the islands. It has been kept pretty much under wraps until now, though it's not secret, exactly. "IMI's biologists have been concerned to modify the human genome in specific ways. It may have struck you that the average person is a pretty mediocre individual. Yet psychologists have always known that buried in the collective psyche is a well-defined set of heroic archetypes - mythological figures with superhuman or near-superhuman qualities. IMI's forward planners regard these archetypes as the expression of an evolutionary urge - a challenge to the human species. Not only that, but a challenge to the company's molecular skills, too. What they have been doing here is to create these mythological heroes genetically. Their idea is that such heroes will form a corps of adventurers who will enlarge mankind's exploits all across the stars, being so much more suitable." Pinter stared at him mutely. Catheny went on, "The leading edge of the race, so to speak. A specific archetype has been developed on each island of the group. To the island of Felicity was allotted the type known throughout history as the love goddess." Pinter was frowning. "Is that why these are called the Mythology Isles? I thought it was their first explorer who gave them the name. Because of the navigational hazards surrounding them. A reference to the voyages of Odysseus." "That's right. It is a serendipitous coincidence. The project itself is less than forty years old. But did you hear what I said? To Felicity Island was allotted the task of raising the love goddess." "Felicity...?" Catheny nodded slowly. "The first of her type, and now in full maturity. She can no more help herself than a bird can help but fly. It is her essential nature to evoke the most intense feelings of love in every man she encounters, and to do so knowingly. It is safe to say that no ordinary male can withstand her charms. "Unfortunately - are you knowledgeable about mythology? - that is not even all there is to it. The love goddess has another aspect: the bitch-goddess, who exalts the male wish for romantic fulfilment into the delusion of a great love exclusively reciprocated, a demand she could not possibly meet, simply because her nature is wholly generalised. A relationship with her can only have the most devastating emotional consequences, even a fleeting one. I am almost afraid to tell you that the condition is regarded as a form of insanity." Catheny sighed. "I was about to warn you about her when we disembarked," he finished apologetically, "but then I told myself you were unlikely to meet her. I'm sorry. It's bad luck. Male residents on the island have learned to avoid her at all cost. The company doesn't seem to care about the casualty rate among tourists, however." Pinter surged angrily to his feet. "This is all nonsense," he ground out. "Absolute and utter nonsense. Felicity and I were destined to meet. No force in the universe can prevent our becoming man and wife. What you are telling me is some evil tale you have concocted. You want to drive us apart." He rushed from the table. His first thought was to enter the restaurant and confront Felicity with the fact of their love. But once at the entrance he constrained himself. It was not the right place. He needed to see her alone. He hurried back to his hotel room. It was but the work of moments to find her residential address on the service monitor. Only one person named Felicity was listed. He stared with incredulity as her full name came up on the screen: Felicity Astarte. Astarte. Love goddess of the Babylonian pantheon! There was nothing he could do for the time being. Doctor Pinter slumped. He was in the grip of emotional anguish, and shortly it exhausted him, so that he lay down on the bed and fell asleep for several hours. | |
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