Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
The cars are filled with a colorful lot once more: this floating<br />
procession, this flotilla of flower power avant la lettre is such a<br />
success that it may become a tradition.<br />
Of course, on <strong>the</strong> middle car Watt <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Moorish belly dancer<br />
are dancing, again. Krikksen is churning out appropriate riffs while<br />
Jorge José Jesus Juan Guadalajara is wailing his saddest wails,<br />
encouraged by <strong>the</strong> clapping <strong>and</strong> castañetting audience.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> young detective <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabic woman encircle each<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r, Watt watches her face intently. Passion is smoldering behind<br />
her eyes <strong>and</strong> he'd be damned if <strong>the</strong>re wasn't a big smile behind her<br />
veil.<br />
"You crazy Flaming, my oriflamme."<br />
"You luscious Moor, you drive me crazy."<br />
"You mean to say you aren't already?" She says with a wink.<br />
"I can get crazier still." Is his honest answer.<br />
"I don't think I'm quite ready for that." She whispers.<br />
"You never know until you try. Where can we meet?"<br />
"We can't, my mysterious muse. I already have a meeting with<br />
destiny." At least that is what Watt thinks she's saying.<br />
"Too bad. But I won't forget this, ever."<br />
"Nei<strong>the</strong>r will I, quixotic one."<br />
They dance on, deep into <strong>the</strong> night. They never meet again, after<br />
this fat Tuesday night, but sometimes even a small beginning is<br />
infinitely better than nothing.<br />
In a final flash of glory, <strong>the</strong> party burns its last extravaganzas.<br />
Tomorrow is <strong>the</strong> time for fasting, of tightening belts <strong>and</strong> suppressing<br />
appetites. But who cares, tonight is still Carnival!<br />
Emperor at Dusk, Vassal at Dawn<br />
The older Watt <strong>and</strong> Krikksen decided to change tactics in Cádiz.<br />
Having seen <strong>the</strong>ir parallel-world younger versions <strong>the</strong>y didn't visit <strong>the</strong><br />
city's officials, as ano<strong>the</strong>r pair of strangely clad foreigners would raise<br />
too much suspicion. After a circumspect nightly err<strong>and</strong> of mounting<br />
digicams, minimikes <strong>and</strong> tracerjets around Ferdin<strong>and</strong>'s quarters <strong>the</strong>y<br />
were rewarded a few days later with a very interesting conversation<br />
between <strong>the</strong> king <strong>and</strong> a very impudent spy.<br />
Their I/spy/AI monitoring all incoming data from <strong>the</strong> remote<br />
pickups was set very sensitive so alarmed <strong>the</strong>m at Ferdin<strong>and</strong>'s every<br />
conversation involving politics or intrigue: discussing his choice of<br />
breakfast with a servant, every fight with his wife, just about anything.<br />
Even minding all false alarms in shifts <strong>the</strong> two detectives were getting<br />
111