Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
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Cultural Clashes in Cádiz<br />
Jetse de Vries<br />
Jetse de Vries is a technical specialist for a propulsion company. He<br />
writes SF since 1999, <strong>and</strong> had his first story published in November<br />
2003. His stories have appeared in about two dozen publications on<br />
both sides of <strong>the</strong> Atlantic, <strong>and</strong> include Amityville House of Pancakes,<br />
vol. 1, JPPN 2, Nemonymous 4, Northwest Passages:A Cascadian<br />
Anthology, DeathGrip: Exit Laughing, HUB Magazine #2, <strong>and</strong><br />
Clarkesworld Magazine (May 2007), SF Waxes Philosophical<br />
anthology <strong>and</strong> Postscripts Magazine #14. He's been part of <strong>the</strong><br />
Interzone editorial team from March 2003 until September 2008.<br />
Prologue: In <strong>the</strong> Grotto of <strong>the</strong> Daring Deeds<br />
In a grotto somewhere between Sierra Bermeja <strong>and</strong> Serrania de<br />
Ronda, shadows dance across <strong>the</strong> wall of <strong>the</strong> fire-lit cave like haunted<br />
spirits fleeing from enlightenment. Two men, years apart but still<br />
close, sit next to <strong>the</strong> fire. If not for <strong>the</strong> age difference <strong>the</strong>y could be<br />
identical twins. Sleek black hair, pointy brows, prominent noses <strong>and</strong><br />
thin lips. But twins <strong>the</strong>y are not, nei<strong>the</strong>r fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> son nor clones.<br />
The young one sprouts a full beard while <strong>the</strong> old one is clean-shaven.<br />
"Nice beard, Leonard two."<br />
"Indispensable for an apprentice of <strong>the</strong> Sufi Path."<br />
"Apparently you managed to convince <strong>the</strong> holy man to go on a<br />
new quest?"<br />
"It wasn't easy. When I arrived I found that he was dying. It<br />
took all my skills <strong>and</strong> skullduggery to visit him before <strong>the</strong>y put him on<br />
his deathbed. Intestinal cancer was finishing him off. The nanos<br />
could barely save him. The damage already done was so great that he<br />
has ten more years, tops."<br />
"Enough to play his part in our gr<strong>and</strong> scheme. Was it hard to<br />
inspire him?"<br />
"After some <strong>the</strong>ater <strong>the</strong>y believed I was Allah's tool miraculously<br />
saving <strong>the</strong> great mystic for his last pilgrimage. The man himself was<br />
a lot more difficult to fool, though. I needed several tries with <strong>the</strong> 3D<br />
equipment to get <strong>the</strong> vision he needed right. It was still harder to<br />
convince him to let me be his apprentice."<br />
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