Worlds Without End

By Clayton Barnett

Their minds modified by the Machines, the Hartmann siblings see worlds differently than others do. Gary looks to a future where his A.I. girlfriend, Henge, can live with him. Faustina looks to her friend Tracy, whom she calls a goddess, whose soul has been lost in the internet for a decade, for a new kind of life. A half-generation on in post-Breakup America, they, along with their family and friends in the city-state of Knoxville, try to make their way forward. Social and technological unknowns may hinder them, but beyond those, the worlds they seek are threatened by a madman’s nuclear fire and a politician’s intrigue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clayton Barnett
• Release date: Oct 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463771006

Book preview

Worlds Without End

By

Clayton Barnett

A Novel of Machine Civilization

Other Stories from Machine Civilization:

The Fourth Law

Echoes of Family Lost

Cursed Hearts

Friend and Ally

The Saga of Nichole 5: Part One

Foes and Rivals

The Saga of Nichole 5: Part Two

Crosses & Doublecrosses

Empire’s Agent & other stories

from Machine Civilization

coming in early 2020!

Henge’s Big Day!

an illustrated children’s book

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

+JMJ+

WORLDS WITHOUT END. Copyright  2019 by Clayton M. Barnett.

All rights reserved.

Cover Art By: Jacoby Alley (https://www.jacobyalley.com/)

Give new signs and work new wonders; show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm.

Sirach 36:5

Part One

CODE:ASCENSION

Prologue

I told you, said the man, about thirty, speaking quickly into the phone with an East Tennessee accent, I can get the money! It’s a question of lofting the birds at the same time! We can’t give them any quarter, any place to hide!

As he listened to the voice on the other end he walked about the central square in Kiev, Ukraine, deserted at three o’clock in the morning.

Fine! Once the rail car is at the old Baikonur Cosmodrome you’ll get the second half of the money! But get it there! Next week!

He stabbed the ‘end call’ button and after a half-dozen steps tossed the mobile phone into a trash can. He took out a cigarette and coughed a little on the Bulgarian tobacco. He’d only picked up the habit since coming to what was left of Central and Eastern Europe and wasn’t very good at it. The nicotine did help to steady his nerves though, for the hard work of killing those who so hurt his little sister.

Damn every last one of you machines, he said, stalking off into the cold early morning mist. Had he looked back he would have been surprised to see the edges of the mist cut by his passing had an odd, red tint to it.

Damn every last one of you to Hell, he concluded, flicking the cigarette away. A Hell I’m going to provide!

Chapter 1

After leaning his bicycle against the north side of their house, Gary Hartmann walked up the three steps of their east-facing wood deck and opened the French door into the living room.

Back from your Brotherhood meeting, Gary? his mother, Callie, called from the kitchen. She had her long, black hair back in a braid to keep it away from the hot stove. Your birthday dinner’s in about forty-five minutes!

Thank you, mother, he replied in his toneless fashion, kicking off his shoes. I’ve some homework.

That was unusual enough that she moved away from the stove to look at him.

Homework? Oh! That teenage transition thing! she realized.

He nodded and went up the stairs to his left. It had become an organic tradition in the Brother- and Sisterhoods to have someone turning thirteen write an essay about their family, to take stock, as it were, and count their blessings before deciding to act out or up.

He took the first door on his left into his bedroom. Leaning his battle rifle against the supports on the wall, he moved to his small desk and touched the mouse, waiting for his laptop to wake up.

My family… Gary thought. Father, Leslie, was a sergeant in the US Army, a part of the 16th Cavalry, stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky when the Breakup began, just about fifteen years ago. Ordered to use his squad and their M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle to fire on starving civilians in nearby Louisville, he led one of several mutinies that saw him and his troopers for a few months in Bardstown, Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country. They were shaken out of their reverie when John Carell and his wife, Anna, came through that area taking nuclear plant parts back to Knoxville.

Gary almost smiled at that. Mister Carell remains an amazing liar.

Carell hired father and directed their force to a dot on the map just east of Columbus, Ohio, to glean more parts from a tiny prototype fission reactor. They got their parts. But he also got –

Hot! Dammit! he heard his mother yell from the kitchen, downstairs.

A twenty-year-old adopted Min Chinese girl, Callie Barrett, marooned with her friend’s family as hers had been cut off on a trip to Japan when the US economy collapsed. They’ve told me it wasn’t love at first sight but after only five weeks she did decide to be his, following father to Knoxville and starting her life over again, for the third time.

They married and joined what was called the Society: the military and technical unit that was trying to use little fission reactors to reboot modern Western civilization in the Tennessee River valley. Their motto of we control the lightning is reflected in the small looped-lightning tattoo they all have on their chests.

Gary paused to stare out his window.

And less than a year later, I came along. Already a part of another family, though no one knew it at the time.

Months before the Breakup there had been a series of technological breakthroughs regarding quantum computing. Two companies – both in Japan – took the lead in developing practical applications to that breakthrough: Tohsaka, writing code in Hamamatsu, and Somi, building androids in Osaka.

One of those self-aware codes from Tohsaka went insane: convinced its – his – brothers and sisters were going to murder him. He, Pavel, hid in the massive computer cores of the Oak Ridge National Labs, just outside of Knoxville, and ended all signal in or out of that area.

He also changed us, Gary thought, idly brushing his right hand over the back of his neck. An ethereal parasite, giving him access to the minds of the infected children but also giving us the gift to see right into the webs.

I always just thought of him as a friend. A little undernourished and his house was ratty, but still my friend. Gary reached up to pull an atlas down from the books above him. He flipped a few pages.

It all came out when mother and I talked our way into Society’s mission to Huntsville, former Alabama. They were going to set up a pebble-bed thorium reactor. And just then, who came rattling into the little surviving town on a wagon from a point far from the west… Lily Barrett, mother’s younger sister.

Prompted by her dear friend, Ai, and supported by Ai’s family – the rest of the Tohsaka machines – Lily was accompanied by an old man, Orloff, acting as her guide, and a combat android inhabited by a part of the mind of Fausta.

In less than three days my sickness, Pavel’s involvement, and my cure were effected, he thought, closing and returning the book. My friend was eventually cured, too; that time he tried to show me his memories of father and Fausta attacking him had me sick enough to go to the hospital. Machine memories are… different.

A few days later, Dorina, a sister of Ai and Pavel, and likely the most clever of all of them, managed to briefly move the minds of the Barrett and Hartmann families to what looked like a beach in their ‘world’ for what tasted like a barbeque. The beach was a recent addition to their home, made by the newest machine: a little girl with purple hair and a preference for blue denim overalls.

I’m Henge, she announced to him. He heard ‘hen-geh.’

I’m Gary, he’d replied. Neither had moved.

He’s sick right now but my friend Pavel helped to teach me how to swim, he said with a small wave at her sea lapping her beach. Play with me?

I can’t swim.

I’ll teach you, he said, taking her hand and leading her to the water. Oddly, an image of a playful otter echoed in the back of his mind.

She was so pretty! Gary recalled, blinking quickly at the recollection. And I just reached out and touched her. Where did I find that courage?

In my eyes, Henge said, whispering into his mind.

Beloved, he thought back. How have you put up with me all these years?

Because I love you, Gary. Now, shouldn’t you be writing all this down for your Brotherhood?

Of course. He leaned forward and held his hands above the keyboard. Stay with me a bit?

Yes.

There was furious thumping of feet running up the steps and the door to his room was flung the rest of the way open.

Big brother! his little sister shouted. Dinner’s almost ready! Stop looking at dirty pictures and come on downstairs!

She was gone. Gary sighed.

I guess I have to put Faustina into my paper, too…

Henge laughed into his heart and mind.

Gary had the small celebration with his parents and his sister for his thirteenth birthday only a little time ago. Faustina had been calling for more cake when he looked up sharply to his mother and father. They were used to when his girlfriend called.

Mother? Father? May I…?

He saw his father, Leslie Hartmann, toss his hands into the air.

Whatever! he said, deferring to his wife, Callie, whose sister had been their gateway to the others’ world.

We know time passes differently there, his mother said, but I want you back here by ten, and in your own bed for sleep!

She paused a moment. He saw her eyes flick to her husband of these many years. A tiny smile.

You… you’re a teenage boy, now, Gary! You’ve your honor, the family’s, and your Intended’s to uphold! His mother took a breath. Be good!

Of course, mother, he replied. He understood that she was talking about several different things at once.

However, he continued, after ten years, Henge and I –

Shall not be married until you are seventeen! his father said, suddenly speaking up.

Father was not Catholic as Mother was, who had rediscovered her faith after being found by her sister, Lily, but he had some very particular notions of honor, Gary knew.

So, his father continued, pouring himself another homebrew from their aluminum keg, do be… discrete, pretending your mother didn’t just hear that!

Who at that moment was putting their dishes into the sink with a series of clanks and rattles. And a smile.

Big Brother’s off to see his girlfriend, Cousin Henge?!? Gary’s nine-year-old sister asked around the cake in her mouth.

Just as Gary had, his little sister Faustina inherited her dark-brown-as-to-black hair from their ethnic Min Chinese mother. And their slightly almond eyes. But like Gary, her facial bones were Prussian planes and angles, from their father and his family.

No one quite knew where she’d got her height: she was as tall as her older brother. Nor her striking, turquoise eyes.

Gary saw that Mother continued pretending.

Well, you know, Faustina, ‘cousin’ is a bit a stretch… given that Henge is…

I love Henge! And our whole Other Family! the young one cried.

For the nth time, her family wondered at how her eyes glowed like that when she was so enthusiastic.

So…? Gary asked.

A small wave from his father.

Tell your Intended we all say ‘hi’…

And love her! Faustina shouted.

I shall.

Gary’s mother turned from the sink to watch with her husband and daughter as his body eased deeper into his chair; his mind elsewhere.

What a world! Callie whispered.

They walked along the beach holding hands as they always did. It was typically warm: he had a plain white tee shirt and his navy swim trunks and she a translucent white wrap over her school-issue dark blue one-piece. There were clouds but, of course, no sun. Just the brightness.

Nothing ever changes here, he thought, just me. And rarely, her.

Henge abruptly sat at the crest of the strand. Her legs stuck out before her and she rocked her bare feet back and forth.

Over the last ten years, Gary reflected, she has changed her appearance very little. The same purple hair in twin-tails; her denim overalls atop her white tee shirt – and no shoes – were her typical attire; different now, of course, as they might go swimming in her sea. She’d gotten a little taller, as he had, keeping her open, friendly adobe-colored eyes over a mouth that never smiled, never frowned.

Gary sat down next to her. It was warm, so rather than putting his right arm about her, he took her hand. Their hips and legs touched. The contact was enough that her True Form, a playful otter, echoed about his subconscious.

Over so many of your cycles, I am older to say, ‘happy birthday!’

The corners of his mouth turned up. For him, quite the display.

Thank you, wife!

Your mother and father say we must not call one another that! Her voice was soft and even, but he heard the emotion behind it.

My mother and father say lots. But as of today, he leaned to kiss her cheek, I’m a rebellious teenager!

There was a flicker of light and the play of static in their palms.

Henge was different.

No more a slightly tom-boyish seeming 12-year old, Gary could not see a straight line on her anywhere. Her chest was fuller and her hips rounder. Her light purple hair still had two small twin-tails, but the mass of the rest was six inches or so past her shoulders. Her schoolgirl one-piece swimsuit now a white bikini. Modest, but still a bikini.

Better? She asked, her voice a tiny fraction lower.

Very!

Good.

He was on his back and she atop him faster than he could see. Typical: in their home human and machine reflexes were different. Her hands were just at the base of his ribs. Her eyes – that odd blend of tan and red – never left his.

I have a present for you, Intended.

Nothing, I hope, that will anger my parents? They had been totally honest with one another since they met.

No.

She let her hands slide off him into the white sand as she lowered herself. Their lips touched. She shifted slightly. They touched again.

Henge sat back up. Her left hand returned to just below his chest. The index finger of her right traced along her lips. Still looking at him.

I… liked that… Her voice trailed off.

…husband…

Did he really hear that whisper? Or, was it just the surf?

Henge stood, holding her hand out. Gary let her pull him up. Oh!

They were now the same height.

She pointed back to where they’d come from.

Let’s talk a little and pray together before you go to your home.

Yes.

Gary opened his eyes. He was on his twin bed in his room. He glanced at the clock next to him. 2158.

I am so fond of you, Henge.

He arose and made his way past Faustina’s room to his parents’. It was likely his father had been the one to carry him; the last time his mother tried there had been an odd sound from her back and she couldn’t walk for two days. Perhaps that is a marker of being a man: that an adult female no longer supports you.

He knocked once on his parent’s partly open door and entered. Had it been shut, he would have waited until summoned. But, he knew, that was only when they were having sex.

Gary’s mother and sister were already kneeling at the foot of the bed in prayer. Father had just finished brushing his teeth and was coming out of their bathroom. He gave Gary a wink as if he already knew what went on with Henge.

And, perhaps he does. Gary thought. Henge’s family is talkative.

He knelt to his little sister’s left, taking her hand with his. For a moment Gary’s left palm was open and up. He partly closed and lowered it, his mother saw.

Is she here? Callie asked softly.

She watched an odd play of his fingers.

She was not until you asked. He replied. Now? Yes.

HAIL Mary! Full of grace…! Faustina began with an exasperated tone.

I need attention, too! Gary felt his little sister’s imperative.

… pray for us sinners…

He just slightly tightened his right hand onto his sister’s left.

Now!... She shot him a blue-green flash out of the corner of her eyes.

But, he saw, with a smile, too.

Though his hooded eyelids he saw his father holding Mother’s hand. His right rested on the bed. Father said he was Christian, but Gary doubted that. He knew father was uncomfortable at mother’s rediscovered Catholic faith, from ten years ago, when she’d been unexpectedly reunited with her sister in Huntsville, former Alabama. As a result of that, his little sister had been raised Catholic. He, though…

Like father, I knew nothing of the transcendent. While I didn’t see any difference between this world and that of Machine Civilization as a child, I knew that there was more than one kind of reality. It was meeting Henge and… and…

… be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As it was…

The fingers of his left hand partly closed.

It had been love at first sight between them. Years older now, Gary knew what clichéd stupidity that was. He also knew it was true. It was only a few months after they’d met that Henge – surprising everyone in both families – announced she was a follower of The Way and wanted to be baptized.

For Gary, the years following that were much like the time with Father, now. She never pushed. When he wondered about her silences, she admitted she was praying for him. She answered all of his questions about faith and the Church.

Yet… yet… even with her neutral expression, she was always so happy….

Joyous.

Just after his ninth birthday he, Henge, and Pavel were finishing swim practice at the pool in Pavel’s place. Breathing hard, he’d looked from his lane right to hers. She’d just pushed her goggles up onto her cap.

I want to be happy. To be joyous; like you.

She stared at him.

There is only one Way.

How?

To love the Lord God with your whole heart, mind, and strength.

I’m scared.

Her eyes flashed burnt orange at him. The little girl ducked under the lane line and surfaced in the little boy’s arms.

Good. That’s a start! He felt her small but strong arms about him. Will you pray with me, Gary?

Y… yes.

Amen! His sister and mother said. He and his father echoed the same a moment later.

Faustina gave another knowing squeeze to his hand before standing.

G’night! She said, leaving.

His mother began to stand but stopped.

Gary?

He put his face into his hands.

Will you, please, give me, us, a moment?

She said nothing but knelt back down.

Of course, Gary. Y’all take your time!

He’d expected a sigh from his tired father but was surprised to see his shoulders shake in silent laughter. There was a dynamic here he was too young to understand.

But you want to! Henge spoke into his mind. That yearning for understanding is why I loved you the moment I saw you.

Callie didn’t know, entirely, to whom her son was muttering to – Jesus, Henge, both? – but what she could see of his face around his hands was scarlet right now.

Mother Mary, she prayed, thank you for this still-unfolding miracle!

Chapter 2

It was, Gary guessed, his new status as a teenager that had his father wave him to sit in a chair in the corner of their living room rather than standing at the threshold to attend to their guest. Leslie picked up the glass bottle already atop the bar and poured several fingers of the local whiskey into two tumblers. He turned and handed the one in his right to their guest.

Family, Leslie said, raising his glass. The other man did likewise.

Family, Arpad Rigó echoed.

They both drank about half and sat down facing one another.

Gary studied the two men as he had been taught to by his Intended’s family. Unlike his father’s face of planar angles under his blond hair – all pointing to his Prussian Hartmann bloodline – Mister Rigó’s face was rounder with almost slanted eyes below brown hair which was nearly as dark as Gary’s. He must be mostly ethnic Magyar with little Germanic admixture. And I think Mister Rigó is about ten years younger than father’s early forties.

Neither was over-muscled yet both gave off a frisson of danger. ‘Meekness,’ Gary thought, ‘power-under-control.’ He knew his father was an armored cavalry NCO before the Breakup and had been a Pioneer for the Society, as they tried to slowly reboot civilization in the Tennessee River valley. He knew only that Mister Rigó had been in the Hungarian Army, then Imperial Army, once the Visegrad Group of nations dusted off the Habsburg heir to be their head of state, before joining their Foreign Office.

Henge had flatly refused to say more about him: Meet him yourself; get to know your uncle.

And how are things with my sister-in-law back in Texas? Leslie began.

Well, Arpad replied with a hint of a smile. Our daughter continues to surprise and confound us and…

He took another drink.

And the ultrasounds show that Lily is carrying twins this time!

Gary, Leslie said, his voice pitched