Kaolin Fire - Testing.pdf - Kaolin Fire - allforjesus2001

Testing

Kaolin Fire

Published: 2005

Tag(s): poker lottery blackjack "Short Fiction" "Science Fiction"

"Testing" was first published in Issue 152 of Bewildering Stories

About the author:

Kaolin Fire is a conglomeration of ideas, side projects, and experi-

ments. Web development is his primary occupation, but he also devel-

ops computer games, edits Greatest Uncommon Denominator Magazine,

and occasionally teaches computer science. He has had short fiction pub-

lished in Strange Horizons, Tuesday Shorts, Escape Velocity, and Ali-

enskin Magazine, among others.

*Testing. Testing.*

Six metal walls: floor, ceiling, four lateral barriers to the outside world.

Two circular windows face eachother, leading out to bleak darkness. A

table sits a little off from the center of the room, surrounded by nine

chairs.

*Testing. Testing.*

The tone drones on monotonously.

In six of the chairs sit a grim group of intellectuals, faces drawn long,

trying to make the best of their situation. Their gaze avoids the three

empty chairs, the two windows, and the vat of bubbling liquid in one of

the corners of the room.

"Johnny to bat: Ace showing, skinny hidden, dealer's got eleven up."

"Hit me." The test pattern was growing dimmer.

"That's a deuce for you, nothing wild. Some harsh reality for ya folks,

three showing, skinny hidden."

"Hit me." The test pattern was growing dimmer. He dipped his hand

into the bowl of pinkish gruel in the center, and had a sip of thick liquid.

Life… life wasn't that bad, when you got used to it.

"A jack smothers. Ace and a deuce, nothing hiding nine or over."

"Bust." There was a sigh from the crowd. "Signal's still there, could last

another five minutes. Pass it on, Mike?"

*testing. testing.* fainter.

"Right-o. George, I see a lovely little lady sitting there up top, what

would you like to play?"

"I'd like a hit if you don't mind."

"Call 'em as you want 'em. Laying down a cute little eight, how's that

suit you?"

George smiled and flipped his down card. "Twenty one."

The crowd clapped, always appreciative of a good turn of luck. Espe-

cially appreciative of a good turn of luck.

"Well, Steve, on to you. A four up, whatcha hiding?"

*testing. testing.*

"Umm. Pass."

"You sure? Best you've got is a fifteen, dealer's showing some wealth

on the table… "

"Pass, Mike."

"Well, I suppose there is a bust on the table. I can understand a hesit-

ance to play. Especially with a twenty-one also up. Jones? A four

showing… "

"I think I'll have to stick with the coward's way, I'm just not feeling my

oats right now." He helped himself to some gruel, looking sick to his

stomach.

*… t .. sting .. te .. ng.* The people about the table paused and looked

at eachother, hiding their thoughts from themselves as best they could.

"Jake? You've got an ace up, how can I do you?"

"Ah, what the hell. Hit me."

"Ten down, didn't do you any good."

"Yeah, I think I'll stay, thanks. I might flirt with it, but I'm not suicidal

yet."

*… tes .khkhk. es .khkhkhk.*

"Well, that's it. Looks like it was on your hand, Jonny," looking at the

guy who had busted.

"Looks like it is." Johnny got up, stretched, walked over to the corner

of the room and lay his head down on a large flattened rock. The dealer

got up and stood over him.

"You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to scream. You

have the right to an enjoyable life for so long as you can win it. In you,

we will live on. In us, you will live on. I pray that what you go to, if there

is such a thing, is better than this." There was a polite and respectful

spattering of applause. The dealer brought a large rock down hard

through Jonny's skull.

The group got together and stripped the corpse, shared his clothing,

and went about disseminating his meat. Less choice parts of his body

were poured into the vat, chemically burbling to itself, turning biomass

into steam, steam turning a turbine which was connected to a large radio

transceiver and a small radio receiver.

*Testing. Testing.*

On his way back to the table, Mike tossed a furtive glance out the port.

Outside was a barren wasteland. Someone, hopefully, was listening.

"Okay… George, your deal, clean up the table."

From the same author on Feedbooks:

• " The Last to Have Sex " (2002)

• " Dreaming Lies to Change the Truth " (2008)

Kaolin Fire - Testing.pdf

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