PeterWatts_Blindsight

Peter Watts 67 Blindsight
me through the needle's eye from crypt to bridge.
I braked just short of the dome, stopped by the sound of quiet
voices from ahead.
"Of course they're beautiful," Szpindel murmured. "They're
stars."
"And I'm guessing I'm not your first choice to share the view,"
James said.
"You're a close second. But I've got a date with Meesh."
"She never mentioned it."
"She doesn't tell you everything. Ask her."
"Hey, this body's taking its antilibs. Even if yours isn't."
"Mind out of the gutter, Suze. Eros is only one kind of love, eh?
Ancient Greeks recognized four."
"Riiight." Definitely not Susan, not any more. "Figures you'd
take your lead from a bunch of sodomites."
"Fuck, Sascha. All I'm asking is a few minutes alone with
Meesh before the whip starts cracking again..."
"My body too, Ike. You wanna pull your eyes over my wool?"
"I just want to talk, eh? Alone. That too much to ask?"
I heard Sascha take a breath.
I heard Michelle let it out.
"Sorry, kid. You know the Gang."
"Thank God. It's like some group inspection whenever I come
looking for face time."
"I guess you're lucky they like you, then."
"I still say you ought to stage a coup."
"You could always move in with us."
I heard the rustle of bodies in gentle contact. "How are you?"
Szpindel asked. "You okay?"
"Pretty good. I think I'm finally used to being alive again. You?"
"Hey, I'm a spaz no matter how long I've been dead."
"You get the job done."
"Why, merci. I try."
A small silence. Theseus hummed quietly to herself.
"Mom was right," Michelle said. "They are beautiful."
"What do you see, when you look at them?" And then, catching
himself: "I mean—"