Station, стр. 25

"Deep end of the pool and all that," said Reena.

"Anyway, there's good buzz among those who matterthat there's a new resident worth knowing. You must have had a goodshowing with Helen and Nestra as well, you old dog! They've beensinging your praises since early this Solay."

Hadder felt the blood rush to his face and lookedembarrassedly at Reena, who smiled like only she should could,silently letting him know that not only was she not bothered by histime with other women, but she was legitimately happy for him.

They ate in peace for the next several minutesbefore the questions that had been mounting in Hadder could nolonger go unasked. "About Helen and Nestra, and all the otherresidents I see. How does everyone look so perfect or get thesebody modifications? Honestly, it looks like most of Station hasaltered itself. How?"

Jonny stopped eating, but Reena continued to pick ather chicken. "Well, there it is! We've been waiting for you to askus about this, old chap, and by god did you make it a long time.See! This is why people like you, even when you have no clue what'sgoing on, you don't let that deter you. You keep going forward.That's a very rare trait, and one that is truly valued inStation."

"Thanks. But to my question?"

"Of course, of course. Mister Albany Rott, ourmysterious benefactor, in his quest to make Station a true Xanadu,established Elevation Centers around the city. At these…clinics, ifyou will, cosmetic operations only limited by the imagination canbe performed by highly skilled manikins using technology never seenin the Before."

"But why?"

Jonny struggled with a response, so Reena answeredfor him. "Remember, Marlin, why we're all here. We either hatedwhere we were in the Before, or we hated who we were in the Before.For some people, the change in scenery is enough. For many others,the person in the mirror also needs to change, or the same baggagethat plagued them in the Before will continue to weigh them downhere."

Jonny added, "Station is about eliminating barriersto happiness, Hadder. Job got you down? Nobody works in Station.Family responsibility killing you? There is no family norresponsibility in Station. Unhappy with the way you look?Elevations will fix whatever you dislike about yourself. Feelingunable to truly express yourself? In Station, any image you want toproject can be made real, no matter how bizarre or extreme."

"So, are there no limits to what can be done? I meta woman with wings, a man with three eyes, and had sex with two catwomen. Is nothing off-limits or beyond the clinics’ abilities?"

"I'm not sure there's anything beyond theirabilities. We've seen some pretty extreme Elevations, haven't we,love? But there is one rule that's been in effect for a while."

"And what's that?"

Jonny and Reena looked at each other uncomfortably."No Elevations are to be executed that would be used as weaponsor to harm another,” recited Reena.

"Who would want to hurt people with Elevations?"

Jonny grimaced but responded. "You know, Hadder,some people are always going to want to destroy rather than build.Station gives them tools to better themselves, and all they see areengines of destruction. Life is no longer about living to them;it's about crushing the world that so deeply wounded them.Station's clinics, while extraordinary, don't have the technologyto heal those scars."

Reena interjected. "Before the One Rule was inplace, many got Elevations and used them to hurt others. They wereeventually banished across the Skirt, which was created as amakeshift border, and the One Rule was created."

"And, thus, problem solved, old chap! Let thoseruinous twats shadowbox in misery on the other side of the Skirtwhile we live, truly live, over here!"

Hadder thought for a moment. "I could barely makeout the Skirt when I was on the Perch with Miles. I didn't see anywalls or fences, just a swath of open land. What's to keep thosefrom across the Skirt…"

"Risers," stated Jonny. "They're called Risers aswe've banished them to Station's eastern side."

"Well, what's to keep the Risers from just walkingover?"

"That's the Caesars' job, old chap."

The image of a colossus with blue skin towering overhim flashed across Hadder's mind. "Those giant freaks?" a shockedHadder asked.

Reena giggled. "I see Marlin has met a Caesar. Don'tworry, they're here for our protection. Mister Rott created them,first merely to act as Station's police force. You know, just keepthe true wildings in check or break up the odd fracas. Now, they'renot only responsible for tossing serial offenders over to theRisers, but they also guard the Skirt, making sure no one crossesit without proper authority. Without them, Marlin, our lifestyleswouldn't be possible."

"Trust me, old chap, despite their imposingappearances, they're a top-notch crew to have around should shit gosideways."

"Are they manikins?"

"Oh no," answered Reena. "No one knows where theycame from or how Mister Rott created them. But the Caesars haveminds of their own and can be quite sharp when needed. Notautomatons like the manikins."

"So, they have souls?"

"I didn't say that."

Another thought struck Hadder. "Miles said there areeleven Caesars."

"That's right," agreed Jonny.

"But there were originally twelve. What happened tothe Caesar that's no longer here?"

Jonny and Reena shared another fearful look. Reenalooked down at the remnants of her chicken. Jonny mustered thecourage to answer. "His name was Claud, probably the mostpersonable of the Caesars. He was found at the edge of the LetheRiver, his heart ripped from his giant chest. There are rumors ofall kinds, of course, but most believe it was some disagreementbetween Caesars that led to battle. If you've seen a Caesar pissedoff, then you'd understand the validity of this theory."

Reena looked up finally. "Can we change the subject,please? I get sad when I think about what happened to poorClaud."

"Of course, sweet Reena. Well, Hadder, old chap, Ithink that's enough question-answer for now. More things will berevealed in due course and through experience, not mereexplanation." Jonny rose from his seat, showing that it was time toleave. A quartet of men who looked exactly like The Beatles waswaiting patiently for Hadder's trio to free up the table. Hadderhadn't taken two steps before a glume manikin moved in quickly toclear and wipe down the table for the new