Chapter 8: Behind the Wall

Samuel and ‘epIk pass through the Rightmost Door and enter a long tunnel lined with tapestries and electric lights. The tapestries depict scenes of human decadence: people eating together (long since banned by the fathers of Dome City), people engaging in intercourse and birthing (not necessary or desirable since the Parthenogenesis Project). If the City Elders were aware of these artifacts, thought Samuel, the Temple would be destroyed within minutes, and a new one would take its place within hours. The tunnel exits into an unimproved region at the edge of Wonderland, near the edge of Dome City where travel is forbidden by all but the most senior Dome maintenance staff. ‘epIk leads Samuel to a juncture in the Dome Wall named “Station 42” where, inexplicably, they slip behind the wall and into the desolation of the Barrens beyond, a drought-blasted zone of radiation, toxic wastes and chemical contamination. ‘epIk explains to Samuel that this is a secret exit unknown even to the Shamanic Order, and that they both have now passed too far to easily return to Dome City. Confused at his whereabouts, Samuel seems to be swallowed quickly by a dense fog as he steps further into the Barrens, eventually losing sight of ‘epIk and unable even to see his own feet. He begins to hear sounds in the distance, strange sounds that he has never before heard, a kind of music, but one wholly unfamiliar to the music of Dome City. Drawn on by the sound of the strange music, Samuel moves instinctually toward the Dream City. The density of the fog slightly diminishes and Samuel can see he is on a dirt path, surrounded by vegetation, so thick as he has never before imagined. Out of the jungle stumbles ‘epIk, two strange fresh fruit in his hand. “Ha ha, here is what will bring you fully into this world!” He hands one of the fruit to Samuel. In taking a bite out of it, Samuel sees that his hand – no – his whole arm, and looking down, the rest of his body, is covered in a kind of bio-memetic sheath, an armor that is part-biotic, part-technological.

“Look at yourself!” says ‘epIk, smiling broadly. “You are no longer Samuel. Here you are Kopesh-Ra!”