Read The Meat Tree for Free Online Page B

told him I’d kill him if I was raped again in VR and I meant it.
    We’ve done the magic three years in the forest; it should be the end of our punishment. Can’t wait to see what the programme does next.
    Right, I’m all in. Who’d have thought that following an entertainment system could be so exhausting? Channeller on. Good night.

8

    Offspring
    Joint Thought Channel 5 Feb 2210, 09:00

    Inspector of Wrecks
    This time, I’d like you to take the Gwydion role again, paying especial attention to the kind of magic he uses.

    Apprentice
    Strictly speaking, we need three people to go into the VR. Have you noticed how many triangles there are in the story? Gwydion, Gilfaethwy and Goewin.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    No to mention how many names beginning with G.

    Apprentice
    No kidding. Then there are the two brothers and their offspring. I bet we’ll find more. Do you think these were the roles the travellers created for themselves?

    Inspector of Wrecks
    It’s perfectly possible.
    Remember that Gwydion is a storyteller, and I want to see if it’s his magic that’s driving the plot. If it is, then he’s the key and if we download his files then we’re nearly there.

    Apprentice
    Why not download his files anyway?

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Because this is a logo-cryptographic programme. You can’t have access to parts of the game in which you haven’t participated. Simple device. Designed to keep the suspension of disbelief for the players.

    Apprentice
    Frustrating for us, because we have to live the whole damn thing. We haven’t got many days left now before I have to report to Mars Surface. And we’re no closer to finding out what happened.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    I’m very aware of time moving on. That’s why it’s important that we log as many hours as possible in the VR. Do you think you can do longer than we did in the forest?

    Apprentice
    Don’t worry about me. I’m up for anything that needs doing.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Good. So let’s have a push today and see where that leaves us. Ready to go in?

    Apprentice
    Hang on, which part are you going to take?

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Hard to tell till we see what’s going on. I’ll have to be quick and decide once we see what comes after the punishment. All right. Let’s go.

    Apprentice
    Ah, back to the court. I’ve found and entered Gwydion, next to Gilfaethwy, of course, and in front of Math. The brothers are both back as humans. They seem to have made up with Math. He’s consulting them about who he should pick as a new footholder. She has to be a virgin. I’ve said Aranrhod. New character. That might be the one for you.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Who is she?

    Apprentice
    Their sister. See? Another threesome. Here she comes.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    You’re right, I’ll take her. Oh. She’s a piece of work. Just like her brothers, who she hates.

    Apprentice
    Look out, Math has put his wand on the ground. It always makes me nervous when a magician’s staff appears. This is a test for virginity.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    It appears that I have to step over it. There’s something here between me and Gwydion, a secret. I hope it’s not what I think it is.

    Apprentice
    And that would be?

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Incest.

    Apprentice
    Not again. This game is full of it. Gwydion and Gilfaethwy did it three times to our knowledge. Do you think that there was a pair of siblings in the crew? The two men, perhaps? Or a brother and sister? It would account for the recurring motif.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Math asks Aranrhod directly, ‘Are you a virgin?’ And I reply, ‘That is my belief.’

    Apprentice
    Slightly tricky answer. So, step over the wand.

    Inspector of Wrecks
    Here goes. But you know, I feel like I did in the forest. My womb… I’m sure…

    Apprentice
    Oh. That’s done it. You’ve left a child behind.

    Inspector of