loss-and-memory

Orlando Venetti, a clone in an interstellar polis, wakes up after centuries to learn that their destination star system, Voltaire, has been studied with improved instruments revealing surprising atmospheric chemistry on its innermost planet, Swift. The planet's atmosphere contains heavy isotopes in unusual proportions, suggesting deliberate transmutation and artificial manipulation to prolong its habitability, hinting at advanced intervention or life. Orlando reflects on his personal losses, the nature of software existence, and the ongoing search for meaning in the Diaspora's exploration of distant worlds.

In this chapter, Princess Nell ascends a mountain landscape transitioning from a harsh desert to lush greenery, guided by the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, which dynamically illustrates her journey and challenges. She reflects on her quest to collect eleven jeweled keys from various Faery Kings and Queens, recounting the loss of her companion Purple during a fierce magical battle with a djinn king. The chapter ends with Nell arriving in the land of King Coyote, where the keys have been stolen, setting the stage for further trials.