Agents of the Demiurge Read Online Free PDF Page A

them occupied for quite some
time.
    It continued to surprise Hess how much
difference there was between bodies. In one like his current, a
formidable libido lurked in the background, subtly sexualizing
every situation so that a bit lip appeared an erotic invitation.
Other bodies seemed keyed to quiet contemplation and required
serious stimulation to elicit any reaction.
    And those were only the differences in his bodies. Elza could range from nymph to asexual depending
upon the body. Demographics didn't seem to matter much. They had
each been elders with appetites and young adults lacking passion.
Body composition, skin color, and relative attractiveness all
proved unreliable forecasts.
    Even the fake history of their identities
failed to predict their responses. Jed Orlin had been far more
interested in salary than sex. But give Hess the body of Jed Orlin
and suddenly he couldn't keep his eyes from wandering all over the
place. Of course, part of his problem may be due to the fact that a
frigid Elza had been inserted into the body of the curvaceous
Theora Winfield.
    While people began taking their seats inside
the meeting room, Hess studied his woman. She touched her lips a
lot. Elza tended to do that when her body was wired for pleasure.
But she had dressed in a separate room that morning.
    They sat towards the back of the meeting room
in hard pews. Up front, the Deacon of the congregation stood in
front of the podium and raised his right fist into the air. “Damn
the Demiurge!”
    Everyone erupted to their feet, punched a
fist into the air, and shouted the profanity back at the Deacon
loud enough that their combined roar echoed in the cavernous space.
“Damn the Demiurge!”
    The Deacon was an old, distinguished man with
a hawkish appearance. He glared at his audience. “This world is
flawed!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    The Deacon slammed a fist on the podium.
“Full of pain!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    “Our bodies are made to fail!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    “The nations doomed to war!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    “Our children can never have the happiness we
want for them!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    The Deacon paused dramatically, looked around
the room, smiled. “We have been created to suffer and die.
Existence itself is a punishment decreed for us before we ever
became flesh. Pain and humiliation is what the Demiurge gave
us.”
    Hess almost shouted out the refrain, but held
back, noticing the crowd waited for something. They held still and
the Deacon's voice became softer. “People of the Opposition, what
we have been given is worse than nothing. But we know the truth. We
know of the world's flaws. We know of the Demiurge's spite. And we
choose to meet spite with spite.”
    The Deacon's voice rose. “We will fix the
flaws!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    “We will overcome the enemies!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    “We will take the dignity that has been
denied us!”
    “Damn the Demiurge!”
    After the final, roaring exclamation,
militant music blared from speakers throughout the room. The
members of the local Investigation Team marched up the aisles to
about face and stare at the congregation. Their leader,
Investigator Monterey, stepped to the podium.
    “I am pleased to report that this parish
remains clear of all suspicious individuals. This community is a
model of virtue for the entire nation to follow. I want to express
my sincere admiration to each of you for your steadfast Opposition.
You live your lives with true dignity.” Investigator Monterey
brought his hands together in a steady clap that was taken up by
the congregation.
    When the Deacon returned to the podium, the
Investigation Team took their seats in the front pew. “As I am sure
everyone is aware, Investigator Monterey has been nominated for
another Medal of Piety. His service to our community has been
exemplary, and we all look forward to the award ceremony.”
    There was more clapping, then the Deacon
asked everyone to