I didn’t want to listen to him, or argue anymore. As with Ralph Hamlet, I found the encounter disturbing. Matte and I were both mutants, freaks, human unhumans—a fact I could at least forget when I was with real people, those with death in them.

I said, “I need to see where Patricia is.”

For a moment I thought he wouldn’t let me go. But what could he do? He was thinking hard, though. Then we shook hands. “There’s plenty of women here who would be attracted to you,” he said. “Take who you want.”

“Thanks.”

“You must think more seriously about the body sale.” He gave me his card and looked me up and down once more. “I’m your man—first in line with a bag of cash. Look after yourself.”

I knew he was watching me walk away.

I went outside. The moon and stars were bright; the air was warm. On the deck, most of the guests had gathered and were dancing wildly, yelling and whistling. The female Newbody I’d met earlier was performing: kicking out, swaying and singing in front of a guitarist and keyboard player, encouraging us to worship her as she worshipped herself.

I asked someone, “What’s she called?”

“Miss Reborn,” I was told.

When I touched Patricia on the shoulder, she took me in her arms. “I looked for you everywhere.”

“Matte and I were talking.”

“He wanted your opinion on things, eh?” she said with unnecessary sarcasm.

“I can’t say I learned a lot about him.”

“Why not?” she said. “Up here, I’ve been following the rumors and fantasies. His family are wealthy, that’s for sure.”

“Is that all?”

“Kiss me.” I did so. She said, “His beloved brother, who is much older than him, is dying, apparently, from an incurable disease.”

“His brother?”

“Dying painfully—on this boat, in a sealed cabin, they say.”

“Really?”

“He is yards from us, as we frolic here.” I recalled the two men guarding a door. “That’s made you think.”

“Why don’t we dance while there’s time? I can’t believe that singer. Look at her move.”

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Why didn’t you suggest we dance earlier?”

“It’s not too late.”

“You little liar, you weren’t talking to Matte at all,” she said. “You were fucking. You’re all cock. How many were there?”

“Too many to mention.”

“I know that if you and I are to be together it’s something I’m going to have to live with.”

“That’s right.”

Her head was on my shoulder. While we danced, I could think over what Matte had said. It wasn’t difficult to see why he wanted my body for his brother. But why didn’t he go and buy one, as I had? That was what I didn’t understand—why he was so keen on me.