chapter thirty-four

The Chateau

A scarf of almost black cypress rested, infinitely comforting, behind the long chain of magnolia. Late March had begun to warm the breeze that fluttered the silvery curtains in the French windows opening onto the terrace from Frank’s study. A dining table capable of seating thirty had been commandeered to provide the surface upon which the samples grew in the nutriment. The viscous liquid shivered slightly in the flood of air caused by the opening of the door. Several papers whirled to the carpet, obscuring a Persian courtesan and most of a fig tree. A white hand, fingers heavy with gold and chrysoprase, gathered the pages but did not return them to the desk. The princess took advantage of Frank’s absence providing fresh supplies of his perfumes to the ladies and gentlemen of the capital to examine the progress of his work.

The notes were kept in Norwegian; the headings Katt, Due, Rev, Hare and Rotte easy to interpret due to the accompanying illustrations, obsessively detailed and marked with tiny measurements. The current reality of the subjects was also available for direct inspection in the five tanks, likewise labelled, that occupied the table. The princess dipped her finger into Katt and spun the pale body gently. Hair was developing now and beginning to display the faintest hit of orange. Indeed she had already noticed the word amongst the recent observations on Katt, standing out due to it being identical to the French. Passing the table the princess stepped onto the terrace and unconsciously ran her hand over the pearls, triple strung on silver thread; from neck to breast and below, exactly as her eyes caressed the magnolia on the rising hills.

The animate twins to the samples were kept in cages nestling against the south wall. She sat before the marmalade cat and felt the feline gaze on her face. “Tu m’apporteras une belle fille?” she murmured. The cat purred encouragement. Due, its neighbour, beat its wings upon hearing the voice of the predator. Knowing herself to be compromising scientific principles, the princess opened the cage and took the cat into her arms, rocking it softly, as if it were the beautiful daughter she craved.

“I would be grateful if you would carefully recage the cat, Cleїs.”

She had not heard Frank approach, mounting the steps to the terrace from the orchard. He knelt beside her and held the portcullis as the animal was rather unwillingly returned to its home. Standing, it seemed to her that the removal of the marmalade cat had taken most of the colour out of the world. They were both pale following the winter, and the stone of the terrace was delicately shaded with blanched ash. “Progress, Frank?”

“I will arrive at a singularly important stage of the work this Sunday, Cleїs. If successful I will be able to assure you of the gratification of your desire, and the final stage can begin.” He held her hand for a second, and then walked into the study. With his back to her he opened a drawer and took out a cameo brooch. “In fact your friend the cat is central to the enterprise. Allow me to demonstrate.” The princess sat on a chaise-longue while Frank briskly repaired to the terrace and returned with the cat. “I have been training this animal to respond to a particular stimulus in a way unique to her among all cats. Observe!” He set the cat in the centre of the floor. It surveyed the room and noticed the princess. At this point Frank revealed the cameo, and at once the cat curled itself into a comfortable ball and slept.

“I don’t understand. Why is this sleeping response, although interesting, vital to our enterprise?” asked the princess, stroking the orange fur.

“Because, Cleїs, the physical aspect to creating your daughter is not the main problem I have encountered; rather it is what Marulić terms the psychological dimension that frustrates us. The creation of another self to continue the estate and live by the same values that occupy you requires the reproduction of the souls in addition to the cells.”

“But surely this is impossible, are not all living creatures individuals? Even twins have independent thought.” The princess lifted the cat onto her lap. It shifted slightly in the grey silk but continued to sleep.

“Independent thought indeed, but I believe that certain characteristics of the thoughts of twins show a degree of shared inherited memory. I am working on a method of enabling this in a created daughter. I, and I believe you, want her to share your memories.” Frank placed his hands upon the cat. “May I?” He removed it from her lap and carried it out to the cage. The princess stood and looked into the tank containing Katt. The marmalade colouring was more marked than before; the hair longer, as if the floating body were coming into focus, cohering in the moment; attaining some point after which everything would be utterly changed.