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.'By all means.It is interesting to see the image build up.''To watch my soul being captured.'Gath and Blanc exchanged glances.'If you like,' Blanc said quietly.It was interesting.The Doctor watched as the canvas darkened.Then in the middle of the sheet of rough material, a shape began to form.At first there was a vague outline only.Then it started to fill with detail.This was more than just a surface scan, the Doctor realised.Closer to the datalisation that a matter transmitter might indulge in.He could see the veins, arteries, internal organs, even vocal cords forming inside his outline.He caught Blanc's frown as his hearts took shape, seeming to beat for a moment before the ribcage closed over them.The Doctor's face started to mould into shape over his skull, obscuring his brain.He watched, fascinated, aware of Blanc and Gath exchanging glances, but not paying them any heed.They could think what they liked about what they thought they saw in his physiognomy.Then he became aware that the two of them were now watching him and not the picture.He could make out the brush detail now.Presumably the technique, the style in which the final outer image was to be rendered, was encoded in the software that drove the process.It could no doubt be changed at will, and he supposed that part of the 'art', of the skill, was in determining which technique and style to use under what circumstances.'Not long now.'There was a note almost of triumph in Gath's voice.'Almost there.'Silence.Stillness.The painted Doctor stared back at the real one.It looked complete.Life-size and lifelike.A stunning likeness in fact.Accurate in every detail and respect.'Is that it?' the Doctor asked at last, aware that Gath and Blanc were still staring at him, as if expecting something else to happen.Gath was shaking her head now, the spell broken with the silence.She was checking readings, adjusting controls, exchanging worried glances with Blanc.'It looks pretty good to me,' the Doctor said.Gath was mouthing something to Blanc, holding her hands open as if in apology and puzzlement.'Problem?''I'm sorry, Doctor.' Blanc's voice was slightly strained.He gulped.'Yes, it is finished.''Oh good.We can all relax then.' He strolled over to join Gath at the console, hands in pockets.'You seem a bit disappointed.'She shrugged.'It's nothing.Just - well, the feet that, while we can use Martinique's process, we always fall so short of his own skill.''Maybe the software needs a tweak or two,' the Doctor suggested.'I could take a look if you like.I'm quite good at dabbling with that sort of thing.''No,' Gath said in sudden alarm.'No, thank you.''We keep everything exactly as the great man left it,' Blanc said quickly.He took the Doctor by the arm and led him over to the finished picture -Doctor against a black background.'Do you mind if we include this in the exhibition? As an example of the crude, raw output from Martinique's equipment.''Oh, not at all.' The Doctor allowed himself to be led back to the main entrance.Behind them Gath was shaking her head and fussing over the controls.The Doctor shook hands with Blanc at the door.'It's been such fun,' the Doctor said.'I'm looking forward to this reception thing.'Blanc smiled, the most emotion he had shown since the process began.'So am I, Doctor,' he said as he ushered him out.'So am I.'***The Doctor was in a thoughtful mood as he made his way back to the hotel.By the time he reached Fitz's room, he had formulated his thoughts to the extent that he was now certain that he was not sure what the problem was.Fitz and Sam were sitting at the low coffee table playing cards.'Snap,' Sam said with glee as the Doctor entered, and scooped up a pile of most of the cards.'I hear you're now a famous male model,' Fitz said as the Doctor sat on the couch beside him.'Star of the Martinique exhibition,' the Doctor replied.'An example of crude, raw output.''How flattering,' Sam said.'Mind you, I can see their point.''So what's the verdict?' Fitz asked.'What's going on with the paintings?''I don't know,' the Doctor was forced to admit.He picked up a card from the table and flexed it between his fingers and thumb.'But something certainly is going on.' He tossed the card down on to the table.It was a joker.'I don't think they know too much about the equipment they've got down there.''Paints good pictures, does it?''Excellent.But I think it also takes DNA and possibly RNA scans.The whole thing's more like a matter transmitter than a simple three-Dscanner.'Sam frowned.'You mean they sort of project a copy of you into the picture? Rather than just take a photo.''They talked about capturing my soul,' the Doctor said absently.'I don't think it's as extreme as that.But it's fishy.Decidedly fishy.''Something to keep tabs on, then.''Yes, Sam.Something to keep tabs on.' The Doctor stared into space for a moment longer.Then he clapped his hands together suddenly.The sound was a gunshot that made both Sam and Fitz flinch.'Right, then,'the Doctor said.'Snap it is.Aces high, no limits.' He grinned, his eyes narrowing as he said in a low voice, 'Deal me in.'***The device that Gath held was a miniature version of one of the projectors.Rather than a large prong mounted on scaffolding, this was a hand-held box with buttons along one side and a small projector as long as Gath's little finger pointing out from the top.They were standing in front of Defying the Angel.Blanc was behind Gath, watching over her shoulder as she operated the device.In front of them the image in the picture shimmered, as if the canvas were water rippling in a gentle breeze.Yaladriell continued to cower beneath the Devourer's paws, shimmering but unchanged.The Devourer, however, was more affected.As Gath and Blanc watched, its great goat head swung round as it looked at them.Its blood-red eyes were deep with anger and pain as it threw back its head and roared.The Devourer lifted itself on its haunches, rearing up, abandoning the angel beneath as it lunged forward, towards the two people watching the painting.Then it slowed, as if it was pushing against an invisible membrane that covered the picture [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]