Antichrist is a Fable for Freaks

They walked towards the station, and every step was important, every moment filled them not only with anxiety, but also with awareness: now they were not just two people, but representatives of a new era, where the fight for the future of humanity was a matter that required immediate action. Delia Asia Vieira looked at Noah carefully, not immediately reacting to his words. There were too many questions in her system, and she could not simply remain silent. In her opinion, everything that was happening seemed illogical, almost absurd. Why, if the main enemy, Gene York, was so close, was it necessary to leave New York? Why Lisbon, and not a direct confrontation?

"Noah," she began, her voice calm but slightly tense. "You said we needed to fight Gene York. But why should we go to Lisbon? Why not stay here and try to stop him right in New York, where he lives? It makes more sense."

Noah was silent for a moment. He knew that Delia Asia Vieira always asked the right questions, and he knew that it would not be easy to answer her. He ran a hand over his face, as if trying to collect his thoughts.

"You're right," he finally said, "it does seem illogical at first glance. Why go to Lisbon when Gene York is here in New York? But the thing is, our fight isn't limited to just a physical confrontation with him. We can't just 'catch' York and stop him - if it were that easy, I would have done it long ago, back when Jo Thueson was alive.

Delia Asia Vieira listened attentively to him, her internal blocks trying to comprehend what was said. She, as always, tried to find clear algorithms and connections in his words.

"Gene York," Noah continued, "is not just a man running for president. He is a figure around whom forces far more powerful and dangerous than he is are concentrated. You must understand: his power does not depend on whether he wins the election or not. He is part of a more complex game. And in order to resist him, we must not just be around him, but act in a different space, in a different context.

Delia Asia Vieira frowned in displeasure, not quite understanding what he was talking about. She couldn't imagine how "different context" would help them against York.

"I don't understand," she said, "why do we need to look for some other context if the enemy is right in front of us?"

Noah smiled slightly, realizing that she was having a hard time grasping the full scope of what was happening.

"Lisbon," he replied, "isn't just a city. It's a place where different worlds intersect. It's a place where knowledge is gathered that will allow us to understand not only York's plans, but also the hidden forces behind it. We won't just fight it directly - we need to understand how its forces work, what structures are hidden behind its appearance. And to do that, we need to turn to people who understand how these forces work. You won't find that in New York."

Delia Asia Vieira thought, her algorithms processing the information. She knew Noah was right-if it were as simple as walking into York's office and challenging him, they would have won long ago. But something in his words, his confidence, made her feel like there was something far more complex and dangerous at play.

"You want me to believe that in Lisbon we will get the answers that will help us win?" she asked.

Noah nodded, his gaze firm.

"Yes, exactly. We cannot act without understanding the whole picture. There are people in Lisbon who will help us uncover the hidden mechanisms behind York and his movement. And only by understanding them will we be able to take the decisive step."

Delia Asia Vieira was silent again. She couldn't say exactly what she felt, but she knew one thing - Noah was not a man who could be so wrong. He was a scientist, a psychic, a man who could see the hidden lines of life that ordinary people couldn't understand. And if he said they had to go to Lisbon, then it was necessary.

"Okay," she finally said, "I agree. If it helps us win."

Noah nodded, checking his watch again.

"Then we need to hurry. The train leaves in two hours."

With that, he turned and headed for the exit. Delia Asia Vieira followed him. Soon they reached the ticket office at the station. The atmosphere was quiet and a little foggy, as it often was in the early morning. The station seemed to be asleep, and only the occasional footsteps of passengers hurrying to their trains could be heard. The cashier at the counter looked as if she had just woken up from a long sleep a few hours ago. Her sleepy eyes had difficulty focusing on the documents, and she mechanically accepted the tickets that Noah handed her through the window.

Delia Asia Vieira stood nearby, watching the cashier. She wasn't tired, her systems were working without slowing down, and she felt confident and calm, although she understood that there were not the easiest tests ahead. However, her attention quickly switched when the cashier looked not at her, but at the man standing right behind her.

The man, about forty-five years old, was dressed in a suit that might once have been considered stylish but now seemed a little shabby. His suit pants were khaki and his jacket hung slightly, as if he didn't care about the less-than-perfect fit. The crocodile-skin folder he held under his arm was eccentric, giving him a somewhat enigmatic air, as if the man could be anyone from a government official to an old acquaintance of Noah's.

His face wasn't exactly mature, but it wasn't young either. Everything about him said that he'd seen a lot, been through a lot, and maybe didn't care much about what people thought of him. He smiled at Noah as if they'd known each other for a long time, and it was an open but somewhat overly self-assured smile, like a man used to getting what he wanted.

Then his gaze, as if by accident, but very deliberately, slid down Delia Asia Vieira's back. She felt his gaze run over her figure, starting from her shoulders and slowly moving down to the place where, in his opinion, the object of his interest should be - her butt. It was so unexpected that Delia Asia Vieira, being a robotess and not a living person, did not immediately understand how to react.