Eden's Jester

by Ty Beltramo

  Seeing Aeson turn up unexpectedly was becoming commonplace. Him being happy to see me was just wrong.

  I looked around the mountaintop. The only thing here was the arch, which I guessed led down into a chamber within the mountain.

  “Who are they?” I asked, gesturing toward the statues.

  “They? They are the Designers. They guard this place, the center of all that happens on this world.”

  “Really? Why the sword?” I asked.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The sword. Why would creatures like the Designers need a sword?”

  “Elson, your strange, deranged mind is always preoccupied with trivialities. It is a symbol of their might and duty.”

  “Huh. Seems like beings as powerful as the Designers would be the kind that would think ahead. You know, plan around the need for the sword.”

  Aeson shook his head. “Really, Elson. I would expect even you to be impressed with the gravity of this place. Your mind wanders like that of a child. You have come to see the Preceptors. Why worry about mere decoration?”

  I wished I could see the faces of these Designers. But the mist obscured them completely.

  I turned to Aeson.

  “Aeson, you know why I’m here. I’m going to squeal on you. I’m going to sing like a bird, then they’ll stick you like a pig. You sure you want to be around for that?”

  “Believe me, my dear Elson, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Obviously he had planned for this just as Diomedes had warned. My mind raced to trace the possible outcomes of the next few moves. He could be bluffing, but I doubted it. It was likely that some of the Preceptors already knew what he was up to. We had assumed that others did not. We had assumed that some would see the raw, primal danger of his plan.

  The images from my cave flashed in front of me. The story of the battle to enslave the demons kept coming to the forefront. Then it hit me. That war wasn’t the Schism. All the Hosts of Heaven, all the Engineers, were on the same side. It wasn’t Law verses Chaos, it was everybody against the Patron.

  “The demons, your buddies in the Abyss--the Preceptors created them, didn’t they?” I said.

  His expression didn’t change. He seemed as happy as ever.

  “True. They are a versatile tool for both Law and Chaos.” Aeson smiled that oily smile that I hated so much. He was enjoying this.

  “Chaos I can understand. But how could Law ever use such beasts?”

  He laughed. “Law always appreciated their special talents far more than Chaos, my friend. Those demons, as you call them, help them maintain control. They make wonderful enforcers and have many special talents. Believe me, you have no idea.”

  Yeah. That didn’t surprise me, now that I thought about it. Any de facto association of good and evil with Law and Chaos went right out the window.

  “And you found a way to free them. You must be the hero up here on high.”

  “My status has not suffered, I admit. Since the ability to recreate the Apolloi--that’s what they’re officially called--was taken from the Preceptors, the creatures were believed a lost asset. Now . . .” He shrugged.

  “So, why do they want to see me? I don’t have anything to say that they don’t already know.”

  Aeson came close and put his arm around me. I wasn’t worried about him trying anything. I almost wished he would.

  “Ah, but you do, my friend, you do.” He tapped a bent forefinger against my forehead. “There is knowledge in that scattered little mind of yours. Valuable knowledge. They, and I, would very much like to know how you escaped the Apolloi, and how you escaped the Abyss. But most of all they, all of them, would like to know exactly where Biolos is hidden.”

  The name was unfamiliar to me, but I knew who he was talking about.

  “What makes your bosses think I know where he is?”

  Aeson beamed. He was loving this. It must be a ride of a lifetime gambling with the stakes he had on the table.

  “Diomedes believed you know, even if you do not know that you know. I find that very hard to believe, but it is a small matter for the Preceptors to dismantle your silly mind and sort out what is there and what is not. Personally, I believe there is much more of the latter than the former.”

  Someone was approaching with stealth through the ether. I figured at least eight tough guys were coming from all points of the compass, surrounding me. But I had to find out what was happening with Diomedes. Now was not time to make a run for it.

  “Why don’t you ask Diomedes? He knows more than I do. Way more.”

  “Well now, that is a bit of a problem. You see, he proved to be very resilient. In fact, we were unable to force him to cooperate in even the smallest matter. It wasn’t until he was brought here,” Aeson pointed to the huge doors, “that he was broken.” I moved closer to Aeson. He didn’t seem to notice the air quality of the area improve as the dust disappeared into my energy stores.

  He shook his head in disbelief. “He even refused to obey his own Preceptor. Astonishing. In the end, however, he was unable to resist.”

  I now realized the dilemma that had driven Diomedes to act the way he had. He had seen on the cave walls what Els and I had seen. Law and Chaos would work together to free the demons. They would work together to enslave the being entombed in the land of the Builders. He couldn’t go to Melanthios or even to his own Preceptor. He needed a third side, one that disdained both Law and Chaos. The story on the walls showed that third side, but I bet contacting the Patron hadn’t worked. So he had given me the job, the only other person he knew who fit the bill. Gutsy move.

  “So? Why not ask him?” I whispered.

  “Because Elson, just as we were learning of your cave and the treasures contained therein, he did the most unprecedented thing: he sundered his own soul. We can’t make heads nor tails of it.” I let the dust alone. I began to reach toward the sand. The whole clearing began to hum as the energy in the sand became excited. “You see Elson, for all intents and purposes he has committed suicide. His mind is completely gone, though his soul remains, I suppose. We went to your cave, but you can imagine our disappointment when we found the place barren of any value. Apparently a savage act of vandalism has robbed this world of a great treasure. Fortunately—and I cannot believe these words shall pass my lips—we still have you.”

  His expression changed to one of mock sadness. “You see, my friend, the game is over. You have no other pieces to play. Tip over your king, and join us. It is your only move. Demise is inevitable, in any case. Whatever tricks you may try, you cannot resist the will of the Preceptors. In the end even the great Diomedes couldn’t. Be reasonable, Elson, for a change. It will be much easier for everyone, but mostly for you. Come. What do you say?”

  The intruders where close now. I could make out the forms of several Sentinels surrounding me. Perfect.

  I looked up at the arch, and at the statues. They were worn by time, broken down. No one bothered to tend and mend them. Their once beautiful sculptures and fine lines were lost through neglect. This place wasn’t the capital of the world. It was a ruin.

  “Where’s Diomedes?” I asked.

  Aeson shrugged. “What does it matter?”

  “It matters to me. Where is he?”

  Aeson nodded toward the open door.

  “And the Preceptors can’t fix him or don’t they care to?” I asked. I don’t know what Diomedes did to himself. But if he would go that far to keep something from the Preceptors, it was unlikely that they’d be able to do anything about it. I knew him well enough to know he didn’t do anything from desperation. He took steps to achieve a desired outcome. Period.

  “Perhaps you can ask them. Offer a trade of services,” Aeson said. It all seemed very reasonable. I could feel the Sentinels tense, ready for the strike. “Come now, Elson. You can’t believe you can escape. What is your answer?”

  There was only one thing I could do.

  “I destroyed a soul, Aeson.” I was cool a
nd quiet. “Tell your boss.”

  Then I threw all control and caution to the wind and commanded the desert sand to come alive and scream my vengeance. A gale of mental destruction swept over the hill in all the planes. The Sentinels blew away like dry leaves in a thunderstorm. Aeson’s body vaporized. I didn’t see where the rest of him went. The giant doors, frozen on their hinges for ages, came off and fell inward. Only the statues and the arch remained.

  The clouds parted and light flooded the mountaintop. I looked up to see the faces on the statues. They weren’t human. One had the head of a jackal. It’s mouth a feral grin full of long teeth. A raven’s head was the other. Onyx eyes watched the plains below.

  “Well, that’s not what I was hoping to see.”

  I got out of there before someone decided to come looking for me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Hart Plaza rests in the shadow of the towering Renaissance Center, just down the river-walk from my friend’s nursing home. On most days, the plaza is empty, except for the stray General Motors worker on his lunch hour wandering the streets of Detroit like a zombie.

  On some days, a small jazz or blues festival will begin early, building steam for a long weekend of culture-saturated sound and food. Today was such a day.

  I found my friend sitting on a stone bench, watching a local band preparing to play. White carryout bags from Hippo’s Hot Dogs sat on either side of him. The remnants of what looked to be a Maxwell Street Special and an uneaten half of an Ultimate Dog spilled onto the empty bags. His frame, normally strong and straight, slouched, seemingly held up by an elbow on a knee. His only movement was the bending of that elbow to retrieve a cigarette from his mouth.

  “Where’d you get this stuff? You haven’t touched Hippo’s dogs for years.”

  He looked up and smiled. “It’s still my favorite. Nothing like a Maxwell Street from Hippo’s to relax a man.”

  I picked up the remains of the Ultimate Dog covered with sauerkraut, pickled peppers, and double chili. As dogs go, it was man’s best friend.

  “I didn’t think you could eat this anymore. You’d better move your bed into the bathroom for the next few days,” I said.

  He didn’t say anything.

  “I mean really, even in the fifties you wouldn’t eat both of these at one meal. You got a death wish or something?”

  “I’m ninety-four, Elson. Any way you cut it, death is just around the corner.”

  “Yeah, but he’s never around when you need him.”

  My friend laughed and coughed at the same time. It was not pretty.

  After he caught his breath, which took a long time, he looked me over hard. He lit another cigarette. “Tell me.”

  I didn’t know where to start. I told him everything that had happened. I left nothing out.

  I told him about the Apolloi and the role the Preceptors had played in their development and use, and about Aeson being at the mountain. And about Diomedes.

  “Sorry to hear it.” He looked tired.

  “What should I do?” I asked.

  He stood up with effort and tossed his cigarette on the pavement, rubbing it into ashes with his heel.

  “Take one last look around. Be quick about it.” He held his stomach like he was trying to keep his intestines from spilling out onto the concrete.

  “You saying I should give up?”

  He tried to laugh, but gurgled instead. “No. But you can kiss all this good-bye. No Diomedes and no way to stop Aeson. You got nothing but you, Elson. You think that’s enough? I wish I could help, but I gave all I got.” He turned to the river and looked toward the green shore of Canada. “I’m glad I won’t see it, but I wish I could stand with you.”

  He turned back to me.

  “I’ve got to hit the head. You think you can do some of that supernatural mumbo jumbo and get me there fast?”

  “I’ll do my best,” I said.

  “That’s all anyone expects.”

  My friend was wrong about one thing. While I couldn’t fix the Preceptors or even a local prince, I could stop Aeson. But I’d need help.

  I returned to my home turf and wrote an old-fashioned note, on paper, to Melanthios telling him exactly what I planned to do. Well, I lied. But he wouldn’t have the option of not trusting me. The stakes I set out in the note were too high. I sealed the note in an envelope. I then wrote a similar note to Melia. Hers was slightly more accurate.

  Aeson had been only half right. I had no real moves left to make. But I could bluff. Maybe some good would come of it. Diomedes was still Aeson’s prisoner, though not whole. At least I could try to deal with that. Once the cat was totally out of the bag and the Apolloi were free, there would be little motivation for Aeson to free the brain-dead Diomedes, and little to gain for Melanthios, who would have his hands full pressing Aeson on the subject.

  I returned to my gravel pit and began the delicate work of constructed a series of safety mechanisms to ensure my next move wouldn’t be my last. Unwanted visitors are always bad for business. I guessed that some would be coming my way, sooner or later.

  Once everything was set, I called to Rolic. The message was simple: “Come alone.” He wouldn’t have a clue. But my guess was that he’d come just the same--and not alone. But I could get lucky. Yeah, and I probably needed to set some traps for flying pigs too.

  It didn’t take long. It never did. Soon, Rolic appeared, instantly surveying the landscape, taking in everything he could. I needed to get his attention before he noticed my homemade decorations.

  “Hello, Rolic. It’s good to see you, as always. How’s your boss’s hair?”

  He smiled. “Stiffer than usual. It seems that the adjustments you made are permanent. He is not pleased with the new style. I fear there will be some recompense for that, Elson. But it was priceless to see, nonetheless.”

  “Yeah. You should have seen it from my point of view. A friend of mine always says that you’ve got to have style,” I said.

  “Really? Well, you’ve got style, I’ll give you that. So, Elson, you took quite a risk contacting me. Why would you think I would come alone?”

  He was warning me.

  “It really doesn’t matter,” I said.

  Before the last word had left my mouth, two of my traps went off simultaneously. But it was only one person, Apolik, trying to jump me. I had put two slingshot traps close together, and they both got him. If he had come through slightly more to either side, he might have missed them entirely, and I would have been busted. As it was, he was whipped and snapped between them, yelling like a schoolgirl until one gave way to the other and he was sent sailing through the astral plane. It’d be a while before he could return. And, if I were right, he’d have quite an ache from the sudden acceleration.

  “Nice trick. You’ll have to show me how to do that if you ever get back in good graces with the boss,” Rolic said.

  “Well, I’d be happy to show you. But that other thing probably won’t be happening any time soon. Here . . .” I tossed the first envelope containing the letter I’d written to Melanthios, at his feet. “Take that to your boss.”

  He picked it up like it was a wet leaf with doggy doo all over it. “What is it?”

  “It’s a letter bomb, full of anthrax,” I said.

  He gave me one of those enforcer non-looks, but with one eyebrow raised.

  “Not really. It’s just a message concerning the thing he’s after. Make sure he reads it. And make sure Aeson isn’t around when he does.”

  “Okay, Elson. Sure. I’ll trust you because everyone knows what you think of Aeson. Not all of us disagree with you on that.”

  I tossed the other letter to him. He caught it in mid air.

  “And if you could take that one to Melia, I’d owe you.”

  “Melia?”

  “Yeah. Your boss will be needing her help soon,” I said.

  “That would be unusual.”

  “Believe me, Rolic. There’s going to be very little of the usual i
n the next few days.”

  He looked at the two letters in his hands. He frowned.

  “Okay, Elson. I’ll do it.”

  “Thanks, Rolic. I’ll be seeing you.”

  “What happened to Apolik?”

  “Oh, he’ll be fine. But he might be cranky for a while. Tell him I’m sorry, but that it’s not nice to sneak up on people.”

  I was about to vacate the premises and try to find a hole so deep that the Preceptors would never find me.

  “Elson, can I ask you a question?” I did some quick mental math. It would be a while yet before Apolik could show up. But just to be sure, I put one foot into the astral plane.

  “Sure, as long as it’s quick. I’ve got people to see,” I said.

  “Why do you do all this stuff? What do you get out of it?” He asked. He looked genuinely curious.

  “Well, let’s see. I get animosity, excommunication, imprisonment, and generally unlimited frustration. Why?”

  “That’s what I mean. Your choices don’t work out for you. Why don’t you change?”

  “Into what, Rolic? This is what I’m made to do. I’ve got nothing better.” He frowned. For a brief moment, I was touched at his concern.

  “Can I tell you a secret? Promise to keep it on the down low?” I said.

  “Sure.”

  “I’ve realized that the powers-that-be are illegitimate. Recently, they’ve proven it. My job is to lay them low.”

  “Illegitimate?”

  “Yeah. Do you know what Aeson and your boss, along with the rest of the Preceptors, are up to?”

  “No, Elson. I don’t. It’s not my business to question.” He made a sour face and looked away.

  Rolic was a good guy caught in the machinations of powers he never had a chance to comprehend. In a way, he was an outcast, just like me. His Discipline had been defrocked long ago, leaving him with little to do.

  It occurred to me that I had something left to give.

  “Well,” I said “I think it might be your business, Rolic. They’re about to release the Apolloi. That name mean anything to you?”

  His head snapped toward me, his eyes blazing. “You’re wrong, Elson. How could you know that?”