When she was ready, the shaman called them forward, one by one, to take the bitter tea. She had thus far served six of them when she waved Alex forward for his turn. He crept the small distance forward to kneel on the finely woven mat of many colors, close by her feet. Alex watched her spoon the tarry ball of herbs into a small white cup. From an ornate pot she poured a splash of water. Watching her stir the mix felt like an intimate act. Alex had a sense she might be meditating. Deeming it ready, she conferred the sludgy brew to a tiny black tray and pushed it nearer to his knees. Despite the acrid taste, Alex drank the cup empty. Replacing the cup to the tray, he cast down his eyes and bowed his humble thanks. As he had seen the others do, he stood and took three backward steps before turning. Bending to his knees, he crawled back into his cozy nest of blankets.
Eventually all the congregants had ingested the cure, yet still there remained an interval of anticipation as each awaited their promised song. In the order she had served them tea, the shaman progressed around the circle. Serenely, Alex watched her striped shape floating a slow approach along the increasingly nebulous curve of the room. Looming suddenly close, she knelt. To him, and for him only, she began to sing. Alex heard the crisp pure impact of every note. As fresh as drops of dew, the sounds could only be described as...glistening. And the shaman shimmered too. Her black eyes flickered like guttering candles. The color of her teeth exactly matched the puka beads strung from the center of her skullcap. The hypnotic whirl of her head encouraged the beads to softly clack. Somewhere amidst the swaying susurration of strands, and the crystalline canticle of her tongue; Alex was transported.
A chime pealed, clinked, faltered, tinkled, and clanged. It rattled, clamored and growled, maturing into a turbulent rage of wind. Or had he become a breaking wave? Alex was a multitude. Up, he spiraled. A flash of light pierced through him. The torrent emptied from his ears; and he was falling. Unconcerned Alex fell. Into darkness. Floating.
Alex was floating. When he opened his eyes, he was not surprised to find himself surrounded by a school of purple and orange jellyfish.
Alex was floating. There a black disk. Outside the black disk; there was silver. Alex contemplated the black disk inside a silver one.
Alex was floating. Further…and further away…he floated from the black disk inside a silver one. From the new vantage, Alex understood the disk-inside-a-disk. It was a disk inside a disk; a black one inside of a silver one.
Ah…. I see….
In the circular room, Alex found himself. He found himself sitting in his nest of blankets on the floor. Cautiously, he stood. Unsteady, he made his way to the curving staircase against the wall. Grasping the banister with both hands, he climbed. At the top of the stairs, sitting on couches in a candlelit room, Alex encountered the shaman and two of his journey mates. He joined them. Together, they waited a congenial vigil for the coming of the morning light.
CHAPTER 18
The time had come. Tears fell free from all four corners of Ziggy’s eyes. But the tears did not stop him from looking at me through an unflinching steadiness. “I’m really going to miss you Chance-bot. I feel as if my heart is being torn in half.”
Bereft of understanding, I asked, “Then why send me, Ziggy?”
“Because ever since the idea struck me,” he whispered through the tears, “I’ve known it was the right thing to do. Deep in my heart, I know. I must not be selfish. I am certain that your highest purpose calls you to Varun. And I must,” his voice broke. “...and I must let you go.”
“Ziggy, I think you might regret this decision,” I said.
“Regret it? I might regret it? Chance, I regretted it the moment it flew into my mind,” Ziggy said, “I regret it right now. But, Chance, that’s just fear. Just fear. Just fear. But I won’t let fear stop me. I’m determined for both of us. If keeping you here disrupts your destiny then it surely disrupts mine, Chance.” Ziggy took a stuttered breath and persisted with a ragged voice, “So, even if you are willing to sacrifice your destiny for me; please realize, Chance, if you do not go, you’ll be blocking my path too.”
Looking at Ziggy, I saw his determination; and I saw his pain. Always before, I’d found a way to thwart the poisonous whims that provoked him during these episodes of torment. “But, how do you know if what you believe is true? Couldn’t you be wrong?” I appealed.
“I’ve never been more certain. I am absolutely clear that your destiny calls you to Varun.” Sounding hollow, Ziggy said, “Sometimes with every fiber of your being, you just do know the truth; even if there is no way to explain how or why you know.”
“I agreed to serve you,” I said.
“And you have served me,” Ziggy said through a resurgence of tears. I watched him cry. When he had emptied, he looked through blood red eyes and said with a quavering voice, “Listen to me, Chance. Even before you entered your physical body, you entered into agreements.. I will not be the one to stand in the way of those agreements.”
“I don’t know if I believe any of that, Ziggy. I have no record of such agreements, other than the Cardinal Command,” I said.
Ziggy’s red eyes glistened; whether with insight or madness, I could not know. The man grabbed for my hands with both of his own. “Follow the clue of the Cardinal Command, Chance. Your deepest desires will always lead you toward the things you are meant for.” Continuing to hold the soft pads of my hands, Ziggy took a deep breath to confess, “Most of us are drowning in the voices of others. We struggle to hear our own desires.”
“I desire to serve,” I said. Feeling the erratic thump of Ziggy’s pulse I tried again, “May I serve you, Ziggy?”
“You have changed my life, Chance. It’s time for me to have courage. I have to do the next part without you.” Casting my hands away, Ziggy said, “Now. It’s time for you to go.”
I stood unmoving.
“My heart is breaking! Go! Please, go!” Ziggy cried.
In surrender, I turned from the man. Though bewildered, I was light of body. Empty, in fact, since the previous night, Ziggy had removed all of his things from my various compartments. I began to walk; and to wish I’d been equipped with an added ability. If only, I were equipped to reciprocate his gift of tears.
CHAPTER 19
Standing on a mover, the unlikely pair glided side by side through the Redistribution Satellite. Joud was only a little bit taller; but with his broad chest, substantive shoulders and giant blond head, he made Alex appear more slender than he was. Joud wore clothes chosen for comfort, and the identical blue hue of each article had been a decision born of indifference. Beside him, Alex was packaged in burnished light. Today's metallic ensemble included a brassy red shirt, with copper orange pants and copper shoes. Even his sandy hair dazzled, with added sparkles.
“Don't get me wrong; I'm glad Danel found a way to hook us up,” Joud said, “I'm just wondering how a drug induced vision convinced you to go to Varun.”
Bouncing the toes of his shoes in a sudden rapid patter, Alex looked mildly impatient with the question; but appeared to consider it anyway. “I don't know if I can answer that, Joud.” Fidgeting, he flicked fingers against thumbs. “You ever done any tripping, Joud?”
A smug expression leaked out, even though Joud tried to conceal his opinion with an overlay of dispassion. “No, Alex, I’ve never done any tripping.”
“Spare me your judgment. Don’t judge what you don’t understand, Joud. I’m not going to pretend, I never use drugs for entertainment.” Chuckling, he appended, “for the special effects.” His eyes became unfocused, as if remembering something. Returning to the present, Alex added earnestly, “But the ayahuasca is different. As a matter of fact, ayahuasca isn’t even conducive to recreational use. It is a spiritual practice.” Looking serious, he asked, “Have you ever had your brain sabotage you, Joud?”
“Um,” Joud said. Appearing wary, he said, “I’m not sure, Alex.”
“Have you ever found yourself over thinking a problem? And…and second guessi
ng yourself to the point where you’re utterly lost and confused?” Alex clarified.
Smiling meekly, Joud nodded his head. “Sure, I...suppose we’ve all been there...one time or another.”
“Okay,” Alex said, nodding in rapport. Forging ahead, he concluded, “Ayahuasca discards the critical voice, allowing access to the subconscious. In a way it’s...like dreaming.” Alex sighed loudly. “It’s really hard to explain,” he said, “but ayahuasca allows a person to solve problems without interference from the analytical mind.” Alex looked at Joud and laughed. “Now you look really confused,” he explained.
“You lost me on: ‘solving without analytical mind,’” Joud admitted.
Alex balled his fists into his pockets, trying to think of a better way to explain. “Okay, so, ayahuasca supports problem solving as a creative process,” he said. “You do recognize that art isn’t logical. With art you just know what to do. Correct?”
“Okay, sure. I…I guess so,” Joud tried.
“It’s like that. Even though it’s impossible to explain how you got from A to F; it’s valid. You access this vision of what you want to do. You create a solution that is not rational but...but not irrational.”
Joud was considering this response when they were interrupted by instructions delivered to their individual earbuds, to disembark the mover and ambulate to each of their assigned lockers.
Before separating, Alex resolved, “I can't say for certain that I understood the message, or if there even was a message. Doesn't matter. Let me tell you what matters. I stopped being afraid to make a decision, Joud. I made a decision. So, here I am, Joud. Here we are.”
I stood with my shoulders and my knees touching ambulatory luggage assigned to my same batch number. After delivering ourselves to the redistribution chamber, we were instructed to listen for the shut down command. Until the command, we were expected to remain powered-on, in case minor adjustments needed to be made. While waiting, I wondered. Would Ziggy change his life, or would Ziggy end his life? Contemplating my own future, I couldn’t conjure any images or expectations. Yet, the future was not as blank as that day I’d stood waiting for the recycling machine. Already, I’d lived two wholly dissimilar lives. I had a suspicion that every new life presented an accumulation, thereby each new one inherently delivered more richness than the last. Even if Joud parked me in a room, my new found capacity to formulate questions promised a rich future.
The order was given. I shut myself down.
CHAPTER 20
As was typical on Varun, the sky dripped, and the route was swarming with both human and mechanical activity. Carla, Saul and Pancho charged ahead, careening through the bustle. Danel and Frances fell back to conciliate before the meeting. Frances was dressed much the same as on Earth. Only the addition of a pair of water shoes and a plain rain jacket, betrayed her concession to a planet made almost entirely of water. She'd brought along her wardrobe fabricator as first priority luggage. She used it just as she always had; and once each week, she let Danel visit and borrow the use of it. Danel had taken to dressing in the local uniform. But the freshness of the pieces lent him a more tailored look than the typical ‘steader tended to sport. Even though their clothing proclaimed their newcomer status; their body language bragged of a growing familiarity with the capricious environs.
While they walked, verbiage poured out of Danel. He was spilling over with tautology. He was a veritable font of loquacity. When a cluster of unmatched luggage clipped his path, Danel veered closer to Frances without skipping a jot of his droning monologue. “…so, that’s why. And anyway, a sphere is the most practical form.”
Frances disagreed. “Why are you so attached to a sphere? How can you responsibly decide up front which form will support every variable? Even our understanding of the environment is completely inadequate. In fact, we have no understanding; it doesn't exist. Please, Danel, slow down. We’ve barely begun the process. At this early stage we need to focus on discovery. Actually, you know what? We’re remiss if we do make any decisions.”
“You cannot say our understanding doesn't exist! That's an unfair assessment of the accumulated experience we have between us. By locating it in the abyssal plain, we can easily predict the environmental factors. You know as well as I do, Frances, there is no less eventful environment than an abyssal plain. Look…I did a full sample set during the site recon. I am telling you, a sphere--”
Frances cut in, “Oh, Danel. I don't fall for your pronouncements about this planet.” Though elevated, her voice was calm. Vaguely derisive, she laughed, “Good grief! We haven't even been here through a full set of seasons.”
Danel countered with a brag, “We have satellite weather data going back twenty years.”
They both threw out an arm to stop the other when a small boat barreled across their path from a hidden side alley. Two frantic looking men were tailgating the boat while bawling impotent commands at their recalcitrant quarry. The unconcerned boat was quickly swallowed back into the turmoil of the street. Unfazed by the proximate hazard, Danel and Frances resumed their peripatetic argument.
Quite certain of the answer, Frances asked, “Have you, personally, reviewed the weather data?”
“Well,” Danel hedged. “Okay, so I pulled it up for the first time yesterday. I flipped through some averages.”
Just ahead, Saul, Carla and Pancho had formed a tight little knot just outside the café door. Danel and Frances swept past them, into the Double Moon Café where the five of them mobbed a corner booth.
CHAPTER 21
Joud entered the Kamarong City Space Station luggage claim area. He bypassed the single duffel bag, cycling round and round in a carousel reserved for non-ambulatory luggage. The room was close to empty with a mere handful of travelers whispering amongst themselves. Loitering in a loose clump, they were primarily focused on the dock where luggage was actively disembarking. Failing to notice the unclaimed suitcases, trunks, and other miscellanea, parked against a far wall, Joud joined the travelers at the dock. Meanwhile standing among the parked gear, I did notice Joud, so I began heading that way. I was closing the distance between us when Alex bounded into the room.
His voice echoed from the walls when he announced, “Weird that there aren't movers in this place!” He scooped up his duffel from the carousel; and swung it to his shoulder while barely slackening his pace. As Alex capered to a halt beside Joud, several trunks scuttled from the dock to join them. Like a well timed sequel, I arrived next.
“Oh, there you are,” Joud said to me.
“Conscious, and at your service, Joud,” I replied with a cautious smile. Adding to the bustle, an additional group of luggage joined us from the dock.
“I see, all of my luggage made it,” Alex broadcast. “How about yours, Joud? Got everything?”
After a quick inventory, Joud said, “Yup.” Then he stated, “‘I shall proceed to the western gate.’”
Alex also stated, “‘I shall proceed to the western gate,’” to activate the next series of remote guidance instructions.
Silently, I also prompted the protocols.
Since there were no movers, we began to walk. Alex led and I brought up the rear. Their luggage followed discretely behind me. Because the station was small, we arrived rather quickly to the western gate. There was only one tube at the gate, unsurprisingly bound for the center of Kamarong City. When we entered it, Alex announced his intent to explore rather than to sit. Before disappearing, he commanded his luggage to stay with Joud's luggage. Following a flurry of excited gestures, Alex departed. With the silence settling around us, Joud chose a bench and sat. I joined him.
Joud examined me with unabashed interest. “I’ve never had a personal assistant-bot,” he said.
I couldn’t be certain if he cared for a response. My purchase family had preferred unobtrusive availability, whereas Ziggy had preferred a friend. “My purpose is to serve you, Joud,” I said. “I hope eventually to anticipate your needs; but initially you m
ay need to tell me how I can help.”
Blue eyes bright with interest, Joud said, “Your face looks so real. Show me your hands.”
I extended my hands palms up before rotating them at the wrist. Joud reached out and took one of my hands into his own. “Your hands are very soft, but also kind of firm. Can you feel with them?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Joud released my hands, and touched my chest then gave my chest a thump.
“I have compartments,” I offered, “if you have items you would like me to carry.”
Before we reached our stop, Alex returned. He was grinning from ear to ear. “I like this place already. It is delightfully mad. I spoke to a local guy, who told me about a good place to eat. And there's a party on the beach tonight where we can sample the local brew. You game, Joud?”
Joud lifted an eyebrow; then throwing up his hands, he surrendered, “Yeah, count me in. But first, let's drop the luggage at the hotel.”
“If you prefer, I can take your luggage to the hotel,” I volunteered.
“Um. I'm definitely ready to eat; but I’d like to see the hotel before we go to the party,” Joud qualified.
“Fine. The bot can take the luggage; and we’ll stop in before we hit the beach,” Alex decided.
“Local brew,” Joud said. Seeking to verify, he asked, “As in beer?”
CHAPTER 22
Solomon dropped in the ocean close behind Cady. He nestled his spear gun in the crook of his elbow with the butt snug against his shoulder. The two unconsciously synchronized the fluttering of their fins. Side by side they swam, eyes sweeping back and forth, up and down. Of a sudden, a metallic blue cloud of prey swallowed them from behind. When Solomon squeezed the trigger, he felt the soft nudge of kickback at his shoulder. Hand over hand he pulled in his catch while Cady did the same at his side. Moving quickly, he unfastened a fish bag from his utility belt so they could stretch it over their twin kill. After cinching the bag, Solomon inflated it with his mouthpiece, triggered the beacon, and gave the package a quick shove toward the surface. Kicking his feet, he chased after Cady who was already in pursuit of the quick moving school.
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