Charles said, “That is so awesome!” He tugged at his necklace. “Why did they leave these items for us?”
“As gifts. They knew we were observing the whole time. That is their way of thanking us for being respectful of their ritual and not bringing a bad omen on them.”
Charles nodded. “I love this pole-arm.”
Carson looked his staff over. He pointed to the star at the top of the staff and said, “In a ceremony these are useful to light the torches and they have meaning to their ritual. In battle these beautiful sharp stars become killing weapons. They are flung and released at their victim. They catch the sunlight and virtually grab the victim’s attention as they watch the shiny object come toward them. Well, you can guess what happens when the star hits its target.”
“It kills it, right?”
“That’s the point, literally.” He prepared to demonstrate on a nearby tree. “Watch.” Carson cast the pole-arm outward, flinging the star through the air aiming for the tree. It hit the tree’s trunk and split it in half.
Charles looked at his pole-arm. “Definitely not a toy.”
Carson went to retrieve his star. He placed it back on top of his pole-arm and turned toward Charles.
Carson ended the game. Abruptly the two players were transported back to Carson’s office. Charles was exhausted. Carson set his and Charles’ pole-arms down, leaning against his chair. He took off his muddy boots and placed them in the trashcan. Then he took off his necklace and Charles’ necklace and put them on his desk. Charles dared not move from his spot until he took off the filthy boots. He followed Carson’s lead and placed the boots in the trashcan.
Carson asked, “What do you think?”
Charles admitted, “I was skeptical I’d like it at first, but now I’m hooked. I loved it.”
The two weary men walked downstairs, each carrying the gifted artifacts from the hunters. They put away the pole arms and necklaces; along with the weapons and necessities they had taken to the planet originally. They then retrieved their everyday clothes. Next the two men went upstairs to shower and clean up. Carson asked Charles to leave his game clothes on the floor when he was finished. When Charles finished cleaning up, Carson gathered their travel clothes from off the floor and threw them away.
“No sense bothering Nana with these rags.”
Charles was relieved to see Paw Paw looking like himself once again, but the images of him from the game were engraved in Charles’ brain. He didn’t want to forget the bonding time they shared together. Charles felt like this experience, for some reason, made them even closer to one another.
Chapter 34
When Joseph returned home, he was sullen. The family ate dinner together but hardly looked at one another. Dolores watched Sterling squirm uncomfortably in his chair.
Joseph seemed to be ignoring Sterling until he pounded the table with his fist and said, “Sit still at the table and eat your food!”
Sterling shrank in his chair as he whispered, “I’m finished. Please, may I be excused?”
Joseph glared at his child with contempt. “Put your plate in the sink then get out of my sight.”
Shamed, Sterling slowly stood from the table and did as he was told. He returned to the table and pushed in his chair before leaving the kitchen.
At that moment, Dolores felt nothing but anger toward her husband. She fought the urge to scream at him. She kept reminding herself: Keep quiet and calm. Don’t say anything because nothing good could come of it. Sterling is better off leaving the table.
Joseph and Dolores continued eating the meal in silence. When Joseph finished, he shoved his chair under the table hitting her knee. Even though it hurt, she bit her tongue.
Dolores picked up a nearby dishtowel and flung it over her shoulder. She rose to clear the table. As she put the plates and glasses in the sink, Sterling suddenly crossed her mind: Where is he? A glass fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. She suddenly panicked and ran over the broken shards of glass in her bare feet to find him. Dolores wanted to make sure Sterling was safe.
Dolores froze at the foot of the stairs as she heard Joseph’s voice talking to Sterling in his bedroom. She strained to listen to the conversation but could only hear bits and pieces. She looked down at her throbbing bleeding foot trying to figure out what she should do next. Dolores walked up the steps and stood outside Sterling’s door. She quietly took the dishtowel off her shoulder to wrap it around her foot as she eavesdropped on their conversation. What she heard next enraged her.
Joseph said in a low voice, “Do you know what they call little boys like you?” There was no response. “Well, do you?” No response. “I’ll tell you, a wimp. That’s right, you’re a sissy. My son is a sniveling, good for nothing weakling that will never amount to anything.” No response. “Look at me boy when I am talking to you. I’m your father. Show me some respect.”
There was a pause before Joseph added, “I never wanted you. Did you know that? I wanted a big strong man, not some sissy girl that hides behind his mama. No one in their right mind would want you.”
A tear fell from Dolores’ eye, when Sterling finally said, “That’s what Grandma Maureen said too.”
“She’s right you know. Grandma’s are smart.”
“That’s what Grandma said too. She told me that herself when she was here last time; that she’s real smart. I believe her you know why? I believe her because she said I take after my mother and not my father. That was the smartest thing she ever said.” Dolores’ eyes became really big and she put her hand over her mouth.
Sterling went on: “Mom’s smart too you know. She finished top of her class. Humph, it really must be true then. Grandma really does know what she’s talking about because my teacher said today that I’m the smartest kid in the whole school. I’d rather have brains than brawn any day.”
Dolores backed away slowly from the door and crept down the steps. She stood with her back to the wall praying Joseph would just storm off to his office.
Joseph continued to talk. “I’ll make a man of you yet. I’m not done with you. By the time I’m done, mark my words, you won’t be a smart-alecky little sissy boy. You’ll be a real man! Like me.” She was thankful there was no response from Sterling.
Joseph walked out of Sterling’s bedroom into the hallway. He mumbled to himself when he looked down and noticed a drop of blood on the carpet. He stormed off to his office and slammed the door shut.
Dolores breathed a jagged sigh of relief as she stood with her back against the wall wiping the tears from her face. She rubbed the goose bumps from her arm and thought: I can’t believe it, Sterling. You actually stood up to that contemptible bully. Good for you, big man. Good for you.
Joseph didn’t come to bed that night. Dolores woke and thought about Sterling’s comments the night before. She smiled, got out of bed and walked through the house to make sure Joseph had departed for the day. She checked the garage to find that he had already left for work. She made a fresh pot of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to think. She wondered why Joseph didn’t just divorce her? She figured if he did, he’d try to take Sterling from her. She shivered; it’d be a cold bitter day in hades before she’d allow that to ever happen. That would be one fight she’d never back down from. She considered her options thinking things through very carefully. None of the alternatives seemed very appealing. It seemed as if the lake house was looking more and more like her only recourse, a sanctuary.
Chapter 35
Carson took the game pieces and game boards, and placed them back in their boxes. He took the vault key, along with a pair of white gloves, from his desk. He placed the gloves in his jacket pocket then walked to the vault. Carson asked Charles to bring the game boxes. Charles picked up the items and followed his grandfather. Carson took the boxes from Charles and entered the vault.
As Charles continued to wait, he suddenly heard menacing voices coming from the vault. The distinct voices seemed to be participating in va
rious fervent debates. Charles could faintly hear Carson rummaging around opening and closing drawers. Then his grandfather once again emerged from the vault carrying something in his white-gloved hands. Carson set what he was holding on his desk. Charles followed. Airabelle flew over and landed on the artifact. The sound of multiple voices engaged in a dialogue continued to flow from the vault.
Airabelle said, “Carson, I can’t believe you brought this out. I don’t think the time is right. You should reconsider this decision and save it for another time. Some things are better left alone. This is definitely one of those things.”
Carson studied her and then said, “Nonsense old friend. Now move aside.” She refused to move. He gently nudged her. “This is my decision.”
Airabelle grudgingly moved. Charles tried to discuss this with her privately but she was not in the mood for questions and refused to answer him. She obviously was not going to give out information voluntarily. Her feathers were clearly ruffled.
Carson took their Sojourner glasses from his desk. He and Charles put the glasses on. Charles didn’t even notice that the voices from the vault had ceased. He was focused on what was in front of him. Then Carson carefully unfolded the stiff shimmering gold paper. He situated the paper in the middle of his desk. It appeared to be a map of a foreign solar system. Suddenly the paper emitted planets of a solar system before them. Each planet had numerous glowing dots. Carson began touching the dots. Faces began to appear where each dot was previously visible. Once all the dots had been touched, the male images all greeted Carson in unison. He greeted each man individually. They began their conversation speaking in a foreign language. Whatever this meeting represented, it now had Charles’ full attention. Charles observed quietly. Carson turned and briefly looked at Charles while he was talking to the men. Each man then gave his own speech. When they finished speaking, Carson had the last word before the images disappeared and he refolded the mysterious paper. He took off his glasses and returned them to his desk. Charles did the same.
Charles looked at Carson and squinted his eyes. “What’s this all about and what was that? Are you some kind of spy?”
Carson shrugged. “No. I wouldn’t consider myself a spy.”
“Then what was that all about?” Charles pointed to the large folded paper.
“It’s complicated, but I will try to explain. To make a long story short when Ori and Evan learned how to create a Passageway, they made notes on how to travel to the galaxy containing Bridgeiro and its other planets.” He pointed to the paper. “Around the same time that it was discovered that crystals could predict who could travel through a Passageway (because an individual had the correct gene), Ori, Evan and another very interesting fellow decided to create a method of communicating with each other while planet leaping. The partners developed a special device that would allow the members of their Sojourner group to meet and discuss the business of the universe without being monitored by the Sojourner government. They wanted this tool to be inconspicuous and easily overlooked by non-members. They called this instrument the Universal Game.”
Charles’ face lit up. “Oh, I see, that’s why we are playing the game.”
“That’s part of the reason why, but that’s not the main reason. People can Sojourn and not play the game. As a matter of fact, this is something in which only the Aristocracy participates. Most Sojourners do not know anything about the game. It was created so that if and when it was possible to planet leap the players could keep in touch with each other without physically meeting. While they developed the Universal Game only a finite number of game pieces were created.
“Many years later, Evan and Ori discovered that their partner in the game wasn’t the outstanding citizen they believed him to be. An insatiable greed had taken the fellow over. They discovered he had been plotting to take control over the game for his own selfish ambition. Evan learned that the partner had been stockpiling maps and giving game pieces to his shady conspirators.”
Charles was processing what Carson was telling him. “How do you fit into all of this?”
Carson looked at Airabelle then back to Charles. “I’m the Interstellar President.”
Charles was surprised as he repeated Carson’s words. “You’re the Interstellar President? What does that mean? What do you do? Does this put my apprenticeship in jeopardy? Do Anthony and Dimitrios know this about you?” Charles’ head was spinning.
Airabelle mumbled, “I told you not to tell him. This is too much information.”
Carson gave her a look to silence her. He turned back to Charles. “The Universal Game is not under the jurisdiction of the Sojourner government. It is entirely outside their realm; so your apprenticeship status is not in jeopardy. Yes, they are aware of my position.”
Charles asked, “So why are you buying different game pieces?”
Carson took a deep breath. “To introduce you to the game. The original pieces are much too powerful for a young man your age. Once a Sojourner acquires a game piece, they rarely give them up unless they are deceased.”
Charles thought: My family gets more and more complicated all the time. I thought they were just normal people a few months ago.
He wasn’t thinking about Airabelle intruding in his thoughts. She chimed in: Your family is anything but normal.
He turned and looked at her.
Chapter 36
Charles asked Carson, “When were you placed in charge of this group?”
“Since my father passed away.”
“Are you positive your position as Interstellar President does not disqualify me from being the prime minister?”
“My position in this confederation will not disqualify you. It is totally different. The league is outside the realm and jurisdiction of the Sojourners’ Council. It could possibly have been a consideration to pass you up in the beginning because they already had another candidate, but not now.”
Charles squinted his eyes, curious about that statement. “What did you do? Why is that?”
“We agreed that the league would cease accepting new initiates. When the last member dies, the Interstellar League will cease to exist, as we know it today. At this time everything is very different from when the league first came into existence so long ago. We believe that in the near future the universe may drastically change.”
Charles asked, “You agreed to the league ceasing to exist didn’t you?” Carson didn’t answer. Charles pressed, “You did. You’re not denying it.”
“It was a worthwhile sacrifice to see you as the next prime minister. We as a whole agreed to it.”
Charles frowned. “Why? Why would you and the league agree to those terms? If you inherited your position from your father, isn’t there a possibility that I could assume the position in the future?”
Carson looked at him and his demeanor changed to something Charles had never seen before. “At the higher levels the game can become very sinister and dangerous. Even now, if my identity became known they’d hunt us all down.”
Charles scowled. “Who’d hunt us down?”
Airabelle interjected: “Carson come to your senses! I’m warning you. Once you have spoken the words, you can never take them back. You are putting everything in jeopardy.”
Charles turned to her and a flash of anger showed on his face. “Airabelle, what are you hiding from me?”
Airabelle looked at him and said, “Charles, you will learn that these ‘missions’ are dangerous for many reasons. Knowing this information not only puts you at risk, but it endangers others as well. All of our lives could be in jeopardy if we make a mistake. Secrets have been kept for ages for reasons you are only beginning to understand. These secrets must be respected. You must attain greater wisdom in order to understand the inner workings of the mysteries that are before you.”
She turned to Carson. “You’ve already gone too far.”
Carson sighed knowing she might be right. He picked up the artifact and put it back in the vault without saying a
word. Charles followed him to the vault door. They could hear the voices whispering. Carson took off the white gloves, looked at Charles and put his pointer finger to his lips. Charles walked over beside him. Carson held up a crystal. Charles tried to touch it but Carson turned away from him and set it back in a drawer. He locked up the drawers and put the keys away. He motioned for Charles to follow him out.
Once Charles walked out of the vault, Carson closed the door and said, “That is a recorder crystal. I’ve been recording the conversations.”
Charles asked, “Does Dimitrios know?”
Carson shook his head. “No.”
“Are you going to give the crystal to him?”
“Yes I am, but I am looking into Henri. I have some questions about his character.”
Charles was pacing back and forth.
Carson asked him, “What’s the matter?”
“I’m just thinking things through. There are things I don’t understand.” Charles ran his hands through his hair and mumbled, “I don’t understand the probability of disbanding the league. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Carson put the key and white gloves away in his desk. He sat down, shook his head and said, “The decision wasn’t made only because of you. It was one of many reasons that led the association to this very conclusion.”
Charles sat down next to him. “I want to know more about this league.”
Carson sternly said, “No. It wouldn’t be wise to know more at this time. When the time is right, and not a moment sooner.” Carson pulled out the Hub mail and began sorting it, thus ending the conversation.
Chapter 37
Mr. Schluter asked, “Is that true? You actually rode a clonsayee?”
“Yes. They are amazing creatures to ride or just to watch.” Todd knew it would be breaking Carson Jones’ trust to tell his dad that he now trained clonsayees on the Jones’ farm. That was one secret he couldn’t divulge, even to his own family.
Return of the Clonsayee Page 18
