by Sue Perry
37. I'm A Neutral, Not A Child
I thought it would freak me to have all the Framekeeps stare at me, but it wasn't bad. They were serious, interested, concerned - but sent no negative vibes.
My contribution to the petition was to convey menace and meddling from the Cysts. I described the times they had probed my thoughts, and I detailed my capture on Shastina, when they realized I could not tell them Zasu's whereabouts, so offered me to the clockwork dogs and chainsaws. I did well with my testimony. Anya didn't need to prompt me and the Framekeeps seemed friendlier as we went on.
When it was the Cysts' turn to ask questions, all three jumped up like the ice cream truck had reached their block.
"Nica, what makes you believe we invaded your thoughts?"
"I get this weird pressure feeling behind my temples."
"How did you come to associate a 'weird feeling' with thought invasion?"
"An -" I stopped. "I heard questions in my head in a voice not my own."
"Someone," they swiveled to glare at Anwyl, "told you to expect mind invasion from us."
"You stole from my thoughts. Like when you called me Neeks and mentioned my ex-husband, Ick."
"What if we told you we learned that information when we spoke with another of your ex-husbands?"
I paused to run through the timeline, to consider if it was possible they had talked with Ben. It was the same mistake Zasu made: I went silent to reflect, but silence equated to uncertainty; or acknowledgement of error. "No, that's not possible," I replied, but too late. Several Framekeeps made no effort to hide skepticism.
"When we found you on Shastina, you lay in the dirt, feet up, head down the slope. Why did you choose that position?"
"I fell that way."
"You fell. Dear, dear. Did you slip on a rock?"
"Probably. I don't remember."
"You seemed terribly ill to us. Were you?"
"I've felt better. Yes. I was ill."
"You became ill because of Travel through Frames, isn't that correct?"
"Yes. Also, I was injured."
"How did you become injured?"
"Long story. Where to begin?"
"Here is a more simple question. Did you receive the injury by taking actions that Anwyl had told you to take?"
"I was working for Anwyl, yes."
"Had he prepared you for the possibility of that injury?"
"I knew there were dangers."
"Your work for them held dangers, you say?"
"Detective work always has dangers."
"Please describe your training in Frame Travel before you began Traveling."
"They. Took me on short close trips at first. I got used to those, then we went farther."
"No training, then, is that your answer?"
"Not per se."
"Thank you, Nica. We wish you safe return to your Frame."
"I'm a Neutral, not a child," I threw at them.
"Could you repeat that?"
"I am a Neutral, I am not a child."
"Thank you, that you are a Neutral is such an important point."
After the cactus dismissed me, Anya beamed at me like I'd saved the day, but at that moment the day felt anything but saved.
"Do you have more testimony for us to hear, Anya?" the cactus inquired.
She stood. "At this time, Framekeeps, the petitioners have no other testimony." She took her seat as she accomplished everything, with infinite grace and dignity.
"Warty Sebaceous Cysts, let us hear your side now."
They blustered and fussed with papers, then they all turned and smiled at Anya. "We must need speak with Anya."
"An unusual request," the cactus said, displeased.
Anya said, "If questioning this petitioner will help reach the truth, I gladly submit to questions."
As she headed for the witness box, the tiny winged Framekeep from Shastina spoke for the first time, to warn, "Be this a trick, regrets will swiftly follow." Its voice was sandpaper on a Barbie's skin.
The Cysts watched Anya like pedophiles beneath the kiddie slide. When she was settled, Middle Cyst approached. I was grateful he had not approached when I was a witness.
"What is Nica to you?"
"She is a detective, a private investigator."
"What is the work that she performs?"
"Your thirst for that information will here remain unslaked."
"They can require you to answer."
"When they do, then shall I."
Left and Right Cysts gestured to the Framekeeps as if to say, are you going to take this?
The cactus terminated the topic. "If you have another question, ask it now."
"Why is it necessary for you to engage a Neutral?"
"Is that not a rewording of the last question?"
"So it seems to me," the female cobra said.
"Is it because you are a seer that you are privileged to ignore laws, such as the law that forbids us to involve Neutrals in the business of the Frames?"
"That is a policy, not a law. As a seer, it is my duty to judge the soundness of policy and of law."
"Doesn't this policy exist to protect the Neutrals?"
"At times it can serve thus."
"Among the seers, isn't there a prophecy?"
"As you know, there are many prophecies."
"The prophecy I strive to recall speaks of a seer, a framewalker and - now what was the last, oh yes! - a Neutral. Are you familiar with that prophecy?" As he spoke, the other Cysts gestured and grimaced to emphasize that Anya is a seer, Anwyl, a framewalker, and I, a Neutral.
"That prophecy is known to me, as it is to all."
"How does that one go? Please recite it."
"'In the blackest of days, a seer, a walker and a Neutral will lead the foes of darkness.'"
A snort from a Framekeep caught my attention. Apparently prophecies were not hip. The majority of the Keepers had reactions that ranged from dismissal to disbelief.
"Dear, dear! That sounds terrifying! Do our heroes succeed?" The Cyst goaded her.
"It is a prophecy. It has no conclusion." Anya is not goadable.
"Can you tell us any prophecy that has come to pass?"
"That has no bearing on this petition."
"I don't know of any, either. Are not the prophecies of the seers used in religion?"
"Some use them so, most others do not. Again, that has no bearing."
"What does the law of the free Frames say about bringing religion to Neutrals?"
"Keepers!" This was not an outburst Anywl had rehearsed.
Simultaneously, the cactus snapped, "Warty Sebaceous Cysts, should you ask another question that does not pertain to this petition, you will forfeit your right to speak again."
"Thank you for your insights, Anya." The Cyst dismissed her as though she had just wasted our time. She returned to her seat serenely, and as she sat she touched Anwyl's arm, to stop him from something, perhaps before it occurred to him.
All three Cysts bowed to the cactus, "We will now explain what truly happened."
38. I Am A Warrior, Not A Liar
The Cysts crowded together in front of the witness stand and took turns speaking, often finishing one another's sentences - a three-headed monster that just happened to occupy three separate bodies.
"It is true that Zasu saw us often in her Frame. We have interest in Halcyon as a business venture. We do not wish to return to prison, so must need develop new occupations. Our plan is to transform Halcyon into 'a fresh and unspoilt tourist destination, with refreshing beauty, simple outdoor recreation, comfortable hotels, and delightful natives.'" They read this last from brochures they had produced from somewhere. "Do you hear? We needed the Gumbys alive." One of the Cysts ripped a brochure; another crumpled and tossed one. All thirteen Framekeeps watched the Cyst show impassively.
"We did not trick the Gumbys, we paid them to share in the transformation of Halcyon. We did not inject poison through the Connector. Rather, we sealed t
he passage so that construction dust and noise would not plague their new temporary home. We did not enlist books to kill anyone.
"Since that terrible day of unexpected death, we have searched the Frames to find and catch the real killers. We have changed our plans because of the deaths. Our new resort world will now include a monument to honor the slain, designed by the great water artist Ohm Kumquat. Travelers from many Frames will come to see it and pay homage to the lost innocents.
"We welcome alliance with Anya and Anwyl to find the true killers. We understand why it is difficult for them to accept that Warty Sebaceous Cysts evolved during their time in prison and now recognize the sacredness of life. We hope they will come to believe us over time. Some among the Framekeeps may also doubt us. Even should you fail to recognize the veracity of our presentation today, and cannot rule us innocent of all charges, the petitioners have offered no proof of our guilt and by law you cannot rule us guilty."
Damn, they were good. If I hadn't encountered the real Cysts outside this room, I might have swallowed their dreck. Which of the Framekeeps had prior experience with these scumdogs? Perhaps only the cactus.
"Each of you holds copies of the paperwork by which we established our company and our partnership with the good Gumbys of Halcyon. The dates confirm that we made this pact long before the killings and longer before these accusations."
"May I inquire?" Anya asked, and when the cactus permitted her to proceed, "That you established this business arrangement is not in dispute. Can you provide proof that you have altered Halcyon, after the day of genocide? If you lack such proof, you show us that you wanted the world empty, and you wanted no witnesses to your taking of that world."
"The next phase of our operation has been delayed by the necessity to prepare for this petition."
"You answer 'no', then. After annihilation, you took no actions to uphold the pretense of creating a resort. Before you went into prison, all the Frames knew you to be cruel and bloodthirsty beings. What could inspire the astonishing changes you say you have undergone?"
"It was a spiritual transformation, outside the constraints of religion."
"Can anyone vouchsafe your claim to this transformation?"
"Only our three selves. We did not anticipate that we would one day be asked to vouchsafe our most intimate philosophy and moral code. Now, may we continue with our explanation?"
As Anya sat down, Anwyl touched her arm and they exchanged a look. Left and Right Cysts now returned to their seats and Middle Cyst paced in front of the witness stand.
"We did indeed track Anwyl's journey to Shastina. However, it was not Zasu we followed. We knew not of her existence or presence. We followed Nica, the Neutral. Nica spoke truly about one matter. We did make light probes of her outermost public thoughts." Middle Cyst paused, expecting and getting whispered conversations among the Framekeepers about this admission. "We did all these things because we hold grave concerns about the use of Neutrals by Anya and Anwyl. We have evidence of two Neutrals involved in matters of the free Frames. There may be many others. Two Neutrals witnessed a book attack, and could have perished that day. Not long thereafter, Travel to Shastina was so reckless that Nica was rendered incapable of standing. Betwixt these events, at Anwyl's behest, the Neutral named Nica received incurable injury that has required lengthy treatment by the Healers to temporarily reduce her suffering. None of this should a Neutral endure. We began to watch Anwyl and Anya's misuse of Neutrals in hopes we misunderstood. Instead, we discovered the abuse was far more grave than we had imagined.
"We will file a Petition of our own, in the next quarter-cycle, to protest this careless abuse of Neutrals. However, Anya and Anwyl's disregard for Neutral safety poses danger so immediate that we must need also mention it today." Middle Cyst strutted back to the other Cysts.
Crap. You know how when you are a kid and you sneak back home when you are supposed to be at school, because there is something you want to try and your mom would get in the way? And you take your skateboard up on the roof and the steep slope is every bit as fun as you anticipated and you're going to land in the deep end of the neighbors' pool, just like you planned? Except you didn't expect a wheel to catch on a gutter? And you know how the neighbor finds you mangled in the bushes and the paramedics ask her how to contact your parents and she makes some comment about lack of supervision and the two of them look at you like you poor kid we've got to do something about this? You know? Well, that is how the Framekeeps looked at me now.
"Questions, Anya?" the cactus said stiffly.
Anya had one. "Warty Sebaceous Cysts, what was the Battle for Targyre?"
The Cysts mottled. "It was an ancient battle."
"Did you fight in that battle?"
"We did."
"Was Maelstrom your ally?"
"In that long ago era, before we changed, we did occupy the same side."
"What happened in that battle that has made that day infamous?"
"Neutrals were killed."
"Would it not be more correct to say that you slaughtered millions of Neutrals?"
"If you will."
"That battle was the basis for our policies and laws that protect the rights of Neutrals. Does it not seem ironic that you now expect us to believe that you are a champion of Neutral rights?"
"And, yet, thus it has come to pass."
"Never has a reformation been so complete as yours in prison, would you agree?"
"Yes. Our reformation has been complete."
"I have posed all my questions," Anya said.
"Proceed with closing comments."
Anya stood. "This petition was difficult for us to bring to you and will be difficult for you to decide. Warty Sebaceous Cysts are cunning and clever. By the time we have firm proof of their intentions, it could be too late to stop them. I do not know all they have planned but they have not changed. I fear them, and I fear for the free Frames if we do not stop them today. The Gumby people were gentle and quiet, known to few. Are we to believe that, just as Warty Sebaceous Cysts coveted their Frame, some other, unidentified evil also discovered the Gumbys and by coincidence annihilated them on the same day that Warty Sebaceous Cysts took their Frame? Truth is more simple than that story. Warty Sebaceous Cysts stole the Frame by trickery and wanted none to know of this, so sought to destroy all witnesses - without conscience, just as they annihilated Neutrals in the past. They feign concern for Nica, but she has told you the reality - that they gave her to their clockwork dogs and she is here today because Shastina saved her.
"Over all the eras, in times of crisis, the free Frames have joined with Neutrals, just as these petitioners now join with Nica. We have enlisted Nica's aid to thwart the latest plot of Warty Sebaceous Cysts. This petition culminates our efforts. Only the Framekeeps can protect the Frames now. Thank you for your service to the Frames."
Anya remained standing and tilted her chair so that it balanced against the table on two legs, seat down; no one could sit on it. Anwyl rose and did the same to his seat.
The cactus turned the closing statements over to the Cysts, who rose together and finished each other's sentences. "The petitioners have proved only two things - that we were in Halcyon and that we followed Nica to Shastina. We acknowledged both as facts and explained both. We have never met Pent-Up Angst before today.
"We spent many years imprisoned and the experience changed us. We request that the Framekeeps permit us to continue our efforts to build our new life. We also ask that Anya and Anwyl receive censure for their dangerous exploitation of Neutrals."
The Cysts tilted their chairs the way that Anya and Anwyl had done.
The cactus spoke words that sounded boilerplate. "Thirteen Framekeeps have heard the petition and now seclude themselves to decide the facts and the fictions of this situation."
The lights shifted to the three Framekeep assistants, who stood and called as one, "All rise."
The lights shifted to emphasize the big table. The Keepers filed out of th
e room, in the opposite order from their entry. The cactus went first, the assistants went last.
I searched all faces for clues to their opinions. I'm usually a good judge of character and attitude, but needed more experience to support my intuition. What expression does a cactus have when it trusts you? And, to identify the facial expressions of a construction crane, I first need to locate the face.
The lights shifted, emphasizing the aisles. It was time to exit. The instant the Framekeeps retired to their chamber, I heard snuffling and felt probing in my brain. "Stay out of my head," I muttered, and backed toward the exit door that was farthest from the Cysts. I was one of the first to go outside.
And now we had to wait - for the Keepers to protect the free Frames from destruction, or to defend the rights of three misunderstood reformed felons. All the spectators and most of the participants milled around on the broad lawn outside the observatory. Happily, the Cysts remained inside.
I liked that the Framekeeps were called Keepers. It made me think of soccer goalies. They are the last hope to support and protect the goal from intrusion. They are the ones you depend on after ordinary means and efforts fail.
I was in babble mode. I tried to share this comparison with Anya, Anwyl, and Zasu, who had followed me outside. They listened but made no reply as we all climbed to the top of Monk to talk in relative privacy. Below us, Ruby circled, maybe because she was restless and maybe because she wanted to protect us. Now that the testimonies were concluded, the guards were nowhere in evidence and Zasu was on her own again, safetywise.
"How long does it usually take them to reach a decision?" One of us asked impatiently. I'll let you guess who that was.
"Moments. Or many cycles." Monk replied. I wanted to hear Monk make no sense again. He had been so quiet and miserable of late that his few words lacked their usual confusion.
"You did well, Nica and Zasu. Your stories made impact," Anya said with a smile.
"I thought we all did good. How did it sound to you?" I asked Monk.
"Rough like the truth. Lies are smooth."
If Miles were here, he would have found something teaseworthy in that. "Is Miles dead?" I blurted, craving and fearing his reply.
