“Hey, that’s not true.”
“For me it is. Anyway, I have to go and see my Absolute before it’s too late.”
“But . . .” but Jax’x was talking to an empty room.
*****
Divine Troglodytes
Located at the north end of the city was a mountain of very modest height. Mostly, it was a giant rock outcropping surrounded by a deep gorge. No citizens lived there . . . only Divine Ones.
Actually, that isn’t exactly accurate. The Divine Ones lived inside the mountain, not on it. It was called the Crypt. One had to pass over a long, narrow bridge to reach the opening of the cave system. Of course, if you were Divine, you could teleport to the entrance.
Oddly enough, and no one knew why, they could not teleport inside the bunker complex nor once inside, could they teleport out. They, like all Spell’ Bound citizens, had to enter and leave by the front door.
After Po left the Library, she teleported directly to the bunker complex and entered. Once inside, she made her way to the office of Grassy Knoll and waited until her Absolute would give her an audience. It took the better part of an hour.
“Mistress, I apologize for the interruption but I think I have a solution to your problem.”
The Absolute was only half listening to the young girl. “Which problem is that, Pond Ripple?”
“Losing your liaison in the Library.”
That got Grassy Knoll’s full attention. “How, pray tell?’
Po did as she was asked.
“Very good, Pond Ripple. Very good indeed. Implement your plan immediately and advise me when you are done. I will see to the force field.”
“As you wish.” Po turned around and left the office. She had to put her hand over her mouth to hide the big grin – something so out of place that it would bring unwanted attention from the other dour face Divine Ones.
*****
She knocked on the door and waited impatiently.
Taysen, who seemed to spend most of her time in the kitchen, shuffled over and opened it. Seeing a Divine One – the same one who had asked (actually told) her to talk to her grandson – gave her the vapors. She bowed her head respectfully and, with eyes cast down, managed to say “An honor, Divine One. How may I help you?”
Po was mortified. Such deferential treatment from a citizen had always been expected and, in the past, would have elicited indifference. Unless, of course, the deference wasn’t given.
Now, after a year with Jax’x, it made her ashamed. Taysen was a good person and deserved to be treated with dignity. Instead, she was made to feel subservient.
“Taysen, is your grandson home?”
Whoa, that was a shock to the old woman. A Divine One had called her by her given name. It gave her the courage to peer up at the young woman in red. “Yes, Divine One. I will summon him immediately.”
“No. No need. If you will allow me to enter your home, I will go to him?”
And that was shock number two and three. “Of course. Please,” and she moved aside so Po could enter.
The young woman took a moment to look around. What she saw was typical – quaint, inviting and clean. “You have a lovely home, Taysen,” she said sincerely.
And that was shock number four. “Thank you. Please, he’s in his workshop.”
They made their way down a long hall that ended at the doorway to Jay’gar’s workroom. Taysen knocked and said, “Jay’gar, there is a guest . . . I mean a Divine One here to see you.”
A moment later, the door swung open. “Tay-Tay, did you say . . . oh, I guess you did. Divine One, how may I be of service?” Like his grandmother, he was taken aback by the woman’s presence in his home.
“May we talk in private?”
To Jay’gar, it actually sounded like a question and not a polite way of ordering him to obey her wishes. “Of course. Would this room do?” and he pointed to his somewhat messy workshop.
“This is perfect.” She started to enter, then stopped and turned around. “Taysen, do not worry about this visit. I believe . . . well, I hope . . . it will bring joy to your grandson. After I leave, he is free to discuss any of this with you. I just ask that both of you keep the purpose of my visit to yourselves. May I have your word on that?”
“As you command, Divine One.”
“Taysen, I am not commanding . . . I am asking.”
The old woman looked at the girl in red . . . mouth hanging open and eyes wide. She could not find her voice.
“My grandmother and I will o . . . I mean, we will honor your request.”
*****
“May I sit?”
“I’m sorry . . . of course. Here let me get you a comfortable chair from the living room.”
“No. Thank you, no. This stool is fine.” She gently removed some gizmo that had found a home on top of it and placed the mechanism gently on the workbench . . . then sat down.
For the first time, she examined the young man in detail . . . and was pleased with what she saw. Why Jax’x was physically attracted to him was obvious. She almost wished he had a twin brother . . . then blushed at the thought.
Jay’gar waited patiently for his guest to speak. Normally being stared at by a Divine One should make a person squirm. For some reason, he knew she was studying him as any woman might a man. He couldn’t help but grin.
Seeing his face light up with a smile, Po found the young man even more appealing. Her first instinct was to challenge him for taking such a liberty then stopped herself just in time. Instead, she said, “Jax’x sends her love.” That wasn’t technically correct since Jax’x had no idea this meeting was happening.
Po’s words were like a slap in the face and Jay’gar’s grin disappeared immediately. “How is she? You haven’t hurt her, have you?” For a citizen to question a Divine One in such a way was almost unheard of. It took a bit of will power for Po not to react negatively . . . years of conditioning will do that to a person.
“She is well and no, she has not been injured . . . physically.”
“What does that mean . . . physically?” The young man was dancing close to the line of disrespect. Po didn’t want him to cross it . . . such behavior towards other Divine Ones would result in terrible punishment.
“Jay’gar, first, I am a Divine One. You must reign in your emotions.”
“I’m . . . I’m sorry. But tell me about Jax’x. Please. Is she . . . “
Po raised a hand to stop him. “Patience. You should know that I work with Jax’x every day. And we have become friends.” Oh, how she liked the sound of that.
“Friends?”
“Strange, I know. But it’s true. That’s why I’m here. How would you like to see Jax’x?”
“Today? Really? Oh, please.”
“Not just today . . . but every day?”
“I don’t understand. Is her time as Librarian ended?”
“No. She is doing amazing work.”
“Then I really don’t understand?”
“My Absolute has a problem . . . more importantly so does my friend. I came up with a plan to help both of them.” She paused then added, “To be completely honest, I also had a problem. My solution fixes all three.”
“Okay . . . if you say so. How do I fit into all this?”
“You are the solution.”
“Jax’x always told me that I was the smartest man she ever knew. Right now, I’m feeling mostly stupid.”
Po laughed good-naturedly at the young man. “Since Jax’x is the smartest woman I know, I’m pretty sure you aren’t stupid.”
Jay’gar shook his head for any number of reasons. “With all due respect, Divine One, you are not anything like the others.”
The girl exhaled loudly. “You are so very right about that. Your . . . your lover has changed me forever. Hopefully for the better.”
“You’re polite, you laugh, you don’t act superior . . . speaking for every citizen on this world, you are wonderful.”
Po nodded her head and said,
“Thank you, kind sir.”
Jay’gar just shook his head again.
“Anyway, I won’t tell you what my Absolute’s problem is – that would be wrong. But my problem is that in the near future I will be reassigned from the Library and then I will have no opportunity to be with my friend.”
“I see. And Jax’x’s problem . . . I’m really, really hoping it’s that she’s missing me.”
Another warm laugh. “Quite right.”
“So . . . let me guess . . . once you are relieved of your duties at the Library, you’ll be assigned to me. To be my escort since I live in your district. And you will escort me each day to see the love of my life. You will also have to supervise the visit so nothing inopportune happens. You want everyone to believe that if Jax’x doesn’t get to see me, she won’t be as effective as the Librarian. Am I close?”
“No.”
“I’m not?” he replied disappointed.
“No, you weren’t close. You were spot on,” and she laughed.
Jay’gar stared at the woman in red. “Divine One, I like you.”
“And any friend of Jax’x is a friend of mine. Oh, when we’re alone, please don’t call me Divine One.”
“Really? How should I address you?”
“As Po.”
*****
The Library
They materialized outside the Room of Doom. The teleport was the first time for Jay’gar. “That was nothing like I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“Not sure . . . I guess I assumed there would be some sensation of moving or something.”
Po didn’t really care. She was way more anxious to see the look on Jax’x’s face when she saw Jay’gar. “She spends most of the time in here,” and pointed at the door.
“What is this room?”
“It’s where we keep all the artifacts. I call it the Room of Doom.”
Jay’gar made a face. “Can’t believe Jax’x would approve.”
Po smiled. “She calls it the Chamber of Enigmas, Conundrums and Perplexities.”
“Yeah, that’s my girl.”
“Well, you are driving me crazy . . . aren’t you going to go in?” She didn’t understand why he seemed to be dawdling.
He took out a small box from his pocket, then smoothed his hair with his free hand. “Of course. I . . . I . . . well, how do I look?”
“You look very handsome. You’re not nervous, are you?”
“It’s been almost a year. I haven’t seen her, talked to her, held her, kissed her . . .”
“I get it,” she interrupted before it got a little too personal. “It’ll be fine, trust me. Can I ask what’s in the box?” She was curious what kind of gift a man gave the woman he loved.
“It’s a pendant I found. Must have belonged to my mother . . . it was hidden in her old bedroom.”
“Why would she hide it?”
“No idea. Do you want to take a look?” and he held out the box.
“Thank you, no. Give it to Jax’x. If she wants me to see it, she’ll show me.”
“Okay. Here I go,” but he didn’t. He turned to Po and said “thank you.”
Impulsively she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Go.”
And he did.
Chapter 9 – Amber Heart the Necklace
Over the next nine months
Jax’x stood there looking at her two closest friends. Around her neck was the pendant Jay’gar had given her. It was beautiful . . . even more so when he first put it around her neck. It did the strangest thing . . . it began to glow. Only when she took it off did it return to its natural state.
The reason she was staring at the other two was because they had a problem. His name was Snow Flake.
If ever a person was misnamed, he most certainly was. Well over six feet tall, ugly as yellow snow, he was as grumpy and surly as they came. If he spoke at all, it was only to growl a question or bark his displeasure. Behind his back, the other three called him Mum the Glum. When they were particularly giddy, they’d call him Mummy.
He was the Divine One that had replaced Po as liaison to the Absolute, Forest Green, who was now in charge of the Library. Besides his grating personality, his very presence hindered the other three in their pursuits.
Jax’x and Jay’gar were almost never left alone to . . . um . . . to tend to their personal relationship. Well, maybe they were . . . but it was never as long a time as they would have wanted.
Jax’x and Po (with Jay’gar present) could not show their friendship and gossip, giggle and sometimes grapple with weighty issues of morality and politics.
And Jax’x couldn’t share her amazing discoveries with Jay’gar whose love of all things incomprehensible matched her own. Such a transgression would be severely punished . . . meted out to both parties.
What to do, what to do.
Jay’gar eventually suggested a solution. “Food and wine, of course.”
“I’ll need a little more meat on that bone,” joked Po.
Jax’x smiled at her friend. “You are too funny.”
“I know.” Jay’gar’s hand snaked out and playfully ruffled the girl’s hair. When they were alone, Po took the opportunity to pull off her hood. It was something never done in public. Never. “Hey . . .” cried the girl and an instant later Jay’gar was dangling three feet in the air . . . suspended by a thought.
“I give,” he yelped, all the while flailing his arms.
“Should I let him down?”
“Yes . . . but only after he finishes his plan for Mummy. If it’s a stupid one, flip him over on his head.”
“Come on, you two. That’s not fair.”
“Does he always whine like this?” teased Po.
“Actually, if I refuse to kiss him, he’ll sometimes cry like a baby.”
“I never did. Don’t listen to her Po, she’s . . .” but he didn’t finish. He started to spin like a top. “Heeeeeeyyyyyyy”.
“Never contradict my friend . . . you fiend,” but she stopped his spinning.
“I think I’m going to vomit.”
“If you do, I’ll get Snow Flake to kiss you the next time you’re feeling amorous.”
“Now I’m really going to vomit.”
The two girls looked at each other and nodded. It was enough silliness and they really did need a plan. Po released her prey . . . and he fell the three feet to the ground.
“Ouch.”
“Oh, be a man.”
Jay’gar smiled and turned to his love. “With your permission?”
“Granted.”
He then walked up to Po and gave her a big hug. “I am so glad you’re our friend. You are the best.”
Po returned the hug with equal enthusiasm. “I love you guys.”
“Okay, enough silly sentimentality,” cried Jax’x in mock revulsion. “I want to see some air between you two.”
Without releasing her, Jay’gar asked Po, “Did you hear something?”
“Nope. Not me. Not a word.” But they disentangled anyway.
“So start again. Food and wine?”
“What is the best way for a woman to get a man to fall asleep?” he asked the two girls.
“Talk about clothes?” suggested Po.
“Talk about anything,” chimed Jax’x.
“Yes and yes. However, give a big man like Mummy an even bigger meal and lots of wine to wash it down, and before you know it he’ll be fast asleep.”
“You do know he’s a Divine One, don’t you?” asked Po mischievously.
“Of course, I do.”
“Then you must know he can create as much food and wine as he wants with a thought.”
“Um . . .”
“Men!” exclaimed Jax’x, pretending disgust.
“What could you possibly see in him?” asked Po playing along. “Maybe he’s cute in a certain light, and I’ll grant you his smile is at least adequate. But he’s as dumb as a sack of . . .”
“Okay, okay. Enough, you two.
I didn’t think it through. At least I tried.”
“I have a better idea.”
“Jax’x, any idea is a better idea,” replied the other girl trying hard not to laugh.
“How about you create a duplicate of me.”
“What?”
“Like a hologram. He’ll think it’s me, reading book after book, and he’ll just sit in that big chair he created and try not to fall asleep. Meanwhile, the three of us can continue researching the stuff in the Chamber.”
“Can you really do that, Po?”
“I’ve never tried but, I’ve seen others do it. Jax’x, don’t you need to do more reading. You spend so much time with the artifacts.”
“Actually, I do a lot of reading at night. I’m working on something right now that is beyond belief. Before you ask, let me finish my research.”
“Fair enough. So, let me craft a hologram.”
*****
Some weeks later
She was alone – Po, Jay’gar and even Snow Flake had gone for the day. She had finished her dinner and, as was her routine, changed out of her ceremonial robes of office into a much more comfortable nightdress.
Earlier in the day, she had stumbled across some very ancient, leather-bound volumes and had put them on her nightstand to peruse after dinner.
With a cup of warm milk and honey, she entered her bedroom, turned down the covers and climbed in. It took her a minute or so to fluff and position the pillows just so. Finally comfortable, she sipped her beverage, and then picked up the first book.
It was called “A Treatises of Super Colloidal Crystals with Electromagnetic Amplification and Stimulation Properties.” Why anyone would think a book with that title could be interesting or even intelligible is beyond knowing. For some unfathomable reason, it tickled Jax’x’s intellectual curiosity
Even so, she found most of it far beyond her understanding. But, a couple of entries piqued her interest.
The first one was . . .
Irkstone - a multi-colored, crystalline structure whose jet-black interior is in the shape of a hexagon. Extraterrestrial in origin. Unusual ability to collect, concentrate and amplify certain brain waves. Characteristics are similar to, but not as pronounced, as the amber heart.
Box Set #5: Nemesis: [The 4 book 5th adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 8
