He checked the arc of the sun. He would have to hurry if he was going to prepare the drink and change before Sarenen called for him. He turned and left the river.
Cunac arrived back at his home with little time to spare. The sun was close to setting and his Sarenen would arrive at sunset. Cunac went to his kitchen and found a flask and chopping board. With the back of a broad knife he crushed four lilies and scraped their flesh into the flask which he then filled with water from the jug on the bench. Quickly he tidied the evidence away and threw the remaining lilies on his fire along with a herb log to hide the smell of the lilies as they burned.
Cunac looked around and was satisfied no one, not even Sarenen, could work out what had happened. He moved quickly to his bedchamber taking the flask with him and as he shut the door he heard the front door of his home open.
“Father?” called Sarenen.
Cunac took a moment and breathed quietly calming himself and replied in what he hoped sounded like a tired voice as if just waking. “Just dressing, son. I’ll be there in a moment.” Cunac quietly removed the old tunic and hat and put them back where he had found them. He then chose one of his better robes and freshened himself in the corner closet before putting on the clean robe and hiding the flask in the lining of the robe. He had many robes which had useful hiding places for flasks.
Cunac opened the door to the passage that led through the house down to the entrance hall where Sarenen was waiting. The skylights above the central corridor were darkening as the sun set. At that moment there was a pink light illuminating the corridor and making the earthen walls glow and Sarenen’s skin shine. It was a surreal light and surreal moment. Cunac took a moment to absorb the unusual beauty.
He slowly moved forward not displaying any of the purpose and poise he had shown during the afternoon. He portrayed an old man. Which he was. He needed no effort to look tired but his mind was racing and clear.
“Okay, son, are you ready to go to the quadrant with an old man?” said Cunac smiling at Sarenen. There was no scheming or double meaning in this question, Cunac intended this to be their last walk together and he genuinely wanted to enjoy it with Sarenen and set him on the road to glory.
“Father, I am ready,” replied Sarenen sounding concerned. “I will stay with you until this is all over and then we can come home and talk about what to do next. I can take on some of your responsibilities. I have been thinking about this all afternoon. You can concentrate on the True Listeners and help guide us. More and more Listeners are ready to listen to the message you have and they are ready to hear the truth of it.”
It was a short walk to the quadrant. The evening sky was clear and the temperature cool with only a hint of a breeze. Each man could see a trace of their breath in front of them as they walked and talked together around the second ring of Millham to the central road that would take them directly to the quadrant.
“Sarenen, Sarenen. You do not believe and that is okay. You will soon. Doubt is healthy. It helps you question the truth. You can be sure that once doubt has been burned away the strength of the truth that’s left behind is as hard as black rock and as resilient too. By the time you go home tonight you will be as strong as the black rock. All Realms will bend to your will. Listeners will flock to you. You will have no doubt. This will be your inheritance and my legacy. I can go to the Garden in peace knowing this.”
“Father…”
“Son, you will be a strong leader; I have no doubt of this. You will make, and have to make, tough decisions to achieve our goals. We know Listeners, and especially True Listeners, are the true inhabitants of WaytaPata. We have been in exile too long. The humans in the Garden may be descended from our kin but they have proven they cannot care for the Garden, more, they are destroying it. They also have no respect for their own lives. They kill millions of themselves each cycle.
“We know that a healthy garden requires management, pruning, removing unwanted growth and disease that can destroy healthy growth and desired plants. As a Gardener, a Listener, a True Listener, have no doubt about pruning away dead plants, overgrown plants, disease or clearing areas for fresh new growth so you may encourage the growth you want. The inhabitants of WaytaPata have provided you with the tools you need to manage the Garden. Their fundamentalism, their doubt of working with the garden and instead working against it; plundering its resources to the point of ruination. Their bombs and weapons of mass destruction that we have studied. I will leave you with gifts. A key. I will open the path to WaytaPata so you can start clearing the garden ready for our return. For new strong growth in the Garden Realm so it can flourish once more.
“What do you mean gifts?”
“No words, my son,” Cunac said calmly. “Just walk with me.”
The two men had reached the main road which ran through Millham and turned left toward the centre of the city and the Quadrant of the Punku. The horizon over the quadrant was being lit by the last vestiges of the sunset, slight pink wisps of light that highlighted the tops of the Punku obelisks in the centre of the of the quadrant and made the wall around the Quadrant appear thick and black. In the flat light no definition of the walls or stone obelisks could be made out as they walked together. Cunac felt a sense of destiny. Sarenen felt concern.
As he walked Cunac prayed he had calculated all the timings correctly. He still needed to collect the black rock from the workshop at the entrance to the Quadrant. Illary had brought many samples into her workshop over the years for testing, experimentation and making tools. Recently she had been trying to replicate experiments that the WaytaPatans had been doing with the false rock they had been making. This was an abomination to Cunac’s mind. Illary had been infected with the WaytaPatans constant desire for change and improvement. Their insatiable hunger for more. What had this lead to except an over populated world that was being pulled apart to satisfy their hunger.
“Remember, Sarenen, that the True Listeners purpose is not just to guide all Listeners home but to take WaytaPata as our home Realm so we can resume our rightful purpose and place as the Guardians of the Garden Realm. From that point the True Listeners can once again share the bounty of WaytaPata with the rest of DiPacha. First, we must be the Guardians of WaytaPata to ensure it has a future only then can we be sure the gifts of WaytaPata can shared for the benefit of the Garden, DiPacha and not mutual destruction.
“The last three days are fresh in your mind I ask you to promise me that you will faithfully record all the events since you joined me in the Listeners temple as testimony the True Listeners can use. These final requests and the closing lessons I share as I depart. They will help you continue to build the True Listeners Discipleship and guide you on the path.”
“Father,” said Sarenen in a semi-numb tone of one who had been beaten into submission. “As always I listen to your words and hear your teaching. I will be faithful to the true path that leads to the Garden. Your faith in me strengthens me. For my part, I love you as my mentor and teacher but mostly as my father. Whatever tonight brings I am proud of you and pray you are proud of me too?”
Cunac stopped and looked at his son in a way that in equal measure both broke Sarenen's heart and emboldened him to the core. Cunac put his hands on his son's shoulders, looked him square in the eye and said, “My son, you have, and will always, make me proud.”
With that Cunac turned and walked the final steps to the quadrant entrance. Opening it they were met by Da’Cince and Ma’Kusi who had been traversing around the inner path from the workshop where they had been to collect Illary and Betts.
“Ah, my Listener friends,” said Da’Cince trying to sound light hearted but giving away that he was scared of what this evening may bring.
“My Da,” said Cunac. “There is nothing to be scared of. Whatever happens this evening is for the good of all DiPacha. Have faith in this and it will bring you peace. Hear my words and remember them whenever you feel fear.”
“Cunac, you sound so calm and at peace. I was expe
cting you to be… actually, I don’t know what I was expecting. Normally you are either quiet or passionate. Over the years at times of stress you have been quite outspoken at times,” said Da’Cince
“Ah, Da’Cince, this is no time of stress! This is a time of celebration. A new beginning for us all and all DiPacha,” said Cunac smiling.
Sarenen struggled to keep a straight face and not scream at his father for being so bold. All True Listeners had acted in the shadows since they began on the path thirty-five cycles earlier. His father was being too bold, reckless even. He suddenly remembered his prayers of yesterday in the temple and was fearful again.
Ma’Kusi looked quizzically at Cunac and the Sarenen. Cunac smiled at her and Sarenen, attempting to follow his father's lead, tried to look innocent as an extra defence.
“I would like to see Illary and Betts in the workshop,” stated Cunac. “I would like to ask them to record tonight at the Punku for the benefit of the Guild of The Punku. It may help with your studies when I am passed.”
“No need,” said Ma’Kusi smiling at Cunac. “We have just come from them and they are on their way to join us by the Punku. They should be with us any moment.”
Cunac inwardly panicked. He could not fail now, not when all he needed was one hundred paces away.
Ma’Kusi who had studied Cunac over a lifetime noted his subtle and sudden stiffness. She did not comment but instinct told her to prod. “My friend, you may follow us to the small room where we have a selection of meats and fresh water. We can sit together until you are ready to go through to the Punku.”
Cunac felt suddenly cornered and out manoeuvred by the old Ma. He had had Da’Cince wrapped up for cycles. The old Ma, though, he had never been able to gain her trust and favour and now he knew she did not trust him, even in this moment. He’d had no backup plan. What could he do?
“My, Ma and Da, that sounds exactly what we need to rest us in preparation for what will no doubt be a momentous night,” said Sarenen.
It was Cunac's turn to try to hide his feelings. Had the student become the teacher?
Ma’Kusi was also obviously off balanced by the comment. Her head swung to look at Sarenen properly for the first time since they had entered the old corridor.
Sarenen smiled at her and said, “Please lead the way.”
“It would be our pleasure,” said Da’Cince turning to walk towards the room. He seemed not to have noticed any of the subtle, almost imperceptible exchanges that had happened in front of him. Ma’Kusi was worried her husband was losing his touch. She also knew that with the two of them leading the way she could not watch them or their body language. All her senses were telling her something was very wrong. She had an idea.
“Sarenen I have not really had time to get to know you properly. If you are to become Chief Listener on Pachamama I would like to talk with you, even on this short walk it would be good. I know Cunac and my husband always enjoy the chance to talk. Let us walk together.”
“It would be my honour, Ma’Kusi,” replied Sarenen.
Sarenen was now frustrated. He had intended to separate himself and his father by accepting the invitation and walking behind the Ma and Da. They could then communicate easily using telelink and just walk in silence as many Listeners do. Sarenen cursed himself.
As Sarenen fell in step behind his father and the old Da he heard his father say. “Do you mind if we walk in silence old friend. I just want to enjoy the companionship. We have many memories, we need no new ones.”
“Of course, my old friend,” replied Da’Cince sounding more concerned.
At that moment Sarenen heard his father call him on telelink as he himself had planned to do. “Son, I believe you saw the opportunity that I did not to enable us to talk. I thank you. Yet again you repay my faith in you. I must be blunt and quick, we have little time. The prophecies will only come true if all of the pieces are correct. There is one piece missing. I need the largest piece of black rock you can find in the workshop, at least a square foot in size. It will be heavy. We need a reason to go to the workshop.”
“Father, I hear you. It will be done,” replied Sarenen. With that, he knew the connection was over.
Sarenen walked the rest of the way answering Ma’Kusi’s questions. Luckily it was a short walk. Her questions made him uncomfortable. She was questioning him about his priorities to Pachamama and the Listener Guild and how this conflicted with the Guild of The Punku to which he’d only been initiated three cycles earlier after much discussion, mainly between Ma’Kusi and Cunac. This was one of the main sources of distrust between them. Sarenen always felt that the old Ma was watching him.
As they got to the door to leading into the small room Illary and Betts arrived carrying a selection of fresh fruit to share that their young adopted daughter, Kendra, had brought them for their dinner. All six entered together. It was warm and still smelled of the herb log from earlier in the day. The table did indeed have a selection of meats and now a bowl of fruit to go along with the jug of water.
They all sat with Cunac and Sarenen thanking the others for their hospitality and for sharing their food as was customary. As they began to eat, drink and talk Sarenen began shifting uncomfortably, holding his sides and trying not to groan. He looked like he was trying to hide his discomfort. Illary noticed as she was sat opposite at the small table.
“Are you okay?” she asked
The others paid more attention and looked at Sarenen who had gone pale and seemed to be sweating. “I’m suddenly not feeling well. Please excuse me.”
With that, Sarenen pushed his chair back almost knocking it over and painfully ran out the door.
“One moment,” said Cunac. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment as if contacting Sarenen on telelink. “He says he’s going to be sick. It’s the second time today. Some bad meat he thinks. Not prepared properly I suspect. He’s never been patient when preparing his food that boy. I’ve taught my son many things but in that, I believe I have failed. I would appreciate it if you, my friends, could look after him when I am passed. To ensure he does not poison himself and follow me too soon!” Cunac smiled and laughed at his own joke.
The others did not laugh.
“Would you like me to go and check on him, Cunac?” offered Ma’Kusi.
“No, my Ma. It’s a kind offer but he is a grown man and you do not need to clean him up or clean up after him.”
As soon as Sarenen was out of the door he collapsed on the floor and allowed himself a few moments to recover. It took some time to regain feeling in his legs. At short notice the only thing he could think of that would turn himself white, make himself sweat and cause obvious pain was to sacrifice his manhood. He had grabbed and squeezed as hard as his conscious self could. The result had been very convincing. His father would be proud of the sacrifice, although he may wince at the idea. Sarenen was still wincing as he attempted to run back around the pathway to the workshop.
A short time later he returned to the gathering with a red wet face. He had washed his face before returning and the sweat only backed up his cover story. Over telelink his father had told him of the cover story he had given the others. Their diversion had worked. All the pieces were in place except for Cunac himself. He did not want to miss his moment and would wait all night by the Punku if necessary. It would be foolish vanity to stay here talking now. A waste of a lifetime's work.
Sarenen was now starving but to maintain his father's cover story he only accepted a glass of water.
“My friends, it is time. I am going to the Punku. Whether you are coming because you believe me or because you are supporting an old friend you believe has lost his mind I would ask that you join me to witness my passing. And for the curious scientist to see the Punku open for the first time in nearly thirty-six cycles.”
“Cunac, are you sure?” Asked Illary.
“Never more so, my curious scientist,” he replied.
No more needed to be said. They all took an extra ro
be that the Ma and Da provided and moved across the path and through an entrance in the inner quadrant and the Punku. The obelisks stood proudly in the middle of the ancient wooden platform which was now as hard as rock but strangely warm to the touch. Snow never managed to settle on the platform.
“I do not want any of you to accidentally leave Pachamama where you are so needed by our people so I ask that you stay by the wall,” said Cunac calmly as if telling a group of children to stay back while the clown juggled some flaming torches.
“My son and all my friends, I do not know exactly when the Punku will open and I will pass. I love you all. My body will remain with you but I will travel to the Garden Realm and the Gardener. I am sure that as you see the second of the three prophecies come true you will understand why I pass the role of Chief Listener on to my son. This is ordained not by me or the Senior Wilaq, or even yourselves but by the Gardener himself. I love you all and I share my last moments with you in the hope they benefit you in all your remaining cycles. I will sit and meditate now. Goodbye.”
With that Cunac simply turned his back, walked to the obelisks and sat down in the pose of the Listener about ten paces in front of them. He looked completely at peace.
All heads swung to look at Sarenen whose own gaze was fixed on his father. Sarenen decided to follow his father's example so sat and meditated. The difference was Sarenen was holding back tears and not daring to close his eyes.
The others stood and watched. Not one of them could or had any chance of judging time. This was a moment. A short and long moment. A moment on pause while everyone waited for the inevitable action. The type of moment that realities pivot around. No one, not even Cunac could know the outcome. The difference was Cunac was the only one sure of an outcome. He was intently watching the Punku and the small black cube at the base of the right-hand obelisk for the first signs of that it was opening. He was not exactly sure what he would see but knew that when he saw it he would know.
Disconnected (Connected series Book 1) Page 22
