“I understand,” Grammy responded with a trace of sadness. “It’s not time for that—yet”
Then she disappeared, and with her, all the other ghosts. Kaly was alone with Lena, and for a time, they lay on the warm sands together.
While Lena stroked her forehead, she began to hum a melody, and a feeling of absolute contentment filled Kaly. The song was soothing, and strangely familiar, but as she tried to place it, a deep lethargy overcame her. At last, too tired to try any further, she gave up, and simply listened.
“This song is very important, Kaly,” Lena told her. “You’ll have to protect the ones who sing it.”
Kaly acknowledged this sleepily, and as she drifted off, her last thought, was of how utterly happy she was.
She could still feel Lena’s touch as her eyes fluttered open. The sun had lowered in the sky and Grammy and Ingrit were standing in front of her. Behind them, the other women were filing down the trail towards the farmhouse.
I must have fallen asleep! she thought, sitting up in alarm and flushing scarlet with embarrassment. She almost started to tell the old woman about her vision, but then she stopped herself. It was obviously just a fantasy, and not worth bothering Grammy about.
Secretly, she was also afraid that if she mentioned it, that something just as shocking as their meeting in the kitchen might occur and she wasn’t ready for any more epiphanies. So she kept silent, and smiled shyly.
Grammy had a gleam in her eye that seemed to suggest that she knew exactly what had happened to her, but she only returned Kaly’s smile. “Komme,” she said. “The meal will be starting. If we don’t hurry, they‘ll eat it all up without us!”
K’aut’sha Fighting School, Sorrow’s Swale, Nemesis, Rahdwa System, Thalestris Elant, United Sisterhood of Suns, 1049.03|04|04:16:07
All of the mid-level students had arranged themselves around Mistress Jezzika to watch as the Swordsmistress demonstrated a complex maneuver with her ka’na. She called it the Flock of Flying Birds. After the mind blowing revelations that she had experienced the night before, Maya wanted a chance to gain some perspective on it all. Training with her ka’na was the perfect recipe for this, and in short order, she became totally immersed in Jezzika’s lesson. So much so, that she almost didn’t notice when a group of senior students walked over to join them.
Sarah was among them, and once again she managed to astonish Maya. Today, she had dressed herself in a brilliant red training suit which was richly decorated with elegant golden dragons. It was totally at odds with her former penchant for somber, purely functional garments.
Jeena was accompanying her, and as they moved along, Sarah kept pausing and whispering into his ear with a wide grin on her face. Whatever she was saying made the neoman laugh, and he replied with something just as amusing, and as secretive. They were carrying on just like a pair of teenagers, Maya thought, feeling an equal measure of disapproval and disbelief at the sight.
Several meters short of the training circle, Sarah paused in mid-stride, closing her eyes and throwing her arms wide. The expression on her face was total bliss.
Even though Maya knew that the protective layer on Sarah’s pale skin and a liberal coating of Solacrème was protecting her from the harsh Nemesian sun, she still couldn’t believe the obvious pleasure that the woman was deriving from basking in it.
Sarah hated the sun! Or rather—Maya corrected herself--the old Sarah had hated it. This new Sarah was a complete enigma, and she found herself wondering what other drastic changes were in store for her.
A moment later, Sarah finished with her reverie and walked into the circle to face Mistress Jezzika. While they bowed to one another, Maya turned to Skylaar. “Sena-tai, can she still fight?” So far, Sarah hadn’t demonstrated anything that even hinted at her former lethality.
Skylaar chuckled at this and inclined her head towards the pair. “I think I’ll let Sarah answer that question herself, Cho-sena. But I would venture to say that she just might manage to satisfy your exacting standards.”
Maya blushed abashedly, but still decided to reserve her judgment.
The demonstration began. At first, Sarah and her teacher moved slowly, each of them going through a portion of the Flying Bird kata. Then their movements became faster, and more complex, and Maya recognized not only the elements of the Bird kata, but several other routines that they had been studying earlier that week. She took careful note of their technique, and tried to spot the errors in her own.
Then to Maya’s mild suprize, Mistress Jezzika stepped back, and took her place with the others, leaving Sarah all by herself.
Sarah had closed her eyes again, and she performed the first elementary drills that every student learned, transitioning from one to the next with a beautiful, fluid grace. She went on from there, moving up through the secondary levels, and then the third, and here, her actions became more of a dance than a series of exercises.
An aura of expectation began to permeate the women around her, and it seemed to fill the very air itself. Something great was happening, and as Maya watched, it was revealed.
By this point, Sarah had reached the advanced levels of training. She turned in the sun, spun, and made her cuts with a refinement that beggared anything that Maya had ever seen, even when Felecia had danced. It was an achingly beautiful performance, but without music, because it needed no accompaniment. It was its own music.
All the while, Sarah’s smile brightened until it became a thing of absolute radiance. The pure joy that flowed from her was tangible, and an involuntary lump formed in Maya’s throat as the woman transitioned to the movements that Mistress Jezzika had been showing them that very week. With an effortless grace, she raised herself and pirouetted on a single toe, rendering the most flawless Spinning Flower that Maya had ever envisioned. It was even better than the one Josette had used.
Then, without the slightest pause, she flowed into a masterful rendition of the Wind on The Mountain, then The Endless River, and from there into kata’s that Maya hadn’t even learned about.
Totally enthralled by this performance, she forgot all her doubts about Sarah’s ability, and even her antipathy towards her. Instead, she was overcome by the sheer mastery of her movements, and began to perceive her in an entirely new light.
Relieved of the spell Lady Ananzi had put on her, Sarah was not only more skilled with the ka’na than Maya had ever supposed, but also extremely lovely. Her beauty had simply been obscured by all the darkness that had once surrounded her. But now, like a fyrflit emerging from its cocoon to take wing in the Nemesian sky, she had become something truly magnificent.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Sarah’s movements slowed, then stilled, and when she had stopped completely, she reopened her eyes and looked around her as if she had suddenly realized that she wasn’t alone. Her features were bright with elation.
Josette was the first to applaud, and the rest, Maya included, quickly joined in. “Oh, Hiy’em Ska’n’e,” Josette declared. “It is so good to have you back with us!” She went over and embraced her, followed by Mistress Jezzika.
As they stood by, Skylaar quietly explained the term to Maya. “Cho-sena, Hiy’em Ska’n’e is a Nemesian name. It means ‘Joyful Blade’. That was Sarah’s school name before Lady Ananzi sent her into her long sleep. Rather appropriate, given her true spirit, wouldn’t you agree?”
Maya wiped away a tear, and nodded. Skylaar had been completely correct; Sarah had indeed managed to ‘satisfy’ her standards.
***
Later, after the class had ended, Sarah came looking for her. She found her on the walkway that encircled the main Pak’un, leaning against the railing and staring out at the jungle.
“Maya,” she began, “I wanted to have the opportunity to speak with you. If you will let me.”
Old, unpleasant memories, and feelings, resurfaced immediately, and Maya gave her a guarded look. “About?”
“The reasons behind my actions,” Sarah answered.
“It’s fine,” Maya lied, the hurt shining brightly in her eyes. “It was all that stuff that Lady Ananzi did to you. I get it.”
“No, Maya, it’s not fine,” Sarah insisted. “I still did it, and you have the right to know why. Now that I’ve had the chance to speak with Skylaar and Josette, I understand what I did, and the motives behind it. It was all part of the plan. I did not do any of it out of maliciousness.”
“Yes, of course,” Maya returned sharply. At last, all of her unresolved anger took over and she rounded on her. “You threw me away, Sarah! You threw me away like I was trash.”
“No, Maya” Sarah replied. “It was the only way that I could keep you safe—even if I didn’t realize that I was doing it. If I hadn’t sent you to the Metros, Angelique would have eventually killed you—or realized how important you were and locked you away.”
“Then why didn’t you just send me off on the JUDI?” Maya demanded. “That would have done it.”
“Because the JUDI wasn’t safe,” Sarah answered patiently. “With the kind of missions that she flies, anything could have happened to you out there, and no one would have been the wiser. But with Signysdaater and the whole Department to keep watch, nothing could have occurred that Skylaar and Josette wouldn’t have known about. It really was the only way. And Angelique had to believe that I had rejected you. She had to be convinced that you were nothing worth noticing.”
“It still hurt,” Maya said with a small, wounded voice.
“I know,” Sarah replied. “For what it is worth, I am deeply sorry for the pain that I caused you. The person that I was treated you terribly. I can only hope that now, with my imprinting suspended, that you will find it in your heart to understand, and forgive me.”
Maya couldn’t reply. She wasn’t sure that she was ready to. One thing that she was certain of however, was that this ‘new’ Sarah was much weirder than the Galaxy Mind or some bodiless Enemy. Those, she could eventually get used to. Adapting to a kinder, gentler Sarah n’Jan, would take a lot more time. So would forgiveness.
Several minutes after this, Jon approached her. She was leaning against the rail of the Pak’un, with her back to him, and seemed to be unaware of his presence. He stopped in mid-stride, and as he struggled with his emotions and tried to formulate what he wanted to say to her, his hand came to rest on the needlegun in his pocket.
He had been given the weapon by Lady Ananzi herself, just before being sent away from Thermadon. To protect himself.
Now, it took on an entirely new and twisted significance. He certainly could use it to protect himself. From the future.
You could do it. You could use this gun and end all this right now, a voice from the darkest corners of his soul suggested. You could save yourself and raise the Church on high.
He even saw himself in his mind’s eye, committing the deed; walking right up to her and shooting her in the back of the head before she even realized that she was in danger. And then the terrible image of her lifeless body, tumbling over the rail to the jungle below, where he knew the predators would consume it, and conceal his crime forever. From everyone, except God, and his own conscience.
She would not be the only one to die, either. The Angel had assured him of that much. Millions of innocents would also perish in the interstellar war that would follow Maya’s death. Even though the deed would serve his Church, the blood would still be on his hands. No surer path to Hell had ever existed for any mortal.
Utterly disgusted with himself, he let go of the weapon. He would not become a murderer just to avoid his fate. One life instead of a multitude, given willingly to God, and free from any taint of sin, was a reasonable price for any true believer to pay. It was the only way. It was his way and it always had been.
With tears welling up in his eyes, he looked up through the jungle canopy to the stars. “Father, I accept the cup,” he whispered, “Forgive me for even trying to refuse it.”
Sighing raggedly, he returned his gaze to Maya. His fate was sealed, but the state of her soul was still sorely in doubt. As his first step on the path that the Lord had chosen for him, he knew that he had to convince her, a non-believer if he had ever met one, to find the true path to salvation, and follow God’s will when the time came for her to stand before the Tree.
Summoning up all of his strength, he addressed her. “Maya, may I speak with you please?”
She turned around. Her expression was hostile. “No,” she said flatly. “I want to be alone.”
“Maya,” he insisted. “We need to talk about this Tree and what you’re going to do with it. Please, it’s important. You have been given a great responsibility.”
“What is this?” she spat, “My fekking life parade? Who’s next? Laara Lampa coming to tell me to be a good little girl? Go away.”
But Jon didn’t leave. “Maya, I wanted to council you. I need you to think about what’s coming and make the righteous choice.”
“Not interested,” she said.
“Maya, you don’t understand—“he began to say.
Abruptly, she rounded on him. “Hey, Neo. Light on the scripture, hold the proverbs! I’ll do what I do, when I do it. Got that? So save the Marionite shess for someone who’s interested. I just want to get this over with.”
“Maya, this is serious. You don’t understand what’s at stake here. Your eternal soul is—“
“Hey!” Maya snapped. “I understand. It’s my problem. Now, git gone. I need some time alone.”
Jon hesitated, but in the end, he simply accepted his defeat, and walked away.
Skylaar watched him go from the shadows, and when she was certain that he wouldn’t return, she holstered her needlegun. Unlike the one that Lady Ananzi had gifted him with, hers actually worked.
Thankfully though, the danger was past. Jon had clearly made his choice, and she could tell from his aura, and the set of his shoulders, that he had resigned himself to the situation. He would no longer be a threat, either to Maya, or their plans.
She was not the only one watching the exchange though. A third party, dressed in a shimmering green robe, and invisible to human eyes, was also present. It was very pleased with how things had turned out. Jon’s Church would have their martyr, and the galaxy would have its peace—for a time at least.
All in all, it had been a very good night, it decided. Especially for those trillions of souls who would never even know that their lives had just been spared.
CHAPTER 14
Concordance Park, Thermadon Val, Thermadon, Myrene System, Thalestris Elant, United Sisterhood of Suns, 1049.03|05|03:43:33
The Port Police cruiser came in high over the Federal Plaza, and when it reached the center, just short of Concordance Hall, and in sight of the Golden Pyramid, it lost altitude until it was only 304 meters from the ground and assumed a hover. Because of its police transponder code, no challenge was issued for being in an otherwise restricted flight-zone.
Inside the vehicle, the two neomen, dressed in their stolen police uniforms looked down at the scene before them, and then they clasped hands.
” Blessed be Jesu and Mari’s Names” the driver said.
His partner smiled at him, and as he repeated these words, the driver hit the special switch that had been added to the dash…
…Deena t’Barbara swore as an aircar below and in front of her, rose and cut her off. She was late for work, and sorely tempted to ascend into the freeflight lanes, but she had received too many traffic citations as it was. The moment that she entered the ‘lanes, she knew that Thermadon’s traffic control system would spot her vehicle’s transponder code, and match it with the Judge’s order to confine herself to the normal flightlanes for the next 90 days.
If that occurred, it would not only mean that she would earn herself another citation, but probably have her license suspended as well. Which was something that she couldn’t afford to have happen. It isn’t fair, she thought, taking another hurried sip of her kaafra.
Here
she was, a successful businesswoman, with places to go and people to see, and despite this, the Judge still held a few minor offenses against her. She accelerated, careful not to exceed the downtown speed limits, and managed to pass the other aircar.
Then she cut her off.
“How do you like that, bitch?” she exulted. Her feeling of triumph was interrupted as her eye caught something going on over the Federal Plaza. It looked like a police cruiser. She had just enough time to gasp in horror at what happened next…
…Teeri n’Tarra was ecstatic. Her Star Scout troop had come from Mars on a field trip to the Capitol. Now here she was, walking up the steps of Concordance Hall itself! She’d heard all about it in school, but being in the presence of the historic building was something else again. It seemed even more imposing to her than any virtual image of it. She now knew what her primary teacher had meant when she had called it ‘living history in marble.’
Smiling at the Marine honor guard standing at attention, she unconsciously neatened her black Scout kerchief. I’m going to be a Marine like them someday, she thought. She might have only been ten, but she knew what she wanted for her future.
Suddenly one, and then the other Marine, looked up at the sky behind her. Teeri turned to see what it was…
…Kaara n’Bella had been a gardener most of her adult life, and she knew when to let the ‘bots be, and when to become directly involved. As well programmed and intelligent as they were, they lacked a creative eye when it came to sculpting the hedges. N’Bella considered herself to be an artist, and the landscape in and around the Golden Pyramid was her canvas.
Bending over to clip a few stray branches from the bush in front of her, she didn’t notice the aircar stop overhead, or notice it dropping. A moment later, the heat on the back of her neck rose, but she tried to ignore it. She’d spent a lifetime in the sun, and wasn’t about to allow a little extra solar radiation distract her from her work. Then the sensation became impossible to ignore…
Sisterhood of Suns: Daughters of Eve Page 63
