HuanJen leaned forward. Jade’s face split in a humorless smile. She looked at her lover, who returned her gaze. An entire conversation went on in a glance.
Tradell smiled. “End the League and it won’t. It is changed, it is fading, but if we did nothing, in a decade, we’d be gone, we’d be nothing. But if we end it, if we do something deliberate, if we shove people’s faces in it - then it won’t end. There will be a backlash, there will be … what happened. We will go on, if only in memory and rebellion against the idea of ending. One day we may come back. Out of rebellion to our ending.”
More silence.
“I didn’t do anything but accelerate the process. No one sabotaged our final performance, we had less people and so much nervousness it’s not surprising more didn’t go wrong, like a major accident or a temporary flux of minor obsidians. All I did was encourage us to end so we could achieve the opposite.”
“I’m impressed.” Jade growled. “Now …”
“You were an unfortunate accident,” Tradell admitted, “I didn’t expect things to get that bad … well, we, but I won’t mention who else in the Court thought this was a good idea. But … we won’t end now.”
“You bastard.” Jape said. “You unspeakable …”
The Mock strode forward, hands clenching. He was wearing some of his usual green, and it seemed to burn brightly.
“I see into you!” Jape pointed. “I am Mock, mind-burrower, soul-skinner, and I see you! I see the arrogance, see it, see …”
Jape was breathing heavy. “I see you were thinking you were right. Burn in it Tradell, burn …”
The Mock sobbed, walking away aimlessly. Jade lay a hand on his shoulder as he passed.
“We will not end,” Tradell stated firmly, “What chaos there is so no one can be sure of an ending. What resentment so we will continue. I can even see in this room some who agree, though they will never admit it. We will not end.”
“No, you’ve merely humiliated us utterly,” Sun said viciously. “All of you, all of us running around, all of us acting like fools …”
Father Sun grabbed the huge Panoramic Mirror and threw it to the floor. Glass shattered and skidded everywhere in a rainbow of sparkling shards. The sound of the destruction seemed to echo forever.
“Moon.” Sun said. “We end it. It ends. No disagreement. No one will oppose us. It ends. It … is already over.”
“I know.” Moon looked down. “I know …”
HuanJen looked over the gathered people. “We shall continue our duties then until all is resolved.”
Many confused eyes looked back at him.
“Doing … what I have always done. Good day.”
January 30, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
The Usual Tuesday gang was gathered at The Nax. They had chosen one of the back rooms.
Richard Nax didn’t ask any questions.
They had requested one with a television. Richard knew what channel it was tuned to. Everyone was talking about it - well, everyone in the Nax. But the Nax was home to the strange ones and the wise ones and the maintainers-of-ways, they always discussed these things.
The Panoramic League had ended officially.
Richard didn’t think much about it. Life went on. He served drinks to the living.
Though, later, he would pour himself one and drink it in memory of something passing. He felt it was only proper.
He wasn’t a native of Xai, but it was part of him. It had accepted him, given him a home. Xai only asked you become part of it in return. And part was ending.
February 1, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar.
Cardinal Byrd found there were some advantages to being a Councilmember in Guild Esoteric. One of the lesser known ones was that you could get into the small weight room at the Guildhall in off hours.
He worked out a lot. If the body was a temple, he wanted his with the extra-realistic statue of Marry and fancy baptismal font.
The Cardinal lay on a workout bench, wearing a his usual workout clothes, which revealed quite a lot. For a man known to be at least fifty, he was in excellent shape, a balance of muscles and grace. Some thought him vain, but he felt it was only fitting to keep in shape for his work, and a tribute to God that he could do so at his age.
He credited clean living and a good set of weights. The first was a given because of his profession, the second a fringe benefit.
There was the sound of the weight room door opening. Byrd set down the small weights he was using and sat up. He knew who the visitor was. He knew people.
“Hello, Mr. Tradell.”
“Just Tradell.”
The Court Master of the defunct Panoramic League walked into the weight room. He wore typical native clothes now - a coat over colorful clothes, a braid of blue beads in his hair. He could have passed for anyone on the street, which Byrd figured was a good idea.
“Well, Tradell,” Byrd grabbed a towel and quickly removed the more offensive layers of sweat, “I’m glad you came.”
“Odd time.”
“Yes, well, you aren’t popular,” Byrd acknowledged, “anyway, to business.”
“I didn’t think we had business,” Tradell remarked.
“We do,” the Cardinal smiled, “we do. I have something for you in my office. I want you to take it.”
“That being?” Tradell crossed his arms.
“Two Traveler’s Guild vouchers. I suggest you may want to be on another Earth for awhile. I understand Sanctum is a nice place for contemplation.”
“I see. Is this … a threat?”
Byrd shook his head. “No, Tradell, it’s advice. I dipped into petty cash for it, so it won’t be traced. You’re not popular among …”
“Some approve of my actions, are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No.” Byrd dropped the towel into his gym bag. “No Tradell, I’m not. Oh, I’d love to see what we could bring you up on, I’m sure between Guild Esoteric and the Gendarmes we could find something, but I don’t work that way. I have an honest streak. Hazard of the job.”
“I see.” Tradell leaned against the weight room door. “Just leave. For my own good?”
“Yes, that is definitely a way to look at it. We’ve had enough people in this city playing mind games the last year. The Historian, the Messengers, everyone. Clever people can be sharp enough to cut themselves.”
“And you don’t like clever people?”
Byrd grinned in a wolf-grimace, “I like wise people. Clever people tend to outsmart themselves on the way to outsmarting others.”
“I see. What a generous offer.” Tradell’s voice, if it had a color, would have been plain gray.
“Thank you,” Byrd acknowledged the non-compliment. “Now, let us go to my office and you can go away.”
“I … by the way?”
“Hmmmm?”
Tradell cocked his head. “What about the time capsule?”
“Oh, we put your little statement back and stuck it in the archives. As I said, Tradell, honesty. Hazard of the job …”
February 2, 2001 AD Xaian Standard Calendar
“Thanks for getting me another place to stay.”
Sister Moon looked around the room. Richly decorated. More than she’d seen, more than she’d been used to. The League lived simply, it was only their culture that was rich - or had been.
“Ah, no problem.” Jade stood behind the once-leader, sitting on a chair of indeterminate age and origin, “Kevin’s not here much with the transition, and Old Man Greens house … always has a lot of space.”
“I see.” Sister Moon looked at the satchel and boxes on the bed. It wasn’t much. “They’ll be here soon.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I pulled the Lakkom away from you. I just wanted … to go. Leave. It was going to be humiliating.”
“Yeah.” Jade wished Moon would look at her. She was still wearing a mask, but now it wasn’t physical.
Moon was a delicate, almost pretty woman with dark
hair and a high forehead. Native stock definitely. She could be anyone …
… Jade found a lot of the League could be anyone. Anyone could be anyone.
“Well, you’re sure?” Jade felt like she had to make conversation.
“Yes. I will follow in my mother’s footsteps. I want to do something … well, being a shamanness means something. That’s what matters. Even if I go to Piscion to do it.”
“Hope you like fish.” Jade smiled. “You know what the food is like there.”
“I think I will get used to it. I’ll admit, there’s nothing like a good Piscion gumbo. I … Jade?”
“Yes.”
“Thank HuanJen for me. He really did his best. I’d just rather not talk to him.”
“Hey, sure.” Jade shrugged. “Sometimes I don’t talk to him. I love the guy though.”
“Oh, and what about … “
“Jape?” Jade asked. “Got that covered …”
Jape was wearing a suit. It was not one he owned - it had been loaned to him by HuanJen who didn’t seem particularly concerned about its future. In fact he seemed to bear it some malice.
He had a job interview. HuanJen told him he practically had the job. In fact, he’d told him about a minute ago - he was sitting next to him in the office foyer.
“I . .. um, never went to anny of the offices of the Communicants.” Jape adjusted his collar. “So, what happened this week?”
“What is going to happen?” HuanJen asked. “Well, Jade filled me in on the rumors, but I’ll see it tonight.”
“Go … go on, I want to show I can do this.”
“Well …” HuanJen seemed tor ead from a mental script. “It seems that the Black Fox’s affair with Summoner Seven was an excuse to drive a wedge between he and Cataclysmia. This allows them to form a new alliance with Goldenray known as the League of Light. I understand the Xaian Wrestling Federation is using it as a metaphor for social integration, plus the repressed romance angle plays well.”
“How do you know this?” Jape gave HuanJen a strange look. He could see into people, but when you looked into HuanJen, you just kept looking. It was disturbing.
“Much of our group took up watching the XWF. It’s quite entertaining, jokes, parodies, metaphors, all mixed in with acrobatic displays. Sound familiar?”
“Somewhat.” Jape’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t sure if he should stick his tongue out or laugh.
“Well, they need a new announcer, and … I thought of you. Someone to get under peoples skin. Make them think. Make it more than merely an acrobatic display.”
Jape nodded. “Thanks, HuanJen.”
“Glad … just glad.” The mystic smiled. “Jade worries about you, I think.”
“Yeah, odd that.” Jape sniffled. “I … you ever notice something weird. Jade. Turn the ‘d’ upside down and it’s Jape. I wear green, she wears green often and is named for her eyes …”
“The universe is a very connected place.”
“I …” Jape’s mouth twitched, “I’m going to stop thinking about things like this for awhile …”
“That … may be wise. Those who live by the sword die by the sword, but if you change one letter, sword becomes ‘words’ …”
February 3, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
The man known as Father Sun sat at a bus-stop, waiting.
He no longer wore his robes or his mask or any of his other trappings. He could have been any citizen of Metris; a slightly pudgy older man with dark hair and a short beard, wearing colorful native robes, carrying a satchel.
Alone.
The man sighed, looking at the sun. It was late. He was on his way home.
Then, he wasn’t alone.
“Hello, Father Sun.”
HuanJen had appeared out of nowhere - which of course was normal for sudden appearances. Appearing out of somewhere really didn’t count as ‘appearing’ - it was really just sort of an emerging.
“Hello. And it’s Pytor. Pytor Gibralt.” the man said to his unexpected companion. He didn’t look at HuanJen.
“Hello Pytor,” HuanJen continued. “I figured I’d see how you were doing.”
“As well as can be expected.” The answer came quickly. “The University job is nice. I get to tell people about what I’ve seen and what we’ve done. I can stand to be a Guest Lecturer for awhile, until … well for awhile.”
“Good.” HuanJen smiled pleasantly, honestly. Pytor didn’t see it. Something in his head really wanted to have HuanJen leave, but that would have been like asking … well it just wasn’t going to happen.
“I am well. We seem well.” The older entertainer continued. “I assume …”
“I am checking up, to be sure. All things done, all in order.”
“Yes, you’re good at that. I’d swear you are the most anal-retentive person I know except … you are not. I’ve never figured that out.”
“It irritates Jade too, sometime, but not as much as it used to.”
Pytor laughed. “I rather imagine it did. She is well?”
“Oh, quite. And no hard feelings, of course. Well, towards anyone not involved.”
“Good.” The once-mystic sighed. “That was terrible. That was embarrassing. I am glad it is over. I think I am glad it is all over, in the end. Do you know … I had an interesting thought.”
“Yes?” HuanJen asked. He sensed speculations and intuitions dancing around the edges of Baysil’s mind.
“They assigned you to us to help. But you … you HuanJen, it seems much of your life involves death. The death of the League. The Historian. An exorcist. And I’m sure you’ve helped bury a number of people. You are an odd man, HuanJen.”
“I am myself.”
” … and I knew you’d say something like that. Do you ever leave the job?”
“That … assumes that my job is something separate from me.”
Pytor shook his head, finally looking at the mystic. “You were the best choice, you refuse to be part of anyone else’s little fantasy.”
“Perhaps I was. I am glad it has gone well and people are happy. I have something for you, by the way.”
Pytor blinked. After all that had gone on, he was almost expecting a gift-wrapped punch in the face. Instead. HuanJen set a small box in his hands.
The retired leader looked at the box, then opened it. Inside was a simple picture frame, containing a piece of mirrored glass.
“From the Council Mirror?” Pytor asked, though he knew the answer.
“Of course. Something … to remember by. To reflect … as it were.”
“That’s either a terrible joke or an attempt to be deep.”
HuanJen shrugged. “It’s both, really. And a souvenir.”
“Thanks. I can’t believe it’s over. But … it was over a long time ago, we just acknowledged it. I am tired. It has been a long day. You?”
“The usual. Though more peaceful than some times in the last few months. I think I shall have some peace now, and I will enjoy it.”
“Good. You … earned it. You and Jade. This can’t have been easy.”
“We made it. She understands. And we have friends. They were very supportive.”
“I wonder if I had any friends in the League.” Pytor checked his watch. “I mean, what were we doing in the end? What were we? I … I suppose once you ask those questions, its a sign things are over.”
The Taoist mystic almost spoke. Then merely nodded.
A trolley pulled up in front of the stop, and Pytor stood, closing the box. “My ride. Good day, HuanJen.”
“Good day, Pytor.”
Baysil paused as he got on the Trolley, then stepped aboard after a few others disembarked. HuanJen watched the Trolley leave, then stood.
“He seems OK.”
Jade walked up to her lover quietly. She seemed thoughtful.
“He is. He is.” HuanJen smiled, and put an arm around the Vulpine’s slender waist. “It is done.”
“It is done. And so it ends,” Jade s
aid simply.
“Yes.” HuanJen nodded. “As is said, not so much with a bang, but a whimper.”
“Or in this case, a terribly lame joke.”
“Yes. I didn’t find it particularly unfunny.”
Jade shrugged. “Well whenever Justin tried to be funny, I got the urge to strangle him.”
“I … Justin?” HuanJen asked.
“Jape. His real name,” the Vulpine answered primly.
“I see.” HuanJen disposed of a few potential questions in his mind. “Well, our work is done, at least as much as can be. Dinner?”
“Where?”
“I was thinking perhaps something Nexial-Indian. It is good food and I do not feel like cooking. We’d have to go shopping first, we’re completely unstocked.”
“We’ll I don’t feel like shopping, so you have a deal.” Jade took her partner’s arm.
They walked down Temple street as the sun began to set.
MEETING: GUILD ESOTERIC
February 4, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
It had been raining in Metris.
This was a great comfort to the people of the city as they’d been having to cope with unexpected snow and cold that winter. A good rain, even a chilly one, was a reminder that winter was ending, and that hopefully next years winter would be a bit more of a conformist. Xaians liked their stability, because at the crossroads of alternate Earths, it was often a limited resource.
There was still a cold edge in the air, but it no longer held the aggressive cut of the winter. People were out in the streets of the city, perhaps still bundled against the cold, but obviously enjoying the fact that precipitation no longer arrived as white powder.
There were people on the sidewalks, people going shopping, people everywhere …
… even atop the Guildhall of Guild Esoteric.
Despite what some would speculate, the roof of the building that housed the clerical and mystical guild of Xai was not a place of occult rituals or strange occurrences. It was hard to get up a good ritual when there were birds thinking you were imitating a statue, and strange occurrences were pretty much part and parcel of the Guild lifestyle as it was.
There were no pentagrams, ritual circles, or cabailistic markings. There were some nicely high overlooks so people could look out onto the city without fear, and the usual collection of airshafts and maintenance doors any large building would have. Only a weather unit belonging to the University really stood out.
Crossworld of Xai Page 95
