Council of Peacocks

by M Joseph Murphy

  “What’s wrong with this?” David wore a clean pair of blue jeans and a bright orange Roots shirt. The shirt hung loosely over his trim body and made his shoulders look bigger than they truly were.

  “Nothing. If you were going to bingo. People around here usually dress for class. There are suits in there. Expensive ones.”

  “I’m not here for my fashion sense. And speaking of fashion, isn’t that jacket a bit tight?”

  “No, it is exactly tight enough.” David followed her out into the hallway. “Here, take this.” She passed him a CIBC bank card and, after David locked his room, she walked down the hallway toward a set of elevators.

  “You’re not paid like most jobs on a weekly basis. In addition to your hiring bonus, Wisdom put $10,000 into this account. The PIN number is 1993, the year you were born, right? You won’t have many expenses. You pay no rent and food is included, of course. I’m sure one of the others already told you we don’t encourage you to go off on your own. There are scheduled outings, though. Spend away on those. Some of the employees send money home to their families.”

  “I won’t be doing that.” They stopped at the elevators and he felt her eyes on him. “So when do I find out what I do?”

  “Do?”

  “Yes, do. As a job?” The elevator doors opened and Garnet stepped inside.

  Garnet looked at him sideways and frowned. “Wisdom will go into that later. For now, just go to class. They’ll show you all sorts of fun things. Get you ready for your… job. Don’t worry. As the letter said, Wisdom has a very specific need for people with your talents. He is willing to pay extremely well for your services.”

  “It doesn’t involve killing people, does it?”

  “Focus on your classes, Mr. Ross.” She turned fully toward him, looked at him from crotch to face. No matter how cute you are with those bright green eyes and full lips, you’re still a boy to me. A little boy with a head full of big ideas.”

  “You think I’m cute?”

  Garnet pressed her lips together but said nothing.

  The elevator doors opened. Once again, David saw a reception area filled with dozens of people. Wisdom stood there in a three-button suit. Like yesterday, it was blood red, however, the cut was completely different. Wisdom shook his head and looked at the ground.

  “Leave the boy alone, Garnet.” Wisdom handed a file folder to a woman behind the reception desk and signed several forms another man placed in front of him. “I need you in the Communication’s room. Elaine has something for you. Come, David. I’ll show you around and make some introductions.”

  “Do you own this building?” David walked side-by-side with Wisdom. “The whole building?”

  Wisdom nodded and laughed. “Kind of hard to have a few secret floors in a building you don’t own, Mr. Ross. Yes, I own the building and a few others in this city, as a matter of fact. I also have several more around the world. It helps to diversify a little in my line of work. But we’ll get to that later. I’ve rented out the rest of the building: a few of the smaller banks, some lawyers and accountants, things of that nature. Helps fund certain projects and investments.”

  “What kind of projects?”

  Wisdom looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

  “What? You mean like me? What am I, a project or an investment?”

  “Definitely an investment. One I hope will pay off well in the end. I see you decided to wear your own clothes. Interesting. You were given several thousand dollars' worth of outfits, yet still you wear that. Why?”

  “Is this a test?” Instinctively, David covered his chest.

  “Test, test, test. Everything in this life is a test, my young Padawan. Do you like Star Wars? Of course you do. Everyone likes Star Wars. I’m not trying to lead you to the Dark Side, David, and I’m nearly positive I’m not your father. I’m just curious about your motives. Help me understand you. Why did you choose your own clothes over the ones you’d been given?”

  David moved out of the way of two Chinese men in nearly identical suits. They were deeply involved in some conversation about an offshore project. They barely took the time to nod a hello to Wisdom.

  “It wasn’t a big conscious decision, you know. Not like I’m trying to rebel or something. I just know these clothes. Not that I’m not grateful and all, it’s just….”

  “Ah. You’re wondering what the catch is. Smart boy. Always be careful of the catch. Luckily, in your case, I’m not going to try to pervert you or turn you into something that you’re not.”

  David bit the inside of his lip. “With all due respect, sir, what am I doing here?”

  “The answer is complicated. I could tell you that you’ll be taking part in an epic battle that I’ve personally fought for the last sixty years. And while that’s true, it really doesn’t answer your question. There are bad men out there, Mr. Ross, very bad men doing very bad things. No one is standing up to stop them. Most people, the law of the world, wouldn’t be able to stop them. I can.”

  “With my help?”

  Wisdom nodded. “You and a few others. You’ve already met three of them. I found Jessica in California, Amy in Australia and Garnet in Vancouver.”

  “There are six in your class. You’ll meet them in a few moments. You come from all over the world with seemingly nothing to tie you together. But your talents bind you in a very real and incomparable way. Unlike you, David, I know the hows and whys of who and what you are. When you’re ready, I’ll tell you.”

  “What if I said I was ready now?”

  “Then you would be wrong. That knowledge will come when you’re ready to accept what I have to tell you. There is nothing more dangerous than too much knowledge in untrained minds. You’re not ready yet and telling you could make my investment in you completely useless.”

  David decided he did not like being referred to as an investment. It made him feel less than human. Still, he didn’t have much choice. Wisdom was hiding him from the police. If he left, eventually they’d catch up with him. This was also his best chance to discover why he could do the things he could.

  “You said you’d found 48 of us. Does that include Madeline?”

  Wisdom jerked his head back. The lights flickered and dimmed. “Something new,” he said. “No. It does not include her. It would be best if you don’t speak about Madeline. It will upset the others. When you’re ready – and I will tell you when you are ready – I’ll let you know all about where you come from. If you wish, I’ll even tell you about Madeline. But for now, you’re late for class.”

  Wisdom walked toward a set of glass doors that opened as he got close to them. There were only a few people on this side of the doors. The first, a boy with light brown hair, sat on his feet. He looked to be about fourteen years old wearing a navy blue suit with a red tie and running shoes. He hit his head into the wall behind him repeatedly, not with a lot of strength but enough to make it look painful.

  Wisdom leaned toward David and lowered his voice slightly. “That’s Jared, one of your classmates. Since he’s so busy, I think we’ll leave the introductions for later. Don’t worry, he’s not troubled. A bit of a drama queen poseur if you ask me.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  Jared stopped banging his head against the wall and looked up at them as they walked by. He stuck his tongue out at David, an act that made him look younger than he really was. After they passed him, Wisdom said: “I believe he’s upset with the mark he was given on his last assignment. I see from the look on your face that it shocks you. What shocks you more, that we have tests or that he acts like a normal kid?”

  David looked back over his shoulder.

  Jared was still sticking his tongue out at him.

  “I hate tests. What happens if we fail?”

  Wisdom put a hand on David’s shoulder, his touch surprisingly warm. “No one fails these classes. If you don’t perform as well as your instructors expect, you simply keep doing the assignment over and over until you’ve mas
tered it. It’s more like karate class. There are levels. Jared is currently stuck at Level Three. He’s been there for several months now, and I think it’s bruising his pride. He came to us at the same time as Amy but she has progressed to Level Six. You, of course, will start at the bottom. Level One. From what I know of your experiences in Nova Scotia – and don’t ask me how I know – you should progress to Level Two by month’s end. Ah, and here are the last two members of your class. David, I would like you to meet Bethany and Todd.

  The woman, Bethany, nodded and gave a little wave. From the wrinkles and weight on her face, David guessed she was in her early 50’s. She had short, graying hair cut just above her ears, and calm brown eyes. She was actually knitting – like some sort of stereotypical grandmother figure. The younger man, Todd, read from a stack of papers gathered in a manila folder. He was a slightly overweight man not much older than David. He had short brown hair, smooth skin and a bright smile peeking out from his dark brown goatee.

  “Hey, David.” Todd closed the file and stuck out a hand to shake. David shook the offered hand and smiled back. There was something honest in Todd’s eyes, like the comfort of a pastor or a young doctor. “I was just reading some of my dreams to Bethany. That’s one of the first things they’ll have you do in Level One, keep a dream journal. As much as I love the kids, it’s nice to have another adult here.”

  “Don’t lie.” Bethany barely looked up from her knitting. “You don’t love the kids and neither do I. Damn little demons, if you ask me. Oh, don’t give me that look. You’ve had the same thoughts yourself and you know it. All that power and no emotion. I tell you, they’re not quite human.”

  “Who amongst us is?” Wisdom smiled as he said this. “I’ll leave David with you, Bethany. Do try and be nice.”

  David watched as Wisdom marched away. Before he left, Wisdom looked at his watch and mouthed something. David wasn’t certain, but he could have sworn Wisdom said, “Almost time.”

  ‘Almost time for what?’ he wondered.

  Chapter Nine

  Propates sat in his office holding an old photograph in his right hand. It was faded and yellowed with age, the edges worn from years of handling. It was Echo sitting on a beach in Thailand. She wore a one-piece bathing suit – blue with white polka dots – and an oversized, flopping sun hat. She was smiling at the photographer – himself – while children played in the waves behind her.

  “Why did you go back to him?” He traced his finger down Echo’s neck. “Things could have been so different.”

  He looked at the image emblazoned on the wall before him. It was a representation of Melek Taus: a large black peacock in a circle of gold. Christians and Jews regarded Melek Taus as Satan. The peacock represented pride, something the monotheists saw as an opening to all sin. Propates, however, knew it was simply a new version of an old power: Argus, a hundred-eyed, all-seeing god who never slept. By learning the lessons of the peacock, one could transcend humanity and become a God.

  The phone rang.

  “I’m busy,” he said. “Be quick.”

  “Whatever you’re doing will wait.” The voice on the phone was familiar but not instantly recognizable. “We have an issue with the agent from away. Lucius and the others are meeting in the Vulture Antechamber.”

  “I’m heading there in a few minutes, anyway.” Propates answered. “The shadows are not sitting well. The Orpheans are about to make an appearance. Is this Otto?”

  “Tsk. No. I’ll see you in a few, Propates.”

  The crass denial confirmed who the voice belonged to, but the caller hung up before Propates could name him. He pushed the button to open the elevator. The carriage was empty, for which he was extremely thankful. The Council of Peacocks was growing. Its membership was well into the tens of thousands now. Members of the upper echelon had taken up residence here in Thessaloniki; there were smaller outposts around the world. With growth, however, came an abundance of administrative duties: papers to sign, rewards and punishments to be meted out, initiations to oversee. The business of trying to save the world from itself was quickly becoming a real business.

  “If I knew it was going to end up like this,” he whispered to himself, “I wonder if I would have answered Wisdom’s question differently.”

  He closed his eyes and thought back to the first time he'd met Echo and Wisdom.

  ***

  In 51 AD, Propates was a sixteen-year-old man living on a farm in the countryside not far from Rome. He’d never been to the city, but he knew about it. Tax collectors and bloodthirsty soldiers came from the city. What more did he need to know? When he married his young wife, a fourteen-year-old beauty named Olivia, his family built an addition onto the main house. Olivia was pregnant with their first child. The oracle who lived nearby said the child would be a boy. In retrospect, Propates remembered the haunted expression on the oracle’s face as she told their fortunes. She must have seen what was coming.

  Early one summer evening, a nobleman and his entourage passed by the farm. Like most nobles, they treated the uneducated peasants as little more than worms. With the weight of muscle and steel behind it, they had the right to take whatever they wanted. In their philosophy, if you could not stop someone from taking your possessions, you did not deserve to keep them. The commander of the nobleman’s soldiers wanted Olivia. Propates stood between his wife and the soldiers. He was beaten for his insolence. While the commander raped his wife, Propates, bloodied and sore, fed and watered the man’s horses.

  After fifteen minutes, the commander returned and forced Propates to smell his Roman fingers. Propates cringed at the smell of his wife on the brute’s body. But he said nothing. He did nothing. The commander laughed and offered Olivia up to the rest of his men. Propates remembered the look on his father’s face. ‘Get used to it.’

  Later, after helping Olivia wash the blood from her body, Propates snuck out of the house and into the darkness of the fields. The open air was the only place large enough for his fury. He knelt and pounded his fists into the damp earth. His eyes burned with tears but he dared not scream. On the way back to the house, he saw a woman. Her hair was long and tightly curled, done up in the style fashionable amongst Roman ladies of the time. In the moonlight the bared flesh of her arms and neck appeared as cold and pale as bone. When he realized he was staring at her, he forced his head down. If the lady complained to the soldiers, if she told them he dared look upon her, they could kill him. And then where would Olivia be?

  “Come here, boy.” The lady spoke, her voice soft like the wind through the grass.

  Fear froze him in place.

  “Don’t make me repeat myself,” she said. Now there was definite laughter in the voice. Propates felt the fury flush through his face. Who was she to call him boy? Even though she looked like royalty, her soft, wrinkleless face marked her as barely older than him.

  “Yes, mistress.” As Propates spoke, it felt like he had pebbles in his throat. Each word was painful. He walked closer to her, keeping his eyes to the ground.

  “This anger you’re feeling, boy, the rage that’s welling up inside you…I’ve felt it. Oh, you can take that sneer off your face. Believe me or don’t. Why should I care? I am not really sure why I’m bothering with you at all. I just…I guess I just had to talk to someone human, someone who still knows what it’s like to feel pain, to watch everything you hold dear get demolished in front of you at the whim of some monster.”

  Propates looked up. His lips trembled. “You’re rich and powerful,” he said. “A lady. You know nothing about being poor and powerless.”

  The woman stared over at him. For the first time, their eyes connected. There was just as much venom in her eyes as Propates felt inside himself. “I know more than you can possibly imagine about being powerless. Your woman was raped. So what? At least it wasn’t your mother. Or your father. At least you didn’t have to watch it being done to them. Imagine that captain forcing you to slit your brother’s throat then stand still a
s he killed the rest of your family. Imagine…” Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “Oh, why bother? Right now you feel like the biggest victim in all of history. There, too, I’ve been. But you’re not, boy. You’re not the biggest anything. You will rage, you will die, and history will forget you.” Then she looked up to the sky, a small smile on her lips. “But it won’t forget me.”

  From behind Propates, a voice called out of the dark. It boomed like thunder in the distance.

  “Andromeda? Where are you?”

  The lady wiped under her eyes with her fingertips and was silent for a moment. “I’m over here, Wisdom.” When she spoke, all the venom was gone, replaced by a mix of emotions Propates could not identify.

  Behind him, Propates heard the jingle of moving armor and the plodding of heavy footsteps. The sounds moved toward him, but Propates did not turn around. He did not look up. He held his breath and waited for the sword stroke. Then the steps stopped. A firm, warm hand gripped his right shoulder, but he could not see the man who touched him. A mix of sweat and sulfur filled the air. Propates felt uncomfortably warm. The man behind him radiated heat like a living fire.

  “What are you doing with the boy, Andromeda?” The man’s voice no longer boomed like distant thunder. It crackled like lightning.

  “Comforting him.”

  Wisdom laughed. “Comforting? Seducing is more likely. If you want him, take him. There’s no need to toy with…”

  “Everything is a game to you, isn’t it?” The venom was back in her voice.

  “Andromeda, everything is a game. And not just for me. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you’ll realize that. Nothing we do today affects the greater ripples of time. These people fade and die so quickly. Why be concerned with them at all? You have not been one of them for hundreds of…”

  “Hush, Wisdom.” She stepped away from the tree and approached Wisdom. Propates stood between them, wishing he could fade into the shadows. The tension between them stung like embers. “Never reveal a lady’s age. You should know better.”