“Two nights later, we found ourselves burning the bodies of our first two fevered cows. Weeks later, after the vets and townspeople had given our farm up as a lost cause, my brother came to us and said he had found the solution. He called father and I out to the quarantine stables, where we were keeping the few remaining animals. We followed him into the first stall. He knelt in front of one cow called Genteel. She was bloated, cooking inside, and stank badly. The whole lot of them did. Aesculapus produced a scrap of cloth from a pouch he had cinched around his waist. I could see, as he unfolded it, it contained the heel of a loaf of bread. ‘What are you going to do, feed her some magic bread and she’ll be all better,’ Dad asked. By now his patience were at an end, and he was tired.
“Aesculapus explained, ‘This is not for Genteel to eat.’ Saying thus, he turned and began to crumble the bread along the poor beast’s back, neck, and forehead. Dad and I watched in revulsion as he began to meticulously lick the crumbs from her back. When he had finally completed the slow process, we took a cautious step toward him. Heat radiated from him, and his eyes were glazed. It was as if my brother was the sick animal to be put down.
“Aesculapus turned to face us, opened his mouth as if to speak, and promptly began vomiting instead. I moved back just in time. The bile that spewed forth from him was black as evil. Being careful not to step in any, we rushed to his side. He fell over weakly. Despite his frailty, he was smiling grandly. ‘What, what are you smiling at, you big lummox,’ I asked him. He reached up, grabbing us by the forearms. “Genteel,” he said, an audible click in his throat. We pivoted so we were facing her. She was noticeably thinner, and no longer glassy-eyed. Genteel was even cool to the touch. He had done it. He had completely healed her of the fever. I looked back at the huge smile he wore, but all I could think of was how he had pounded away at me just days before. I was sickened.
“Dad reluctantly agreed to allow my brother to continue … eating the sicknesses. Each time he would spew out the black slime byproduct, rest, drink some water, and move on to the next animal. When he had finished, he had, miraculously, cured the remaining twenty-two cattle on our farm. By the time that long night was through, I had, grudgingly, decided any harm he had visited upon me was well worth it, if this was the end result. Most days when I think about that time, I still feel that way, too. Thanks to Aesculapus’ efforts, Dad did not have to lose the farm.”
When he finished, I didn’t know what to say. “Oh, man. Caduceus. All that power to heal. Tell me he did something with it.”
“Aye, we both did. The next day, we went walking through the woods until we came to a spot deeper than we had ever been. There was one of the tallest trees I’d ever seen. Its branches were so evenly spaced. It demanded to be climbed. ‘I’ll race ya,’ I said to my brother. The two of us flew up the tree. Well, not literally, mind you. We quickly climbed the tree all the way to the top. We found purchase on the top limbs and surveyed the sprawling terrain. We were at least a normal tree’s height above the rest.
“‘This is how the people on the Tower of Babel must have felt right before God laid it asunder,’ He said.
“After a while, I informed him I wanted him to begin teaching me the means to pull off such grand healing. ‘You already have the means inside you, brother,’ he answered. ‘You and I are special. You have already begun healing minor scrapes and cuts. You need to practice, practice, practice. What I did to you was wrong, but necessary. The wrong came from surprising you with it. Hmm, do this: attack me and then, heal me. Repay me and learn something at the same time.’
“I shook my head. There had to be another way. ‘I won’t do that. I will not bring harm to you. I would rather die myself than bring pain to you. I thought you understood that and felt the same way, up until the other day.’
“‘Oh come on, Caduceus, how long must I continue to apologize? You saw the fruits of that little exercise. Would you be so stupidly stubborn?’ He stood, balancing on the branch, pointing his finger at me, as he continued. ‘How do you expect to grow, if you won’t take risks? I know you have it in you. You know it, too. You just need a catalyst. You need something you care about to bring the power to the fore. Something … something …’ He trailed off, looking out over his shoulder. ‘I love you, my dear stubborn brother,’ he said, still looking so.
“‘And I love you. You know it. I just cannot bring myself to …’
“He cut me off mid-sentence, laughing. ‘Come quickly. This is going to hurt badly, I think.’ Saying thus, he pulled his arms up to shield his face and lunged blindly forward.
“‘No!’ I yelled already on the move. I realized what he had planned a moment too late. I gazed down on his still form. His limbs and neck were twisted at irregular angles. I zoomed down the remainder of the tree, the bark taking the flesh from my arms as I went.
“The sight, when I reached him, was a grisly one. He had, obviously, hit every limb on the way. He was broken and battered from head to foot. Blood flowed everywhere. Bones protruded at his leg and shoulder. What had he done?
“‘Set the bone. Then. Hands on me. Concentrate. Heal me. You’ve done. Before.”
“What? I can’t do this! I’m not like you, brother, and this isn’t some fevered cow. It’s much, much more.’ His eyes pleaded for me to just do it. So, I did. I did it exactly as he had instructed, setting the bones in his leg and shoulder. I tore his clothes, stripping him almost completely. My hands began to levitate over him, reminiscent of a scrying board and plainchant. I was uncertain whether to straighten him. He was still human, after all, and the pain from moving him could prove too much. Eventually, I had no other choice but to roll him over, bend his limbs, and turn his neck. I was terrified. If not for the urgency, I’m not sure I would have been able to concentrate at all.
“First, I envisioned his plum-colored aura, forming to him like a second skin. I focused it into view, and studied it intensely. This was old hat by now. The “aura vision” was one of our first trials. I systematically worked my hand over the darkest blotches and those most enflamed until only one remained. It was right over his left lung, in the back. I didn’t need to see the auras to see the bit of tree sticking out of his back, however. I now knew why his breathing and speech were so labored. Why he hadn’t mentioned it first off is beyond me. Probably still trying to teach me to use our gifts.
“The limb protruded from his back an inch or so; it was twice that in diameter. I wasn’t sure what to do. Anyone knows if you remove an object impaling someone, you run the risk of doing more damage than good. It couldn’t be left, though. I had an idea, and I acted on it. I was hopeful it was the right move, though nothing was certain. I was still very much a novice, at the time – in ways I still am, really. So, I wrapped one hand around the shard of limb and I brought the other up close, forming a scoop with it. I could see my aura, too; it had a bluish hue, as normal. Sparkles of red represented my adrenaline and anger at my brother. I overlapped my hand’s aura with the area around his damaged lung. Then, I pulled on the wood, using the scoop-shaped energies of my other hand to burrow into his body and cauterize the wound as the blockage dislodged.
“Within seconds, Aesculapus had crawled and climbed his way to a standing position. He was very shaky and his body was badly bruised. When he spoke, his voice was husky, but easily understandable. ‘You have done well. Without my pushing, you never would have realized your potential, brother.’ I reached for him planning to embrace and scold him simultaneously. He motioned for me to stop. Then, he bent, gritted his teeth, and with practiced movement, flung his arms wide in a ta-da motion. A burst of sizzling light leapt about him. A moment later, he was a new man, without so much as a single bruise or blemish. He had finished what I had begun. ‘See, I always had you covered.’
“Suddenly, Aesculapus rushed forward, gripping my arm. He made a wide arching gesture overhead with his arm, taking in the horizon. ‘Think of all we could do, brother. You and I, healing the sick, curing the incurable, e
ven … even raising the dead. Can you imagine!’
“‘We’re not gods, Aesc,’ I cautioned him.
“‘Not gods, Caduceus, but Gods. Nothing can stand in our way. Picture the good we could accomplish, throughout the world.’
“‘You are losing it, brother. These skills are trickery, kiddy conjurings. We are playing around, killing time. Nothing more. Don’t delude yourself. As for raising the dead? You couldn’t even begin to consider all the consequences that could bring. Don’t you think the dead are dead for a reason? Don’t you believe God has His reasons for ending their lives?’
“‘You want to talk to me about God? You think he has His reasons? What the hell reasons did He have for taking my brother from me? From ME!’ He took a second before continuing calmer, ‘Why stop at healing, Caduceus? I will find a way. With or without you at my side.’”
7
Caduceus stopped his tale once more, searching our surroundings. He nodded and brought a bottle of water to his lips. He drank deeply of it, capped it, and returned it to his bag.
“Still think we’re being followed,” I prodding him.
“The question is no longer if we are being followed, the question is this: when will she show herself?”
8
“Aesculapus tried and failed many times, over the years, to raise the dead. It was frustrating to him. He tried every way he could conceive, exhuming ancient graves, sneaking in to mortuaries at night, while their caretakers slept. Nothing. His ability to heal had grown sevenfold. He still wanted to help the world, so he became a nurse. Soon, he grew tired of being held back, due to his perceived inexperience. He was reluctant to come right out and show his abilities, so it was hard to argue with his superiors when they told him his only chance for something more was to move off and get some formal schooling.
“‘It might do you some good to get away from the farm. It’s not for you, anyway, Aesculapus. You should go and learn and get your degree. Who knows, maybe you’ll finally find your way to break the life/death threshold you’re so obsessed with.’
“He agreed and it wasn’t long before he was telling us all goodbye, heading off into the world to become a doctor. Neither of us heard from him for years. Then, out of the blue, mom got a postcard that said he had dropped out of school and would be home for a visit the following week to tell us all about it. We were all a little disappointed and worried to hear he had dropped out. I agreed to be there when he returned.
“The next Monday, my brother arrived in our doorway wearing a white hooded robe with a scarlet rope cinching the waist. His hair had all been shaved off, and the most beatific smile adorned his face. ‘Mother, Father. It is truly a blessing to see you again. I know you have lots of questions. I had them, too, not long ago. May I come in,’ he asked, serenely. Father said Aesculapus was always welcome there; it was his house, too.
“Over breakfast, he told us how he had discovered a higher purpose in life than just medicine. ‘Your books and hardworking nature, father, your love, mother, your friendship, brother, have worked on me these past years. I came to realize I could make a difference without having to endure the pompous attitudes of those doctors and nurses. I have started an unofficial, unsanctioned, clinical monastery of my own, teaching peace and well being, through personal power or powers, depending on the individual. Tell me you understand.’
“‘Understand? I understand your father never should have given you those books.’ Mother couldn’t hide the pain and betrayal she felt. ‘Why couldn’t you be like your brother Caduceus? At least he has his head screwed on straight. He went through the same faze you did, and passed through it, without all of these delusions of grandeur.’
“‘I see. Is that how you feel, too, father,” he asked in that same calm voice.
“‘Son, I love you very much. I’m happy you found your calling, but I …” He couldn’t find the words to continue; neither could he continue meeting his son’s eyes.
“‘I see,” he repeated. ‘Well, I must be going. I love you, all, and wish you well.’ He scooted back from the table and turned to me, saying, ‘Brother, would you kindly walk me out.’
“I walked with him to the path outside our cottage. I didn’t know what to say, after mother comparing the two of us. I felt awkward, but I had missed him so. Finally, I broke the silence by asking, ‘Where will you go? Back to your ministry?’
“He shook his head. ‘No, we have dismissed for a couple weeks. I instructed them to meditate on their own until I returned. They do not need me to find the peace within themselves. I do not know where I will go. Perhaps I will travel these old stomping grounds of ours and see what mischief I can still find.’ He laughed for the first time since his homecoming.
“An idea occurred to me, and before I had time to analyze it, I offered, ‘You can stay with me till you go back, if you want. I have found something … amazing. I have built a house in the most amazing of spots that you will not believe. I have wanted to take you there ever since I first discovered it.’
“He looked amused. ‘You built a house, Caduceus? Yes, yes. I will come see this house of yours with my own eyes. And you say it’s an amazing discovery you have on your hands? Curiouser and curiouser. Say your farewells and lead the way, dear brother.’”
9
“‘Seriously, brother, what are we doing out at our old barn? Is this your wondrous home, then? I had forgotten how lousy your sense of humor was.’
“‘Patience, Aesc. This is one of the more ‘wondrous’ parts.’ He shook his head, humoring me. I concentrated, holding my palm to the door. The whole barn began to glow and shudder. The door flew open, banging hard against the side and splintering down the middle. I added a little ‘oomph and pizzazz,’ for my guest. The barn settled back but with two small exceptions: the ruined door, and the view beyond. Instead of an aisle of stalls and a milking floor, the barn door opened onto my living room. It was a little out of focus, due to the size differential between doorways. “Oh, the cattle won’t give milk for a week after this,” I spat.
“‘Dad is going to absolutely beat you.’ Taking the initiative, he disappeared through the open door. A moment later, he stuck his head out and said, ‘Well, aren’t you coming? It is your house, after all.’
10
“I gave my brother the nickel tour. This was prior to my adding the library and the wraparound porch. He loved it, but true to form, he refused to come right out and say so. ‘Quaint,’ he said, downplaying his excitement at sidestepping to another where.
“‘Quaint? Why don’t you cut the bull and come right out and say what I can read so clearly in your eyes. You love it.’
“He broke into a wide grin. ‘I truly do. I am a bit jealous. I mean it. We both read about these places, many times over. And, now, you’ve built a house in another realm?’
“‘How long can you stay? I’ve a lot I want to show you, brother.”
“‘I can stay as long as you’ll have me. I might never leave, if this place shows the potential we were lead to believe by da’s texts.’
“‘All that and more. Put your things in my room; you’ll take the bed while you’re here. Come back when you’re finished and tell me what’s been going on with school and this cult of yours.’
“He glared at me, ‘Monastery, brother. Commune, if you prefer. Not a cult; never a cult. I will not tolerate such talk, especially from you.’
“I shook it off. ‘Relax, dear brother, it was merely a slip o’ the tongue. I assure you I didn’t mean for it to seem like I was passing judgment. Look, I just want to hear what you’ve been up to. About your travels and adventures.’
“Aesculapus gave me a knowing smile and handed my words back to me: ‘Why don’t you cut the bull, Caduceus, and come right out and say what I can read so clearly in your eyes. You want to know just what the hell happened that would make me change course so drastically.’
“I shrugged and pushed him out of the room. ‘I’ll go make us some tea.’
/> “‘Tea? When did you turn into mum? If I wanted tea, I wouldn’t have left the Brotherhood. Barkeep, bring me your finest ale!’ I joined him in a laugh and was grateful when it came so easily after all that time apart.
“When he returned, I had drawn a couple mugs of homebrew I had been aging. It was horrible, and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. He joined me at the nook and the two of us talked into the late, late hours of the night. Time passed in a relatively normal manner. As I said, this was in the time before I added the porch. We were inside where time is still slow, yet not so you would notice.
“I told him how I had first found the place: I had been ambling around the woods, where he and I had played, when I had suddenly stumbled, almost literally, into this sort of tear in space-time. I was still in the forest, but it was somehow different. The trees were ancient and easily the largest oaks and pines I’d ever seen. Each was twice as tall, and easily that in diameter, of any surrounding our cottage. The air wasn’t filled with smog and such, as it is today, but you’ve probably noticed there is a – how should I put this – lack of staleness here. It was Mother Nature on her best day. Then, I heard it: the stream, singing to me, telling me I must make my den on that very spot. I explained to him how I had worked and worked to build my house, knowing our parents would surely be missing me by now, yet I was unable to stop building, building, building. My worries had been for naught, for as I mentioned, almost no time had elapsed while completing my new home.
Forging Truth (The Truth Saga) Page 11
