Forging Truth (The Truth Saga)

by Raymond Masters

  I sat the bag down on the porch, as Stephen reached out with his arms spread wide to embrace me, his long lost buddy. Unfortunately for him, that left his face very, very vulnerable to the arching punch I sent him in return. “That’s for offering me the job that got me killed!” Overdue reunion or not, it was on from there.

  Our wrestling had quickly taken us from the porch to the yard. I was thankful Jess had gotten out of the way. In a very Deja Vu moment, I found myself on my back, looking up from my mom’s front lawn at someone else who had speared me off my feet.

  Brawling the way we were, both jockeying for the lead, neither of us noticed the second vehicle pull up. Nor did we notice when its occupant casually strolled our way, only to stop a couple feet back to enjoy the show. What finally got our attention was the whooping and applause that greeted the roundhouse, which missed my shoulder by inches. “Oh, man, that was BEA-UTIFUL,” the newcomer exclaimed. I froze in the middle of a retaliatory punch. Stephen had halted his assault, too. “Hey, guys. Don’t stop on my account. I’ll just have Jess pop us up some corn and we’ll watch you beat the living snot out of each other.”

  “Mason,” I exclaimed.

  “All right, smart guy, we’ve got plenty left for you,” Marks panted.

  “Nah, I’m good, thanks. Now, get your out-of-shape butts into that house and let’s hear what’s been up.”

  From the doorway, Mom and Jessie cried, “Mason!” Both were excited to see him. Neither gave the two erstwhile brawlers any notice at all. Well, serves us right, I reckon. The last of my thought sent my mind wondering about Caduceus once more. I wondered how he was faring on his quest to help Mao F’Yang avenge her father. Then, I was thinking about Mao.

  Suddenly Jess was at my side, looking at me cautiously. “Baby, you okay?”

  “Yeah, I was just thinking how glad I was to have the gang back together.”

  “Just thinking how lucky you were to have dodged that kick’s more like it,” Marks said, taking me in a headlock, playfully this time.

  With me vulnerable and caught prone, Mason ran up and gave me my first noogie since I couldn’t remember when. The horseplay and camaraderie, temporarily, drove any thoughts of Mao and Ducie into the recesses of my mind.

  3

  When we were cleaned up and back inside, Mason asked, “So, what exactly were you guys doing out there, anyway?”

  We were gathered around the kitchen table, the men seated, the women busying themselves with snacks. Jessie had poured each of us some milk, and mom had pulled a couple of sheets of chocolate chip from the oven to add to the effect. This is what it would’ve been like, had I not gone to The Sisters. I took a bite of gooey cookie and smiled.

  “Well, our buddy over there was just saying how grateful he was I had got him a very well paying job,” Stephen said.

  “Yeah, that worked out well for me and the Statue of Liberty,” I retorted.

  “You know, you were supposed to be security that night, right? As in protection.”

  “Gee thanks, guy. You think I actually hadn’t thought of that? Think maybe I didn’t feel like a mound of dog droppings because I freakin’ died, probably standing in front of the vending machine, trying to make up my mind, rather than defending my post? Think that feels good?” I was really starting to get hot, again. Ready for round two.

  That’s when Marks raised his hands in surrender. “Easy, champ. I was just pushing your buttons. I’m trying to pretend like these are the old days, but they’re not. It’s been a while since we were all together, and I guess we must’ve grown up somewhere along the way. The attack, the war, the state of the world, and your apparent death, Kade … They’ve all shaped this reunion. I apologize for the rough start. And for what it’s worth, man, I’m sorry as hell for placing you at the wrong place at the wrong time. You can take that to the bank.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, okay,” I said, feeling ashamed for letting my buttons be pushed so easily. This guy had been my best friend, once upon a time. He hadn’t had any ulterior motives when he had invited me on at Statue Security. We just live in a time where bad things happen. “Apology accepted, Stephen. Sorry I acted like a jerk.”

  “You two aren’t going to hug or anything,” Jessie asked, crinkling her nose a little, “Because if you are, I think I’m going to hurl.”

  “You and me both,” Mason said with a grin.

  “You know what, we just might,” Marks said.

  “No. We might not, actually,” I replied, putting an end to any speculation. “Can’t very well have my baby getting sick on me.” I pulled Jessie onto my lap. To Stephen, I asked, “So, what about the Statue and this war, what’s going on there?”

  Something I said hadn’t sat well with the room, because immediately, everyone began to squirm. “What? Did I fart, again?” I had said it trying to break everyone’s tensions, but it was no use. “Um, is there, maybe, something I’ve been left out of the loop on?”

  “Baby,” Jess started.

  “Kade, man, I’m no longer employed at the Statue. Or anywhere for that matter.”

  “What,” I asked, shocked.

  “Yeah, I was kinda fired; and the rest of the story is Mace, here, is about to deploy to fight in this damned war.”

  “What,” I echoed myself.

  “That’s right, sir,” Mason agreed, “except it isn’t that bad. It’s my duty, as a soldier, and I’m actually looking forward to the chance to be part of the solution.”

  “Deployed?” I couldn’t believe it. We had only just gotten back together. It wasn’t fair. “As in how soon?”

  “As in tomorrow morning,” Jessie revealed. They all had known, already.

  “That’s what this is, a farewell sendoff,” Marks said.

  “Wish you wouldn’t refer to it that way,” Mason replied, “Makes it sound like you’re not expecting me back.”

  “Sorry, but I’ve been watching the news, and soldier boys are dropping like flies over there.”

  “You’re a jerk,” Jessie scolded.

  “Sweetheart, I’m really not trying to be rude or insensitive, but rather, state a fact: the president’s war on France has cost us nearly as many of our guys as our last war. And for what?”

  “Our country was attacked, Stephen, doesn’t that mean anything to you? Aren’t you the least bit patriotic?”

  “Listen, roomy, I am so patriotic, it isn’t even funny, but enough’s enough. This war is getting us nowhere, and fast. We’ve already razed huge patches of France, killing hundred’s of their guys in the process, and President Adelard still declares France’s innocence.”

  “Of course, he does. But they found that ambassador’s laptop, the one with the ties to Davenport. What about that?”

  “Guys,” I said in a hushed monotone. “Would you just stop bickering for one second? I’ve got … I’ve got something I really think you ought to hear. Do you think you can stop your back-and-forth long enough to listen? It’s a pretty long tale. All I’ve gone through. It has everything to do with what you guys are arguing over. Maybe it’ll put some things in a new light.” They fell silent, giving their consent. Marks folded his arms over his chest. I had their attention. I had better make this good. I only prayed they believed my tall tale.

  4

  I told them about waking up in Caduceus’ linen closet and my time there. I told them everything there was to tell about my new powers and how their source wound up buried inside my chest at Aesculapus’ house. I told them about Mao – though I might have glossed over my strong attraction to her – and, it’s highly possible, I might have omitted her completely from the scene in my dream. I told them everything I could remember of Caduceus’ time at Liberty Island and about Van Parson’s involvement in the attack. I told them how Julinn had been murdered upon discovering neither Davenport nor France had anything to do with it. I tried to convey how horrible the Dark Monk had been. I finished with Caduceus’ call to Aesculapus, saying he didn’t want to ever see me again.

&n
bsp; When I was finished with my lengthy narrative, I asked, hesitantly, “So, what do you think?”

  Stephen’s reply was both quick and typical, “No, seriously, lay the pipe down and walk away.”

  “Stephen,” I scoffed.

  “I mean it. It was good at first, but now you’re having a bad trip, and you just need to walk away.”

  I turned to the rest of my audience to gauge their reactions. “Mace? Jess? What about you, mom? You’ve not said a thing in a while.”

  She smiled that tired mother smile. “Son, I’m just here to offer cookies and support.”

  Mason abruptly got up and stormed from the room.

  “And what was that all about?” I hadn’t exactly expected that reaction.

  “I’ve got it,” Jessie offered, and got up to follow him.

  Mom took Mason’s vacated chair, and said, “Mason lost his wife two years ago, this August. That’s about the time he started coming back around here, to take care of me. What he really needed was someone to take care of him. I did the best I could for him, and it really was a symbiotic relationship, you understand.”

  I nodded only because it was expected. She continued, “About a year ago, he started talking about his need to find some place he belonged. He didn’t have any family, since her death, and you guys were off in your own corners of the world.” I started to protest, but she kept going. “So, when the statue was destroyed, and war was declared, he enlisted. He went to trainings, and he finally had a sense of belonging – so he said, anyway. So, do you see why your story had that impact on him? Perhaps you should go help Jessie bring him back in.”

  Mom was right. I hadn’t been around to know about his wife. I hadn’t been around to know about the army. I just plain hadn’t been around. Pride had kept me from my past, and it was time to make amends, especially since the poor guy would be shipping off in less than twenty-four hours. To a war he probably isn’t even a hundred percent of any longer. But that’s not my fault. That’s on Van Parson. Nevertheless, I had to go help him get that feeling of belonging back. I had to make this the best possible sendoff the guy could have.

  5

  I found Mason sitting in the middle of the hall, with his head in his hands. Jessie had pulled the chair from mom’s little telephone table and was seated beside him, rubbing his back. He wasn’t crying, but when he looked up at my approach, his eyes looked as if he might have been. Jess had probably helped him through the tears. She was good like that.

  “Hey, roomy,” I said, squatting down beside him and bracing my back against the wall. “Look, I’m sorry. I know I kinda threw a monkey wrench into your plans to go fight this war for the greater good, and all. You’ve gotta believe that wasn’t my goal.”

  He shook his head and gave a bitter laugh, “Don’t you get it, bro? Your story hasn’t changed my plans any.”

  “You’re still going?”

  “Versus what, Kade? Going AWOL? I can’t do that.”

  “Why not? It’s not the same war you thought it was. It’s not even an honest war – if there even is such a thing. We’re not going after the right people. If we were, this war would never have even left our borders.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not going AWOL, and that’s that. I need to make the best of it, from here out.” The stubborn look on his face hurt my heart. He meant to stand his ground, despite everything.

  “Mason,” I tried.

  “No. Maybe … maybe I can go over there, knowing what I know, and learn more. Take some notes or something. At any rate, their soldiers aren’t just sitting back and saying, ‘Hey, don’t shoot us; we’re innocent,’ they’re killing our men. It might be self-defense, but maybe I can help to save innocent lives. Whether it’s ours or theirs, neither deserves that.”

  “Well, if you’re mind is made up, at least your heart’s in the right place to help it along,” Jessie comforted.

  “Is there anything we can do to make this easier, Mace?”

  “Yeah, pray for me. Pray without ceasing, you know?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Kade, just so you know, all that talk about angels … when I came to your mother, she asked me if I was looking for God. I told her I really didn’t even want to consider God, after what he’d done to my wife. Do you know what her reply was?” I shook my head. “She said, ‘That’s okay, I’ve got enough God, for the both of us.’ That’s something that has really stuck with me these past couple years. I’ve tried to get to that point in my life, and I think I’ve almost made it. With this war, though, and the mortality rate of the American soldier … well, I just hope I get the chance. You can pray for that, too.”

  “I’ll do it, buddy. Now, whadda ya say we get back to the party?” I took his hand and helped him back to the kitchen.

  6

  The rest of the day was surreal. We spent the next few hours doing normal people things. We ignored my claim of flight and light powers. We did likewise for my claims that both our nation’s leader and its wealthiest businessman were behind attacks on American soil. We even did the same with Mason’s pending service to Uncle Sam. Instead, we chose to focus on the feeling of family this reunion was affording us. We had an almost Thanksgiving-like supper, which was appropriate, since I was feeling very thankful. I thanked God for my returned memories, for those around me, and most importantly, for the chance to regain lost ground.

  The only time anything came up about my story at all, was whenever mom totally floored me by saying, “I wish that Caduceus fellow could’ve come along with you. He sounds so intriguing. I wonder what he would’ve said about this meal. If it would’ve met his tastes.”

  “I don’t know about this Douche-ious guy, Mrs. T, but it sure meets mine,” Stephen said, leaning back in his chair.

  7

  Afterwards, I asked if anyone was up for a game of cards or something. I went into the living room to see if mom still kept her games in the same place. I wasn’t having any luck, though, so I called, “You stopped keeping a deck in the bottom drawer of the hutch?”

  She didn’t answer, so I repeated myself. Nothing. Fine, ignore me, then. I walked back into the kitchen to see what was up. Mom, Mason, Marks, and Jess were all four huddled together at one corner of the table, looking at me expectantly. I started feeling a little bit nervous under their heavy silence. “W-what,” I stammered. “Is this some sort of conspiracy?”

  “You could say that, son. Your friends and I have conferred, and we all agree.”

  “You do,” I asked, baffled.

  “We do,” they agreed in near-perfect unison.

  I just stared at them, trying to figure out what they obviously thought should be so evident. Registering my blankness, Stephen got up from his chair and started pantomiming flight, flapping his arms and ‘gliding’ around the kitchen. After a second, Mace and Jessie stood up and joined in. I flushed. Of course, they were demanding their after dinner show.

  Finally, mom looked at me from her still-seated position. “Well,” she asked, expectantly, “Shall we adjourn to the back yard?”

  8

  I didn’t really know what to do to tell the truth. I had never put my powers on display before. I had only used them either as self-defense or in defense of others, or in training sessions with Caduceus. Now, however, I was drawing a blank. “Um, guys, I’ve got to admit, this feels kinda weird. I don’t really know where to start. Got any special requests?”

  “Fly, stupid,” Stephen said, helpfully, “We all want to see you fly.”

  “We have our first request. Here goes.” I felt like I had when I tried my wings for the first time. I stepped back a little, flicked my mental switch, and flexed my shoulders. Without preamble, wings of light lashed out from my back, illuminating the night sky. I could only imagine what it was like for them.

  Thankfully, mom lived out in the boonies, and civilization hadn’t decided to encroach upon her since the last time I had been home. I waited to see if the government would come crashing in to take
me back to dissect me in their labs – blame it on way too much E.T. viewing as a kid. Since a bunch of guys in white space suits hadn’t spontaneously emerged from mom’s hydrangeas, I figured I was safe to take to the air.

  Whenever I did, I heard Jessie utter, “Stephen: the angel from the statue.”

  “I know,” he replied in awe.

  I had forgotten about their being at the statue during all of that. Caduceus had mentioned them, but I didn’t have a clue at the time. I suddenly remembered something else Caduceus had said. I would have to ask Stephen about it after the show.

  “For my next performance,” I said, speaking in my best announcer’s voice, “I will need a volunteer.” I pretended to scan an audience that was larger than the four gathered below me. “Ah, you sir,” I said, landing on Mason – well, not literally, just my attention.

  He pointed to himself and mouthed the question: Me?

  “Yes, sir, I need you to step right over here and bring your soda can. That’s right, you’re doing fine.” Mason had gotten up and moved to face everyone else, looking as if he felt as silly as I felt for being out in the open like this. “Now, place the can on your head, while I attempt to shoot it off with a blast of my fabled energy powers.”

  His eyes grew wide. “Yeah, no. You’re nuts, man,” he declared as he high-stepped it back in line with the rest.

  “What,” I feigned, wounded. “You act like you don’t trust me, Mace. Fine, then, any other takers? No? Let’s see what else I can do.”

  For the next half-hour or so, I continued to dazzle them by performing intricate aerial maneuvers, blasting various produce placed on crates at random intervals.

  For my grand finale, I stacked a pyramid of hay bails at a distance, in mom’s field. By now I was starting to get the hang of things and decided to do a little showboating. “Ready for this,” I asked, taking a stance, mid-air. At their encouraging applause, I reached up with my finger and made like I was wiggling my nose, then I laid my arms over my chest and gave a quick nod. My wings flamed even brighter for a moment, causing them to cheer louder A guy could really get used to this. I decided it was enough playing around. Time to give them what they paid for and get back into the house, before I pressed my luck too much, and we do attract company. Oh, crap, satellites, I thought. Yeah, well, too late, now. Any damage had surely already been done. Pretending I was a pitcher in a major league game, I spat once – making sure not to hit my friends or my mom – and let loose with a spiraling curveball of light. In my head, I could hear the announcers speculating at just how fast this thing was going. When it crashed into the hay, there was a sizeable explosion, as the gasses within the bails ignited. A cloud of straw and dust puffed larger than I would’ve liked. They’ll be finding that straw all the way in Arkansas, I marveled.