I point not to the dark circle at the top center awaiting its piece, but to the one in the northeast quadrant of the map. Victor clicks this third piece in, and Alfred withdraws the next.
“Half of it built into the Guardian Mountains: Lacanesia, the capital of the Centaurs.” I point to the southeast circle.
As Dr. Korzhak sets the piece in place, Dr. Leitz pulls out the last one.
“History having taught us that democracy arose from Athens – guess again. Centaurs are this world’s builders and farmers. Although very different from Mermaids, they nonetheless share a most intertwined history.”
As I daydream for a few moments of this tangled knot, Victor fastens the model piece for Elkabydos at the top center of the map where my finger now points. He and Alfred then take their seats.
“Elkabydos,” I more whisper than say aloud. In regards to this city and the ones who built it, all are in for a shock. “Of course, we already know of Sapiens and their city. Although they are most like us, temper your fondness for them, my friends – Terra Australis may be at its apex, but the mystics number very few. More to the point, their kind are dying off.”
Stunned gasps fill in the silence my pause leaves behind. Once these gasps turn into whispers too loud for my liking, I swiftly drown them out.
“At the time from where our story restarts, Sapiens have long ago abandoned Elkabydos,” I snap the largest piece I had stolen earlier from Dr. Leitz into the last, southernmost empty circle, “for Antediluvium.”
Hearing this city name, Alistair and Alfred shoot questioning stares at Dr. Saddlebirch. I watch as Chance meets these stares at first, but then turns away. This aloofness neither confirms nor denies the reason behind the hint of fear in their eyes. Next, theirs and every other pair of gawking orbs beg me for an explanation.
“Elkabydos – the first great city – for many centuries it has been little more than ruins,” I tell them softly.
That those of flesh and blood no longer wander the haunted city’s streets, but that banished souls do – as they will learn this soon enough, I see no need to tell them now.
In an attempt to cheer up the suddenly somber mood, I stay focused on the largest piece. “Antediluvium is a communal city shared by all. Each kind controls an equally sized prefecture; the one to the north is home to the remaining Sapiens. Their numbers are much smaller now, yes this is true, but as with your fondness, temper your pity for them as well. All possessing the most calculating of minds, a handful still skilled with magic, the most powerful among them determined to leave her everlasting mark on the world – they will have a very large part to play in our story.”
My playfully mischievous smile helps close a few gaping mouths, but not all. If I were one of them, I too would sport the same codfish mouth.
“Of how so many Sapiens once wandered this world and now only a small number still live, such a squandering very much boggles the mind. Although so few, the wisest Sapiens still serve a much-needed purpose. Keepers of a sprawling repository I believe rivaled the Great Library at Alexandria, the Sapien monarch, historian, and a handful of others teach the privileged sons and daughters of nobles. These teachings start in early spring and run into autumn”
“Most believe,” Dr. Ravensdale begins slowly, “that the Pandidakterion of Constantinople was the world’s first true university. Others believe it might have been Puphagiri or Nalanda in India.” He lets out a smug chuckle. “It very much appears they are all wrong.”
As I survey the room, the fiery glints in their eyes have finally faded away, but I feel as if I have yet to convince all of them to push forward. Desperate to see every eye sparkle in wonder once again – I awake the room with a start.
“And there is a game!” I boldly declare. “A very brutal, very skillful game called Harpastum. Invented thirty centuries earlier, Sapien masters played Harpastum while riding atop their Gryphon servants. On this day, however, Sapiens no longer play and with good reason. Within minutes of the initial volley to start, every one of them would suffer a horrid death by repeated tramplings followed by multiple dismemberments. Considering this, only Arachna Majora, Centaurs, and Gryphons still play.”
I very much have their attention now!
The four scientists much closer to me than the soldiers and spies, I now focus strictly on them.
“As for how to describe it … well, I suppose you could say it has certain elements you might find in a whole host of different games where a ball, scoring, and a pitch or court is involved. The Mesoamerican ballgame (as they all know what this is, every scientist nods) … rugby (all nod again) … lacrosse (two of the four appear puzzled) … jai alai (all but the American appears puzzled)?” I pause for a few seconds before suggesting unsurely, “Maybe something like … Quidditch[20]?”
All four scientists cock their head at this name. As I take in their scrunched faces, a creepy silence slinks around us. My soldiers sharing the same confused look as the scientists, Admiral Vanderbilt grins smugly at this.
“Just what kind of game is this?” Major Sinclair asks.
I let another round of silence hover over the room. In truth, I am stunned not one of them knows of the fictional game of Quidditch.
“Oh, I know what Quidditch is,” Saddlebirch blurts suddenly. Although a bit excited, he keeps his drawl steady. “It’s that, um … that game they play in those P-P-Percy Potter books!” So proud of himself, the cowboy nods self-assuredly while the others just stare at him. “Y’all need to get your heads out of the sand sometimes!”
As Chance so pompously says this, I lean toward Admiral Vanderbilt. “Ten points to Gryffindor,” I whisper sarcastically. The good Admiral chuckles.
Just wait until they hear about the stadium where the ancients played this game!
“The stories of just Sapiens and Gryphons can wait,” Victor announces excitedly. “I want to hear about Mermaids and Centaurs too!”
“The revolution can wait as well. As the Admiral said – ONWARD!”
“Take us into the future of the past, Dr. Rothschild!”
“HA! Now that’s the spirit!” Admiral Vanderbilt crows.
Applause and happy banter fill the room to confirm that others share the same thought. Even the spies – aside from Director Gaunt, of course – take a seat on the carpet.
“Please read more from the copper plates!” Dr. Leitz begs.
I take a flurry of swigs of water and look over the group of men suddenly beholden to my every word.
“Fair enough, fair enough – I will delay no longer! This amazing world at its zenith, we are very ready to dive in. A king and queen freshly crowned; a procession of many thousands taking in the grandest of scenes; the brilliant, brutal game I have just described; tragic disaster ready to break our hearts – this day we now travel to had it all. Today is a day each of us will always remember. And for those who witnessed many millennia ago the day we now travel to, they would never forget such a day as well.”
The texts I had read previously were of a time before the creation of the necklace and its jewel around my neck. The texts to come take place long after its creation. I have not read of my blood red diamond in any translation to this point, yet I already know the story of how it came to be.
How can I know this?
Because the crimson jewel that now provides subtle warmth against my bosom has ‘told’ me. And as I remember this, as I revel in this, its whispers again pierce my mind:
“The spies seek me – they will steal me if they can. Although our secret is safe for now, I fear this will not last.”
The digital tablets to access the correct translation now in front of me, I tip my head up. Gaunt’s blackened eyes pulling my star-crossed stare into his as if they are tiny black holes – I look away.
My gem speaks to me again:
“The translations in the five codices are but a taste of all the knowledge I can teach you. Of all the ages I can show you. Of all the worlds that have ever been, of all the worlds
that will ever be. Keep me hidden from their greedy clutches and I will lead your soul to places your mind never dreamed it could go. You need only do as I suggest, and to the ends of space and time I will protect you because you have protected me….”
That my jewel can pass knowledge into my mind should terrify me, but it does not – just the opposite. That it possesses such power comforts me and smugly so.
I smile to myself. My gem turns warmer against my bare bosom to acknowledge this smile. Why I keep the true color of my hair and the shades of my eyes a secret – it is all so clear to me now. After so many years, I FINALLY recall who I am. Finally recall the brilliance, recall the suffering, recall my rebirth.
And because I now know why it chose me, why only I am worthy enough to wear it, my crimson soul receives the response it has craved since it first touched my flesh:
“Hello, old friend ... we meet again, we meet at last. And this time, I WILL obey.”
* * *
[1] Come child, come to me.
[2] Yes, grandmother, I am here.
[3] I do not understand … what does this mean.
[4] Almost there … almost there … almost there …
[5] Hello, my friend ... welcome to my world.
[6] I suppose you want a bottle of vodka for your troubles!
[7] How is it that such a brute can speak French?
[8] Resulted in the last Ice Age approximately 13,000 years ago.
[9] I know I am well on my way, but Good Lord! I am too young to be this crazy!
[10] It cannot be.
[11] Come with me, come with me.
[12] Approximate Date: January 4th. In Europe, it would feel like July 4th.
[13] One pike length is about two meters.
[14] Approximate Date: October 10th. In Europe, it would feel like April 10th.
[15] Approximate Date: October 28th. In Europe, it would feel like April 28th.
[16] Most likely, a Harpagornis eagle.
[17] Approximate Date: April 1st. In Europe, it would feel like October 1st.
[18] This is ridiculous!
[19] Yes … the start of it all.
[20] A competitive sport in the fictional Harry Potter universe.
The Fifth Codex Page 17
