“I pray you never need to.”
“We are curious as to meaning in that phrase.”
“No meaning, Marcellus, I merely desire young Adara to always eat the most delicious of food.”
“Not possible when we continue mission. Must needs eat reconstituted and processed grub. No access to fresh.”
“Quite so, Marcellus, quite so. Pardon my error. Perhaps, though, you might wish to eat less of this fine cuisine and begin to acclimatise yourselves to the more bland foodstuffs that you will be feeding on when you do resume your quest.”
“I think not, Sister,” I said and snorted in the scrumptious aromas. “The day will be long and full, I must fuel my bod to get through it all.”
“More of same for us too. We become weary of it. Your absence, Adara, we notice much.”
“Do not be fraught, Marcellus. You shall not miss Adara. I will show you books to engage your mind and set your curiosity to tumble and twist,” Sister Gabriel said.
“You have piqued my interest, at least, good Sister. I am sure Wirt and Marcellus will thrill to your revealings also.”
“They will to be sure. Now I must go and select tomes of curiosity whilst you chitchat and catch up. Perhaps, Adara, we will enjoy your company at some juncture. There is a book, which may prove most enlightening, and I would wish you to share its wisdom. Perhaps at mid-morning prayers, which Brother Jude must needs to undertake, you may slip away and join your friends in the library?”
“You intrigue me greatly. I shall be there.”
“Good, good. Until later all,” she said and left at a most rapid pace.
We piled our plates, sat opposite a group of plainly dressed folk and set to gobble up our break of fasting. I noticed that the other hominids that frequented the place had a look of far away in their eyes. They ate without passion and did not partake of chat. There was no confab from us either and I observed a stiffness of body from Wirt and Marcellus. I attempted to engage them in talk, but they did not respond and stared hard at their food.
“Do not mind them, Adara, they did not sleep well,” Eadgard said. “We share one quite small room. The beds are shoved close together and every out breath could be heard. I fear that my snoring may have contributed to their most disagreeable mood.”
Wirt snorted. “I hope yer lessons march on a pace. I do not relish the prospect of lying down with these two windbags for much longer. It was like sleeping with Wolfies.”
“We not make noise like beast,” Marcellus said.
“Ye do. Not as loud, but at a pitch that fairly grates upon the ear.”
“We put up with twitching and turning from you. We not complain.”
“Really Marcellus? Ye just did.”
“Not so.”
“Did.”
“Not.”
“Calm, calm. It is always a test when those not acquainted are forced to share such confined space. Let us now make a pact to attempt to repose in a quiet and serene manner.”
Wirt and Marcellus looked into each other’s eyes and did not blink. Eadgard sighed and shook his head. I leaned close all conspiratorial and whispered, “What do think these other non-godlys are doing here?”
At my words all turned their attention upon the fems and males that were eating silently on the other table.
“They do not look a friendly bunch. Not one has made an effort to commune with any of the others.”
“Maybe spies. Adara, look around. Much here of interest. Much here defy rules. Much here mystery. Also, books. Sister Gabriel know more than she tell.”
I bit my lip so as not to expose my late night encounter with said nun and sat back. Marcellus’s words gave me over to thoughts of doubt and anxiety.
“Now, Marcellus, try not to cause concern where there is no foundation. Adara, Wirt, these people most likely are here on route to somewhere else. As are we and we are not spies,” Eadgard said.
“You sure?” Marcellus said and Wirt pushed his plate away.
“Ye are full of accusations about others. Maybe ye are a spy?”
“Calm again, please. Such rumour only causes distress. Free you mind from such thoughts and finish you grub. Adara? May we have the pleasure of your company at mid-morning?”
“For sure and certain of it.”
“Need you to go back to Brother Jude?”
“What? Oh, yep. That I must. Ta for the reminder. Wirt, Marcellus, it would be a great relief to me to know that you will not clash again. Can you agree on that?” They folded their arms and looked hard at each other. Then slow as slow they relaxed their rigid demeanour and nodded their heads. I took my leave and headed towards the room of learning, not quite as enthused about my lesson, as I had been earlier.
I clip-clopped up the winding stairs with less vigour than before and not knowing why, hesitated before opening the door. I thought I heard Brother Jude speaking with someone else and lingered discreetly until he finished. When no more noise emitted, I walked in expecting to find Brother Dominic, but to my amazement he was alone.
“Adara, here you are. All fed and fresh to learn?”
“Keen enough.”
“You seem distracted. Has there been an occurrence?”
“Nope. Just that I imagined you engaged in blab when I stood outside.”
“No. Perhaps I mumbled some thoughts out loud, but as you can see, I do not have a visitor.”
“Quite so. I must have mistaken what I heard.”
“It happens. Now, shall we proceed?”
“Yep.”
“Good. Now you will breathe with continuous air and make the sounds that disturb and soothe, depending on the pitch you choose.”
Brother Jude set me to task and I spent many long moments standing, sucking in air, holding it in my cheeks, blowing it out whilst breathing more in and so on, until I made the action so smooth that I no longer could tell the difference between breath coming in and breath going out.
All a-woozy from the rush of oxy to my brain, I leant against the wall before continuing. Brother Jude smiled and nodded his head saying, “Good, good, good. You learn fast and well. Mind not the dizziness, it will pass with practice. After your midday meal, we will make sound out of this continuous breath.”
A loud and resonant bell chimed and Brother Jude pressed his finger to his lips. “Quiet now for prayers. You may go. Return when the second bell sounds.”
I bowed, not knowing why, except that it seemed the right thing to do, and left. My descent down the stairs was faster and lighter of foot than the previous ascent.
When I reached the library I was surprised to find it inhabited by other folk. Some monks and fem monks sat a table, heads bent, rocking back and forth and muttering words in an ancient tongue low and barely audible. I searched the room and was pleased to observe Wirt, Marcellus and Sister Gabriel sitting round a table attending to something of interest in a book that lay open before them. I spied Eadgard hunched over another tome, with a look of absolute concentration upon his face. So engrossed were all four, that they did not notice my approach.
“All hi and hi again,” I said and spread my arms across the shoulders of Wirt and Marcellus. They jumped up and knocked back their chairs, creating a flurry of movement from Sister Gabriel, who faster than a bolt of lightning, snatched the book from the table and hugged it to her chest. Eadgard too stood, brushed his book onto the floor and placed his foot upon it.
“Calmly chums. It is only myself come as requested.”
“Adara, ye nearly stopped me heart.”
“Not intentionally, Wirt. Why so skittish?”
“The book we are perusing is not for the eyes of all.”
“Continue on.”
“Book holds answers. Book explains many things. Things we thought one way, discover is other way. Hidden. Truths obscured, answers obtained.”
“To what?”
“Come, Adara, sit with me. I shall reveal more.”
“Sister Gabriel,” Eadgard said and picked up th
e book he was standing on, “might it be better to keep our learning’s quieter.”
“Quite so,” she said and took the tome from his hand.
Another loud ringing put an end to our conversation. Just when it was becoming all-full of interest and intrigue. I noticed those that wore religious garb stop their chanting, rise and shuffle out as though an invisible hand pushed them from behind. The more I saw of this place, the more I became wary.
“You must go to Brother Jude my dear,” Sister Gabriel said, opened her eyes wide and pushed her neck out.
“Erm? What about..?” I stopped my questioning and turned to see Brother Dominic. He stood at the entrance and nodded to all that passed him in a kindly manner. His presence gave meaning to Sister Gabriel’s oddly pose.
“That was the bell to end the prayer session,” she said loudly so that all could hear.
“Oh, right.”
“Until later, my dear,” Sister Gabriel said and brushed my hand with hers. I felt something being pushed under my fingers and realised it was a note. I scrunched it up into my palm so that it was hidden, and said, “Yeah, I wish all a goodly day.”
The others smiled and for a moment, I thought I saw a look of glaze come over their eyes. I yawned, strolled past Brother Dominic and out into the corridor that led to Brother Jude.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Book Of Revelations
When out of sight, I opened the note that Sister Gabriel gave me. She had written instructions for me to go all quick to the library. I was intrigued and strode fast to the place of meeting.
She was waiting outside and gestured for me to follow where she was rapidly going, which was towards the front entrance. I kept up with her long strides until we stopped by the large door. She turned to me and said, “Ah, what a glorious day. I’m sure Brother Jude will not mind so much if you and I partake of a quick stroll outside. Come, take my arm and we shall meander for a few secs.”
I gave a grin most superficial, and together we stepped into the mid-morning sun.
“There is a lovely enclosed garden to the side of the property that you must see, my dear,” Sister Gabriel said. She put her hands inside her enormous pockets and veered to the left of the structure. I took the opportunity, whilst walking beside her, to take in the outside environment. I’d not seen it since we arrived and to tell the truth, did not take so much notice as I should.
I had not realised the vastness of the building until now. It seemed to loom as tall as the mountains that surrounded it. Looking to my right I near gasped at how near I was to the edge of the cliff. I took several steps away from the mist-drenched precipice and stared all squint-eyed at the Monastery.
The white walls seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. It was a cheery sight for sure and my feeling of wooziness began to disperse. I shielded my eyes from the dazzle of the building, tilted my head back and fairly wrenched my neck looking up so high to the turreted top; which boasted the strangest figures I had ever seen.
On each corner of said turret were stone effigies of giant hunched-up creatures. They had long, pointed ears and wide-open mouths, with tongues that protruded between oversized fangs. Their eyes were merely deep, empty hollows that saw nowt. They appeared neither hominid nor animal, but a bit of both combined.
“Why such embellishments?”
“Gargoyles, my dear. Relics from the past. They simply represent good and evil. Emblems to guard against daemons and the like.”
I thought them splendid, but not so much as the place Sister Gabriel took me to. At first, I thought it an extension of the outer wall, being it was just that, a wall. It had a door in the middle with carvings of all sorts of fauna and flora. I ran my fingers across the raised shapes and felt beaks, claws, petals and thorns.
“What grand designs. What expertise in craftsmanship.”
“Indeed, my dear. There are those who do have a gift for art and the like. Come, let us enter,” Sister Gabriel said and pulled on a large round metal handle that resembled an intertwined garland. The portal creaked open and we stepped through it into a wondrous place indeed.
Tears of awe brimmed full in my eyes and I had to blink more than once to clear them. Flowers, shrubs, trees and grasses covered the walls. More plants and twisty coloured ivy swarmed over and between the arched wooden structures that made a scented covered pathway that we walked along.
I breathed in the sweet-sweet smell and fondled leaves so smooth I too wished my skin possessed such silky softness. Sister Gabriel smiled at the sight of my beaming face and allowed a stop for me to revel in the gloriousness of the scene.
“Sister, what sumptuous plants abound here. All green and flowery despite the newness of the season.”
“Well, the shrubs and trees are evergreens and the flowers early bloomers. As the spring gives way to summer and so on, so the plants give forth their glory in tune with the changes in weather. It is a place of beauty and serenity to be sure.”
“The so-called ‘Park’ in Cityplace shrivels into insignificance. The paltry flora that survive in that venue is sickly and fragile in comparison. I could give up all thoughts of rescue to abide in such a place, it enchants me so.”
“Though I am gratified at your pleasure in this garden, my dear, I would not have you dismiss your purpose for the scent and sight of pretty things. Come, we are nearly at our destination,” she said and steered me towards a high green hedge all but obscured from the rest of the place. We hurried behind it and I saw Eadgard, Wirt and Marcellus sitting at a round wooden table. They turned their faces to me and I thought I saw a look of deep concern on each and every one.
“What can be so unpleasant that you scowl in a place of such beauty?”
“Sit my dear, there is something I must show you.”
I did as Sister Gabriel instructed and attempted a smile to ease the air of gloom that pervaded. Eadgard reached down and picked up the book that I had seen in the library but a few secs ago. He slapped it onto the table, opened it and shoved it across to where I sat. He pointed at an image. “That pic shows genetically designed hominids being mass produced.”
I stared at the thing and shrugged. “So? We know that occurred. Hardly a secret.”
“But not on the scale that is mentioned here. This pic was taken in 2092.”
“What? So far back? But…”
“There is more. The text goes on to reveal the reason for such a deed. A year after the great world famine in 2085, humanity suffered an even greater threat. A drought of such magnitude that nearly all died.”
“No, it wasn’t a drought, it was a plague.”
“No, Adara,” Sister Gabriel said. She sat next to me, turned the page and pressed her finger down on an image showing thousands of corpses strewn across roadways, city pavements and crop- withered fields.
She showed more.
A pic of a mighty wave engulfing an entire city. Then another showing bodies both hominid, animal and fish, floating lifeless on the surface of the water.
“You see, my dear, the place that once was Great Britain succumbed to rising seas that shrunk it to its present size. Land was scarce and many died in the battle to own it. Judging from the state of things now, it would appear that the Agros won.”
“How is it we do not know of this? This history was not taught at my learning place.”
“Such truth was hidden my dear, by those who wished to control and benefit from the despair that was left.”
“Agros.”
“And Scientists. They ruled what was left of humanity. I have read other more disturbing facts. There is a book that contains fragments of official documents from the time. It was hidden in the library. I found it only yesterday and I can tell you it is as well it was kept secret, for in it is evidence that Agros ordered the mass destruction of all who refused to surrender to their tyrannical rule.”
I looked to Wirt. He hung his head. I turned to Marcellus and Eadgard, but neither was able to meet my gaze. I shook my noggin and felt it w
ould surely burst from all this dreadful news, when Sister Gabriel pulled out two small black books from her extensive pockets.
“These are said books,” she said and placed them onto the table before me. She opened one and I stared at the page with uneasy eyes. Amongst the plethora of words and mathematical symbols where pics of mutated creatures. Some resembled animals, but not any that I have seen in other mags or vids, and some were most definitely hominid in appearance. Although head and limbs were often not in the places I was used to seeing them. She flicked sheet after sheet, showing me more and more of the freakish images, until she came to one particular page. I sat back and looked to the others.
“What does this mean, these grotesque pics of things that should not exist?”
“These, my dear, are the early trials at cloning. As far back as 1996 scientists were able to successfully clone mammals. After that, well, they left caution to the wind and cloned all sorts of creatures. Goats with DNA of spiders that produced silk in their milk. Pigs cloned with human cells that could be used in organ transplants. And as you have observed in these photopics, humans and animals cloned to produce hybrid monsters. For what purposes? War. These,” she said and pointed to a thing that resembled a male only without much in the way of features to speak of, “these were called ‘Ultimate Warriors.’”
Their faces were alarming to behold. There were dark holes where eyes should have been; two slanted slashes in the middle of the face were I suppose, nostrils and the small round orifice in between them, a mouth. Their arms were so muscle-bound that they stuck out from their shoulders, making it look as though they were about to flap them and take flight. As for the legs, they were short, stumpy almost and just as brawny as the other limbs. The whole effect was that of brute and then some.
I pulled the book away from her and looked through it. Each page showed images of all manner of hybrid monsters. There was a series of pics that were truly dreadful. They showed an army of “Ultimate Warriors” destroying whole cities. Tearing out the throats of the inhabitants and laying waste to the buildings with explosive devices so powerful that all that remained was rubble. I closed the book and hung my head. I felt a hand touch mine, looked up and saw Wirt.
Echoes from the Lost Ones Page 17
