The Rising Azimuth

by D D Mathews

  Mandy unwrapped the plastic, revealing the silver case, thin, about the size of a flask, with a fancy design of berries all over the front. Mandy was silent. She looked up to Colin and back down at the gift. She nodded her head and grabbed Colin and kissed him firmly. She released him and skipped away without a goodbye.

  It was a great first first date.

  Chapter 15

  Veronika drove off the 202 onto the 9 toward the reservoir, while Joseph slept in the passenger seat of their new ‘found’ car, a beaten up Ford truck. The rumble of the engine mirrored her mood. Her fatigued mind made every sore muscle worse. This kid was running her ragged. The constant needs and reassures on top of faking her concern for his every feeling. She needed a place to rest. The next lessons would be hard on them both. She knew of a remote cabin in the woods they could use. She needed real sleep tonight badly. If her next step went well, she would take him to Boston and then Sweden, if not he wouldn’t leave the woods. She caressed his cheek and felt a moment of future regret.

  ***

  The cabin was isolated from the rest of the homes at the Massachusetts reservoir. They arrived in the dark like thieves, Veronika picked the lock and they were inside. The cabin had two stories with an open floor plan. The kitchen was simple as were the three bedrooms, each in a different color. The central living space had a stone fireplace, a television, large windows, and tons of Native American art. It wasn’t focused on a single tribe so Joseph knew the owners were probably not Indians. Veronika took the master bedroom and locked Joseph out. He had slept in the car during the day so he was wide awake. He found the television remote and started flipping channels, after twenty minutes he found a movie on some fancy pay channel. It was some 80’s flick about some woman searching for things in the woods, soon after werewolves appear for no apparent reason. Joseph missed the plot and couldn’t tell if he needed it. However the film transfixed him. The film portrayed Weres as monstrous killing machines. They only lived to kill innocent people and take nineteen minutes to change into Weres. Joseph found watching the slow, shaking, bulking up more painful than actually Reverting. It was boring at times, fearsome at others, and ridiculous in between. He watched every minute.

  Afterward, he headed up to a bedroom bathed in blues, sleep took him shortly after. He dreamed he was like the werewolves in the movie taking forever to change. It felt like it took hours to change from human form to Were form, and right when he was about to finish another Were attacked killing him. He bolted awake.

  Joseph smelled cooking. He joined Veronika in the kitchen. She had made breakfast, heavy on bacon. No words were spoken. The silence was comfortable and Joseph realized he loved Veronika. He didn’t say it out loud to her, saying it would be silly. He knew it in his heart and he knew she felt the same way. It was a secret they both knew but kept from each other. He let her guide him and make decisions for him because he loved and trusted her. He knew she wouldn’t lead him into danger.

  Over the next week spent in the cabin, Veronika ran him through his paces. Joseph loved the things she taught him, but he wanted more. Sometimes she would dodge his questions, mostly about her past and their future. She focused all their work on dream walking, which usually started with aerobic sex, to wear out his body and help them sleep.

  The dream world scared him, he didn’t feel confident, but as he practiced he got better. On the fifth night, he and Veronica showed each other their homelands. She started by changing the dull landscape of the dream into Sweden. She walked him through the spring grasses struggling to grow. Her homeland was beautiful; the land was so green and crisp, full of light and wonder. She showed him the countryside full of forests. The trees were so grand, so strong, he felt safe walking between them. She also showed him small towns around the country, this was less impressive and Joseph didn’t like them much. To him the towns were eyesores in a beautiful wilderness. She asked him to take charge and control where they were by imagining his home.

  He imagined the reservation and the reservation appeared. His town was small and dusty with houses in every shade of brown. The city’s square houses, square roads, and square lives were boring. He showed her the casino where his dad worked, the silly building near the reservation’s border was lit up, and all of a sudden the dream world was night. He wasn’t sure if he had turned off the light or if Veronika did, but the casino was less sad in the darkness. The lights on the casino sign seemed more fun. He changed the world back to the far side of town, the dull light returned. Joseph and Veronika stood together in front of his grandfather’s house.

  Veronika spoke for the first time in a while, “I want to teach you something. It’s hard to explain and harder to accomplish but I believe you can do it. I know this will be hard for you, but trust me. It’s important. This world isn’t just a place, it’s not just a reflection of the real world, it’s a memory.“

  “What do you mean?” Joseph asked.

  “This dream,” she made a grand gesture with her hands, “can be manipulated to show memories. I want you to relive finding your grandfather dead.“

  “I don’t want to do that,” he said with fear in his voice.

  “I know, babe, but this is important and if you show me this memory, I’ll show you one of mine.”

  Not wanting to disappoint her, he nodded and tried to remember the day he found his grandfather. He walked into the house and called out reliving the events from two weeks ago. He searched for a second, knowing he would have to go outside and find him dead. He started to shake from fear; Veronika grabbed his hand and led him out the back door. He saw the vultures above and with her urging they walked over to his crime. The body was still decapitated and gore was everywhere. The birds had made a mess like the first time. The events were exactly the same, but some of the details were different. There seemed to be a lot more blood and a lot more birds. Mankato’s head was removed like before but lay much further from his body.

  Veronika spoke, “Say goodbye to him.“

  Joseph didn’t know where to start. He stood over his victim and felt everything rush into him. Guilt, sadness, anger, hate, sickness, and loneliness crashed into his brain and he started speaking, “Sorry Grandfather. I didn’t know what I was doing, it was an accident. Which doesn’t make it better but I’m truly sorry. I’m sorry I killed you, I’m sorry I ran, I’m sorry for everything. If only you had prepared me for this wolf thing, maybe I could have controlled it. This is my fault, but you should have told me.” He started getting angry. “This is half your fault you old fool. Why hide what we are? Why hide from me? We were family for god’s sake. You could have stopped this.” With each ranting word, his emotions bled out of him. He let everything go. He still felt guilty and always would but the other emotions from running away without saying goodbye where gone. He finished, “I’m truly sorry, but this is goodbye. I have to move on. Goodbye Grandfather Mankato.” With his final words, the body disappeared along with the gore and vultures. The land was clean of his crime.

  He hugged Veronika who hugged him back tightly. She broke the hug, “I have something to show you.“

  The world changed around them to the night at Samantha’s. “I was looking for you. I missed you at the hospital, but found you at that girl’s.” The world started playing Veronika’s memory. She was watching the house, no fire anywhere. She smelled the air looking for Joseph. She snuck up to the window and saw a woman who looked like a rounder older Samantha. The woman put out a cigarette in an ashtray and tossed the collected ashes into a trashcan. The woman left the kitchen and headed into the back room. The second the dream Veronika turned away from the window and went around the house, Joseph saw the garbage ignite. She was on the far side of the house when the fire caused the gas stove to explode in a freak accident. She was knocked to the ground. Joseph watched the house burn quickly after the explosion. Veronika was knocked out for a couple of minutes, during which he saw himself leave the barn. He watched himself watch the fire for a second and rush off to th
e bus station. Veronika made the memory disappear.

  Joseph wasn’t guilty of killing Samantha’s family. He had only hurt his grandfather; Samantha’s family was not his burden. Veronika kissed him lightly on the lips and spoke softly, “Wake up.“

  And he did, the bright light of morning cascaded into the master bedroom where he and Veronika were naked under the covers. He felt better, unburdened. Veronika kissed him again mirroring the dream kiss they had shared a moment before. Joseph felt like everything was right with the world.

  Chapter 16

  Nuri sat on the ‘Throne of Truth’, which was a cloth-covered chair in the Hilton Garden near river Wisla. Before her in their own conference room chairs sat the two petitioners, Eliska Rybar from Ostrava and Andela Rybar from Zilina. The two sisters were staring daggers at each other. Tamara stood in front of Nuri, facing her, between the two sisters. She was called the ‘Law Keeper,” which meant she would announce the Amazon laws that had been broken. Behind them eating snacks and drinking beverages were about twenty Amazons, mostly friends of the two women watching the “Rite of Judgement.” Nuri listened as the two women made their cases. The weirdness of passing judgment with all the Amazon protocols while sitting in a conference room eating croissants was not lost on her.

  “Everyone knows Kasárna belongs to Ostrava,” Eliska said firmly.

  “Horse shit, nobody believes that. Ask anyone,” her sister Andela responded.

  “You see what I meant, she will not accept facts. Why would Zilina control Kasárna? No roads enter from Slovakia. How does that make sense? It belongs to me.“

  “Those are not the facts; half of Kasárna is inside Slovakia. Do you honestly believe Slovakia is part of the Czech Republic?” Andela asked.

  “Yes of course! It was called Czechoslovakia. For Christ’s sake! We were both born in Czechoslovakia,” her sister threw her hands up in frustration.

  The room had watched these two fight about borders and hunting ground and human geopolitics from their youths for half an hour. Andela, who was curvier, was the older sister. Eliska was a year or two younger with a thinner body and face. However the angrier they got, the more they looked alike.

  “This is just like when father wouldn’t let you get your way. You would yell and cry until he caved. You are a spoiled child!” Andela accused.

  Nuri had listened to them insult each other for ten minutes, her head hurt, and they were getting no closer to a conclusion.

  “Enough!” Nuri growled. The sisters and the entire room took notice. Nuri saw Justine smile from the back row. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Andela, what is your biggest complaint?” Nuri asked.

  “Why does she get to go first?” accused Eliska.

  “Because I said so. If you both want to act like children I will treat you like children.” Nuri hissed. She hated wasteful idiotic fights. “Please, go on Andela.“

  Eliska pouted as her sister spoke, “My main issue with the Amazons in Ostrava is the theft of our clan shield from our offices.” Andela over emphasized each word. It was another childish act.

  “Stop,” Nuri said, “Okay, Eliska, please calmly tell me what your biggest issue is.“

  “Besides her face,” Eliska said.

  “Cow!“

  “Mutt!“

  “Bitch!“

  Nuri realized this was getting out of hand and it was devolving into ridiculousness. Tamara had told her this was a test and Nuri believed it more now. She started to think some dumb shield wasn’t the issue. Why were they behaving like children?

  “Enough,” Nuri said calmer than she wanted to. “I see you both are passionate, but for me to arbitrate this I must get answers. Do I have to send one of you into the hall while I question the other?” She looked at both, getting no response. “Do I?“

  “No,” they said together.

  “Great,” started Nuri who decided to try a different tack. “Eliska, I know nothing about either of you can I ask some basic questions?” She nodded.

  “Where did you grow up?“

  “Prague,” answered Eliska.

  “I love Prague. Beautiful city.“

  “The most beautiful.“

  Nuri smiled, “I can’t argue against that. What is your favorite memory from there?“

  “Um…I. I love Charles Bridge during the winter. It reminds me of spending time over the winter holiday with my mother shopping for gifts and drinking hot chocolate in the cold.” Finally, Nuri felt like she was getting somewhere.

  “Was it just you and your mother?“

  “It was.“

  “That must have been nice,” Nuri stated and switched to Andela.

  “Andela, how do you like Prague?“

  “It’s okay,” she said still sulking.

  “Just between us I hear it’s the most beautiful city in the world,” Nuri tried a joke to decrease the tension. The crowd watching enjoyed the levity, neither sister did. Hopefully, she could get Andela to admit something deeper was going on.

  “What’s your favorite memory in Prague?” Nuri asked.

  “I don’t have one.“

  “I don’t believe you,” Nuri accused Andela. She asked the Amazons waiting, “Who here has a favorite memory in Prague?” Everyone raised their hands, including Tamara. Nuri noticed a few wicked smiles among her Amazon sisters.

  “Fine, I love Prague Castle. I liked running around the grounds playing make-believe,” Andela surrendered the memory.

  “Were you alone?” Nuri asked.

  “No, father was there.“

  “Playing make believe along with you?” Nuri kept probing.

  “Yes.“

  “Ah, I see. I have a sinking suspicion this has nothing to do with borders or shields. You both are wasting everyone’s time, especially mine,” stated Nuri.

  Both Rybar sisters folded their arms and looked down and away from Nuri. This foolish display was driving Nuri crazy. This must be some crazy shit between siblings that Nuri didn’t understand because she didn’t have any. However, as an Amazon, now she had plenty of sisters and bonding with Tamara, Justine, Gretchen, and even Nox made her more sympathetic to whatever this was. She was starting to understand loving and hating someone as much as these two seemed to. It felt a little like her and her aunt’s relationship. Massive love with an underlying tension, maybe distrust. Nuri’s mind wondered while the two sisters continued pouting. Was her aunt still hiding things from her? She trusted her with her life, but everyone keeps secrets. The fact Tamara hid that Nuri was a werewolf was huge. She wasn’t sure she was over it yet. It made her a little hesitant to trust everything her aunt told her. What the hell was that nod between Tamara and Nox?

  Someone in the gallery dropped a glass of water on the floor, which didn’t shatter, but created a weird hollow thud. The noise brought Nuri back to the puzzle in front of her.

  “Fine, if no one will answer. Law keeper, what happens if I find no resolution?“

  “The issue must be resolved with an ancient Amazon combat to the death,” Tamara intoned saying her first words since the beginning of the ceremony.

  “Very well,” Nuri said, deciding to push the most audacious solution immediately. “As the judge of this conflict, I demand combat to the death to resolve this issue. The victor will be found in the right, while the dead will, of course, be found in the wrong.” She said her words in a flippant manner, “Okay ladies, all of you let’s clear out some space in here and get on with it. I have a dinner scheduled at seven o’clock.” She looked at her watch selling her stratagem.

  The room behind the two sisters followed Nuri’s orders and started to move chairs. The insanity of changing into werewolves and fighting to the death caused both sisters to bolt up from their chairs, to ask in unison, “You can’t be serious?” they both looked at each other for stealing the others thought.

  “Sure I do. I bet within minutes this will be resolved, one of you will be dead, the room will be destroyed, I can make my dinner plans, and neit
her of you will have to say the real reason we are all here wasting our time moving fucking chairs around a conference room!” Nuri’s voice rose as she got to the end of her rant.

  “She stole our mother’s cameo!” Eliska accused.

  “Father gave it to me,” Andela responded.

  “Mother promised it to me.”

  “But father gave it to me.”

  The crowd stopped moving chairs around and watched as this entire issue boiled down to two girls who missed their parents.

  Nuri took a moment before speaking, “I don’t know what it’s like to have blood sisters. I never had any siblings, but I did have parents. I miss them every day as do you both miss your own. I believe I understand and might be able to resolve this. Please close your eyes, both of you.“

  They both looked uncertain but complied.

  “I will count down from three and when I finish announce who your favorite parent was. Who did you feel closer to during their lives? 3…2…1…“

  At the same time, Andela said “Father,” while Eliska said, “Mother.“

  They looked at each other and the questions flew, “They why did you take mother’s cameo?“

  “I didn’t, father gave it to me.“

  “But it was mine. Mine and mother’s. Why do you care about it?“

  “Because, father gave it to me,” Andela answered croaking out the word father in pain.

  This issue was finally clear to each of the Rybar sisters, grief.

  “I see no crime here and would have a hard time choosing one parent over the other to miss more. My guess is your parents loved you both more than life itself but loved each of you differently. To turn that into this; makes me very sad. Now I must ask, and if either of you lies I will find for the other and give her the damn cameo.” Nuri looked at each of them with her best parental face until they both looked cowed. “Do you now see why the other wants the cameo?“