Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe
Page 21
«I'm an animal lover, too» he said. «Take this little monkey, for example. It cannot live without me».
Kalberham and the others laughed under their breath at the scene.
«And who is this lady?» asked the governor, noting at last little Kaira.
«She is a matter for Poligon Dhaal» Kalberham replied, and he understood that it was better not to insist.
«Good» Dianek suddenly cut them short. «You will stay here to rest and revive yourself. In the late afternoon you will go to the Guardian fortress. I have already organized the transfer. As your captain knows, the area is forbidden to spaceships».
The group walked away.
«Of course your friend doesn’t waste time when he sees a beautiful girl, eh?» Alannah told Patrik when they were out of earshot.
«What can I do? It’s how he is ...»
«Oh yes?! And what type are you?» she said, pricking him with a mischievous smile.
«Ah, well ... I do not. I have eyes only for you!» he replied, winking at her, as if to accept the provocation.
«You idiot» she said, thanking the sky that Patrik could not hear how hard her heart was beating at that moment.
*
The room was large and very bright.
Other prominent personalities of the city welcomed Patrik with enthusiasm and after a while they all found themselves at lunch.
Carinean food was not bad after all.
Kalberham was seated next to Dianek and Tadiero, telling how they had recovered the two Terrans in spite of Greymar.
Marco talked incessantly with the governor's daughter, emphasizing his attachment to nature. Patrik had almost burst out laughing when his friend claimed having written the song Old McDonald Had A Farm, to make the children of his planet understand his love for animals.
Alannah was sitting next to Kaira. The little girl was more focused on feeding Camilla than feeding herself.
In front of her, Patrik and little David, literally mesmerized by his hero.
«What happens when an animal dies?» asked Patrik, letting a sudden silence settle down at the table. «You must excuse me governor, but your attachment to these creatures is such that it is unbelievable. Unfortunately, I don’t think you have the same life cycle».
«Don’t be afraid of Patrik. The question is correct» Dianek answered. «See, the different species have lives of different durations. When they die before us, we bury the body and then we stay for a day in a dark room without eating or drinking. We accompany the friend of a lifetime towards its journey. When we return to the light it is like a rebirth, the same that, probably, they had somewhere in the universe. If we are the ones who die first, one of our family or of our closest friends will adopt our animal forever. It is considered a great honor for us».
«Wow! Fantastic! A great lesson in civilization. I wish I could say the same thing about my species ...» Patrik commented, almost embarrassed.
«Ah, I know! Unfortunately, Arkassians, Melidians and Terrans are the races that treat the fauna of their planet badly. You have things like bullfights, dog fights, furs and hunting just for the sake of killing. There are even those who abandon their animals away from home to get rid of them».
«My God, but it's terrible!» Chlomilia said shocked.
Marco looked at Patrik reproachfully. But how the hell had it occurred to him to talk about this? Why didn’t he talk about soccer ?!
«To tell the truth things are slightly changing» Dianek added, to get out of that embarrassing subject. «Animalist associations, Greenpeace, the increase of culture on Earth and many other initiatives are improving your world. Napoleon keeps me constantly informed».
«Whooo ?!» asked Patrik, amazed.
«Yes, Napoleon. You see, every petal in the city represents a planet. Inside each of them there are many things that describe the planet in question. In the field of the Earth there is Napoleon, a Carinean obsessed with your world. For many years he has been called this. He manages a place that he calls Bar Caffè. He knows all these things thanks to his ... wait, what's the name? Ah here, "internet connection"».
Marco and Patrik perked up almost simultaneously.
«I mean ... do you have an internet connection?!» Marco asked, panting.
«Ah, well ... I don’t know anything about it» Dianek replied, raising his arms, «but you can go talk to him if you like. There is still time before leaving. My assistants will show you the way».
«Kalberham, maybe on the net we will be able to find news about our families. We have to go» said Patrik, more determined than ever.
«All right. But don’t delay. I promised Poligon Dhaal that we would arrive before night fall».
*
The two Carineans left the boys right at the entrance to the Earth neighborhood.
Entering you could see everywhere what appeared to be ancient maps of the blue planet, with signs scattered here and there.
The flags of the various States, the Mona Lisa, the conquests of the Roman Empire, the Beatles.
Patrik and Marco were rather amused to see how their world was represented without apparent logic. From time to time, some locals noticed them and they felt like talking mummies in an Egyptian museum.
Loudspeakers along the main avenue were broadcasting a piece of music by Elvis Presley. A few boys, all of whom were wearing helmets, were playing football on a large grass field. A little further along, baseball, archery, American football, etc.
Patrik immediately understood that, by placing the Earth symbol under the road signs, the writing became comprehensible.
Museums of all kinds, understanding of human anatomy, recreational places.
There was everything.
«Look» Marco said. «That sign is in German. Pina Bausch, Vollmond. Planet Earth, Wuppertal, Germany year 2006. Theater-dance show. Damn it, she is a compatriot».
The boys entered the tent and saw a real theater with dancers on stage, all Carinean, focussed on dancing over a huge pool of water. On the walls were scenes from the original show that had been done by the Terrans.
«I almost feel at home» said Patrik, shifting the curtain to get out.
«I never imagined I could visit such a place on another planet. It seems like a dream» answered Marco.
Patrik remembered his promise to Kalberham and decided to cut it short.
«But now let's hurry. If that guy really has internet we need to use it».
*
The green neon sign left no doubt.
Napoleon BarCaffè.
The boys came in excited and what they saw seemed almost surreal.
Old Western Saloon style wooden tables, a counter with almost all the most important liqueurs of the Earth, beers, refrigerators with various drinks and a popcorn machine. A stage with musical instruments resting on top and an American stage lighting to illuminate it properly.
The light was soft, diffused more than anything else by the various neon adverts.
Menus were on the tables and in the background was a huge coffee machine.
The place was deserted.
«I don’t believe it» suddenly said a voice from behind the scenes on the stage. «Are you Patrik Jones?!»
A Carinean with a felucca on his head, just like that of the French leader, appeared before him. He wore the typical jacket with jeans underneath. The noise of cowboy boots echoed in the room as he strode in disbelief towards them. Dressed like that, and with his hair in a bob, he seemed like something out of a 1970s rock concert where people got high on marijuana.
On his shoulder was a parrot-like creature.
«Patrik Jones in my local with his Earth friend on the day of the screening of the film».
«Hello. Very pleased to meet you» said Patrik, shaking his hand. «Excuse me, did you say film?!»
«Yup. The movie of your fight inside Spindorf. You don’t know who I had to bribe for it ... But let me introduce myself, I am Napoleon, owner of this place and always in love with the planet you
came from. I would be exceedingly honored if I could offer you something to drink».
«Well ...» Marco answered, entranced by the idea, «I would love a Coca Cola, if it's original ...».
«Are you kidding boy? Hey, Tugork, come here!» Napoleon shrieked.
A very familiar alien appeared from behind the desk. Peeled head and big, dark eyes, just like the aliens whose pictures have been circulating for years on the internet. No nose and a small mouth between hollow and thin cheeks. A really big skull.
He was dressed all in black and his hands had unusually long fingers.
«Tugork, the boys here believe that our stuff is not original».
«Gentlemen, I assure you that I stock up from Earth at least once a month, subtracting some stocks from NASA's warehouses and other space agencies» he replied with a perfect butler’s accent.
«As?! Do you steal all this stuff?» Marco asked with a smile.
«Nooo ... technically it's a mutual exchange. My Markan friend makes himself spotted occasionally with his flying saucer and the people, sick of ufology, finance those to whom we take food. Image rights!»
Napoleon and Tugork laughed out loud.
«I see you cook things from Earth» Marco said, looking at the menu.
«See that machinery, boy? You have to tell it what you have in the pantry and it says what to put in to recreate dishes similar to those on Earth. It's my invention. I have two more out the back».
«Wow! It would make us comfortable on the Olympia».
«And how does it work with the internet?» Patrik asked point-blank without thinking twice.
Napoleon smiled.
«Ah, that's another story. You know ... I get the signal from the Google building in California, I bounce it via terrestrial satellites and, thanks to a hundred sub-spatial repeaters of the power of a hundred carbaks, I get it here. It doesn’t go very fast, but ... ». He opened his arms with the expression of someone trying to do his best.
«We, if you could be so kind, we need to consult the web. We are worried about our loved ones».
«Oh boy, my heart breaks, but you have to understand that this has a cost. Every time a repeater skips for some reason, we need to get there to replace it. For thirty minutes of navigation, a thousand carinean credits are required».
«But we have no money. Come on ... he's Patrik Jones, he's a hero. Make an exception to the rule, please» Marco said.
«I'm sorry» he replied, «but if you don’t have money, maybe we can make a deal».
«Like what?»
«I don’t know. What are you able to do?»
The boys looked at each other, trying to invent something.
«Patrik Jones could give a lecture about his experience on that stage. There would be a lot of people» Marco ventured.
«Yes I like it. And…?».
«And what?! Is not it enough?»
«Well, this place is already full of conferences and ...».
«We can play!» Patrik cut short.
«Playing what?»
«All you want. At least I think so...»
Patrik hoped he had not ruined everything. If that guy, or maybe his friend with the third-class cartoon alien face, asked for something impossible, they would be in serious trouble.
«Really? This is a great thing. Tugork likes this song ...» and Napoleon hastened to project the video of Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode onto a screen.
«All right» said Patrik, and Marco looked at him as if he were crazy.
«You will tell me when you are ready and I will give you the instruments. Now I need time to organize the evening».
«We will not fail, but the bass and the guitar come with us. We must learn the song» said Patrik, more determined than ever.
At the exit they both began to run to make up for lost time.
«We are only two, we’re missing the bass player and the singer, explain to me how we do this?» Marco asked with an intake of breath.
«I don’t know, but we must have access to that PC. We'll think about it later» said
Patrik, who was watching the sun set on the horizon.
26
They arrived at the fortress when the sun had set.
Marco had greeted Chlomilia telling her that soon they would perform in the city, inviting her to participate in the evening. This, of course, increased his anxiety about how they would make up for the band's shortcomings.
With each account, after having ascertained that a thousand credits was a very high sum, playing was the only solution.
«Listen, Patrik. That guy has the internet. We can download the base of the song and play it over, but who’s going to sing?»
«You!» he answered, somewhat amused.
«Yeah, sure! I play the drums and I can’t sing. You sound it like a tortured rooster so you're out».
«The Eagles drummer sings and plays» said Patrik.
«Oh really ?! Well, when you’re be able to do the solo of Hotel California without a fence, maybe I'll sing».
«I'm a Guardian now. I can do what I want» he replied, making fun of his friend.
«You're a fool, Jones. Solve this or we are ruined».
There was a moment of silence.
«Maybe he can sing.» Marco asked suddenly.
«Who?».
«Your jedi master, over there. Puss in Boots».
«But who, Kalberham ?!»
The two looked at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing out loud until they were breathless.
«Why are they two laughing?» Kalberham asked Alannah, who was walking close to him holding the child by the hand.
«Ah, I don’t know. These Terrans are all strange» and she turned again to look at the two boys, bent over with laughter.
The great door, at least five meters high, opened.
«Oh God, that guy really looks like Bugs Bunny» Marco said, turning to Patrik, taking advantage of the fact that they were a distance behind.
Poligon Dhaal stood still, looking happy.
His face was hairy and slightly elongated, the front teeth decidedly larger than normal and the ears long and facing downwards. His eyes were like those of a rabbit, and completely black. Even his bare hands and feet were were hairy and a little squat. He held his siel with his right hand and suddenly extended it as if to form a long stick, starting to walk towards the group.
«Kalberham, finally! We've been waiting for you for a while. Are you okay?» he asked.
«Poligon Dhaal, my friend. I'm fine and waiting to consult with you. Milostali, I offer my regards» replied Kalberham, greeting the other Guardian, a Contreian, who accompanied Poligon Dhaal.
«It's nice to know you're fine» he replied, bending his head slightly in greeting.
Milostali was at least six feet tall, with long straight blonde hair and an elegant beard. He looked like one of those magicians out of a fantasy novel. Aquiline nose, hollow face and eyes of a bright blue. What emerged from the sleeves of his tunic seemed more like the claws of an eagle than the fingers of a hand.
«We also welcome Princess Alannah. News of her courage, for better or for worse, has travelled around the galaxy» he added, greeting the daughter of King Karmora.
«The best of health to you» she answered very coldly. She had not liked the comment, but it was inevitable that her contribution inside the Spindorf had been unpopular with some.
«Sorry for the delay. We stayed in Liliah a little longer than expected» said Kalberham to change the subject.
«It's our fault» Patrik said, coming up from behind them.
«Aaaah, here he is! Patrik Jones in the flesh. The hero of Kentaura. And you must be Marco. Thank you for accompanying your friend here» said Poligon Dhaal, leaving Marco speechless.
«Hello. Well, it really was a coincidence» he replied softly.
«No, no, no, my boy. If you're here, there's a reason. The Code always knows where to go».
«Yup. I've already heard that» he said softly in Patri
k's direction.
The latter glared at him.
«So, Patrik. You and I have a lot of things to talk about, but I want to introduce you to others first. We are honored by your presence. If only David were here ...»
«Thank you, sir» he replied, feeling the umpteenth pain in his stomach again on hearing his father's name.
«And you're the little Kaira. The child of mystery. So how are you?» he asked holding out his hand, leaning towards her.
Unexpectedly, the baby gently touched the old Guardian's cheek.
«Poligon Dhaal, you must not be so rash».
At the sound of those words he changed his expression. A dark shadow was drawn on his face. He stood up, took two steps back and stood looking at her for a few seconds.
«Good. It will be better to enter» he said quickly, as soon as he emerged from his state of enchantment.
Everyone started walking and he stood still for a while looking at the child as she climbed into Alannah's lap.
Then, in turn, he took Marco's arm.
«Come on boy, give a hand to this poor old man. So, tell me, who is Bugs Bunny?»
«Excuse me?» asked Marco pretending not to understand.
«Come on, come on ... you said I look like him. Is he an important person on your planet?»
«Well ... yes. That is, everyone knows him» he replied, looking at Patrik, who was sniggering quietly.
*
The fortress was not exactly like Patrik had imagined it. A tall and very old building, made of a kind of bricks that seemed to have been compacted by hand. The inner courtyard housed two small buildings and a series of strange plants and trees all around. The highest building in the center dominated everything else.
The whole group headed right there.
It seemed to Patrik he had entered one of those medieval castles or monasteries from Robin Hood or The Name of the Rose.
Inside, two twin staircases led to a raised floor. Above, in the middle, only one door. The entrance to an elevator was there to reach the upper floors.