Only five symbols of the twenty-one, that Patrik now knew by heart, were carved in stone all around this door.
They all went up together.
The Guardians' room was large and rectangular, neatly divided in two.
Three rows of steps that formed a crescent took up most of the space. Some Guardians were sitting waiting for the arrival of Kalberham and the others.
In front of the steps, the room was completely empty.
This arrangement reminded him a little of a room in the Senate of ancient Rome.
On the three sides, behind the crescent, were statues of ancient Guardians of the past with their siels turned into the most disparate of weapons. In the empty part in the middle, there was only one resting on the wall. Armintala.
Patrik immediately noticed that, unlike the others, where somatic features of the face and body details left no doubt, the latter statue didn’t show which race the father of all the Guardians belonged to. The hood was up, the siel closed on the belt and the hands and feet not visible.
He paused to look at Armintala's weapon more closely.
Unbelievable.
Now that siel belonged to him.
Kalberham got Alannah and the others seated, and reached the center of the hall with Patrik and Poligon Dhaal.
«Gentlemen, this is Patrik Jones, son of David Jones, acknowledged Guardian of the planet Kentaura» he said to the Guardians sitting on the steps.
Everyone got up, and with their arms outstretched, they designed a pentacle in the siel which slowly rotated clockwise.
Patrik lowered his head slightly and raised his arm in greeting.
«Why does the Terran not respond to the greeting in the right way? This lack of respect is unacceptable» the young Noliah said aloud so that everyone could hear him. Patrik's presence was not much to his liking, and he made no effort to hide it.
«It’s my fault» answered Kalberham, «he was not properly instructed».
«He doesn’t say hello and is not wearing a tunic. He even gets help in the Spindorf. I wonder if the Code has not lost its direction ?!» the other continued sarcastically.
The other Guardians laughed.
«Gentlemen, each of us grew up with the culture of the Code. We need to have some patience with the young Jones. Nothing in his world has ever been thought of in any way. I'm sure he'll be a worthy ally» said Poligon Dhaal, trying not to scare the boy.
«I wonder if he is aware of the responsibility that involves wielding such an ancient and sacred weapon» said another Guardian, Markanian who was similar to Tugork.
Poligon Dhaal frowned and began to look at them all menacingly.
«Kentaura has this established. Those who feel above this decision can cross the river tonight, and be welcomed with open arms by our arkassian "friends". But don’t be afraid ... the Code will find you. It always finds you!»
«Poligon, what are you talking about ?! We have the right to ... » he tried to counter Milostali, shocked by the master's words.
«Enough!» he shouted, slamming the siel on the ground, without the latter being able to finish talking. «Billions of lives have been lost because, before you were born, someone felt entitled to believe that they were superior».
Silence fell in the hall.
He kept talking.
«We are servants of the Code. I would like to remind you that Patrik Jones is here against his will, Kentaura has summoned him and he has fought. Now ...», he paused, looking over every single Guardian present, « ... the siel entrusted to him is the choice of "something" that we have sworn to serve. If we come with less to this then none of us will be saved. I guarantee it».
The Guardians stood up.
«We talked. None of us is convinced of the Terrestrial possibilities» said Noliah, seeking approval from everyone. «We saw what happened on Kentaura and we believe that he has not passed the admission test to the council».
«But it's absurd! He had his blood tribute» Kalberham said suddenly.
«A Kentauro who decides to be killed is not considered a tribute of blood. And then, to disappear all that time with them?! What does it mean? Admitting him here is risky and imprudent» said Milostali, who had been quiet.
«And what would you like to do then? Let the gohtarma admit it among his ranks?» Poligon Dhaal asked.
«He will hand over the siel and leave» the Markanian said again, addressing the audience.
«I don’t believe this» was the only thing that Kalberham could say in the direction of the old Guardian.
Poligon Dhaal looked downcast, like someone who had expected something like that.
Patrik was angry and confused. Of all the welcomes that he had imagined, this had been the last.
«Come on Kalberham ... he's a lower being. All his race is» Noliah told him, trying to make him think.
«Hey! Asshole with a moustache. Who did you call an"inferior race"?» screamed Marco from the back of the room, swollen with rage.
«Patrik Jones. You should tell your servant to hold his tongue» Noliah said again with a smile.
«Marco is not my servant. He is my friend. And I don’t want anything from any of you. I'm here to free my father and that's what I intend to do as soon as I leave. Then I will return to my home and you can make your war in peace. As for the siel, I'm sorry but I cannot deliver it to you. I promised it to the old Kentauro. He gave his life for it».
«But really?! Touching ... the problem is that I don’t believe it depends on you at this point».
«All right. Thats enough. Let's start again» Alicon said, suddenly, getting everyone's attention.
Alicon was a Veladian, just like Selidar. His appearance was very similar to human, only the blue skin and the strange scales that fell from behind the ears along the neck made the difference.
«Poligon Dhaal, we all respect you. You too, Kalberham, are an illustrious member of this council. However, it remains a Council, and by its nature we must respect the decisions of the majority. The boy will hand over the siel. Leaving it in the hands of a weak and inferior Earthman is a risk for the whole galaxy».
«Look, blue worm, if you or someone else on the council of idiots says"inferior Earthman" again, I swear to God, I'll smash his nose» answered Marco, who at this point was literally being held back by Tadiero.
«Ahahahah» Alicon laughed out loud. «Nullity wants to kill us all. I would gladly give you a lesson little boy, but do you really believe that someone like me can’t deal with a nullity like you?»
«A nullity like me?! ... well, no. Actually you can’t. Strange though, because your mother can!»
Done.
Point of no return.
Alicon twirled his siel around his forearm and pointing it, starting to walk toward him.
«You're going to die, you stupid Earthman».
Patrik animated his siel and barred the way to the Veladian.
«Now I will kill your friend and then deliver the weapon. Do as I say and I will not kill you too».
«Please. I don’t want to fight» he replied, trying to make him think.
Alicon didn’t listen to him, and turned the siel into a long saber, ready to attack.
Kaira left the arms of Alannah, who was now totally afraid, and ran to Patrik.
«Stay back Kaira. It's dangerous here» he told her.
The girl looked at him and began to speak an unknown language that nobody understood, but that Patrik knew well.
He nodded his head, and Kaira ran back to Alannah.
At that point his siel turned into a long halberd with two blades identical to the ends.
«I'm sorry» he said with tears in his eyes to Kalberham and Poligon Dhaal.
Alicon attacked first with rapid strokes in succession that Patrik parried with no little difficulty. After a full minute of struggling, the Veladian turned the siel into a solid ball and threw it on the boy's chest, knocking him to the ground.
«I'll take your arms off first and then kill your frie
nd. You can go to the gohtarma to beg for your daddy» said Alicon, as his weapon split to form something like two hook swords.
Patrik felt his anger grow so much that he lost control. His eyes turned red and shrieked, he threw himself at his opponent. It was difficult to establish what his siel became. What they all saw were two blades of light moving fast. The Veladian retreated trying to block the blows, but after a moment his hands fell to the ground, severed. The blades of light pierced his sides, leaving him breathless.
The blue body began to smoke.
«And now return to the Flower» Patrik finally said in a cavernous voice that didn’t even sound like his, as he materialized the siel into two half-moons inside his opponent's body. He drew them out with a sharp blow, pulling all the internal organs out and making Alicon fall to the ground, lifeless.
Tadiero squeezed Alannah and the baby tightly.
Everyone was speechless, while the smell of burnt flesh began to waft in the air.
Patrik stood still, panting, seeing what he had done. A tear began to furrow his face and he ran out of the room. Marco looked around for a bit and then decided to follow his friend.
The night was cool and a light wind came from the mountains.
27
Marco saw Patrik throwing up behind a wall of the fortress. He waited for him to calm down and stop crying. He understood that it was better to leave him alone for a while.
About ten minutes passed, and without making a noise he went to sit next to him. Of the others, there was not even a shadow. He thanked the sky for this.
Patrik said nothing. It was hard to find words.
There was a corpse torn in two in the room adjacent to the large fortified terrace where they were, and he had done it.
«Are you angry with me?» Marco asked him.
«No» said Patrik, almost annoyed.
«No, look, if you're angry with me, I understand that. My damn mouth cannot keep quiet, but they continued to offend and I ...».
«Marco, listen! I am not angry with you! I'm just fed up».
«Fed up of what?» the question was stupid, Marco knew, but maybe his friend needed to let off steam.
«What kind of questions are you asking? I don’t know if you saw what I did in there».
«Of course I saw it. You saved my life».
The two stared for a moment without speaking.
«What did Kaira tell you when she approached you?»
«She reminded me of the promise» said Patrik.
Then he paused, and gazed down without looking at a specific point.
«You know, inside the Spindorf, when that old Kentauro approached me. He asked me if I wanted to live or die. If I had decided to live he would have entrusted me with this weapon. I should have defended it against all, enemies and friends, because many lives depend on it. Then I would have to follow them in the tunnel. That's all. I promised him that he would live, and he died for this promise to become part of my soul».
«Nice rip-off, eh?» Marco said with a bitter smile.
«Nice rip-off» said Patrik, with the same expression as his friend.
«If I could go back, I don’t know if I would make the same choice. Becoming a murderer was something I had not considered».
Marco listened to him.
Even with the best motivation in the world, killing someone was not something that makes you enjoy quiet nights. He understood this.
«That girl is really a mystery» he said, as if he wanted to change the subject. «I feel you've become attached to her a lot. We’ve all done. The one who entrusted her to you believed in you and knew that you would keep it to her in a special way».
«Yes, of course I care about her. But what does this have to do with it?»
«You had to kill for her. Am I wrong?».
Marco became very serious.
Patrik understood where his friend was going.
«Yes sure. But I do not…».
«Alannah ?! You killed for her, right? And you saved my life tonight».
Marco stood up, and to try to break through his friend's thoughts, he pointed his finger at him.
«I know you well, Patrik Jones. I've been a friend of yours all my life. You've always been a weirdo and this has pushed away so many people away from you. But I was always there, I've always been there, because I knew. I knew you were different, that you had something unusual, and this thing would be clear to everyone one day».
Then Marco glanced behind the wall.
«Damn, you've vomited up your soul»
«Yeah ...» he replied.
Marco looked at the sky for a moment, then continued.
«The last time you threw up like that you just tried to take the Schmidt brothers out. It was amazing. That day changed my life and now I am more aware than ever.
You always knew that I was there and that I saw everything. I didn’t say anything because the desire to tell the world did not exceed what I felt to see you save Anna. I knew that one day you would save me too. Maybe I didn’t imagine that it would be so far from home, but I knew it».
Marco turned to avoid letting Patrik see his shining eyes, who was listening to him carefully.
«You have a gift, Patrik. I look at you and I don’t see a killer, I see you defend the people you love. You do it more than you have ever defended yourself. Tell me, what would happen? What would you feel if now there, laying on the ground, there was my corpse, if that alien had cut me in two, and knowing that you could have prevented it? How would you sleep with the memory of Alannah's body killed by a Kentauro? What kind of man would Patrik Jones be today, if that day he’d allowed two beasts to beat his friend Anna?»
Marco put his arm around his friend’s shoulders, hugging him with all the intensity of those who don’t want you to feel alone.
«I'm with you, Patrik. You know. Whatever you decide to do, I'm with you. But remember that from that day, hidden, watching you behind a car, you have become my courage».
Patrik turned to look at him again.
He thought of the words of Poligon Dhaal.
No, no, no, my boy. If you're here, there's a reason. The Code always knows where to go he told Marco.
And it was true.
Having a friend who knows how to understand you, who knows how to find the right words. Not because he is a genius or particularly shrewd, but because he knows you like no other, to the point that he can cover your right side that you had left uncovered. Feel him plant a nail thousands of feet below the ocean so you can hold on to the only visible buoy, while the sea destroys you and makes you feel infinitely small.
Patrik only realized at that moment that he would never have come so far without him.
He stood up.
After all, even if he wanted to, he could not stay there forever.
«Ok. Let's go back inside. Let's see what awaits me now» he said, trying to work up some courage.
«I don’t think, after seeing what you're capable of, the super champions will attack you again».
«Right, but I don’t expect to be welcomed as the man of the year».
«Do you really care?» Marco asked in wonder. «In short, you were quiet in your house. They came to get you, they upset your world and made you fight inside an arena where you could have died. They have deprived you of a father, and your mother doesn’t even dare to think where you might be now. Oh no, my goodness. I don’t think you can afford to have the lesson taught by any of them! Not to mention all those poor women who will now be desperate, not seeing me for a while».
Patrik smiled.
He didn’t have a great desire to do it, but smiled.
«Yes sure. I can already see them in tears for you».
Then Marco's face darkened, as if the awareness of something terrible had remained latent within him.
«It will not take long to do one plus one. We disappeared together. I hope they did not take it out on my family».
«Yes, I thought of that too. We will solve this. I
promise you» said Patrik, hoping it was true.
The two returned to the hall without speaking further.
The Guardians stood, gathered at the back of the room in front of the Armintala statue.
The corpse was removed, and a pile of yellow dust lay where the Veladian siel had been left without its master.
They all walked in the direction of Patrik, except for Kalberham and Poligon Dhaal who stood back and watched.
He stopped and stood still, like a defendant waiting for the final verdict at the jury's return.
«You fought and won. You defended your siel and your membership. This Council has nothing more to expect from you» said Milostali very coldly.
«That's all?» asked Patrik, astonished and quite altered. «Well ... a person has just died. A wag Guardian. And the only thing you can tell me is that it's okay?! Can we safely go to bed? None of you has the slightest idea that you could have avoided this?!»
«You don’t have to be deceived, boy» Milostali replied without turning around. «Alicon was a close friend and a valuable ally, we all mourn his absence. Yet he swore loyalty to the Code, the entity that controls billions of lives in our galaxy. Balance is not a game and nothing is left to chance. And nothing can be avoided».
That said, he left, accompanied by the others.
Patrik only saw the door close behind them.
«Where are Tadiero, Alannah and the girl?» Marco asked.
«Magellan, my faithful helper, accompanied them elsewhere» answered Poligon Dhaal. «Now it will be good for you to join them too. Leave me alone with the young Jones. I think we have a few things to say to each other».
*
When the two arrived in the fortress gardens, the night was dark and everything illuminated by artificial lights and some torches.
«So how are you, Patrik?» asked the old Guardian.
«Good. I think ...» he replied.
«Your combat capability is remarkable, the siel answers you in an exemplary way, you could really be the person we have been waiting for. It seems that the Code favors you, that it’s chosen you as its emissary».
«I don’t know, master. In short, I feel stronger and able to do incredible things, but it’s a very big responsibility for me. Until today this Code, which some time ago I even ignored the existence of, has taken away my quiet life and has given me a trail of corpses in my path».
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 22
