by J J Moriarty
“Wont somebody stop us?” Hyzou asked.
“Not if you’re with me”, The Whisperer said.
The Whisperer stepped off the roof, and fell onto his feet on the ground below, without so much as breaking his stride. Hyzou looked down at the sharp drop, a longer fall than he had ever tried before, and onto a harder surface. But the Whisperer was already walking across the square. Hyzou jumped.
The momentum from the fall carried him and he tumbled over himself several times. He got up and caught up with The Whisperer with as much calm as he could muster. It involved a lot of wheezing.
The hundred or so horses stared out from the stables at them as they passed, as did some of the urchins and one bored guard. Hyzou didn’t understand, they just didn’t seem to see them, he and the Whisperer. No one to stopped them as they strove straight to the large and heavy bronze doors to the zoo.
Hyzou began to wonder how he would get the doors open, but the moment The Whisperer stepped in front of them, they opened wide. The Whisperer went inside, Hyzou followed.
What kind of man is this? Hyzou thought.
In here a stench of rotted meat and dung hung on the air. There were no lights, so Hyzou could only barely see the outline of cages that littered the room. He could hear the occupants though. They all snored with various volumes, and in the dark, he could see the flashing eyes of a leopard, who must have only awoken recently. The leopard was in the middle of his meal, but he had stopped tearing strips from the meat the moment he saw the two of them.
“Be careful Hyzou, this floor is littered with snake pits. You must find your Qi, otherwise you will surely do something stupid and wake this whole menagerie up.”
Hyzou began to breathe, shutting his eyes and allowing his surrounding to be coloured in with orange lights. He owned his envy.
“Very good, do you see better now?” The Whisperer asked.
His Qi alight, Hyzou did see better now. The sight took his breath away. There were three stories to this building, but on this floor alone there were animals enough to consume a whole army.
There were eight snake pits, and plenty of cages. Eight great panthers were snoring into the darkness and leopards and apes and scorpions too. There were boxes full of bats and chained wild dogs just to Hyzou’s right.
What drew Hyzou’s attention the most, however, was a cage raised on its own podium in the centre of the room.
“The Colossus”, Hyzou said.
“The Colossus. A mighty creature”, The Whisperer said.
“What are they? Colossus, I mean, I thought they were a story, and I’ve never seen anything like them before”, Hyzou said.
“Legend names them gods born without either intelligence or magic. They are figures of brute strength, beasts that can neither be hurt nor harmed. Their skin, when peeled from a dead body, is what makes the most expensive of materials: Godsbone. The entirety of the Pharaoh’s kingdom couldn’t pay for a finger of the stuff”, The Whisperer said. “Well that’s an exaggeration. But it’s very expensive.”
When Hyzou had seen the creature before, he’d noticed its strength and size, but now that he saw it through the eyes that had been granted him by his Qi, Hyzou felt truly terrified.
“It’s so dark. The Colossus is empty”, Hyzou said.
Hyzou finally understood his vision. The one with the soulless creature standing over him in the Stadia. He had seen it that way, because the Colossus truly had no soul.
“You’ve noticed. The Colossus is the only living creature on this earth without any Qi of any kind. It is the only living creature therefore without a soul”, The Whisperer said. “It is the antithesis to the gods.”
“I’m scared”, Hyzou said.
“And so you should be. The foolish master imagines that the Colossus is a mere animal, another citizen in the dominion of man. He thinks that it will be a pretty piece of entertainment”, The Whisperer said. “There is a strength and vicious nature underlying the beast that most men, for all their violent ways, fail to understand. The Colossus is a Leviathan, a true hound of the gods.”
“I’m going to die. It’ll kill me”, Hyzou said.
“Perhaps not. For you are a Leviathan in your own way Hyzou. You have a power within you that will make the world shudder. My surgery will place you upon the road to realising it”, The Whisperer said.
“And what good is that, if I am to face something immortal?” Hyzou asked.
“Use reason, the birth of all human supremacy”, The Whisperer said.
“What are you saying?” Hyzou asked.
“I said that the skin of the Colossus was unbreakable. It is still malleable. In fact, it moves under the slightest pressure”, The Whisperer said. “That’s why it’s so indestructible.”
“How is that a weakness?” Hyzou asked. “Sounds useful.”
“Forget your sight Hyzou. What do you hear?” The Whisperer said.
Hyzou retreated further back into his Qi. Automatically, of late, he had just used normal hearing rather than using the Qi. When he submerged his ears in the water of the Qi, the first time he had done so in weeks, he found the sensation disorientating. There were thousands of sounds. New ones were made every half-second, and they echoed for minutes on end, extending out to the end of time.
Hyzou. Heard. Everything.
Hyzou returned to normal hearing.
“What is the noise I am talking about? Listen, observe and reason”, The Whisperer said.
Hyzou owned his envy, then concentrated even more. He listened, but he also remembered the first time he had been introduced to the Colossus. The first thing Hyzou had noticed was the noise, coming from within the covered cage.
“I hear… breathing. The Colossus, it breathes”, Hyzou said.
“Why does that matter?” The Whisperer said.
“You don’t breathe. It does. That’s the weakness, it needs the air. Does it die without air? Can it be suffocated?” Hyzou said.
“That is the weakness. Colossus have been killed by men before. If a noose of sufficient strength is placed around the neck of the beast, and then tightened by a powerful hand, the beast will suffocate”, The Whisperer said.
“I may yet still survive”, Hyzou said.
“The Colossus is too powerful for you to strangle as you are now. Men are not supposed to be able to kill Colossus”, The Whisperer said.
“Can you make me strong enough?” Hyzou asked.
“I can unlock your true strength”, The Whisperer said.
“Will that be enough?” Hyzou asked.
“Answer me this, Hyzou. Standing here, can you tell me that you are just a normal man of fourteen summers?” The Whisperer asked.
Hyzou stared ahead. At the darkness of the Colossus’ empty soul.
“I want to do it”, Hyzou said.
“It’s a surgery. But not like anything you’ve heard of before”, The Whisperer said.
“I don’t care”, Hyzou said.
“That’s what I thought”, The Whisperer said. “It will come at the cost of a pain you couldn’t even imagine, a terror you can barely conceive. It will push you to the limit of your sanity, perhaps even beyond. Not only shall I break your body. I shall break your mind too.”
“I said I wanted to do it”, Hyzou said.
“Very well. It’ll be done”, The Whisperer said. “Now, we’d better get out of here before the ostriches wake. They do make a terrible racket.”
CHAPTER 15
Hyzou held his bowl of curried rabbit close to his chest. Abe had told him to bring his meal home with him instead of eating at the bar, as he was expecting a guest. So Hyzou turned down the cup of beer and the nuts that was offered by the daughter of the house, and just took the bowl.
Back at the house she had already arrived. Sitting on a riverreed chair was Vo.
“Hyzou, come in. I think you need to show someone some gratitude”, Abe said.
“He’s right. I’m thankful”, Hyzou said to Vo. “You saved my life
.”
“I was just telling her that that day has had quite an effect on you”, Abe said. “These past two weeks you have been exemplary in his practice.”
“That’s good to hear. Hyzou, please sit with us”, Vo said.
Hyzou bowed, then sat down.
“Have you recovered from your hysteria?” Vo asked.
“Yes. And I’m sorry you had to see it”, Hyzou said. “It was just…”
Abe laughed. “We were all there. There’s no need to talk about it much.”
Hyzou just smiled. Silence fell.
“I really am grateful, you know. You saved my life”, Hyzou said.
Vo passed over to him a cup of beer. Hyzou supped, and found it to be a bitter beverage. He began to spoon the rabbit into his mouth.
“The Whisperer deserves some of the credit. But I’m glad I did it. You’re a good person, Hyzou of Nuyin. If only all my actions could be as noble as saving your life”, Vo said.
“You’re very kind”, Hyzou said.
Vo nodded.
“How long are you and The Whisperer going to be in Lamybla for?” Abe asked. “Planning to stay for long?”
“Maybe I’ll stay until the Pharaoh’s birthday. I’d like to see Hyzou defeat the Colossus. As for my brother, well, he likes to keep to himself, and he hasn’t been in Lamybla for two weeks now. He only returned last night”, Vo said.
“Where was he?” Abe said.
Vo laughed.
“I always knew you were afraid of my brother”, she said. “But there’s no need for such a look of revulsion. He rode south, I believe. Though to where and for what purpose, I haven’t an idea.”
“And he’s back?” Abe said.
“He’s back. Yesterday”, Vo said.
Abe just frowned.
A loud knocking echoed from the door. Abe frowned and grumbled, but got up regardless. At his doorway was a dirty boy, maybe three summers younger than Hyzou.
“Are you master Abe?” The boy asked.
“Sure, and what do you want? Make it quick”, Abe said.
“I’ve been sent by the master. He wants to see you. Urgently”, The boy said.
Abe frowned, then rolled his eyes.
“Alright, I’m coming. Lead the way little messenger”, Abe said.
Abe shut the door behind him with a heavy bang. Vo spoke as soon as it shut.
“As it happens Hyzou, I’ve been wanting to speak to you for two weeks now. Before he headed south, my brother told me what you had agreed with him”, Vo said.
“The surgery”, Hyzou said.
“The surgery, Hyzou”, Vo said, shaking her head.
“What’s wrong with it? Won’t it improve my abilities?” Hyzou asked.
“It’ll improve your abilities. If it works. The Whisperer has tried it many times however, and the patients have never been able to sustain the horror. All have gone mad, or died”, Vo said. “I’ll say that again. The Whisperer has tried the surgery on many humans, none have survived.”
Hyzou leaned in. “I’ll die anyway, won’t I? The Colossus will kill me, so what difference is it to me if I die before that”,
“The surgery involves dying in the most severe pain imaginable. You can’t yet conceptualise how sore this surgery is”, Vo said.
Hyzou placed two of his fingers beside each other.
“If there’s even this chance that survival could be mine”, Hyzou said.
Vo sighed.
“And what if it succeeds? What if you survive?” Vo asked.
“What of it? I’ll have survived”, Hyzou said.
“My brother came to Lamybla to look for someone just like you. He is obsessed with you. He rode south these past two weeks to search through Piquea for evidence as to who your parents were”, Vo said.
“He… He went to Piquea?” Hyzou said.
“Yes, he did.”
“Did he find anything? Are there people still living there?” Hyzou asked.
“I don’t think he found what he was looking for”, Vo said. “But he’s taken an interest in you, and I can’t tell where his passion has come from. Please, don’t do the surgery.”
“I must”, Hyzou said.
“The Whisperer is misunderstood. He is not evil. That doesn’t, however, mean that he’s not a schemer. I don’t know what he’s got planned for you, but he’s not helping you out of the good of his heart”, Vo said.
“And you? Why do you help me?” Hyzou said.
“Altruism is in my nature, I think. More so than my brother, in any case”, Vo said.
“Really?” Hyzou asked.
“You’re a good person, caught in horrific circumstances. Don’t lose that in The Whisperer’s machinations”, Vo said.
“If I don’t do it, I’ll die”, Hyzou said.
“Death is not so bad, and it’ll come to you whatever you do. Eventually. Maybe this is a fight you’re not destined to win”, Vo said. “The Colossus should not be killed by a man.”
Hyzou ground his teeth.
“Whatever I can do, I will do”, Hyzou said.
“What are you saying?” Vo asked.
“I’m doing the surgery”, Hyzou said.
“The Whisperer offers you advice and you accept it, I say the opposite and you ignore it”, Vo said.
“The Whisperer offered me life. You’re telling me to accept death”, Hyzou said.
“Your mind is made up?” Vo asked.
“I’m sorry”, Hyzou said.
Vo sighed. “You don’t have to do this.”
Hyzou didn’t answer. Silence fell between them.
“Abe seems impressed by your training”, Vo said, finally.
“He is, I think”, Hyzou said.
“How did you figure him out?” Vo asked.
“Abe? What do you mean?” Hyzou said.
“Abe told you he could teach you to beat the Colossus. That was a lie. How did you figure it out?” Vo asked. “How did you realise that Abe was lying?”
“I overheard him say it”, Hyzou said.
“He said it out loud? I never knew Abe spoke to himself”, Vo said. “Was he asleep?”
“No. He said it to The Whisperer”, Hyzou said.
Vo put her hands over her face.
“Ugh, Hyzou, don’t you understand? My brother doesn’t make mistakes like that. He must have wanted you to find out”, Vo said.
“Neither of them saw me”, Hyzou said.
“The Whisperer doesn’t need his eyes to see”, Vo said.
Hyzou had finished his food. He put his bowl on the floor.
“What do you want me to say?” Hyzou said.
“Just tell me you won’t try this surgery. It’ll kill you”, Vo said.
Hyzou sighed.
“Then I’ll just get to go to the underworld. A few months too late”, Hyzou said. “It’s no loss.”
“It’s not natural. Humans aren’t created to survive what he’s planning to do”, Vo said.
“Natural? The gods will choose whether I live or die”, Hyzou said.
“That statement is truer than you think”, Vo muttered.
“What do you mean?” Hyzou said.
Vo raised a finger and looked towards the door.
“Abe will enter now”, Vo said.
Sure enough, Hyzou heard a key placed into the door’s lock. It clicked, and the door opened. Abe entered, a scowl on his face.
“The master summoned me, then didn’t have the respect to be where he said he’d be”, Abe said. “Fucking donkey cocksucker.”
“That’s awful”, Vo said.
“Isn’t it?” Abe said. “Anyway, where were we?”
“I was actually looking for somewhere to get cheaper jerky. You’re the man to find a bargain in this city, aren’t you?” Vo said.
Abe sat down, a smug look on his face.
“Yes, well you have now asked the right person”, Abe said.
So it was that Abe spoke for half an hour on the subject of finding value in the v
arious markets around the city. Once that was done, Abe and Vo opened a whole flask of rice wine. Hyzou left them alone and went to bed.
As he got up and bid them goodnight, Vo reached over and brushed his hand with her own.
CHAPTER 16
Later that night, Hyzou was awoken by a noise from the main house, long past when Abe should have been asleep alone. Hyzou put on a robe and left the shed. He went to investigate. It sounded like there were people inside.
Inside, Abe’s house had changed beyond recognition. It was empty, everything had been removed but two structures standing strong in the dark. One was a plank of wood, standing vertical to the floor. It was a little taller than the average man and tied to it were chains.
Hyzou realised that were a man to stand against the plank of wood, he could be tied down by the chains. Some were where a man’s wrists and ankles would rest, longer ones were where a man’s arms and thighs would sit, and finally the largest were where a man’s waist, chest and head would rest against the board. Where that man’s neck should be, there was a large gap in the wood.
Hyzou walked over to it. His breath held.
Beside the plank was a table that came to Hyzou’s waist, upon which rested some tools. Hyzou ran his hand along them. There was a long blade so sharp it seemed to cut the very light itself. There were two thin needles that looked like a mix of the kind used for spitting meat, and the needles used for knitting. There was a long whistle, within which was some strange powder. There was a green liquid, sitting in a bronze thimble. Then there was a small scythe, used to cut the most delicate of rice plants, to remove the grain but not damage the stem.
“Does it frighten you, Hyzou of Nuyin?” The Whisperer said.
He had been sitting in the corner the whole time.
“Yes”, Hyzou said.
At the Whisperer’s right hand was another figure. The darkness shrouded them both.
“Abe?” Hyzou asked.
“Him? No. Not Abe”, The Whisperer said. “Meet Myirs. He’s my assistant, and good friend.”
The figure at The Whisperer’s right hand stepped forward into the moonlight and removed the full-face hood he was wearing. Despite himself, Hyzou screamed.
The Whisperer laughed.