by Ty Beltramo
“Ha! And how did you come up with that idea? And why?” Eli asked.
“I didn’t plan it that way, believe me. I just thought that their architecture could use a little sprucing up. I didn’t think it’d drive them insane or anything. I mean, they just walked away from their cities and went back to the caves. Boy, was Aeson mad. He was very proud of the Harappans.” The memory of Aeson chewing me out for that cheered me up somewhat.
“How long ago was that, Elson?” Els asked.
“Hmm, about four or five thousand years, I guess.”
She whistled. “That’s a long time to be interfering with Aeson. I’m surprised he tolerates it.”
“Oh, he usually doesn’t make the connection. Most of the time, the effects are far removed from the cause. Though there have been times when I had to lay low for decades, to let him cool down. Besides, he can’t deny that some of my actions have helped him out considerably.”
“Such as?” Eli asked.
“Have you heard of the Medes and Persians conquering Babylon?”
“Sure. What’d you have to do with that?”
“I showed them how to divert the Euphrates and enter the city under the river gates.”
“But I thought Aeson was on the Babylonian side of that whole debacle,” Eli said.
“Oh, yeah, you’re right. So I guess that didn’t help him at all, did it?” I rubbed my chin trying to think of another example. “Well, I’m sure if I thought long enough, I’d come up with something.”
Nearly a hundred Engineers now filled the coffee shop and the park next door. It was one of the largest Gatherings I’d ever seen. The small groups were breaking up and the conversations were abating.
“I think it’s time, Elson, to do whatever you’ve got in mind,” Els said.
In the park, there is a very small pavilion that bands use for concerts on Thursday nights. I got on it and faced the crowd, waiting for everyone to come out and settle down. I looked around. The faces were varied and had a look that was hard to judge. They were smiling with their eyes as well as with their mouths. There was a calm sense of expectation. I didn’t know what to make of it.
Who were these Engineers? Most of them didn’t come to Gatherings. What would bring them here tonight?
I guessed at the answer. These were the ones who had started to think for themselves, and they didn’t like what they were finding. The world made less sense to them. The holes in the party line of the Doctrines and the Endeavor had become obstacles that they could no longer ignore. These people were frustrated because their understanding of the world was becoming less and less complete as the traditional teachings became suspect. I felt for them. They were beginning a long journey that led who knew where.
Somehow, they thought they might get some answers from me. What answers could I give? All I had were questions.
I spoke as loudly as I could.
“Forgive me. I’ve never called a Gathering before. I don’t even know how that translucent body thing works, so I can’t do the traditional special effects. Sorry about that.”
Someone handed me a cup of coffee. A strange feeling settled in as I looked at the crowd. It was a tension that was unfamiliar to me. I felt responsible for these people.
Great.
“I’m Elson. Some of you know me. I see faces from Law and Chaos, from most Disciplines. Huh--I don’t even know what all the Disciplines are, so I can’t tell if they’re all represented or not.”
I looked around at the faces. A few had been on the receiving end of my mistakes and misadventures. A few deserved it. Some didn’t. Els stood at the foot of the platform, expectant but cautious.
“Forgive me if I seem a little distracted. I just came from Mount Megiddo, where the Preceptors hang out. I was about to go see them, but then I found out that they only wanted to squeeze information out of me. Probably by wringing my neck.”
Waves of low muttering flowed back and forth in the crowd. The tension began to rise. I could feel it. What was I going to say to these people?
I looked back toward coffee shop, and saw Jill leaning against the building, watching. She smiled at me and nodded in encouragement.
The irony was cutting. Here was a human who had no clue about the real nature of the world, having confidence that an Engineer who knew scant more than she did could explain something valuable to a rabble of disgruntled spirit beings. Someone had a sense of humor.
What could I say? Only one thing came to mind: the truth.
“I suppose you are wondering why I’m on the most wanted list. Well, let me tell you a story.
“Long ago, someone made this world. They left it in our hands--in the hands of the Preceptors, really. Their job was to complete the work of the Designers. You know all this.
“A lesser known fact is that at some point there was a battle between our Preceptors and someone called the Patron. It seems that the Preceptors had gotten it in their heads that they were wise enough to create their own life. And they did. But it went south. The creatures they made--or warped, I don’t know exactly what they did--were very bad. They fed on souls, and were powerful. This Patron showed up to correct the matter. The demons created by the Preceptors were banished into the Abyss. The ability to create them was locked away, never to surface again.”
I could see several quiet conversations going on in the crowd. Some of what I was saying was not completely unknown.
“Now our friend Aeson has found a way to free these beasts, and the Preceptors are in on it. They created them, after all. It seems they didn’t learn much from the whole thing.”
They hadn’t learned anything, actually. They were no wiser. But I had learned much, recently, and the Preceptors wanted to glean something from my experience. Well, if they wanted what was in my head to come out, let it.
A plan began to form in the back of my mind. That little voice in my head was gibbering in glee. I stood tall and proclaimed the truth.
“Since the day I awoke, I’ve been on a journey. I don’t know where it’s all heading. I never have. But I’ve been doing the best I can. Still, after all this time, I don’t know much. But here’s what I do know. This world, these people that we’ve been screwing with for eons, are our responsibility. But the party line has clouded our vision. There’s more going on here. Much more. I’ve met beings and seen things in my travels that cannot be explained within the framework imposed upon us from our birth. You’ve sensed it. And, now, you realize you cannot escape it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here tonight. So, what are we going to do about it? I’ll tell you. We’re going to have a change in venue. I’m going to show you things that will cripple the existing organizational structures of Law and Chaos. You, like me, will be free agents able to judge and act for yourselves. You’ll be truly responsible. And you’ll use that responsibility to question—and maybe reject--the powers-that-be. You’ll think and act in the best interest of the people of this world. Of people, individuals. Not peoples and organizations. You’ll have to choose the best way of doing your job. Our job. I guarantee that what’s going to happen in the next weeks and months is going to bring pain, death, and horror to all that we know. You’ll have to work to fix that. Some of you may be harmed in the process. But I’ll show you how to fight.”
Someone from the middle of the crowd called out. “You are talking about rebellion.”
I looked at the speaker. “I prefer the term ‘revolution.’ It is the Preceptors who have rebelled. You don’t have to believe me. In a few days, maybe sooner, you’ll all see for yourselves.
“Anyway, that’s all I’ve got. I guess now it’s the time for questions . . .”
The first question was a good one.
“Elson, many of us have taken oaths. We have made promises. How can we do as you say without being untrue to our commitments? It would be dishonorable.” The speaker was hiding his face. But the voice was familiar.
A symphony of snickers arose from the crowd. My guess is that would be the Cha
os contingent. They would think such a concern was funny.
“Any oath you’ve made that is incompatible with your purpose as an Engineer is null and void in my book. Besides, I don’t think that the powers took your oaths in good faith. Guys like Melanthios are too smart and too old to believe the manure they’re shoveling,” I said.
There was a pause. Someone in back spoke up loudly. “I’m ready to offer support, Elson.” There were many nods and many voiced affirmation. But that wouldn’t do.
I raised my hand, asking for quiet. “How about this, gang . . .” that little voice started talking to me again. It was about time. “Because that’s what you are: a gang. And gangs don’t need rules. We only need each other. So, I’m not asking you to offer or withhold your support. Just do your best. That’s what I do. But if you’re not up for the challenge, stay out of my way.” A plan had begun to form.
“What should we do?” Els asked loudly.
“I thought you’d never ask. Come close, boys and girls. Class is about to begin. Mr. Elson has some things to show you . . .”
I was only one Engineer. But I could reproduce myself, in a way. Engineers learn quickly. They are not limited to verbal communication. Information and experiences can be transferred directly between spirit beings with great efficacy. I spent the next several hours revealing all my secrets. I showed them how to break the Sentinel Chains, how to place and remove a glamour, how to get in and out of the Abyss. I showed them how to infuse real power into their Psychic Duels. I showed them how to peer deeply into the soul of another.
Before midnight had come, over one hundred Engineers knew enough to create spectacular havoc in the system. When I was done, I got back up on the platform and waited for everyone’s attention.
“The teaching I’ve given you, freely give to others. Only by leveling the playing field can we hope to change anything.” I looked at the group. They were smiling. They were powerful. Boy, the Preceptors were going to be pissed.
Near the back of the crowd, I saw the Engineer who had asked about the oaths. I stepped off the platform and worked my way through the crowd and approached him.
“You here on business or pleasure, Rolic?” I asked.
“Personal,” he said.
“Well, what do you think?” I asked.
He looked at the crowd and shook his head. “I think there’s going to be serious trouble before this settles.”
I laughed. “Believe me, I’m counting on it. And I don’t call it trouble, I call it cover. But what about you? Are you in or out?”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a job that needs your particular skills. But if you take it on, there’ll be no going back to Melanthios. You’ll be a traitor forever.”
“A traitor to whom? What’s your plan?”
“You’ll need help. Pick a team from these Engineers, make sure they’re confident in their new skills. Then you need to steal something for me.”
I explained what I needed him to do and the timetable in which I needed him to do it.
“Once you’ve got it, Els--Aello--will show you where to take it. Got it?”
“I do. I won’t fail.” He said. His eyes were downcast.
“Rolic, this isn’t your fault. You didn’t create those things. But maybe if everything goes as planned we can keep them where they are.”
“I know I didn’t create them. But my Discipline did. I’m just glad to have a chance to correct our mistakes. You don’t know how dangerous those things are, Elson. They weren’t made to eat souls. They consume them and tear them apart to dissect every bit of knowledge in the victim. They were tools to gather information and centralize it. If one of those things feeds on you, it knows everything about you. Your strengths, secrets, memory, skills, weaknesses . . . everything. And when they’re done, you hope there’s nothing left of you, because we didn’t do a good job of enabling them to cope with the personalities they consume. That’s why they go insane.”
Charming.
“So, what you’re saying is that I shouldn’t get eaten by one. Got it.”
One thing still confused me.
“Rolic, if your whole Discipline was involved, and I believe Preceptors from both Law and Chaos were involved, why were the Lawful Engineers from your Discipline spared? You said that the Chaos Engineers of your Discipline are gone. I had thought they were cast into the Abyss because the Apolloi were their doing. But if others were involved but not eliminated, that doesn’t make sense. What happened to them?”
“The Apolloi, Elson, are the Chaos Engineers of the Life Discipline. They were twisted and corrupted to become what they are.”
“Ah. How’d they pull that duty?”
“They volunteered. Every one of them, to the last.”
Well, that was actually good news. “That just makes them less scary, Rolic. And it explains a few things. Are you going to be able to stay clear of Melanthios’s minions for the time being?” I asked.
“It won’t be a problem. I’ve learned a few things working as an enforcer. We’ll be there. Don’t worry.”
Rolic left and got down to business, pulling individuals from the crowd. The rest didn’t disperse very quickly. Many small groups formed and began animated discussions.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Jill still standing at the corner of the coffee shop, listening, watching. As far as I knew, she was the first non-Engineer to experience a Gathering. She probably thought we were all crazy.
I went to her, to try to explain.
“Subversion suites you, Elson,” she said, as she sipped her own cup. “This may not mean much to you now, but I’m proud of you.”
I had other human friends, but Jill was more than a friend. She was part of the scenery of my life. Rarely a day passed that she didn’t take care of me somehow. The only place I really called home was this coffee shop, and she was always here.
“Thanks, Jill. I just wish I didn’t have to be subversive to get the job done,” I said.
She smiled at me and those eyes sparkled. They grabbed something inside me and a moment of clarity hit. Those were rare.
“No, that’s a lie. I love subversion, and it’s the only way I like to work. I’m made for it. It’s pure fun,” I said, smiling broadly. “My real regret is that I don’t know enough to be more subversive.”
She laughed. “Elson, I’m not sure this world could take you knowing any more than you do.” With that, she left me and went to clean coffee pots. The night had made quite a mess of the place.
Before I could make a move, Els intercepted me.
“Elson, I hope you have a plan, and that you’re not stirring up trouble just for the sake of trouble. What you’ve shown us is very dangerous. Remember that atom bomb discussion we had a while back?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call it a plan, exactly, it’s more of a theme.”
“A theme?”
“Yeah. Flatten out the layers of power, then deal with the changes. It’s a theme. If there’s less of a gap between Engineers like these and the Preceptors, questions will have to be answered. They won’t be able to intimidate people into submission. Not as easily, anyhow. Eventually, the truth will come out. Then maybe we can do our job.”
She whistled. “I hope you’re right. Anyway, you’ve started something here. Something big. So what’s next?”
I told her about Rolic’s assignment and her part in it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The hands of the wall clock ticked up toward noon.
I took one last look around the coffee shop that had been my home for such a long time. It was comfy here. They knew me and accepted me without question. I could relax, feel like I belonged. I resolved that, if I ever had the chance, I’d ask Death to avoid this place for as long as possible.
Jill wasn’t here, so I had no coffee. They said she was taking some time off. That was surely a sign of the times.
I got up and pushed my chair in, straightened the table, and made sure
it was neat and tidy for the next customer.
I walked out and looked up and down the street. Nothing had changed. People shopped, visited the movies in the theater across the street, and ate at the local taverns. It was a sunny day. The sun’s glow soaked into my skin.
I felt a subtle tug at my thoughts, like someone in a crowd had called my name. I stopped and listened. It came again. This time more clearly. I was being called, but not to the land of the Builders, as I had expected. I was being called to the River. My heart sank.
I made best possible speed to the bedside of my friend. He lay there peacefully, his breathing slow but not labored. The room smelled of bourbon. An empty fifth and a glass, also empty, watched over him. He saw me as I entered, and smiled.
“I knew it was time,” he croaked.
I looked around, Death was absent. He’d given me the slip again. Today was really turning out to be a bad day.
“He’s already been and gone,” he said.
I sat on the edge of his bed, lit a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.
“You trying to kill me faster?” he asked.
“No, my friend. Just making it easier.”
A weak hack that could have been laughter struggled from his throat.
“Did he say anything?” I asked.
My friend was old. He’d seen a lot of things in his day no human should have to see. He’d helped me through a lot. There was nothing I could do to help him. Not now.
“No. He just strolled in like he was doing the laundry. He winked, patted me on the shoulder, then left.” He coughed and struggled to catch his breath. “I thought it would be more dramatic.” He began to pale, his silver hair limp, his cheeks hollow.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get an answer to your question. It seems no one really talks about that stuff.”
He shook his head. It didn’t matter. He’d know soon enough.
We sat in silence for a while, then I began to tell him stories of things I’d seen and done, before his time. There were many people I’d met over the ages. My friend listened peacefully to the stories of what great men and women were really like. Great people, some famous and some not, paraded before us as I recounted struggle after struggle, life after life.